Side Story 46: The Travels of a Lone Demonkin. [Second Draft] (Patreon)

Edit: Added some more details. To set the scene and also Vifi'Yok's own ideology.

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“Hahaha! Good work, good work, that probably demanded quite a bit from you, human. Taking out that many people as a loner; didn’t think you were capable enough.” The giant rhinoncerum—a rhinoceros beastman—huffed at a short and young human adventurer, eying her with a malicious grin as he counted the copper and silvite coins he sprawled on his bar table.

He looked the girl up and down, once again noticing how her gambeson was showing only one of her arms, with the left sleeve wafting loosely from the cool breeze coming from outside, through the open windows and door. From the sound of clanking metal, he also knew she wore some chainmail underneath it, although it might also be a coincidence as she had metal sabatons and gauntlets

Although he wasn’t an adventurer, his natural strength as a rhinoncerum would outclass even trained rank E humans. Not to mention, as a beastman who was born in one of the many tribes of Carmaniate, he was a trained hunter and warrior, to the point he could take on rank Ds without any problem. He had gotten rusty over the years, slacking off on his training for his job as a gang boss, but with money, he could buy anything. With Davi, he had hired four rank C black mercs and their rank B boss to guard him.

That was why he was surprised to see the rank F adventurer still alive and having fulfilled her Quest to him by bringing him the head of his gang rival and a pouch of coin. She was only a human—crippled at that—and her only weapons looked like a crossbow, a quiver of bolts, and a single rapier. He could see how dainty she was, but apparently, this girl took out his rival?

The rhinoncerum stopped counting his money and instead began playing with the decapitated head of his lizardman rival. The scales stimulated his tough skin by poking it and he could see the blood had already drenched the bag the head was in in scarlet red. His wide smile waned, as one of his minions stormed right into the tavern.

“B-Boss!” A foxian runner heaved heavy breaths, recovering only moments later to straighten his posture. “Can confirm! A whole blood bath! The whole lizardman gang got exterminated in their district, with their base crumbled into pieces! The rest of the gang even found their boss’s body. Mangled and burned, but the only one headless.”

“Hoooo?” His smile suddenly dropped, before he plastered it back on his face to nobody’s attention. It also helped that the facial expressions of rhinoncerums were harder to read than others.

However, this didn’t go unnoticed.

“You really are capable, huh? That rank F really betrays your true abilities. Can’t help it, huh? The merc guild isn’t so lax when it’s around the border between Carm and the Empire. With how many criminals crowd Olinta town, the guild isn't so appreciative of black mercs or underbelly rats.”

“Can I get my money?” the girl interrupted the man’s speech, knowing it was all a pretense.

Shaking his head, the rhinoncerum understood the girl was in a hurry to leave. “You didn’t steal any, right? Any of the coins, I mean.”

“I don’t need to stoop to your level to earn my wage.”

“Wage? Huh?” The beastman nodded, getting to know the girl more and more. Still, the stoic expression she had on the whole time still grated him. “Got out, huh? Yeah, I can understand that. Stealing, killing, swindling; every day to live, right? Ha, got born in a tribe, so I didn’t have to experience it. Had to cut many rat’s down for doing it to us, though. Though, you? Got some hope in your eyes, despite losing that arm. Got caught, right?”

“Money.”

“Hueheikhuek,” his bodyguards began to crackle at the short girl’s attitude, finding it a bit too cute.

A human female standing up to multiple beastmen warriors? If she was a leonid or another strong and imposing beastman variant, they could understand her swagger. Sadly, none of them could take her anymore seriously than a little mouse.

In the Beastman Alliance of Carmaniate, strength was all that mattered. A meritocracy where their alliance leader could be of any tribe, any beastmen race, any gender, any origin; as long as they were strong and could lead well, they would be respected. And respect was a powerful word for many of them, even to the weaker and cowardly people amongst them. The Law of the Strong and Jungle was rampant in this place.

However, despite this barbaric ideology, the people of Carmaniate weren’t entirely unreasonable. There was still order here and there with large, bustling cities and well-governed trading hubs. Strength wasn’t just prowess, it was also ingenuity, speechcraft, and righteousness. A true alliance leader had to assemble his retinue with more than muscles, as he was not only a warrior, but also the political pillar of an entire alliance with so many cultural differences it could rival even the humongous Empire of Folschreck.

