Chapter 9 – Nice and Warm

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I walked through the bustling area with my waist held by Claudia. As she kept trying to surreptitiously touch my backside I spoke up. Even if I was a man, I know women don’t touch each other’s rear like that.

“Don’t you think this is a bit inappropriate?”

“Hm? What is?”

“That… my butt…”

“I can’t hear you well? Could you speak louder?”

“…Let’s just go quickly.”

Pretending not to hear, I see.

As we walked, there were increasingly more beastfolk. I could feel gazes occasionally looking at me. Although the relationship between humans and beastfolk isn’t that bad, the glances directed at me were a bit burdensome.

“Lady Claudia…”

“What?”

“Um… is it okay for me to be here? The beastfolk keep looking at me.”

Claudia chuckled at that.

“It’s because you’re cute. And…”

Claudia turned to me, grabbed the ends of my hair, and began to smell it. She looked just like someone eating cotton candy with their hands.

“…What are you suddenly doing?”

“For some reason, you have a sweet scent. That’s why the flies are sticking to you.”

When she looked around with cold eyes, the beastfolk who had been watching me cleared their throats and pretended not to look. I too gulped at her aura, but I felt more comfortable as the gazes decreased.

“Is that better?”

“…Yes.”

“Then shall we continue?”

“Let’s.”

After walking a short distance, Claudia spoke to me again.

“By the way, what’s your name? You know my name, right? Don’t you think that’s unfair?”

After pondering for a moment on how to respond, I answered.

“Um… it’s Shaa.”

“Shaa? That’s a pretty name.”

Pretty? It’s just Asha changed a bit… Somehow I felt like I should be wearing red clothes.

“Here we are. I went through some trouble to reserve this place, so I hope you enjoy it.”

Looking at the building Claudia pointed to, it seemed quite expensive. The scale was enormous. Seeing that there wasn’t even a sign, I thought it might be one of those places only known to certain people.

“What do they sell here?”

“Let’s leave that as a pleasure to discover when you see it.”

Following Claudia’s guidance, I entered the establishment. The interior was generally dark, but it didn’t feel like a gloomy place. Rather, it had a comfortable and cozy feel.

Following the guidance of a beastfolk employee, we entered a room. It was a room where something was hidden by large curtains. Looking around as we passed, they all seemed like private rooms.

…This seems more expensive than I thought. I was worried about biting off more than I could chew, but wondering if I could ever come to such a place again with my budget, I steeled myself—then Claudia asked:

“Why are you so tense?”

“Ah… it just looks very expensive.”

“Haha, what does it matter? I’m paying. Relax, you’ll get indigestion. Shaa, you really resemble your master, don’t you? He too trembles whenever he asks for expensive materials.”

“…”

Was I like that?

“Enjoy yourself comfortably. It’s not that burdensome for me. Your master could come here too if he’d just drop that strange stubbornness of his.”

“…Hmm.”

“Let’s stop with the uninteresting talk and get started.”

When Claudia pulled a cord, an employee came in shortly after. It was a harpy.

…I had received materials from them occasionally, but this was the first time seeing one in person. A blue-haired harpy with a slightly red face came in holding two eggs the size of fists. The accompanying employee set up the tableware and placed the eggs on it.

The blue-haired harpy cleared her throat and spoke. Beautiful voice, not-so-beautiful content.

“For the appetizer, here are freshly laid, still warm, unfertilized eggs. Please enjoy them while they’re still warm!”

Then she left with the employee.

While I was spacing out, unable to follow what was being said, Claudia laughed.

“Why are you so dumbfounded?”

“No, it’s just… she said freshly laid…”

“Yes, you didn’t mishear. It’s not that special, is it? They’re unfertilized too. It’s not much different from humans eating eggs. Unlike regular eggs, these are gourmet ingredients. Especially harpy eggs here, you can’t even eat them if the timing isn’t right.”

After hearing the explanation, it seemed like steam was rising from the eggs.

“For an additional fee, you can watch the laying process. Would you like to see?”

At those appetite-diminishing words, I shook my head vigorously.

“First-timers all react that way. Then it’s better not to open that curtain this time.”

…I wonder what’s beyond there. It was a bit frightening. Was this how Pandora felt with Pandora’s box in front of her? Curiosity crept up, but I felt like it was something I shouldn’t open.

By the way, why does she always talk as if there will be a next meeting?

“Come on, let’s eat before it gets cold. It’s still delicious when it cools, but that would be disrespectful to the harpy who laid them, right?”

“…Um, yes.”

I picked up the spoon at Claudia’s words, but…

“How do I eat this?”

