17. Recruitment (3)

Hans’s eyes gradually widen as we accidentally cross paths.

Of course he’d be surprised.

Running into a neighbor on the street who’s wearing dog ears and a tail, with a sign around her neck that says “Urine Leaker.”

As Hans’s eyes grow wider, the shame tormenting me swells in proportion.

A stinging pain rises in my chest while chills run down my spine.

For some reason, it feels strangely pleas-

“Hey, we should hurry, Jane. It’ll be hard to meet Marie once business hours start.”

I tugged at Master’s hand, urging her repeatedly.

The dangerous sensation I just felt-it’s better to forget it quickly.

In the end, the thing I feared happened.

“Hmm? Lily, wasn’t that boy’s name Hans?”

Jane had spotted Hans, who had been standing a short distance away.

Her lips curled ever so slightly as she alternated glances between me and him.

“Let’s hurry, Master.”

“Meeting outside is fate. We should at least greet him.”

Since when did you care?!

Her intention to tease me couldn’t be more obvious.

But I had no choice but to be dragged along by Jane.

As we got closer, Hans’s shocked expression became clearer.

And I could feel his gaze sweeping over me from head to toe again.

Regardless, Jane waved at Hans.

“Hello.”

“Gahk! H-Hello!”

Hans flinched when Master greeted him first.

Her cold expression made even a simple greeting feel like a threat.

I tried hiding behind Jane, but my master wouldn’t let this opportunity slip.

She forcibly pulled me in front of Hans.

“Lily should greet him too.”

“Ah, ugh… no….”

Twisting in shame, I covered my face.

But Jane was firm.

“Lily.”

Finally, I reluctantly made eye contact with Hans.

Half-heartedly waving my hand, I muttered:

“H-Hewwo….”

My eyes signaled:

I greeted you, now scram.

I’ll handle the aftermath.

The problem was that Hans was more oblivious than I expected.

And Jane had already read my expression before he could.

She immediately grabbed my tail and lifted it.

“Hyaaaah!!”

I shrieked and desperately pressed down my skirt.

I didn’t care if someone saw my panties.

I was terrified they’d figure out how the tail was attached.

Like a meerkat, I scanned my surroundings before glaring at the worst master in the world.

She was covering her mouth-to others, it might look like she was holding back anger.

But to me, it was clearly the face of someone struggling not to laugh.

“Are you laughing? You’re laughing right now? Grrr….”

“Something was stuck on your tail.”

“Liar!”

“It’s true.”

Barely suppressing her laughter, she held up both hands as if to prove her innocence.

Then she glanced sideways.

Unconsciously, my eyes followed her gaze.

There stood Hans, his face beet red.

This bastard, he’s still here.

A moment too late, it hit me.

“Ah.”

The lewd moan I just let out.

“Fuck my life.”

“Lily, language.”

No matter what Jane said, my mood was utterly ruined.

“Ugh, seriously….”

All I could do was crouch down and bury my face in my hands.

After briefly enjoying my misery, my wicked master spoke to Hans.

“Lily and I are eating out tonight. Could you let them know not to prepare dinner for us?”

“Y-Yes, ma’am!”

The sound of Hans scurrying away filled me with resentment.

You should’ve run away earlier….

After sulking for a while, Jane sighed.

She grabbed my wrist and gently pulled.

“Lily, we should hurry a little.”

“Let go. Bad master.”

“Once the Flower Garden opens, it’ll be hard to meet Marie.”

Those were the exact words I’d used when we first ran into Hans.

The only difference was that the speaker and listener had switched places.

And all my motivation had burned away.

“Don’t care, not interested! Hmph!”

If my dress weren’t a stain-prone yellow, I would’ve flopped onto the ground.

Though the hem was already touching the floor.

“Hmm….”

Jane looked down at me for a moment.

I resolved not to listen to whatever she said next.

I’d throw the biggest tantrum ever.

“Want to touch my breasts?”

“Yeees! Ah.”

My body reacted before my brain could stop it.

Springing up with both hands outstretched, I immediately felt embarrassed.

“Come here then.”

Fortunately, Jane picked me up without any conditions.

Her divine breasts naturally pressed against my stomach.

Ah, the boob press.

“Lily, drool.”

“Slurp.”

I barely managed to regain my composure from the devilish sensation.

Then, a strange feeling crept up from behind.

I smacked the back of Jane’s hand as it stealthily reached for my fluffy tail.

“Don’t touch my tail.”

“Looks a little loose.”

“It’s not loose!”

It’s not that flimsy to just fall off!