Unfortunately for the rhinoncerum and his bodyguards, it had been too long since they last tasted the true Carmaniate. They had been living in the neutral zone between Carmaniate and Folschreck, where humans, beastmen, and dwarves could live in relative harmony. Relatively.

In addition to that, they had been living as criminals, robbing and killing similarly to bandits. They took the ideology of Carmaniate to the extreme, turning themselves into nothing more than barbarians. If this were in any other town, they would be ganged up by officials or bounty hunters, but in the lawless town of Olinta, there was no such worry. Here, strength really was all that mattered.

“…” The rhinoncerum boss tapped his large fingers on the table, almost as if he was trying to agitate the girl. In the end though, his smirk appeared once again and began collecting the coins on the table. “Here, your share.”

He threw the coins onto the girl’s side of the table, prompting her to count it before collecting it all without any complaints. She stood up without saying anything and left the tavern, leaving the men to watch her walk away.

“And here we thought some overconfident brat took the job. You really see a lot.” The leonid leader of the rhinoncerum’s bodyguard group stroked his long mane, contemplating the reality of the situation. “Here I thought you would hire her after the runner came.”

“You saw those eyes, right? That girl isn’t some random street rat; she has the flare of a warrior. A true warrior; not like those human waste the Empire puts on the frontlines to die.” The malicious grin on the beastman’s face returned after so long. “She doesn’t have any enchanted items. Or runes. It’s magic. She’s a caster, and a strong one at that if she looked relatively normal after massacring all those lizards. Brat or not, I want her in the crew!”

The extreme of Carmaniate’s ideology made sure whether you were born an orphan or as another race, as long as you earned a beastman’s respect, that respect was true. To see this girl destroy his enemies made it clear they had to gain this girl as an ally or risk having her turn an enemy one day.

Challenging her head-on would only create complications. They had to do this correctly.

“Money. Post another Quest for the merc guild and make it extra lucrative!”

Wasting a potential recruit was not the name of the game. If you wanted to survive in the neutral zone, you needed either the support of somebody powerful, make your own power, or live inside the only secure city around—Hadjuk-Orn, the most-eastern dwarven hold along the Ankoran Mountain ranges.

As the dwarves acted as trader partners for both the Folschreck Empire and the Beastman Alliance, neither side wished to endanger this fact. It was through this presence that the neutral zone was created. As both nation’s power and influence were unable to completely take hold in this area, it was a thriving place for refugees, criminals, and deserters … especially for a certain deserter.

I need to get out of this town now. The young woman from before determined after leaving the tavern and her employer. With fast steps, she rushed to the closest mercenary guild and handed in her Quest, earning her the reward for the completed request. The share she got from the rhinoncerum was the extra fee for bringing in the lizardman’s head and the extermination of the entire group.

Her original Quest was to just steal the pouch of coins he gave him, but during their initial negotiation, the strap-for-money woman had to drive the conversation towards a more beneficial proposition. Although she hadn’t done any real mercenary work up until now, she knew it wasn’t any different from her time in the army. It was just now, she had the initiative and decision to execute it or not without any real repercussions.

With coins now shuffling inside her fuller money pouch, her steps caused the snow underneath her foot to crunch as she walked at the nearby marketplace. She let out a deep breath, before the cool breeze blew her white breath away. Born and raised on the streets in Bole’Taria, this girl felt nothing at the chill of the upcoming winter. To her, it was just like home, maybe a bit warmer.

This “human” woman was Vifi’Yok, former Warbringer of Bole’Taria and one of their most promising rising stars. A demonkin, hidden in plain sight as an one-armed young human.

Now, though, she went by the name of Valeria, given to her by the orphanage director in a town close to Port Saltzwieder, the closest harbor to the western part of the continent. A necessity, as she was trying to create a new life for herself, away from the army of Bole’Taria. Although homesick, she understood if she wanted to continue living, this was the only future for her.

Provisions first. Restock bolts, tools, materials to make more in an emergency … Maybe some new clothes.

