Chapter 117: To the Devils District – 2
I asked Rufus about the detailed procedure for entering the Devil's District.
He said Otherworlders from other districts need a permit from either the governor or the Four Great Families to cross into the Devil's District.
For simple matters, the governor's permission is enough. But for long-term stays, a permit from the Four Great Families is essential.
This permit cannot be obtained without earning their trust, no matter how high one's social status or wealth is.
The permit implies, "We will take responsibility if any problems arise."
Though they don't always scrutinize strictly, the Devil's District is an exception.
Any act against the principles there is punished without mercy.
As expected from a district ruled by Ariella.
I expected no less.
After Rufus left, I briefly explained the situation to Peridot and headed to the Chartreuse mansion.
"Verdia, please!"
It was time to beg the madam.
"My husband… You're really something else… Fine…"
Verdia said, gently embracing me as I clung to her like a child.
Permit, secured.
"But are you sure it's alright? I heard the Devil's District is dangerous…"
"Does Ariella look like someone who would harm anyone close to Verdia?"
"..."
Why didn't you say that earlier? It's not like Ariella wouldn't do that!
"I've never seen Lady Raven be friendly with an Otherworlder."
Fiona, who was watching me, said,
"Don't think she'll treat you like she treats me."
"Are women who stab people with swords considered friendly these days?"
"Hmph, what are you trying to say?"
I spread my arms wide as if to show off. Fiona hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly came into my arms.
"…Come here. I'll give you a kiss."
"What a steal."
I shared a sweet kiss with Fiona. I didn't even need to cast the magic spell that weakens her.
"Ugh! The wound from that day!"
"Seeing you so shameless, I'm sure you'll adapt quickly to the Devil's District."
"I knew you liked Ariella, but I didn't know you'd risk your life to find her."
"L-Love, you say!"
"A pure, unrequited love. How sweet."
What a heartwarming atmosphere!
"Think of me as a trainer braving the roughest waves, aiming for an impossible feat."
"Ariella is a woman too. She must be lonely after losing her husband for so long.
If you approach her sincerely, without your usual antics, I'm sure she'll open her heart to you."
I wished it were that easy.
A wry smile appeared on my face, knowing it wouldn't be that simple.
"Ah, did you say goodbye to Belita properly, dear?"
"I'm on my way there now."
As I was about to leave, I remembered what Belita said when I put on the leather boots she gave me.
"Come back and see me again. Don't disappear without a word, you rude man."
…I can't be a rude man.
I visited the Grace mansion. No one stopped me, so I easily entered.
Rondel was in the hall. Belita's son.
I tried to avoid him, but our eyes met.
"Where's Mom?"
I felt nervous, wondering if he'd suddenly tell me to get on my knees and start punching me like last time. But Rondel grabbed my sleeve and pointed down the hallway.
"She's over there, big brother."
"You're being a little…"
He seemed different from before. Was that day's experience too shocking for him?
Rondel is being unusually polite.
"I… I'm sorry about before."
"It's okay."
I patted Rondel's head.
"Why did you suddenly apologize?"
"Mom said… Mom said she belongs to big brother now, and if I do anything bad to big brother, she might take Mom away…."
"…."
Belita…. What are you telling the kid!
"Big brother… Are you going to take Mom away?"
"No, I'm not taking her anywhere…."
"Then Mom doesn't belong to big brother?"
"No… That's…."
I can't lie in front of a child.
"Your mom is mine. But I won't take her away without telling you."
"…."
I'm not sure if this is the right thing to say…. Seeing Rondel trying not to cry made me want to cry too.
"I'm going to be a cool person like you, big brother."
"I'm cool?"
"You have lots of muscles, and you're handsome."
"What are you going to do when you're cool?"
"I'm going to have a girlfriend like Mom!"
"You're going to date someone. Right?"
"I'm going to have her! Just like you, big brother!"
"…Then you'll have to train hard."
Shouldering a destiny is no easy task!
"Taeyang! If you're coming, let us know… Rondel?"
Just then, Belita appeared in the hall.
"I was talking to big brother!"
"What were you talking about?"
"I told him I want to be like him!"
Belita stroked Rondel's head, just like I did.
"That's right. You're going to be a cool man like your big brother."
"Yeah!"
"Then you have to eat your vegetables and not be picky, right? So you can grow big and strong like your brother."
....
…She's talking about height, right…?
