Traveler: Derek Walker 20
Spicul Bluelune wasn't just some run-of-the-mill grunt from the Moon clan. He was one of the five legion commanders who had reached the pinnacle of the Moon clan, one of the executives who served alongside the Four Heavenly Kings to support the Demon King. In game terms, that put him at the level of a chapter-spanning boss. At least, positionally speaking. But in reality, he never actually appeared as a boss in the game.
To sum up the Moon clan's leadership briefly: there were the five legion commanders and the Four Heavenly Kings, making nine executives in total. The legion commanders were field officers who led their own units, while the Four Heavenly Kings were the Demon King's direct subordinates without independent forces of their own. That didn't mean the legion commanders were weak by any means, so it was unclear which held greater prestige. From the game's descriptions, it seemed less about rank and more about individual power. The legion commanders had the advantage of commanding large forces, while the Four Heavenly Kings had the edge of direct access to the Demon King. These factors balanced out, leaving personal strength to determine the pecking order.
Spicul's rated as one of the top-tier among those executives. But hell, better him than someone else.
Spicul Bluelune was an especially odd character among the Moon clan's executives. That's probably why he was pretty popular in various communities. Despite being a member of the Moon clan exiled from the continent, he harbored no hostility toward the continent, humans, or the Sun Heroes. He was a hedonist with a free-spirited personality, acting on his own pleasures rather than rules. Yet he had a strong moral compass and never harmed humans. As a Moon clan executive, his personality kept him from clashing with the protagonist in the game. His position was more like an ambiguous advisor to the protagonist, staying out of the fray until the Demon King fell to the protagonist at the game's end. His combat prowess was unclear as a result, but descriptions in the novel version and dialogue from the Demon King or other executives implied he was among the absolute elite.
He must have earned his spot among the executives purely on raw power, despite his outlier personality.
"I came looking for you without shame because I wanted to see the Snow Sugar that Mr. Walker is selling. It's such a rare item that a small-time merchant like me can't just lay eyes on it easily."
Spicul said, his eyes sparkling. Damn, he was annoyingly handsome—I wanted to punch him. Of course, that would mean instant game over. Even if I pulled out every ounce of power I had, my odds of beating him were zero. It'd be harder than taking down Master Kim Minyoung for sure.
I flashed my salesman smile and pulled out the jar of Snow Sugar. Best to play to his whims for now.
"As a fellow merchant, I find that regrettable. Take a good look. Hell, I'll just give it to you."
"Ah!? For real? This precious stuff?"
"For a merchant, nothing's more important than connections."
His eyes went wide at the offer of free Snow Sugar—he didn't look like a legion commander at all. Spicul didn't refuse my generosity. As a hedonist, his favorite thing was delicious food. For some reason, he felt no sexual desire at all, wandering the continent as a gourmet. He'd even formed his merchant caravan just to sample the continent's finest delicacies.
I handed him the small jar of sugar, barely controlling my trembling hands. Piss him off even a little, and it was game over. Of course, given Spicul's generous nature, it wouldn't be easy to offend him in the first place—not that it mattered.
He took the jar like it was an urn of gold. To him, this sugar was worth more than gold nuggets. His expression said it all.
Opening the lid, Spicul broke into a beaming smile that made his handsome face even more striking, making a huge fuss.
Fuck, a munchkin and handsome? I should've possessed Spicul Bluelune!
"Ooh! Just as the rumors say! Particles as fine as millennia-old snow piled on a mountaintop! White as a virgin's skin! And... the taste!"
Spicul dipped his pinky into the sugar and touched it to his tongue. His tongue was a bit longer and pointier than a human's—a hint he wasn't human—but you'd need sharp eyes to notice.
"Ooh! No sour aftertaste or aroma like regular sugar! It's like eating sweet snow fallen straight from the heavens! Incredible! Where on earth did you get this sugar!? I'm just a humble merchant, but I pride myself on having traveled the continent far and wide! Yet I've never seen sugar like this, not even in the southern continent!"
