After examining a few blades and checking the weight of a short dagger, she nodded in approval and purchased a set—daggers, throwing knives, and a small pouch of arrows. Practical. Light. Sharp.
'Finally, something useful', the system muttered.
Now slightly more prepared for survival, she wandered deeper into the market, weaving between stalls glowing under enchanted lamps. That's when she saw them.
Magical beasts, caged and drowsy, curled up in crates lined with straw. Baby creatures with fluffy tails, feathery wings, and glowing eyes that blinked up at her with innocent curiosity.
Veronica crouched beside a tiny, bunny-like one that yawned and tried to lick her finger through the bars. Her heart melted on the spot.
"I want one," she whispered.
"You can't," the system replied flatly. "You don't have a drop of magic. You wouldn't be able to bond with it, much less keep it alive."
Her shoulders dropped, and she stepped away slowly, head hung low like a kid denied candy.
But as she moved on, unaware, a pair of eyes followed her from the shadows.
"That person is carrying a lot of weight," a rough voice whispered. "Seems loaded."
"Think he's alone?" another murmured. "Could be easy pickings. I don't sense any mana coming from him."
"Could there be a person without magic? It's probably because his mana is too weak to detect," the other man scoffed.
After exploring stall after stall and spending more gold than she'd planned, Veronica finally decided it was time to leave the black market and return home. Her bag was heavier than her conscience, and her feet ached from walking on uneven cobblestones.
But just as she turned down a quieter path near the exit, System 5060's voice rang sharply in her mind.
"Host! Two human individuals detected behind you. They've been following you for the last two minutes. Their intent… doesn't seem friendly."
Veronica stiffened. "Their magic level?"
The system hesitated. "…Way above yours."
Great. Just great.
Weaving between crowds and ducking past stalls, she tried to lose them, hiding behind cloaked figures and even pretending to browse a potion rack.
But the footsteps behind her never faded.
"System," she hissed, "You don't have like, an invisibility cloak or vanishing powder in that shop of yours?!"
"There is... but it unlocks at Level Two."
"…Why do I even ask?"
The moment she glanced back and saw one of the men break into a run, Veronica bolted. Her books bounced uncomfortably against her side as she dashed down a side alley, heart pounding.
Why are they even chasing me? She didn't have anything valuable! Right?
And then...
She crashed.
Hard.
Veronica smacked into someone—tall, solid, and standing exactly where she didn't expect. She hit the ground with a wince, her hood flying back, books scattering across the dusty ground. One flipped open, displaying a page that made even the nearby lanterns seem embarrassed.
The stranger blinked down at the chaotic mess—her flustered face, the scandalous illustrations, and her desperate scrambling.
Veronica didn't stop to explain. She yanked her hood back on and began scooping her books up with lightning speed.
Behind her, the pursuers shouted, "There he is! Catch him!"
Him?
She didn't even correct them. Hugging her books like they were gold, she took off again, vanishing into the dark alleyway as the men chased after her.
The man she had bumped into stood motionless, eyes lingering on the path she had disappeared into.
Another figure emerged from the shadows behind him and bowed low. "Your Highness. Shall I go after her?"
How could a lowly human dare to bump rudely into His Majesty and think she could just walk away without consequences? And those books she carried… what kind of filth was that? She deserved nothing less than beheading for such disrespect.
The man shook his head slowly, his face unreadable beneath the dim light. "Let's go. There are more important matters waiting."
Behind him, his servant watched with quiet admiration. His Majesty's kindness was legendary—always calm, patient, and fair. Truly, the master he served was worthy of unwavering loyalty.
But if the servant only knew what His Majesty was really thinking, he would be terrified.
'If that stinky human crosses my path again,' His Majesty mused darkly, 'I will have her head mounted on a spear outside the palace gates—as a warning to all humans that royalty is not to be trifled with.'
Seeing those scandalous things... the tips of his ears flushed a faint red, betraying his calm exterior. He clenched his jaw, trying to hide his embarrassment, but it was hopeless.
Prosperous! How could such a young lady like her have those... And why was she wearing male clothes?
Veronica darted through the dark alley, the shouts of her pursuers closing in. She yanked open the nearest door without thinking and slipped inside.
The air changed instantly, thick with smoke, sweat, and the sharp scent of liquor. The place was dim, lit only by flickering lanterns. All around, men pressed in toward a single gambling table, their voices low and feverish.
At the center sat a demon fox, cross-legged on the table as though she owned the world. Her nine tails swayed in a slow, taunting rhythm, each movement drawing eyes like moths to a flame. She held a pair of ivory dice in her slender fingers, tapping them lightly against a lacquered cup. The click-click-click was strangely magnetic.