"Now, Mommy and big brother have things to talk about. Why don't you go play?"
"Okay, Mommy!"
Belita brushed her hair behind her ear and looked at me.
"You look beautiful today, Belita."
"Of course. I'm always beautiful."
As expected of Belita…. Such confidence.
You wouldn't be able to wear such revealing clothes without that kind of confidence. I made sure Rondel was gone, then grabbed Belita's breast.
"M-Mmm. What brings you here?"
"I'm thinking of going to the Devil's District. I came to say goodbye before I leave."
"…So you're really going. Men are so stubborn."
"I'm sorry. If I could, I'd…."
"Enough with the excuses. I don't want to be seen as a burden."
Belita pressed herself against me as she straightened my clothes. Her breasts brushed freely against me. It felt like she was doing it on purpose.
"Your new assistant is quite capable. Everything is perfectly organized."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
Belita's expression turned displeased. It looked like she wanted to take care of me herself, which was kind of adorable.
"Come back safely."
I hugged Belita, touched her breasts a little more, then headed back to the workshop. Now it was time to tell Cecil. But first, I decided to see Peridot.
"Master, please take this."
Peridot was busy making potions after hearing I was going to the Devil's District. She handed me a multi-purpose belt with plenty of storage for potions.
"This is the High Potion I drank before, right?"
"Yes, there are ten in there. It's more effective than healing magic."
I remembered when I was fatally wounded and healed with healing magic. This potion was even better?
"I asked you to make them, but how much does one cost?"
"About 30 gold coins."
I swallowed hard. Expensive. Almost as much as a person.
"I'm sorry. I meant to tell you the price beforehand, Master…"
"Ugh… I just ordered them and ran out of money."
"I'll explain the next potions in order, if that's okay?"
"Yes, please."
Peridot pointed to each storage space on my belt and explained the contents.
"This is a truth serum. It makes it impossible to lie for five minutes."
"What's this purple potion? It looks lethal."
"That's poison. Unless you have the antidote I made, you'll die exactly three hours after drinking it."
"I've been carrying that around my waist?"
"Don't worry. You have to drink the whole bottle for it to work."
"This is the antidote, right? The green potion?"
"Yes."
"It'll be tricky to use in battle. Why does it only last three hours?"
"It's meant for negotiation. The ingredient ratio varies slightly depending on the maker, so the antidote is unique."
"You mean only Peridot can make it?"
"Yes."
"That'll be useful for threats."
"But why is the poison called 'Tryst'?"
"It's named after a man and woman who couldn't marry because of family opposition. They decided to drink it together to die at the same time."
"So, there are no symptoms until you suddenly die."
Three hours… Is that to share a passionate last moment? Isn't three hours a bit short? Three days and four nights would be more fitting.
Maybe she didn't have the power to make a poison that kills after that long.
"If you give me more time, I can prepare five more useful medicines."
"This is enough. I won't remember them all if there are more."
"Master…"
Seeing Peridot fidget nervously, I teased her.
"Why, are you worried about your beloved Master?"
"Yes…"
Huh? Why did she agree to that? To think she was so worried about her perverted Master...
"The Devil's District is dangerous, Master."
"I know, but I have to go."
"Shall I come with you?"
"No, Peridot. You need to protect the workshop."
"…I understand."
"I trust you, Peridot. I know you won't run away even if I'm not here."
Peridot's eyes narrowed slightly, as if offended.
Kuh, so cute!
"I would never abandon Master and run away."
"Are you mad?"
"I'm offended that you think so lowly of me."
"I trust you, Peridot. How can I die when you're waiting for me?"
"If you just stay like this…"
"…"
"If you stay like this, Master will become a famous trainer invited to other districts. As long as you don't try to touch Lady Raven…"
"You want me to stay put in the workshop?"
"I-I apologize. I shouldn't have said such presumptuous things…"
Peridot is right. It's a loyal retainer's duty to stop their master from doing something foolish.
"But… I have to go, unless there's a chance Ariella will come here."
"Why go so far?"
"Even if I had all the women in the city, it means nothing without Ariella."
Was that too cheesy? My cheeks warmed a little.
"…Then I will… I will protect the workshop until Master returns, as you commanded."
"Where's Cecil?"
"Senior said she would wait in her room until Master returned."
As I opened the door, Cecil, curled up in a ball, raised her cat ears and sat up.
"Oppa!"
"I'm back, Cecil."
