Ai was still spooning porridge into her mouth and occasionally shoving one into Shiki's mouth, feeding him.
"You can stop now, kitten." Shiki asked, his voice gentle.
"Don't worry. Their is meat too." Ai replied, smiling toward him.
"Kitten, you're too stubborn." Shiki nodded.
"Ohhhh... My, my,"
The honey dripping voice was instantly recognisable. The busty maid maid from earlier has returned, and instead of taking their order like earlier, she took a sit beside Shiki, close enough that Shiki could smell her perfume.
"Enjoying your mean, Master?" She purred, leaning just enough for her ridiculous cleavage to make an entrance.
Shiki didn't even flinched, but his brain was screaming, *Fuck... The random character generator I build is wild. Those bahamut are too good to be true.*
He sat back, letting her talk, but his thoughts were running. *And the thinking ability I installed in them is working too damn well… I mean, I noticed it during the fight earlier. Those idiots had willpower, instincts, but nothing close to Ai. Still… this one's too smooth to be an accident.*
"Yeah... It's delicious." Shiki replied, glancing toward Ai, who had this ridiculous pout on her face, as if she would combust.
"Glad to hear that." She purred. Then she leaned in, her voice went sultry, "Name's Eline. You'd?"
"Shiki." He replied, with a smirk look.
"You can ask anything of me, Master Shiki." She said, like she was tasting it on her tongue, "You have handled yourself earlier. Very commanding."
Inside Ai's had, she was screaming, *Hey... Leave him alone. He is mine. You god damn cleavage woman. Shameless cleavage.*
Her fingers — painted nails, soft touch — ghosted over his hand where it rested on the table. "I like a man who can protect me."
Shiki gave her a lazy grin. "Careful. I might start charging."
"Oh? And what would that cost me?" Her eyes sparkled.
"Depends how much trouble you're planning to cause," he shot back, smirking.
Eline chuckled low in her throat, leaning forward again — this time letting her chest practically brush his arm. "Mmm… you'd be surprised what I can make a man… handle."
Ai's spoon paused halfway to her mouth. Her eyes were locked on that hand, her hand, touching Shiki's.
And then it happened. Eline placed her hand fully over Shiki's, slow and deliberate, like she was marking territory.
Ai slammed her spoon down so hard the porridge splashed. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
The sudden outburst turned a few heads in the bar. Shiki's brows arched slightly, but he didn't move his hand.
Eline's lips curled into a smirk. "Oho… your girlfriend's getting jealous."
Ai's blush was instant, burning from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. "Wha—?! I—! Shut up! I'm not just—" She stopped mid-denial, glaring at Eline with a spark that could set alcohol on fire. "…Actually, yeah. I am more than that. So get your hands off him!"
Shiki blinked.
"Ohooo... Preety bold. But you know..." Eline smirk deepened, turning her gaze toward Shiki, "Jealousy's another's way of saying, you cares."
Ai's tail, of she had, would had been lashing so hard it would trample chairs, "I do care, idiot. He's mine–" Ai froze, realising what she had said.
"Yours? Huh, kitten," Shiki smirked, his grin widening.
Ai whipped her head toward him, eyes wide. "D-don't twist my words, Shiki!"
Eline, clearly having the time of her life, just sat back and crossed her legs slowly. "Mmm… I like this little lover's quarrel." She winked at Shiki. "You're lucky. Most men come here alone and drunk. You? You've got someone willing to fight for you."
Ai made a noise somewhere between a growl and a squeak. "I'm not fighting for him—"
"Sure you're not," Shiki said under his breath, amused.
"I HEARD THAT!" Ai snapped, slamming her palm on the table again.
The bar patrons were watching now like it was a free stage play. Someone even whispered, "Ten silver says the young girl wins."
Eline reached out like she might touch Shiki again — but Ai's hand shot out and caught her wrist midair.
Eline raised a brow. "Oh? Feisty."
"You have no idea," Ai said flatly.
