Chapter 41 The Children of Velgraths and Their Goal （1）
The second day of the festival had arrived.
Just like yesterday, the city of Dilenia was as lively as ever.
The streets were packed with people enjoying the celebration. Merchants called out to passing customers while children laughed as they ran between the colorful festival stalls. Musicians filled the air with cheerful melodies, and every corner of the city buzzed with excitement.
As I wandered through the streets, I turned my head to the right.
"Hm?"
A beautiful building caught my attention.
It had large glass windows, elegant decorations, and a polished wooden sign hanging above its entrance.
"Is that... a café?"
I walked closer, curiosity growing with every step.
Then a smile spread across my face.
"It is."
"I've never had sweets in this world before..."
I looked toward the entrance.
"I wonder what their coffee tastes like."
Without another thought, I pushed open the door.
Ding.
A small bell chimed softly as I entered.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked pastries immediately filled my nose.
My eyes widened slightly.
The café was surprisingly crowded.
Almost every table was occupied.
Some customers chatted quietly over tea while others enjoyed slices of cake and other desserts.
Judging by their elegant clothing and refined manners, quite a few of them appeared to be nobles.
"Hello there, sir."
I looked to my right and saw a young woman wearing a neat black-and-white maid uniform.
She greeted me with a warm smile.
"Welcome to the Aqua Side Café. Would you like a table?"
I smiled politely.
"Aqua Side Café... that's an interesting name."
She nodded happily.
"Yes, as you can see."
She pointed toward the back of the building.
"Our café is built right beside the kingdom's waterway, that's where we get our name from."
Following her gesture, I looked past her shoulder.
A wide canal flowed peacefully behind the café.
The crystal-clear water sparkled beautifully beneath the morning sunlight, reflecting the blue sky like a mirror.
"I see."
I smiled.
"Would it be alright if I sat outside with a view of the waterway?"
"Of course."
She nodded with another friendly smile.
"That's an excellent choice. The view from the balcony is breathtaking."
I followed her through the café.
A moment later, we stepped onto a spacious wooden balcony overlooking the canal.
A cool breeze drifted across the water, making the atmosphere peaceful despite the lively festival beyond.
The gentle sound of flowing water mixed perfectly with the distant laughter echoing from the streets.
It was surprisingly relaxing.
The maid stopped beside a neatly prepared table.
"Please, have a seat."
She gestured toward the chair with one hand.
"Thank you."
I pulled out the chair and sat down, unable to take my eyes off the beautiful view of the waterway.
"I'll be right back with the menu," she said politely.
I nodded.
"Sure. Take your time."
She gave a small bow before quietly walking back inside the café, leaving me alone to enjoy the peaceful scenery.
As I quietly enjoyed the peaceful view of the waterway, a strange feeling suddenly washed over me.
It felt as though someone was watching me.
My smile slowly faded.
Without making any sudden movements, I casually glanced around the café.
Customers continued chatting among themselves.
Some nobles enjoyed tea while discussing business, while others simply admired the scenery.
Everything looked perfectly normal.
No one seemed suspicious.
"..."
I looked back at the table and slowly closed my eyes.
"[Advanced Search]."
Instantly, a detailed map of the city appeared in my mind.
Countless green dots were scattered across it, each labeled Human.
Mixed among them were several yellow dots labeled Demi-Human.
Everything looked normal...
Until one dark dot appeared.
Unlike the others, it radiated an unsettling presence.
Above it was a single label.
Rank: A
Race: Demonoid
The corner of my mouth twitched into a faint smile.
"So he's back again..."
I slowly opened my eyes.
I deliberately kept my gaze away from the direction where I sensed him.
There was no point letting him know I had already found him.
"Here you go, sir."
I turned my head to the right.
The same maid had returned, carrying a neatly folded menu.
She placed it gently on the table before me.
"Please take your time and choose anything you'd like."
I nodded politely.
"Thank you."
I opened the menu.
It was filled with names of desserts and drinks I had never heard before.
There were dozens of different sweets, each sounding more delicious than the last.
For a brief moment, I wanted to try every single one.
Unfortunately...
I didn't have that kind of time.
Not while the demonoid was nearby.
I looked back up at the maid.
"I'll have one slice of Sylvan Cream Tart... and a small Cloudfoam Brew."
She smiled and gave a polite bow.
"Understood. I'll have your order ready shortly."
With that, she returned inside the café.
The moment she disappeared through the doorway, I closed my eyes once more.
I focused my senses.
The demonoid hadn't moved.
He was still there.
Watching me.
A few moments later, the waitress returned carrying a tray.
She carefully placed the food and drink on the table before me.
"Here you go, sir. Please enjoy."
The Cloudfoam Brew looked surprisingly similar to a flat white from my previous world. A layer of smooth, creamy foam rested on top, and the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted into the air.
Beside it sat a slice of Sylvan Cream Tart.
It looked almost identical to a cheesecake, with a smooth, creamy filling resting on a crisp golden crust. A few fresh berries and a sprig of mint decorated the top, making it look almost too good to eat.
"That will be five copper coins, please," she said politely.
I nodded and handed her the coins.
"Thank you very much."
She gave a small bow before returning inside the café.
Now alone once again, I looked at the food in front of me.
"It looks pretty good."
