In the Labyrinth City, night offered adventurers two destinations: taverns and brothels.
Adventuring was anything but easy. Facing powerful monsters in the Dungeon piled on pressure; alcohol could ease that weight—and so could women. Thus taverns and brothels had become Orario's twin nighttime fixtures and very profitable businesses.
Most taverns clustered along the city's bustling avenues.
Brothels, by contrast, were confined to the city's sole Pleasure Quarter, all unified under the management of the large, resident Familia there—the Ishtar Familia.
The streets of the Pleasure Quarter teemed with courtesans by night, most of them Amazoness. Deeper in, one could find many other races as well—humans, prum, dwarves. Dwarven courtesans were usually sturdier in build and not to everyone's taste, so they were relatively few. The most common were beastmen and prum. The former were often stunningly beautiful and bore animal traits that thrilled many adventurers; the latter, with their childlike bodies, catered to certain… particular tastes.
There were even elven courtesans, though rarely—elves seldom debased themselves so, and their scarcity made appearances exorbitantly expensive.
By nightfall the Pleasure Quarter drew not only adventurers but plenty of gods—Hermes among the regulars.
As dusk settled, Hermes slipped into a high-end tavern in the Quarter where courtesans kept patrons company. It was a sprawling place: a lively pub hall on the first floor with a wing of private rooms beside it. The scale, the quality of drink, and the caliber of the courtesans made the prices anything but modest—exactly why high-level adventurers favored it.
"Lord Hermes, he's here."
While Hermes admired the parade of gaudy beauties along the street, his captain's whisper brushed his ear, and the god's mouth quirked.
"Ishtar's side know?"
"It's already been passed along through one of Ishtar Familia's patrons. Lady Ishtar should be aware."
"Then let's see how our 'Extraordinary Man' performs."
If he was one of Loki's planted actors, he wouldn't slip past Hermes's or Ishtar's eyes. And if he wasn't—then the 'Extraordinary Man' wouldn't be leaving the Pleasure Quarter without letting something slip.
Either way, Hermes was very much looking forward to it.
Gulp…
The moment Raul stepped into the Pleasure Quarter, his eyes couldn't decide where to land. It wasn't his first time here, but every time he came, his gaze took on a life of its own.
One scantily clad Amazoness after another strutted along the street, each snagging his attention. Odd—he didn't usually find Amazoness that enticing. Why now?
His mind flicked, unbidden, to the two Amazoness sisters in the Familia, and his cheek twitched. Tiona and Tione were the peak of Amazoness beauty—yet to him they radiated pure "keep your distance." No tension at all. Raul preferred voluptuous figures and gentle, big-sister types; scrawny frames and prickly tempers did nothing for him.
Lady Riveria fit his tastes in figure, but one thought of that imperious, no-nonsense face and all interest evaporated—as if his mother had just stepped into the room.
Elves, then?
His darting eyes finally locked onto a provocatively dressed elf. A mellow, mature smile on a hot figure, wrapped in a courtesan's finery—Raul couldn't look away.
He stumbled closer. "E-Excuse me… are you free?"
The elf glanced over and bloomed into a smile. "Would you like to buy me a drink?"
"Y-Yes. That's right."
"Wonderful."
At his answer, her smile opened like a flower. She slipped her arm through his.
Oh my gods.
A faint perfume like a girl's own scent, the soft warmth of her arm—Raul, who had never truly tasted such delights, was instantly, utterly hooked.
She led him straight to one of the Quarter's priciest taverns.
The proprietor—a courtesan herself—looked up as they entered. "Boss, that room," the elf crooned.
"Oh? Nicely done."
The madam's eyes slid over the dazed Raul; a knowing smile flickered as she pointed to a vacant special suite. "It's still held for you. You know the price."
"Relax," the elf replied, flashing a quick hand sign before ushering Raul down the corridor.
When the door to the private room closed, the din of the taproom cut off entirely. The soundproofing was excellent. Under warm, dim lighting, cabinets along the wall displayed bottles of every sort. A surprisingly large bath gleamed to one side, and a heart-shaped bed waited invitingly beyond.
The atmosphere and amenities were both top tier—so much so that Raul's eyes went wide. "Th-This…"
Watching him go slack-jawed, the elf's gaze glinted. She guided him to the cabinet. "Mr. Raul, shall we start with a drink?"
"…Y-Yes. Yes."
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]