Chương 95: A Night of Stories

"Heh. Maybe I am the protagonist," Cael said, folding his arms with a crooked smile. Wasn't someone loved by the world the protagonist of that world? Unlike the Re: Zero world, where blessings were everywhere, this world seemed to favor only him. Calling himself a child of fate might not be too much. At first, he had manifested that blessing only because he wanted the power of the Sword Saint. He had not expected so many additional benefits.

In the future, even when he had empty leaves on the Skill Tree, he could not consider only whether a Skill was strong. He also had to consider what kind of world that Skill could connect him to.

"Lord Cael, I am truly happy that you saw the sorrow in my heart. Meeting you has been a blessing for me. But Haruhime does not wish to trouble a stranger. I am sorry to refuse your kindness." Haruhime bowed politely. She was very fortunate. Today, someone she had never met had seen the sorrow in her heart and was willing to reach out. But she could not drag him into this. Just knowing someone wanted to help her already made her happy.

"Is that so? Then what if I buy your time tonight?" Cael asked, touching his chin with a smile. Haruhime looked surprised. His plan had already begun forming in his mind. Since he had decided to meet and save Haruhime, he would not let her continue suffering.

"Uh, Lili..." Cael turned, ready to receive Lili's expressionless gaze and jealous words. Then he froze. Lili, who had been standing behind him a moment ago, had vanished. No. He had focused so completely on the fox-eared girl that he had unconsciously ignored everyone else. This was a little bad. With Lili's personality, she would definitely report to Hestia. Tomorrow morning, Hestia's jealousy would spill over, and Cael would have no easy time. In the crowd, Lili marched away angrily.

"Lili knew it. Lili knew that if Lord Cael came here, something would happen." Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. She was angry, but she was still calm enough to think. Lord Cael's eyes had changed just now. They had become the same as when he saved her after she had been bullied. Gentle Lord Cael.

"Lord Cael, spend the night however you like. Hmph. You still wanted Lili to pretend nothing happened." At that moment, Cael had already been led by Haruhime to the rear building. The building followed Far Eastern style, similar to Yoshiwara in the Demon Slayer world, but taller, wider, and more luxurious. Haruhime held Cael's right hand with both of hers and led him into her room. Its layout matched what he remembered almost exactly.

"Then, Lord Cael, allow Haruhime to serve you tonight." Haruhime's cheeks gradually reddened. Looking at the masked boy, she felt a small disappointment, as if the favorable impression she had just built had shattered.

"Ahem. Wait. I am not here for that. I only came to talk with you. That is all. Nothing else." Cael's pulse quickened as the atmosphere grew ambiguous. To be honest, if someone asked him to solo Goliath right now, he would not blink. But this was Haruhime. She had once been one of his favorite characters. If he truly did something now, Haruhime would only obey. That went against what he wanted. It was not that he was being overly sentimental. He simply did not want to hurt someone he liked.

"Yes. That is all. I said I came to the Pleasure Quarter to broaden my horizons. Paying to chat with a Renard girl is worth it, right?" Cael folded his arms and smiled. Unexpectedly, it was not even that expensive. Fifty thousand valis was something he could earn with one casual trip through the Middle Floors. From now until Haruhime was rescued, he would buy her time every day if needed. He did not want other men being brought into this room. There were about two months until the next full moon.

That was enough time. More than enough.

"You truly are a mysterious person, Lord Cael." Haruhime looked at the masked boy, a new light in her emerald eyes.

"I am not keeping my distance because I despise you for being a courtesan," Cael said quickly.

"I just do not want to hurt someone."

"Yes, I know. Your clear eyes have already told me." Haruhime smiled when she saw Lord Cael suddenly panic like a child. He did not want to hurt someone. Lord Cael was very gentle.

"Then where should we start?" Cael sat cross-legged on the floor and looked toward the round window. Occasionally, Amazoness courtesans of Ishtar Familia passed along the wooden corridor outside. A branch heavy with cherry blossoms reached toward the window.

"Then may I ask first?" Haruhime knelt politely on a cushion and looked at the boy in the hyottoko mask.

"May Lord Cael remove his mask?" She was curious what kind of face hid beneath it. It must be a gentle face.

"That is fine. I wore it mainly because I was worried someone here might recognize me and a group of Amazonesses would rush at me." Cael removed the mask, revealing his smiling face. Haruhime's cheeks reddened slightly in the lamplight as she looked at him. He had worn the mask because someone from Ishtar Familia might have been present when Goliath was defeated. If he showed his face here, would Ishtar Familia really let a treasure who could supposedly raise an entire party's Level leave?

"Are you disappointed?"

"How could I be? Lord Cael looks as gentle as I imagined."

"Really? I am not sure."

"It is true."

"Then prove it, and I will believe you."

"Lord Cael is very good at teasing people." Neither of them knew that an Amazoness woman stood outside the door, arms folded as she leaned against the wall. She glanced through the gap and narrowed her eyes.

"Looks like Haruhime met a different kind of customer this time." Then her eyes widened slightly.

"That boy."