"I'm not the strongest in my clan, but I'm the fastest," the Fire Demon said proudly. "That's why I'm here. And I'm flying back to Harpies' Island immediately."
The woman laughed.
"Enjoy the Royal Hunt!"
The Fire Demon was already heading for the door, but he glanced back, bloodlust flashing in his eyes.
"Oh, I will. Those foolish humans have no idea that we will be the ones hunting them. Hahaha!"
His laughter echoed down the brothel's hallway, like the mocking roar of hell itself rising from the depths.
In the Honey Pear, the night always flowed slowly, deeply, and sweetly. Candlelight cast golden patches across the walls, and behind silk curtains soft laughter, sighs, and whispers mingled like a warm, intoxicating perfume. It was one of the finest brothels in the capital — especially popular among the Royal Knights, though only in secret. And secrets always had the same price: money.
But in one room of the Honey Pear, it wasn't only bodies that met.
A demon lurked within the walls.
A Succubus, who used the power of seduction not for pleasure, but for gathering information. With her demonic aura, she effortlessly drew out every detail the knights knew about the Demon Army. The men believed they were the hunters… but in truth, they were the prey.
After the Fire Demon — whose glowing eyes barely hid beneath his hood — learned the latest news, he wasted no more time. He stepped to the window, opened it, and silently climbed onto the ledge. A heartbeat later, his body became a blazing shadow, shooting into the night like an ember carried away by the wind.
The people of the city did not see him.
But two pairs of eyes did — eyes that saw everything, even in darkness.
In the alleys behind the Honey Pear, two young beast‑folk girls hid in the shadows. They were children of the southern slums, surviving on whatever the night and the city offered them.
One was a rabbit beast‑girl, with long, soft ears that twitched at every sound.
The other was a cat beast‑girl, her yellow eyes gleaming in the dark, moving with a grace that made her seem born from shadow itself.
Both were only sixteen.
They had only recently started "the business," as they called it — yet they already lived better than most in the slums. They hunted the men who couldn't afford the Honey Pear but still wanted a cheap night of "fun." Instead of a comfortable bed, the men got a blanket in the depths of an alley — but for most, that was enough.
The two girls were waiting for their next client when the blazing shadow of the Fire Demon streaked across the sky above them.
The cat‑girl's eyes narrowed.
"Did you see that?" she whispered.
The rabbit‑girl's ears trembled.
"Something… flew. But not a bird."
Instinctively, both pressed themselves against the wall, watching the dark sky.
The demon was already far away, but their instincts did not deceive them.
Something bad was coming.
Something they could not yet name.
And within the walls of the Honey Pear, the Succubus lay back on the bed with a satisfied smile — pleased that the Demon Army had taken yet another step forward.
Royal Whitefort – Alley Behind the "Honey Pear"
In the alley behind the Honey Pear, moonlight filtered down only in thin silver slivers between the rooftops. The two young beast‑folk girls — the cat‑girl and the rabbit‑girl — stood in their usual spot, backs pressed against the cold stone wall. This part of the city was never truly quiet, yet tonight something strange pulsed in the air.
The cat‑girl suddenly lifted her head, her pupils narrowing to razor‑thin slits.
"Did you see that!" she whispered, excitement and fear tangled in her voice as she scanned the dark sky. "Something terrifying flew out of the Honey Pear's window!"
The rabbit‑girl's long ears trembled, though her gaze remained uncertain.
"I didn't see anything," she admitted. "My eyes aren't as good in the dark as yours. What kind of creature did you see?"
The cat‑girl moved closer, as if afraid the darkness might bring the shadow back.
"It had horns — and wings like nothing I've ever seen on any bird‑folk!" she whispered. "It was a demon. I'm sure of it!"
The rabbit‑girl swallowed hard.
"Bird‑folk have beaks, not horns…" she murmured. "Maybe you're right. Maybe it was a demon. What do we do now?"
The cat‑girl had already decided. Her tail flicked anxiously against the cobblestones.
"Tonight's work is canceled!" she declared firmly. "We have to report this to the boss!"
The rabbit‑girl shifted uneasily.
"But we haven't earned a single coin yet…"
The cat‑girl grinned and nudged her playfully.
"The Wolves pay well for information. And news of a demon is worth more than anything.
Tonight no drunk pig gets to touch us, and we still make money. Come on!"
The two girls broke into a run, their bare feet tapping softly against the cobblestones. They darted through the maze of alleys until they reached the edge of the southern slums.
Before them rose the Ironclaw Inn — one of the roughest places in the district, and one of the Wolves' information hubs.
They didn't slow down until they reached the entrance. The cat‑girl cast one last glance at the dark sky where the demon had vanished.
"If that really was a demon…" she muttered, "the Wolves need to know."
Then they stepped inside the inn — and with that small motion, their fate, and the fate of the entire Kingdom, shifted one step further.
Southern Slums – The Ironclaw Inn
Cica and Bunny arrived at the Ironclaw Inn panting for breath. Even from the outside, the place radiated menace: claw‑marks painted across the walls, and above the entrance a massive wolf's‑claw forged from blackened steel. Most citizens of the capital avoided it from afar — but the girls knew this was where information paid the best.
At the entrance stood a burly, shaggy dog beast‑man on guard. They knew him well.
"Bloki, where's the boss?" Cica asked, still gasping.
Bloki raised an eyebrow, ears flattening.
"Inside. What's the rush?"
Bunny stepped forward, her long ears trembling.
"We have news!"
Bloki's eyes narrowed. With a single nod, he motioned for them to follow.
"Come. And don't draw attention."
He led them into the inn. The place was packed with hunters, mercenaries, and beast‑folk drinking loudly and gambling over battered tables. Bloki signaled to Bella, one of the inn's managers, who immediately looked up.
Lazuro — one of the Wolves' informants — was drinking beer at the counter beside her. The moment he saw the signal, he set down his mug.
"I'm not missing this," he muttered, joining them.
The group moved to the back of the inn, into the storage room. The heavy door shut behind them, muffling the noise of the tavern.
Bella crossed her arms, eyeing the two girls.
"You finished early today. What did you learn that you used the urgent signal? I hope it's not something trivial."
Cica took a deep breath.
"A demon!" she finally blurted out. "A demon flew out of the Honey Pear's window!"
Lazuro nearly choked on his beer.
"A demon?! Are you sure?"
"It had horns — and wings without feathers," Cica said, her voice trembling with excitement.
Bella's face drained of color.
"Bloody hell…"
She ran a hand through her hair, pacing.
"No beast‑folk is allowed inside the Honey Pear. That alone rules out any bird‑folk."
Lazuro nodded, setting down his mug.
"Unless humans suddenly grow wings, it's possible you really saw a demon."
Bella resumed pacing, agitation rising.
"This is very bad. Demons have already appeared in Wolfwood. If they're here too, something is brewing."
Lazuro scratched his beard.
"That brothel is where the Royal Knights go. Perfect place for spies."