Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill-Chapter 56: Bloodleaf Village (1)
Everyone was wearing the black cloaks Sophie had prepared. The hoods covered their faces.
Max looked at his for a moment.
Then a small blue window appeared in front of him.
[Stealth Cloak]
[Increases the user’s stealth by +10.]
Max raised an eyebrow.
But the window changed.
[Effect canceled.]
Max sighed.
’...Right. My wonderful skill.’
He looked at Sophie.
’Useful for everyone except me.’
The carriage kept moving.
The red forest began to clear.
And finally they saw it.
Bloodleaf Village.
Moon leaned toward the window.
"Woah..."
The village was built entirely from gray stone.
The houses were low and sturdy. Red bricks were visible between the walls. The roofs were covered with red tiles.
The streets were paved with stone.
Max looked around as the carriage slowly entered.
There were people walking everywhere.
Demons.
Succubi.
Some with horns.
Others with tails. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
A couple of demon children ran down the street playing with a leather ball.
A merchant shouted prices from a stall.
A couple argued in front of a bakery.
Moon blinked.
"...It’s a normal village."
Max nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
It wasn’t what he expected.
Varis drove the carriage along the main street.
He looked around.
Then pointed to a building.
"There."
An inn.
The wooden sign read "Red House."
The building was large. Made of gray stone, but with red bricks exposed across the entire façade. The roof was covered in dark red tiles.
Varis stopped the carriage in front of the entrance.
The group got down.
The doors of the inn opened and a demon woman came out to greet them. She had small horns and long black hair. She wore a tight red dress with a rather deep neckline.
She smiled when she saw them.
"Welcome to the Red House."
Dorian immediately stepped forward.
Max saw him.
And sighed.
’Yeah. Definitely just like in the game.’
The elf leaned one arm on the inn’s outdoor counter.
He smiled.
"Well now."
He looked the demon woman up and down.
"Such a lovely place... and with an even more beautiful hostess."
Max closed his eyes for a second.
’Shameless.’
The demon woman smiled, amused.
But before she could respond—
SMACK.
Sophie slapped Dorian on the back of the head.
The elf stumbled a little.
"Ow."
Sophie stepped forward.
She looked at the demon woman.
"Sorry."
She pointed at the elf.
"He’s an idiot."
The demon woman let out a small laugh.
"I noticed."
Sophie crossed her arms.
"We’re looking for rooms. To leave our things, and maybe spend the night."
She pointed to the carriage.
"And we need someone to take care of the carriage and the horses."
The demon woman tilted her head.
She smiled.
"Of course."
But her eyes moved to Sophie. Slowly looking her up and down.
"For such a charming guest... there’s always room."
Sophie blinked.
A faint color appeared on her cheeks.
"...Thank you."
Neros let out a small laugh behind her.
"Does that make you uncomfortable?"
Sophie looked at him.
"Shut up."
The demon woman continued.
"The price is simple."
She raised one finger.
"One gold coin per person. Per night."
Then she pointed at the carriage.
"And two silver to groom the horses."
Varis whistled softly.
"Pricey."
Max nodded.
"But acceptable."
He took out the coins and placed them on the counter.
The demon woman picked them up.
She smiled.
Then looked at Dorian.
"It includes the room."
She paused.
"But if you want company for the night..."
She leaned slightly toward him.
"It’s three gold coins per hour."
Sophie immediately raised a hand.
"No. Thanks."
The demon woman raised an eyebrow.
Dorian smiled.
And made a small gesture with his hand.
As if saying I’ll look for you later.
The demon woman laughed.
"I like your style."
Then she grabbed some keys.
"The rooms are upstairs."
She pointed to the staircase inside the inn.
"Enjoy your stay."
The group entered.
They climbed the stairs.
The wooden floorboards creaked under their steps.
Max looked down the hallway.
’Alright. First step in the Kingdom of Devils.’
The room doors opened one by one.
The group would finally have a moment to rest.
Before they began looking for a way to enter deeper into the Kingdom of Devils.
***
Max closed the door to his room.
The room was simple. A bed. A small table. A chair. A window overlooking the village street.
He placed his Infinite Backpack on the table.
He sat on the bed for a moment.
Exhaled.
"Finally."
Then—
A blue window appeared in front of his eyes.
[New Main Quest]
Max raised an eyebrow.
"About time."
The window expanded.
[Main Quest: Save the Maid]
[Objective: Bring Abigail Morningstar to her true home.]
[Reward: ???]
Max frowned.
"...Three question marks again?"
He leaned back slightly.
But then another window appeared.
[New Side Quest]
Max blinked.
"Another one?"
The window opened.
[Side Quest: Don’t Be Deceived]
[Objective: Do not allow the smuggler group to get away with their plan.]
[Reward: Truth Necklace]
Max stared at the reward.
"...Oh."
He sat up straight.
’That item...’
It was one of the best items in the game for social situations.
The Truth Necklace allowed the user to force the truth and detect lies.
It was extremely useful for resolving complicated quests with NPCs.
’That reward is incredible.’
But then he looked back at the objective.
[Do not allow the smuggler group to get away with their plan.]
Max crossed his arms.
’...Smugglers?’
He thought about what Varis had said.
His "contact" in the village.
The one who was supposedly going to help them cross into the Kingdom of Devils.
Max narrowed his eyes.
’So... that contact is a group of smugglers?’
But the quest said something worse.
[Do not allow them to get away with their plan.]
Max sighed.
’Great. So they’re going to betray us again.’
He got up from the bed.
’I should talk to the group.’
But then another line of text appeared.
[Quest Condition: You cannot reveal the existence of this quest to others.]
Max stared at the window.
’...Of course.’
He ran a hand over his face.
’Stupid system.’
He couldn’t warn the group.
Not Sophie.
Not Neros.
Not even Varis.
The window disappeared.
The room became quiet again.
Max sighed.
"Well."
He stood up.
"I guess we’ll improvise."
He opened the door of his room.
Stepped into the hallway.
The group was probably already ready to explore the village.
But then he heard something.
A sound from the other side of the hallway.
Moaning.
Max looked at the door across from his room.
Dorian’s room.
The moans were quite clear.
Max crossed his arms.
"...Not even two hours."
He shook his head.
"I’m not surprised."
He looked at the door.
’That shameless elf is already wasting gold on women.’
Then he started walking down the hallway.
Looking for the rest of the group.
While only one thought filled his mind.
’Smugglers. And another betrayal. This is going to get interesting.’
