episode_0056

No. 25 had no way of knowing the tension Hilda was feeling right now. He was just looking at the products being sold at nearby stores with a bright smile.

The surrounding merchants were ambitious and aiming for No. 25, but Hilda, who was standing one step behind No. 25, was silently putting pressure on her with a look that seemed to tell her not to touch her man.

There were certainly merchants who were unable to come forward properly because they were overwhelmed by Hilda’s energy, but there were also merchants who were not particularly scared of her. Immediately, another merchant spoke to No. 25 in a friendly manner that put Hilda’s energy to shame.

“What did you come to buy today?”

Number 25 was also someone I had seen once.

A voluptuous body that could easily be called the textbook of a sexy woman, slightly raised eyes like a cat, and a soft voice that makes you feel drowsy and doesn’t really match her appearance. Still, the most impressive thing was the small black and pink wings near her shoulders and hips, indicating that she was a ‘succubus’.

Perhaps because they were acquaintances, he didn’t seem like he was trying to forcefully drag me by his wrist like the prisoner did earlier. No. 25 erased any remaining wariness at the merchant’s friendly attitude and responded with a smile on his face.

“I’m not sure yet.”

She asked, with her turquoise eyes that seemed to contain emeralds sparkling sinisterly, pointing with her finger to her store located in a secluded alley.

“Then, would you like to take a look at our store’s products? I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.”

A polite invitation like this was always welcome. Number 25 nodded and answered in a bright voice.

“Like.”

“Now, this way.”

The succubus guided No. 25 to her shop with lighter steps.

Number 25 followed her walking ahead to the front of the store, then raised his head and looked at the sign first.

The name ‘Happy Night.’ written on a red signboard. Unlike other stores, the windows are covered so you can’t see inside from the outside. A pink light with a strange atmosphere slowly leaks from inside. Everywhere you looked, it was a store selling adult products, but there was no way No. 25 knew that fact.

Number 25 asked the succubus, pointing to the sign with a curious expression.

“Happy night, what does it mean?”

She gently placed her hand on No. 25’s shoulder and leaned closer to him in a friendly manner.

“Wouldn’t you find out about that if you buy the items here and show them to the Demon King?”

I received allowance from Aser, and this outing would have been impossible without her permission. Immediately after returning to District 7, I wanted to give a long-awaited happy night to Aser, who continues to pile up work, and Charlotte, who is also always busy working and taking care of herself. No. 25 didn’t know what the store was selling, so he just looked at the name and decided to buy a gift from the store and go back.

The moment No. 25 fearlessly tried to enter the adult store, Hilda grabbed his wrist. When No. 25 looked at Hilda with a puzzled look, she blushed and averted her gaze.

“Woman, let’s not go here.”

“Why?”

Hilda began to explain to No. 25 what a store owned by a succubus deals with. The more he listened to the explanation, the more red his face became.

“I’ll come back later!”

Number 25, who had walked up to the threshold of the store, bowed his back and walked away, saying without even thinking that he would come back later. The succubus looked angry as it lost all the fish it caught right in front of it, but fortunately it did not chase after No. 25.

It was a downtown area with many stores listed, and the next thing that caught No. 25’s attention was a store selling miscellaneous items with products lined up on a stand.

Number 25 muttered to himself, holding a round brown pouch among the many items in his hand.

“What is this?”

Although it was just a simple self-talk, Hilda, who was concentrating on No. 25’s every action, answered right away.

“It’s a coin purse.”

No. 25 began to show more interest than before when he heard the word “coin purse.” I couldn’t carry coins in my pocket forever.

Hilda, seeing No. 25 showing interest in the wallet, asked vaguely.

“Shall I buy it for you?”

“You’ll buy it for me?”

She confidently took out her wallet from her pocket. How many more simple and intuitive ways can there be to build goodwill than a gift? I could afford to spend a little to win the favor of someone I liked.

“Even though I’m like this, I barely spend any money except for buying alcohol, so I have some spare time. Don’t worry.”

Hilda pointed to the wallet in No. 25’s hand and asked the merchant, who was yawning with his chin resting.

“How much is this?”

Unlike the other merchants, he answered in a rather grumpy voice. Just hearing that voice, it could not be seen as the attitude of a merchant selling goods.

“That? 1 silver coin.”

When the price was much higher than expected, he stopped his hand from taking out money from his wallet and raised his eyebrows as if to criticize.

“No, the price of a wallet goes up to silver coins. The price of this outside the territory is 10 dong, but you are paying almost 10 times more.”

Although the truth was unknown whether the price had been increased or not, the merchant also got angry and spat at Hilda’s words. It was completely different from the tone of voice he had given before.

This meant that even for the people inside the territory, it was rude to compare themselves with the people outside the castle, in District 7.

“Do you think that the crap they make and sell is the same as the one I sell? If you don’t like the price, you don’t have to buy it. The young lady has a foul mouth!”

If we leave it like this, a big fight will definitely break out. Number 25 grabbed Hilda’s sleeve just as her voice was about to rise and spoke as if pleading.

“You can’t fight… .”

