At night, there were only two kinds of places adventurers went in the Labyrinth City.
Taverns… and brothels.
Being an adventurer was never easy. Every day meant fighting monsters stronger than oneself, facing death head-on, and carrying the kind of pressure that could crush weaker souls.
Alcohol helped ease that weight.
And, of course, so did women.
That was why taverns and brothels had become two of Orario's defining features—and its most profitable businesses.
Taverns were mostly clustered around the city's entertainment districts, while the brothels were concentrated entirely within one area: the Pleasure Quarter.
Unlike the taverns scattered across the city, every brothel in the Pleasure Quarter fell under the management of the Ishtar Familia—a massive organization that had turned pleasure into an art form.
The streets came alive at night. Dozens of prostitutes lined the walkways, most of them amazonesses dressed in little more than strips of fabric that barely counted as clothing.
But the deeper one ventured, the more diverse the lineup became—beastmen, dwarves, even a few elves.
Dwarven prostitutes were rare. Their builds were often sturdy, even muscular, and few men shared that particular taste, which made their numbers small. Beastmen and Pallums, on the other hand, were far more common.
Beastwomen often had striking, almost exotic beauty—those animal traits only heightening the thrill for adventurers looking for something wild.
As for Pallum women, their small, youthful appearance appealed to customers with… "special interests."
And then there were the elves.
Elven prostitutes were rare—and ruinously expensive. Most elves would never debase themselves to such a trade, which only made the few who did all the more coveted. For the men who could afford them, they were treasures worth emptying their coffers for.
Naturally, the ones frequenting the Pleasure Quarter weren't just adventurers.
Plenty of gods came here, too.
Hermes was one of them.
By the time the streets were lit with red lanterns, he was already seated in one of the brothel-run taverns, a place where liquor and lust flowed hand in hand.
It was a large establishment. The first floor served as the main tavern hall, while several private rooms lined the side corridors.
High-class adventurers preferred it here—good alcohol, beautiful companions, and an atmosphere that whispered of luxury rather than sleaze.
"Lord Hermes, the man has arrived."
His captain's voice reached his ear just as Hermes was enjoying the view outside—watching one stunning courtesan after another parade past the windows.
His lips curved into a knowing smile. "Has Ishtar been informed?"
"Yes. The message was passed through one of her patron clients. Lady Ishtar should know by now."
"Excellent. Then let's see how our 'Extraordinary Man' performs tonight."
If this target truly was one of Loki's pawns, neither he nor Ishtar would let that slip past unnoticed.
But if he wasn't—then there was no way the man would leave the Pleasure Quarter without spilling something useful.
Either way, Hermes was looking forward to the show.
"Gulp…"
Raul Nord swallowed hard the moment he set foot in the Pleasure Quarter.
It wasn't his first time here—but every visit left him equally overwhelmed.
Everywhere he looked, amazonesses strolled past in revealing outfits, their bronzed skin gleaming under the lanterns. Each one drew his eyes without effort, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop staring.
That's weird. I don't usually find amazonesses that attractive.
So why tonight…?
Tiona and Tione were both prime examples of amazon beauty—perfect figures, fierce charm—but somehow, neither of them gave off this kind of raw, magnetic allure.
Raul had always liked mature, curvy women with gentle personalities. The brash, fiery nature of most amazonesses usually turned him off completely.
If he had to choose, Lady Riveria was far closer to his type. Beautiful, graceful, dignified… but also terrifying. Just picturing her stern expression instantly killed any trace of attraction. It'd be like having your mom glare down at you mid-fantasy.
What about elves…?
His gaze drifted—and stopped dead.
An elf woman was standing a few steps away, wearing little more than shimmering ribbons of silk that barely clung to her curves. Her smile was soft and seductive, her golden hair catching the lamplight as her slender body moved with deliberate grace.
Raul's throat went dry. Before he knew it, his feet were already moving.
"E-excuse me, are you… free tonight?"
The elf glanced at him, her smile blooming instantly.
"Would you like to buy me a drink, sir?"
"Y-yeah, that's… that's right."
"Wonderful~"
Her voice was like honey.
Before he could react, she slipped her arm through his and pressed herself against him.
Oh gods above.
Her perfume was light, barely noticeable—sweet, floral, intoxicating. The warmth of her body against his arm made his brain melt.
Raul had never experienced anything like this before. His heart pounded like a drum.
The elf courtesan led him inside one of the most expensive taverns in the entire Pleasure Quarter.
The proprietress—another voluptuous woman—greeted them with a sly grin.
"Well, well. Nice catch." She gave Raul a quick once-over, amusement flickering in her eyes, then gestured toward one of the private rooms. "Your usual's still open, but you know the price."
"Don't worry," the elf woman replied with a wink.
She tugged Raul along, leading him toward the secluded room.
The door shut behind them, sealing off the noise from the tavern outside.
Inside, the lighting was dim and golden, bathing everything in a hazy warmth. Shelves of fine liquor lined the walls. A spacious bath steamed quietly in one corner, and a large, heart-shaped bed dominated the center of the room.
Even for someone as nervous as Raul, the setup was almost dizzying.
"Th-this place…"
The elf courtesan smiled sweetly, amusement glinting in her eyes as she guided him to the cabinet.
"Mr. Raul, how about a drink to start with?"
"...Y-yeah. Sure."
She poured the wine with a slow, deliberate motion, and as the glasses clinked together, Raul had no idea that he had just walked straight into the trap.