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Rudeus stiffened, turning his head slowly.
Beside him, the source of light—
A drawn white blade.
Even without "Flow Sense," he could feel the overwhelming killing intent.
His spine turned to ice.
With mechanical slowness, he looked up at the sword's owner.
Allen.
Allen's gaze was fixed on the courtesans currently pestering Eris and Sylphie behind them.
Click.
The blade slid back into its sheath.
The threat vanished.
Allen raised an eyebrow, the earlier contemplative look gone—replaced by…
Satisfaction?
Satisfaction?!
What the hell are you satisfied about, Allen?!
Rudeus suddenly understood why those two well-endowed, alluring women had abruptly abandoned them for the girls instead.
They had clearly come for him and Allen—but the moment Allen drew his sword, they noped right past him.
Who'd want to entertain a man who looks like he's about to cut you down instead of being charmed?!
So they'd switched targets to the noble girls.
After all, most female companions of Asuran nobles… were nobles themselves.
And nobles had varied tastes.
But!
Allen was the one who drew his sword! What does that have to do with me?!
Why was I abandoned too?!
Just because I was standing closest to him?!
Where's the justice in that?!
On the verge of tears, Rudeus opened his mouth to lament his cruel fate—
Shink—!
The sound of a blade being unsheathed rang out behind him.
Rudeus whirled around.
There stood Isolte, her scabbard held horizontally, the glint of steel already halfway drawn.
Her eyes curved into crescents, her smile sweet—but her voice was pure frost.
"Ladies."
The words slithered through clenched teeth.
"Are you perhaps… mistaken about something?"
Allen watched, momentarily stunned, then rubbed his chin—impressed.
Rudeus looked between Isolte and Allen, his soul withering.
By the time he turned back, the catgirl and elf had already scurried past them. In her haste, the short-haired elf even bumped into Allen's shoulder.
A faint fragrance lingered in the air as they fled.
Rudeus' eye twitched violently.
You swordsmen…
Are something else.
"Absolutely not."
"Why not?!"
"Because no. I might not need sleep, but the rest of you do. That kind of place… isn't conducive to rest."
"Hah?!"
"…It's too loud."
Under the moonlight, Eris' crimson hair darkened to wine-red. She scowled at Rudeus, who floated beside her like a ghost, his spirit utterly broken.
The girl had no idea what a brothel even was.
She just thought the "lantern boats" looked fun and had been muttering about them the entire walk.
Now, at 10 PM, they'd finally escaped the red-light district—thanks to Isolte's repeated sword-drawing intimidation.
The bustling streets faded behind them, the lanterns dimming as they left the entertainment district.
Darkness enveloped them.
The moon hung silent.
Footsteps echoed on the damp stone, crushing the pale reflections underfoot.
Thwack!
A crisp sound—Rudeus getting smacked on the head—followed by Eris' indignant voice.
"Are you mocking me?!"
"I—! You—! Ugh, forget it. Those 'big sisters' we passed earlier? The 'houseboats' they recommended? Those were just unlicensed… establishments. Not places to actually stay."
Whack!
"Explain!"
"Just kill me! I don't wanna live anymore!"
"??"
Isolte watched the exchange, lips pressed together in amusement.
Staying on the lantern boats was out of the question. Even the houseboats were no better.
From what they'd gathered:
Lantern boats = open brothels.
House boats = disguised brothels that knocked on doors at night.
And worse—Allen's Flow Sense had already picked up certain sounds drifting from some of the vessels.
In that kind of atmosphere…
Things could get… dangerous.
Isolte's cheeks warmed slightly. She glanced sideways.
Aside from Rudeus, there was another "corpse" in their group—Sylphie, clutching Allen's sleeve, face buried in her chest, staring at her own feet in a daze.
Allen led her along absently while scanning the storefronts for vacancies.
Sylphie must've been overwhelmed by all the bold soliciting earlier.
Isolte smiled.
Despite her confidence when talking about Allen, and her year in the Boreas household, Sylphie seemed sheltered. Lady Hilda had clearly kept her innocent of the… activities common among Asuran nobles.
At your age, many noble girls in the capital are already experienced~
How adorable.
Her gaze shifted to the darkened shops lining the street.
They'd been walking for a while now.
Finding an inn in Rikarisu was harder than expected—the lantern boats had monopolized the hospitality industry, leaving few land-based options.
Rudeus had "helpfully" suggested the houseboats again.
Both Allen and Isolte had refused—without consulting each other.
Isolte's excuse: "The bathrooms, baths, and soundproofing on boats are terrible. We wouldn't rest well."
Allen's? Just two words: "I get seasick."
Seasick?
Isolte's lips curled as she watched Allen scanning the buildings.
Is he really seasick… or just being considerate?
