Chapter 247: Information Lies Here?
I push myself away from the table before taking one last glance toward Alfie.
He doesn’t seem eager to continue this conversation anymore.
It was like the moment Alice’s name came out of my mouth, all the confidence he had completely disappeared.
I don’t really know much about this girl or why she’s as scary as he’s making her out to be. So, as much as I don’t want to, I’m going to have to walk over there.
I didn’t come all the way out here to be held back by some sort of stupid gimmick.
I slowly begin making my way through the crowded tavern, weaving between tables while trying not to draw too much attention to myself.
The atmosphere hasn’t changed since I first walked in.
Someone laughs loudly near the counter while another group argues over which hunter deserves credit for a recent job.
A bard quietly strums away in one corner while several demons sing along despite barely remembering the lyrics.
It really is strange here in the demon realm. Was it even close to something like this in my realm?
The realm always kind of felt dangerous when I first arrived but now this is a completely different environment. It isn’t even close to what I remember.
It almost feels normal, like the war beyond these walls doesn’t even exist.
Eventually I reach the table Alfie pointed toward.
But the girl doesn’t even bother looking up.
One elbow rests against the table while she slowly turns the pages of a worn leather notebook sitting in front of her.
Her short white hair falls just above her shoulders.
The black leather coat she wears is noticeably different from everyone else’s clothing.
The dark red skull stitched across the back definitely isn’t something that blends into a crowd.
Neither are her crimson eyes.
She finally closes the notebook without looking at me.
"So, how long were you planning on staring at me?" She questions.
Her voice is calm, almost like she is a bit bored.
I blink.
"You noticed me?" I respond.
"I noticed you the moment you stood up from your table," She says calmly.
She finally lifts her eyes toward me.
"They’re not exactly subtle when they’re watching someone," She continues.
She briefly glances toward a nearby table.
Following her gaze, I notice two demons immediately look away and pretend to continue their conversation.
She wasn’t talking about me at the moment... It was about the others in the tavern.
"You must be Alice," I say quietly.
She studies me quietly.
"I am, And you are?" She asks.
"I don’t usually introduce myself to strangers," I answer without hesitation.
A faint smile appears on her face.
"Yet you’re willing to walk directly toward one," Alice says while crossing her arms.
...
I can’t really argue with her on that one since she’s right. I’m willing to approach someone I never met without a problem, yet I won’t give my name.
I pull out the empty chair across from her.
"Mind if I sit?" I ask politely.
"If I minded, you’d already know," Alice responds.
I take the seat after that as slight whispers can be heard throughout the tavern. Even with all the loud people, it is hard to miss.
For several seconds neither of us speaks.
She simply continues studying me for a bit longer.
Almost like she’s trying to remember where she’s seen me before. Or if she’s even seen me before.
"I’ve been told you know quite a lot," I finally speak up.
"Depends who’s asking," Alice replies while shifting her gaze back towards her notebook.
"A friend," I say instantly.
"No, a desperate person," She replies.
She answers so quickly it catches me off guard.
I let out a quiet sigh.
"I suppose that’s more accurate," I say while leaning back against the chair.
She folds her hands together.
"I figured. You definitely don’t belong here," Alice replies with a cold tone.
That sentence alone causes me to stiffen slightly.
"What makes you say that?" I question with a bit of confusion in my voice.
"Because every person inside this tavern has looked at you at least once since you entered," Alice answers calmly.
She pauses.
"And none of them recognize you," She continues for a moment.
I remain silent.
She tilts her head.
"Or maybe you are someone important yourself here. There’s many possibilities, but none of them I know the answer to," Alice says before finally going quiet.
Three months ago... I died. So it isn’t far off for her to say anything that she’s saying. Even I don’t understand what is going on or what my importance really is in this realm now.
Everyone probably believes I’m dead.
She leans back in her chair.
"So which one are you, I wonder?" She questions.
"I think I’ll keep that answer to myself," I respond calmly.
"I expected you would," Alice says before writing something down.
Unlike Alfie, she doesn’t seem interested in pushing.
After she finishes writing something down, she picks up the mug and takes a drink.
She speaks without looking at me.
"You know... Lust has terrible taste in people," Alice speaks up after putting her drink back down.
I raise an eyebrow.
"You know Lust?" I question.
"I know of her, And I know she’s the only reason you’d ever come looking for me," Alice answers with a serious tone.
She sets the mug back down.
That much isn’t exactly difficult to figure out.
"I asked her for someone who could point me in the right direction," I say.
"And she sent you to me," Alice replies.
"She did," I say within an instant.
Alice lets out a small laugh.
"That’s troublesome," Alice replies as she finishes laughing.
"Why?" I question with a bit of confusion.
"Because whenever Lust starts helping someone..." Alice starts to answer before pausing.
She slowly meets my eyes again.
"...the world usually gets more complicated," Alice finishes.
I can’t even argue with that.
Every time Lust has shown up, something major happened shortly afterward.
The fight with the king being the most recent example of what I should try to avoid. Fighting a monarch in my current state is definitely not the right move.
I still need to get stronger... But I also need to make a difference while I’m doing it.
Alice taps one finger against the table.
"So... What exactly are you searching for?" Alice asks to change the subject a bit.
I think carefully before answering.
The wrong words could completely ruin this conversation.
"I need information about the monarchs or if anyone is tied to them here," I answer without any hesitation.
She doesn’t react at first.
Instead her gaze shifts toward the tavern entrance for just a brief second before returning to me.
"I can’t really say I’m surprised that you are looking for either of those things," Alice says with a blank expression on her face.
"You expected it?" I question with some curiosity.
"I thought you would want some sort of secret artifact or maybe a way to get rich quick. Nobody is brave enough to ask about the monarchs or about the people associated with them," Alice explains.
My expression changes slightly.
"So you know more then?" I ask with even more curiosity in my voice.
"I know enough," Alice answers.
That answer immediately tells me she’s exactly who Lust wanted me to meet.
"I need to find someone worth killing. Someone that will really cause a problem for the monarchs," I say with more of a serious tone now.
She drums her fingers lightly across the tabletop.
"I figured. But I don’t think I can really help with that," Alice replies bluntly.
"What... I figured that was why Lust suggested you," I say with confusion in my voice.
"You shouldn’t be asking about all that. Not here at least," Alice replies with caution in her voice.
Silence settles between us again.
She’s right. Asking about such a huge thing in a tavern is bound to raise some ears... Especially when people are already listening in.
New people always bring curiosity.
Alice lets out a sigh before speaking again.
"If Lust sent you here, then she believes you have a chance to make some sort of difference," Alice speaks with a bit of disbelief in her voice.
"That is already what I’m trying to do. That’s why I killed that damn King," I respond a little louder than I meant to.
The room itself appears to go completely silent for a moment, almost like everyone in the room became aware of the threat. Me.
Yet, no one got up or moved. After a few more moments of intense silence... Conversations picked back up.
It wasn’t the only thing I noticed though. A faint smile appears on Alice’s face.
"You really are full of surprises," Alice says with excitement in her voice.
Before I can say anything else, the tavern doors swing open once again.
The chatter throughout the room noticeably dies down again.
Several demons lower their voices while others simply stop talking altogether.
Alice doesn’t even bother turning around.
"They’re here already," Alice mutters quietly.
I glance toward the entrance.
Three demons wearing matching black coats slowly step inside.
Each one has the same crimson emblem stitched across their chest.
An emblem I’ve never seen before.
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