Scarlet

It doesn’t take me long to find the information I’m looking for. Even with the magical items – I’ve gotta get used to using that term again since we’re on Tartarus – covering some buildings with magic to enchant them against eavesdropping.

Good thing my hearing is just that good.

“Humble, aren’t we?” Tar comments, sounding amused.

If it’s true, then yeah.

He snorts as I stand up from my place sitting at the edge of a building’s roof.

I glance at my arm where my terminal was before coming here, slightly lamenting the fact that it had somehow vanished right as I was being pushed through the Gate. Although somehow is a relative term considering it was obvious what happened.

Black most likely took it.

Then again, that’s better than him just pushing me through the Gate with it on, because I would rather not have had to deal with an exploding device strapped to my arm just due to coming to Tartarus.

I’m guessing he probably searched me with magic for any other pieces of technology or stuff that would blow up on Tartarus before he sent me through. Or at least he better have. Otherwise I would’ve been pretty pissed off at him.

Well, if I had anything on me that is. I don’t really carry much stuff around me most of the time.

Just my clothes obviously and my terminal. There’s not really much else that I need.

Aside from my identification papers and other stuff like that, but those are stored safely in my spatial pocket, and even if they weren’t, paper exists on Tartarus too. So it’s not a problem.

Still would be nice if he didn’t just push me here like that.

I sigh at that thought before turning my head towards the Lord of this domain’s manor. A rather… I’m not really sure how to describe the guy. Just that I don’t want to meet him.

From what I’ve heard, he encourages stealing in the city, treats people who can’t pay the entry fee after entering the line as slaves as if the mere action of entering the line itself was part of the fee, and seems to only want wealthy people in the city for any length of time. I’ve also heard he likes to toy with people.

And that he’s an undead foxkin – a lesser species of a kitsune, similar to the arachne being a lesser species to the arachnae. Except that it’s an undead version of a foxkin.

Unlike the arachne and the arachnae, however, foxkin do share the same Sin as the kitsune. Meaning their Sin is that of Greed, and it manifests in a similar way to the kitsune.

They like their playthings and money.

Meaning I’m avoiding him at all costs. The maids and clan members at the kitsune’s palace were bad enough already, I don’t need an undead one trying to lay claim on me as well.

The Noble aside though, I can’t help but sigh at the fact that I’m currently in the valley between the two mountain ranges of the Northeastern Continent of the Dead. Right in between the Spider’s Burrow and the Caverns of Death.

Although…

I purse my lips as a thought comes to mind.

But then I shake my head, deciding it’s not worth it. Going to see The Reaper could very well lead to me ending up captured instead of him helping me again.

“You wanted to see if he could bring you to the Devourer to ask for your uncle’s emotions back?” Tar asks, and I nod my head with a frown on my face.

Yeah, I know Amelia really wants that. And if I can make it so that he will actually regret his actions and maybe even care for Aria… then I might be able to get her out of that old man’s house.

I begin jumping across the rooftops across the city until I get to the edge of it and jump back down to the ground. Because I know trying to jump over the wall would just set off the alarm enchantments inside of it.

Better to just go through the gate again.

As I walk into the city street and towards the gate though, I ponder over the nuisance that is traversing the ocean to get to the Southwestern continent. Because that will be a major pain.

“Are you planning on going through the Demon King’s central continent or through the Southeastern continent?” Tar asks, making me grimace at the thought of ever going to the Southeastern continent.

I think I should go through the outskirts of the central continent, because the Southeastern continent is ruled by the Mindeaters, and just because they’re asleep doesn’t mean they don’t know exactly what’s going on throughout their continent. So I’ll probably be found right away by the Devourer if I go there. They are mental magic users after all, and I’d stand no chance against some of the peak Class IV demons there just because of that.

Stupid mental magic weakness.

And I can’t go to the Bloody Duchy for obvious reasons.

“Your father,” Tar states the obvious.

Yep. That and I don’t know how I would even get up to the floating islands in the first place.

I don’t think I can jump that high, and they have enchantments covering every inch of the islands that would detect me the moment I tried.

So the central continent it is. Meaning I’ll be passing through the Battlefield of Blood and Ruin again. And probably seeing Gramps along the way, but considering how he is I’d be shocked if he didn’t come by to pay me a visit no matter where I go.

“At least you’ll get in some training at the battlefield,” Tar points out, making me smile slightly at that.

Earth’s frontlines were the best place for me to train against low level Class IVs and Class IIIs of all level, but the Battlefield of Blood and Ruin is still the best place to go for training against high level Class IVs and Class Vs in general.

As long as I’m careful not to let a Class V annihilate me right off the bat.

I continue through the city until I make it to the gate, pay my toll, and leave, heading to the Southwest in the hopes that I make it to the coast without trouble.

Which probably won’t happen.