Bab 15: To Sigma - Part 3 - Cidadel and Demon 1/2
On the outskirts of the Basilica kingdom, a large and bustling merchant city went about its day as usual. Even though it was on the border of Elsna's empire and amid mountains infested with trolls and wyverns, the city had a lively and prosperous vibe.
"I expected more tension around here..." Athena said as she nibbled on a hard piece of jerky.
Athena for the first time since she arrived in this world was wearing armor and for some reason felt very comfortable. All this familiarity that she feeling was bothering her and that was also one of the reasons she went to see the druid.
Her armor was simple, but beautiful. In a dull gray color, the armor was a set of gauntlets, boots, sword, shield, helmet and breastplate made of celestial mithril.
This armor was gained when Hades conquered the temple of an ancient lunar deity in the underworld.
An armor that absorbs moonlight and empowers the wearer. Increased regeneration without requiring healing magic, increased movement speed and protection.
However, this was all in the game. Athena didn't know what the effects were or how to activate them. At that moment, the armor was just that, an armor.
"Athena, Athena!" Fotiá called from over Athena's shoulders.
"What is it, Fotia?"
"Look! There's a huge neck animal over there."
"? There's giraf..." Athena was saying when she looked in the direction that Fotiá was pointing. "Huh? What the hell is that?"
"Ooh! Have you never seen an earth dragon before?" A merchant in a stall asked upon hearing Athena.
The animal had a long neck and a tail full of thorns, attached to a body of pure muscle and scales.
"Dragon?" Athena asked with eyes full of disappointment.
"Aaah... It's not a real dragon. I don't think they found a better name to give it. He's not smart and I couldn't even destroy countries in one night." Explained the merchant by tying his bandanna around his arm.
"So this is just a stupidly developed lizard. You gave me a fright now."
"Fotiá wants to climb on it!"
"No. See the scales? You're going to get hurt. Also, we're looking for equipment for you and Anemus."
"Sorry if I'm getting into your business, but, there's a children's armor shop in the alley on Third Avenue here." Said the merchant.
"Thanks." Athena said and waved goodbye to you.
The man smiled as if he'd hit the jackpot, but Athena didn't see it.
***
At the inn, Anemus was reading a thick book about nymph magic that she had gained from Athena earlier, when Athena and Fotiá entered the room abruptly.
"Anemus, put the book down. We found a place to buy your stuff." Athena said with her mouth full of cream.
"Equipment!" Fotiá said with her mouth full of cream.
"Why don't you take that helmet off? It's very ugly." Anemus said and went back to reading the book.
The helmet covered half of the face and had wings and two horns adorning it. Athena took off her helmet, revealing her beautiful face. But pitying to dispute why she thought it was cool, she threw it back into the dimensional bag.
"Come on Anemus. I don't want to be in this town too long."
"You paid a week in advance."
"Money isn't an issue. Come on, I think you want a robe, scepter and clothes for after the ritual." Athena said as she took the book from Anemus' hands.
"Can't you choose things for yourselves? Fotiá is the same size as me, she can serve as a model." Anemus complained as she was carried by Athena.
"Do you intend to become a library rat now?"
"Library rat?"
"It is a person who doesn't know how to live without reading everything she can, Fotiá."
"Anemus is a rat?"
Athena looked at Anemus, whom she carried like baggage and took her in her arms like a prince carrying a princess.
"No. She's a princess!"
Anemus' face turned as red as her dress and her heart leapt in her chest.
'Why does she do this?' Anemus wondered and gave up. "Ah~.... Whatever. Let's get this over with."
***
Far away, in the mist elves' village, the knight was sitting opposite Nimo. He/she had been captured when entering the village without permission and after saying that he/she was after a high-human, they invited him/her to the palace of the elders.
"... You can drop me off at the entrance to the forest. From there I can go on my way." The knight said.
Nimo stared at the parchment Athena handed her with an expression of disgust and fear. She knew Athena wasn't a paladin, but she didn't expect that.
"A tormentor after so many centuries of peace..."
"There is?"
"You're after the high-human why?" Nimo faced the knight.
"Well..." The knight looked around looking for an escape route and then sighed in surrender. "I don't think there's any point hiding."
The knight removed her helmet, gauntlets, and then, from her ring finger, a ring with a purple stone.
Nimo's eyes widened in shock. In front of her an abominable being was present.
She had on her temples a pair of dark red horns, on her mouth pointed teeth, and yellow eyes on her face.
But the woman also looked human with a light skin, different from the bluish ones of demons, and her mana was more mixed than Athena's.
"A hybrid?"
The knight brushed her black hair out of her face even though she was ashamed to show herself. To Nimo, she was beautiful and abominable at the same time.
"My mother was a demon." Said the knight.
"And you want to go after Athena because she's as unique as you..."
"I want to serve her. As you can see from the parchment, she has what it takes to be a demon lord."
"Even if she isn't a demon?" Nimo asked wryly.
During the war of the goddesses, even though it was part of the exercise of destruction, those who weren't demons and the demons fought and killed each other, but the demons were deadly and always got the worst of these conflicts.
The underworld and the overworld together had a total of four demon lords and a fifth would break the balance. So those who wanted to become one would fight one of the four for his throne.
"What if she wants to kill you instead of hiring you?"
"Then..."
"Are you going to try to kill her? Will you accept her death? Why should I let you out of here?" Nimo said and the knight jumped from her chair.
Nimo studied the girl carefully. A sad and lonely creature. Not being accepted by humans or demons. A miserable existence that should never have been born.
Nimo sighed and then signaled for the knight to return to her seat.
"What do you intend to do after she becomes a demon lord? Are you going to ask her to fight?"
"N-no... I..." The knight raised her head, looked into Nimo's eyes with hopeful eyes and smiled a sad smile. "I just want to be accepted by someone..."
***
In the alley of the third avenue where Athena was informed of the existence of a children's equipment store, Athena, Fotiá and Anemus were walking calmly, looking for the store.
"Are you sure this is where this store is?" Anemus asked while dodging the feet of someone sleeping with a dog.
The alley stank of drunks and garbage. There were wooden crates and barrels all over the place and occasionally you could see outlaws along the way.
"Yes. That merchant seemed like a good person." Athena responded as handing Fotiá a white sugar flower.
Anemus was about to say something else when that happened. A man grabbed Anemus as he ran past them.
"Anemus!" Athena screamed.
However, before Athena could do anything, the man stopped in place, just over ten meters from Athena and placed Anemus on the ground.
"What was this?" Athena asked with sharp surprise.
"New magic... Now I can use mind magic too. That book was very useful." Anemus said making a "V" with her fingers.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
All_J
All_J Due to some personal reasons, next week will be very busy for me, but I will try to write at least one chapter.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone