Chapter 43: ProfitA younger demon with bat wings stepped forward.

    "They...They killed my cousin last month."

    "But why would—" Noah caught himself before finishing the question.

    Why would Esta’s intelligence be wrong? Unless...

    Somebody is profiting from this war. Elara and her upbringing didn’t strike me as people who would throw their own kingdom into chaos.

    The pieces clicked together.

    Looking at the worried demon faces around him, Noah felt his carefully constructed enemy image crumble.

    They’re not monsters. They’re just... people with horns...and wings.

    "You really didn’t know," Lola observed, watching his internal revelation play out. "Interesting."

    Her tail swished thoughtfully.

    The demons around them murmured among themselves, clearly debating Noah’s true origins. But their expressions held curiosity rather than hostility.

    They’re more concerned about my weird ignorance than my potential threat level.

    "Look," Noah said finally, "I might have... simplified my background a bit."

    "But I’m not here to cause trouble. Just trying to make an honest living."

    Noah’s internal debate had reached its conclusion—these demons weren’t his enemies. They were potential customers with legitimate grievances against actual terrorists.

    Time to stop being an idiot and start being a businessman.

    "Are you finally ready to tell us?" Lola smirked, her tail swishing behind her like a metronome counting down his resistance.

    Noah nodded.

    "I sell healing bread and mana-enhancement tea." The words came out in a rush. "The bread accelerates natural recovery by thirty percent. The tea increases mana reserves and regeneration by thirty percent for ten minutes."

    There it is. My cards are on the table.

    "Bread costs five gold coins. Tea is eleven."

    Slight markup for inflation and distance from Esta. Fair pricing.

    The plaza erupted.

    "FIVE GOLD COINS FOR MAGICAL BREAD?!"

    "ELEVEN FOR TEA?!"

    Okay, maybe that was too aggressive. Maybe I should have kept it the same...or decreased it a bit.

    But instead of outrage, Noah heard... laughter?

    "Five gold coins!" A ram-horned demon slapped his knee. "That’s pocket change!"

    "He is practically giving it away! What a generous human." Another chimed in.

    Wait. What?

    Lola’s expression shifted from amused to incredulous. "You’re seriously charging five gold coins for magical healing bread?"

    Did I underprice everything? In demon territory?

    "That’s... too low?"

    The crowd burst into fresh laughter. Demons began pulling out coin pouches that clinked with suspicious weight. One particularly enthusiastic customer dumped a small mountain of gold coins onto the ground.

    "I’ll take ten loaves!"

    "I want all the tea for me!"

    "Can I reserve next week’s production?" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Oh. Oh no.

    Noah’s face went through several colours as he realised the economic state of this kingdom. In demon territory, gold coins were apparently as common as cobblestones.

    Inflation is a real pain in the ass.

    He facepalmed inwardly.

    I could have charged fifty gold coins, and they’d have thought it was reasonable.

    But pride and mild embarrassment prevented him from adjusting prices mid-announcement. Plus, these people seemed genuinely excited.

    I should stick with the quoted prices. I need to build some goodwill.

    "Prices stand as stated," he declared, trying to sound businesslike rather than mortified.

    Fortunately, the System had refreshed his inventory upon teleportation. Twelve golden loaves and twelve glass bottles stood on his shelves.

    At least I won’t disappoint them with low stock immediately.

    The crowd pressed closer, gold coins appearing from every direction like magic tricks. Noah raised his hands for order.

    "One per customer! First day, limited supply!"

    He didn’t want a single person to monopolise his entire stock. Mainly because he wanted to retain those customers, once his auto-makers were levelled up to level 2, he would have a bigger supply.

    The demons formed a surprisingly orderly queue, chitchatting excitedly about magical human stock.

    This is what customer service should feel like.

    Lola pushed to the front of the line.

    "A loaf of bread and one iced tea, please. I want to experience this island magic firsthand."

    She placed sixteen golden coins on his counter, which Noah pocketed.

    [Daily Income Stream has been updated!]

    [Daily Revenue: $1,600]

    "Enjoy," he said, giving her the loaf and tea.

    "Thank you,"

    Lola responded with a seductive smile that made him blink twice before blushing.

    This demoness is trying to hunt me. For sure!

    Lola uncorked the bottle slowly as if savouring the moment.

    Suddenly, a sweet, complex aroma filled the air. It had a hint of peach that transcended into notes of magic and moonlight dancing on invisible strings.

    ’Even the smell is impressive.’ Lola thought.

    She raised the bottle to her luscious lips and took a careful sip.

    The effect was immediate.

    Lola’s eyes widened, then slowly drifted closed.

    A soft sound escaped her lips that made Noah’s cheeks burn crimson.

    Was that... was that a moan?

    "Mmm-ahh"

    The sound repeated, longer this time, carrying notes of pure pleasure.

    Oh god. She’s making those sounds in public.

    Noah’s face cycled through multiple shades of red as nearby demons leaned closer, curious about her obvious enjoyment. Lola seemed completely oblivious to her audience, lost in sensory experience.

    This is mortifying. And somehow also...

    Nope. Not going there. Professional thoughts only.

    "This is...Incredible."

    Her eyes were still closed in apparent bliss.

    She took another sip, and yet again another soft moan escaped.

    She’s going to get me killed by her jealous demonsuiters.

    "The flavour is extraordinary," she continued, finally opening her eyes. "Like liquid mana. And the energy, I can feel my mana reserves expanding."

    "But more importantly," Lola stepped closer, her voice dropping to a lower tone, "the sensation is quite... stimulating."

    Kill me now.

    Noah’s blush deepened to something approaching maroon. "It’s just tea."

    She’s doing this on purpose. She has to be.

    The queue behind her shuffled impatiently, but Lola seemed content to savor both the tea and Noah’s obvious discomfort.

    "I’ll definitely be a regular customer," she purred, taking another deliberately slow sip.

    This woman is going to be the death of me.

    "Next customer!" Noah called desperately.

    But as Lola stepped aside with that knowing smile, Noah realized his demon territory adventure had just acquired a very distracting complication