8 Welcome to the Black District!

"River, you'd make a beautiful model."

"...Should I kill you?"

"No, no. But truthfully, that dress suits you."

I laughed while looking at River. His messy white hair was combed down in a way that covers his left lavender eye. I purposely did it to show the beauty mark under his right eye.

Along with the clothes I took earlier were two dresses. I also wore one. We tucked our previous clothes in a piece of fabric along with the cloaks and started walking again.

Our destination? The Black district's entrance.

I originally intended to move at night.

Right now, it was still around three in the afternoon. The clouds were gathered above and the sun that was going to set in a few more hours is still glaring from the sky.

Technically, we have a high chance of being spotted by monsters and demons. Still, we had no choice but to keep going since the shady guys from yesterday arrived in Heru and the villagers had widened their scout.

"You really planned this through, huh?"

River glanced at me from the side.

"Maybe."

I shrugged at him in a delicate manner.

I was trying my best to act like a lady since we were both wearing dresses and pretending to be females. Thankfully, both of us had some feminine-like features so we look the part on the outside.

"I don't plan fifty steps ahead but it's not like I move without thinking."

I added while pushing back my black hair out of my face. Unconsciously, a frown formed on my lips.

'Damn, it's going to be harder than I thought.'

I was trying the famous hair flip but I ended up scratching the side of my face.

Pretending to a girl is harder than it looks.

My hair kept on getting on my face and it's annoying the hell out of me. I'd rather not do this but it was the only way we can enter the black district without getting under a radar.

With two targets on our back, we can never be too prepared. For safety purposes, I even told River to burn the house I looted earlier so that no one can tell what we took. I also made a few arsons after that so the enemy can't tell where we are.

Thinking that there are no more noticeable holes in my plan, I nodded my head in satisfaction and fixed my dress. The annoyance I felt faded, replaced with amusement at this strange situation.

"It's a little fun but the dresses are so uncomfortable. How can women wear these everyday?"

"It's this way."

River ignored me and started walking to the path towards the entrance. He could hear it with his vampiric abilities.

It got silent after that. My mind focused on a certain thought.

River told me it's Sunday. During this day, the head of the seven houses gathers in one place to discuss how to make the world a much more evil place.

My goal, for now, is to successfully get a glimpse at their faces.

With that in mind, we arrived outside a huge tree that had an opening in its roots which was covered by a curtain of vines. The opening, which was big enough for five wagons to enter, was filled with guards that roamed the place with a strict look on their faces.

River sighed.

"The security is tight."

"Who cares? We already expected something like this. Nothing matters as long as we don't get caught."

I gave River the signal. He nodded and snapped his fingers. Our eye colors and hair colors instantly turned brown.

It was basic illusion spell.

We're all set to infiltrate the lion's den.

"Great. Now, just follow me."

I confidently strutted and blended in with the crowd that was also entering. The entrance had many guards but I can tell that most of them were on the lookout for guys.

'This is easier than I thought.'

Maintaining my smile and casually slipping inside, River and I successfully made it into the Black district.

On our way, I asked him.

"Isn't it intriguing? We're going to the place where the sun doesn't shine."

River shook his head.

"Wouldn't it be nothing more than a stinky, gloomy wasteland?"

"I'm not quite sure. I remember the rumors saying that Black district is under the eternal night but some say it burns brighter than the sun."

I can't remember where I heard that though. Definitely not in Earth, that's for sure. It must be a distant memory of this body's former owner.

'Was it from the mysterious person only the former owner of this body could see?'

Just as I was about to drift off to my thoughts, a voice suddenly brought me back to the present.

"Let's go. We're stalling."

River pushed the vines apart.

FWOOOOOOOOOSH!

The curtain of vines separated and finally revealed the sight of the mysterious place. The main setting where the story takes place, a place that I described to be comparable to hell...

'Mm. This is not what I expected.'

I had that thought as my gaze wandered around.

"Come in! Come in! You're always welcome!"

"Discount! Anybody here looking for a discoooount?"

"Offering free testers! Who wants to try it out?"

The entrance was directly connected to the main street of the Black district where native people stood on the side of the pavement, enchanting the visitors with otherworldly items and scamming smiles on their faces. Stalls and shops stood everywhere, covering the streets with bright yellow luminescent light.

