Chapter 111 – The Unwanted Parade.

Diana's attempt to maintain a low profile in the Third Circle crumbled before she even crossed the first corner of the southern avenue.

Stepping through the iron gate of the Lower Cauldrons Estate wearing her leather coat with the hood pulled low, the telltale sound of silk brushing stone came from the roof. Zarek leaped down from the ledge with an effortless drop, landing noiselessly on the gravel beside her, both moon steel swords strapped across his back and an easy smile on his face.

“Good morning, Diana,” Zarek said, adjusting his sleeveless leather vest. “Where are we buying reagents today?”

Diana didn't even turn her head. She kept marching with resolute strides along the packed-dirt walkway.

“I am going to the alchemy market alone,” she replied in a dry tone. “You are going back to the roof or finding a Level 60 dungeon to burn off all that pent-up energy.”

“Not a chance.” Zarek matched her pace with ease, making use of his long legs and the fluid movement of his arachnid demon body. “A gentleman doesn't let his future partner haul glass crates through the dust.”

Diana quickened her pace, hoping the speed would shake the man off.

The problem wasn't just Zarek's stubborn insistence on following her.

The real problem was that Zarek was far too famous in the Iron Cauldron Outpost.

***

The instant the two entered the grand plaza of the Cauldron Market, the customary murmur of hundreds of merchants and hunters dropped drastically.

Two ogres unloading a boar carcass froze with their iron hooks suspended in midair. Veteran mercenaries seated at neighboring tavern tables straightened their posture, and Level 50 porters cleared the walkway with hurried steps, staring at the six-armed demon with looks blending dread and military deference.

Whispers quickly rippled through the wooden stalls:

“Isn't that Zarek... the Blade Weaver?”

“The very one. The Candidate for Wrath who decapitated two officers of Beelzebub's army in the border arena last month...”

“Who's that black-horned girl walking in front of him? Is she his boss?!”

Diana ground her teeth beneath her hood.

With her 76 Perception, she could hear every whisper within a fifty-meter radius.

She was in the Third Circle as an undocumented Level 40 traveler, trying not to draw the notice of border inquisitors so she wouldn't have her route cut off before Level 50. And now, she had a legendary Level 60 fighter parading by her side as if they were the main attraction of a festival.

Diana headed straight into the reagent shop of a blue-skinned imp merchant.

The shopkeeper was arranging glass vials on the counter. When he saw Diana enter, he opened his mouth to quote list price, but the second Zarek's tall silhouette stepped through the door, ducking his head to avoid hitting the ceiling, the merchant turned paper pale.

Diana laid a shopping list on the counter: Black Fire Roots and Mineral Solvents.

“How much for the lot?” Diana asked.

The merchant looked toward Zarek, who was leaning against the doorframe with his four chitinous arms folded and his two primary hands idly fingering the pommel of a moon blade. The imp swallowed hard and stammered:

“Y-You can take it for three silver coins, noble lady! Wholesale factory cost! Please, don't break anything!”

Diana stared at the merchant.

Her soul of Greed loved a fifty-percent discount, but the reason behind that discount thoroughly infuriated her.

She drew three silver coins from her pocket and placed them on the counter.

With the payment, the total balance in the faction vault adjusted to an untouched 390 Silver Coins and 50 Bronze (39.05 Gold Coins).

***

Exiting the alchemy shop, the spectacle managed to grow even more flamboyant.

A group of four heavy-armored mercenaries approached through the center of the square. The party's leader, a massive demon carrying a double-headed battleaxe across his back, was ranked Level 55 (Hunt Captain).

The man halted before Zarek in a respectful posture, dipping his head:

“Lord Zarek! My guild heard your blade was in town! We are assembling an expedition to hunt the Tallow Colossus in the east sector, and we wanted to offer fifty gold coins to hire you as our shock vanguard-”

Zarek didn't even break his stride.

He used one of his secondary chitinous arms to nudge the side of the captain's axe out of the way with a light tap, while using his two primary hands to relieve Diana of the heavy sack of reagents.

“Pardon me, big guy,” Zarek said with an easy smile, walking right past the Level 55 warrior. “I don't do freelance work for third-party guilds. I am on private escort duty for my future partner.”

The Level 55 captain stood frozen in the middle of the plaza with his mouth agape, watching Zarek carry a shopping bag of potion supplies behind a Level 40 girl.

The entire square witnessed the scene in absolute silence.

***

Diana could take no more.

She seized Zarek by the sleeve of his leather vest with her obsidian claws and yanked him forcefully into a narrow, empty side alley, shoving the arachnid demon against the granite wall.

The two obsidian horns atop Diana's head flared with crackling blue sparks of 195 Intelligence.

“Zarek!” Diana hissed, her dark eyes with golden rings blazing with fury. “Do you have any idea what you just did?! You turned my errand to the market into a circus! Half the hunters in that plaza are trying to figure out who I am right now!”

Zarek rested his head against the stone wall with an unbothered grin, looking down at the black claws gripping his collar:

“They found out you're important enough to have a Level 60 Candidate carry your bags, gorgeous. Nobody in that market is going to dare charge you a bogus fee or try a shakedown at your door.”

“I don't want flashy protection! I want military discretion to level up in peace!”

“Discretion is for people afraid of being seen, Diana.” Zarek blinked his four secondary eyes in an amused gesture, offering the sack of reagents with one of his secondary hands. “When you become the master of this Circle, everyone will have to look at you anyway. You might as well get used to having an audience.”

Diana snatched the sack from his hands with an irritated yank, settled the leather coat over her shoulders, and marched with hard strides out of the alley toward her estate.

Zarek chuckled softly and stepped down from the walkway, strolling with his hands behind his neck exactly two steps behind her.