Centered on the main street of the southeastern district, Bellit Babeli was the pleasure quarter that accounted for 40 percent of the Ishtar Familia.
The majority of the prostitutes belonging to the pleasure quarter were Amazons who desired strong men.
"Haaah..."
"Is something bothering you?"
"Yes. The looks from everyone around me are really sharp."
Thanks to that, I was getting prickly stares from the Amazons and prostitutes alike, all because I was a blacksmith who happened to be Lv. 5 and therefore apparently "strong."
"We're almost there, so bear with it a little longer."
Fortunately, no Amazons came up to me after I frowned.
They were probably waiting for a chance...
I have no intention of giving them one.
"By the way... are you sure he's in a place like this?"
"If it's that old man, he's definitely here."
Hermes stopped in front of a flashy, tall building.
"This is the place. Where my guest is."
"..."
The sign of the spacious, luxurious high-end brothel bore the Familia's distinctive emblem.
"..."
"Let's go in."
Hermes grabbed my arm and led me into the building.
"Since the expedition is coming up soon, I guess you're pretty busy."
"Well, it's what we always do. Let's just keep at it a little longer."
Lefiya was checking supplies with another member of the Familia.
"Oh, right. Is that blacksmith going to join this time?"
"The blacksmith...? Ah..."
At the member's words, one person came to Lefiya's mind.
"Do you mean Bellf Crozzo?"
"That's right."
"..."
"Ah, right. Crozzo are an enemy race to elves, aren't they? Sorry."
"It's fine."
In truth, Lefiya's hatred for Crozzo, as held by elves, was slight.
It wasn't nonexistent, but she didn't openly hate them either.
...
But she did feel jealous.
Not jealousy toward Crozzo, but jealousy toward Bellf.
"I keep thinking this, but that Crozzo. Isn't he getting way too close to Aiz?"
"Hmm... that's true."
Lefiya admired Aiz.
And Bellf was so close to Aiz it was practically like they were lovers, so to Lefiya, Bellf was basically a golden-haired bastard stealing another man's woman.
"Oh, right. I saw someone who looked like that Bellf Crozzo go into the pleasure quarter earlier."
"..."
"He really looked alike. He was wearing something like a nagrang and following Lord Hermes, so I guess there's something going on."
"Hmm... there aren't that many people in Orario with red hair, are there?"
"? That's true."
"And if it's someone in Orario with red hair who wears a nagrang, wouldn't that only be Bellf Crozzo?"
"Is that... so?"
As the two of them talked about various things—
"...Is that true?"
"Aiz!?"
"Bellf went to the pleasure quarter... is that true?"
they had to face Aiz, who asked for the truth with dead eyes.
In a lavishly decorated reception room, Hermes handed a black box to Ishtar, the goddess of beauty.
"Oh... so this is..."
"I don't know what you plan to use that for, but I'm going to head out now. I still have to take care of this friend's request."
"Wait."
"Hm?"
"I heard that bitch has recently taken an interest in some brat. Tell me everything you know."
"Haha, I can't really do that."
"Then I'll make you talk."
"...Bellf! Save me!"
"You brought me here for this?"
I hoisted Hermes onto my shoulder and jumped out the window.
"...Catch them!"
As soon as we leapt from the window, Ishtar shouted, and—
"Hehe! Catch him nice and easy!"
"I'll be gentle!"
"A Lv. 5 blacksmith... he's definitely strong!"
the prostitutes began chasing after me.
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