-No death energy at all? That doesn't make any sense...
Wrath froze in the middle of snorting derisively.
-Wait a moment. Now that I think about it, there's no demonic energy either...
He trembled, his blue eyes wide, saying that even the demonic energy he could normally sense had completely disappeared.
'You really can't sense any demonic energy?'
Raon swallowed dryly as he watched Wrath gulp down empty air.
-I'm certain. Although my senses aren't normal in this spirit state, I shouldn't be unable to sense demonic energy.
Wrath nodded, saying he could guarantee it.
'Negative energies like death energy and demonic energy are supposed to exist everywhere, right?'
Raon bit his lip lightly as he looked up at the clear sky of Montiro.
-Not everywhere, but wherever humans exist at least.
Wrath slowly shook his head.
-You, being unlike humans, might not understand, but humans are extremely complex creatures. They might be happy about gaining one gold coin, but if they hear their neighbor got ten, that happiness turns into jealousy and anger.
He shook his head, saying humans were even more troublesome beings than demons or angels.
-Because they're such complex beings, they emit negative energies like death energy and demonic energy just by breathing, like animals shedding fur. Of course, it's in such minute quantities that it doesn't negatively affect others. However...
Wrath raised his round hand and struck the air.
-Even that tiny bit of demonic energy doesn't exist in this land. As long as humans are gathered here, this doesn't make sense.
He rolled his eyes, saying there must be some hidden device at work.
'I think the same.'
Raon nodded slightly as he looked ahead again.
'There's never been a place where I couldn't sense death energy before.'
Since leaving Zieghart, he had always been using
'Shall I try again?'
Just in case, he used Death Energy Detection again, but no ominous energy could be sensed anywhere. The world around him felt as clean as looking at clear, transparent spring water at dawn.
-It's the same for me as well.
Wrath deeply furrowed his brow.
-I still can't sense any demonic energy. It's as if it doesn't exist at all.
He bit his lip, saying it was too strange.
'Then, regardless of what happened or how...'
Raon clenched his fingertips as he watched people laughing and enjoying themselves.
'It's certain that this place is strange.'
The words the Demonblade had spoken before dying began to carry more weight. Of course, this was just the beginning.
"Are we still far? I need to go shopping quickly."
Dorian urged Rensia, stomping his feet as if in a hurry.
"It's over there. The most expensive lodging is on the hill because of the view."
Rensia, acting as their guide, smiled and pointed to a building on the hill. A white building rose in the shape of angular waves, and it looked extremely luxurious, gleaming white as if well-maintained.
"Wow, that place must be quite expensive, right?"
Krein, with a greatsword slung over his shoulder, opened his mouth in a round shape.
"Then you can stay at an inn."
Raon acted the part of a rich, arrogant playboy, tilting his chin.
"Ah, no! I need to protect the Merchant Association Head!"
Krein shook his head firmly, saying that was absolutely not the case.
"Please let me go! Please!"
Dorian smacked his lips as if buying things quickly was more important than the luxury accommodation.
"Geez..."
Raon muttered for Dorian to just go quickly as he smacked the back of his head.
"You three are merchants, right?"
Rensia asked, blinking her green eyes. Black hair with light green eyes. She was cute now, but she seemed like she would grow into a striking beauty.
"Yeah. We make a living by picking up this and that."
Raon yawned and nodded.
"Young Master! The head of a merchant association shouldn't say such things! Have some pride!"
Dorian raised his clenched fist, telling Raon to show the attitude of a merchant.
"You keep it. Want me to pass it on to you?"
Raon waved his hand, saying he didn't need such things.
"How, how could I..."
Dorian's lips trembled as if burdened, despite being the official successor of Sephia, a large merchant association.
"Then just quietly follow along. Both of you."
Raon shook his head, gesturing for Dorian and Krein to keep their mouths shut.
'They're playing along better than I expected.'
Dorian was so sincere that there was nothing to say, and Krein was naturally acting the part of a slightly unhinged bodyguard. At this rate, it seemed no one would doubt them.
'Still, we should be careful.'
This place was likely the inner sanctum of the Black Tower. Raon steeled himself to be prepared for anything as he followed Rensia up the hill.
"We've arrived!"
After walking for quite a while, Rensia stopped her small feet and stretched her hand to the right.
"This is Balorens, Montiro's finest hotel!"
She stretched out her hand energetically as if she were the owner of the massive hotel. Of course, being still young, it only looked cute.
"You can enter through that entrance over there!"
Rensia pointed to the hotel entrance with a bright smile.
"Aren't you coming in?"
Raon lowered his eyebrows as he looked at Rensia. Usually, children acting as guides would introduce the accommodation and receive a tip from the manager, so it was strange for her to just stand there.
"Ah, I need to take care of the carriage."
Rensia smiled, shaking the horse's reins she held in her small hand.
"Is that so?"
Just as Raon nodded and was about to enter the lodging first, the hotel door opened, and an elderly gentleman in a gray suit walked out.
