On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

Scentillion is one of the five Monster cities in Verniculos Kingdom. It is located 36,000 miles away from the castle, which makes it 12,000 miles away from the south outer regions of the Demon cities surrounding the Demon King's Castle.

The Demon cities don't actually surround the Castle directly; they are surrounding Lost Cause Forest, the home of the thousands of weird ass Wild Beasts, which takes up the entire area between the Castle and the cities.

The forest acts as a defense measure. In case the Heroes have taken down every Demon city in Ilschevar Kingdom, which has happened for quite many times, the forest will slow them down so the Demon King will have an easy time to defeat them.

At least, that is the original function of the forest. Lost Cause Forest, however, has been proven to be useless 10 years ago when the Hero party easily passed through it like nothing—it only acts as the home of exotic Beasts ever since.

Anyway, putting the distance between the Castle and the Demon cities aside, you might also wonder about why Scentillion and the other Monster cities are separated that far from each other.

You might wonder whether the Demons discriminate against the Monsters or the Monsters just don't like the Demons, but the reason why they live apart has nothing to do with territory feud or discrimination.

Demon, although many people will argue about it, is undoubtedly the strongest race in this world. We are born to be the predator, and our ridiculous growth is second only to the Heroes'.

We possess power that not just any creature can handle. Monsters, who rely heavily on their instinct, will never be able to coexist with us, the stronger species, because they will always feel threatened even though they know they won't be harmed.

For them, living with the Demons will be just like having your most trustworthy brother pointing a gun at you: you know he won't shoot, but you definitely don't want to be in that situation. This is why they live separately from us.

As for why they have to be separated that far from each other, it is because Verniculos Kingdom's territory expansion. Each time a new human territory is conquered, the Monsters that are a part of the Kingdom will migrate and occupy the territory.

This is not something that Ilschevar or his ancestors have decided, but what the Monsters want.

There has been more than one occasion, according to Valeria, the Demons have suggested to trade their cities so the Monsters can also experience living nearby the Demon King's Castle, but they remain adamant.

They prefer living closer to human territories, because they find more "resources" there.

The Monsters always say to the Demons to not feel like the Demons are ostracizing them, because they are really happy with how they live their life.

They have Teleportation Gates that will allow them to visit the Demon cities or the Demon King's Castle whenever they want after all—the distance between their cities and the Demon King's Castle doesn't really matter.

With that being said, the relationship between the Demons and Monsters is really great. Those who hate each other are just the odd ducks of the bunch that can be found in any group of people.

"It is rowdy here," I remark as I look at the bustling city.

A few minutes have passed since we stepped our foot inside the city, and after being temporarily released from duty by Velucan, we ended up here. Vibiane has volunteered to be my guide, and thi is the result of following her around.

"Every city has to be rowdy! The rowdiness of the city is the indicator of our success after all," Vibiane says heatedly. "We don't fight for the people to be depressed—we fight to see the people overwhelm the city with their laugh!"

"That is a little bit shocking—hearing it from you."

"Is that a praise? You sound condescending though."

Shrugging lightly, I ignore Vibiane and turn my gaze to the street market. I can see many vendors selling foods or goods on each side of the street.

While the sellers really possess the work ethic of a good seller, the buyers are not less enthusiastic either. They look really happy spending their money on the things they buy as they don't seem bothered by the price.

From this, I can easily conclude that most of the citizens of Scentillion city are well off, which means the economy of the city is good. In other words, the person who governs over this city does a good job.

I don't know exactly who governs it, but I am sure the person whom Velucan is meeting is the one. He might be a Demon or a Monster or even a human, but one thing I am sure is, he uses his brain more often than the majority of Verniculos Kingdom's citizens.

'Only disaster will await, if someone like her governs a city after all,' I muse to myself as I furtively glance at Vibiane.

At the same moment, Vibiane suddenly claps her hand. "Ah, we can't be just standing here. Let's explore the market!" She looks at me with her bright eyes. "There are a few things worth buying."

"I will pass up on the offer, so you may conduct your shopping spree alone. I don't have any money to—"

"I'll pay for you—relax!"

"Giving out something free is not—"

"I know. That's why I am going to hire you." Vibiane smiles cheekily. "I'll pay you for accompanying me on my shopping spree."

Judging that it is a fair trade, I shrug lightly, then prompt Vibiane to start walking. She looks at me weirdly for a few seconds, before grabbing my hand and drags me with her.

I blink my eyes in slight surprise at the aggressiveness she has just shown as I wonder if she really doesn't have friends. After all, only extroverts who have many friends will be able to do such a thing with someone they have just known.

'Ah, right. She is alone because she is weird, not because she barely speaks.' Realization hits me not long after. 'Also, she is too stupid to properly think about what she should and shouldn't do when it comes to interacting with people.'

Although I can't see her face clearly—she is focusing her gaze to the front—I can tell from the way her hand slightly trembles and the way she avoids turning her head to me, the realization about what she has just done has just hit her.

I am sure she is silently cursing herself in her mind for her what she has just done now, and she doesn't know what to do next—whether to let go of my hand or keep holding it.

Since she will be paying for me though, I decide to do the thing that any companion does. With a light shrug, I grasp her hand tighter then walk slightly ahead of her.

"Where are we going?"

"O-Oh... W-We are going to buy some fruits. Yes, fruits! You haven't eaten any of our fruits, right?"

"Now that you talk about it, I have only eaten meat, wheat based foods, and seafoods for the two months I have spent my time here," I muse to myself, earning a curious look from Vibiane.

"Does that mean you have also only drunk water for all this time?"

Due to her lack of attentiveness, Vibiane doesn't even ask about what I mean by the two months I have spent my time there. Ignoring that fact, I answer the question she asked me.

"For most of the time, I drink tea, and in some occasions, I drink liquors."

"Tea?" Vibiane blinks her eyes in surprise. "I didn't expect someone like you would like a tea. Did you come from a Noble family, Layland? Because, only Nobles like drinking tea."

"No, I was a peasant before becoming a Demon." I shake my head faintly. "I still prefer juice over tea, but tea has been the only drink I am provided with, so it's what I've been drinking."

"Weird... Only Noble families can afford tea though." Vibiane hums to herself.

Thanks to the fact that I didn't explain anything about me coming from another world, Vibiane is now utterly confused by my background. I don't have any intention to explain it to her though; that will risk exposing my status.

As she looks at me with doubtful eyes, I immediately understand that she has just had a wrong idea about my background. From how she looks at me, the idiot must believe that I am purposely hiding my previous Noble status.

"There is no need to be ashamed of who you were before." Vibiane smiles kindly. "No matter what you were yesterday, you are a Demon today. You a part of us—that is all that matters."

I can straighten this splendid misunderstanding out by simply explaining about my two months stay in the Demon King's Castle, which is the reason why I have always drank tea.

Since it's too troublesome however, I let her think whatever she wants about my background. The idiot also looks proud that she has "figured out" my background, so I just let her have her moment.

Also, she has completely forgot about her nervousness thanks to that, which is what I have been aiming since the beginning.

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