Kai narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the scalp massager. It was one of the items he had introduced to this world a few years ago and without constant contact with humans, it wasn't an item any demon could come across.

"I don't know what you mean, Lord Agurys."

Agurys frowned.

"This isn't made from the demon realm, it's obvious by just the materials and craftsmanship."

But was that really all there is to it?

Kai knew that Agurys wouldn't reveal his identity as part of the peaceful faction, and that was why he also didn't reveal what he wanted immediately.

"I'm just a trader, I don't manufacture the items I sell. I simply buy them from demons somewhere and sell them for the appropriate price at a different place. This one in particular, was sold with a bunch of other goods that I managed to procure."

Agurys was trying to look through Kai's mask but it wouldn't work.

"Then, where is this place?"

"A small village to the far east."

Agurys groaned and Kai inwardly smirked. He had prepared beforehand and did all the possible research he could. He was currently in the middle of the west and center of the continent, it would take him a week or two to get to Goetia which was a neutral place. However, the viscounty that he was currently in was part of the west, which had conflict with the east.

He could send people to confirm Kai's words, but if he sent spies to the east, they might see it as a sign for war and fight.

Paimon, the queen of the west, Urieus of the east, Egin of the north and Amaymon of the south. Kai hadn't met the other three before, but he knew that Urieus was part of the hostile faction.

Agurys was holding his head trying to think of a solution but after coming up blank, he just decided to let the matter go. He couldn't just kill Kai now that he had built a reputation with the people, and there were quite a few witnesses who saw him enter the carriage, and his wagon was following close behind as well.

"...Then, could you stay at my castle for a couple of days? I have to do an inspection on your goods. I'll guarantee that you'll have a nice stay, and I'll even buy some of the wares."

"But, Lord Agurys, I already have a permit and they didn't say there were any problems."

"I'll compensate you for the trouble."

"Well, if My Lord insists."

Agurys was troubled, but Kai was ecstatic. His plan was going way more smoothly than he expected. At the very least, he now had a lead to what he needed to do here.

"The towns here really do look quite different."

Erina commented as she looked around while munching on a snack.

"Do you think Kai is here?"

Kei asked while looking around. The structures around them weren't like any human city they've ever been to, many of the houses were shaped irregularly, but they worked quite well. The color schemes were also more on the reddish scale.

Two weeks since they were teleported to the Demon Continent and got separated from everyone else. They left the village a few days ago because they didn't want any innocent bystanders to be caught up in their trouble and headed for the nearest city. The villagers were also nice enough to give them money and supplies for their journey, and Erina gave them some stuff they could use and sell in exchange.

"I don't know... But, I do know that it looks like we aren't as welcome here as we thought."

Erina took a quick glance at one of the houses and saw someone peeking at them through the window. Her glance was subtle, and one would think that she was only looking around an unfamiliar place. The person who was watching them didn't notice her gaze.

"There's only one by our right, did you spot anything on the left?"

"I felt some gazes but I couldn't find them. Maybe they were just curious about travelers. And, the fact that you're an S-class."

"Ugh..."

Erina groaned.

Kai had told them about demon nobility before, nearly everyone who had reached S-class is a baron. The only ones exempt were criminals and outcasts. Luckily, they managed to pass off as the latter but they'd most likely be contacted soon.

"If only I learned transformation magic..."

The reason everyone could transform were Enchanted Gears given to them by Kai. They were enchanted with the power of shapeshifting, a power that Kai himself held. Unfortunately, there was only so much he could do using contemporary runes.

They arrived at an inn after a little bit of walking and sightseeing.

"Two rooms."

Kei was the one to walk to the counter. Erina was a few steps behind him. They were still playing the role of a lady and her guard. During their walk earlier, he was also walking a few paces behind her.

"They're on different floors, is that alright?"

"That's fine."

"How long will you be staying and will you be taking meals?"

"For now, we'll be staying indefinitely. As for meals, we'll have it too."

After paying a silver piece, they were handed two keys.

"Breakfast is served at around eight in the morning, lunch is at twelve, and dinner is at six. If you want to eat anything between those times, please inform the kitchen to see if there are any leftovers."

The innkeeper was cautious as he looked at Erina. After all, her horns were circular, without even sensing her mana, he knew that she was an S-class and most likely, a noble. Having her face half-covered by a hat though, he knew he couldn't say anything that would reveal their identities. And so, he told them about the leftovers as if they were just normal patrons.

After giving Erina a key on the higher floor, the two of them separated. She went to her room and Kei went outside.

'They're more likely to attack me if I'm alone, and it isn't convincing if I'm the one outside.'

Erina and Kei had planned it beforehand. If they wanted to make a move, the first or second day would be their best bet. For now, they planned to separate and see what intentions their stalker had.

...

