Dancing on the golden ashes

The moment I stepped inside the city, I was taken aback.

I had no idea how they had already learned to harvest soul energy and use it in such an advanced way. It was impressive, to say the least. But then again, it made sense.

Our society had been highly advanced, and countless geniuses had been transported to this world. Adapting to the new rules must have come naturally to them.

The main street stretched far and wide, leading directly to a massive marble castle that loomed over the city. Its grandeur was undeniable, a beacon of power and authority.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

On either side of the bustling street, stalls were neatly arranged in perfect rows. Each seemed to specialize in something unique—beast parts gleaming under the sunlight, intricately crafted armor, and weapons forged with exceptional skill. The air was thick with the tang of alchemical concoctions, as many stalls displayed shimmering elixirs and enhancement vials, their colors swirling like liquid magic.

"So, Sister Go Hae-Rin, what do you think of our city? Interested in staying?" The older male of the group stood beside me, taking in the bustling sights of Arcadia.

But he was getting too close.

"It's great," I replied casually, shifting my focus to the stalls. "But I'm not very keen on sitting in one place."

I walked toward one of the potion stalls, stopping in front of a middle-aged man who was busy arranging his wares. "What kind of currency do you accept here?" I asked, my tone neutral.

Noticing I was new, his face lit up with an ugly, exaggerated smile. A scammer. He must have thought he'd found an easy target.

But I wasn't a fool.

Before he could start his game, Choi Ha-Eun stepped up beside me. Her presence alone was enough to send a clear message: Don't try anything stupid.

The man's smile instantly faltered, replaced by an awkward grin.

"Ah, young miss, we use gold," he said, his voice taking on a higher pitch as he nervously fumbled with his words. "If you're interested in anything, please let me know. I'll even give you a fifty percent discount since it's your first time in the city!"

Despite his apparent nervousness, I could tell he was skilled at this—his words smooth, his tone practiced. He'd probably been a salesman long before this world.

My eyes fell on a small blue bottle. It stood out from the rest, radiating a faint energy that felt... familiar.

It must be connected to skill usage.

"What is that?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

The merchant's face brightened instantly, and he leaned forward with a practiced smile. "Ah, this, young miss, is a mana potion! Crafted from the finest materials you'll find in these lands."

He rubbed his palms together eagerly, his grin widening as he continued. "For you, with such beautiful eyes, I'll let it go for just 1 gold coin. How about that? It's the cheapest price you'll ever find."

His tone was oily and smooth, but no one from the group stepped in to object. I glanced at Choi Ha-Eun, but even she seemed unfazed.

So this must be a normal price.

"How much mana does it restore?" I asked, narrowing my eyes slightly.

"Hehe..." The merchant chuckled, puffing out his chest with pride. "You might not be ready for this yet, young miss, but it can restore 1,000 mana instantly after you drink it!" His tone was self-assured, and his nose practically pointed to the sky.

"Wow, 1,000?" Choi Ha-Eun muttered under her breath, her expression sour. "Our mana potions barely restore 400..." Her frustration was palpable, and it made me pause.

I glanced at her, a pang of sympathy bubbling up. These people weren't bad—they didn't deserve to struggle so much.

"Okay, how much for a batch of 100?" I asked casually, brushing the matter aside.

Everyone around me froze. For a moment, it felt as though time itself had stopped.

The merchant's jaw hung slightly open, his eyes widening in disbelief. Even Choi Ha-Eun and the rest of the group looked as though they were about to jump out of their skins.

"Hu... H-Hundred? Are you sure, little miss?" the merchant stammered, his face lighting up with a mixture of greed and hope.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" I spat coldly, my gaze sharp and unyielding as it locked onto his.

"N-No... Not at all!" he replied quickly, his tone shifting to servile politeness. "For you, I'll sell them for eighty gold coins. A discount for a valued future customer," he added with a sly smile that curled like a fox's.

That disgusting grin nearly made me want to vomit.

Without a word, I tossed ninety gold coins onto the table. The clink of the heavy coins silenced the surrounding murmurs. I had more than enough—my kingdom's treasury was vast, a fortune built on years of careful management and resources. Spending this was nothing to me.

The clerk's greedy fingers swept up the coins eagerly, but everyone around us exchanged uneasy glances. Their expressions didn't escape me. I wasn't stupid. Flashing wealth in a city like this was tantamount to suicide—for anyone else, that is.

But for me?

The very idea of someone trying to rob me was laughable. In fact, I almost welcomed it. It would be an amusing show.

I couldn't help but giggle internally at the thought.

"Share them. Twenty each," I said, my tone casual as I handed the potions to the group.

Their reactions were priceless. All five of them stood frozen, their mouths hanging open as if they'd just seen the heavens open before them.

"Th-this is...! We can't! It's too much! Why?!" Choi Ha-Eun, the leader, stammered, nearly falling onto her backside from the sheer excitement and shock.

"Just take it as thanks for leading me here," I replied, brushing off her astonishment. I glanced around and, in a louder voice, added, "If you don't accept, I'll just hand them out to random people."

Those words instantly drew the attention of everyone nearby. The intensity of their stares was almost tangible, eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of desperation.

For me, a thousand mana was nothing—just a few seconds of recovery. But for most of them? It could mean a full reserve of energy, or even a second life.

"Thank you, Sister," Choi Ha-Eun said, bowing her head deeply. She quickly scolded the others into following her lead, making sure they said their thanks before hurriedly tucking the potions into their spatial storages.

I had drawn enough attention. No doubt, there would be some idiots coming after me soon.

Good. Hopefully, I can beat some information out of them.

We left the stall and crossed the busy street. Many people's eyes lingered on me, filled with curiosity, envy, or suspicion. But with the famous mercenary group by my side, I was untouchable—for now.

I stepped closer to Choi Ha-Eun, leaning in to whisper into her ear.

"Lead me to that place. I want to see your master."

She almost jumped out of her skin, her spaced-out expression snapping back to reality. Her smile, which had practically stretched to the sky after receiving such a huge gift, faltered slightly at my words.

Still, she nodded quickly, understanding the gravity of my request.

Now she seemed almost hesitant, her earlier excitement fading into uncertainty.

"Are you sure you want to meet him, Sister?" she asked cautiously. "That person... you saw what he did to us yourself..."

"Just lead me," I replied calmly, my voice leaving no room for argument.

She hesitated for a moment longer before nodding. We said our goodbyes to the men of the party, as only women were allowed to enter through the working doors of that place.

The four of us walked silently until we reached our destination. It was a simple brick house tucked away at the end of a narrow valley. Nothing about it seemed special at first glance, nor did it hint at the kind of activities happening inside.

"It doesn't look like much," I muttered, eyeing the structure critically.

One of the girls beside me piped up, her tone casual but informative. "That's because this isn't the main entrance. The real one's on the main street. It's extravagant—makes it clear what kind of place this is."

I glanced back at the unassuming brick facade, my thoughts racing. Appearances can be deceiving, after all.

The moment the wooden door creaked open, a stench of sweat assaulted my nose, making me wrinkle it instinctively.

The entire place was drenched in red. Every surface, every piece of furniture, and even the lights seemed to glow with a crimson hue. The lighting, powered by soul energy, cast an eerie, pulsing glow over the interior, adding an unsettling edge to the atmosphere.

This place is more technologically advanced than even Luminara City, I thought, my eyes narrowing.

From the rooms deeper inside, muffled sounds of moaning reached my ears, their meaning unmistakable. The truth of this place became all too clear.

It was a house of pleasure—a den of desire and lust.