After entering the town, Aino wandered around for an entire day.
She had been in this world for some time, but until now, she had remained in the forest. The towering, exotic plants there were magnificent, and the various magical beasts were fantastical, yet it was the town—both utterly foreign and faintly familiar—that stirred deeper emotions within her.
Though she wasn’t well-versed in its ways, the town resembled the medieval European settlements she had pictured in her mind, albeit a more rudimentary version. The houses were low and squat, the church was cloaked in creeping vines, and a mysterious tower loomed high, its walls caked with grime. The people on the streets wore an eclectic mix of clothing, and every so often, a carriage clattered by.
At Aino’s current level of strength, strolling at such a leisurely pace caused no fatigue, so she explored with keen interest for the whole day.
Now, however, a problem emerged—Aino was hungry.
For her, starvation was an impossibility. Yet the gnawing hunger from not eating meat for a day was just as intense as it had been when she was an ordinary human. There were no dire consequences, but the craving was overwhelming, pushing her to the edge of distress.
A major trigger for this hunger was the abundance of tantalizing food she had encountered throughout the day. Insects, beasts, and low-level magical creatures—even those with some strength—held no appeal for her; their flesh and blood were unpalatable due to her draconic bloodline. Humans, however, were different. Even untrained civilians were decent fare in her eyes, while those with greater power were like walking delicacies.
In her memories, Tananoen—her past self, perhaps— reveled in hunting powerful humans: battling them, defeating them, and devouring them. But at that level of prowess, few could stand against her. Only the elite of each race, and even fewer humans, reached such heights.
As Aino roamed the town, she passed countless ordinary folk and occasionally glimpsed a few with notable strength, their vitality practically radiating. Ah… how she yearned to tear open their throats and drink their blood… She quickly stifled the impulse.
It was time to find a solution for her hunger; delaying further might lead to trouble. With this in mind, Aino began to mull over her options while aimlessly wandering the streets.
Suddenly, a potent scent of blood and flesh wafted from a small shop, instantly seizing her attention. Her heart leaped with excitement, and she hastened toward it. The shopkeeper, a man in his forties or fifties, presided over a store stocked with spiritual herbs, forging materials, and an assortment of rare treasures.
Among the merchandise, her senses zeroed in on a vial of red liquid, casually nestled amidst the clutter. To anyone else, it might have seemed unremarkable, but Aino spotted it immediately. The potion exuded an irresistibly delicious aura—something she could savor.
Recalling novels from her past life, she wondered if she should feign interest in other items and casually ask about the blood’s price, masking her eagerness. Both fiction and the wisdom of elders suggested this tactic to avoid being overcharged. But Aino knew nothing of this world’s market values and wouldn’t recognize a fair price from a scam.
“How much is this?” she blurted out, abandoning any pretense.
Bargaining wasn’t her strength—she simply couldn’t do it. She could only hope the shopkeeper was honest and offered a reasonable price.
Then it hit her: price… money… she didn’t have a single coin. Having survived in the forest until today, her first day in the city, where would she have acquired funds? This was a disaster! She was trapped! Even if the shopkeeper quoted a single coin, she couldn’t pay. She’d look like a fool—or worse, a troublemaker begging for a beating. And with no grasp of pricing, she wouldn’t even know if she was being cheated.
“This is the essence blood of a magical beast with earth dragon lineage. Five silver coins,” the shopkeeper replied.
In this world, dragons were among the oldest and most formidable races. Anything tied to them carried power, and the closer the connection, the greater the strength. To Aino, the essence blood of a magical beast with dragon lineage was like a steaming bowl of chicken soup to someone starving in the cold.
But… she had no money.
Awkwardly, she set the vial back down, pretending to lose interest. The shopkeeper gave her a puzzled glance but said nothing. Aino turned and hurried out of the shop.
—
Park was a streetwise young man in Dante City. He thrived on petty crime—stealing from shops, pickpocketing on the streets, and pilfering from stalls with his crew. Occasionally, they’d harass the weak and defenseless for sport.
Tonight, he and his buddies had plans to hit a late-night dance. For now, he lingered alone on a familiar street, waiting for them to show up. His mother had abandoned him as a child, leaving him with an alcoholic father. Neither held a job; they both idled their days away. As a result, Park rarely returned “home”—if it could even be called that. He had no real sense of the word. He’d spend nights in taverns, crash with friends, or, when push came to shove, bundle up and sleep on the streets.
It was now late at night, and the once-lively streets had emptied, save for a few straggling vendors packing up their wares. Then, a strange figure caught Park’s eye.
A girl wandered the dim, deserted street, peering around as if searching for something. The scene felt eerie. Park swallowed hard and edged toward a brighter spot, his gaze locked on her.
Upon closer inspection, he noted her rare black hair and crimson eyes. She was as exquisite as a porcelain doll, her beauty outshining any woman he’d seen in the brothels. A rush of desire surged within him. Such a lovely, fragile lamb wouldn’t last in this bleak city—a pity, really.
With unsteady steps, Park swaggered toward her, his intent unmistakable. “Out here alone this late? Wanna have some fun with me?”
“…”
The girl met his gaze, her red eyes inscrutable.
Grinning sleazily, the scruffy man reached out to touch her face, spouting crude remarks. “Wandering around at this hour—did your family kick you out, or are you just desperate for a man?”
To his surprise, she didn’t recoil. His hand brushed her cheek, the cool, silky texture briefly mesmerizing him.
“…What the hell is wrong with you?” Park muttered, yanking his hand back as if jolted.
“Are you really looking to—”
Before he could finish, a familiar voice cut through the night.
“Hey, Slick, playing with a girl all by yourself?” A group of thugs approached, led by a stone-faced teenager. Tall and muscular, he radiated explosive power without seeming bulky. His cold eyes betrayed a chilling indifference.
The one who spoke was a burly man in the group. Though the leader was already imposing, this giant towered half a head taller. If the teenager was a sleek, powerful leopard, the burly man was an oversized gorilla.
As he talked, the brute shoved Park aside, sparking laughter from the others.
“…” Park stayed silent, stepping back with a forced smile aimed at the cold-eyed leader. “Boss, I just ran into this woman on the street. Don’t know where she’s from…”
Before he could finish, a fat man in the crew cut in. “Heh, this chick’s hot. Boss, let’s have some fun with her right here. I’m dying for it!” As he spoke, he lewdly rubbed his crotch, drawing more jeers from his companions.
