Healing System

"Arthur, embrace it," Michael stated matter-of-factly. "You put us in this situation, after all."

"I did?" Arthur shot back, glaring at him. "You were the one who suggested we get food!"

"I mean... didn't you enjoy it? You ate that shit up faster than even I did." Michael chuckled. "Anyways, scrub faster, we're almost done."

Since they didn't have any money—and obviously no other means to pay for the food—they offered their bodies.

Not literally, of course. They weren't male strippers.

Instead, they were sent to the kitchen where they could wash the plates in order to cover their bills.

Honestly, Michael expected it to be a hoax since the movies did it so frequently. However, aside from the glare he received from the innkeeper, everything was just peachy.

And after another hour, they were finally finished.

"Fuck you," Arthur said, taking off his apron. "I have never been treated with such disrespect before, and yet, a single demon made me wash its ugly dishes."

"Dirty dishes aren't supposed to be beautiful, mister Prince Charming," Michael remarked with a raised brow. "Just be glad he didn't ask us to scrub his toilets or something."

Arthur flinched. "Don't ever put that image in my mind again."

"Aye, Captain," Michael saluted. "On another note though, where to next? This city is pretty lively, so we could visit a shop maybe."

"A shop? And do what? Play dress-up in the dressing rooms? Did you forget we don't have any fucking money?" Arthur shot back. "Of course you didn't... I should just blow this entire place up and be done with it."

"You're getting a bit ahead of yourself now," Michael said with a sigh. "You're too impatient."

"Impatient? I'm the most patient Klaxian in the universe!" Arthur stated. "And you're the one who's being impatient. Why exactly are you trying to spend time with these demons anyway? There are plenty of settlements in this land, there are some which are human. I believe there's even an angel settlement here."

"I doubt that." Michael shook his head. "Most angels would die if they went out this far."

He showed Arthur his hand, which—after the heavy exposure to the atmosphere—had begun to turn black.

"This place affects us more than others, I'd assume. Almost like some stupid repellent," Michael added. "On the other hand, since you're a walking fish, everything is alright."

"What bullshit... I'm a Klaxian, not a fish," Arthur replied with a grumble. "Mix that up again and I'm going to sweep you up alongside the other demons."

"Right, keep telling yourself that, Prince Charming." Michael rolled his eyes. "Anyways, we need to get a move on."

Arthur groaned and decided to follow after him. After all, this lonely fish had nowhere else to go.

Nonetheless, the innkeeper gave them a nice thumbs-up, and with that, they exited the inn and headed over to some random street.

It seemed like the pleasure quarters, but Michael saw it as a money hive instead.

After all, the only thing he needed to do here was steal the money from the succubus.

Simple enough, Michael thought. Though I wonder if this place doesn't affect me as much since I'm part angel, part human? The halo can only change so much... my anatomy is likely the same.

Those thoughts had been in the back of his mind since he first entered this place.

Light mana seemed to be rejected, and the more he used it, the slower it recovered.

Therefore, Michael proceeded to literally stockpile his mana, making sure not to waste it on stupid stuff.

And now, after a lot of saving, he was still at 90% capacity.

Yeah... if Arthur goes all out, I'm fucked, Michael deduced, making his way into a particular brothel.

The receptionist up front was a beautiful succubus, and he wasn't sure if it was due to some kind of charm spell, but she was the most beautiful woman he had seen so far.

But...

"Damn, what's with the nose job, lady?" Arthur asked, whistling.

"Y-You... what did you just say?" the receptionist muttered, shocked. "I'm going to have to call security."

"Alright Arthur, we're getting the fuck out of here," Michael said with a sigh and dragged Arthur out of the brothel and onto a nearby roof.

"Mate," Michael looked him straight in the eyes. "There's such a thing called basic morals. Not sure if you've heard of them before—and no, they aren't edible."

Arthur scoffed. "Of course I know what you meant. She was beautiful, however, all that beauty was artificial. If I ever wanted to fuck a piece of plastic, I'd just buy a sex doll."

Michael tilted his head. "You know what sex dolls are...? No, on a side note, what even are you fucking talking about? It's the receptionist, not a hooker."

"Ohh... I might've missed that part," Arthur replied, scratching his cheek.

"You're not the brightest..." Michael sighed. "But yeah, we need to find a different way to get moving, since you just put a bounty on our heads in the pleasure sector. Good job."

"Is that so..." Arthur said, suddenly reaching into his pocket and pulling out some broken dagger.

However, that was not what caught Michael's attention. Instead, it was the coins that had fallen to the ground.

"Is that...?" Michael leaned down and picked them up, inspecting them.

And the moment he finished, he threw the coin right at Arthur's massive forehead.

"You fucking had money!? Why did we have to wash the dishes then, huh!?"

"Is that what money looks like? Peculiar..." Arthur replied, puzzled. "I have much more of that, I suppose. My entire dimensional ring is filled with those weird-looking coins."

Michael's brow twitched. "Alright... we're not going to be exploiting the pleasure sector then. Let's go somewhere else instead."

"Like what?" Arthur asked.

"The aquarium maybe?" Michael pondered out loud. "You might feel at home—woah."

He just barely dodged an incoming fist, then met Arthur's glare.

"I told you I'm not a fish."

"Then why do you have fins?" Michael tilted his head. "You do get stronger while in water, right? That makes you a fish."

As flawed as his logic was, he really just wanted to mess with this guy further.

After all, he couldn't remember the last time he actually had a nice, fun chat with someone who was not a woman.

His disciples back in the Murim world were stiff, so having a normal conversation with them was nearly impossible.

Then there was also Fafnir, who at one point was basically the same strength as him.

But yet again, he was too stiff.

As for Kevin? God knows where Kevin was.

Nonetheless, the two's playfighting soon stopped, and the moment it did, they chose some random location—which just so happened to be a gun range.

How did they find it?

Echolocation.

And yet, Arthur denied being a fish. It was stupid.

Nonetheless, they proceeded through the streets calmly, and after a few minutes, they arrived at a particular open field.

There were a couple of demons already present, each of them shooting their weapons toward moving targets—which just so happened to be much stronger demons.

"Oh?" Arthur's interest was piqued. "So if I manage to kill an unkillable demon, then I win a trophy?"

One of the demons in charge of this place heard that and approached.

"No, sir. You get arrested."

"Oh, what a pity," Arthur replied with a sigh. "Guess I'll just have to make do with simple shots."

"Right..." Michael trailed off, patting Arthur on the back as the two paid for their tickets and got some gear.

Obviously, they were strong enough to not need the gear. However, since it was basic protocol, they weren't going to deny it.

Therefore, after several moments of preparation, they now stood in their posts, Desert Eagles in hand.

"This is a very peculiar city, if I might add," Arthur remarked. "Some areas lack any futuristic technology, and yet this city has something similar to what my race had formed a couple eons back."

Since it sounded like some racial flex, Michael simply ignored Arthur and proceeded to shoot the running demon.

Of course, his accuracy was great. Even if he didn't exactly have any recent practice, he was still a former militia turned mercenary.

Obviously, his aim would be on point no matter where he went.

Though I just hope it stays that way for a little longer. I might be able to find an interesting weapon that tops the bow and the sword. I wonder... what would be a good combination between them? Michael pondered, nearly losing focus and missing the demon.

Meanwhile, Arthur wasn't having the same experience.

"Die! Die! Die!" Arthur yelled with a wide grin, pressing the trigger several times.

However, since his aim was complete shit, not a single bullet of his hit.

Damn, this fish is hopeless, Michael thought with a chuckle and turned his gaze back to the demons.

Though I wonder why it's so peaceful?