Newly Summoned Demoness - Chapter 54 – The Real Artificers (Patreon)

All the dark alleys had been claimed by gangs, orphans, or the homeless. Elania did not want to confront anyone on their own turf, so she kept trudging along through the streets. Whenever someone approached her, she gave them a heated glare that seemed to forestall any further encounters.

Whether it was the change in her posture, the speed at which her hands went to her two [Vorpal Daggers] or just her unhappy attitude, she wasn’t sure.

Eventually, she came to an inn that was still lit up. Checking her clock, it was just after midnight. No free rooms.

The second inn she found was the same. No free rooms.

No free rooms.

After the sixth, she realized it was a lie. They just didn’t want a demon staying the night. That made her angry. Not that she had any inkling about what to do about it. She’d never been the target of such discrimination before coming to Eladu.

It sucked.

Eventually, in a corner near the gate back to the central hub, she found a cubbyhole that wasn’t in use. Climbing up to a second level, there was a flat stone landing that was built into part of the building’s roof that was perfect for having a high vantage point.

She sat down, crossed her legs, and pulled her backpack around. A quick rummage allowed her to check on her [Monster Core – Ralfot]. It was still safely bundled in its cloth wrap. She pulled out her two [Apnal] and snacked on the crunchy sweet fruits.

Her mind wandered back to Joren’s estimation that the core was worth at least one or two large golds. From the way things were going, the worry that she’d be ripped off more than she had expected was real. If she got a quarter or half of the value, that would probably be lucky.

Meaning her funds weren’t going to be nearly as much as she had, though. What kind of job could she get in the city as a demon? It seemed laughable, and she didn’t really have any skills of note other than her fighting ones. Maybe she could be a bodyguard or something? But then, no one seemed to like or trust demons, so that was probably a dead end.

Maybe a contract would allay any fears, but then people seemed very hesitant about that. At least the Conclave monks had seemed to hate the idea. Maybe that wasn’t universal.

But who the heck could she ask about it? If she stopped someone on the street to ask, they’d probably run away, curse at her, or freak out.

Or try to stab her again.

Not for the first time, Elania wished she was more of an extrovert and knew how to not be socially awkward. The fact that she’d now been labeled a literal demon seemed like a handicap that was entirely unfair.

She’d always had a hard time pretending to be a normal girl at school, and now she had a literal sign around her neck that said, ‘I eat humans!’ How the heck was she supposed to deal with that?

Finished with her meal, she packed her things and then walked carefully on the roof, minding the stone tiles. Finding a perch with a view of the gates, she sat down and watched.

And watched.

Eventually, she was so bored she nodded off. When a low drone of voices woke her, she realized sleeping was probably not the safest course of action. Thankfully, it seemed like she had gotten away with it.

Her [System] clock reported it was morning. Scrambling to her feet, she made her way back down to the street level and headed up to the gate. Curfew was over and it was time to get to the Artisan District!

Elania wielded the thought like a sword against her previously depressing musings.

The guards still gave her a serious appraisal as she passed through. She gave them a smile. They didn’t stop her, so it seemed to work.

Her [Map] of the city gave her a rough path to follow, and she weaved her way through the various zones of the Artisan District. There were smith streets, carpentry streets, tailoring streets, and, well, just about every crafting profession she could think of streets everywhere.

One section contained a massive steelworks, with smoke billowing out of two large brick chimneys. Heat poured from the openings in the large open building, and the clang and bang of people hard at work doing stuff she had no clue about radiated all around her.

The contrast between the quiet, depressed poverty and lethargy of the Mercenary District with what she now found was stark. She much preferred the lively action of the Artisan District.

Now she just needed to find Artificer’s Row.

When she found it near the edge of the city cavern’s wall, she hesitated. It was a broad street that worked its way up the cavern’s side, with two metal gates cutting across the street. Both gates were wide open, the larger allowing wagon traffic through while the other passed through people.

Both were watched by what looked to be at least a dozen heavily armored mercenaries in heavy armor. All of them had swords, spears, or the firearm she’d seen the city guards possess. The security wasn’t kidding around.

A wave of apprehension washed over Elania as she approached. She felt very much alone and vulnerable. The guards fixated on her almost immediately.

“Halt. What’s your business here…demon?” The man’s voice rang out clear and demanding. The other guards, who weren’t busy, turned to watch the encounter. Having an audience added to her discomfort, but she was determined not to buckle.

“I have a [Monster Core – Ralfot] I was hoping to sell,” Elania said. Somehow, she kept her voice steady.

Nearby, she could hear the guards comment on her. Almost predictably, she heard one comment about her race. “What’s an unbound demon doing here?”

“Where’d you get a core at?” the guard interrogating her asked.

She let out a tense breath. “I helped kill the Alpha, and the core was my share of the loot.”

The man grunted. Whether that was because he did or didn’t believe her, she had no idea. Nearby, an older man made a gesture toward her pack and the guard nodded.

