CH82 Exploring the Occupied town.
The dirt road was bumpy, marred by ruts from countless wagons and carriages. A light rain and cool temperatures cast a chill over the area. Strangely, vegetation was sparse along the roadside. Remnants of what might have once been cobblestones, now jagged rocks embedded in the mud, suggested a severe lack of maintenance.
"Phew, it looks like this thing works. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to not be repelled at the border like before,” Fufi exclaimed, having donned her super suit before they entered the neighboring barony.
“Why is that?” Alex asked.
“Because, the monarch's law. They ban Flamingos in their lands. It is part of how they are able to limit our access to good magical girl candidates.” Fufi’s suit ticked like a clock when she moved it. “Every Flamingo dreams of contracting with a human, but stuff like this limits our access to them.”
Alex wound the key for good measure. “So if flamingos had access to human lands there would be more people forming contracts? Why not just seek out non-humans like Fumi did with Sakura?”
Fufu shook her head and the puppet followed her movements. “Humans are the best choice. Longer lived races have the system cap their growth earlier than shorter lived races. Otherwise the world would be controlled by elves, dwarves and gnomes. Sakura will never be able to rise to the heights of Cosmos for example. There are some crazy powerful demons that have cultivated to a level of power that a level capped person wouldn’t be able to battle.”
“Hmm, weird.” Alex thought this was important but couldn’t grasp all the implications.
“Anyway, you did a good job with making this cute thing I’m wearing. Cuteness defeats even monarchs that are controlled by demons.” Fufi cheerfully stated.
“Sometimes you have a strange way of viewing things. I’d think a high level lord or lady would defeat a low level magical girl any day.” Alex shook her head.
“Yes and no, in a contest of cuteness, the power of cuteness always prevails.” Fufi said something strange again.
Alex shook her head, “I still don’t understand.”
“Think about it this way, in a contest of strength, what happens if one person doesn’t have strength as a stat?” Fufi tried again.
“I’d guess the one with the stat would win? But how is that relevant? Everyone has strength as a stat.” Alex furrowed her brow.
“That is true for anything living and native to this world. Why would a ghost or something that doesn’t have a physical body have stats that apply to something they don’t have.” Fufi kept gushing about something weird. “Very few classes get cuteness as a stat. Almost all of those classes are gifted by Luna.”
“I thought everyone had cuteness as a stat.” Alex was puzzled.
“Nope, most people have charisma, not cuteness.” Fufi waved her clockwork wings, though they moved much slower than if she wasn’t in the suit.
Alex remained puzzled. The deities' concessions for Cosmos's retirement defied her understanding. She had initially believed it was due to Cosmos's unparalleled status, but Fufi's explanation suggested a far greater complexity to how powers clash in this world.
After a bumpy half-day's journey, they finally reached a semblance of civilization. In the distance, a city emerged, its size comparable to the ruins' walls. Unlike Mignonville, this was a port town, with docks situated on its eastern end. The surrounding area was dotted with small farms, each featuring a single house on ten-acre lots. Alex estimated the village's population to be between 100 and 1000. The magical girl refrained from speculating on the demon-to-human ratio, given that some demons were quite small, potentially leading to a very high proportion.
“I suppose we have to start acting like merchants and crafters now.” Alex eyed the soggy path to the main gate. “I never really was much of an actor but wish me luck.”
“I’ll play my part and act like a clockwork doll!” Fufi squawked excitedly about her role in the act. “A magical one!”
“This is the last point where we can’t easily back out. Wish us luck Fufi.” Alex took a deep breath, pulled a lever and the carriage rolled forward with a ticking noise.
“The power of friendship will prevail, we don't need luck!” Fufi cheered.
Approaching the main gate, distant figures of small demons and humans became visible. The farmhouses, sturdy yet dilapidated, were constructed from stone and sod, topped with grass roofs. Wood appeared to be a scarce commodity in this barony, with only the more substantial buildings boasting slate-tiled roofs.
The absence of wood was glaringly evident. Large fires punctuated the edges of the agricultural land, encircled by meditating imps. These three-foot-tall creatures resembled stoic monks, or perhaps just constipated individuals. It seemed the humans were obligated to maintain these fires for the imps' cultivation rituals. Alex worried about the nearby roofs, fearing for their safety if a strong gust of wind were to ignite the considerable blazes.