I picked up the cup and took a slow sip of the Cloudfoam Brew.
The smooth foam melted across my tongue, followed by the rich, slightly bitter taste of the coffee.
My eyes widened slightly.
"Wow..."
It was surprisingly good.
Next, I picked up the fork and cut off a small piece of the Sylvan Cream Tart.
The moment I tasted it, the creamy filling practically melted in my mouth.
It was light, smooth, and perfectly sweet without being overwhelming.
I couldn't help but smile.
"This is really good..."
I took another bite.
"It's even better than the cheesecake back in my old world."
After finishing the delicious dessert, I set my fork down and took one last sip of my Cloudfoam Brew.
I let out a satisfied sigh before glancing toward the direction where I had sensed the demonoid earlier.
He was still there.
Watching.
I quietly stood up from my seat.
Without drawing attention to myself, I cast Wind Walk.
In an instant, I vanished from the café.
The next moment, I reappeared atop a nearby rooftop directly above the demonoid.
The wind gently rustled my clothes as I looked down at him.
"So," I said calmly, "mind telling me why you're watching me?"
The demonoid's eyes widened in surprise.
He immediately looked up at me, clearly not expecting me to appear right above him.
For a brief moment, neither of us moved.
Then, without saying a word, the demonoid turned and bolted.
He sprinted through the crowded streets with incredible speed, weaving between startled civilians as he fled toward the busiest part of the city.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Not this time."
I cast [Advance Search].
The map of the surrounding area instantly formed in my mind.
A label appeared above the fleeing figure.
Demonoid.
No matter where he ran, I could now track his exact location.
Without hesitation, I cast [Mach One].
A surge of power rushed through my body.
BOOM!
The rooftop beneath my feet cracked as I launched forward with explosive speed.
In the blink of an eye, I was racing across the rooftops, relentlessly chasing the demonoid through the city.
The chase through the city was intense.
The demonoid moved with incredible speed, darting left and right through the crowded streets in an attempt to shake me off.
He leaped over market stalls, slipped through narrow alleys, and vanished around corner after corner.
But it didn't matter.
No matter where he went, the label above his head remained firmly locked in my vision.
There was no escaping Advance Search.
The distance between us slowly grew shorter.
Then the demonoid suddenly turned into a narrow alley.
I immediately followed.
Only to find that it was a dead end.
I frowned.
"What?"
Before I could react, the demonoid crouched down and pulled open what looked like a manhole cover.
Without a second thought, he jumped inside.
Clang!
The cover slammed shut behind him.
I landed on the ground a moment later, directly above the manhole.
I stared at it for a second before letting out a sigh.
"Out of all the places to hide..."
I wrinkled my nose in disgust.
"...you chose the sewers."
I knelt down and lifted the heavy manhole cover.
A damp, musty smell immediately rose from below.
"...Great."
Taking another deep breath, I jumped down after him.
I landed lightly on the stone floor beneath.
At first, the underground tunnel was dim.
But as I looked farther ahead, the passage gradually became brighter.
Lanterns were mounted along the walls at regular intervals, bathing the sewer in a warm, steady glow.
I tilted my head slightly.
"Are those... magic lanterns?"
I focused on them for a moment.
A faint amount of mana flowed from each lantern.
"They must be magic tools for maintenance of the sewers."
I shifted my attention back to the demonoid's location.
As I continued walking through the sewers, I covered my nose and mouth with one hand, trying to block out the foul stench rising from the canals that ran along both sides of the tunnel.
"...This place stinks."
The damp air clung to my clothes, and the constant sound of flowing water echoed through the underground passage.
I kept moving forward, following the demonoid's location with Advance Search.
As I rounded a corner to the left, I suddenly spotted him standing several meters ahead.
The demonoid wore the same smug grin as before.
"There you are," I muttered.
Before I could say another word, he turned and sprinted away once again.
"You're not getting away!"
I immediately gave chase.
He turned right.
I followed.
Then he took a sharp left.
I matched his movements without slowing down.
The chase continued through the maze-like tunnels for several minutes.
Left.
Right.
Another left.
Another right.
The underground passages twisted in every direction, clearly designed to confuse anyone unfamiliar with them.
Then the demonoid suddenly turned right once more.
I rushed after him without hesitation.
But the moment I rounded the corner...
...he was gone.
I came to an abrupt stop.
The tunnel ahead ended at a large iron door embedded into the stone wall.
I looked around carefully.
There was nowhere else he could have gone.
My gaze settled on the heavy metal door.
"So..."
I narrowed my eyes.
"This must be where you're hiding."
I closed my eyes and focused my mind.
I cast Advance Search once more.
The familiar map appeared again but this time it's the underground sewer system formed inside my mind.
The glowing red dot representing the demonoid appeared once again.
Just as I expected...
He was on the other side of the iron door.
A faint smirk formed on my lips.
"So that's where you ran."
But before I could relax, something changed.
Another red dot suddenly appeared beside his.
Then another.
And another.
And another.
In the span of a heartbeat, five red dots were gathered together beyond the iron door.
Each one carried the same label.
Demonoid.
My eyes snapped open.
"There's... five of them!"
My expression hardened.
"So that's why he kept running..."
He hadn't been trying to escape from me.
He had been leading me to a trap this whole time.