After spending the entire day exploring Singkarak City, Sakya Kumara finally found a demon named Thaxos who could take him to another demon who knew the ins and outs of the city.
“We’re here!” Thaxos said as they arrived on the outskirts of the city, near a forest far from the crowds.
“All I see is a forest, Thaxos! Where does this demon live?” Kirani asked.
“Just follow me... He doesn’t live in the forest, but beneath it!” Thaxos replied.
“What do you mean?” Kirani asked again.
Sakya remained wary, worried that Thaxos was deceiving him since they still didn’t truly know this demon.
“Just step where I step... There are plenty of traps in this forest, so don’t set foot anywhere outside my footsteps!” Thaxos warned Sakya and Kirani.
“Why set traps in the first place? Is your friend being hunted by a lot of swordsmen or demons?” Sakya asked curiously.
“Not like that, Prince... It’s just to guard against bandits and the like!” Thaxos explained.
Thaxos then entered the forest, followed by Kirani and Sakya. After walking a few steps, Thaxos opened a cover hidden beneath the leaves, revealing a fairly neat underground chamber.
“Kavita Kamala lives in this underground chamber. Any information passing between cities about demons is bound to go through her,” Thaxos explained.
“Are you sure she knows where Healer Adheswara is?” Sakya asked.
“She should, Prince... There’s no resident of Singkarak City whose whereabouts Kavita doesn’t know,” Thaxos replied.
Thaxos led them through an underground passage lit by torches mounted on the walls until they reached a fairly clean room.
Sakya walked while holding Kirani’s hand, worried that something might happen to them if they were left to walk on their own.
“Thaxos... Who did you bring here?” asked a very young girl. She was quite beautiful, with clear, fair skin.
Sakya was somewhat doubtful that this was the girl Thaxos had said knew everything about the demons in the Mortal World. Her fine clothes, like those of a noble girl, made Sakya question whether this demon girl truly knew where Healer Adheswara was. She was also extremely mysterious, daring to remain alone underground. Sakya sensed demonic energy as he approached her, confirming that Thaxos was right—the girl was indeed a demon.
“The Demon Prince has come to visit Singkarak City, Kavita!” Thaxos announced proudly.
“What Demon Prince? You’ve been fooled by these two demons! The Demon Prince doesn’t look like this. He’s much more handsome than this pale human!” Kavita said sharply.
“I can sense it, Kavita! This really is Demon Prince Sakya from the Demon World!” Thaxos said, trying to convince her.
Sakya Kumara immediately offered the formal salute of a swordsman. “I know it’s hard to believe, but I really am Sakya Kumara, son of Mahesa Kumara, King of the Demon World!” Sakya explained.
“Hahaha... Enough already... Stop trying to fool Thaxos! He’s far too kind for you to deceive him!” Kavita said curtly.
Kavita Kamala didn’t believe for a second that Sakya Kumara, inhabiting the body of a dead human, was the Demon Prince from the Demon World in the Hell Dimension.
“I’ll help you, but stop spouting nonsense about the Demon Prince! There’s no way that arrogant demon would come to the Mortal World!” Kavita shouted.
“Why do you say the Demon Prince is arrogant? Who told you that? What are you basing it on?” Sakya Kumara asked, trying to correct the slanderous rumors circulating about him.
“Arrogant once, arrogant forever, no matter the reason!” Kavita declared.
“You know the Demon Prince?” Sakya asked curiously, because he was sure he had never met this beautiful girl.
“Who doesn’t know that incredibly arrogant Demon Prince? Even after living in the Mortal World for so long, I still hear stories about his arrogance!” Kavita replied.
“What exactly did he do that was so arrogant, Miss?” Without realizing it, Sakya had moved very close to Kavita. He caught the sweet fragrance of her body. Sakya was growing increasingly impatient with Kavita’s baseless accusations.
“She lives underground in a rather damp place, yet her body smells so fragrant. That means she isn’t an ordinary demon,” Sakya thought.
“He thinks he’s the number-one swordsman in the Demon World and looks down on all the other demons whose abilities are far beneath his. What else would you call that if not arrogance?” Kavita said sharply.
“Kavita clearly hates the Demon Prince! I’ll have to be even more careful when I introduce myself later... I’d better keep my true identity hidden until I meet Healer Adheswara,” Sakya thought.
“Have you actually witnessed the Demon Prince’s arrogance yourself, Miss?” Sakya asked curiously.
As far as he could remember, he had never done any of the things this girl accused him of. So Sakya was truly confused by her anger toward him. If he didn’t clear up the misunderstanding soon, she might refuse to help them find the legendary healer Adheswara.
“Hmph... I already told you, I don’t care whether I saw it myself or not! I still consider that Demon Prince extremely arrogant!” Kavita replied curtly.
“How about this, Miss... Just assume I’m not the Demon Prince you hate! Assume I’m simply someone who needs your help with a matter of life and death! Will you help me?”
Sakya changed his approach so Kavita would stop going on about the Demon Prince and agree to help him.
“What kind of help do you need from me?” Kavita asked.