"Welcome to Balorens, boasting the best view in Montiro."
The elderly gentleman placed his hand on his chest and bowed to Raon, Dorian, and Krein.
"I am Aphel, the manager of Balorens."
He straightened his body and introduced himself as Aphel.
"Kayden."
Raon gave the name of the merchant association head he was currently disguised as.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Kayden."
Despite Raon only arrogantly stating his name, Aphel maintained his smile without being flustered.
"Rensia. Did you bring these guests?"
Aphel nodded his chin as he looked at Rensia, who was about to pull the carriage to the outskirts of the hotel.
"Ah, yes!"
Rensia approached Aphel with a cheerful laugh.
"Then you should have said something, you little one."
Aphel patted Rensia's head as if he had known her for a long time and handed her a tip.
'...'
Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Rensia smiling brightly.
'Her hand is shaking?'
Rensia's hand, held behind her back, was trembling slightly.
'Is she tired from driving the carriage?'
It seemed her hand had lost strength from holding the reins all the way from the entrance to this hill.
-Tsk tsk. Making such a little one work.
Wrath clicked his tongue as if finding it pathetic.
'It can't be helped. Right now, I'm not Raon Zieghart, but Kayden, the playboy merchant association head.'
He shook his head, smacking his lips. He could show off his money, but he couldn't kindly take care of her.
'Hmm...'
Raon smacked his lips as he watched Aphel, the manager of Balorens, having a friendly conversation with Rensia.
'I can't sense anything from that person either.'
For someone managing such a large hotel, he should have connections to the underworld, but Aphel didn't emit any death energy, demonic energy, or even aura. He was literally just an ordinary old man.
"Please come in. I'll guide you to a room with a great view of the emerald sea."
After finishing his conversation with Rensia, Aphel gestured for them to follow.
"Not just a room with a good view. The best room."
Raon said money was no object and tossed a gold coin to Aphel.
"Ho ho, understood."
Aphel nodded as if to say not to worry, then slightly bent his waist and opened the door himself. They entered the hotel through the door Aphel had opened. Under the ceiling that rose high like a cathedral, a majestic chandelier hung down, pouring out brilliant light as if welcoming them.
'It's certainly luxurious, but...'
Raon slightly lowered his eyebrows as he looked at the hotel interior, which seemed to have the word 'luxury' plastered all over it.
'Why does it look so dark?'
* * *
"Hmm..."
Raon smacked his lips as he left the hotel.
'It's good, I'll give it that.'
As befitting Montiro's best accommodation, Balorens had decorated the entire room lavishly yet neatly. The best feature was the window overlooking the sea. One entire wall was made of reinforced glass, making it seem like you could look at it all day without getting bored.
"Money really is nice after all."
Krein smacked his lips, saying he didn't want to leave the room.
"C-Can we go to the market now? There's so much I want to buy!"
Dorian stuttered like someone going through withdrawal, insisting they needed to restock.
"Not yet."
Raon shook his head as he pressed down on Dorian's trembling shoulders.
"Let's get a general tour first and then split up."
"That's right."
"Ah..."
Krein nodded as if it was obvious, but Dorian let out a long sigh as if he could barely hold himself back.
"Then where would you like to go first? It's still daytime, so we can see anywhere."
Rensia stepped forward with a bright smile.
-Food! Food comes first!
Wrath raised his hand, insisting they eat first.
-Wouldn't it be stranger for someone with so much money to go around hungry!
He raised his voice, urging Raon to quickly say "food".
"Hmm..."
Raon looked at Rensia's hands, which had stopped trembling, and nodded.
"Let's start with a meal."
"Understood! I'll take you to a restaurant that serves the finest seafood!"
Rensia, seeming to have figured out their preferences, took the lead down the hill, saying she would guide them to a top-class restaurant.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
"Yes..."
Raon lightly slapped the back of Dorian's neck and followed Rensia. Not long after descending from Hotel Balorens, Rensia stopped in front of a restaurant with a blue sign near the beach.
"This 'Sea View' is the best place for seafood in Montiro!"
She raised her thumb, saying that everything, from ingredients to chefs, was the best.
"The best, huh..."
Raon briefly smacked his lips and opened the restaurant door.
"Aren't you coming?"
Dorian tilted his head as he looked at Rensia, who was sitting on the steps beside the stairs.
"Huh? I should wait here."
Rensia shook her head as if to say how could she possibly enter such a place.
"But you're hungry."
"Ah, I brought some bread."
She pulled out some bread from her blue backpack as if to say not to worry.
"Association Head..."
Dorian looked at Raon as if suggesting that Rensia should eat with them.
"..."
Raon lowered his gaze to stare intently at Rensia.
"Ah, no! This place is really expensive! It's not somewhere I can afford to eat."
Rensia waved both hands, saying it wasn't a price she could afford.
"Expensive, you say?"
Raon deeply furrowed his brow.
"Follow me. And from now on, don't say the word 'expensive' in front of me."