A month had passed ever since Vifi’Yok participated in the Elyonda siege as one of its commanders—a scar of defeat she couldn’t forget no matter how often she tried. Her near death experience against the dragon blessed of Aurena and her older sister; it was without question the biggest military defeat in her entire career as a soldier and general, despite how short it had been.

Crippled and only able to survive by the mercy of her opponent, to the point she was nearly swayed by the dragon blessed’s tender words, she fled. With the help of another commander, Streiga Ghorush, she managed to sever her ties with Bole’Taria and wandered into her former enemy’s territory, the Empire of Humans, Folschreck.

Through a favor, Vifi’Yok was taken in by one of Streiga’s old allies, allowing the young demonkin girl to learn the ins and outs of human society. Used to briefings, she took in the information given to her like a sponge. It was all for her survival, after all.

Although initially dissatisfied with her new “human” name and the energetic orphans treating her as if she was one of them, Vifi’Yok thought of it as a chance to actually start over. She went into all of this with an optimistic outlook, but even she couldn’t stop herself from feeling homesick. Everything was different, from the people, to the food, to the rules. It felt alien to her.

However, her time for peace ended two days after she got her new party bracelet from the director, allowing her to hide her Profile from others. A group of Lycerepth agents arrived in the small town. Being the Empire’s religious police, Vifi’Yok staying around any longer would only endanger the people who were nice enough to harbor a deserter and demonkin.

Although crippled and unable to use her full demonic potential after the siege, Vifi’Yok was still level 150—worthy of being one of the finest rank A adventurers in the world. With speed unmatched by most, she raced out of the town and the region itself. With only some Davi and the clothes the orphans sewed for her, Vifi’Yok began her new life and adventure in this new “world.”

However, life wasn’t too easy for a vagrant with no home and ability to officially work. She couldn’t stay around for too long in human territory, as it would risk her old companions from finding her. She didn’t stay in any location for more than three days—the first for arrival, the second to restock, and the third to leave. Eventually, though, her money dwindled even after she tried to be as conservative as possible.

Facing poverty once again, Vifi’Yok had wondered if she had to steal. Stoop back to the level of her childhood. Honestly, she thought she would, as in her escape from Elyonda, she had to steal a boat from a fishing village in Aleistunum to cross the sea to Port Saltwieder. However, as if her fortunes finally turned around, she learned of a local bandit group having robbed a carriage close by.

Better than stealing, she thought before making quick work of them.

She left most of the stolen goods behind, only taking whatever was necessary which included equipment, food, and money. She didn’t want to steal. She didn’t want to relapse back to her older days. She was now a proud demonkin soldier … or, at least, she used to be one. As a demonkin of wrath, she had her own honor to take care of.

After some prolonged travel, using bandits and brigands as prey to restock her coffers and bags, she eventually made it to the neutral zone. There, she registered herself as a mercenary and hunter. Having taken the words of the orphanage director to heart, if she wanted to make herself a new life, this was the only place she could go.

“Welcome!” As the demon girl entered a nearby shop, the lizardman clerks greeted her with warmth, before their eyes widened as they recognized her. “Oh! It’s you!”

“Hey.” With her usual stoicness she waved back to the husband and wife manning this small bakery. “You two sound happy.”

“Oh, it’s you! Come in, come in, pale-skin!” The lizardman hurried her into the shop, away from the cold and into the warmth of their active ovens. “Of course we’re happy! It’s finally over! Haha, those damn bandits finally got what they deserved!”

“Pale-skin” was how lizardmen called humans, a similar term to “scale-kin” which described every beastman with scales. Although it might sound like an insult, Vifi’Yok knew better. She had gotten used to these two already. It had only been three days since she arrived in this town.

“Those blasted scale-kins are finally gone!” the female lizardman shouted in elation, wagging her tail around to demonstrate her happiness. “Haven’t you heard about it, lass? The Mudwater Gang were finally taken out!”

“Taken out?” Vifi’Yok played dumb, tilting her head in confusion.

“Ah, we really shouldn’t be too happy with them dead. The other gangs will just get in the way, again, but … it feels good. I’m okay with protection money if we get protection! Not having to fear for my partner’s life is a small price to pay.” The husband mostly ignored Vifi’Yok, unable to keep himself composed. After he realized his mistake, he waved his hands around, apologizing. “Sorry, sorry. You know the gang of lizardman bandits we told you about yesterday? Finally dead! We can finally get back to work!”