In the end, their stalker settled for watching them from afar. Erina never felt the gaze leave her room and Kei also had someone tailing him. When it was time for dinner, Kei delivered Erina's food to her room and after making sure nobody could see or hear them, they began to plan it out.

"Tomorrow, we'll head to somewhere crowded and get separated from there. Then, we'll meet up in three hours at the plaza if the stalkers don't make a move. If they do..."

Kei had gotten a rough layout of their area of the city. He had a pretty good memory so a light walk around was enough for him to remember where most things he needed to know where. The plaza, for example, was a little bit of a distance away from the inn, but it had many stalls near it.

It was also a place bustling with people in the day, they could use that to disguise their true intentions. With their plan settled, Kei headed back to his room to prepare for the next day.

"Your meal."

A demon handed Arata a plate and some water. It could be considered decent for prison food, but that was only because the city they were in was quite the wealthy one. Arata ate his meal in silence and a few minutes after he finished, a guard came to take his tray.

The guard was accompanied by another demon—Natsumi. Once the guard left, Natsumi began to talk to Arata.

"They said that you'll be released in a few more days."

"That's a relief..."

Natsumi rubbed her temple. Yesterday, Arata was captured by the guards and imprisoned. He had seen someone get beaten up in an alley and moved to help but the people who were beating him up had connections to nobles. Arata was arrested, but the noble they were connected to didn't want the incident to go public and decided to release Arata on the condition that he didn't speak about anything.

It was a lucky break considering that Natsumi didn't have anywhere near enough money to bail him out. She didn't blame him for moving to help, but it was pretty reckless considering that they didn't even know anyone here.

"Unfortunately, it didn't seem like anyone else is in this town but I did manage to get ahold of a map. Kai plans to go here."

Natsumi pointed at the center of the map.

"...And we're over here."

It was the town right next to Goetia. They were fortunate enough to be this near. However, if they landed here and found no traces of the others, then that either meant they were in Goetia already or... they were way farther than they should've been.

By now, Natsumi and Arata had already pieced together that they were fooled by Amon. While it was true that the contract stated that he wouldn't harm them, it didn't say it wouldn't impede them. They should all be teleported to places where they wouldn't face any immediate danger.

"Kai really should've thought about it a bit more, he's normally so guarded but I guess that's how much faith he had in the demons' contracts."

"I guess that really isn't like him. Anyway, did you manage to get a job somewhere?"

"Nn. I was passing by a bar and saw a poster. I was hired on the spot."

"...As a waitress?"

"As the barmaid."

"Do you know how to make drinks?"

"...No."

Arata couldn't say anything more. It wasn't that he was underestimating Natsumi, it was just that... she was a princess. In what country and world would a princess have to learn how to mix drinks? Let's say she could learn how to, would she know about the various combinations she had to do?

Arata became very worried, but there was nothing he could do.

"I'll do my best."

"..."

As he saw Natsumi pump her fists lightly, he was comforted somewhat. At the very least, he didn't have to worry about her being harassed by a bunch of drunkards due to how strong she actually was.

In the end, it all managed to turn out alright and Arata was safely released from prison after a few days.

"I caught one."

Yoko told Kazuki. She was holding a man's arm while stepping on his back. That man had been watching them for past week and only now did Yoko manage to get an opportunity to catch him. They didn't know his allegiance or motive so they couldn't get rid of him so easily either.

"You'll... never get me to talk!"

The demon raised his mouth and was about to bite down on his lips but Kazuki managed to fill his mouth with wind, take out the poison capsule, and successfully stop the man from committing suicide.

"...Guess they're hostile."

Kazuki muttered as he looked at the poison. There was no way that a peaceful organization would do something like arming their own spies with poison. They could safely rule out the possibility that the person watching them was part of the city guard.

"It's taking all I can to cut off the sound right now and there really isn't anywhere we can put this guy... what should we do?"

"I can use my Innate Ability to get him somewhere far away. There's a chance that someone might see me but... I doubt it."

"Then, wear this as well."

Umi wrapped something around Yoko's face to cover it. Only her eyes and hair could be seen, and there were many that had the same style around.

"I'll be going."

"Be sure to get some information out of him."

Kazuki told Yoko. She nodded and disappeared along with the demon.

"Sheesh. We just arrived at a different city and we're already being watched..."

Unlike their shabby old place, this inn was far better. At the very least, they would have no problems here. They also managed to get separate rooms but decided to just do with one double room and one single room to save money.

"Why do you think they're watching us?"

There was no reason to suspect them. At least, none that they knew of.

"Beats me."

It was useless to keep thinking about it so Kazuki just shrugged it off.

"Then what are the odds of the demons knowing that we teleported here from Soaring Eagle?"

"..."

Kazuki furrowed his brows and shut his mouth in thought.

"Let's hope that's not the case."