Spicul bombarded me with questions, his eyes gleaming with emotion. He was leaning in so close it was getting awkward. I fed him a suitable lie. Plenty of merchants asked about the Snow Sugar's origins—enough to fill a wagon—so I'd prepared a backstory in advance.
"I imported it from a merchant I know, but according to him, it comes from an island far south of the southern continent. Made with some special island technique, he said. I tried pressing him, but as you know, trade secrets like that aren't spilled easily."
"Of course. No secret's more vital to a merchant than supply sources. An island to the south, huh... I should check it out sometime."
If Spicul said that, he'd probably go. I got a little worried. Had I stepped on a landmine? But it was too late to backtrack now. I was riding the tiger; I'd have to see it through until one of us died.
No matter how hard he racks his brain, he won't guess it's from another world. Should be fine.
The key fact was that the sugar existed here—that was it. Flattered by the gift, Spicul warmed up and started chatting amiably about this and that. I pondered what kind of relationship to build with him. I'd given him the sugar to win him over, but I wasn't sure if it was the right move. Befriending Spicul would surely help down the line, but he was still Moon clan. Info about me could leak to them through him. No matter how much of an outlier he was with no grudge against humans, that didn't make him pro-human. More like neutral, slightly leaning human-ward if anything.
"After such a fine gift, it'd make me a thief, not a merchant, if I clammed up. Mr. Walker, if you'll allow it, let me personally show you around the city. You haven't been here long, have you?"
"That's true, but..."
"The pleasure city of Bastrey is packed with fun things too good to pass up! This Spicul may not know much else, but when it comes to entertainment, I'm your man."
Spicul thumped his chest proudly. A Moon clan legion commander bragging about his entertainment prowess so boldly—it was amusing and chilling at the same time. No matter how I looked at him, I couldn't believe this guy was one of the Demon King's top executives. Even in the game, with no direct combat scenes, fans debated his power endlessly. But in stories, laid-back guys like this usually hid insane strength.
"Then I'll take you up on that."
I accepted his offer. He was so enthusiastic, and building ties with him seemed smart for the future. As long as I didn't blab about myself, there'd be no risk of info flowing to the Moon clan side. I'd just have to watch my mouth around Spicul.
We agreed to meet at the plaza tomorrow.
*-*-*
Spicul treated me right. Being wined and dined by a legion commander gave me chills at first, but it turned out pretty great. His long years as a merchant shone through in every detail of the hospitality. What a freak among freaks.
True to his word, Spicul knew Bastrey inside out. The entertainment and pleasure hub was a nonstop carnival from one end to the other. But the place was so labyrinthine that without a proper guide, fully enjoying it seemed impossible. Spicul was the perfect one for the job.
"Nice restaurant."
It served food with bold flavors like modern cuisine.
"The spicy seasonings are top-notch, right? You won't find a place like this anywhere else in the Miles Kingdom."
We dined at the best spot in the bustling district, then caught a play at a theater where clowns hawked tickets. The play was a suitably raunchy, stimulating romance. It was more like a real-world musical, with songs and dances woven into the story—a full entertainment package. I'd never seen a play back home, but this one was decent enough.
Streets were lined with small game halls for card games, many doubling as casinos. The casinos piqued my interest. Gambling was one of the tourism developments I was rolling out in Coolong Territory. Potential rivals to my pachinko, so scoping them out was a bonus.
"Let's hit that game hall."
But Spicul led us to a game hall, not a casino. Right—he was a hedonist with noble morals who avoided booze and gambling. Hypocrite.
"What's that place, anyway?"
After a casual card game, I spotted a long line snaking from a building's entrance. Looked like an SNS hotspot.
Spicul frowned at the queue.
"Not a good spot. It's a playground for humans chasing base pleasures. I don't recommend it."
He clammed up after that vague explanation, which only made me more curious. What the hell was it? When I showed obvious interest, he reluctantly continued. After all, he was hosting me.
"A coliseum. Pits humans against humans, or humans against monsters. Doubles as a gambling den, too."
Fighting and gambling—the two things Spicul despised. That explained his dirty look at the line.