Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

I suddenly opened my eyes wide, my eyeballs almost popping out.

She took off her long coat, untied her belt, and her bright red kimono slipped off.

In the blink of an eye, she was stripped down to just a short undershirt—revealing that she was only wearing underwear.

"No, wait...!?"

"It's alright, sir. Please... entrust everything to Haruhime."

"You...you've misunderstood...!?"

"Please relax..."

I tried to explain in a low voice, but I couldn't even speak properly.

Her pink thighs, which were completely exposed, her full breasts that were not visible through her kimono, and her slender neck with a strangely shiny collar all caught my eye, making my heart almost explode.

I don't know what's wrong with her, she's so nervous she can't hear me. Just like Miss Aisha before, she awkwardly straddles me, blocking my movements.

We were both flushed and entangled together on the bed.

"I, your humble servant, will serve you, sir...!"

Her golden tail and her whole body were trembling as she reached for my shirt.

I was so timid and tense that I couldn't move or shake off her outstretched hands. I could only lie there and let her open my collar.

About half of my chest was exposed to the magic light.

"…………male,"

Just then—the person who was taking off my clothes froze completely.

Her tail stood up abruptly, her face flushed red all the way to her ears, and she stared blankly at my neck.

"A man's! A man's collarbone!?"

The next instant, she suddenly fainted and fell onto me.

(W-What is this?! ...

My scream was completely meaningless. Her body leaned forward, and "Ugh!?" It hit me directly in the face.

Two soft, fleshy objects enveloped my face, causing me severe confusion.

In a panic, I tried to pull away the fabric that I could feel the twin breasts that were threatening me.

"Haruhime, are you there?!"

(!?)

at this time.

A loud voice was followed by the sound of a paper door being kicked open, and the thumping footsteps of two people approached.

The arrival of the pursuers made me forget my current situation, and my mind went blank.

Before I could even dodge, cruelly, the paper sliding door to the bedroom was forcefully pulled open.

Oh no, we've been discovered...!?

"Haruhime! Has any human brat been here...?"

I closed my eyes tightly, but the voice, which sounded like that of an Amazonian girl, stopped halfway through its message.

"Ah..." That moment of unnatural silence made me open my eyes a crack, and only then did I realize my current posture.

To outsiders, we probably looked like a half-naked man and woman entwined at that moment.

To be precise, it was a man who was overpowered by a prostitute whose clothes were half-undressed.

With her face and head of white hair covered between her breasts, I couldn't make any confirmation; I could only listen to her pounding heartbeat.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Please continue."

Before long, the presence of the two Amazons quickly disappeared from the area.

"I never thought Haruhime could finally seduce a man—" For some reason, they chatted happily, and the sound of the paper door opening and closing came from afar.

After standing frozen for a full minute, I twisted my body and crawled out.

I moved to the girl who was leaning against me, lay down on the bedding, and then propped myself up.

I wiped my still slightly red face with my arm, looked around, and finally my gaze returned to her.

Looking at the blushing, unconscious girl, I immediately felt dejected.

"What exactly happened...?"

■

"—I'm so sorry!?"

The fox-girl, her face flushed, bowed her head and apologized to me.

As a result, I couldn't leave the room—because I was afraid of the female warriors (Amazons) outside, and I couldn't just leave the unconscious woman there, facing her now that she had woken up.

She put her clothes back on, knelt down, bowed deeply to me, and shrunk her thick fox tail into a round ball.

"I never imagined I was completely mistaken...!"

"Ah—it's okay, it's my fault for sneaking into your room..."

I sat on the tatami mat, blushing as I apologized.

The idea of ​​apologizing to strangers in a brothel was truly unbelievable... I couldn't help but think to myself.

"I came to this room, but the guest hasn't arrived, which I find strange..."

She finally managed to lift her head, shaking her long golden hair, repeatedly expressing her shame.

The sequence of events seems to be this: the male guest who was supposed to be taken to the room first was not there, and she was suspicious. But soon after, I arrived, so she treated me as a guest.

...Like the man I knocked unconscious when I stormed into this brothel, could it be that he couldn't come because I was causing a ruckus with the female warriors (Amazons) all over the building...?

In the end, it was still my fault, I said, forcing a stiff smile.

"...Um, my name is Chun Ji, and you are...?"

"Ah... my name is Bell Craney."

She—Chunji—endured her shame and timidly asked me, and I also gave my name.

"Then, Lord Crannie... since you're not a guest, what brings you here?"

Seeing her tilt her head slightly, I was speechless for a moment.

Since Miss Haruhime is staying in this brothel, she must be a member of the Ishtar Familia. If I were to say, "I'm being chased around by your colleagues..." I thought about it and decided to tell the truth.