“Hmm. Nice to hear. Could I get three loaves, please?”

“Of course!” both lizardmen cheered, quickly bringing out three freshly baked loaves of bread, prompting the demonkin girl to finally break into a smile.

<Effects: [Excited: 1%] [Anger: 0%] [Fear: 0%]>

She paid for her bread before taking a bite from it, causing her to stop and take in a deep breath, allowing herself to enjoy the aroma of it. Once please, she continued chewing and swallowed it.

<Effects: [Excited: 5%] [Anger: 0%] [Fear: 0%]>

A fleeting moment of happiness, but happiness, nonetheless.

“Oh right.” After she recovered from her stupor, Vifi’Yok remembered her second business here. “I just wanted to say goodbye. I have to leave today.”

“What? You do? Did you say you stay here for a week, pale-skin?” The husband looked at her in surprise. “Well, I guess that’s how adventurers are. No worries. It’s been great doing business with you, lass.”

“Even better when you like our bread so much! Most wouldn’t buy bread from lizardmen, you know? Not part of our culture back at home.” The lizardman wife then snapped her fingers, running back to the oven to take out two loaves of bread. “On the house!”

“… Really?” Vifi’Yok didn’t expect this. She understood generosity, but she thought they were still strangers—a patron-shopkeeper relationship at best.

However, the husband nodded. “Take it! Happy moments don’t come as often out in this hellhole. You gotta share the love sometimes. Keep yourself safe out there, alright? See ya next time! Oh, didn’t catch your name.”

Vifi’Yok stood still as they shoved the bread in her arms, causing her to become speechless. She shook her head in confusion, before scrounging her face a bit. “… Valeria. Thanks. May God Marsven keep you safe in his shadows.”

“May God Marsven keep you safe in his shadow. Or, we need to introduc—” But before they could, Vifi’Yok had already left the shop.

Nice people. Just like them. Just like the dragon. Just like everybody back home …

Vifi’Yok packed her bread into her bag as she contemplated everything that just happened. She felt her mouth was forming a smile, meaning she was finally out of L.E.P—low emotional potential. This was the true reason why the rhinoncerum boss believed Vifi’Yok was a veteran mercenary despite her low rank.

Due to their heritage, demonkins of wrath were emotional beings. L.E.P. was similar to depression, while M.E.P.—maximum emotional potential—was their berserker moment. However, due to her injuries after the siege, specifically her usage of [Original Sin: Satanael], she could no longer raise her [Excited] [Anger] [Fear] above 15%, meaning she couldn’t gain access to the powers she fought Hestia with.

Still, it didn’t mean she was completely vulnerable.

“Hmm?”

Vifi’Yok snapped her eyes around, before she entered a close alleyway. After a while of not appearing out of it, three foxians suddenly came out of their hideouts, wondering what was going on. They looked into the alleyway, noticing it was a dead end with a large wall blocking anybody from going through.

They would have noticed if Vifi’Yok had gone out or climbed onto the roof. They had lost their target and were unable to pursue her. Their boss, the rhinoncerum gang leader, had thought she was a mage and now it was confirmed. They now knew she was a dark mage … Well, at least, that would be the most common answer to such a disappearance.

In the middle of this bustling town, nobody really noticed as a red streak of lightning flew around from place to place, before it finally stopped as the demonkin girl reappeared at the other side of town. She let a sigh out before she walked into a nearby building—a smithy.

After quickly restocking on everything, Vifi’Yok said her goodbyes to the town, leaving the annoying gang wars behind her. She wished the lizardmen couple good luck with everything. She managed to help them this time, but she had to go somewhere else now.

Once she was a good way away, Vifi’Yok once again activated her most iconic ability—[Voltaic Lightning]. Red lightning sizzled around her legs as some of her red hair was slowly turning yellow and red. This was not a demonic ability, this was hers, gained after a gruesome trip into one of the most dangerous locations in Bole’Taria.

With her lightning now ready, she dashed forward, using its magnetic push to launch her forward, leaving on a red streak behind. While others might need a week to reach from one place to the other, Vifi’Yok only needed a day or so, depending if she wanted to rush or not. This time, though, she was in a hurry, as her goal was Hadjuk-Orn.