A somber sight, the humans toiling in the fields appeared gaunt. It was probable that without the intervention of classes, skills, and magic, the village would be as desolate as the wasteland.
As the carriage approached the main gate several imps came out on top of the battlements. “Ah, a travel dares approach the gates of our esteemed town? How quaint. What brings you to approach our sect?” One of the larger imps sounded full of itself. It wore a flowing red robe, which might have seemed impressive if not for the fact that it was only three feet tall.
“I’m Al..Alice.” Alex quickly came up with a fake name just in case. “I’m here as a merchant.”
“Pffft, the human knows not her place. Address yourself as ‘this one’ when answering your betters.” The imp stuck its nose up in the air. “Your humble wares are of little consequence to me, but I shall grant you the opportunity to present your goods. Of what wares do you peddle?”
“I…er…this one trades in clothing and toys.” Alex said.
“Bring your cart inside and my fire clanmates will inspect it.” The imp gestured them through the gate.
The carriage, with a ticking sound, entered a visibly dilapidated town. The dreary weather only amplified its run-down appearance. Small imps, acting with an air of importance, went about their business, while the gaunt humans, clad in dirty clothing, kept their heads down, appearing utterly defeated. The only notable structure was a spotless, well-maintained manor, enclosed by a large stone fence, with trees adorning its yard.
Alex halted the cart where the imps directed her. A group of robed imps encircled the cart for inspection. "Perhaps," one began, "I shall deign to purchase something. Remember, my time is precious, and I have no patience for trifles. Now, speak, woman, and tread lightly."
Alex struggled to suppress a laugh at the imp's ridiculously theatrical demeanor.
They were the size of a three-year-old, with bald, red skin, needle teeth, and pointy ears. Their skin color differed from the second-tier demon encountered in the frozen mountains, leading Alex to speculate that a demon's skin tone might indicate their cultivation path. These particular demons could be fire cultivators, which, according to Fufi, was a traditional path for demons.
Alex removed the panels, displaying her goods.
"Let's break some things to fulfill our summoning contract. She doesn't appear to be suffering enough," one demon declared, cracking its knuckles and brandishing its small claws. "I'm going to tear some of those clothes."
"Huh? Why? How am I supposed to trade damaged goods?" Alex found the imp's reasoning peculiar.
“Refer to yourself as ‘this one’, inputent human. And damaged goods are not our problem.” The imps, except for the one that was talking before all nodded. “We all have the same deal for staying indefinitely on this plane of existence. If we don’t do that the magic will break and we’ll go back to our native plane.”
The arrogant imp smacked the talkative imp across the back of his head. “Fool, don’t disclose the details of such things. What are you, a child? Contracts are only between the summoner and the summoned.”
The area devolved into an awkward silence.
“So um….are we done here or do you need anything else?” Alex hoped to make an exit because it sounded like she was eavesdropping on some private matters.
“There is an entering-town tax.” One demon sneered. “Each of us gets one of these.” He pointed at the line of plushies from the first dungeon run.
Alex winced. “Okay, but don’t take the one in armor.” The plushies had been there for quite a while. They didn’t do much but were a nice reminder of the events in the first dungeon where old Alex thought swinging fists could lead to success. “That one is cursed.”
The demons avoided the hero doll. Alex thought that he could sense its killing intent growing with demons in the area and wondered if they could as well. One pull of a string and that stuffed toy might go on a rampage. They took more than half of the plushies. It was a bit sad but Alex didn’t really have a choice. This was a spy mission after all.
“Go human, set up in the main square. You’ve wasted enough of our time.” The imp said, holding a plushie.
Alex established her stall in the main square, a section of town rarely visited by imps. Gaunt individuals perused her offerings, though few had the means to purchase. She exchanged several bolts of cloth for mere copper coins, a clear loss on her part. However, seeing these people living as refugees, she dismissed the financial setback and decided to let go of the stuffed animals she'd hoped to sell.
