Ch.36I’ve finished washing. Now it’s your turn to wash, young master.

“M-Master innkeeper. Are there no rooms available here either?”

“No, we’re fully booked.”

What kind of place is Ebisu Territory?

It’s a place crawling with hunters seeking to catch monsters.

Therefore.

Most people would pay in advance for a week or a month’s stay at an inn.

And since I had wasted time eating, there were even fewer rooms available.

I urgently reserved a room at the first inn and tried my luck elsewhere, but everywhere was fully booked.

With no choice but to share a room with Luna, I found myself in an absurd situation.

The plan to hunt early in the morning seemed to have gone out the window.

With a sense of resignation, I wiped the sweat from my forehead, and Luna fidgeted with her fingers before speaking.

“Brother, I don’t mind.”

‘That’s not it, I’m the one who minds.’ I barely managed to swallow those words before they escaped my mouth.

It’s not like we could sleep outside, so what choice did we have?

With no other option, I entered the inn room with Luna.

The air felt heavy.

And to make matters worse, there was only one bed.

Trying to maintain a nonchalant expression, I slowly unpacked my belongings in the corner.

“…Should I shower first?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

The atmosphere was definitely too suggestive to be just my imagination.

As soon as I heard the sound of running water, all kinds of thoughts flooded my mind.

I was a man, after all.

Since possessing this body, I hadn’t been intimate with anyone of the opposite sex, nor had I even had the opportunity.

But now.

A golden opportunity had presented itself.

Of course, the problem was that the person in question was Luna Brillhart, known as the epitome of crazy women in the novel.

‘Get a grip!!’

I slapped my face with both palms.

If I gave in to uncontrollable lust and did something rash, Luna might not just grab me by the ankle but could actually kill me.

Though I don’t usually believe in gods, I found myself repeating “Hallelujah” and “Amitabha” countless times to maintain my composure.

As I was clenching my molars, Luna’s voice reached my ears.

“Since it’s just the two of us, can I call you Young Master now?”

“…Ah, sure.”

“I’m done washing. It’s your turn now, Young Master.”

Even though her words were innocent, why did they sound so seductive…

I wondered if some “lewd ghost” had possessed my ears.

Eager to escape the situation, I grabbed a towel and looked up.

And then.

Having soaked her entire body in warm water, steam rose from Luna’s skin.

Though she could have gotten dressed, was she trying to seduce me? She covered herself with a large towel, revealing her snow-white shoulders and legs.

Damn it, damn it!!!

I prided myself on having experienced all the sweet and bitter tastes of life, but to think such sweetness would appear before me.

The “fellow” down below seemed to share my sentiments, growing heavy with desire.

Whoooosh-!

I turned on the water and concentrated on clearing my mind of distractions.

If it had been Elina, I would have pounced without a second thought.

If God exists, I wanted to ask why He was subjecting me to such a cruel trial.

‘She’s Luna.’

Yes, I admit it.

A moment ago, I was overwhelmed at the sight of a woman’s skin after so long.

Born as a man, wouldn’t it be stranger to remain indifferent in this situation?

I had to accept what needed to be accepted.

By acknowledging rather than denying, I felt a sense of relief.

This must be why people meditate, I thought.

Having completed my mental training, I confidently opened the bathroom door with a composed face.

However, an even greater challenge awaited me.

Luna had placed alcohol on the small wooden table and was waiting.

“What kind of drink is this?”

“Sir Jawil Wilson said to make sure to bring alcohol. He mentioned how much you enjoy drinking…”

That was only when I was at the pleasure district.

Drinking alcohol alone with someone of the opposite sex in a room is dangerous!!

But do you know what drove me even crazier?

The fact that I wanted to drink the alcohol on the table.

After such a physically exhausting day, I was craving a drink after my shower.

Tiiing-!

It felt like all the strings of reason I was holding onto snapped simultaneously.

With a “whatever happens, happens” attitude, I plopped down on the chair.

Clink-clink-!

Luna tilted her head as if wondering, “Am I doing this right?” as she twirled the transparent wine glass in her hand.

Now even that gesture seemed cute.

I must be going crazy—the memory of her saying “Lick it” was still etched in my mind, yet here I was finding Luna adorable.

