Wolf of the Blood Moon: A Blood Magic - Book 3: Chapter 64: Regrets and Civilization
Scarlet
It only takes me a week of hunting to realize three things. One being that I hate deserts, another that this desert is a much worse place to hunt in than the islands of the Bloody Duchy since the demons are a lot more spread out and weaker, and the last thing being that I probably should have stopped at a village for food and supplies before I left the Bloody Duchy.
Because the map doesn’t have villages and cities marked. Just the major locations on the map. Making the more local maps something else Gramps decided I would have to find on my own.
And the guards refuse to take me back, stating that Gramps told them to not help me in any way except purchasing supplies when we do get to villages. Well, that and the whole ‘them interfering in my hunt should I go after too strong prey’ thing.
Which I’ve yet to figure out how to convince them otherwise.
I frown as I continue walking across the desert, wondering what I’m doing with my life. The stupid demons here are far lower level on average than the islands, most of which being Class II and not giving me much of anything in terms of EXP while making me understand clearly why the islands I hunted on were called the best hunting grounds by the guards.
Time gradually passes, and after another hour or so I finally begin to pick up the sounds of activity from far to the East. So I begin running without a care until I reach the top of a dune and find a relatively decently sized city down below.
One with an oasis in it.
Deciding that I’d rather not draw attention to myself, I deactivate my beast form while pulling on a brown cloak – one of the few things Gramps and Leonidas did give me to prepare. Mostly just to hide my ears through the hood.
Since a blood lycan’s ears are a dead giveaway. Not that them identifying me wouldn’t already be a dead giveaway… actually, what does my identify even say anymore?
“It’s starting to transition more towards your demon side,” Tar comments. “The System, I mean.”
And that means?
“While the identify used to show you as a human with some issues in the identification, now it’ll show a completely messed up identification with parts of both the human and blood lycan words mixed in,” Tar explains in a way that confuses me but still answers it nonetheless.
Huh.
Well, at least it doesn’t say human. Since that would probably be a nice way to get everyone to kill me.
Wish Amelia could’ve hidden that as well though.
“That wouldn’t have been possible without trying to seal away your demon genes again, which also wouldn’t have been possible considering you’re Class III and more demon than human now,” Tar comments as I walk down the dune towards the city.
Huh. Good to know.
Anyways, the city itself has a large sandstone wall surrounding it with a gate facing just a few dozen meters down from where I’m standing. And at the gate are two demons that I have no clue what are. They both have tusks with some dried out skin and are bipedal despite not being Class V. Which I guess is normal since Gramps said most guards responsible for checking those who enter cities need to be bipedal to be able to check the stuff going into the city. Or at least, they need hands.
Or telepathy.
These don’t seem to have telepathy, but they do have hands. And bandages despite not seeming to have any injuries.
|Grulok the Savage – Mummified Orc – Level 531|
|Durgok the Merciless – Mummified Orc – Level 550|
Wait a second, those are orcs? Huh?
Well, I guess that explains the boar-like head?
“I told you long ago in that game of yours, those orcs in it are fake,” Tar says with a sense of smugness in his voice that I completely ignore.
There seem to be dozens upon dozens of demons trying to get into the city, and each one of them is eyeing the others with distrust. Like they may start ripping into each other at any moment. Which kind of goes to show just how friendly Tartarus is.
Although they also seem to be afraid of the guards at the gate. For good reason too, seeing as they’re all lower leveled than the guards.
“Your Highness,” I hear Seraphina’s voice echo in my head, the woman likely using some sort of telepathy somehow. Probably a magical item. “The orcs will likely ask for a toll to pass into the city. Remember that one gold coin equates to ten silver, and one silver equates to a hundred copper. And since you’re a fresh face, they’ll likely try to scam you. So keep that in mind.”
I frown at that last part before shaking my head and unconsciously glancing at my spatial pockets, where Gramps pushed tens of thousands of gold coins on me. Along with thousands of silver and copper coins as well, just to make sure I have my bases covered.
Honestly not sure if I care much about being scammed by them, but at the same time, if I showed that, then they might mark me as a target to rob. Which wouldn’t be a good thing.
I blink at that.
Or would it?
“Don’t even think about trying to bait robbers out just to kill them,” Tar states rather sternly. “Remember that some of these robbers may very well be Class IV.”
Right. No baiting the robbers to hunt.
A pity.
The city probably would’ve liked it if I cleared out some of their scum.
“Yes, but I don’t think they’d like an angry Demon King coming here after you’re killed picking a fight with bandits,” Tar comments drily. “Nor do I think they’d like him destroying half of the continent around here in a fit of rage. Maybe even more. Possibly the entire planet if he’s that pissed.”
Okay, okay, I got it.
No baiting the bandits.
Not until I’m a higher Class.
Tar sighs as I continue walking towards the end of the line, fortunately being ignored by most of the demons here in the process. Likely due to my smaller size than almost all of them.
Although the ones that do notice me keep an eye on me. Probably because they identified me and saw my level.
Well, time to do something I’ve done who knows how many times before in Hunter XI, but in real life this time.
Paying a toll at a medieval world city gate.
This could be fun. Or maybe not.
Interesting if nothing else at least.
