After the Fall of the Demon Race, Reincarnated as a Demon Girl - Chapter 35

Angelica’s emotions finally settled, like the surface of the sea calming after a storm, beginning to ripple with tranquility.

Her chest rose and fell slightly, as if still trembling from the lingering aftershocks of her recent outburst. She looked around, finally taking in the sight of the office.

Abruptly, as if squeezing the words from a crevice in her thoughts, Angelica said:

“This… this decor is certainly unique. Is there a particular reason for arranging it this way, or is it purely to showcase your distinctive style, Attorney Antina?”

Renith had actually wanted to ask this question for a long time.

After Antina rented this place, she seemed to have only simply converted it into living quarters and a reception area. The space still clearly bore traces of its past life as a bar and small gambling den—the worn-out bar counter, the faint outlines of gambling tables.

Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Renith quietly walked to Antina’s side and asked in a hushed voice:

“I’ve been curious for a while now, why exactly did you choose this particular tavern? Even if the rent is relatively low, why set up in a prime location like the commercial street? Wouldn’t shops on other streets have more affordable rent?”

Antina fell into a prolonged silence, her eyes downcast as if thoughts were churning within her. Renith’s words seemed to have touched a sore spot deep in her heart.

After a moment, she gently looked up, carefully choosing her words, speaking slowly and deliberately in a softened tone.

“To put it plainly, the reasoning isn’t complicated. Lanes Street developed alongside Brand University City. The university’s fame and popularity naturally spurred the surrounding development; residential areas sprung up like mushrooms, and many wealthy families followed, settling here.”

“Nowadays, this street has genuinely become one of the busiest and most prosperous in Mobius City. See there? That’s the train station.”

Antina pointed west down Lanes Street, then slowly gestured towards the cluster of buildings standing tall in the north.

“The north side is Brand University. This area developed rapidly, achieving this level of prosperity in just a few short years, and its future potential is immeasurable.”

She paused slightly, her gaze sweeping over the rows of shops lining both sides of the street, and continued:

“Renting a shopfront here really is eye-wateringly expensive. But what you get in return is a steady stream of customers and endless business opportunities.”

“Furthermore, most of the residents nearby are well-off families with considerable wealth. They’re generous and never hesitate when it comes to payment. It’s no exaggeration to say that once a shop opens successfully and lands a few decent deals, the money earned is enough to cover daily operations comfortably, even allowing you to close up shop and take a year or two off without worry.”

“Originally, I wanted a prime location… but unfortunately, the good spots were all snatched up by those people, and the rent on this street is truly outrageous! Some people can’t even earn three months’ worth of what this place costs for a single month.”

Renith more or less understood Antina’s thinking.

Antina originally wanted to set up in the middle of the street, but hampered by insufficient funds, she had no choice but to come to this out-of-the-way corner and rent a tavern as her base of operations.

The group chatted for a while longer. Then, Angelica glanced at the clock on the wall and, seeing that it was about time, put her black veil back on.

“Well, thank you… I’ll take my leave now. I’ll go back and help you organize the evidence.”

After Angelica left, Antina collapsed onto the sofa. Internally, she was incredibly excited—this was her first client in two months… business had finally started.

“These nobles who bully others relying on their power… I will do my utmost to bring them down!”

Thinking this, Antina couldn’t help but frown again. Fine words aside, her opponents were, after all, nobles—wealthy and powerful. They could easily turn the tables by pulling strings in the courtroom.

In the end, humans are merely creatures driven by greed and desire. For money and power, they can abandon certain things—like love, a normal life, even their dignity.

At that moment, Roganne emerged from Vistah’s room. Because the door’s soundproofing was poor, she seemed to have overheard some of the conversation outside.

“…How awful. If I were her, I probably wouldn’t have been able to carry on…”

“How is Vistah?”

Antina turned her gaze towards Roganne, who was approaching from down the hallway.

“Hmm, he’s alright. He’s up and getting dressed to go out.”

It was a perfect example of that saying from the Crossers, “Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.”

No sooner had the words been spoken than the door creaked open with a sudden push. Vistah stood there, dressed in a well-tailored but somewhat disheveled formal suit, stumbling into the room.

He swayed slightly, bracing himself against the mottled wall with one hand as tightly as a drowning man clutching a lifeline, barely managing to steady his teetering form.

“My apologies, Instructor Antina, I wasn’t able to greet the guest earlier.”

“That’s alright, you weren’t feeling well… But honestly, looking at you now, you should go back and lie down.”

Antina took in Vistah’s current state. She couldn’t say he was completely fine—it was more accurate to say he was, at least, alive. She felt it would be better for him to rest.

“No need, Instructor. I feel quite well now, full of energy, completely fine! Please, let me participate in this case too!”

