"Now, hold on. Brother."
The man who had been about to hurl a punch at Deimon's face paused for a moment.
"What is it? Marine."
"Come to think of it, I can understand his circumstances. Just how hungry must he have been……"
"What are you talking about? He may have a fairly handsome face, but this bastard needs to be taught a lesson……"
"Stop it and put him down. If you don't, I won't stay still."
The man put Deimon down with an awkward expression. At the unexpected turn of events, the bewildered
Deimon found the woman approaching him with a gentle smile.
"Why didn't you tell me beforehand? Were you that hungry?"
"N-not now."
As Deimon stammered out the words, the woman abruptly thrust her face toward him. Close enough that he could vividly feel her hot, panting breath.
"If you wish to dine, please come here anytime. My name is Marine."
The man, who had been looking back and forth between the two with a bewildered expression, only then caught on to the situation.
'Don't tell me this girl…'
Though he was in a shabby state, the bastard's looks were outstanding even to himself, a man. He also
wondered how his younger sister, who had been surrounded solely by rough seamen, had ever laid eyes on such a handsome man. The man began to play along without even realizing it.
"Ahem. I do apologize. There are just so many bad fellows these days."
Deimon was on the verge of going mad at the suddenly changed situation. That the man and woman who had been about to devour him
could change their attitudes so drastically……
"You seem to be a traveler; have you arranged lodging?"
"Ah, n-not yet."
"Then please stay at our house. We won't charge you for the room……"
"W-would that be alright?"
Marine forcibly pushed the stammering Deimon and sent him up to the second floor. In the midst of it,
Deimon was greatly troubled by the gazes directed at him. But one cannot spit on a smiling face, so he had no choice but to quietly go up.
"I'll have water prepared, so wash up and rest well."
After giving a slight eye-smile, Marine left behind the bewildered-looking Deimon and closed the door.
The man cautiously approached Marine, who had come downstairs.
"What are you planning to do, Marine?"
"Aww, Brother, you know full well……"
Marine blushed slightly, but the man couldn't easily set his mind at ease.
"He may have a handsome face, but you don't know who he is. He might be someone who committed a bad deed and ran away. So giving your heart so hastily is……"
"It's alright. That person's clear eyes were definitely proving that he is not someone who committed a bad deed and ran away."
"Even so……"
As if unable to let go of his lingering concerns, the man continued trying to persuade Marine. But she
was adamant. Hadn't they said that turning the heart of a woman who has fallen in love was the most difficult thing?
Therefore, the man had no choice but to give up everything and return to the kitchen. As she sat back down at the counter, Marine's heart was already thumping loudly.
"Just where did he come from? By the look of his clothes, he doesn't seem to be from around here……"
"You are quite wrong, Miss. It is correct that I am someone who committed a bad deed and ran away."
Deimon, who had eavesdropped on the entire conversation downstairs using a thousand-li hearing technique, gave a bitter smile. Thanks to his handsome appearance, he
had escaped a predicament, but Deimon was by no means happy about it.
Of course, such treatment was utterly unfamiliar to him.
"Damn. Women truly are incomprehensible creatures……"
To sum up in one word the treatment he had received from women until now, it could only be expressed as contempt. Because he was born with an ugly appearance, Deimon had never once received a tender gaze from any woman. Other than Daphne, there was no woman who had
given him such a look.
It was precisely for that one reason that Deimon thought of Daphne so dearly. But for the treatment to change immediately
just because his appearance had changed……
"This is not a pleasant thing. After all, strictly speaking, this face is not mine."
He had considered returning to his old appearance, but Deimon changed his mind. He felt that living with a different appearance wouldn't be so bad. Receiving treatment starkly
different from what he had received until now. For that, Deimon decided to prepare thoroughly.
"First, I'll need money."
He locked the door first. What he was about to do was something that absolutely no one should peep at. Then Deimon opened the magic treasury, Incresia. He
was now trying to use a small portion of the treasure he had plundered from the dragons.
Sssssss
As the entrance to the space opened, Deimon shouted at it at the top of his lungs.
"Hey! Is anyone there?"
No answer came. But Deimon kept calling out names. The names of the Death Knights he had
sent into Incresia.
"Helvertron. Raindelf. Frimberg, hey, Saramis."
Only after quite some time did a reply come.
"What is it, Deimon."
It was impossible to tell who it was from the voice. Perhaps because it was coming from the other side of the space, it was fortunate that the Death Knight's voice did not
resonate.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Saramis. The others are far away, so they won't be able to come right away. It's so vast
in here. So vast that the end isn't visible. Shall I go call them?"
"No, there's no need for that."
Deimon cut Saramis short and soon stated his request. At the words that he needed jewels, Saramis
showed a dumbfounded reaction.
"You called us for something like that?"
"I hadn't wanted to, but it became unavoidable. So if you've found any gold or silver coins among them, hand some over."
"Damn. I couldn't find gold or silver even if I washed my eyes and looked. Hmm, there is one thing. I found it
here, but I don't know if this will do……"
A moment later, something emitting a brilliant light was thrown through the entrance of Incresia. It
was a massive crown entirely covered in dazzling jewels. Deimon's face
contorted.
