Starting My New Life as a Demon Kid

Chapter 72. Count’s Territory (2)

The drawbridge leading into the city of Beldana, the Count of Staviana’s direct territory, was packed with endless processions.

Crowds stretched on and on without end.

Merchants, monks, pilgrims, mercenaries, migrants, travelers, adventurers, provincial nobles… people from every walk of life filled the line.

Yohan was one of them.

He had already been waiting for hours for his turn.

Because of the crowd, the inspection took quite a long time.

He was bored to death, though the others seemed unfazed—it was just another ordinary day for them.

Entry into Beldana was always strict.

Yohan yawned without realizing it.

Ilea giggled and poked her finger playfully into his mouth.

Yohan’s face scrunched.

“Bored?”

“A little. No, actually I’m dying of boredom.”

This was a waste of time like no other.

“Our turn will come soon. Just bear with it.”

“Can’t we just show the invitation and walk in?”

Ilea gestured toward the other lane.

That line had no queue at all.

From time to time, a few ornate carriages passed and went straight through inspection.

That was the lane for high officials or guests invited by the Count himself.

Yohan had the right to use it too.

He had the Count’s invitation.

But Yohan shook his head.

“If the Count learns we’ve arrived, that won’t do.”

Using the other checkpoint would surely alert the Count—that the Miyatro family had come.

Yohan did not want that.

Ilea asked,

“You’ve got something to do without the Count knowing?”

“That’s right. And I’ll need your help.”

In the Count’s territory, Ilea’s mere presence was a tremendous advantage.

With her, many things would go smoothly.

Ilea smiled.

“So it begins.”

It was finally Yohan’s turn at inspection.

“Do it for me.”

One armored soldier stepped forward.

“Show your pass.”

They could show a family seal, an emblem, or a travel permit to prove identity.

Yohan handed him a blank sheet of paper.

The soldier frowned.

“Is this a joke? There’s nothing here.”

Ilea leaned in.

“Look more closely. You’ll change your mind.”

Her blue eyes flashed.

The soldier froze for a moment, as though time itself had stopped.

Then he spoke.

“Pass!”

Ilea glanced at Yohan with a sly smile.

“Like that, right?”

Thanks to her, they entered the city without exposing their identities.

Yohan nodded.

“Well done. Keep doing that.”

They stepped into Beldana.

***

First-time visitors to Beldana often shrank before its overwhelming grandeur.

Spires cutting the sky were warnings not to dare climb higher. Canals woven intricately through the city imposed control in subtle ways.

Few cities in this age matched Beldana in prosperity and system.

Every rustic villager who came to the city gawked, unable to close their mouths.

Yohan and Ilea were different.

Neither felt much awe.

In Yohan’s former world, such cities existed only in history books. To someone who had lived in a far more advanced civilization, Beldana looked like a relic of the past.

Ilea’s view was no different.

She carried fragments of memory from witches of old.

Compared to the brilliance of ancient witch civilization imprinted in her mind, Beldana was insignificant.

Buildings piled by human labor left her unmoved.

For the two of them, this was only wasted time.

Yohan said,

“Let’s move before it gets any later.”

“Where to?”

“To Dead Shadow.”

Dead Shadow—the shadow surrounding the entire city.

It was the darkness hidden beneath splendor. The place where desires and corruption sank, bearing the weight of prosperity above.

Every evil excreted by wealth and power pooled in Dead Shadow.

The filthier Dead Shadow became, the brighter Beldana shone.

Without Dead Shadow, Beldana could not exist as it did.

Ilea looked down at the city’s underside.

“Dead Shadow, huh. Sounds like it’ll be somewhere under all this.”

From below, she could feel malice seething up through the ground.

A witch could sense such things.

Yohan nodded.

“First we find the entrance. Can you manage?”

In this vast city, only a handful of entrances led to Dead Shadow.

He could track them down if he followed the original story, but that would waste time.

Ilea said,

“Just follow me. I think I already found one.”

She slipped out of the crowd and headed off.

Yohan followed at once.

***

On Beldana’s outskirts, the view was very different from the dazzling center.

Weathered stone buildings, shabby people wandering about.

Their faces were full of lethargy and gloom.

It seemed every one of them carried wretched circumstances—debts, gambling, drugs, crime, disease. Whatever the cause, all had been driven out of the city proper.

Their eyes trailed after Yohan and Ilea like tails.

Greed, envy, and wariness shone in their sticky gazes.

Ilea laughed softly.

“Feels like we’ve become prey.”

Indeed, Yohan and Ilea looked completely out of place here.

Anyone could see they were provincial nobles, newly arrived from the countryside.

Probably lost, wandering.

Perfect targets.

Wealthy but naive nobles, strolling a slum without guards. If they were ambushed and killed, people would simply call it misfortune.

Yohan clicked his tongue.

“I’d like to arrive quietly if possible.”

“Lucky us. Nothing has happened yet.”

Ilea stopped before a narrow alley.

