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

"Hey, isn't this 'Red-light District'...?"

"No, no, no! I didn't mean to take you to a brothel and rip you off!"

Looking at the alluring and dazzling peach-colored magic stone lamp, and the "Night City" filled with the decadent scent of musk, Bert looked at Lina with the same contempt he would give a goblin; she desperately denied it.

The scandal of "having a falling out with a companion and immediately having women serve him while he tours the red-light district" would be more than just a loss of face if it got out, so the two of them moved discreetly through back alleys. Lina's destination was across Southeast Street, which was equivalent to the third district on the north side of the red-light district.

"After Goddess Ishtar was sent back, I transferred to another [Family], but I brought a man into headquarters right after converting to this religion. Even I would feel a little awkward."

"To be honest, bringing members from other factions (other groups) into headquarters is already a problem..."

"So! We're going to the 'secret hideout'!"

Lina explained this all the way, casually trespassing into the forbidden area.

She easily evaded the eyes and ears of the adventurers guarded by the management organization (guild) and led Bert inside.

"Is this... the territory of the Ishtar Familia?"

"Yes, but we need to add the word 'before'."

The once prosperous and luxurious city has lost its master and is now a desolate city with only rubble and fire ruins.

The brothels, lined up one after another, were almost entirely destroyed; walls were broken, parts of the roofs were torn off, and fragments of shutters were scattered all over the ground. Other large brothels, along with the roads, were leveled by the fire. Many magic stone lamps were dim and without light, shrouding the entire area in moonlight darkness. Of course, not a single person could be seen.

The scene, marked by claw marks and destruction, resembled a city invaded and captured by an enemy nation. In the distance, the massive "Goddess Palace (Bélit-Babili)," once the headquarters of the Ishtar Familia, stood in a similar state of ruin.

The struggle against the Freya Familia—Under the lightning-fast attack of the goddess faction, the capital city was reduced to ruins overnight. Now it has become a disaster area awaiting reconstruction.

"Although the Freya Familia has haphazardly destroyed everything, some houses are still quite intact. Come on, we've arrived!"

The "secret residence" that Lina mentioned is located in the southeastern part of the third district, within a massive city wall.

This is a four-story building that strongly reflects the cultural sphere of the central desert region of the continent (Chaos). The painted and reinforced stone is snow-white, and the exquisitely designed windows and other details reveal an elegant yet unpretentious exterior. If it were still in business, it would likely have been a high-class brothel. Considering its location in a back alley, hidden from view by other buildings, it seems like a establishment frequented by renowned high-class adventurers or foreign dignitaries.

Bert looked at her with disdain and let Lina lead him inside.

"This place is basically only known to Aisha; it's my castle. The [familia] that transferred to this place only recently had a room available, and I slept here until then."

The interior of the abandoned brothel was as stylish as its exterior. The lobby, adjacent to the entrance, featured a velvet sofa covered in a thin layer of dust, a brightly colored luxury carpet, and obviously expensive ceramics. Various pieces of furniture and utensils were scattered throughout the room. Now that the place was in ruins, one wondered if there were many bandits among them. Just as Bert was thinking this, Lina explained to him carefully, "Because this place is slated for redevelopment, any vagrants coming down from the slums (Daedalus Road) are immediately chased away by adventurer guards."

"So, if we're discovered, we'll be in trouble too, therefore we can't light any lamps, okay?"

She even clasped her hands together in a gesture of supplication to Bert. "Whatever," Bert replied lazily.

"Can I use any room I want?"

"Ah, wait a minute, wait a minute!? Upstairs! Upstairs is better! The top floor! That's the best room, and it's perfectly usable!"

Lina quickly stopped Bert, who wanted to find anywhere to stay, and strongly recommended the top floor.

Bert looked at her suspiciously... and the girl reached out to touch her beautiful hair.

With a whoosh, the blue hair clip came undone, and her long hair, which had been tied up, flowed down her back, adding to her infinite charm. It was as if she had transformed from an innocent and ignorant girl into a mature woman who knew the allure of women. Her kitten-like smile, with its narrowed eyes, instantly became seductive and alluring.

However, Bert did not respond.

He put his hands in his pockets and strode up the stairs with a disappointed look on his face.

"Ugh... I hate it—!"

Ignoring the discontented shouts coming from downstairs, Bert kicked open the door on the top floor, which was only slightly ajar.