"This is the crown of the Tranbel Kingdom. How am I supposed to sell this here? Isn't there anything else? Something
that looks less precious, I mean."
"Wait a moment."
After a brief while, a necklace was thrown this time. Though it seemed Saramis had taken considerable care in choosing it, it was no less extravagant. It was threaded with dozens of pearls the size of a grown man's fingernail, and set in the center was a ruby the size of a child's fist. Over Deimon's face rose a look of resignation.
"It can't be helped. If I dismantle and sell it, it might be possible……. Hey, Saramis. Good work."
"Don't call us for this kind of thing again……"
Along with a voice that seemed quite annoyed, Saramis's presence disappeared. Deimon, letting out a sigh, threw the crown of Tranbel back inside and closed Incresia.
"That damn bastard. Even after becoming a Death Knight, his temper is the same."
After grumbling for a moment, Deimon rose. He intended to bathe before heading out.
"Take this."
"Oh my. What is this?"
When Deimon abruptly held out the pearl, Marine's pupils grew wide as saucers. What the other held out was a pearl of the highest quality, visible at a glance. Although it was thought that its value might drop somewhat because a hole had been drilled in it, it was by no means an item to be taken lightly given its size. It was not something a traveler in shabby clothes, who looked like he wouldn't have a single penny, would produce. Seeing the surprised
Marine, Deimon shrugged.
"Think of it as lodging fee. I had not intended to dispose of it, but I seem to have fallen for your kind
heart."
"R-really?"
Marine's face flushed red in an instant. To hear such words from the man she had
given her heart to……. Her heart pounded so much she could barely contain herself. But in Deimon's eyes as he looked at
her, there was only cold calmness.
'That woman is merely captivated by the shell. Calm down, Deimon.'
Unable to bear seeing Marine so flustered, the man stepped forward. He picked up the pearl Deimon held out and examined it closely.
'Seeing the hole drilled in it, it appears to have been taken from a necklace, but it's undoubtedly genuine. By the way, if a pearl of this size was threaded to make a necklace, the original item must have been extraordinary.'
The man, who had determined the pearl's authenticity in an instant, made a troubled expression.
"A pearl of this caliber is more than ten times the cost of the meal and lodging. I'm afraid we won't have
change……"
"It's fine. Give me what you have and keep the rest. Consider it a reward for your good
deed."
"W-will that really be alright?"
As if afraid Deimon might change his mind, the man hurriedly emptied the container holding the money. Taking the pearl into account, it was definitely a profitable deal even if he handed over all the money inside. Marine glared at her brother repeatedly as if resenting him for not understanding her feelings, but the man paid her no heed. At a glance, the man was not husband material for his sister, so he had decided to act
realistically. Having received the pouch of money, Deimon turned around as if without a shred of lingering attachment.
"Then I shall be going."
He could feel Marine's gaze piercing his back, but Deimon walked on as if nothing was wrong. When he left, Marine reflexively tried to follow him out. But she was stopped by her brother and could not have her
way.
"Calm down, Marine. That man is not someone who suits you. You know that as well, don't you?"
"Brother... *sob*"
Thus was a coastal maiden's brief infatuation shattered into pieces.
"Phew. I got told off."
Deimon shook his head as he walked on. Having received such a gaze from a woman for the first time in his life, he was at a complete loss. Marine's gaze was different from
Daphne's. At a glance, it was a gaze that was excessively excited and completely enthralled with him. Of course, since it was truly a novel experience, Deimon decided to continue testing it further.
"First, I must change my attire and atmosphere a bit."
Deimon gauged the weight of the pouch he had received from the man.
Clink-clink.
Contrary to expectations, it was quite heavy. Holding it, Deimon sought out a nearby clothing store first. Since he had returned to human form after a long time, dressing in clothes befitting him was the most urgent matter. Of course, enough to suit his changed appearance. Walking into the city center, Deimon picked the most splendid clothing store there and entered.
"How much for all of it?"
"Hehehe. All together, that will be 2 silver and 50 copper."
The elderly owner smiled in a manner unbefitting his age, bowing obsequiously. And for good reason—his customer was a special patron who had raised his shop's monthly revenue in one go. When Deimon had first entered in shabby clothes, the owner had worn an extremely annoyed expression. The other's appearance was obviously that of a damned beggar at a glance. But when Deimon placed a heavy-looking money pouch on the table with a loud thud, the owner's attitude did a complete one-eighty.
"Prepare a set of the finest clothes in this store. I mean, the ones that you think will suit me
best."
When Deimon, in his shabby attire, took off and threw aside the hood covering his face, the owner had to be surprised once again. Because the other's appearance was completely different from his clothing.
"Hehehe. How could there be?"
The owner literally coordinated Deimon's attire with all his heart and soul. Of course, using only the most expensive clothes in the store. Based on his long experience as a clothing store owner, he dressed Deimon in a way that made his looks stand out without equal.