A Reincarnated Demon’s Life of Wonder

"Hmm, I have seen a lot of weird stuff ever since I came to this world, but this must be in the top 10..., or at least 20." - Ciara

Wolf Girl's map led me to a weird lake. How weird? Weird point 1: This area of South Town alone is covered in dark rain clouds. It's a good thing my Ink Outer Demon is waterproof; otherwise, he would have melted from this downpour and dropped Wolf Girl onto the asphalt. 

Weird point 2: there's a huge lake in the middle of the city. It feels like a crater was here, only to be filled with rainwater enough to make an "urban lake". Like an urban park, just wetter. 

Last weird point: there's a building in the middle of the lake. Better said, it seems like it's floating on top of it. That in all...isn't too weird for Terra Sol standards, but the building's flashy appearance is so mismatched with the gloomy weather AND the serene lake. 

How to describe it, it looks like a nightclub of sorts. It has large, bottle-shaped structures around it as decorations, each of them glowing in different neon colors, and there are large, multicolored bubbles floating around the building. I should be asking why the rain's not popping those bubbles, but with all the other bizarre stuff going on in this ghost town, I'm not even going to bother to ask.

It's so weird that it goes all the way around and becomes fascinating. I wonder if the building's owner will let me paint it. Landscape paintings have never been my greatest joy, since they're a little boring, but this place is getting a gold star from me.

There's a strange, blue-ish bridge leading to the building. There are no rails or anything, just an uneven road that seems roughed up, maybe from age. Still beats having to swim out there.

"In these kinds of situations, there are probably a few traps going around. But Wolf Girl's going to catch a cold at this rate, so let's see if we can get shelter from the rain at least." - Ciara

I spoke to the Ink Outer Demon, but it's unusually grumpy today. It shouldn't be that it's feeling bored carrying Wolf Girl all this way, is it? ...Nah, that can't be. Tokens don't have that kind of mental abilities...do they? Hmm, weird. 

The bridge was a little uncomfortable walking on, but it did lead us to the "nightclub". I was thinking about summoning a new Ink Outer Demon, or even summoning a familiar from Baron Oshun, but the current Demon's grumpy attitude made me dismiss that idea. Having more moody guys around is never a good thing. 

Hesitating in front of the door would just lead to Wolf Girl getting more drenched (not a bad thing per se, but still.), so I opened the door and walked in with confidence and style. Acting like you fit in always helps when visiting new places. At least 50% of the time. 

The door opened without any resistance or creaking, leading me into one impressive establishment. I wasn't too far off when I called this place a "nightclub". This place is only missing some smooth jazz to be one of those fancy places I never got the chance to visit before I was whisked away to this world. 

Large sphere-shaped lights are floating across the ceiling, covering the whole shop with a calm, blue light. The interior is made from black wood, probably ebony or similar wood, and black leather couches and chairs. A large bar disk is placed in the middle of the room, with the tables and seating placed around it. 

Two large, golden spiral staircases are placed on each side of the bar. From their look, the second floor seems to be a VIP area of some kind. Oh, and is that a stage there in the back? It's only missing a band...

Speaking of missing, this place is emptier than my wallet after I need to purchase new painting tools! Such a great place and nobody knows about it?! That we're in the middle of a lake that's in the damn middle of a freaking ghost town might have something to do with it, but let's not be hasty. 

"Hellooooo? Anyone hooooome?" - Ciara

"Yeeees~! One moment, please ~!" replied a voice from the floor above. Now I've never... Somebody answered. So much for the idea of this being a trap. 

A few seconds later, I could hear the sound of rapid footsteps coming down from one of the staircases. They were in a hurry, a little too much even, because they tripped just a few steps before they reached the ground floor. For some reason, a pillow had appeared, as if someone had teleported it to catch the person. 

"Oh my," said the person after getting herself up from the floor, "excuse me for that. Now, how can I help you?"

"First off, how about being my next model?" - Ciara

This is what I asked after the nanosecond it took me to take out all my painting tools from my magic bag, which happened a nanosecond again after I had gotten my first good view of this Lady worthy of the capital L. I mean, who wouldn't!?

Long orange hair that was tied together into a slick ponytail, clear aquamarine eyes, a white shirt with huge melons of sizes that only Mira could match, a contrasting, yet striking black corset that further caused one's attention to take notice of the bustline, and black pants that hugged the woman's legs and waist to the point where you could be excused for believing it was painted onto her.

And despite all these bombs packed into this bombshell of a lady, what's more striking are the mechanical arms, the robotic, wing-shaped ears, and the obvious artificial eyes that betray the woman's species. She must be an "Automata". It's those mechanical living beings that run on mana and stuff. This is the first time I've ever seen one, but there's no mistake! 

"A model? I am sorry, dear customer, but I am already doing my calling as the manager of Bar Serencarbonity, so I have to refuse." - Bar Manager Automata Lady

The Automata Lady bowed while apologizing, giving off the feeling of a maid more than a bar manager. Tch, too bad. Still...

