Blood 17: The Golden Demon

Upon arriving in the city, we headed straight for an inn.

Even so, within the city streets, I was being carried by Melazofis.

A self-moving infant—no matter how fantastical the world, that was too conspicuous.

Though we were already drawing attention, even without that.

Melazofis was entirely white from head to toe, with a pale blue complexion—visually indistinguishable from a ghost or spirit.

He was, in fact, a vampire, so the comparison was not far off.

And yet, he was holding me—a baby—in his arms.

At this point, the situation was already beyond repair.

Accompanying him was a pair of beautiful girls.

Especially noticeable was the male gaze fixed on Shiro.

Well, that’s to be expected.

He had always drawn male attention, even from his previous life.

Thanks to him, even in a co-ed school, the number of male-female pairs who paired up had been unusually low.

Because having such an unattainable figure nearby inevitably stirs even the slightest hope in a man.

Too many fools cling to such sweet, foolish hopes.

Even if it weren't so, I can't help but compare.

Some couples had only just begun when they broke apart—pitiful, really.

There was a pitiful victim in our class who harbored a faint affection for him, only to be ignored entirely.

Moreover, that individual later engaged in gossip and minor acts of harassment, positioning themselves as the aggressor—thus not deserving of sympathy.

The beauty that drives men mad, even after rebirth, remains intact.

Moreover, the act of keeping her eyes closed only amplifies the mysterious aura she projects—intensifying the focus of every gaze upon her.

I’ve been here with you for several days now, yet I’ve never seen you open your eyes. Why do you always keep them closed?

Curious, but asking won’t get an answer anyway.

Arrived at the inn, enduring lingering stares.

When I overheard a conversation about which girl was my mother, I hesitated.

Neither.

Ariel and Shiro both clearly look in their teens.

Ah, but in this world, having a child in one’s teens isn’t unusual.

Ariel paid for the inn.

Only one coin handed to the clerk.

Was one coin enough?

I wondered, but the clerk was visibly flustered.

"Change isn’t needed."

From that, the coin must have been of high value.

Yet, judging by the clerk’s reaction and Ariel’s demeanor, that coin was likely an Aleyus gold piece.

Upon closer inspection, the design depicted a figure holding a book.

That design is an Aleyus gold piece.

First seeing it in person, but I have read books with illustrations in the study—no mistake.

In this world, paper currency has not developed. Coins are the primary medium of exchange.

Among them, the Aleyus coin mentioned earlier, the Lengzant coin issued by the Empire, the Sariela coin issued by the Goddess Cult, and the Octo coin widely circulated across the Dazturdia continent—these four types are generally the most commonly used.

Other minor currencies exist, but they are unusable in regions where they are not recognized.

Exceptionally, demon coins and ancient coins are traded at high value, but they are rarely used in daily transactions.

Even among the four previously mentioned types, their usability and value can diminish significantly depending on the region.

Octo coins hold little value across the Kasanagara continent.

They may be exchanged at fair market rates in larger cities, but in small villages, they are often unusable.

Conversely, Rengzant coins hold high value here, though their worth appears to diminish in the Daztordia continent.

Salyera coins are usable only within regions affiliated with the Goddess Cult, and their value has likely plummeted following the recent defeat.

Among such currencies, Aleyus coins are the most widely circulated—and thus the most valuable.

When referring simply to "coins," Aleyus coins are typically meant.

This is because Aleyus coins are issued by the Divine Word Cult.

The Divine Word Cult is widespread among the human population.

As a result, these coins are widely accepted and can be used in nearly every nation.

Consequently, their value exceeds that of all other coin types.

A single Aureus coin is enough to stay at an inn indefinitely.

The price list indicated one night for one Lengzant silver coin.

One hundred Lengzant silver coins equaled one gold coin.

The exchange rate between Lengzant gold coins and Aureus gold coins was approximately ten to one.

Thus, the amount paid covered roughly a thousand nights at the inn.

Watching the innkeeper bow deeply, sweat dripping down his face, the hand holding the coin trembled violently.

This self-proclaimed Demon Lord, who usually acted carelessly, was clearly someone extraordinary—no joke.

Incidentally, our planned stay in this city was only two or three days.

The inn was making a fortune.

Or rather, is Ariel not being excessively generous?

Is her purse even secure?

"It's fine, it's fine. A few leftover coins are nothing at all."

She said it with a faint smirk, as if sensing my unease.

Do I really show my thoughts so plainly?

Or rather, is it just leftover change?

I wonder how much Ariel actually has in total—but I’m also afraid to ask.