One child's eyes fixated on a plush toy. Her mother quickly hushed her, explaining that such a luxury was beyond their reach. Alex, careful not to draw the attention of any lurking demons, quietly gave the plushy to the child for free. The grateful mother offered Alex a basket of berries in return, a gesture that warmed Alex's heart.
Villagers bartered rusted hammerheads and other seemingly valueless items. To Alex, these were treasures she could restore to their former glory. Acquiring these metals would be incredibly beneficial. The town lacked a nearby mine, meaning most tools were on their last legs. While some new tools did enter the town, they originated elsewhere. This town once thrived as a trading hub, with the majority of its commerce arriving via ships on the river, boasting a port deep enough to accommodate large vessels.
“There is no trade anymore because sea monsters will sink any ship that travels the river. We only get the occasional merchant coming from overland like yourself.” An older man explained. He traded some scrap metal for cloth.
Alex knew that wasn’t true but didn’t correct him. “There are no ships in the harbor?”
The man shook his head. “There are some sunken ships at the bottom of the harbor. Who knows the condition they are in. Back in the day some people had small skiffs that they kept hoping the baroness would do something about the sea creature, but the demons demanded them for their fires.”
“That is unfortunate.” Alex consoled the villager.
“Yes, Lady Yvne takes our sons and daughters to train them to be maids. They don’t have a choice. Things keep getting worse.” The man said this part in a whisper, a little worried someone might be listening in. “I know that her skills as a noble are the only thing keeping this increasingly poor soil going but one day it will not be enough.”
A familiar plaque hung from the side of a nearby building. Fufi, posing as a clockwork doll, also pointed a beak at it. “Is that an adventurer's guild? I wonder what quests they have.”
The pair closed up shop and headed to the guild. The inside looked run down but was mostly frequented by imps.
“Hello, who is your master? Are you here on his behalf?” A human woman dressed as a receptionist seemed a bit put off when Alex and Fufi entered.
“I don’t have one. I’m a merchant. I was just wondering what kind of quests were here.” Alex told her.
“Well, humans can only be adventurers if a demon recruits them into their party in this kingdom.” The receptionist tried to keep a smile but some of the imps were glaring at them. “Most of the quests are for items to help with cultivation. There is a big one to collect the rumored 100 year old ginger from the forest. There is also an open one for flammable materials to feed the pyres.” She paused. “But again, you’d have to ask one of the imp party leaders to let you into their party. The easy stuff gets snatched up right away so only dangerous quests are available.”
“Is the forest that dangerous?” Alex asked.
“Yes, hundreds of imps go missing trying to cross the swamp every year. Not long ago, lady Yvne posted a quest to send a message to the ruined town but we’ve yet to hear what happened.” She waved a hand. “Anyway, I suggest you don’t hang around here. You are irritating the regulars who are hoping something will come in that they can do without near certain death.” She pointed at the door.
“Thank you, I’ll keep away from here. Sorry to be a bother. I mean, um, this one is sorry to waste your time.” Alex corrected herself. Talking like that was hard to get used to.
The receptionist waved goodbye. “Don’t worry about it, I’m not a sect member so you don’t have to speak to me with such language.”
They left the adventurers guild, and took the carriage up to the manor house. Hopefully it wasn’t a crime to swing by, take a look and ask questions.
Alex pulled up to the gate. Several black-skinned imps were guarding it. They crossed spears in front of her when she pulled up. “Where do you think you are going, human? This is the Manor of Lady Yvne. Do you have business here?”
“No, I’m…er this onesies just a merchant. This is my first time visiting and ‘this one’ thought that this property was the best kept place in the town.” Alex tried to sound flattering. “My name is Alice.”
“It is the best manor in the whole kingdom. Lady Yvne trains perfect maids. Any human who joins her staff will come out as a maid with unequaled skill.” The demon seemed proud of the Baroness for some reason. “Are you here to seek employment? Keeping a household to the highest standards fit for nobility is no simple feat.”
Fufi, the flamingo, struggled to suppress her laughter. She had already teased Alex about her prowess, suggesting Alex would make an excellent maid-type magical girl.
Alex scrunched up her face in thought. Becoming a trainee in the manor could offer a good spying opportunity, but the maid training itself would only fuel Fufi's smugness if Alex gained significant skill points.