Fearing my imagination would run wild if I didn’t engage in conversation, I adjusted my posture and spoke.

“How are your parents doing?”

“They’re doing well, thanks to you, Young Master.”

“Have they gotten used to living in the mansion?”

“Yes, they feel guilty just sitting around, so they’re now managing the mansion’s garden.”

“They don’t need to do that.”

“It’s alright. My parents have taken a liking to garden management.”

Perhaps because it was red wine, each time the glass was swirled, it felt like flames were dancing.

Was I drunk?

I was still far from my limit, though.

“Aren’t your parents worried about you taking up the sword after being a servant?”

“They were against it at first.”

“That’s how all parents with daughters feel.”

“But I persistently persuaded them.”

“Don’t you regret it now? You struggled a lot.”

“Absolutely not! Learning swordsmanship allows me to be with you like this, Young Master.”

Looking at her like this, she seems normal, but why does she occasionally go off the rails?

Does she possess the DNA of the murderous character from the original work?

As I became slightly tipsy, I was immersed in various emotions.

From possessing this body and saving Luna’s parents, to meeting Elina and being alone with Seri Familia during the earthquake…

I even had a confrontation with the Maiden recently.

By now, Ariella should have recovered and returned to Hong Hwa Ru.

But still.

Despite being a novel filled with crazy women, there’s no one normal except Elina.

Well, Elina wasn’t originally a character in the novel anyway.

“Yes, if you train diligently, many good things will come your way in the future.”

“Really?”

Luna looked at me with sparkling eyes.

I understood why they say people look prettier when you’re drunk.

Of course, knowing Luna from the original work made me keep my distance, but her face was undeniably beautiful.

In my previous life, I knew that looks weren’t everything, but it wasn’t easy to put that into practice.

Bluntly put, a face can be fixed, but a personality can’t, right?

Yet, I kept valuing appearances, perhaps due to being steeped in lookism.

But.

After possessing Selden Alphonse, many things changed.

As I mentioned earlier, in terms of looks, Luna Brillhart and Seri Familia were incomparably beautiful.

Even more so than I had imagined when reading the original work.

Yet, I wasn’t attracted to them.

After all, nothing is more precious than one’s life, right?

“Yeah, and listen to Leo a bit more too.”

“I’ve been listening well lately. I even rest during my free time.”

“Leo might be a bit rigid, but he’s deep inside. Follow him as you would me.”

Luna put down her wine glass and tilted her head.

“Why does it sound like you’re talking as if we’ll never see each other again…?”

There’s only about a year left until the monster wave.

When we safely endure it, the protagonist, Serion Raikers, will come.

Time really flies.

That’s why it’s good for both of us to prepare for some level of separation from now.

Especially in Luna’s case, I need to gradually clarify our relationship.

I gave a somewhat artificial smile to Luna, who looked worried.

“Life is unpredictable. Shouldn’t we always be prepared?”

“That’s true, but I want to be with you forever, Young Master.”

“I don’t want to part with people I’ve formed bonds with either.”

“I wish that could be true.”

Except for you…

No, except for Seri Familia too.

As we conversed, the “fellow” down below seemed to have calmed down a bit.

Thinking about it now, I almost made a grave mistake.

I never dreamed I’d get excited just from seeing a woman’s skin.

Luna raised her wine glass, requesting a toast.

With a gentle smile, I also lifted my wine glass.

“But aren’t you drinking? It seems like I’m the only one.”

“I’ll drink this time too.”

“Good, alcohol tastes better when shared.”

“That’s right.”

I hadn’t even consumed half of what I drank with Jawil Wilson at the pleasure district, yet I felt quite intoxicated.

I blinked my eyes several times to maintain my fading consciousness.

“Huh…?”

Was I seeing things? Luna seemed to be vomiting blood.

Swaying in my chair due to intoxication, I continued.

“A-Are you okay…? Suddenly, blood from your mouth…”

“It’s not blood.”

“Not blood? What do you mean…?”

“…It’s the red wine I just spat out.”

“W-What?”

Wondering if I had misheard, I blinked my eyes wide again, but my eyelids grew increasingly heavy.

My consciousness gradually blurred.

All I could hear was Luna’s soft voice in my ear.

“…It seems the drug is finally taking effect.”