He clicked his tongue as if his pride was hurt and beckoned with his finger.
"Uh, yes?"
"I said come."
Raon left those words and entered the restaurant called 'Sea View'.
'Dorian set this up well.'
If it had been out of affection, he would have ignored it, but since the conversation centered around money, it wasn't strange to feed Rensia.
-Kyaaaa!
Wrath let out a deep exclamation, seemingly moved by the scent of butter and seafood wafting from inside the restaurant.
-This is it! This luxury suits me well!
He gestured with his chin, urging to order all the food in this restaurant.
"Welcome!"
The restaurant owner, wearing a black vest, bowed his head politely.
"Hmm, Rensia?"
He raised his head and widened his eyes upon seeing Rensia.
"Are these the guests you brought?"
"Yes! They said they wanted to go to the best restaurant!"
Rensia nodded with a bright smile, just like when she saw the manager of Balorens.
"Is that so? As expected, there's no one but you!"
The restaurant owner bit his lip slightly as if moved and tossed a silver coin to Rensia.
"Ah..."
Rensia, about to receive the tip, dropped the bread she was holding.
"S-Sorry."
She immediately bowed her head and tried to pick up the bread and tip, but her hands were shaking, perhaps from embarrassment, causing her to miss the silver coin several times.
"Here."
Dorian picked up the silver coin instead and handed it to Rensia.
"Thank you!"
Rensia bowed her head with a bright smile, as if her hands had never shaken.
"Four people, including this child."
Raon gestured with his chin to the restaurant owner, telling him to guide them to a table.
"Including Rensia? Ah, yes! Let's go to that window seat over there!"
As it was common to treat the child guide to a meal, the owner guided them to their seats without any particular comment.
"How would you like to order?"
"Bring everything."
Raon scanned all the dishes on the menu and tossed a gold coin.
"I'll serve it quickly!"
The restaurant owner bowed deeply and rushed to the kitchen as if to serve the food before he could change his mind.
-You, you...
Wrath's lips trembled as if dumbfounded.
'What? Did you discover something?'
-That's not it! I've realized something more important!
'Something more important?'
-Yes! I've realized that when you disguise yourself as a rich person, you order more food than you can eat! Can't you just disguise yourself like this every day?
He wasn't talking about discovering demonic energy or death energy, but was grinning widely as if he found this situation enjoyable.
'...'
Raon looked down at Wrath with cold eyes.
'Once this is over, we are having a Nadine bread party.'
* * *
-Kuuuh!
Wrath let out a deep exclamation after finishing the meal.
-They can confidently claim to be the best restaurant! The ingredients are fresh, and the cooking methods are perfect.
He patted his full belly, saying it was the most satisfying meal he'd had in a long time.
"Let's get up now."
Raon put down the empty wine glass and stood up.
"Um, excuse me..."
Rensia raised her head slightly, looking cautious.
"Can I take the leftover food with me?"
She pointed at the almost untouched dishes while carefully gauging their reactions.
"Oh! No problem!"
Dorian nodded as if to say she should take it.
"This is seafood, won't it go bad if we don't eat it today?"
Krein blinked as if asking if it would be okay.
"Ah, I want to bring it to my younger siblings."
Rensia laughed sheepishly, saying she had younger siblings at home.
"Oh, you have younger siblings."
"Then it should be fine. But leave the raw food. It might cause an upset stomach."
Dorian and Krein, seeming to feel sorry for Rensia who had siblings, helped her pack the food themselves.
"..."
Raon watched the three for a moment, then finished paying and left the restaurant.
-I thought you'd order some new food for her?
Wrath shook his head as if surprised.
'The Kayden I'm pretending to be doesn't have that much kindness.'
Raon shrugged his shoulders.
'Of course, if it were about money, that might be different.'
Smirking, he went down to the beach below the restaurant.
'There's no death energy here either.'
He couldn't sense any death energy at the 'Sea View' restaurant they had just visited, nor at the beach and sea where he was standing now.
'It's clear that the Black Tower or whatever has set up a special barrier or artifact here.'
The problem now was how to find it.
'What should I do...'
As Raon touched his temple and smacked his lips, Dorian and Krein approached from behind.
"The sea is so clear. You can see right through it."
Krein exclaimed, impressed by the sea.
"Indeed. We could use all of that as merchandise, couldn't we?"
Dorian smacked his lips as he examined the sea.
"You guys just..."
Raon sighed briefly and waved his finger.
"Start working. There's no point in waiting."
It seemed better to send Dorian off first, as he looked like he might go crazy soon.
"Gasp! Yes sir!"
"Understood."
Unlike Dorian who answered excitedly, Krein just nodded and left the beach.
"Where would you like to go now?"
Rensia bowed her head, tightly gripping the straps of her backpack.
"Next is..."
Just as Raon was about to speak while watching the gentle waves rolling onto the beach.
"Who do we have here?"
A middle-aged man with black hair, whom Raon had never seen before, waved his hand as if greeting an old friend.
"It's been a while."