"Where in the world did the name 'Serencarbonity' come from?" - Ciara

I couldn't stop myself from asking about the establishment's name. Who wouldn't? If it is the handwork of the Automata, then I fear that her mental module upgrades got replaced with "hot bod" ones. Wait, why am I fearing that? It's something to be grateful for! To a certain degree.

"Well, the Hidden Hideout was..., oh my!" started the Automata while tilting her head questioningly, as if unsure why it was named so herself, before finally noticing my Ink Outer Demon and the wolf girl it was carrying. "Lady Eilie! Did something happen to you?"

"Ehm, I think she can't hear you. She suddenly collapsed right in front of me..." - Ciara

They seem to know each other. Let's ignore telling her that it was my trap version of the Ink Outer Demon that was the culprit. 

"Oh, my~! I must thank you for your help! Ah, where are my manners? My name is Nozomi, the manager of this Bar Serencarbonity." - Nozomi

Yeah, again, what is this "Serencarbonity" about? And this "hidden" thing, what's that about? 

"And this is Eilie Grimlock, my establishment's bouncer," continued Nozomi, utterly unaware of my growing questions. Eh, I can let it pass. Beauties before answers. My Ink Outer Demon placed the wolf girl, Grimlock, on one of the couches after Nozomi's request. 

"I am so sorry you had to trouble yourself over my employee. She had the task of locating a certain group of people and guiding them to my humble establishment." - Nozomi

"'Humble' is the understatement of the century!" I said without any bias. This place rocks! "But other than that, you mentioned a 'certain group of people'? Mind me asking who and why you're looking for them?"

"Unfortunately, dear customer, it is a request of my latest VIP. I have to protect their privacy," started Nozomi before being cut off by a languid voice from the top of the stairs. "Why bother? She's my...guildmate."

Nobody from the Nightmare Voyagers could fail to recognize that listless speech. A grin revealed itself on my face as I looked up, seeing one of the goals for my search. A small girl dressed in a gothic dress, her jade-colored hair and eyes glowing in the blue light of the club, dragging an oversized dragon plush doll with her. 

"Hiya, Revi~! Good to see your cute, little self~!" - Ciara

"...Great. It had to be the pervert..." - Revi

---

"Aww, you're always so lovable when you're grumpy~." - Ciara

"Stop. Or you pay your bill." - Revi

"Haha, as if that is much of a... Holy ****. That's expensive..." - Ciara

Seeing the prices for the soon-not-to-be-free drinks on the menu placed on the table, I moved away from the couch Revi and I had sat down on to share our stories. The Automata girl, Nozomi, had placed many different luxurious (and pricy) beverages and snacks on our table before we could speak up, all with a genuine smile plastered on her artificial face. She's like, born for this job. Or "made". It's difficult to say when you talk about these robotic creatures. 

"*Cough*, enough pleasentries. Let us get down to business," I said while trying to take the most serious tone I could muster. 

"Your wallet is in a pinch?" - Revi

"That has nothing to do with this conversation!" - Ciara

Let's face it. I've never been able to make a serious air. Like, ever. That we need to gather our minds here is still a truth, so I started by telling Revi everything that had happened to me, starting from how I rode on the Irritation Lord's coattails till how I hijacked the wolf girl's trap and made an unsexy tentacle assault on her. 

"As expected of the pervert." - Revi

"Ehm, what part of the story made you say that?" - Ciara

"Everything." - Revi

Okay, fair enough. 

"Then what about you? The fake Alf said you had been trapped by one of the Seven Myths while traveling to one of the Treasure Towers." - Ciara

"Wrong. I got it." - Revi

"Hmm? Got it? Got what?" - Ciara

Revi didn't answer me at first, just sticking her hand into her plush doll's mouth. Out of it came a... strange-looking crown. It looks like...scales, fangs, shells, and other...weird stuff mashed together and held in place using some sticky substance. 

"Okay, what's this ugly piece of junk supposed to be?" - Ciara

"The treasure." - Revi

"Come again?" - Ciara

"...The treasure. The Water Treasure Tower's treasure." - Revi

"...Come again? Like, that kind of treasure? The kind needed to clear this World Quest thingy?" - Ciara

"Mhm." - Revi

"...Why is it so ugly-looking?" - Ciara

"Because, a small fish ruled a large pond." - Revi

"Again, come again???" - Ciara

"The Horde Lord. This was his." - Revi

"Ahh, that guy. So, what pond are we talking about?" - Ciara

"...cle...ngle..." - Revi

"What? Speak up!" - Ciara

"...tacle...angle..." - Revi

"Huh? Tackle angles?" - Ciara

"...Tentacle Triangle..." - Revi

"Okay, young lady! Give me all the juicy tidbits right here, right now! Come on, cough them up!" - Ciara

"...This is why I didn't want to talk..." - Revi

No, that's your common MO. And why couldn't I be assigned to that Triangle?! Gah, what a waste of opportunity! Anyway, gotta take notes. This is VII (Very Important Information)!

---