Chapter 14: "Adjusting to Hell"
Makoto stared at the pouch of Infernal Shards in his hands, the faint red glow lighting up his face.
He still couldn't believe it. Less than a day ago, he'd been staring down a giant venomous snake-beast, convinced he was about to die. Now, he was holding his first payment as a hunter—or at least, a hunter-in-training.
Justice's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Don't spend it all in one place, kid."
Makoto blinked, looking up at her. They were back at the inn, sitting at the rickety table in their room. Justice leaned back in her chair, her boots propped up on the table, and a lazy grin on her face.
"I wasn't planning to," Makoto said, tying the pouch to his belt. "But… what am I supposed to do with this? What do people even buy in Hell?"
Justice smirked. "Depends. You could get food, gear, maybe a decent weapon if you're feeling ambitious. Or you could blow it all at one of the gambling dens and learn a valuable life lesson."
Makoto frowned. "I think I'll pass on the gambling…"
"Smart choice," Justice said, stretching. "But if you're gonna stick around, you're gonna need to figure out how to manage your money. Hell's not exactly a charity."
Makoto sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I still don't get how you ran out of Shards so fast… You've been here for how long?"
"Long enough to know I hate saving," Justice said, grinning.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully, giving Makoto time to recover from the Mirefang hunt. He spent most of the afternoon exploring the quieter parts of Vanth, staying close to Justice while trying not to attract too much attention.
The city was even stranger up close. Market stalls lined the streets, selling everything from jagged weapons to jars of glowing liquid. Demons bargained loudly, their voices mixing with the clatter of hooves on cobblestones and the occasional roar of something in the distance.
One stall in particular caught Makoto's eye. It was run by a small, impish demon with leathery wings and a mischievous grin. The wares on display were… unusual, to say the least: bottles labeled Instant Courage and Demon Repellent, a jar containing a single, wriggling eyeball, and a sign advertising Cursed Socks—Buy One, Get One Free.
Makoto pointed at the jar. "What… is that?"
The imp grinned wider. "That, my dear human, is a Liar's Eye. Pluck it out, and it'll tell you the truth—just don't ask it too many questions, or it might ask you something back."
Makoto shuddered. "I think I'll pass…"
Justice chuckled, dragging him away before the imp could start haggling. "Careful, kid. Half the stuff they sell around here'll get you killed—or worse."
Makoto frowned. "What's worse than getting killed?"
Justice's grin widened. "You don't wanna know."
That evening, they returned to the inn. The room was still the same—a little cramped and more than a little run-down—but Makoto was starting to get used to it.
As he sat on his bed, fiddling with the amulet around his neck, he glanced over at Justice. She was sprawled out on her own bed, tossing a coin in the air and catching it without looking.
"Hey, Justice?"
"Yeah, kid?"
Makoto hesitated. "Do you think… I'll ever be able to go home?"
Justice caught the coin, her grin fading slightly. "Dunno. Hell's not exactly known for its exit policies. But if anyone can pull it off…" She tilted her sunglasses down, her white eyes glinting. "It's you."
Makoto blinked, surprised. "You really think so?"
Justice smirked. "You've got the amulet, kid. That thing's got power—enough to shake this whole place up if you figure out how to use it. If there's a way out of here, it's probably tied to that."
Makoto looked down at the amulet, his expression thoughtful. "I hope you're right…"
As night fell, the streets outside the inn grew quieter, though the occasional distant howl or growl reminded Makoto that danger was never far away.
Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, there was a faint knock at the door.
Justice sat up, frowning. "Expecting company?"
Makoto shook his head, his heart skipping a beat.
Justice stood, cracking her knuckles as she approached the door. She opened it cautiously, only to find Serana leaning against the frame, her usual smirk in place.
"Miss me?" Serana said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
Makoto sat up, blinking in confusion. "Serana? What are you doing here?"
"Thought I'd check in," Serana said, glancing around the room. "Nice place you've got here. Very… rustic."
Justice raised an eyebrow. "You sure you're not just here to mess with the kid?"
Serana's smirk widened. "That's definitely part of it." She turned to Makoto, her green eyes gleaming. "You've been making waves, human. Word's already spreading about the 'lucky mortal' who took down a Mirefang. You should be careful—attention like that can get you killed."
Makoto paled. "W-What kind of attention?"
"The wrong kind," Serana said, leaning closer with a teasing grin. "But don't worry—I'm sure Justice here will protect you. Unless she gets bored."
"Funny," Justice said, crossing her arms. "You planning to stick around, or are you just here to be annoying?"
Serana chuckled, stepping back toward the door. "Maybe both. You'll see me again soon, though—don't get too comfortable."
With that, she disappeared into the night, leaving Makoto with more questions than answers.
As he lay back down, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were only going to get more complicated.
To Be Continued…