"Whaaat? We're full~~"

"What's a 'mansatsu'? Is that this old guy's name or something?"

As if already drunk, the man and woman argued, their faces flushed. Coai watched them with a cold feeling.

This is why people who like to drink are so annoying.

"Just hurry up and give me some proper copper coins (Diris)," came the next sound, the gravelly voice of a man who seemed to be the owner, and it was the trigger.

"How noisy."

"Huh?"

Coai couldn't take it anymore. Whether it was because the man's voice was grating on her ears, or because she was irritated that the woman wasn't talking to her, she didn't know the reason.

"I will not pay. Let her drink until she is satisfied."

"Wh-what!?"

"Huh? Miss? That's a bit much, don't you think?"

"Hey, hey, don't be ridiculous..."

"Ridiculous? I am not being ridiculous."

"Those with power take what they desire. Is that not the way of us, the demon tribe?"

As Coai said this, she noticed the man was now sporting a faint smile. She didn't find it particularly pleasant, but seeing it made Coai think that if it were her smile, it would be different. That thought was a little comforting.

"Hah, looks like some poet's been filling your head with nonsense. How about I teach you a little something about reality?"

The man said, shrugging off his jacket.

"I'll make an exception. Let's have a contest of strength. If you win, drinks are on me today."

"A contest of strength?"

"Ahaha! Go for it! You can do it, miss, you can do it!"

Before anyone noticed, the woman had her hand on a wine cup... no, it seemed she'd downed a glass the moment the man looked away. One of the cups was lying on its side.

"Hm? A 'miss'? You're a woman? I thought you were a pretty-faced young man."

"That's what that girl called me."

"Eh? ...Ah, well, whatever. I won't go easy on you, but I'll let you decide the method. We can do hand-pushing or arm wrestling."

"What are those? Can we not just have a proper fight?"

The man's expression clouded over.

"Hey, hey... that's off the table. Do you have any idea what you're saying?"

"You challenged me yourself, and now you fear for your life? You coward."

An unpleasant sediment formed in Coai's chest.

"Whoa, 'life' is an exaggeration, but I've got no desire to be sent to the 'mountain'."

"What are you talking about?"

Coai couldn't understand the meaning of the man's words.

"Hmm... You really don't know? Just who are you people...?"

"What about?"

"Hmph, doesn't seem like you're messing with me. Alright, I'll tell you a bit. Let's sit down for a moment."

The man took a chair, placed it in front of Coai, and then sat down on another chair a short distance away.

"More importantly, another round, please! A different one this time."

"Eh?"

"By the way, where did you two come from, anyway?"

"I do not know. When I came to, I was in a mansion."

"I dunno~! When I came to, this lady had taken me home."

"Uh, ah...? W-well, I'm not trying to pry. It's just, you don't seem to fear human law... or humans at all. That's what got my attention."

"Human law, you say?"

"Let's obey the laaaw~"

"Yeah. The details might differ from village to village, but training or sparring without human permission is forbidden everywhere. If they find you and catch you, you'll be sentenced to penal servitude."

"Sentenced to penal servitude?"

"You get sent off to the mines or wastelands and are forced to work for years in a place where you can't even get a decent meal. A lot of guys... end up kicking the bucket along the way."

The man's voice sounded a little somber.

"Wait. What do you mean?"

"What's wrong?"

"Why would the demon tribe obey something like human law?"

Not only in the era Coai had lived in, but also in the past recorded in all the books she had read, it was unheard of for the demon tribe to obey humans. Such a thing was unthinkable.

"Even if you ask why... human soldiers are numerous, and we can't win against them now. I hear the demon tribe used to be stronger, back in the old days."

"Heyyy, is my refill ready yet~?"

"Hey, hey, don't you think you're drinking too much?"

"There are days when you just can't get by without a drink, ya know~"

The man sighed, but prepared another drink for her.

"Well, that's how it is. Society everywhere is human-centric now. So, the way of the demon tribe, our pride... none of that exists anywhere anymore."

The man muttered to himself, looking a little lonely.

"Man, I feel like I can't get through today without a drink either..."

From what the man said, it seemed this world was currently ruled by humans. The weak had certainly come a long way. But that in itself didn't matter. As long as they didn't get in her way, she had no complaints, regardless of who ruled the world.

That was how Coai interpreted it.

Until she started demanding fine wine.