But like ordinary humans, there are good and bad people among the Tieflings, or rather, they are victims themselves. What is said to be their demonic traits is more like an eternal curse.
It is said that during the First and Second Ages, when Demon Lords and powerful Devils roamed the earth, humans were a very inconspicuous race.
Some people made contracts with these Lords from the underworld, willingly becoming their servants.
Even though these evil yet mighty beings were expelled from the prime material plane, they left an irreversible mark on these human servants, and their descendants would forever bear this curse.
Even if they intermarry with other races, humans, Dwarves, Elves, Halflings... their offspring might appear normal, but subsequent generations might still produce Tieflings.
So, a Tiefling who looks significantly different from ordinary humans might have parents who are considered "ordinary humans" in the eyes of others.
Of course, the probability of a Tiefling giving birth to a Tiefling is higher.
Gauss glanced over and then withdrew his gaze.
Soon it was their turn in line.
Overall, passing through the inspection gate was relatively smooth.
Except for spending a bit more effort registering Abby and York, but because of Gauss and the others, the soldiers only asked a few questions about where they came from and then allowed the team to pass.
Strong individuals enjoy certain privileges wherever they go; power is their best calling card.
"Buzz!"
Upon entering the town, they were met with the bustling crowds and the sounds of conversation they had long missed.
Another Tiefling?
Gauss’s gaze lingered on some particularly distinctive figures.
"Perhaps because this wild expanse was once the landing ground for demons?"
He quickly realized this.
According to the books, the number of Tieflings is not so rare, but they usually gather in underdeveloped areas within human towns and mingle with other minority ethnic groups. Most humans have an instinctual caution toward Tieflings.
However, the truth is, the bloodline of Tieflings only affects their outward appearance and typically doesn’t have much bearing on their personality. But due to the distrust from their environment and living in relatively harsh areas, many of them end up becoming swindlers and thieves.
"Catch that devilish brat!"
On the street, a fat uncle with an apron was trying to chase a horned boy ahead.
Gauss swept his eyes around.
The boy was dressed in dirty clothes, carrying a bag of bread, nimbly weaving through the crowd.
"Captain?"
"Forget it..."
Gauss silently watched the child slip past him.
The uncle, unable to catch up, stopped by Gauss’s side, panting heavily with his hands on his knees.
Looking at the brat who had gained some distance and was making faces on some distant steps, he cursed loudly.
"Truly a naturally evil devil brat."
"Spawn of a mother but raised by none."
"Why doesn’t some big-hearted noble drive these damned devils out of town?"
"..."
The uncle kept muttering, as if this could ease his heart’s turmoil.
"How much was that bread the brat stole worth?" A pleasant male voice suddenly spoke beside him.
"45 Copper Coins." The chef uncle hadn’t recovered but instinctively answered.
As he responded, he turned to the owner of the voice.
It was a man shrouded in a pure white robe, his features the most handsome the uncle had ever seen in his life.
"Take it."
"It should be enough."
Gauss casually took out a small pouch from his Storage Pouch, containing 50 Copper Coins in change.
He usually prepared some small denomination Copper Coins as spares.
"This..."
The uncle accepted the money bag, his face both puzzled and bewildered.
"Consider it my payment on their behalf."
"There should be 50 Copper Coins inside. If you’re not assured, you can count them."
"No need, no need to count." The uncle shook his head repeatedly.
He certainly wouldn’t think that this group of seemingly unusual Adventurers would be accomplices with those devilish brats.
Especially the man before him, whose aura was even more noble than that of the noble lords, exuding a powerful presence from the inside out.
It instinctively made him feel guilty, making the money bag in his hand feel like a hot potato.
"Sir, would you rather take this money back?"
"Actually, it’s not much money. I was just upset at those brats loitering around all day, stealing things."
"Keep it."
Gauss waved his hand.
Not waiting for the uncle to continue speaking, he led the rest of the team away.
Gauss wasn’t overflowing with kindness.
If the brats had stolen something else, he would definitely have helped stop them on the street.
But he had seen through the tear in the bag; it was just a bag of black bread sufficient to satiate the boy for a long time.
The so-called notions of right and wrong, honor and shame, only have meaning after one is well-fed.
Without dwelling on this minor incident, Gauss turned to his teammates and said.
"Let’s find an inn to rest first, then go to the Adventurer’s Guild tomorrow to inquire about the Golden Eagle family’s office."
The group moved through the district, and only when they reached a relatively secure area did they find an inn to stay in.
...
In the shantytown area.
"Fil, Hope, Lucis... quickly eat up."
A group of horned Tiefling brats gathered in a tent, with the leading boy emptying the black bread from the bag.
"These bread will last us for days."
"Did we harvest so much today?"
A girl with small purple sheep horns looked pleasantly surprised.
"Cough, cough." The boy proudly placed his hands on his hips.
"I took advantage of that uncle chatting with a customer to quickly snatch it from his kitchen, haha."
"Dreil, isn’t stealing not very good?" the girl timidly asked.
"Steal? It was borrowed; no, some kindhearted... fool paid for us." The boy Dreil couldn’t help but recall the afternoon when he locked eyes with that man from the steps, trailing off into silence.
Just one look, and he felt as if he were naked, seen thoroughly from head to toe by the other.
If possible, who wouldn’t want to walk proudly under the sun, respected like that esteemed figure?
But they were born as wicked Tieflings.
Because of this, even their parents abandoned them.
"How about we go work instead?" the girl looked at the boy’s face, still showing marks of not fully healed bruises, timidly suggesting.
Not every food stealing attempt is successful; when it fails, little thieves like them often endure beatings from the strong adults. The only relief is that most of the time, due to the small amount, even if taken to the patrol team, they are quickly released.
The patrol’s detention centers indeed don’t have many rooms to entertain these little brats eager to eat government meals.
"Work? Which boss with no brains would hire Tiefling brats like us, with no guarantee?" The boy shook his head, "Fil, don’t be fooled. Those agents promising us job opportunities are all deceitful, rotten scumbags. They would capture and sell us off as slaves."
The sheep-horned girl opened her mouth but then bowed her head along with the other Tiefling companions.
Tieflings, orphans without family, these two most unwelcomed labels combined on them, making life extremely hard.
They burnt some hot water, soaked the black bread until it turned into some murky broth, and soon the Tiefling children started enjoying their dinner.
Only the boy, Dreil, who had gone out "working" today, still sat with a bowl of food, staring at the fire, lost in thought.
Though he had been out on the prowl all day and his stomach was a bit empty, he still didn’t have his usual hearty appetite.
"Dreil? Aren’t you going to eat?"
A companion noticed his odd behavior and asked.
"..."
"Eating, right now."
Dreil snapped out of it, nodded, and gulped down the sticky food.
Although today’s food harvest would last many days, it would eventually run out, and by then, he would have to search other districts for stores not yet targeted.
This lifestyle would continue until their bodies grew strong enough, and by then, some shops needing laborers would be willing to offer temporary work.