Oh right... This was a gambling house.
No one was looking at the door. No one was looking at her pursuers. Everyone's focus was locked on the fox. A man beside her slammed a pouch of coins on the table.
"I'm in," he growled.
The demon fox's lips curled. She shook the dice with a graceful flick of her wrist, the rattle filling the silence. Then, with a sharp twist, she spilled them onto the table.
The dice tumbled—bouncing, spinning and landed on snake eyes. Gasps filled the room. Groans followed as coins slid away from unlucky hands toward the fox's side of the table.
Without missing a beat, she scooped the dice again. This time, her tails flicked as she shook the cup. The crowd leaned forward, breathless.
Veronica found herself leaning in too, the tension pulling her in like a tide. The dice clattered to a stop—double sixes. The entire room erupted with cheers, coins clattering onto the table in a shower of bets. Even Veronica, who had only just walked in, cheered along with the crowd, completely forgetting the men chasing her.
System 5060: ... Is she for real?
Thankfully, the room was so packed that when her pursuers barged in, they couldn't spot her through the sea of bodies. After searching for a few minutes, they gave up and left.
The demon fox's voice rolled through the smoky air like velvet.
"Who dares challenge me? If you win…" Her lips curved in a slow, sinful smile. "…you may enjoy a night of pleasure with me."
A chorus of oooohs rose from the crowd, men leaning forward with hungry eyes. Her red gaze swept lazily over the room until it landed on Veronica.
"You," the fox purred, her tails swaying in a teasing rhythm. "Mysterious young master… how about you?"
"Me?" Veronica blinked, pointing stupidly at herself.
The fox's smile deepened, and she crooked a finger in invitation. "Come here."
Veronica's heart skipped. Was this… finally turning into the kind of fantasy world she had only seen in her favorite isekai anime? The mysterious stranger getting called out by the beautiful yet dangerous woman? She was living the dream!
Without thinking, she stepped forward, almost giddy.
System 5060 :"Host, I'm detecting extreme danger from that demon fox! You need to leave immediately!"
But Veronica's brain had gone blissfully deaf to warnings. She was too close now, close enough to smell the fox's faint floral scent under the smoky air. To see the subtle curl of her lips, to notice the glimmer of something sly in her eyes.
"You may go first," the fox said, leaning forward just enough for her voice to brush against Veronica's ears like a whisper.
Veronica placed her stuff aside and reached for the dice. They felt cool and smooth in her palms. She had never gambled in her life, and her fingers trembled slightly. Still, she shook them awkwardly and tossed them across the table.
The dice rolled, bounced, and finally stopped.
A ten.
The demon fox's smirk deepened as she leaned back on the table, crossing one leg over the other with effortless grace. Her red eyes gleamed with playful challenge.
"Well, well, you have got some luck," she purred, flicking one of her tails teasingly across the table. "But that's not enough to win me nor the game."
"Your turn," Veronica said, trying to sound braver than she felt, passing the dice back.
The demon fox lifted the dice with a confident flick of her wrist. She shook them slowly, deliberately—then threw. The dice tumbled and landed… A perfect tie with Veronica's last throw.
It was a draw.
"How about another round?" The fox smiled. Veronica absent mindedly nodded.
The next round, Veronica closed her eyes and threw. The dice tumbled and then stopped at double sixies.
The crowd erupted in shock.
"This weak little thing just threw a big?!" someone shouted.
"Unbelievable!" another gasped.
Even she couldn't believe her luck. The fox smiled and this time when she threw... It was a small score.
A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd.
"The fox never loses. How could she lose now?" someone whispered, disbelief lacing his voice.
"Maybe she's going easy on that scrawny kid," another said with a smirk.
"Seems like it…"
A strange feeling crept over Veronica. Why did it seem like the fox had intentionally thrown the game? It did seem a bit too deliberate.
The men around the table were restless, clearly unsatisfied with the outcome. How could such a weak ass kid have a stunning beauty like that the whole night?
The demon fox gracefully hopped down from the table, her hips swaying with every step. Veronica's eyes involuntarily locked onto her chest. That's one fine heck of a chest.
"Seems like I have lost. Come," the fox purred, extending a delicate hand toward Veronica. "Let me take you to my humble domain."
For a moment, it was like Veronica was under a spell. She reached out without hesitation, her fingers brushing the fox's warm skin as she took the offered hand. Quietly, she allowed herself to be led deeper into the building.
"Host, are you even listening to me?" The system's voice broke sharply through her daze. "You are in danger! Get out of there now!"
But Veronica was already caught in the fox's world, too enchanted to pull away.