“Is this the entrance?”

“Yes. It should connect to Dead Shadow.”

The alley twisted like a snake’s belly.

No people. Only foul stench wafted out.

This was one of the passages to Dead Shadow.

“Let’s go.”

No sooner had Yohan spoken than an old woman appeared behind them.

“Young ones, that’s no road. Turn back.”

Ilea smiled gently.

“You’re kind. Thank you for your concern.”

A witch could sense malice.

The old woman had none.

She truly worried for them.

Yohan pulled a silver coin from his pouch.

“A token of thanks.”

The old woman was flustered.

“S-such a large sum…”

It was equal to a month’s living expenses.

Hastily, she tucked the coin into her clothes before anyone saw.

When she looked up again, Yohan and Ilea were already entering the alley.

She traced a holy sign over them.

“Great Saint Marziel, please bless these young lambs.”

***

At once, the atmosphere changed.

It was too quiet. No signs of life.

The stench grew worse, and a chill seeped in.

In the wind’s sound, faint screams seemed to mix.

Was it imagination? Yohan shivered slightly and glanced at Ilea.

She looked utterly at ease, even smiling faintly.

“Someone’s watching.”

Yohan turned his head.

“Not you, Yohan.”

There was no one in the alley, yet it felt like eyes were on them.

His spine tingled.

Scanning the surroundings, Yohan muttered,

“From the windows?”

The buildings lining the alley had windows. Dust lay thick, obscuring what lay behind the glass.

“Seems so.”

The entrance to Dead Shadow was filled with thugs, drug dealers, vagrants.

Sometimes, they prey on lost outsiders.

Dragging a live human into the deeper underground brought good money.

Cultists and sorcerers bought living humans at high prices.

Yohan spoke.

“Ignore them. We didn’t come for thugs or junkies.”

“Then for what?”

“To find a weapon to use against the Count. We’ll probably have to go to Dead Shadow’s depths.”

Excitement glimmered in Ilea’s eyes.

“The bottom of Dead Shadow? I can’t wait. Let’s hurry.”

The deeper they walked, the thicker malice grew.

This was only the entrance, yet condensed wickedness seeped upward.

For a witch, it was fascinating.

Yohan swallowed.

“Doesn’t look like we’ll get that far yet.”

Ahead, two men sat, watching them with smirks.

“Lost nobles, are you?”

“Click, click. What brings you here?”

Yohan and Ilea ignored them and walked past.

The two men stood up.

“Up close, damn, you’re pretty. Doll-like.”

“Let’s have some fun before we sell them.”

“Idiot, we won’t get another turn.”

“I’m fine with the guy too.”

Chuckling, they followed.

Ilea laughed.

“Being invisible like this is convenient.”

From behind came whistles.

“Hey missy, you like it, huh? Spicy one!”

“I’m first!”

“Turn around for us!”

“She’s so pretty.”

“Too fine to sell.”

The voices multiplied.

So did footsteps.

Many thugs were gathering behind.

Yohan clicked his tongue.

“So much for arriving quietly.”

“Since it’s come to this, let’s gather them all at once.”

“Agreed.”

A herd hunt was efficient.

They walked on for some time.

Finally, their path was blocked.

Ahead, dozens of men stood barring the way.

Yohan turned back.

Behind them, thugs swarmed too.

They were surrounded.

At the front, a hulking brute sat on a chair. He spoke.

“Strip.”

He grinned cruelly at Yohan and Ilea.

The thugs jeered.

“Don’t you get it? Strip!”

“Clothes off, bastards!”

“Even the underwear!”

“Move it!”

They were hyped.

The brute raised his hand, silencing them.

“Last chance. Strip.”

Ilea looked at Yohan.

“Looks like they’ve all gathered.”

“Seems so.”

“Then I’ll begin.”

Mana gathered in her hand, but Yohan caught her wrist.

“Wait. Let’s get what we came for.”

He pointed at the sky.

The sun was sinking.

Ilea nodded knowingly.

“Practicality first.”

The brute roared furiously.

“Strip!”

At that moment, the sun disappeared completely.

Darkness fell.

Yohan’s form vanished.

The brute leapt to his feet, eyes wide.

“Where’d he go!”

He felt a strange weight on his shoulder. He turned his head—and saw a black hand gripping him.

A chilling voice whispered in his ear.

“Sit down.”

Overwhelming strength forced him back into his chair.

“B-boss…?”

“B-behind you!”

The men’s faces looked wrong—contorted with terror.

When the brute tried to turn his head, the voice came again.

“No, don’t look back. This is a play, just for you.”

Ilea clapped her hands gleefully.

“I’m looking forward to it!”

Mapheltan’s crimson eyes gleamed.

At once, a bizarre demonic tongue flowed from his mouth.

『 From now, kill each other. (Z’thar Vek’tor Mhaal) 』

The Verbal Command Spell drilled into their minds.

The brute’s eyes trembled violently.