Moonlight reflected off the canal, rippling like the waters of the Tiltis River back home in the capital.
And soon…
She would bring Allen home.
Just then, Allen turned—catching her staring.
"What? You've been looking at me for a while."
Isolte blinked, then clasped her hands behind her back, her voice light.
(If the night hid her blush, all the better.)
"Allen, Sylphie… where do you plan to stay in the capital?"
The question snapped Sylphie out of her daze. She turned to answer—
Only to be met with Isolte's ample chest at eye level.
A brutal reminder of her own… shortcomings.
She gulped.
"I—I'll stay wherever Allen stays!"
"I mean—! I don't have anywhere else to go! So I'll just follow Allen! Not that we have to stay together!!"
Allen, long accustomed to her flustered antics, shook his head.
"I'd planned to stay at the Water God dojo, but with this many people, that's unrealistic. We'll need an inn."
Isolte's hands clenched behind her back. She leaned down, locking eyes with Sylphie.
"Sylphie could stay at my place. My brother bought an estate, so it's just me now. Allen and Eris could come too…"
A pause.
"My home is… quite spacious."
Sylphie and Allen froze.
Rudeus, once again ignored, looked even more miserable.
You're seriously flirting NOW?!
At least pretend to care about my suffering!
And "my home is big"? That's the worst excuse ever!
Sylphie blinked. "I wouldn't mind… but wouldn't we be intruding?"
Isolte's smile deepened. "Not at all."
"Then I'm fine with it…"
Silence.
Both girls turned to the "leader" of their party.
Allen, however, was stuck on Isolte's "quite spacious" line—a certain Taiwanese meme flashing in his mind.
"…P-play until tired, then sleep. No problem?"
Isolte's cheeks flushed, though the night hid it well. She responded with perfect composure.
"Mn. Play until tired, then sleep. No problem."
Her tone was serious, but the glint in her eyes betrayed her.
All she needed was glasses to complete the vibe.
The wind howled through the awkward silence.
Sylphie short-circuited.
Even Eris, usually oblivious, turned to stare.
Allen opened his mouth to backtrack—
Then light spilled across his vision.
He stopped.
Ahead stood an inn—three stories, immaculate, exuding luxury. A world apart from Motta Litt's "Love Inn."
A sign hung on the door:
"Vacancies Available."
Eris brightened and charged forward—
But Rudeus was faster, practically teleporting up the steps.
Play until tired?! PLAY WHAT?!
I can't take this party anymore!
Isolte, snapping out of her hormone-induced haze, cursed internally.
Why did Allen have to say something so suggestive?!
Flustered, she grabbed Sylphie's hand and fled toward the inn.
Allen lingered behind, his earlier shock melting away like mist.
He studied the inn's name:
"Aqua Metropolis Inn."
Then reached into his pocket—
And pulled out two cards slipped there by the elf who'd bumped into him earlier.
One advertised houseboats.
The other?
This very inn.
Allen glanced back at the "fully booked" establishments they'd passed.
His smile turned wry.
Of course.
The women had left these as invitations—expecting him to seek them out later.
The "no vacancies" along the way? Convenient.
Too convenient.
How… thoughtful.
Chuckling, Allen climbed the steps.
They secured rooms on the third floor.
Sylphie had initially tried to room with Eris and Isolte—
But Allen insisted on separate rooms for everyone, despite the outrageous cost.
50 Asura gold per night.
Nearly a thousand times the price of that dump in Motta Litt.
And ten times Roxy's annual salary as a tutor.
(Yes, the clumsy mage earned only 5 silver a month.)
Yet Allen didn't hesitate.
Clearly, he valued uninterrupted sleep above all.
At his decision:
Eris (clueless, money-blind, just happy to sleep) = 👍
Sylphie & Isolte (blushing, stealing glances) = 😳
Rudeus (grabbing the farthest room) = 💀
The receptionist even offered 15-gold aphrodisiacs—
Promptly rejected under Sylphie and Isolte's blazing glares.
Rudeus nearly screamed.
You think the legendary Allen-sama needs drugs?!
Do you know how a King-tier swordsman wields his blade?!
Even if you joined in, he'd outlast you all!
The Greyrat bloodline knows no weakness!
Soon, goodnights were exchanged, doors closing one by one.
Allen's room.
Warm candlelight.
Luxurious bedding.
Pristine furniture.
Plush carpets.
Allen leaned against the door, arms crossed, watching the wall clock.
10:20 PM.
Tick. Tock.
10:30.
Tick. Tock.
10:50.
Tick. Tock.
11:15.
Tick. Tock.
His ears twitched.
A grin spread across his face as he reached for the doorknob—
And silently pulled it open.
Two scorching bodies slipped inside.
A pair of eager lips lunged for his—
Oi~
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