Chapter 5: Ryuu Becomes Prisoner Number Two
Ryuu, who had originally planned to retreat and devise a long-term strategy, stared in shock at Syr who had suddenly blocked her escape.
The gray-haired girl gazed with complex emotions at this elf who should have become her good friend. Unfortunately, Keyaru's appearance had left Syr with no patience to slowly play her nurturing games with Ryuu...
"As expected of Ryuu~"
"You claim to have cast aside justice and such, but when something happens, you still charge forward without hesitation. You should know Mr. Allen could easily take your life... How cunning~"
The green-haired elf wanted to explain, but Syr—unwilling to let Keyaru escape because of Ryuu's actions—waved her hand right in front of the elf.
Instantly, a tall and powerful figure joined the cat person behind Ryuu, blocking her escape route from both front and back...
"Ottar..."
"Syr, you..."
...
Five minutes later, in the dark, cramped basement.
Blue eyes and black eyes stared at each other.
Unlike the level 1 Keyaru, the green-haired elf's future best friend Syr had thoughtfully prepared an orichalcum handcuff and shackle set for her!
Even if Ryuu were only Level 4, even a Level 6 adventurer wouldn't be able to escape without special skills!
One must understand that orichalcum is typically used to craft "indestructible" attribute equipment for first-class adventurers!
Seeing Ryuu still dressed in her waitress uniform, Keyaru knew she probably never considered the possibility that Syr would move against her...
"How should I address you..."
"Miss Ryuu? Miss Gale? Or perhaps prisoner number two of the perverted Lady Syr?"
Pausing for a moment at Keyaru's words, Ryuu felt muscles in her face that had been stiff for years begin to loosen.
"Pfft..."
Ryuu was astonished that Keyaru's brief remark had drawn out a smile she hadn't shown in ages, but she knew now wasn't the time for laughter!
"Are you even aware of the severity of the situation, Mr. Keyaru?"
"Your current mental and physical condition is terrible. You need to get out immediately for treatment!"
"And one more thing..."
"Where exactly have your eyes been wandering since earlier?"
Her tone turned icy cold when she spoke the last sentence!
Unfazed by Ryuu's chilly tone, Keyaru softly explained:
"I wasn't looking at your face, just at your chapped lips..."
"You've been working hard on investigations these past few days, haven't you? Although Lady Syr told you that the evil Mr. Keyaru has inherited the Evil God Asmodeus's qualities, you didn't believe her, Miss Ryuu. So you must have been investigating on my behalf during this time!"
"And today, right after finishing your investigation without even taking time to rest, you rushed straight here. Did God Asmodeus commit another evil deed?"
Ryuu looked at the logically coherent Keyaru with complex emotions. Despite being in such a weakened state, he still found time to worry about her situation...
"Well, don't misunderstand, Miss Ryuu. If not for your current appearance, I wouldn't care about you at all!"
Ryuu, who had just started thinking Keyaru might be a good person: ???
After a long silence...
"You're quite frank, Mr. Keyaru..."
"But as an elf, I don't particularly dislike that quality!"
"I think I might have guessed why God Asmodeus would accept Mr. Keyaru into his Familia!"
Keyaru grew curious at Ryuu's words. What good deed had that damned god done now? And how did it involve him...
"God Asmodeus—that seemingly refined, somewhat handsome deity—openly invited a beastkin woman who already has children... for doing p-perverted things in front of the fried potato ball stall on North Street that day!"
Stammering through the rest of her words, the elf's flawless fair face was now completely covered in blushes.
After all, such matters were far too stimulating for a race known for their purity!
"So what happened next?"
Keyaru was somewhat curious. Such an unreasonable invitation shouldn't have been accepted, so would the rejected Evil God resort to force?
"Then, as expected, he got slapped. Still unwilling to give up, he tried approaching another married woman. Surprisingly, the next woman agreed... and then God Asmodeus was arrested by the Ganesha Familia for disturbing the peace..."
Hearing the shocking news brought by Ryuu, Keyaru's mouth twitched repeatedly.
This was undoubtedly an Evil God. Spending all day promoting such bad behavior on the streets of Orario, publicly attempting to seduce married women—this was truly outrageous even in the medieval-style DanMachi world. Even Ishtar, the Goddess of Prostitution, paled in comparison...
Most importantly, this guy must have caused plenty of trouble during Orario's Great War period. So it wasn't strange that the angry Guild labeled him an Evil God... though Keyaru was the one who ended up suffering.
Closely observing Keyaru's reaction, Ryuu noticed he showed no signs of grievance, nor any indication of falling into despair because of it. This made the elf lady feel increasingly guilty.
After all, the proposal to imprison Keyaru was originally a decision she had reached together with Syr...
Her cool eyebrows furrowed tightly. Overwhelmed by immense guilt, the elf lady spoke without thinking in her eagerness to make amends:
"Are you thirsty, Mr. Keyaru..."
"I brought you a drink made by Mama Mia earlier. Let me feed it to you!"
With these words, Ryuu reached for the drink she had casually placed before Keyaru before being restrained, but...
The substantial quality of the Orichalcum made it difficult for Ryuu's hands to exert any force. The clinking sound of metal chains echoed through the basement. Realizing her hands were already shackled, the green-haired elf paused for a moment, her beautiful blue eyes awkwardly turning toward Keyaru.
"They say elves are the most trustworthy. So how will you feed me, Miss Ryuu?"
"Are you going to break your promise?"
As he spoke, Keyaru used his unshackled hand to open what appeared to be the elf's personal cup and brought it before Ryuu.
In her daze, Ryuu lifted her snow-white neck and inexplicably took a sip of the still steaming drink.
And at that moment, Keyaru shamelessly leaned in towards her, his movement swift and disarming.
But instead of taking the cup from her hands, he moved his face towards her and sealed her lips with his.
Ryuu's eyes widened instantly from the heat of his lips on hers, and a soft, muffled sound escaped Ryuu's throat.
But with the oricalcum handcuffs binding her hands from moving, she couldn't do anything except close her eyes and try to push him back.
Keyaru used his tongue to pry open her lips, and the drink made by Mama Mia flowed from her mouth to his.
The pure elven maiden, flushed from the first physical contact with a male in her life, was forced to feed him the drink she had taken in her mouth through their locked lips.
After a minute of drinking from her mouth greedily and feeling her soft lips and small tongue on his lips, Keyaru, seeing Ryuu about to faint from the lack of oxygen, released her lips and moved out of her reach to not get killed by her.
The moment their lips separated, the green-haired elf fixed a murderous gaze firmly upon the satisfied-looking Keyaru.
If not for the handcuffs and shackles restraining Ryuu, there was no doubt the green-haired elf would not hesitate to step forward and split Keyaru in two!
Wiping away the remaining glistening drops from the corner of his mouth, Keyaru narrowed his eyes with a satisfied expression.
Sensing the overwhelming anger from the person beside him, Keyaru spoke softly:
"You should feel better now... Miss Ryuu~"
"You don't need to feel guilty about locking me up here anymore. We can call it even between us~"
Like a gentle breeze brushing the strings of the heart, for some unknown reason, Ryuu seemed to see traces of the former Alise in Keyaru—the same scoundrel-like nature, the same method of guiding others in their own way...
However...
"I'll settle the score with this guy after we get out of here!"
Miss Ryuu thought to herself thus.