After receiving apologies once again from Kuduro-san and Koren-sama, and accepting them, several days passed.
Since then, Koren-sama’s behavior had calmed down, and we were finally able to fully enjoy sightseeing and shopping around Roukaku.
「Please come again!」
「Next time, I’ll give you a special service even if you come alone!」
「Sure! I’ll definitely be back!」
It was truly an amazing experience!!
「Kuduro-san, thank you so much. This was a wonderful place! Absolutely incredible!」
「No, no. After the trouble we caused you, this much is only proper. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed yourself.」
Enjoyed myself was an understatement, I was completely satisfied.
Of course! It’s a desert kingdom after all!
So naturally, they have belly dancing!
The dancers wore outfits that revealed their midriffs, with long skirts split high enough to show their beautiful legs.
Their chests were only barely covered, to the point where I worried that one strong movement might make everything visible.
Their dancing was mesmerizing, with graceful hip rotations that traced circles and artful movements of their swaying hips.
The sensual beauty of their forms, the elegance of their curves, everything was breathtaking.
And perhaps because this world’s version was a bit more daring than the one I knew, they didn’t seem at all bothered by the cloth barely holding their chests, even moving in ways that made them bounce more deliberately.
I don’t know the exact details of belly dancing back in my world, but their lively smiles and the heat of that sensual atmosphere created an intoxicating space I could fully appreciate.
And to top it off, I had the best seat, right in the front and center.
Perhaps because Kuduro-san, a high official of the kingdom, was my host, the dancers gave me extra-special attention, to the point where it felt like they were offering glimpses meant only for me.
I swore then and there, I would come back. Even if I had to use teleportation, I’d return on my own!
「And this time, no one scolded me for staring… this freedom, it’s been a while since I felt it…」
「Hoho. No matter how many beauties you keep company with, such pleasures must be enjoyed among men alone.」
This time, Kuduro-san had volunteered to act as my escort, so we could both fully enjoy the show as men.
Of course, I didn’t tell anyone where we were going, but when I mentioned that no one else could accompany us as guards, Shiro, Wendy, and Aina all fiercely protested.
However, after Koren-sama whispered something to them, they somehow accepted it.
The women, on the other hand, all went off shopping together.
I’d given them plenty of spending money, so I hoped they’d take the chance to enjoy some time together, just the girls, no interruptions.
After watching the belly dancing show, Kuduro-san and I decided to go shopping as well.
As expected of a kingdom famed for its jewels, the markets were overflowing with gemstones of every size and color, cut, uncut, and even raw stones still embedded in their rock.
Raw gems in particular were a gamble, which made browsing them surprisingly fun.
Since they weren’t yet polished, and their color, clarity, and size were still uncertain, it was a type of shopping that demanded a sharp eye.
Polishing raw stones might even be good practice for Mizera, so I figured I’d buy a few.
…Come to think of it, I’d been buying a lot of gems and ores lately. Probably an occupational habit by now.
Still, since no one else was around today, I could take my time and browse without worrying whether anyone was bored.
「Mmmmmm…」
「Oh? Are you appraising them, perhaps?」
Kuduro-san leaned over from the side, peering at the raw stones with me and joining in the fun.
He had recommended this shop himself, so the quality was guaranteed, but finding ‘the’ best piece among such fine stock was no easy task.
All the more reason to get serious about it!
「Hmm… this one!」
「Close, but not quite. The one next to it, that’s the better choice.」
Just as I made my pick, someone placed a hand on my shoulder and shot me down immediately… Wait. That voice was ‘female’!
But Kuduro-san was still right next to me.
「Wha!?」
Then I felt something soft pressing into my back.
This unmistakable sensation, boobs!? Whose, !?
I turned around, catching only a flash of skin and white fabric before my entire face was swallowed by softness.
My eyes, nose, and mouth were all smothered as a hand cradled the back of my head, pressing me deeper into the warm softness.
「Fufuun. Can you tell who I am~? Hehe.」
That voice… that size and feel…
No mistake, this had to be her!
Just as I tried to answer through the muffled bliss, the pressure lifted, and light returned to my world.
…A shame, really. I could’ve savored that moment a little longer.
「Hellooo there. Long time no see~!」
Before me stood a woman with flawless legs exposed by daringly short shorts, her toned thighs catching the light.
