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The Villainous Noble Who Kept Rewinding After Death: The Story Somehow Changed When I Committed Suicide

Chapter 306: The Souvenir is Demon Meat

“This is District 2, Aphisgait? It’s so bright!”

The next stop, District 2, had a distinctly different vibe from District 3; despite it being night, it was remarkably bright and bustling with many people.

“Isn’t District 2 the area that thrives on commerce? To think demons, who’d usually snatch things away through violence rather than money, are actually engaging in trade using currency. They’re almost like humans.”

Just like in the area of Bagira, the demon race didn’t have much of a concept of money; bartering was more common, and it was typical to distribute food as some kind of reward. Worst-case scenario? Pillaging. That’s just how demons rolled.

In such a context, the sight of them using their own created money to buy and sell was truly a rarity, making it feel less like demons and more like humans.

“Looks interesting, so maybe I’ll take a little look around.”

Honestly, I had intended to cast detection magic like in District 3 to sense the reactions of the moon spirit and head straight to Soware. However, curiosity about what kinds of items were being sold in the demon marketplace got the better of me, and I pulled my hood up deep before leaping off the wall.

“Huh. There’s quite a variety of things for sale.”

Should I call it a night market?

In the demon market, herbs that were quite rare in human lands and materials from monsters were up for grabs, and astonishingly, the prices were lower than those in human territories.

“Surely, this district is abundant with monsters, so it’s easy for them to procure stuff that would be rare for us. Amazing. Is that the red eye of a Cyclops? The alchemists would be overjoyed to see that!”

Even if I had little use for such materials, monster parts always find their demand, so if the human lands could properly manage their distribution and pricing, they could amass a fortune easily.

“As for cooking… Is that grilled monster meat? It’s probably tastier than eating magic organs raw, but there’s still some resistance just because it’s a monster. Hmm. Well, if it’s them, I suppose they’d eat it if I offered.”

Spotting some skewers of grilled monster meat at one of the stalls, I decided to get some as souvenirs for Fiera and Shuvina and walked up to the booth.

“Oh, right. I don’t actually have any money here…”

However, I realized I had no cash to spend in this district and stopped in my tracks, contemplating what to do.

“I guess I’ll just have to give up this time…”

“Hey there! Looks like it’s your first time here. Allow me to pay for you!”

“Huh?”

Just as I was about to give up due to my lack of funds, a woman with half her face covered by a black fox mask appeared behind me, speaking in a distinctive manner.

Without missing a beat, she bought several skewers of monster meat and, with practiced ease, intertwined her arm with mine.

“Wait, are you…?”

“I’m called Tenko. Nice to meet you, big brother!”

“Oh, I see. I’m Eir. Nice to meet you.”

Though her ears and tail were hidden by magic, her unique way of speaking was unmistakably that of Soware. Since she introduced herself as Tenko while hiding her true appearance, I decided to go along with her and used a fake name.

“Hehe. So, your name is Eir, huh? You’re here for the first time, right?”

“Yeah. I recently arrived in this country.”

“In that case, let me show you around the town. I doubt there’s anyone who knows this place better than me. What do you say?”

“Sure, that sounds good.”

“Great! Leave it to me then! Let’s go!”

Soware said as she tightly gripped my hand, and I was then led through the town by her, passing from the main streets to side alleys, and finally to her recommended popular or hidden shops.

“This is the last stop!”

“And what is this place?”

“You’ll find out once you step inside. Come on, let’s go!”

As she said this and entered the building, it became clear it was the largest and most bustling place in town; a bizarre scene unfolded inside, where some were trembling with joy while others screamed in despair.

“What is this place…?”

“This is a gambling house!”

“A gambling house?”

“To put it in the words of your country, it’s a place for gambling. Basically, it’s a wonderful spot where you can gamble with your money and dream big!”

“Oh, so it’s about gambling. That explains the atmosphere.”

I’ve never gambled myself, but I’ve heard that many nobles enjoy betting, and some have even had to sell their lands and titles because of gambling debts.

“Since we’re here, how about trying to play a game?”

“Hmm. Just one time, though.”

“Hehe. You’re quite the fun one. Everyone starts with ‘just one time,’ but they quickly fall into the trap, you know. So be careful!”