The guard looked back at her and nodded at her backpack. “Let’s see it. If you’re telling the truth, we’ll let you in.”

Elania pulled her pack off her back and pulled out the core without hesitation. When she uncovered it from the cloth, the transparent orb almost glittered under the light stones above. The single gold orb in the center gave off its own hue of color as well.

The man whistled. “That’s a pretty decent specimen. You don’t often see them that clear.”

“I was told it was worth a few gold,” Elania offered.

He turned and yelled. “Lucas! Git over here!”

A wiry man with brown hair and a set of shiny armor jumped up from his seat and hurried over. “Yeah?”

“She has a core to sell. You’re going to play escort for this one,” the guard ordered.

The man sighed and rolled his neck to crack it. “Oof. What is this, have Lucas escort the ladies around day? I just got back.”

The guard didn’t seem sympathetic. “Want me to tell Harlock you’re having trouble?”

Lucas looked at her and smiled before doing a double take. He blinked several times before greeting her. “Hello…I’m going to be walking around with you.”

Elania kept her smile. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

The morning seemed to start early on Artificer’s Row. A bustle of workers was already moving goods in and out on wagons. More of the guards were in evidence along the streets, it was probably the heaviest concentration of guards she had seen. Although they were all mercenaries and not the city guardsmen she’d seen in the conclave district.

Different guards for different sections of the city? Maybe artificers were just rich, since they had more protection than she’d seen the noble shops have.

Or maybe the nobles just kept them better hidden in their spiraling vertical home.

Once they had passed out of hearing distance from the gate, she looked over to her escort. “Lucas?”

He looked at her and arched an eyebrow. “Yes?”

She dived right in, since this seemed like the best chance to ask questions. “My name is Elania. Thanks for showing me around. Do you know the best place for me to sell my core? I’m hoping to get the best price for it so I can have some funds to live off of for a while.”

He seemed hesitant, but finally spoke. “Well, uhh. I guess Ranolf’s Artifice would be the first bet? It’s the largest shop on the row.”

“Can we go there first, then?” Elania asked.

“Sure?”

She waited for him to show her the way. He looked confused.

“I don’t know where it is. Can you show me?” She tried to smile.

Understanding blossomed on his face. “Oh. Oh. You don’t know where it is. Sure, follow me.”

Maybe she could get some more information. “Do you do lots of work escorting people for… uhm.”

“Steelfist. Our company has the exclusive contract with the Artificer’s Guild so we protect the area. We do all sorts of services for them.” There was almost an eagerness to Lucas’ voice, and he was basically puffing out his chest.

Well, it was good that he had pride in his work. The smile on her face might have even been genuine.

Further up the street she spotted a set of three wagons unloading things into a what looked like a warehouse. A large sign stood hanging over a side door. “Is that the shop?” Elania asked.

Lucas nodded. “Yeah, that’s it. Convenient location right at the front of the row. I’ll wait for you outside.”

Elania nodded. “Okay.”

She wasn’t sure what to expect when she went through the door. That lack of expectation was a good thing because it didn’t resemble the ‘artificer’ shop in the noble district at all.

Apprentices carried boxes of items between workbenches and the wagons. A sharp tang of heated iron and a hint of some kind of incense or mystical essence filled the air, tickling her nose.

Shelves and shelves of different items were on display. Works small and large filled the large open space all the way to the rear. It was an industrial operation, and the storefront was built into one building.

Elania approached the counter; a sleepy apprentice didn’t notice her until she coughed.

“Oh. Uhh. Hello! Welcome to Ranolf’s Artifice. How can…I…help you?” The young man stammered off as he looked her in the eyes.

Elania smiled. “Yeah. I have that effect on people. I have a [Monster Core – Ralfot] that I’d like to sell. I heard maybe I could do that here?”

He blinked at her for a few seconds, then nodded. “I will have to go get Master Ranolf. Could you…please wait here?”

Elania nodded. “Sure.”

With the apprentice gone to fetch Master Ranolf, Elania stood awkwardly beside the counter. She quietly observed the organized chaos of the workshop. Artificers, their apprentices, and several burly workmen were busy with various projects.

A few minutes later, an old man with a gray beard returned with the apprentice, adjusting a pair of thick-lensed spectacles as he examined her. His eyes widened slightly as he looked at her before they slid to her backpack.

“Miss demon,” he began. “I am Master Artificer Ranolf. I heard you’re here to sell a monster core, yes?”

Elania nodded. “A [Monster Core – Ralfot] that we got from an Alpha Ralfot.” She pulled her pack around to her front and loosened the tie, then carefully unwrapped the core again. He let out an appreciative grunt as he took it.

“It has already been purified. You said you harvested it directly?” Ranolf asked.

“I was traveling with several Conclave monks when we ran into it,” Elania explained.

Ranolf released an appraising hum. “I see. Normally we purchase these from the conclave directly.”