A bare midriff connected to a slender waist, and a cropped shirt held down by a belt just beneath her breasts, emphasizing both her cleavage and the narrowness of her waist.
Her sleeveless top exposed her shoulders and sides, with a deep neckline that was simple yet undeniably erotic.
Her shoulders and upper arms were bare, but her forearms were wrapped in cloth with wide cuffs that somehow made the lines from her armpits to her biceps seem to shine.
And the one who saluted me sharply after I’d taken my time admiring her from the bottom up was,
「Guide-san!?」
I was stunned to see her here, and she grinned mischievously, clearly pleased with herself.
Once I was sure it was really her, I gave her outfit another once-over from head to toe.
Her previous explorer getup hadn’t been bad, but considering her personality, this one suited her far better.
…Mainly in a ‘very’ suggestive way.
「Wow, you’re still as obvious as ever, staring like that. Yes, yes, it’s me! You remember! What a coincidence, customer-san!」
「It’s been a while! What brings you here?」
Of course I remembered.
There was no way I’d forget the feeling of being caught between those soft, plush thighs, different from Renge’s, but equally unforgettable.
Not to mention, she’d helped me quite a lot before.
「Same as always, I’m just working~. Kuduro-san, long time no see!」
「Indeed it has been. Are you here for a tour this time? Or perhaps another property?」
「A tour today! I made a bit of profit, so I was thinking of moving on to another country or city. I came here to buy some raw gems for trading, and just as I was leaving the belly dance show, I spotted someone interesting coming out! So, I signaled Kuduro-san to stay quiet so I could surprise you~」
Wait, they knew each other!?
Come to think of it, she was involved in real estate back in Yutopola too.
This guide really had connections everywhere.
「Huh? And where are your usual companions?」
「You mean everyone else? They went shopping, just the girls this time.」
「…I see. So today you’re here to buy gemstones for alchemy, then? That’s not a bad investment, but without good judgment, you might end up losing money instead of making it, you know?」
「I thought I had a decent eye for gems and minerals, but maybe not…」
「Fufu~ Experience is everything in this business. So! How about hiring me as your guide to make sure you don’t pick a dud? I’ll even teach you a few tricks for spotting quality stones. And since it’s only for half a day, I’ll give you a discount~」
With a hand pressed against her chest, which bounced softly as she smiled, Guide-san made her pitch with her usual confidence.
Her business sense was as sharp as ever.
Still, considering I wanted to get a few good souvenirs for Mizera, her offer wasn’t a bad idea.
「Alright, I’ll take you up on that.」
「Oh my, no haggling at all? You really are as generous as ever! Okay then! I ‘love’ customers who pay well! Would you mind adding a small service fee?」
Wasn’t this the VIP and nomination system?
Right, they’d set it up kind of like a cabaret club.
I already felt like I was getting VIP treatment, what with my face buried in her chest earlier, and since she was going to teach me how to judge gems, paying a bit extra seemed fair enough.
「Yeah, please take care of me.」
「Yay! You’re generous ‘and’ wonderful! I’m glad I gave you a little pre-service. Hehe. Since your companions aren’t around today, I could even give you a truly naughty kind of service, you know? Of course, it’ll cost extra!」
Guide-san pressed her chest tightly against my arm, making sure the view down her cleavage was perfectly framed as she looked down at me with a teasing smile.
Yeah, I knew exactly what she was doing, did it on purpose, but my eyes were still glued to the sight.
「Well… that might be a bit much…」
「Eh, but you went to see the belly dancers, didn’t you? How about an even ‘naughtier’ belly dance? Don’t you want to see ‘my’ belly?」
…Did she really just say ‘my belly’? What a dangerous phrase.
And hey, don’t tug on your shirt like that in the middle of the shop! Of course, my eyes are going to follow!
It’s not that I ‘don’t’ want to see, but… come on, think about the aftermath here. You know what I mean.
「Hehehe… now that your companions aren’t around, this is the perfect chance for revenge… If I can lure you into something indecent and trap you with my room arts, they’ll all be ‘so’ jealous… Last time, I almost ended up flashing my chest for free without any deal at all, so I’d say I’m owed at least this much.」
This girl didn’t even ‘try’ to hide her intentions.
Honestly, you’d think after what my group put her through last time, she’d have learned, but nope.
Still…
「Sorry, but I’m going to have to pass again.」
It hurts to say it, but…!