Lord Wrath said the dwarves weren’t a target right now. Pride and honor are such huge things for those stunties, makes them hard to win over to our side. There might be kinsmen spying there, but where aren’t they? Just need to keep my head low, then go deeper into Carmaniate.

Money ruled everything, and this was something Vifi’Yok couldn’t disregard. She couldn’t rely on plundering the meager scraps from bandits and brigands she hunted like sport. Although she could try for stronger and more profitable targets, she understood she would just become a bandit herself if she tried something this unsavory. She had outgrown her stealing days.

If she wanted to create a new life, she needed to adapt to it, which meant she needed to work. And not for some random gang boss like some criminal, but as a proper mercenary or hunter. What better place to start that than the only lawful area in the neutral zone? Even if it brought risks, it was a necessity to her growth.

After two days of running through the mountainous and forest area of the neutral zone, she finally made it to the dwarven hold. Although not as grand as Inkoran-Tazul, the masonry of this dwarven hold was a sight to behold. To Vifi’Yok who had seen Gleisvale, the dwarven-made human city of Estralia, she could fully see the resemblance.

Massive walls, filled to the brim streets, and architecture she could gaze upon like art. It had a very different charm to the capital of Bole’Taria. Vifi’Yok felt energized, as if her wish to make a new life was fully possible.

With a cloak to cover her face and on L.E.P., she explored the vast city by her lonesome, slipping through the crowds from one vendor to the next. She ate, she relished, and enjoyed every moment she was inside this city until she had to call it off due to her dwindling money. She had to find an inn for the night now, but before that, her eyes were drawn towards the inner part of the hold—the underground part.

Just like Inkoran-Tazul, Ankor-Nazta’s capital, Hadjuk-Orn had an outer, “surface” city for all its tourists and non-dwarves, with the inner, cavern-like city reserved for most of the city’s industry and other dwarven specialities. In addition, it was also here that Vifi’Yok found the train station.

Wow. So this is dwarven technology, huh? Lord Sloth, it is no wonder you would frequently travel the world.

Curious, the demonkin woman walked into the station, stopping at the entry gates as she didn’t want to buy a ticket to go any further. Even from here, the sound of clanking metal and shouting dwarves captivated her, making her feel smaller than usual.

The station itself was just a long tunnel with no branching paths, making it hard for anybody to get lost. There were some blocked doors leading somewhere here and there, with loud, shouting dwarves and the sounds of hammers, fire, and tinkering behind them. Vifi’Yok couldn’t find any spots to hide around, making her feel at ease as it was less likely somebody was watching her.

She also learned a train was about ready to depart from the voice of an announcer coming from metal cones attached to long metal tubes on the ceiling. They weren’t manatech, they were simple engineering ingenuity. The demonkin couldn’t help but giggle that the technologically-advanced dwarves would still use such plain contraptions.

The world really was different from how she learned it.

The propaganda, as Streiga called it, propagated throughout the populace of Bole’Taria, especially within the army, made it seem like every other race had some weird or bad trait about them. Dwarves being condescending and greedy, humans being jealous, elves uptight and stubborn, and beastmen complete brutes with no sense of morals. It wasn’t completely false, but it wasn’t the full truth either.

It just made it easier to hate them, “demonized” them to make killing them easier. It wasn’t like the Empire was doing the same tricks against the demonkins. This was simply war and nationalism. Another lesson from the Prince of War that Vifi’Yok couldn’t help but acknowledge.

Her people believed the other races wanted the demonkins to go extinct. The suffering and poverty people like Vifi’Yok had to endure was something caused by their enemies, and while not wrong, it didn’t really show the full-scope of things. It was the same thing, again; always half-truths, never a full lie.

The moment she stepped foot into this new world, she had witnessed warmth and care, whether they knew she was a demonkin or not. Sure, if her real identity were to be revealed, things could change, but the fact kindness wasn’t a foreign concept reminded her what the dragon told her; what Hestia told her.

She wants to get to know us, huh?

Still, where there was kindness, there was also animosity and hostility. This was a universal fact. It existed in Bole’Taria, and also was prevalent in this place. The common demonkins could probably get along with the common human, beastman, or dwarf, but it was an entirely different case when it came to politics and religion. A difference in opinion—that was all that was needed to spark a war.