"Where did you go?"
"I had some work to do…"
I hugged Cecil tightly as she ran to me and said again,
"I'm going to the Devil's District now, Cecil."
"I'm going too!"
Should I take Cecil with me? It would be reassuring to have her along. But I didn't want to put her in danger. And I felt bad leaving Peridot and Calissa alone at home.
"Can you stay home and protect the house, Cecil?"
"No."
I flinched. It was rare for Cecil to be so serious.
"You want me to wait here safely while you go to a dangerous place?"
"Cecil… protecting the house is important…"
"I don't want to be protected by you, Oppa."
"…"
"I want to be helpful to you!"
"Protecting the house isn't helpful?"
"Well, it is, but…"
I gently stroked Cecil's back.
"Ah…"
"Don't worry. You're our house kitty no matter what anyone says."
"…I've only ever worried about not being abandoned by Oppa."
"Cecil?"
"As long as I wasn't abandoned… As long as I could stay by your side, I was content. But now, that's not enough."
"Not enough?"
"I want to receive your love, Oppa. I want to be praised for a job well done!"
"What does that have to do with coming with me?"
"It has a lot to do with it…!"
Cecil clung to me. I gladly hugged her and gently rubbed her fluffy cat ears.
"Ahhn…"
Cecil nuzzled her face against my chest.
"I want to share the same goals as you, Oppa, and live my life thinking about them together with you."
My heart skipped a beat. It felt like a proposal.
"Cecil, my goal is…"
"Yes!"
"To get my hands on the best breasts in the world."
"…Breasts?"
"Understand?"
Cecil turned her head away.
"It might take some time to process…"
"See? How can I share my goal with you?"
"If I try hard, I can!"
"Tell me, why are you so anxious?"
"I feel like my role is shrinking…"
"You're helping Peridot, aren't you? With cleaning and such?"
"She doesn't ask me to help anymore after I broke a few expensive vases. And I don't know how to do bookkeeping."
"You're a good cook, aren't you?"
"Peridot is better at that too…"
I see. She lost the chef position as well. It makes sense that the more skilled person takes the lead.
Our kitty must be feeling a bit left out.
What Peridot can't do but Cecil excels at is fighting. It must be hard for her to be seen as a non-combatant here.
"So, shall we go together?"
"Yes!"
I changed my mind. It's wiser to worry about myself than to worry about robbers breaking into the Milf Hunter workshop, which has the backing of the governor and the Chartreuse family.
It's obvious when I think about it, but I said something strange at first because Cecil is cute.
Cecil, who is smaller than me, soft all over, and has big, beautiful breasts. Even though I knew she was stronger than me, I didn't want to take her to a dangerous place.
That's why I said those things.
I didn't realize Cecil wanted to look ahead with me and move forward together. I just thought of her as someone to protect and tried to keep her close.
"I won't say anything strange anymore. Protect me, Cecil."
"I'll protect you with my life!"
"Not with your life. Let's run if it's dangerous."
"Can I ask you just one thing, Oppa?"
"What?"
Cecil pressed her hand against her chest as if it might burst.
"Do you really have to go find those breasts? I have breasts too…"
I silently buried my face in Cecil's chest.
"You like Cecil's breasts?"
"I do…"
My intelligence is fading thanks to Cecil's boobs. Cecil giggled and hugged me with her breasts.
"Oppa's goal, achieved!"
"Achi… eved…"
I've gotten my hands on the "best breasts in the world"!
Fanfares played in my head, and drool dripped from my mouth.
"Should we go to bed and do some more boob-chu ♥ boob-chu ♥, Oppa?"
"Gghhh!"
No! I can't give in to temptation! I struggled to get away from Cecil.
It wasn't just that she was clinging to me—it was literally impossible to escape without a fight.
Fearsome are the boobs!
"They have to be the best breasts in the world!"
"Aren't all breasts the same?"
"No!"
"HMm…♥ Peridot's breasts were big and soft…"
"You wouldn't understand, being a woman, so there's no need to think too hard about it."
"Hmm? Hmm?"
Cecil tilted her head. She seemed confused about how my goal was different from the boob service she had just given me.
I decided to hold Cecil's hand and head out before I started getting confused myself.
"Let's go, Cecil. It's been a while since we went out together."
"Ehehe, I'm happy!"
"Let's go buy some weapons!"
"Let's go!"
We headed to Hephal's blacksmith shop.