"You few, you may enter." The tall guard with ten eyes waved his scaly hand, stepping aside to let them pass.
As soon as they stepped in, the bustle hit them full-on!
The wide main street was teeming with people, with various strange races mingling, the air filled with the mixed scent of food, spices, and so kind of magic energy.
Tall buildings lined both sides, adorned with flickering Demon Crystals and fluttering banners.
"Whoa! This spectacle..." Their companion’s eyes widened, "Deep Snow Port is just like a small country town compared to this!"
"Probably because of the bicentennial celebration," another person said, still calm, "even in the Demon King City, it’s not usually this crowded."
Wo remained silent, but his inner shock was no less than his companions’. The unprecedented bustling sight made him subconsciously tighten his clothes around himself.
"Wo, we’ll split up for now," his companion patted his shoulder, "rember, et at the city gate three days from now at dawn!"
"Got it." Wo nodded, watching his companion lt into the crowd, then he turned and slipped into an alley off the main street.
He had co mainly because he heard that Demon King City had the most complete array and potion books, and he wanted to select so suitable ones for himself.
But before that...
Wo touched his stomach, having gnawed hard dried salted fish all the way here. Finally arriving in the legendary Magic City, how could he not try the local delicacies?
Following the enticing aroma and voices, he chose a lively tavern that was almost full.
Before he could squeeze in, the hot discussion inside reached his ears:
"Hey, do you think we’ll see Lord Demon King at this celebration?"
"We should, right? I heard at the centennial celebration, Lord Demon King attended in person. This bicentennial one should be the sa!"
"Gosh! Seeing His Majesty the Demon King with my own eyes...that’s worth the trip no matter how far!"
Apparently, many outsiders like Wo had co from afar.
However, just as he managed to squeeze through the entrance, the tavern’s boisterous chatter was suddenly cut short.
Nurous glances—curious, scrutinizing, even with a barely noticeable hint of rejection—pricked at the exposed blue Demon Pattern on his arm like tiny needles.
Lively murmurs buzzed in the corners:
"Demon Race...the ones from the Guard..."
"But...why is the Demon Pattern blue? Never seen that before..."
Behind the counter, a Pigman with tusks almost reaching his own face was expressionlessly wiping the surface with a cloth, seemingly indifferent to the peculiar silence.
Wo steadied himself and approached the counter, "Boss, any authentic signature dishes to recomnd?"
The Pigman paused his wiping, raising his thick eyebrows high as he looked at Wo, "You...not a local Demon Race?"
"Just arrived today!" Wo forced a smile.
"Oh—an outsider!" The boss suddenly seed to understand, the huge tusks widening into a curve, warmth replacing the earlier indifference, "No wonder your Demon Pattern is a different color! Since you’re a guest from afar, you must try our house specialty—the Red Tusk Wild Boar Ribs! Secret sauce roasted slowly over charcoal, guaranteed you won’t even dream of this flavor elsewhere!"
He patted his chest, spittle flying as he introduced the dish.
This abrupt shift in enthusiasm left Wo slightly puzzled. He couldn’t help but wonder: Do the local Demon Race not have a good reputation?
The tavern, which had subdued its noise due to Wo’s presence, erupted again upon hearing his conversation with the owner.
Although the discussions still revolved around the celebration, so had begun talking about another topic:
"...Speaking of which, will that ’Plague God’ cause trouble during the celebration?"
"What Plague God?"
"Who else! It’s that human who’s been elusive in recent years, wreaking havoc along the border!"
"Him? Give him ten guts, and he wouldn’t dare! With Marshal Mad Wolf, Blood Race Duke, and Demon Commander all gathered for this celebration, and His Majesty the Demon King might even attend, that coward who only sneaks around remote areas wouldn’t dare co to the Demon King City! Just asking to be dealt with!"
...
A delightful al.
The Red Tusk Wild Boar Ribs, though not as rare as the owner boasted, could indeed be called delicious!
Wo thought, it was surely due to the rich variety of spices from the Imperial Capital.
Leaving the bustling tavern, Wo resud his journey to find a bookstore.
However, at a relatively secluded street corner, two guys in City Guard uniforms approached him.
On their skin were crimson Demon Patterns, starkly different in color from Wo’s but of the sa origin!
"Hey," one of the Demon Race guards said, arms crossed, looking at Wo with disdain, "You’re a new face, huh? Crawled out from which corner?"
Wo didn’t want to get into trouble, so he replied softly, "Deep Snow Port."
"Oh? Those from the seaside?" the other guard sneered, suddenly grabbing Wo’s wrist, roughly rubbing the deep blue Demon Pattern on his forearm, "Heh, this deep blue...must be Cold Resistance, right? Tsk tsk..."
Just as Wo was about to complint the guard, "You’re well-inford,"
Bang!
A sudden punch landed hard on his abdon!
Wo groaned, curling up in pain, his stomach churning.
"Ugh—!"
Then, fists rained down like hail, driving Wo stumbling back, crashing into the stone wall, unable to even parry, his cries of pain stuck in his throat.
"Why...why?!" Wo barely lifted his head, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, asking with difficulty.
"Why?!" A guard kicked him in the chest, pinning him against the wall, then spat, "You have the nerve to ask? You sha of the Demon Race! You get that kind of pattern to beco those lowly rchants?!"
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