「Ehh!? You’re the guy who rebuilt a mansion ‘just’ for mixed bathing, and ‘you’re’ turning me down!? They’re not even here! You won’t get another chance like this! I’ll even give you a special rate with ‘extra’ service!」
「No, it’s not about the price…」
「Come on, a little fun while traveling is normal! Lighten up~」
「Well, um…」
Yeah, I get where she’s coming from.
Back in my world, having a little fling on a trip wasn’t unheard of… it wasn’t impossible, but still…
「Hmm… so you’re being faithful, huh? Even though you’ve got ‘so many’ women already, I don’t really see what you’re protecting there… This is frustrating. Mmm… alright then. As the ‘most special’ of all specials, it’ll cost a lot, but I’ll even throw in my first time, if you want?」
「…Huh? First time? What?」
What is this girl even saying, in more than one sense!?
Guide-san’s first time!? Wait, is she seriously offering ‘that’ for sale!?
「Ah, how mean. I really am still a virgin, you know?」
「You’ve got to be joking… You do all those services and, 」
「Oh, come on. When I say service, I mean ‘in dreams’. At my level, I can satisfy someone without ever touching them.」
That sounded amazing, so I asked for more details.
Apparently, she burns incense that makes people sleepy and puts them in an aroused dream state.
Then she whispers indecent words by their ear, and the rest just… happens naturally.
Of course, she explains everything beforehand and only does it with consent. It’s a rare experience, so she has plenty of willing customers.
In fact, many become repeat clients.
She did mention that once, a man tried to force himself on her after she’d refused him… I decided not to ask what happened to him after that.
Guide-san’s strong, after all…
「I may look like this, but I’m not cheap enough to let someone touch me so easily. Now, it’s a one-time thing, so it’s expensive, but it’s truly special. I don’t offer it to just anyone. How about it? You can think of it as a one-night mistake if you want.」
「Wait, what do you mean ‘how about it’… And calling your first time a one-night mistake isn’t okay! Also, why me in the first place?」
「I decided the moment I first saw you!」
「Right, right… and the ‘real’ reason?」
「Well, I didn’t want to fall behind my coworkers, and I don’t dislike you, you’re wealthy, you look good, you’re relatively young, even the hero like you, and if I think about the future, you’d be a good match. And also… it just kinda frustrated me.」
「At least you’re honest…」
「Hmm… this is educational…」
She confessed her motives so casually it almost felt refreshing.
And Kuduro-san? What exactly are you planning to ‘learn’ from this?
More importantly, who are you going to ‘tell’ afterward? I’d like to know that part too!
「Well, I do appreciate the thought, but…」
「Ah… how shocking… After all that talk, is that really how little I’m worth… sniff sniff…」
「No, no, that’s not what I meant. It’s just… I, uh, already did it yesterday…」
「Ahh… I see. So, you’re completely drained.」
…Not exactly, no.
But even if she’s calmed down a bit, I’m pretty sure tonight will be another round just to make sure there’s no opening for Koren-sama to show up…
「Ahem. Besides, I’ve taken it upon myself to act as your guard this time. Should anything happen… I’ll have to beat someone up again…」
「Ah… so you’ve had your share of terrifying experiences too, Kuduro-san…」
「And if anything happens, it’ll definitely get found out… If it does, I’ll sell you out, Guide-san.」
「Wow… I see. If I get caught at night… Hmm… Well, we’ll probably keep running into each other anyway, so… I guess I’ll have to give up for now and focus on appraisal.」
With distant eyes and a faint tremble of fear in them, Guide-san pulled herself together, took my arm, and pressed her chest tightly against it.
She hadn’t done that last time, so I guess this was part of the service now.
「I suppose I’ll give up ‘this time’. Still, next time, I’ll make sure to serve you well enough that you’ll ‘want’ to buy it yourself. Honestly, being turned down after offering that hurts my pride. I’ll definitely make you pay the highest price next time.」
There she goes again, saying things like that without hiding a thing.
She probably knew I could hear her too. When our eyes met, she gave me a smug little grin.
-0-
That night…
I parted ways with Guide-san early, then had dinner at the castle.
「Hm. You smell like another woman.」
「Yes. And this scent… I recognize it.」
「Yeah. If I remember right… from Yutopola…」
Yep. Busted immediately.
As expected from beastkins, those noses are ridiculously sharp.
I swore nothing indecent happened, but I confessed honestly who it was anyway.
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