The room was carpeted in a more luxurious style than the hall, and there were candlesticks instead of magic stone lamps to create atmosphere. It was a large room that could accommodate at least ten people, with a king-size bed with long pillars on the wall, reminiscent of the word "VIP room".

The slight tingling of his nose was likely the lingering scent of Lina, who had mentioned staying here. Bert's lips involuntarily curled into a frown.

"I absolutely refuse to sleep in that tacky bed..."

Bert refused to lie on a bed that had been used by someone else, so he sat haphazardly on the floor by the window. The soft carpet caught his body, and Bert's eyes glanced to the side, where he saw the view of the red-light district from the open window.

The towering Palace of the Goddess of Beauty in "Night City" offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape, which, to put it mildly, is truly a magnificent sight.

"Ha! ...You've become the boss."

Led by the woman, they spent the night in a VIP room with a panoramic view of the decaying city.

Although it was only temporary, Bert sarcastically remarked on his own expulsion from the faction, gazing at the scenery for a long while.

After a while, he finally lay down, clasped his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes.

Because he had drunk too much, drowsiness quickly overwhelmed him. Bert let the cool night air caress his body, and was just about to succumb to sleep when... *click*.

The door opened quietly.

"—Bert Roca…"

The sweet, coquettish call startled Bert's wolf ears.

It was Lina, and she had even changed her clothes.

She changed into a black nightgown with a larger area of ​​fabric... but the nightgown was made of gauze, so transparent that it was almost like underwear. Her soft body lines were beautiful and moving, and her slightly warm, tender skin was soft and fragrant, exuding a seductive charm that tempted "men".

"Hey, forget all that unpleasant stuff... have a sweet, relaxing dream?"

A smile appeared on her face, and her slender toes quietly moved to Bert's side.

Lina knelt down, her breath warm against her skin. The girl leaned forward, about to press against the well-honed male body.

The girl's heart was filled with anxiety due to the nature of the Amazons; she had only one goal: to secretly conceive.

The perfume she sprayed, a blend of musky and other scents, was intended to bewitch men. Moonlight dampened her slender shoulders as Lina prepared to cover the reclining werewolf with her own body—

"Don't come near me."

"Whoa!?"

He was kicked away hard like that.

Lina was kicked hard by the leg that was raised while she was lying down, sending her flying into the air before crashing to the ground with a loud thud. Bert bared his sharp canines, seemingly annoyed beyond measure.

"Huh—! No way—!? In this situation, who would just fall asleep immediately!? Why won't you pounce on me!?"

"Didn't you say that making noise would get us noticed? You brat."

Lina sat up abruptly, immediately covering her mouth with both hands. But she puffed out her cheeks and then, like a cat, crawled on all fours and approached Bert again.

"Okay~, let's have some fun together~ Let's try to have a baby~ Let me get pregnant~"

"Shut up, you noisy, you slut."

"Why won't you make a move?! Do you have to be as voluptuous and curvaceous as Aisha and the others? Or are you impotent, Bert Roca? Or do you prefer men?"

"I'll kill you!"

Lina meowed incessantly, secretly reaching out her evil hand, while Bert was busy fighting back.

Not to mention physical contact, Bert wouldn't even let Lina lie next to him. After flying up and down several times, she made an emergency landing on the king-size bed, screaming "Whoa—!" before finally collapsing onto her back.

"It shouldn't be like this~ The original plan was to make Bert Roca a body that couldn't live without me~"

"You have no good intentions at all."

The Amazonian girl sobbed, her tears soaking the sheets.

As the storm finally passed, Bert sighed sarcastically and looked up at the ceiling of the room.

"Hey, why won't Bert Roca want me?"

"It's not just you, I hate Xiaoka too. Sleeping together, I'll get infected with weakness."

"Huh? Where can I find a few women better than Bert Roca?"

"..."

Lina spoke while wrapped in a bed sheet, and he did not respond immediately.

Just before Bert turned over and closed his eyes, he whispered with disgust:

"...I hate weak women the most."

★

Damn it, just as I expected.

I had a bad feeling about this all along. Bert thought to himself, his mind adrift.

It's always at times like these that I have dreams about memories—

That was half of a werewolf's life.

Bert Roca was born in the northern part of the continent. This orc tribe had never traveled to any major city or country other than the labyrinthine city, but roamed the world freely. They were different from nomadic peoples; the strong "Plains Orcs" made their living by hunting every day, and Bert was the son of their chieftain.