Hilda came to her senses belatedly and pursed her lips. What kind of disgrace is this? I just wanted to show off my cool side in front of the guy I like, but I didn’t know that it would turn out to be so ugly that it would make No. 25 frown.

Number 25 stepped in front of Hilda and apologized to the merchant on her behalf.

“I’m sorry. Well, here it is.”

The increasingly hostile atmosphere ended with the merchant handing over silver coins that he thought would never be used. Hilda, who actually had to apologize, had her player taken away and was standing in the back feeling embarrassed.

Hilda bowed her head and offered a sincere apology to No. 25, who returned after paying for the items. I felt like my long-awaited date was ruined by a momentary mistake.

“I’m sorry. You showed me a strange side.”

Number 25 did not respond to Hilda’s apology, but looked at the wallet in her hand with sparkling eyes.

An item that was chosen for the first time through one’s own will in a life where freedom of choice did not exist at all, a possession that was unique to oneself. Although it was an ordinary wallet, it had a very different meaning to No. 25.

Still, I couldn’t waste time feeling sentimental forever. Number 25, who put all the coins he had in his wallet and put it in his pocket, came to Hilda’s side with a brighter expression than before.

“Should I eat something now?”

Because I kept walking around, I started getting hungry.

Looking around, No. 25 found a somewhat familiar street vendor and approached it. The haggard-looking woman smiled happily when she saw No. 25. She asked carefully when Aser, who was always by No. 25’s side, was nowhere to be seen.

“Did you come alone today?”

This was what every merchant he met said to No. 25, and as always, No. 25’s answer was predetermined.

“No, I came with a friend.”

Only then did the woman turn her gaze to Hilda, who was standing next to No. 25. He looked up and down Hilda’s body with regret. Hilda could feel a strange sense of superiority from that gaze. I couldn’t wipe the faint smile from my lips.

It feels like walking around the estate and looking at the shops with a man by my side who has the looks that make all the women turn to him. It wasn’t bad. Of course, it’s not that No. 25 sees her as the opposite sex, but there was no way for a third party to know about the relationship between the two.

After a brief conversation with the merchant, No. 25 opened the coin purse he had purchased earlier and took out the coins as if shaking them out in his palm. But Hilda reopened the wallet she had opened earlier and stepped forward.

“I will buy this.”

I wanted to make up for the mistake I made earlier. At the end of this date, I hoped that I would leave a wonderful image in No. 25’s memory. If my memory of our first date was an argument with a merchant, that couldn’t have happened.

Number 25, who had spent more money than expected, silently watched Hilda buy food.

Soon Hilda was holding food in both hands and asked No. 25.

“Where do you want to eat?”

Number 25 looked around and pointed to a table set up for a quick meal near the towering clock tower in the middle of the estate. There was no disagreement, but there was only one seat left. Hilda was barely able to hold onto the last remaining seat before others took theirs.

Hilda placed a sandwich on the table with a triumphant expression and motioned for No. 25 to come over.

No. 25 took a bite of the sandwich Hilda bought and smiled happily, putting the viewer in a good mood.

“Delicious.”

I never thought I would be so happy with just one food. Hilda wanted to see that smile more, so she took it upon herself to run the errand.

“Shall I buy you something to drink?”

Number 25 shook his head firmly and refused.

“It’s okay.”

Every time he took a big bite of the food, sauce got on the corners of No. 25’s mouth, and when Hilda saw him, she remembered what happened at the castle earlier. I wanted to kiss her again under the pretext of being friends, but now was the time when I had to put this desire aside and bury it in my heart.

Even if it wasn’t in the castle, I couldn’t kiss her in a place with so many people. The eyes and ears of the surrounding merchants will be relayed to Aser, and if a rumor spreads that a single maid kissed the devil’s slave… .

Just thinking about it made me shudder.

While Hilda was thinking about useless things, No. 25 had almost finished eating. Hilda, who wanted to continue the conversation somehow, swallowed the sandwich in her hand in one go, then roughly wiped the corners of her mouth and asked No. 25 a question.

And I had no idea that that question would mark the end of this outing.

“Where were you before you came to the castle?”

Number 25, who was eating food with a bright expression, stopped. The corners of his eyes, which had been bent in joy, returned to being dull again, and his gaze was directed to the floor.

Hilda reflected on the words she had just said as her mood changed noticeably. There must have been no particularly problematic remarks? No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think I said anything that would make No. 25 feel bad.

Number 25, whose expression became even darker, barely opened his mouth.

“I don’t really want to talk about the past… .”

Only then did Hilda realize her mistake. Hilda was proud of her life hunting in the forest before working as a maid at the castle. However, unlike Hilda, there are certainly people who do not want to think about the past. And number 25 was a person included in the latter group.

Hilda, who realized she had made a mistake, said nothing. No amount of comfort will reach the current #25.

A long, dark shadow was cast on Hilda’s face.

Number 25 smiled bitterly and spoke to Hilda, who remained silent.

“Shall we stop today?”

Hilda nodded quietly. Unlike when I came, the road back to the castle felt long. In my experience, the two did not exchange a single word while walking the long distance of about an hour.

The first outing of one’s own volition, the long-awaited first date. Unlike the bittersweet beginning, only bitterness remained at the end of this time.