Chapter 54: Checking out the demon kingdom Her performance was flawless—the perfect blend of seduction and innocence that probably worked on ninety-nine percent of the male population. Noah weighed his options. Lola would definitely know Sin City better than him. And if he was going to build a shop here, local knowledge was invaluable. Plus, keeping her occupied means she can’t cause trouble elsewhere. "If you take me on a tour around the city," he said finally, "I suppose I can let you in later." Lola’s face erupted into pure radiance. Her smile could have toppled kingdoms; luckily, only Noah saw it. That reaction seems... excessive for a simple tour arrangement. "Yes, yes!" She nodded with the enthusiasm of someone who’d just won the lottery. "I’ll make sure I take very good care of you." Her ruby eyes sparkled with mischief. Noah stepped through his shop’s door, feeling the protective barrier release him into Sin City’s chaotic embrace. Lola immediately linked her arm through his, immediately upon Noah’s arrival. Noah didn’t have the chance to stop her before she started guiding him through the city. "Welcome to your first real glimpse of Sin City," "I promise you’ll see things no ordinary tourist ever experiences." That’s what I’m afraid of. They emerged onto a broad boulevard lined with architectural marvels. Gothic buildings twisted skyward alongside glass domes that pulsed with inner light. Market stalls selling everything from enchanted weapons to beast cores. Hmm, the demons aren’t quite different from the people of Esta in terms of goods sold and such. "That tower there," Lola pointed with her free hand toward a large building, "houses our Temporal Studies Department. They’ve been trying to perfect time magic for four hundred years." Time magic... "Any success?" Noah asked, genuinely curious despite his wariness. Lola’s laugh tinkled like silver bells. "Nope." They continued deeper into the city’s heart, where the architecture grew more ambitious and the magical energy so thick Noah could taste it. His mana control level had reached four, so he was able to sense mana around him much better than ever before. Demons of every description went about their daily business—some humanoid with elegant horns and tails, others more exotic with multiple arms. Like walking through someone’s fever dream of paradise and perdition combined. "Oh, look!" Lola tugged his arm toward a massive structure dominating the eastern skyline. "The Demon Academy. You simply must see this." Demon education. This should be interesting. The academy sprawled across several city blocks, its architecture a blend of imposing fortress and elegant university. What caught Noah’s attention was the sheer scale—this made Harvard look like a rural schoolhouse. They take education seriously here. "What do they study?" Noah asked, craning his neck to take in the impossibly tall central spire. "Everything," Lola replied with obvious pride. "Combat magic, and all kinds of demon inheritance, such as seduction and such. It really depends on what kind of demon you are and you are aspirations are." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎 Seduction techniques. Of course, that’s a formal curriculum. Students moved between buildings in organised groups, their ages ranging from what looked like teenagers to young adults. Some flew on leathery wings, while others walked. Flying students...that’s cool. "The entrance requirements are quite rigorous," Lola continued. "Most applicants spend their holidays preparing. Though I suspect someone with your... unique talents might find admission quite easy." A group of student demons practising combat magic in the academy’s courtyard caught Noah’s attention. Flames danced between their fingers as they sparred with elegant precision, their movements more like deadly ballet than violence. They are powerful enough to make fighting look like art. "Impressive, isn’t it?" Lola stepped closer, making his heart beat a tad bit faster. "Though I’ve always found private tutoring more... effective than classroom instruction." "Do they teach stuff other than magic?" Noah deflected. "Yes, they teach demons how to become adults." She winked. Okay...that just sounds wrong on so many levels. But, I’m not going to give you the pleasure of me asking. He knew her tricks by now; she just wanted to seduce him into asking, and once he asked, she would tease him some more. "And this," Lola announced as they approached a bridge spanning a river of red liquid, "is the Crown Bridge. Notice how the architecture reflects our kingdom’s true heritage." ’Is that blood?’ The bridge itself was a masterwork of demonic engineering—black stone inlaid with precious metals. But what caught Noah’s attention were the statues lining both sides. "Who are these statues for?" He asked curiously, although he had a hunch. To have a statue meant you were either a hero or someone with high status. "Royal...bloodlines," And in a voice that Noah couldn’t hear, she whispered. "The true rulers of Sin City." One statue in particular drew Noah’s gaze—a female figure with elegant horns and a tail that seemed to move despite being carved from stone. The resemblance it had to the succubus next to him was quite overwhelming. Coincidence? "She’s beautiful," he observed carefully. Lola’s grip on his arm tightened almost imperceptibly. "Yes, but I’m quite beautiful myself, no?" She smiled. Noah ignored her question and continued walking through the demon kingdom. "Enjoying the tour?" Lola asked, More than I expected. Less than I probably should. "It’s quite nice around here. I’ve never seen something like it." Noah’s honest response drew a satisfied smile from the succubus. "Perfect." Lola’s eyes lit up with a mischievous shine. "Then you’ll love where we’re going next." That tone suggests trouble. Why do I keep following it? She led him away from the main thoroughfares, past districts that grew progressively quieter. We’re leaving the city. "Where are we going?" Noah frowned, his survival instincts finally kicking in. Following a succubus into the wilderness sounds like trouble, Noah. "You’ll see." She took his hand without warning, her fingers warm and unsurprisingly gentle. The path wound upward through rolling hills dotted with strange, luminescent flowers. Everything felt peaceful in a way that surprised him. Unlike the human kingdom, there wasn’t a large number of fortifications or guards and there was certainly no signs of the constant warfare that plagued the human kingdoms. Where are all the defences? Do the demons not attack this place?