Chapter 38: Demon Market

“Is it just my imagination?”

A doubtful whisper slipped from Finihiya’s cherry-like, moist lips.

She always felt a few strange gazes fixed upon her.

The crowd seemed to be pushing her forward.

When Finihiya came back to her senses in a daze, she found herself unknowingly standing at the entrance to an even more crowded market.

A long-haired old horse slowly passed by, carrying heavy goods, while rapid conversations occasionally reached her ears.

Standing on the rough stone slabs beneath her feet, she gazed at the bustling, noisy scene.

As she surveyed the surroundings, her left shoulder was suddenly bumped, causing her to stagger forward a couple of steps.

“Don’t block the way here.”

“Sorry.”

Hearing the male’s scolding, Finihiya hurriedly turned around to apologize.

After the orc man moved away, she rubbed the sore spot and tried to stick to the edge of the path as she walked on.

Her gaze continued to scan the scene around her, and before long, curiosity stopped her in front of a stall.

She pointed with her finger at something strange.

“What kind of meat is this?”

“Amodo Giant Lizard.”

“Lizard…”

Upon hearing the vendor’s reply, Finihiya’s delicate cheeks immediately showed an expression of aversion.

“Miss, want to buy some? This meat is delicious.”

Delicious…

Finihiya shook her little head like a rattle, expressing strong refusal and disgust.

The multi-racial, multi-cultural fusion meant that the Demon Territory’s market had many strange things.

Aside from various unknown meats, there were even dark foods made from dried insects that she found deeply frightening and repulsive.

“Miss, come take a look at my stall.”

Just as she was about to leave the lizard meat stall, a woman at the neighboring booth suddenly called out to her.

Shifting her gaze over, she saw the grains and spices displayed there and felt a sense of relief.

Finally, something she could accept.

The vendor was a Dark Elf, tall and slender.

As soon as Finihiya approached, she heard the vendor’s words, tinged with a smile.

“Miss, are you an Elf or a Demon?”

This rather abrupt question made Finihiya let out a short startled gasp.

“No need to make such a fuss. I’ve been here for decades and can roughly guess a customer’s race by what they like or dislike.”

“Miss, since you can’t accept the lizard meat, you’re probably a Demon or an Elf.”

“Elf…”

Finihiya answered weakly to the Dark Elf woman before her.

Although her appearance bore almost no elven traits—except for unusually pale skin, the rest was very human—technically, she was a genuine Half-Elf.

Considering the Demon Race’s inherent prejudice against humans, it wasn’t exactly a lie to cleverly say she was an Elf here.

“See!”

Perhaps because her guess was correct, the vendor’s smile deepened.

At this, Finihiya remained silent, her eyes scanning the stall full of assorted goods until they rested on some flour in the corner.

“Is that wheat flour?”

“Yes.” The vendor nodded. “Miss, would you like some?”

Hearing this, she pursed her lips and considered.

With wheat flour, many delicious foods could be made.

Recalling the foods she hadn’t tasted in a long time, Finihiya lifted her eyes and looked straight at the Dark Elf.

“Then please give me one jin.”

“All right, miss. Five Little Copper Coins.”

Finihiya counted out five Little Copper Coins stamped with what looked like oak trees from her pouch and handed them to the vendor.

The currency circulating in the Demon Territory was Mihol Coins, different from the Margaret Coins used in the Theocracy.

“Elf Miss, take care.”

Under the Dark Elf’s farewell, Finihiya clutched the flour and continued deeper into the market.

The bright sunlight gradually shifted westward, and the sky took on a beautiful golden color, like ripe wheat.

After wandering curiously through the Demon Territory market for some time, Finihiya stepped lightly back along the path she came from, feeling satisfied.

Just as she was about to leave the noisy market, an enticing aroma of roasted meat suddenly wafted into her nose.

Following the scent’s direction, she noticed that a barbecue stall had appeared beside the market entrance, though she wasn’t sure when it had opened.

The smell was familiar, not some strange exotic meat.

The vendor was a half-orc with a mane of hair around his neck.

Her appetite stirred by the aroma, she moved toward the stall.

“Customer, what would you like to eat?”

Fresh meat skewers sizzled on the flaming grill. Gazing at the slowly cooked skewers, Finihiya shyly raised her head and asked.

“Um… what kind of meat is this?”

Though she was fairly certain it was lamb, she confirmed just to be safe.

The vendor flipped a skewer over, brushing the surface with oil while smiling and answering.

“Miss, this is goat meat.”

“Oh…” Relieved to confirm it was goat meat, she relaxed and said, “Then please give me one skewer, with some cumin.”

“All right.”

This goat skewer was the more substantial kind, unlike those from her past life that cost one coin each. The skewer also had three pieces of vegetables threaded in between the meat chunks.

After a brief wait, the vendor finished grilling and handed it over, saying, “That’ll be one Copper Coin, miss.”

Ten Mihol Little Copper Coins equaled one Mihol Copper Coin.

Above that, there was the Mihol Big Copper Coin, and fifty Mihol Little Copper Coins equaled one Mihol Big Copper Coin.

Mihol Silver Coins were worth one hundred Mihol Little Copper Coins.

The highest denomination was the Mihol Gold Coin, worth ten thousand Mihol Little Copper Coins.

Lowering her head, Finihiya first took out one Copper Coin from her pouch and gave it to the vendor, then raised her delicate white hand to accept the skewer.

As she held the skewer and looked for a place to sit and eat, her skirt and cloak were gently tugged.

“Hmm?”

She uttered a puzzled sound and shifted her gaze downward.

There stood a demi-human boy only waist-high to her.

The little boy had beautiful, clear ruby eyes and wore a shirt faded from many washes and narrow pants.

Seeing this, Finihiya first glanced around, confirming no guardian nearby was looking for him.

Then she placed her hands behind her skirt and slowly crouched down.

Looking into the boy’s clear, hopeful eyes, she offered a gentle smile and softly asked.

“What is it?”

The little boy said nothing, his gaze fixed intently on the meat skewer in her hand.