The Record of Unusual Creature

Cadeceus is not the biggest realm dominated by men, but it was the most prosperous amongst all. There were about dozens of portals to other realms that dotted the place. Based on the scholar’s speculative dimensional bubble map, Cadeceus was in the middle of all. Around it was ten of the inhabited worlds. (‘Worlds’ being the local terminology and not referring to the universe)

Due to this unique structure, the dimension had became the most important traffic route. Aside from humans who make up fifty percent of the populace, other races had also set up outposts and towns in Cadeceus. Thus when there were conflicts between men, Cadeceus would be bound by absolute neutrality based on some ancient accords, and play the role of a sanctuary.

Many scholars even believed that the reason that humans were able to be the most prolific and prosperous race, aside from their ability to learn and expand, was the fact that they had the luck to discover Cadeceus several thousand years ago. That allowed them to control the throat of the world.

Cadessar, the main human settlement towards the west side on the Cadeceus mainland. It was surrounded on three sides by the mountains while the other faced the wide laterite plains. This city was built by the explorers who had discovered the Cadeceus Plane. It was originally a campsite, but had over the years expanded to become the greatest, the most prosperous of cities. The main populace of the city were humans, a third of the populace are civilians of other races. Many envoys from races from other planes had also build embassies and offices in the city. Cadessar is infamous for the sedantary lifestyle her inhibitants lived.

Cadeceus was indeed an rich and important place, that was the common consensus. It was not only the ‘center of the world’ but it was also the first city that the army of the crazed demon king could not breach. The seven most famous heroes of the Ten Year War too had gathered here and led the campaign against the demon king that is now a saga itself.

After teleporting and covering some ground on foot, Hao Ren and the rest had arrived at the historic city of renown.

Hao Ren wore the caster robes that he had secretly ‘borrowed’ from the Allied Army camp, leading the rest who were dressed as wandering mercenaries towards the towering walls of Cadessar. Looking up, he was graced by the grey stone wall that rose hundred of meters into the air. The scars of war was still apparent. Hao Ren felt that Y’zaks was a tad bit overly positive about the whole thing. “This was the first place you tasted defeat? You sure is positive about this… why here?”

Y’zaks looked nostalgically at the scarred walls. The blackened wall and the destroyed tower on east side on the wall was his handiwork. Or at least his underlings’ handiwork. “This was the closest town, Velessa is two hundred kilometers away, and you need to go through a mountain range. Not worth the hassle.”

The demon king was dressed in a rough leather hauberk. His bulging muscle straining against the armor. On his back was a big battle axe that he had nicely relieved from it’s former owner in the camp. He was your typical highland berserker. Well, that would work in deflecting any attention towards that horrifying face of his.

“You sure you’re fine here?” Wuyue asked skittishly. She was thinking along the lines of a normal human and felt that even if she was to change her way of seeing things, it would just be nothing but bitter memories. Thus she was afraid he might get depressed half way through.

“No matter.” Y’zaks shrugged. “War, is something you cannot explain, so it’s best not to. Lets get somewhere to rest. Cadeceus has a very short day cycle. A warlock with a succubus would attract a lot of attention at night.”

The party then headed towards the city gate. Lily suddenly realised something, “EH! Do we have any cash?”

Hao Ren slapped his head as he too belatedly realise the matter of money. Well, it was not his fault that the heroic sagas omitted the fact that the main character had to go scrapping for toll money. Y’zaks however was prepared. “No worries, I have plenty.”

The demon king patted his pouch and a jingle of coins was heard. “I suppose the currency they use are still the same.”

“Where did you get them from?”

Y’zaks laughed.

“My savings that I dug out from the gave earlier. When I came over the other time I wanted to visit the city to see how things were. But I had to forgo that due to some other things. So the money stayed buried until now.”

Well, life is way more dramatic than dramas themselves it seems. There was finally something of use from his past reign!

With their monetary issue resolved, the party continued on towards the gate. Two rows of knights in full armor stood guard. Even as an outsider Hao Ren could tell that this men in tincans were the real deal. The holy light that radiated around them had almost triggered Hao Ren’s shields.

As the rather conspicuous group approached, a few of the paladins came to them. One of them eyed Y’zaks first before turning his sight towards Lanina. A gruff and dignified voice burred from the behind the armet. “Demon? Under servitude?”

Lanina looked unblinkingly at the knights. As the demon king’s right hand, this scenario was nothing to her. “I came with my master to visit the town. My soul has already been bound.”

While Lanina played her part well, a demon entering a town – even if it was one summoned by a warlock – had to undergo strigent checks. The supposed captain of the paladins turned towards his subordinate and pointed towards one, “Jessen, put this succubus to the test.”

The paladin named Jessen took off his helm, and seemed like a feisty youngster, quite handsome in fact. He looked at Lanina in the eyes for a moment and nodded. “Hmm… Yes. She’s totally under control. Go on in.”

Hao Ren could not process how quick the check was and pointed confusedly at Lanina. “Ugh.. .this… uh.. just like that?”

“As a succubus, being so stern faced in the presence of someone good looking, the mentao control is almost excessive I’d say.” The captain of the paladin goodheartedly patted Hao Ren on the shoulders. “Mr Warlock, while being strict with your demon is laudable but you’d turn her into a mere fool like this…”

“…”

Well, since the inspection was done, the party was sent on their way by the sentries. Cadeceus was the ‘throat of the world’ and Cadessar was the biggest gathering point on the continent and the amount of traffic was heavy. Thus the knights too did not had the time to bother Hao Ren even if they wanted to.

Hao Ren had yet to recover from his confusion as they entered the city. “That inspection… was it reliable?”

Y’zaks took a glance at Lanina. “That was actually the most reliable of methods. At least against Succubi. Any succubi without a soul contract would start seducing any males they see. This was their nature and even high level succubi could barely hold their instincts back. Most professional paladins would be able to sense any mental assault immediately. Only summoned succubi that are fully under their master’s control could fully discard their demonic instincts, so it is very effective.”

The then pointed towards Lanina, “She on the other hand, is history’s first succubus to not be interested in men… There’s nothing like her before too.”

Hao Ren was deeply suspicious on how Y’zaks had educated that foster daughter of his…

After passing through the first outer ring wall, the rambunctious cacophony of Cadessar’s outer city area hit them. Before them was a wide main trunk road and it was skirted by shops along the whole stretch of road and it was a hive of activity. All the buildings along the road are of stone masonry with white outer walls with rigid shape while a quadrangular roof jutted towards the sky. It seems like an architecture unique to Cadeceus. At the end of the trunk road was a rather quiet plaza. A stone statue stood heroically in the middle.

Y’zaks looked at his foot and suddenly started laughing. “The last time around I couldn’t enter the city even with hundred thousand men.”

He then lifted his leg, and took a big step forward.

Hao Ren felt something was off. “The big guy isn’t planning to torch the city is he?”

Lanina laughed. “No, my Lord will never do that. Even in vengeance, he would transform into his original form and challenge the Cadecean Paladins to a fight. Otherwise, he deems himself unfit to bear the title of King.”

Hao Ren demurred as he rubbed his chin. “….Stubborn.”