Mustering all his strength, Vistah straightened his body and bowed deeply to Antina.

“I never said you couldn’t participate, why so formal?”

Antina stepped forward and supported Vistah, indicating her agreement. Only then did Vistah relax, staggering over to the sofa and sitting down on a stool beside it.

“It’s been a long time since you’ve been this proactive, Vistah.”

“Yes, Instructor. I’ve had a change of heart. I haven’t truly seen the entirety of this world. I was trapped in a false world fabricated by others… Now I want to see it—see this world’s true face and its evils. Then, understand it, and change it!”

Something had truly departed from within Vistah. The force that once imprisoned him had now turned to dust and vanished.

Renith tried to use her magic to capture this dissipating energy, but it passed straight through her intangible magical net, flying off towards the north.

That direction was one of the ones Antina had just pointed out to Angelica and Renith—towards Brand University.

It seemed Renith’s earlier suspicions weren’t far off the mark. Brand University was the source of this power; the Crosser was hidden there.

“Miss Roganne, I’m quite interested in your school. Would it be possible for me to visit?”

Roganne thought for a moment, then shook her head.

“The school is very strict. Without a uniform and ID, there’s no way to slip in. And even if you did manage to sneak in, if you’re caught, you’ll just be thrown out.”

“So only teachers and students can come and go freely?”

It’s just a school, yet the management is so stringent? A bit peculiar.

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“I see. If you just lend me your uniform and ID, I’ll figure out the rest myself.”

Roganne looked skeptical. Was Renith planning to sneak in? If the school staff discovered she had lent her clothes to an outsider who then infiltrated the school, they would definitely give her a demerit.

If that happened and word reached her father, a stern reprimand would be the least of her worries. Worse yet, she could be suspended and sent home, confined to the house—that would be a true hell for Roganne.

“No way! Even if I lent them to you, there’s still a risk of getting caught. If you want to go, sneak in yourself at midnight!”

Roganne refused Renith’s request and told her to find her own way.

Renith couldn’t very well force Roganne to hand over her clothes, so she dropped the subject.

“Alright then. Vistah, Roganne, you two start organizing the relevant newspapers and information. I’ll go scout the location first. Oh, and Miss Anna, care to accompany me?”

Antina took Renith and headed out.

Having listened to Angelica’s long story and chatted a bit more afterwards, the sky was already tinged with yellow; evening was approaching again.

Antina and Renith walked along the street, preparing some food for dinner while intentionally or unintentionally heading in the direction of Brand University.

“Sorry about Roganne. She’s always like that. Even though I often use her father’s name to keep her in check, it doesn’t really restrain her much at all.”

Hearing this, Renith simply waved her hand gently, not a trace of annoyance on her face.

In her view, while Roganne had her quirks and willful moments, she hadn’t done anything truly outrageous. Besides, her own request had been quite sudden; anyone might reasonably refuse. There was really no reason to take offense.

“When she first came to me, saying she wanted to learn the law from me, I was actually quite pleased to have such an eager junior.”

“But the very next day, I received a call from her father. He told me to take good care of her, but also, when necessary, not to hold back—to let her experience the darker sides of society. That’s when I realized she was a young lady acting out of defiance.”

“Since she sought me out and her father trusts me, of course I have to educate her properly. It’s just as you said; aside from some issues with her temperament, she’s excellent in other aspects… But that’s just it…”

Antina’s expression again showed the frustration of wishing someone lived up to their potential.

“But she’s too stubborn. No matter how I advise her, she only agrees verbally. I’ve tried every method, and can only use her father’s name to temper her arrogance.”

“It was quite effective at first, but she gradually realized I never actually report back to her father, and she started becoming willful again. She only listens or takes action if it’s related to her or benefits her somehow.”

Renith nodded. Roganne’s personality was quite easy to understand—a purely self-interested mindset, which wasn’t uncommon.

“You could be firmer with her… Hmm, though that might backfire. You could try motivating her by using things she’s interested in.”

“Haha, I’m considering it. In fact, I’m already trying something like that. Even though I’m called ‘Instructor,’ I’m well aware I’m far from being a real teacher.”

Antina was referring to the last time she had Roganne take Renith shopping for clothes.

“Madam, you seem quite clear about what you need to do. I suppose I’ve been speaking out of turn.”

“Not at all!” Antina quickly waved her hands in denial.

“Oh, right. You want to go to Brand University? Is there something important?”

Renith shook her head. It wasn’t anything urgent. In fact, she was the one choosing to get involved; she could still drop the matter if she wanted.

“Is it related to Vistah and the others?”

“Yes. I noticed something strange about Vistah. That aura drifted off in the direction of Brand University, so I wanted to go and investigate.”

“Does Vistah’s condition today have something to do with this aura as well?”

Renith gave a noncommittal nod.