Because Miss Haruhime must have vaguely sensed that I was an intruder, but instead of calling for help, she waited for me to explain.

Most importantly, she exuded a pure and innocent aura that didn't fit into this red-light district, and I felt that it wouldn't hurt to tell her... I was feeling very uneasy being alone in another faction's territory, so I couldn't help but tell her the reason.

"That was truly... an unexpected disaster."

After I finished speaking, she did not change her attitude; instead, she showed a sympathetic expression.

Or perhaps the female warriors (Amazons) hunting men has become so commonplace that it's no longer surprising...

"You said they are Amazons... are they Miss Aisha and her companions?"

"Oh, do you know Miss Aisha?"

"Yes, I am. I have often received care from Miss Aisha."

She felt a little guilty, but smiled genuinely.

Judging from her tone, that Amazonian heroine must have taken good care of her.

However, it's a bit hard to imagine that I was chased by her and beaten up all over.

"Then, when the time comes, I will lead you through a shortcut. As long as we hide here, we will definitely not be discovered until the brothel is about to close."

"Huh... Is it really okay?"

"Yes, even though it's just a one-night encounter... I really want to help Lord Crani."

It also served as an apology. Although she said this, her gentle smile revealed pure kindness and selflessness.

Her warm and clear smile made me blush, and I couldn't help but stare in disbelief.

"Moreover, um... I also have ulterior motives."

"Huh?"

"Before the appointed time arrives...could you please speak with me?"

Miss Chunji blushed, as if she had mustered up her courage, and asked in a pitiful manner.

Perhaps it's because of my existence... visitors other than guests are quite rare.

Seeing that she was looking at me with the eyes of someone who lives in a fairy tale world, I smiled wryly and readily agreed.

Miss Haruhime smiled and said, "Thank you so much!" Her tail seemed to wag happily.

We pulled the paper partition open a little by the window, and under the vast night sky and the moonlight, we began a short conversation.

"Where is Lord Crannie from?"

"I'm from the mainland... uh, from the remote mountains north of Orario..."

It was only then that I began to feel a little embarrassed by the title "Lord Crane," but I still answered her questions one by one.

Miss Haruhime loved asking me about my hometown, about places she herself didn't know. I told her I came from a small village in the mountains north of the city, a place without even a name on a map... Each time I answered, her expression changed.

Are there more people in the north? What kind of scenery does it have? These are just some of the most ordinary questions I'm asking.

Seeing how happy she was listening, I couldn't help but think of her as an innocent and naive little baby.

Her well-maintained blonde hair and expensive kimono reminded me of a wealthy young lady who lives a secluded life in her boudoir.

(But how could such a young lady...?)

At the same time, I find it strange that someone like Miss Haruhime would be in a brothel.

As I have repeatedly stated, her presence seemed out of place in the "red-light district," which was filled with prostitutes like Miss Aisha. The pure-hearted Miss Haruhime was even willing to treat a dubious person like me with kindness; to put it bluntly, she was naive and seemed unsuitable for a place like the red-light district.

"Did you also come to Orario to become an adventurer?"

"I guess so. I have a dream, and I'm also short of money..."

That being said, one should not pry into other people's secrets.

I was too embarrassed to ask any in-depth questions, so I just answered her inquiries.

"Ah... I'm so sorry! I've been the only one asking."

Miss Haruhime seemed to suddenly regain her composure and blushed at herself for asking so many questions.

Seeing the shy expression on the older girl's face, I laughed, lowering my eyebrows.

"Um, so... where is Miss Haruhime from?"

Instead of asking Chunji, who was too embarrassed to speak again, I played it safe and asked the same question as her.

When I asked her, Miss Haruhime sat up straight as if to hide her embarrassment, then looked up slightly at the ceiling.

"My origins... are from the Far East."

The distribution area of ​​fox people, the unique name of Chun Ji, and the feeling she gives off all made me guess her a lot.

She seemed to be recalling scenes from her hometown, and continued:

"It's an island nation surrounded by the sea, with more distinct seasons than Orario. Cherry blossoms bloom in spring, cicadas chirp in summer, maple leaves turn bright red in autumn... and in winter, it's covered in a blanket of white snow."

Miss Chunji spoke with deep longing, and I could feel her homesickness.

My gaze shifted from the ceiling to the window, fixed on the moonlit night beyond the open paper partition.

I gazed at that beautiful profile, shimmering and ethereal in the moonlight, and asked the question that had been on my mind:

"Is Miss Haruhime from a noble family?"

"How did you know!?"

Miss Chunji was startled when she heard me say that.