NOVPUBPoson Demon World, District 10.
The noise of the rain sounded like a ceaseless firework display.
The advertising billboards and giant screens between buildings flickered on and off through the curtain of rain, dyeing the water with brilliant colors, reflecting on the wet streets in a bewildering and magnificent drunken blur.
Three o’clock in the morning.
The downpour had arrived abruptly at nightfall in Floral City Pariel, and it had been several hours now.
The raindrops densely pelted down on the roads of the entire Floral City, quickly pooling into gushing streams that ran wild on the slopes, as if to wash away or completely submerge the city.
Unlike the downtown area of Floral City Pariel, the Poson Demon World, starting from North Shore District 7, bore more of the traditional flair of the Demon World from the Herram of the Northern Continent. In the midst of the downpour, the closely packed skyscrapers were brightly lit, and their pointed tops shone brightly like lighthouses.
Inside a mansion at the center of Poson Demon World, District 10.
The sound of rain was much softer, yet laughter and merry voices were unending.
A grand midnight banquet was taking place here.
Demon Race guests were aplenty, mingling and toasting.
"I can only have a little bit more."
Lanci’s emerald eyes occasionally flashed a hint of gold, and then his hand reached out for a piece of pastry and stuffed it into his mouth.
At the same time, he was giving instructions to Talia in his heart. 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
Now, beside him the six-tier dessert tower adorned with gold leaf almond cookies, crystal clear apple lime jellies cut into shapes of animals from Animal Forest, and mini soufflés baked with fruit wine glistening, placed on the purest ice made from mineral water, he occasionally helped himself to a piece.
Because it was so late, Talia was too hungry, but she couldn’t come out. Standing next to the buffet table at the banquet was like a form of torture for her.
So Lanci finally compromised, allowing her to use his body to eat, but just this once.
"Understood, your taste buds seem to be different from mine. Using your body to eat makes sweet things sweeter and sour things sourer."
Talia was chewing with Lanci’s body while mentally responding to Lanci.
Maybe it was because he had eaten so little before that none had reached the threshold.
"..."
Lanci didn’t reply to her.
He was a bit afraid that Talia would develop a taste for it and want to use his body again in the future.
"Rocky, do you find these kinds of parties at such a time troublesome?"
In a corner of his residence, Nigel was chatting with Lanci beside the buffet table.
Currently, Lanci was using the fake identity Rocky McCarthy, so naturally, Nigel addressed him as Rocky.
"Not at all, I find it quite lively. Although young people can’t always be nocturnal, it’s nice to celebrate occasionally."
Lanci replied amicably.
The timing of the dinner party didn’t surprise Lanci, as the exams at Purgatory Corridor Academy also took place at night.
It’s just that lately he had been feeling more tired than before. Even at this hour, he was a bit drowsy.
Talia was energetic every day, so to some extent he was bearing the fatigue of two people.
Although he hadn’t yet tried letting Talia go all out, if he were to let her use up all her mana, he felt like he could sleep for a day or two straight.
Standing in this nearly thousand square meter hall, Lanci and Nigel looked into the distance, where a dance was underway.
Seven huge branched crystal chandeliers hung from the sixteen-meter-high ceiling like stars, illuminating the hall with their sparkles.
Amid murmurs and the rustle of fine clothing, the guests, dressed in tailor-made attire, moved about. The men wore silk bowties adorned with feathered edges or pinned flowers to their collars, while the ladies were in silk and velvet gowns draped with embellishments of gemstones in the shape of maple leaves or painted with fireworks. When the band started playing the Demon World’s waltz, the guests began to dance, gliding over the black and white marble tiles with their skirts fluttering.
White wine from Poson Southern Aquidan border specialties and peach-hued sparkling wine brewed from the Yarolan Kingdom filled the high-stemmed glasses etched with the pattern of Bacchus, clinking occasionally at the edges of the banquet hall as Demon Race nobles chatted, looking out at the rain curtain.
Demon Race waiters dressed in black tailcoats weaved through the crowd, holding silver platters of champagne and desserts.
Lanci and Nigel stood out from the guests around them; they neither danced nor talked with other Demons, simply standing by a buffet table that was twenty meters long.
"Sorry for bringing you to this kind of Demon Race gathering."
Nigel said.
He thought that, as a human, Lanci must feel pretty uncomfortable there.
Of course, if his associations within the Demon World were better, Lanci wouldn’t have to just stand with him on the sidelines.
"Actually, let me tell you something, I could probably mix with all the Demons at the banquet in just a few hours. I’ve had quite a bit of experience with these events."
Lanci said to Nigel.
"Have you attended banquets with Demons before?"
Nigel asked, curiously.
"I’ve held quite a few in the past."
Lanci nodded.
Back then, he was still in the ancient Demon King Castle Necaris.
It was just unfortunate that Talia had no chance to taste so many delicacies, which made Hyperion feel particularly regretful.
Moreover, if Talia was good at taking care of children, she could help him with Siegler.
"I, the King of the Demon Race, taking care of a child?"
Talia asked in his mind.
"Because I’ve realized, Hyperion isn’t very good with kids. She even steals the blankets in her sleep and might kick Siegler out of bed. That’s why Siegler said she dreamt that Hyperion hit her."
Lanci sighed, believing that Talia had already heard some stories of the last Shadow World from Hyperion.