“I’ll crack it for you.”

Claudia took the plate and skillfully removed the shell.

After staring for a moment at the steaming contents, I scooped it up with the spoon and brought it to my mouth.

To put it simply… it was… delicious. A sweet yet refreshing taste, I’d say. It was surprising that such a taste came from an egg. The food that came out afterward was relatively normal.

Perhaps they show the most shocking thing first to reduce resistance to what comes after? If that’s the case, I thought they were quite clever.

…The main course looked like a lizard’s tail. But for something that looked like a lizard’s tail, it was incredibly large.

“This is grilled drake tail. We’ve especially used the most flavorful part.”

Perhaps because I had eaten harpy eggs, I didn’t feel much resistance.

“This is what I delivered.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. How is it?”

“…It’s delicious.”

“It was worth bringing you.”

After eating ice desserts that are usually hard to come by… My stomach was very full. Everything was definitely delicious. Considering I had been picking at my food with no appetite not long ago, I had cleared everything.

I felt it was time to take care of my business.

“Um… Lady Claudia?”

“What’s with the ‘Lady’? Just call me Claudia. You can even call me Dia.”

…Look at her trying to close the distance. She never said such things to me before.

“…Then, Dia.”

“Yes, Shaa.”

Well, it’s a good thing she’s showing interest in my current appearance. The more she does, the higher the probability she’ll grant my request. My changed body doesn’t seem all bad.

I took out the prototype aphrodisiac from my bosom and handed it to Claudia. Claudia took the box and spoke with a questioning voice.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a prototype aphrodisiac.”

“Pfft!”

Claudia spat out the water she was drinking. A bit splashed on my face, so I took out a handkerchief from my gown and wiped it.

“Ah, s-sorry, I was a bit… surprised.”

“…It’s fine.”

“Let me apologize again, please don’t be angry.”

“I’m not particularly angry.”

“…You seem to be. So? Why are you suddenly showing me an aphrodisiac?”

“Um… there’s something I’d like to ask of you, Claudia.”

“…You are angry. I’ll listen, so don’t be upset.”

…Am I actually a negotiation genius? Maybe I should have been a merchant instead of an alchemist. Inwardly grinning, I spoke.

“Alright, Dia. I have just one request. That aphrodisiac is newly made by our workshop, and I’d like to verify its effectiveness. It’s probably for males so you can’t use it, Dia… but I’d appreciate it if you could distribute it to people you know and tell me their reactions.”

“So, in short, you want me to help with testing?”

“Yes.”

“Did Lord Astarote ask you to do this?”

…If you think about it, I am the one asking, right?

“Uh… yes.”

“Hmm…”

Claudia looked at me with meaningful eyes. Then she called an employee, said something, and returned to her seat.

No, she sat next to me.

“Why suddenly here…?”

“No, just thinking that Lord Astarote is… an unpredictable person.”

Claudia approached until I could feel her breath. I could feel her hot body temperature.

“Um… Dia? You’re too close.”

“Shaa, I’ll help with the aphrodisiac testing.”

“Really?”

“Of course, I can help right away.”

“…Pardon?”

Saying that, Claudia opened the box and took out the aphrodisiac.

“No, that… I said it’s for males?”

“Don’t worry.”

Claudia placed the pill-shaped aphrodisiac on her tongue. The sight even looked somewhat seductive. Soon, the aphrodisiac disappeared into her mouth.

Ah, no! Do you know how much that cost!!!

Claudia, who had swallowed the aphrodisiac, said:

“It will be plenty effective on me too.”

“…?”

After twitching for a moment, Claudia spoke with a voice that felt somewhat heated.

“…This is amazing.”

Claudia pushed me down. It was a soft sofa-like structure, so it didn’t hurt, but I was extremely confused. She pressed her voluptuous chest against me and lightly bit my neck. Somehow… it smelled dangerous.

“Hik!?”

“It feels like… I’m in heat.”

“I-I get it, so please get off now!”

“Why? I said I’d help with the aphrodisiac testing?”

“Th-that’s originally for males—”

Claudia grabbed my hand. Her hot hand led my pale one. Eventually, where my hand touched was…

“Bringing something like this on a date… means you had such intentions, right? You’re more proactive than I thought. If Lord Astarote sent you, I can consider it implicit permission.”

A place that should be flat was bulging. I could tell it had become hard and throbbing even through the fabric.

…It’s me after all. No, it’s not.

“Then… itadakimasu.”

No, why do you have one!!! Don’t eat!!! D-don’t eat, please—

And so, my first kiss was stolen. She wasn’t an adventurer but a thief.