I can see nobles from the Capital. I could tell since they had guards and showed crests of families that are unrelated to this place. It's my book so naturally, I could identify if the crest is from the black district or not, especially since there are only a few of them.

Though most nobles in the Capital are ignorant, some are aware of this place and they visit from time to time.

'One of them is the Royal Family. Let's not get involved with those bastards.'

I clicked my tongue.

"Huh. So this is the Black district?"

"It's much brighter than I thought."

"True. I'm almost deceived."

River gazed down at me after noticing the playful tone in my voice.

"The ambiance of this place is just like any other town. Lively. Caught up with civilization. The Heru village can't even compare."

Glass, metals, expensive fabrics, and bricks existed in the place. Establishments were built in blocks. I can even see carriages and extravagant houses.

It reminds me of the sights in the Capital, those I've seen in the memory of this body.

"But who are we kidding? At the end of the day, this place reeks of death and violence. I mean, look up there."

"Hmm?"

I pointed above us and River's eyes followed. I saw him stiffen, his visible eye darkening and turning sharp before returning to normal.

I read the shop sign with a smile.

"Poison Bar."

It could be slang for Alcohol Bar however, the pungent smell of herbs and powder told me otherwise.

The store after that had a sweet smell of perfume. Well, I don't think it's appropriate to call it a store when the walls are made of bars and women inside wore such revealing clothing. It was obviously a brothel.

There was also the store across where a fat man waited outside and enticed people to visit his huge store.

The sign was made of gold and three words were engraved in it.

< Choose a Slave! >

I can hear the faint screams of people inside.

Keeping my composure, I started walking towards a dark alley. River, following closely behind me, still hasn't come back to his senses.

"Are you shocked?"

"...I'm more surprised you aren't."

"Get used to it."

Even River, who was aware of my broken mindset, found my actions suspicious as I evaded his statement to hide the disgusting emotion creeping up from behind me.

There was a 'side' of me that felt excitement upon arriving in this place.

'I feel very weird.'

Undoubtedly, there was a trace of humanity, no matter how tiny, inside me yesterday. I even want to save the other children. But right now, I'm feeling so thrilled to a point that I don't even feel pity or compassion. Even I could tell I was slowly becoming a monster.

'What the hell is happening to me? Am I losing myself the longer I stay here?'

River, who was observing me since earlier, finally spoke up.

"You're worried."

"More or less."

"Dark, yesterday had your complains but earlier it seemed almost as if... you were enjoying it."

"...Was I?"

He nodded while looking a bit distant. It was almost as if he was remembering the face I had while I stole and asked him to burn houses.

Silently, I agreed with him.

"Back then, I can tell my actions were repulsive. And I was forced to make those choices. Now, it almost feels natural to be doing it."

"..."

"River, I don't think I'm going to stop anytime soon."

"Are you going to do what they're doing too?"

His question made me stop walking.

Businesses related to slavery, killing, poisoning, and human trafficking. No matter how much I think about it, it didn't seem impossible for me to do it if I want to.

'I don't mind.'

This thought process was proof that my conscience and what little was left of my moral compass are now long gone, though they were basically non-existent in the first place.

However, this much... I'm sure.

"River, I have no plans in doing so."

I looked at him with the same, unwavering eyes.

"I won't move to stop it, but I won't do it too. That's the only respect I can give to the 'former me' who found those acts unforgivable."

"Okay."

Feeling satisfied with my answer, River smiled a little.

"That's enough for me."

He started walking again but stopped when he noticed that I wasn't following. He looked back.

"That's why if ever I try to do those things..."

While a part of me still has the resolve to say these words.

"You have to stop me. No matter what."

River, for the first time since I saw him, had a haughty expression on his face. He looked at me as if it was a natural thing to do.

"Don't order me around. I was going to do that anyway."

I grinned and continued walking. He followed me and we were once again enveloped in a familiar, comfortable silence.

One day, maybe a few hours from now, I will probably lose the embers of me that respected human life.

'But River is here with me.'

I smiled a little.

'So, I have nothing to worry about.'

Someone would be there to stop me.

'It is going to be alright.'