Beneath the dark canopy of heaven, fiery patterns drifted like magma on the verge of erupting beneath the surface, carrying an oppressive, suffocating pressure.
Angel stood atop the roof, watching the floating fire patterns beneath the night sky, his thoughts unsettled.
So many things had happened in such a short time that Angel felt somewhat bewildered.
Looking at the sky, it seemed like a sign that Night was about to take that step. Yet at this very moment, Lasudelan had gone under martial law, and Orucia, a descendant of a Demon God, had appeared here as well.
It was as though everything had converged at once. This Demon City floating in the void was both a stage and perhaps a battlefield, shrouded in layer upon layer of mist that no one could see through.
As Angel pondered, several sounds came from afar.
They were the faint rustles of footsteps crushing fallen leaves and dead branches, especially piercing in the silent night.
Angel looked toward the source and saw Plapa and Canaan walking over from a winding forest path.
Plapa looked somewhat bedraggled, his head hanging low, his face full of dejection.
When Plapa saw Angel, his expression was gloomy. "Shopkeeper, I asked around about what you told me to investigate. But the moment they heard I was looking for a way to dispel a curse of misfortune, they all avoided me. One demon even thought I'd been cursed by misfortune and nearly killed me. I barely managed to escape..."
In the Abyss, curses of misfortune could be called the source of fear itself. It was only natural that Plapa's inquiry had provoked such a fierce reaction.
Fortunately, Plapa's strength had improved. Otherwise, escaping a demon's attack would have been nearly impossible.
"I hadn't considered it carefully enough." Angel looked apologetic