Swallowing her disappointment, Jane started walking.

After gauging her mood, I tentatively tried negotiating.

“Can’t I take off the necklace? It’s uncomfortable.”

“Why? Embarrassed? You are an Urine Leaker, aren’t you?”

“Gyahk!”

Of course, it didn’t work at all.

Fidgeting due to the awkward position, Jane immediately asked:

“Uncomfortable?”

“No. I’m fine.”

I shook my head vigorously, but Jane didn’t let it go.

“What? Need to pee or something?”

Seems she still wants to tease me.

“It’s not that.”

“Since you’re a puppy now, it’s okay if you pee yourself.”

“Keep this up and I’ll pee on Jane’s chest?”

“Hmm, I’ll stop.”

Only after my strong threat did Jane finally quit teasing.

Letting out a sigh of relief, I buried my face in her shoulder.

***

Despite saying we should hurry, we moved at a leisurely pace.

By the time we reached the Flower Garden, the sun was already setting.

One by one, lanterns lit up.

The streets gradually grew more vibrant.

The Flower Garden isn’t just the name of one brothel.

It’s a collective term for all the brothels operating in the commercial district.

Since their names are all flowers-Rose, Forget-me-not, Hydrangea-people lump them together as the Flower Garden.

The place where Marie works is called Forget-me-not.

“This should be it.”

We entered a building with a sign intricately painted with clusters of delicate blue flowers.

Inside, it was slightly chaotic, likely because they hadn’t opened for business yet.

But contrary to my expectations, the interior was clean, like a restaurant.

And not a single person gave us dirty looks.

Instead, they observed Jane and me with curious eyes.

Well, two women entering a brothel right after sunset is unusual.

“Oh.”

I let out an involuntary gasp.

The outfits of the girls staring at us were quite provocative, pleasing to the eye.

But I soon regretted it.

“Eek!”

Jane pinched my cheek and forced me to look at her.

Then, a neatly dressed man approached us.

He bowed politely to Jane.

“Welcome.”

Introducing himself as the manager, he led us to a private room.

We’re just here to see Marie-is this really okay?

Sinking into the plush sofa, the manager bowed again.

“Welcome once more, Archmage-nim. We’re honored by your visit.”

Jane currently has her hood up.

How did he recognize her?

Thanks to Jane’s hand stroking my head, the answer came quickly.

“Ah.”

I’m currently the only mixed-blood slave in the capital.

Meaning, I’m basically Jane Batory’s walking ID.

As Jane watched me solve the puzzle, she spoke.

“I heard the youngest here is friends with our little one?”

Though brief, the manager understood immediately and hurried out.

Before long, food arrived before the person we came to see.

Seafood, meat, and all sorts of drinks were laid out on the table.

The ladies who followed tried sitting beside us, but Jane’s intimidating glare sent them away.

“Seems it’ll take a while. Lily, you must be hungry. Eat up.”

“Master, you first.”

Jane picked up a fork and effortlessly sliced the steak in front of her-without a knife.

Instead of eating it herself, she held it out to me.

“Ah~.”

For a while, I obediently accepted whatever she fed me.

Once my hunger was somewhat satisfied, my attention shifted elsewhere.

Specifically, the alcoholic drinks the staff had served with extra care.

The blood-red wine in a crystal decanter.

Or the radiant amber whiskey.

-Gulp

I swallowed unconsciously.

And Jane noticed immediately.

“No.”

“Ah, why not…?”

“No.”

“Just a little….”

Tilting my head slightly, I widened my eyes as cutely as possible, pleading.

But it wasn’t enough.

“Do you not remember what happened last time you drank beer?”

“I turned into a dog.”

“Right. A dog… no, you puked on the back of my head.”

Ever since my body changed, my alcohol tolerance dropped-I got completely wasted after just a few glasses.

Still, it felt a little unfair.

“You said you forgave me for that already.”

“Yeah, I did. But that doesn’t mean I’m allowing you to drink.”

“Mean.”

“Do you want to turn into a dog again?”

“But I’m already a dog.”

Jane countered my protest by lightly tugging my tail.

“Getting cheeky again.”

“Ahhn, w-wait, don’t pull thaaat, ngh!”

Just then, the manager returned to the room.

Following behind him was a petite figure-I waved excitedly.

“This is Jessie, the youngest of Forget-me-not.”

But the girl who stepped forward wasn’t the Marie we were waiting for.

“Huh?”

Both Jane and I froze, and sweat beaded on the manager’s forehead.

Something was starting to go very wrong.