"???"
What the hell?
Raul blinked awake, still tangled in soft sheets. The fog in his head began to clear, replaced by the aching emptiness in his body.
Ugh, my back... it's sore.
As a Level 4 adventurer, this was definitely a first. It wasn't the usual exhaustion from battle—it was something else entirely. A deeper, melting kind of fatigue born from... far more intimate exertion.
Then, all at once, the memories of last night came rushing back.
Not just the fragments from yesterday, but the parts that had been altered too.
"W–Wait, what the hell?!"
Raul froze. He couldn't believe it—he'd actually spent the night in the Pleasure Quarter. Worse, his first time had been with... an elf.
He dared a glance to his side. The beautiful elven woman was still sleeping peacefully, her face calm and serene.
"What do I do...?"
Raul had no idea how to handle this. He'd never been in a situation like this before—hell, he wasn't even sure what kind of situation this was.
"Wait, wasn't I supposed to be here delivering information for Lady Loki?!"
"So how the hell did I end up in bed with an elven courtesan?!"
His thoughts were a mess. He didn't know what to believe anymore. Yet the memories from last night were vivid, undeniable.
All he wanted now was to understand what the hell had happened.
But with the elf still asleep beside him, Raul decided it was safer not to move. He shut his eyes again, pretending to still be asleep.
"Mr. Raul."
A gentle voice called to him.
"Mr. Raul."
The second call finally pulled him out of his daze. He opened his eyes slowly—and nearly stopped breathing.
The elf beside him was awake, looking at him with a tired, slightly pale face. But even so, she looked even more beautiful than she had last night.
"!?"
Raul shot upright in a panic—only for the motion to yank the blanket down. The sheet slipped off the woman's bare shoulders, and his pupils dilated instantly.
"Pffft!"
Too delicate. Too pale. Too soft. Too much.
A rush of blood surged straight to his nose, spraying out in a crimson fountain.
Sure, he was technically an adult now, but that didn't mean he was ready for this. Especially when everything had happened in a haze. His body reacted on pure instinct.
And that reaction made the elven courtesan flinch in surprise.
"Mr. Raul!"
She moved toward him, but Raul quickly clamped a hand over his nose and waved her back. His eyes accidentally flicked down her body again—and that only made the nosebleed worse.
"W–Wait, wait, I'm fine! I'm fine!" he stammered, voice muffled through his hand. "Just... got a little too much heat built up, that's all."
He desperately averted his gaze, trying not to look anywhere dangerous.
The elf blinked in confusion, then followed his line of sight down—and when realization dawned, she chuckled softly.
"I understand. Mr. Raul, you can... handle it yourself."
Smiling faintly, she pulled the blanket up again, covering her bare skin.
It took Raul several minutes to finally stop the bleeding. He splashed cold water on his face, cleaned up, and came back looking sheepish. The elf sat quietly on the bed, cheeks faintly flushed.
"S–Sorry, I, uh... still don't know your name," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Lise. Lise Isilma."
"Miss Lise... about last night, we—"
"Mr. Raul," she interrupted gently, "since I came to the Pleasure Quarter and became a courtesan... you were my first client."
"!?"
Raul's expression froze. Shock, disbelief, and something dangerously close to joy flickered across his face.
Lise didn't seem surprised. She simply smiled—a small, sad smile.
"Mr. Raul doesn't believe me?"
"N–No, that's not it! I just... it's hard to believe. I mean, you're so beautiful, Miss Lise. I didn't think someone like you would ever—"
His words trailed off. His mind was still scrambled.
She wasn't just beautiful—she was an elf. Proud, elegant, untouchable. Elves were practically royalty compared to humans. For one to end up working in the Pleasure Quarter was unthinkable.
But the moment an elf entered that place, she could no longer carry her pride. And that lack of arrogance—that fragile elegance—only made her all the more irresistible to men.
Lise's smile didn't fade. "It's because I was special... that I was able to keep my purity until now."
"Or," she added quietly, "would Mr. Raul like to confirm it himself?"
Raul's face went crimson as he waved his hands frantically. "N–No! That's not—no need for that!"
Lise chuckled softly, then lifted the blanket. A dark, dried stain marked the sheet—definitely not from his nosebleed.
Raul froze, eyes wide. He stared at the mark, then at her tired but gentle face.
Did I... was I that rough?
"Mr. Raul," she said softly, "would you be willing to buy me?"
Her voice trembled ever so slightly.
Raul swallowed hard, then nodded without hesitation. "Miss Lise, I'll do it."
"Mr. Raul, you still have a choice," she murmured. "I'm far more expensive than you think."
He couldn't help but laugh weakly.
Yeah. He knew that already.
Her reddened eyes gave her away—she'd been crying. And Raul realized he'd just stumbled into something impossible.
Buying a courtesan's freedom wasn't unheard of in the Pleasure Quarter, but it wasn't easy either.
Still—this woman had given him her first time. An elf, of all people. How could he walk away now?
He knew it was crazy. Stupid, even. But for once, he wanted to be stupid.
"Don't worry," he said, straightening up. "I've saved plenty as a Level 4 adventurer."
He thought of the money he'd been hoarding for a Grimoire. Screw it—he'd use it to buy her freedom instead.
He quickly started dressing, tightening his gear with new determination.
"Miss Lise, get dressed too. Let's go see Lady Ishtar right now."
Watching him rush around with such earnestness, Lise's eyes grew wet again.
A courtesan's redemption—her release—was almost unheard of. And she, more than anyone, knew that.
Even if she'd kept her purity all this time... it wouldn't have mattered if fate hadn't sent Raul her way.
Because she wasn't free. She was one of Lady Ishtar's special projects—a tool, a pawn in the goddess's schemes.
Raul might think he was saving her... but she knew the truth.
She was only ever meant to be used against him.
I'm sorry, Mr. Raul.