Ch.813rd Demon

# 81. Horse Number 3

“Lady Radaniya. Please speak.”

“Nyat?”

[Like this?]

“I can hear you clearly. I never thought I’d use this.”

“Nyaa…”

[That… you managed to get something like that.]

Danya nodded at what Damus had prepared. It was probably a tool that helped communicate with spirits.

Since she was a cat in appearance but Radaniya in essence, he must have thought that instead of interpreting cat meows, he could communicate directly with her spirit.

Truly a fortune-teller’s way of thinking.

“Lady Radaniya. Since we don’t have much time, I’ll be brief. Your benefactor’s path ahead is, to put it kindly, an adventure, or to be blunt, deliberately putting himself in harm’s way. Perhaps in the past it wouldn’t matter, but are you alright with this now?”

“Nyaa. Nyaaaa.”

[What are you saying? It’s fine. He can overcome and grow. And those females seem quite strong too.]

“They are outsiders. Not simply foreigners, but outsiders who suddenly appeared from beyond the sky, from an unknown place.”

“Nyat. Nyaaat.”

[Not to brag, but I led countless of my kind against the Albs and built a city at a young age. I trust my eyes and instincts.]

*Thank you for your concern.*

Damus couldn’t speak for a moment after Danya’s words. Yes. He was just someone who could peek at others’ affairs, not comparable to someone who had seen and experienced countless people firsthand.

It was her choice, her adventure.

He shouldn’t cross that line.

“If the moment comes when your benefactor returns to his homeland, you, whose spirit and body are bound to him, might have to leave this place forever. Would you be alright with that?”

“Nyaa…”

[Hmm, that’s…]

Danya pondered, but her contemplation wasn’t brief.

“Nyat! Nyaaat!”

[It’s fine! What can I do if it’s not? It’s already happened.]

“Lady Radaniya.”

“Nyaa. Nyaaa.”

[It’s fine. I have no regrets. I’m very happy now. And I will be in the future too.]

Damus nodded quietly.

If she said she had no regrets and was happy, what more could he say? Her fate was already bound to her benefactor’s, so there was nothing more to discuss.

Damus sensed it.

That this would be the last time he would be with her.

So before the tool’s lifespan ended, he would say what he had kept in his heart all this time.

“Lady Radaniya.”

“Nya?”

[Yes?]

“All Ayors will never forget your name and your achievements for eternity.”

“…”

“Though I’m not a representative of Ayord… truly, truly, thank you for all your hard work.”

*Whoosh—*

Just then, the tool’s lifespan ended, and Damus couldn’t understand Danya’s response.

But it was enough.

True feelings could be conveyed through the eyes as well.

**

Apart from the first warning, I was a bit more careful with word choice for the second warning, but since what the fortune-teller told me wasn’t very long, it didn’t take much time to relay. But my companions’ expressions all turned strange after hearing what I said.

“That’s… what it meant…?”

“Insane.”

“…Ha.”

Seeing their reactions, it was only natural that I became curious about their fortune results too. So I carefully asked if they could tell me, but…

“That would be… difficult.”

“Hmph!”

“Just forget about it.”

They were united in this, leaving me feeling wronged. Especially Soyu, who listened attentively to my story but then backed away without answering—it was really annoying, but… I was someone who could read the atmosphere.

*Don’t ask anymore*

Unless I casually asked them over drinks on a good day, hearing their fortune results would remain a distant possibility.

‘Sometimes they say ignorance is bliss.’

I made a gesture of compliance to the unspoken pressure. I could feel the pressure gradually fading.

‘Sigh… but I’m still curious, so I’ll try to probe later. Maybe Seyeon has the highest chance?’

And so, domestic peace—no, what am I saying—the peace of our party was preserved for another day.

**

After leaving the fortune-teller’s, we explored many places. Some were exactly like the game, some were slightly different, some were very different, and some, like the fortune-teller’s place, weren’t implemented in the game. Comparing while exploring doubled the fun.

We tried street food and watched street performances. Not everything tasted good, and not everything matched our taste, but experiencing new things itself was fascinating and enjoyable.

Besides, excluding the unpleasant incidents we experienced at first, the Ayors were quite a spirited race. Should I say I felt a Korean-like enthusiasm from these unfamiliar furries?

After enjoying ourselves thoroughly, we returned to the inn when it was almost night.