The air between them was charged now. Ai glaring, Eline smiling like she was poking a tiger with a stick just to see what would happen.
Shiki, meanwhile, leaned back in his chair, watching them both like he was settling in for a good show. "You two done, or should I start selling tickets?"
Neither answered.
Eline finally chuckled and pulled her hand back. "Alright, alright… I'll behave."
"Good," Ai said, still glaring.
"For now," Eline added with a wink.
Ai's glare intensified, but she went back to eating her porridge in quick, irritated bites, cheeks still red.
Shiki just smiled faintly, resting his chin on his palm. *Yeah… I built this world too well.*
---
Ai pushed her empty plates with a satisfied little sigh. Cheeks still puffed from the earlier maid incident. She had eaten fast, like she wanted to leave this as soon as possible.
"You had you fill?" Shiki asked, smiling.
"Mmm..." Ai didn't even looked up at him, still sulking.
"Good, wait here."
"Wait for what?" She blinked, finally speaking to him.
Shiki was already walking toward the counter, "Gotta pay the bills before they think we're dine and dashing on then" He said, smirking.
Ai stick her tongue out at him, but remain seated.
---
At the counter, Shiki slid a couple of coins over. The old man behind it counted, nodded, but before he could say anything... Someone stood beside him.
Eline.
"Leaving already?"
"Yep." Shiki replied.
"Shame." She leaned against the counter beside him, arms folded, which, given her chest, was basically a weaponized pose. "I was hoping you'd stick around. Maybe… let me buy you a drink?"
Shiki chuckled under his breath. "You trying to rob me of my silver or my dignity?"
Eline smirked. "Why not both?"
He glanced at her, eyebrow raised. "You don't quit, huh?"
"Not when the hunt's good." She leaned a little closer, voice dropping. "And you, Master Shiki, are a very… interesting catch."
He had to bite back a grin. *God, I really did make these random NPCs too damn good.*
Instead of biting, he asked, "You know where the nearest inn is?"
Eline tilted her head, smirking like she'd just been given a private password. "Mmhmm. Two streets down, turn right at the fountain with the lion statue. You can't miss it."
"And the guild?"
She tapped her chin. "Straight past that same fountain, three buildings down. Big sign, noisy crowd, you'll hear it before you see it."
"Thanks," Shiki said.
---
From across the room, Ai had been watching the entire thing, eyes narrowed, lips pursed, hands gripping the edge of her seat.
She could not hear them but she could see them. And every second that maid's stupid… everything leaned closer to Shiki, Ai's mood got stormier.
Finally, she'd had enough.
Ai got up and marched toward them, her boots thudding against the wooden floor. Shiki glanced over his shoulder just in time to see her coming pout set, brows knit, the kind of look that said you're in trouble but I'm not gonna explain why.
Without a word, Ai came up beside him, hooked her arm through his… and not just hooked. No, she yanked his arm right up against her chest, pressing it in like she was trying to fuse him into her ribcage.
Shiki almost choked. "The hell—?"
Her pout went wilder. She didn't look at him, just tugged him toward the door like he was luggage she'd decided to carry off.
Eline stood there, biting back a laugh. "Ohhh, someone's not letting you out of her sight, huh?"
Shiki just smirked over his shoulder. "Guess not."
Eline gave a playful little wave. "Come again, Master~."
"Maybe," Shiki called back, letting Ai drag him.
"Not maybe!" Ai barked without looking at him. "We're not coming back!"
Eline just laughed, loud enough for half the bar to hear.
Shiki leaned toward Ai as they stepped outside. "You gonna tell me what that was about, or do I have to guess?"
"Guess," she snapped.
"Jealousy?"
Her cheeks turned scarlet instantly. "N-no! I just—she was—ugh, shut up!"
Shiki grinned, letting her pull him along toward the fountain. "Mmhm. Sure, kitten."
---
END OF CHAPTER : 10 : JEALOUSHY SERVED WITH PORRIDGE!
---