Chapter 177: Coincidence (2)
Chapter 177: Coincidence (2)
Pressed against the end of an alleyway, hiding in the shadows, Sitri watched the chaotic street. She concluded that she needed to seize this moment to escape and find a place to hide, and finally stepped out onto the pavement.
She figured that in such a frantic situation, she wouldn't draw much attention.
There were many injured people, and since this was a sudden, supernatural phenomenon, the civilians were paralyzed with fear. Sensing the atmosphere, Sitri tried to move as quickly as possible while staying out of sight.
At least it’s a relief that I look similar to humans.
She was well aware that, aside from her slightly pale skin, her appearance wasn't much different from a human's. This was her first time seeing Earth's humans in person. Fortunately, they looked much like the humans she had encountered before.
Relieved, she quickened her pace.
However, contrary to her expectations, people began to glance at her one by one.
Wait...
As more eyes turned toward her, Sitri maintained a facade of composure, but she was inwardly flustered.
As she had thought, her features weren't fundamentally different from those of Earth's humans. However, there was one fact she had overlooked.
By the standards of any sentient being, Sitri was a beauty so striking that anyone would find her breathtaking. Succubi were a race born with lewd attributes, and they were all fundamentally beautiful. Among them, Sitri was exceptionally stunning. This was because of a racial trait where a succubus’s beauty increased in proportion to her power.
Realizing too late what she had failed to consider, Sitri’s mind raced. She knew she had to cover her face or find a way to escape the public eye immediately.
Her steps quickened instinctively. Since she had nothing to cover her face with, she had to get out of there as fast as possible.
The number of men staring at her with their mouths agape, forgetting even their own pain, continued to grow. Feeling their gazes, Sitri felt a surge of rage. She wanted to reach out and pluck the eyes from those humans right then and there, but she couldn't afford to cause a scene. Given her current poor physical condition, she had no choice.
Damn it!
With a stiff expression, Sitri decided that instead of wandering aimlessly, she needed to find a place to stay.
However, the aftermath of the dungeon’s destruction had shattered almost every window in the city. Most businesses were closed for repairs. Shanghai had been turned into a wasteland, and Sitri’s anxiety grew. Things not going her way was a very unfamiliar experience for her.
In the midst of this, she realized a group was following her.
Pretending to look elsewhere, she caught a glimpse of them—a pack of men who looked like low-life thugs based on their attire.
Filthy trash... How dare they...
The mere fact that mere humans with no power were stalking her was infuriating. These were the kind of pests she could incinerate with dark magic without even lifting a finger.
Furthermore, the reason they were following her wasn't because they recognized her as a threat or an enemy. In a way, it was fortunate for her that her identity hadn't been compromised and she wasn't under suspicion, but...
The humans stalking Sitri were after her body.
Among the men who saw a pale-skinned beauty with flowing violet hair walking the streets in a form-fitting black leather suit, some had been overcome by lust.
They were members of the Triad who had come out to inspect the damage to the shops in their territory when they spotted Sitri. Consumed by the desire to kidnap, imprison, and violate her, they followed her. They were just waiting for her to enter an area with fewer people so they could take her by force.
Humans looking at her with eyes glistening with lust—Sitri felt even more disgusted than before.
Yet, the situation was not in her favor. If she caused a commotion, the problem would escalate, so she had to leave those bastards alone. At the same time, finding a place to stay was proving difficult. Since she continued to draw the attention of everyone around her, Sitri was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Deciding she needed a breakthrough, Sitri entered a large, luxurious hotel.
The entire first-floor lobby had been enclosed in reinforced glass, but it was now shattered and gaping. Workers were in the middle of clearing away the shards. Since Sitri had been wandering for quite some time, the cleanup was nearly finished.
There was a staff member in the lobby, and Sitri approached after seeing someone else speaking to them.
The Triad thugs followed her into the lobby as well.
Sitri carefully eavesdropped on the conversation ahead of her. Finally, after a string of bad luck, things took a turn in her favor. The hotel had prioritized repairing the guest room windows, so there were rooms available.
As soon as the person in front of her finished their business and left, Sitri stepped forward.
When the stunning beauty with violet hair stood before him, the male staff member’s face turned bright red and his eyes widened. Being a luxury hotel, he saw many beautiful women, but Sitri was extraordinary—so captivating he couldn't look away.
The desk clerk was a handsome man himself and had been with many women, but he felt she was the most attractive person he had ever seen. Naturally, his response was more enthusiastic than usual.
"You're here to check in, right? I'll help you right away!"
He wasn't just following protocol; he was driven by emotion. He felt he had to establish some kind of connection with the woman before him.
Sitri’s simple nod made the clerk’s throat go dry with nervousness. He worried about looking inadequate in her eyes.
"May I see your ID?"
Sitri hadn't realized she would need something like an ID to stay at a lodging, and naturally, she didn't have one.
Leaving to find another place wasn't a viable option, and because of the vermin following her, Sitri judged that she had to secure a room here no matter what.
She opened her mouth and spoke in a slow, awkward, yet polite tone.
"I... lost my belongings earlier because of what happened. Is there any way you could help me?"
"Ah... is that so? Then, I'll see what I can do for you."
The clerk brightened, seeing that Sitri was in a bind. He saw it as an opportunity to score points. Normally, he would have refused flatly and sent her away, but he decided to book a room under his own name for her.
"You can go to Room 605."
The clerk handed the key to Sitri immediately. Sitri felt a wave of relief that she had managed to get a room.
"Thank you..."
Bowing her head to a mere human was humiliating, but Sitri wasn't a demon who let pride dictate her every move. In the process of becoming the leader of Asmodeus's demons, she had willingly bowed to others and acted graciously to gather forces and eliminate her rivals.
Her current awkwardness was only because she had been the leader for so long and had grown accustomed to a high-handed attitude. These days, she didn't act politely to anyone except the Evil Gods. Even with demons of her own rank who served other Evil Gods, she used formal language as a matter of protocol in public, but her expression and tone were anything but respectful.
Though there was a clear sense of awkwardness in her demeanor, the hotel clerk was so completely smitten that he didn't notice.
After asking a colleague to cover for him for a moment, he hurried to escort her to her room. It was something he wouldn't do for just anyone, but since he was desperate to make a good impression on Sitri, he volunteered.
From Sitri’s perspective, there was no reason to refuse. She knew almost nothing about Earth's culture and had been navigating the room-booking process by reading the room. Having someone lead her directly to her quarters was the best possible outcome.
"My name is Tsushuan. May I know yours, miss?"
As soon as they were alone in the elevator, the clerk’s tone made his interest in her obvious to anyone. Sitri had, of course, received countless advances from males. She knew exactly what this behavior meant and had realized halfway through why things were suddenly going so smoothly.
"Could I tell you next time...?"
It was a polite rejection, but Tsushuan, who was guiding her, wasn't offended. He focused on the words "next time." He interpreted it as her expressing a desire to keep meeting him. This wasn't the usual logic of a womanizer like him; rather, it was the same way the women he had seduced in the past would try to interpret his every action positively because they were infatuated.
"Yes, let's do that."
Furthermore, Tsushuan had booked the room in his own name, and as a hotel employee, he could obtain a spare key.
If the opportunity arises...
Since Tsushuan wasn't exactly a virtuous person, lust simmered deep within him.
Sitri caught his reflection in the elevator mirror and noticed his intent. She realized he was harboring lustful thoughts toward her.
However, since she needed his help for now, she decided to endure it.
Finally, Sitri entered the hotel room, away from the prying eyes of the public, and was able to rest.