As a Warbringer, she knew this too well.

With her curiosity sated, Vifi’Yok was about to leave the train station when her body flinched and she dashed around a pillar, hiding herself from a group of knights suddenly entering the place. Without attracting too much attention, she peeked at them, instantly realizing the knight leading the others.

Thick, plated armor so white it was glaring to watch at attracted her attention first, due to the detailed ornaments decorating it. Although it looked cumbersome, she noticed how they didn’t inconvenience the wearer. Her eyes then wandered to the tabard decorating it, noticing the sigil of the Imperial family of Folschreck, the Church of Aurena, and that of the imperial knights of Folschreck—the Hands of Heaven.

“Two hands grasping a winged blade under the light of heaven,” that was how the Prince of Wrath had described it to Vifi’Yok, and, finally, she was able to use this information. How unlucky. How terribly unlucky. She just had to come here when these dangerous people appeared!

She didn’t take another look now that she knew they were coming closer. The station wasn’t exactly too crowded, but it was still full enough. Vifi’Yok couldn’t risk being found here, and using magic was prohibited inside a dwarven hold. If she was found out, it could be over for her.

Not to mention, even if she ignored the repercussions and focused on escaping, she couldn’t use her Voltaic Red movements with the mana barrier on the ground. Similar to how Saori countered her back in their Estralia encounter, concentrated mana close to her made it harder to control the speed boost. The magnetism would fail and she could be flung around randomly.

Noticing they were actually fanning out the area, searching or assuring the safety of somebody, it became too clear she had literally no choice. The station was just too tight. With quick steps, she ran over to the ticket booth and slipped her ID and money to the dwarven attendant for a ticket to enter the train station. She hadn’t planned to leave the city already, but she couldn’t flee through the normal path. She couldn’t risk one of them possibly knowing her, or be a demonkin sympathizer.

“Where to?”

“Huh?” Vifi’Yok couldn’t answer immediately, too shocked at the situation.

“Location! Destination! Bladdarg, lass, you just want a ticket to buzz off or something? Pah!” The ticket seller complained before counting her coins. “Hmm? Gave me just enough for a trip to Inkoran-Tazul? Oooh! Hahaha, sorry for shouting at ya, lass. My bad!”

Inkoran-What? Wa-wait, what was that place, again. Think, think, I heard that name before. Where was—

“Sorry for the wait, here ya go! Traveler’s cabin; ya got two others inside. Ask one of the attendants where to go, and try not to make too much of a mess. You’re gonna need over a week to get there, depending on how many stops.” The clerk then began to cackle, patting his big belly. “Then again! You should know it! Haha, where in Crustacia’s name did you hear the big announcement already? Well, enjoy the trip! Enjoy getting there before all the others!”

Announcement? What? What is—Curse it all, let’s go!

Without confirming anything more, Vifi’Yok dashed to the entry gates and showed the staff members there her ticket. She was then directed to the second platform, where a metal beast of a train was waiting for her, causing her to slow down for a moment. She had thought it was a monster, before noticing people entering the place.

Seeing them all going into the train without anybody guiding them in, Vifi’Yok looked out for the shortest queue, noticing the front cars were mostly empty. She just had to slip in and she couldn’t figure something out. She just had to get herself away from any of those Aurena fanatics.

Dammit, why am I panicking so much? As long as they don’t have a blessed around those knights, they shouldn’t know who I am. Dammit, ooooh, I should have calmed down! Shit! she lamented after having some time to steady her breathing. What’s done is done. Let’s just go. If I get any more agitated, my demonic features will show. Calm heart, calm heart—Wha?!

“Woah?!”

“What?!”

Just as the demonkin girl was about to enter the train, her [Detection Sensor] notified her of somebody rushing at her, causing her to stop her thoughts and step aside. A girl had almost rammed into her, but due to the shock, she flinched back, almost falling onto the ground hadn’t Vifi’Yok grabbed her.

“Uh-uh, sorry about that,” Vifi’Yok stuttered as she saw the girl, noticing she was around her age or maybe a bit older.