I wanted to tell her not to tempt me, but depending on how our discussion went afterward, I hoped to build a good relationship with her, so if this made her feel better, losing a bit of money here wouldn’t be a problem at all.

“By the way, I don’t have any money from this country. What should I do?”

“That’s not an issue at all! The bets here are made with tokens called chips. You can borrow these chips by using items or other possessions as collateral. So if you possess any rare items, you can exchange them for chips! Of course, if you pay back what you borrowed, you’ll get your collateral back, and if you make a profit, you can also exchange the chips for money. Just keep in mind, if you lose, you won’t get them back, but if you win, it’s all good!”

“I see.”

At first glance, it seemed like a ruleset that allowed for a big turnaround if you had items, but underneath lay the treacherous reality of mercilessly stripping away not just money, but also precious items and possessions. It exuded a fervent intent to ensnare those who fell into the trap.

“Looks like a fox’s cunning at work, weakening its prey until the final strike.”

“Hehe. A fox never lets go of its prey once it has its sights set!”

Soware said with a lick of her lips, her demeanor exuding the ferocity worthy of a predator, making it clear this spot was her hunting ground.

“So, do you have any recommended games?”

“Well then, how about a duel between demons?”

“A duel?”

“When someone can’t pay back their borrowed money, they settle it with their own bodies. It’s a duel with the rule of no killing, where spectators bet on who will win.”

“I see. Simple enough.”

The no-kill rule seems to imply that they mean for you to pay back your debts properly, reflecting her strong obsession with money.

Well, considering Soware’s powerful capabilities, having money or items would be an advantage for her.

“Alright, let’s move to the arena!”

Soware said as she linked arms with me again and led me down to an underground arena, guiding me to an empty VIP viewing area.

“Looks like it’s about to start soon. Who are you betting on, Eir?”

“Let’s see…”

I turned my gaze toward the two combatants standing in the center of the arena; one was a beastman with animal ears sprouting only on the right side of his head, and the other was a centaur, half horse and half human, with bandages wrapping around his injured left eye.

“I’m betting on the beastman.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll bet on the centaur. Normally, all the chips are collected and redistributed to the winning side, but let’s enjoy this just between us today.”

As Soware spoke, she placed a few chips on the table, and I followed suit, laying out the chips I had exchanged before the duel began.

Before long, cheers erupted from the spectators near the arena as they rooted for the side they had bet on. As the duel reached its climax, the roar grew louder, reverberating throughout the venue.

“Oh, the beastman won! Congrats, Eir!”

“Thanks.”

“But I won’t lose next time. Next time…”

After that, we ended up placing a total of five bets, all of which I won, accumulating a mountain of chips that now cluttered the table before me.

“It seems you’ve got the stellar luck, Eir. Hitting five in a row? Impressive!”

“Well, by just observing their injuries and body types, I could see the outcome long before it started.”

With countless battles under my belt, I’ve gained the ability to predict movements and fighting styles just from looking at opponents, making this duel too easy for me.

That said, if any cheating had occurred, it would’ve ruined everything, but it seemed that wasn’t the case this time, and I managed to finish all matches victorious.

“More importantly, should we stop playing and have a talk? Watching the duels seems like it’s getting dull for me. Right, Soware?”

“Hehe. You’re quite impatient. But I prefer quick discussions anyway, so let’s have a proper chat, shall we?”

Soware said, removing the black fox mask from her face to reveal her true self. She then sat back, crossed her legs on the couch, and pulled out a kiseru to ignite it from her slightly opened chest.

“Does that mask have any illusion magic on it?”

“Impressive as always. Wearing this mask hides my adorable fluffy tails and ears from others. My tails stand out, so I always wear this mask when I go out.”

Sure enough, anyone who sees those three conspicuous tails would quickly recognize her as Soware, but as for the mask having no design—was that truly meaningless? Or was I just overthinking it?

“Alright then, let’s get down to business. It’s time to discuss what Lewis wanted from me in detail…”

Soware said, a seductive smile spreading across her face as the lively atmosphere from earlier dissipated, replaced with a dignified air befitting the master of District 2.

 

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