“Ah~ That was fun. How was it for everyone?”

“I had fun too! Feels like I properly enjoyed myself for the first time in a while?”

“Not bad. Maybe because the race is different, it felt different from foreign cities.”

Fortunately, the reviews were positive. Actually, when we were in Edengard, it was just Seyeon and me, and being penniless and anxious, I was mainly focused on earning money efficiently and leaving. Naturally, there was no room for enjoyment.

Albrant?

Need I say more?

Though I admired the breathtaking scenery, I was stressed by the hostile beings, and leisurely exploring the city was out of the question.

In other words, it was only after coming to the 3rd floor, Ayord, that we experienced a proper isekai for the first time. Purely, excluding games, strategies, and combat.

“It feels like we’ve seen less than 25 percent, but we’ve covered almost all the important points, so you know what it feels like, right?”

“Yes. It doesn’t seem like there will be any issues here either.”

“Ugh. I just want to skip through cities without any quests.”

While the purpose of this excursion wasn’t purely for rest, we needed to discuss future plans immediately, but…

“One thing before that. Let’s think only about going up, not moving between floors, okay?”

“I agree. It’s better not to create the possibility of taking on new problems. Unless other parties catch up to us, I don’t see enough advantage in us actively looking for ways to go down.”

Despite the advice from the fortune-teller, our stance remained unchanged.

“Okay. Delete the half-Alb quest series from the list. Then, sorting the rest in order of priority…”

“Subin. It’s late, so let’s let the others rest.”

“Ah. Um. Right. That’s true.”

This is usually what the leader does. I didn’t want to teach the concept of overtime and night shifts to young kids just yet. As for Soyu… let’s call it senior citizen benefits. The party members, knowing we wouldn’t be contradicted, nodded in agreement.

Afterward, like last time, I brought Subin to my room and finalized the checklist version after discussing for over an hour.

“Hey. Ban Sunghyun.”

“Huh?”

“Others might not have understood or might have been uncertain, but not me.”

“What’s this suddenly?”

“Your fortune. Your seven wives.”

“Pfft-!”

While stretching to relieve my stiff body after finishing, Subin suddenly caught me off guard.

“Ah, no. The fortune-teller didn’t say it like that?”

“She might not have said it directly, but it’s obvious. You know it too, that’s why you phrased it that way, so don’t play dumb.”

I closed my mouth. It’s best to avoid arguments with Subin whenever possible.

“Can such coincidences really exist? All six party members being women.”

“What? All six are women? Wait, how did you even know that—”

“Yes, yes. That’s what surprises you. The important thing is that the fortune-teller told you seven. So here’s the question: even if bad boy Ban Sunghyun makes all the remaining party members his, that’s only six. Who could the seventh be? I’m really curious.”

“Hey, hey. I’m really curious too.”

No way. That really can’t be it.

“I’m not usually one to believe in prophecies or fortunes, but being one of the three women already, I can’t help but be concerned.”

“Hey, hey. I know this kind of talk is funny, but I have no intention of adding more!”

“No. You can add as many as you want. If it benefits the party.”

Subin lightly flicked my nostril.

“Ban Sunghyun.”

“Yes, speak.”

“The kiss we shared. How was it?”

“…Suddenly?”

“Just answer.”

Subin loaded her finger again. I wouldn’t die from getting hit, but seeing my face gradually turning red, I felt I’d be in big trouble if I didn’t answer and ran away.

“It’s very embarrassing to express in words.”

“Quickly.”

“It was soft. The softest in the world.”

“……”

“What about you?”

“I actually don’t remember it well. I wasn’t in my right mind.”

“Hey. Say something that makes sense. You expect me to believe that Eun Subin, of all people, doesn’t remember?”

“That’s how… shocking it was.”

Subin moved her finger and gently brushed my lips.

“It was my first.”

“Mine too.”

“The next one, and the one after that. They’ll be my firsts too.”

“Well, I guess the same goes for me…?”

“You’ll have a second and third, but I’ll only have you. So…”

Subin hesitated for a moment, then pulled my face closer and whispered.

“Want to do something softer?”

“…Subin.”

“If I can’t be your only one, I at least want to be your first.”

The eyes of Subin, always calm and even cold, were burning.

And they came closer.

*Chu-up*

The second kiss was rough.