She had bright pink hair, styled into a ponytail with long bangs. Her eyes, on the other hand, were black and slightly smaller than most humans she had seen, making her stand out a bit more than others. This wasn’t to mention her flashy outfit, incorporating frills and lace with flashy colors like yellow, white, and pink.

As the demonkin girl pulled the other up, she noticed with her grip how weak it was. From the look of it, the girl was clearly a noble, which explained her extremely dainty form. Vifi’Yok’s own frame wasn’t bulky, but it was still muscular. She couldn’t help but think the girl before her should train more. Even if she was a mage, muscles were important!

“N-no, I should apologize to you!” The girl quickly bowed. “You stopped just in time, and if you hadn’t caught me, I would have looked like an idiot!”

Interesting accent, Vifi’Yok noted.

As the two girls looked at each other, finding it too awkward to start talking first, Vifi’Yok scratched her neck and began talking, “Uhm, I should probably get on before we bother somebody else.”

“Oh, you’re a passenger?” she asked Vifi’Yok before looking her from head to toe. “Uhm, could I see your ticket? I think you are in the wrong cabin.”

Vifi’Yok raised a brow but shrugged. She knew she was probably in the wrong one, so trying to anger a noble would probably bring her trouble with the knights around. As the other girl inspected her ticket, she nodded and then smiled.

“Valeria, correct? Your car is the fourth before the last. It’s the last traveler's car before the ones for the luggage and other packages,” the girl answered before handing the ticket back. “I wanted to check out the other cars, too, so would you like to come with me? I can show you the way. It won’t make up for helping me, but it should be a start.”

Vifi’Yok found this suspicious. Far too suspicious. Not because the girl was somebody problematic, but because being around a noble might bring trouble towards her. As such, she wanted to reject the offer and find it herself, but before she could, another woman suddenly rushed up to the girl before her.

“Lady Aiko!” A woman around her early thirties in a white-golden robe came jogging by, looking not only exasperated but also worried. “I heard you scream, is everything alright?”

W-wait, that’s an Aurena priest! Shit!

“Saintess Fleindia?” the girl named Aiko called out.

… S-saintess? S-saintess?! … BwuuuuuWAARRRRRGHHH! Nooooo! Vifi’Yok eyes widened at this fact, trying her best to hold back her screams and she quietly tried to get out of the train. Her intuition was correct, the girl called Aiko brought trouble! Big, godly, trouble!

“Who is this girl?”

Vifi’Yok froze up as the saintess finally took notice of her. Her brain was going into overdrive, trying to find an excuse to get out, but it came too late.

“Oh, her name is Valeria. She got lost and we almost bumped into each other, but she grabbed me before I fell down. Hehe, I was about to help her find her cabin to show my gratitude.”

The Saintess clapped her hands, nodding with a large smile on her face. “Perfect! That is exactly how a saint candidate should act. It doesn’t matter if they are commoner, noble, or serf; we have a responsibility towards the Goddess to aide those in need. If you want, I can help, too.”

“Wonderful idea, I can use this chance to promote the concert to everybody.”

… Did she just say saint candidate. Hold on, hold on … Aiko. Blessed candidates don’t really exist, that’s just a thing we have been promoting since we took over Church of Aurena. Wasn’t there somebody called Aiko who we … Oh no … Oh no. Oh no. OH NO!

Her intuition was wrong. Aiko was trouble herself, because she was one of the [Otherworldly Visitors] the demonkins had summoned in this world.

“Oh, aren’t you an adventurer? Oh dear, did you lose an arm?!” Fleindia gasped, realizing the loose left sleeve of Vifi’Yok’s gambeson. “I can over my white grace if you wish, young miss.”

SHIT! GET OUT!

Vifi’Yok snapped her body around to rush out of the train, but—

“Hello, excuse me for being late!” A knight stood in front of the entrance with a wide smile of flirt, winking at the two young women behind Vifi’Yok before looking at the demonkin. “Oh, miss, did you lose your way?”

The sigils he had on his tabard proved this knight wasn’t a normal person … he was the exact Hand of Heaven she was trying to avoid.

“… Uuuuuuuiiiiiiiiieeeeeee.” A weird, inaudible voice escaped the poor demonkin girl’s mouth.

God Marsven, you truly are a fickle god.