Elania licked her lips. “Since you won’t have to be paying them for purification, I’m sure you can give me a better price that is a win for both of us, right?”

Ranolf gave her an appraising look again. “There is a shortage of mana shards, so I hope you came with realistic expectations for the value of the core.”

A frown appeared on her face. “What does a mana shard shortage have to do with the value of the core?” Elania asked.

Ranolf puffed. “Due to the shortage, there simply is no need for cores. The cores are used to build major artifices, while the mana shards power them. With no shards, there is no need for cores that cannot be powered.”

She wasn’t sure how much that made sense. Wouldn’t any shortage be temporary? If it was worth a lot, then that meant it wasn’t common. So when the mana shards recovered, the core would still be worth a lot?

Elania couldn’t hide her frown. “So, how much can you give me for it?”

“I will need to grade it first before I can make an offer.” The counter had a simple metal holder built for spherical objects and he laid the core in it. The ring was just narrow enough to hold the core in the air, and then he pulled out a small wooden wand with a crystal on the tip.

He tapped it and the core lit up, the golden grape in the center of the crystal giving off its own glow. “The resonance is ideal,” Ranolf murmured.

He pulled another wand from his belt and this time rubbed it against the orb in a circular motion. Nothing happened at first, but then small speckles of blue and red began to form inside the translucent crystal portion. The lights moved in small lazy spirals, mimicking the rubbing motion of the wand.

“The emotional resonance is minimal, so the purification was well done, or the core wasn’t very passionate to begin with.”

Elania blinked. Was that good or bad? “The [Alpha Ralfot] was certainly very passionate.”

Ranolf flipped through a few lenses on his spectacles, moving closer to inspect the core. He spent another minute staring into its depths and focusing on it. What he was looking for, she did not know.

He finally gave his verdict. “I believe this is a B-class core. There are few disharmonies, although its channeling capacity is limited.”

She hated feeling stupid and clueless. “Is that good or bad?” Elania asked.

He frowned at her. “B-class is a high grade but outclassed by A-class. S-class would be the highest.”

Well, that followed the skill ranking system curve, so why not? She sighed. “Alright, so it is good, but not the best.”

Ranolf nodded. “Ralfot are mid-tier creatures, the limited power capacity makes sense.”

The man paused, leaving her on edge, waiting for what felt like much too long before finally giving her a price. “Two small golds, and that is being generous. Like I said, the mana shard shortage has shown no sign of abating, and that means the core just isn’t in demand.”

Elania frowned; that was a lot lower than she had been led to believe.

“I was told it would be worth a few large gold,” Elania countered weakly.

Ranolf shrugged. “A month ago, you would have been right. As it is, I cannot offer more. The core will go into storage for who knows how long before it’s useful again.”

Elania bit her lip. It felt like she’d brought her prized possession to a pawn shop only to be told it wasn’t a real gem and the gold was fake. “The price isn’t what I hoped for.”

She realized his gaze had fallen down to her breasts, and he was almost leering at her. A sudden uncomfortable feeling filled her, and she almost took a step back.

“If you need more funds, there are other items I am interested in purchasing,” Ranolf said with a false smile.

Panic filled her. Was he asking for sexual favors? Wait. No. Her mana shard was hanging between her cleavage underneath her armor in its cloth wrap. Was he able to see through her clothes? Regardless, she wasn’t sure she wanted to sell her only [Power] storage. Without it, she couldn’t regulate things or have backup in case of a nasty fight.

“Uhh. Like?” Elania asked hesitantly.

“As a demon, I am interested in the [Power] you could provide, to charge my own mana crystals and shards. If you had any of those too, they would definitely be worth quite a few large golds.”

“You’d be willing to buy [Power] points? How much each?” she asked.

He frowned at the question like he hadn’t considered the price. “I’m sure we could work something out. Perhaps sign a contract. I am well versed in such things, and the power provided is essential for maintaining the city’s running infrastructure.”

He was well versed in dealing with demon contracts? They powered the city’s infrastructure? Alarm bells were going off like crazy, not for the first time since she’d arrived in the city.

“I’ll consider it. I don’t want to sign a contract right now. I think I will go to a few other shops and see about getting a few more appraisals on the core before accepting your offer for two small gold.” She tried to keep her voice as diplomatic as possible.

Ranolf picked the core back up and proffered it back to her. “You can check at other shops, of course. The price is good, and I doubt you will find a better one.”

Elania felt a bitter disappointment welling up within her, but she forced it down. Offering a weak smile, she secured the core back in her pack. “Alright. I’ll keep that in mind. I just would like to look around a bit more before deciding. It was a fairly difficult fight and journey to bring it here.”

Ranolf waved her off. “Feel free to do so. Just remember what I said.”

Turning on her heel, she hurried out of the shop as was polite to do so. The crowded street was still bustling with traffic. Lucas was waiting by a lamppost and waved with a smile.

She wished she had it in her to give him a genuine smile back.