Bert had a strong father and a generous mother, and a younger sister who was born later. Stepping out of the large tent reserved for the chieftain, a pack of werewolves greeted him like elder brothers, their faces beaming with affection. Everyone in the tribe was Bert's family.

"Survival of the fittest—Bert, always keep this in mind and never forget to sharpen your fangs."

Bert's father, stronger than anyone else, taught him this time and time again.

The tribe does not believe in gods, and everyone from men to women and children is an elite force. They can sweep away monsters on the surface without receiving blessings (ability points), and sometimes they can even defeat unscrupulous caravans along with their guards. They not only possess great power awakened by the moonlight, but also wild technology and wisdom—the "skills and tactics" accumulated by the tribe over history. The "Plains Beastmen," who gather the strength of their companions, are even stronger than the lower-level [Families]. Neighboring countries or factions of the gods often send envoys to persuade them, but Bert's father, following the teachings of his ancestors, refuses them all.

Drifting with the currents of nature, experiencing life and death, death and life.

Young Bert was proud of his father, who followed his teachings, and the brave figures of his soldiers.

"Good morning, Bert."

There was a childhood sweetheart, a girl born on the same day as Bert. She had long, dark golden hair, a rarity among werewolves. The girl was exceptionally beautiful among children her age, as lovely and delicate as a sparkling jewel. As they grew older, Bert naturally developed feelings for her, and naturally, he competed with other boys for her affections.

"If you want it, just take it." Following the tribe's simple teachings, Bert continued to sharpen his fangs, becoming the strongest among the children, and thus won the girl's heart. "...Even if you weren't this strong, I would still be with you."

The girl's warm whispers, almost vanished in the wind, are perhaps Bert's only sweet and innocent memories.

Unlike the rest of the tribe, she was docile, gentle, and surprisingly fragile.

Bert thought that if that was the case, all he needed to do was make his fangs even stronger. He asked his father to train him as a warrior and participated in several adult hunts. He could easily defeat goblin or orc-like monsters on his own.

Surrounded by majestic mountains and green hills, with the loving gaze of his childhood sweetheart and the occasional arrival of his precocious younger sister, Bert spends each day sharpening his fangs.

Then, in the year Bert turned twelfth.

That moment came so mercilessly.

"Dad, Mom, Luna... everyone..."

On a night when the golden moon hangs high.

The entire tribe perished.

Not a single one was left.

A "monster" suddenly appeared on the plain and killed everyone.

Except for Bert.

He later learned that the "monster" was said to come from one of the world's three great secret realms—"Dragon Valley," located on the northern border.

An ominous behemoth with wings but unable to fly, its scales reflecting all attacks, roared so loudly it shattered the eardrums of the beastmen, easily biting even warriors awakened by moonlight. His parents were torn to pieces, his sister trampled into a pulp. Bert was lucky; after being touched on the face by the "monster's" claws, he crashed into the rocky ground, remaining unconscious until the fierce battle ended.

Bert crawled out of the rock crevice, dragging his battered body. All he could see was a sea of ​​blood and the corpses of the warriors, as well as the shadowy figure of the "monster" about to disappear on the horizon.

The "monsters" replaced Bert and his tribe, becoming the "masters of the plains." They relied on the privileges of the strong, who devoured the weak for food.

That day, Bert lost everything.

The monster brought cold-blooded and merciless devastation.

This is so commonplace and boring in the vast world that even God would get tired of such tragedies.

"Survival of the fittest".

Bert truly understood the lessons his father had taught him day and night. This was the world, this was the way of nature, this was the truth. The weak could be instantly stripped of even the smallest happiness, just like the prey slaughtered by the tribe, only this time it was Bert and his companions who were the "prey," utterly naive. Because of this naivety, Bert vomited everything in his stomach.

No one cares what the strong do; they can take whatever they want.

The weak cannot resist whatever treatment they receive, and everything will fall into the hands of others.

If you are weak, you can forget about surviving.

My father was weak, and so were the tribe's warriors. My mother was weak, my sister (Luna) was weak, I (Bert) was weak—and so was my childhood friend (that guy) whose body was bitten in half and turned into a gruesome corpse.

"Liyin...!"

Bert cried out.

Ignoring the burns on his face, he cried and wailed, tears streaming down his face.

Bathed in moonlight, it becomes a wild beast, roaring incessantly at the night sky.