After half an hour of haggling, I said goodbye to the rabbit girl and left the shop. Despite fighting over the price of each item, I still feel like she played me. Next time I'll definitely get one over on her! If there is a next time...
The final feelings are mixed. Why did she give such a valuable scroll? What effect does that talisman have? What unclear faction was she referring to (if she didn't make it up)? Theoretically, she could somehow see that I'm in a party with Zara. But this is just a party, not a guild. Factions only exist within guilds.
While the scroll can at least be chalked up to the luck blessing, the other thing is a complete mystery. I can't shake this persistent feeling of something... anomalous. I need to find an explanation for this, otherwise this sensation will forever haunt me in the game.
Overall, the shop trip was successful: I have over 500 gold left and a decent amount of silver, plus I'm almost a mage. Just need to use a spell for the first time and get used to the gloves, which is tricky. With a staff you just wave it and magic happens, here you'll have to channel mana through them outward. I can already feel it concentrating.
The path to the Dead Grove won't get easier, but now we're maximally prepared.
I turn toward spawn and immediately dodge some short devil in a hood who was eyeing my backpack. He clicks in annoyance and tries to snatch it again with a jump, but using perception I predict his trajectory and dodge to the side. He slams into the wall, throws some insults my way and vanishes into the crowd.
What an asshole!
It's either a player with a class like rogue, or an AI generated by the server or another player. In the second case, it could be the same scheme as with the slums in the village—passive farming.
In general, every item has an owner attached to it. If the rabbit girl had just taken the talisman from my hands, it would have been "inactive" for her, which cuts off the possibility of use. Only when transferring through the system do you give ownership rights to another. This doesn't work with death—the owner simply disappears, and with the theft mechanic, then the thief becomes the owner. And specifically with the leveled class mechanic, if you just take someone else's item, it's also inactive.
I turn toward the spawn again... and remember that going there is pointless. There's no obelisk there.
Such a large city must have several places with them.
I decide not to mess around and ask Patrick. Within a minute he answers that the closest obelisk to the market is in a part of the city called the Enlightenment Quarter. It's ten minutes away on foot, conveniently located.
I head in the direction where Patrick and I first landed, there's a direct road from there. On the way I examine this beautiful place carefully. All in all you can come here (you shouldn't judge by one shop), but I would find at least one alternative.
And still the local variety is amazing: a monster meat shop called "JUICY ENCHANTED RIBS", armor shop "Steel Otter", tavern "Pushy Bob", shop... no Moonlight is a brothel.
I stop and examine it. Done in true magical style: dark purple walls, colored windows through which nothing can be seen, neat decor in the form of exotic plants. If not for the two girls who still playfully beckon, you wouldn't guess the internal content.
And the girls are extremely attractive: one human, the other some kind of dryad, both with perfect figures, wearing light, dark green dresses... showing off some impressive cleavage.
Why did I stop next to a brothel and examine the girls? Good question... For some reason it runs through my head that 500 gold might be enough for local services. A desire is born—
Dean, what the hell's wrong with you? You have a debt to Patrick. Stop messing around.
The inner voice returns to sobriety, I shake my head to dispel idiotic thoughts. Walking on, it's good that the Enlightenment Quarter is close, should avoid incidents—
—however, I only take two very short steps and continue to stare at the girls. My head is swimming, fantasies of possible pastimes overshadowing reason.
Shit, what am I doing?
"Hi, sweetie, want to come inside?" the dryad asks sweetly, winking. She has a very gentle anime-like voice that matches her long blue hair and yellow eyes.
Dean, get out of here already, what are you doing?!
"Do you sell small experience potions?" out of embarrassment I blurt out some nonsense.
"Sweetie, we sell something much better—experience itself!" the second one flirts catchily. "We'll escort you to the door. Promise you won't regret it!"
"Well, I'm actually bus—"
"Every activity needs rest, doesn't it?"
The dryad comes down the steps at the entrance and takes me by the arm.
"B-but I really—"
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
"And we're really too!" the second one laughs.
Without much resistance, I let the dryad lead me to the door with the glowing patterns.
"Go inside and talk to the administrator. She'll fill you in," she whispered last, returning to her previous position.
How stubborn and determined they are. But that's the way it should be—the developers forbid to directly mark a brothel with the corresponding sign, so as not to create a certain reputation for the game. Therefore, owners have to resort to such tricks to attract clients.
Dean, you're about to make a huge mistake. Their escorting to the door doesn't obligate you to anything, it's not too late to leave.
I'm torn between my thirst for the "new" and my common sense, but at some point I feel several intent stares on my back.
Although, if I just go in, that also doesn't obligate me to anything. Just... exploring the situation.
I open the door and enter... not inside. I find myself in a narrow, poorly lit corridor, a few steps away from a red curtain. And I can't get through it.
Soon everything becomes clear—after opening, a bell rang loudly above the door. Some sounds were heard from inside the room, turning into rapidly approaching footsteps...
"AAAAH!! SHIIIIT!!! FUCKING GHOULS, I ASKED NOT TO LEAVE THIS CRAP BY THE WALL!!" a suddenly irritated female voice is heard, accompanied by a loud crash.
That was awkward.
A few more curses are heard, the footsteps resume and soon the curtain is opened by a young girl in a multicolored shirt dress, with similarly multicolored hair and pink eyes.
"Hello!" she smiles widely. "We're glad to welcome you to Moonlight, the best house of happiness on all of Celestial Rift! Please sign the license agreement and we'll proceed further," she takes out from behind her back a clipboard with a paper on it, pen and extends it to me.
House of happiness? Named tastefully.
I take the clipboard and read the agreement. I knew there was such a thing, but that you literally can't get in without signing was a surprise.
There are typical points about "accepting rules", "proper behavior", "processing of personal data", "obligation to compensate damage" and so on. The only strange thing: "waiver of claims to Moonlight during the emergence of mental and sexual deviations and/or dependencies". What could cause those?...
I sign and give everything back to her.
You have accepted the license agreement of the "Moonlight" brothel. Please note that Dream Gate Software has no direct relation to this establishment. Administration can regulate disputes EXCLUSIVELY within general rules.
This says that if I get a "mental deviation" I'm unlikely to get help from the developers.
"Great, now you can proceed," says the girl and opens the way. She's definitely human, question is—owner herself or manager? More likely the second.
"Thanks!" I say for some reason and finally pass through.
And here everything already looks luxurious: dark burgundy tones, spacious lobby with reception, subdued light from pink lamps, three floors with thick black doors that are far apart. The atmosphere and layout are just right.
Only scattered nearby folding ladders and buckets with what appears to be water leaking from them stand out. Probably what the administrator crashed into.
She leads me to reception, goes behind it and starts rummaging in some papers, clearly looking at the administration window meanwhile.
"I actually maybe just came in to look..." I indicate to avoid strong awkwardness.
"Everyone says that," she cuts off. "Don't worry, we don't share your confidential information, no one will know about anything. So, I can offer you... two girls."
What kind of scam?
"Two? Your house of happiness seems to accommodate more."
"Yes, we actually have fifteen, but thirteen are occupied with other visitors at the moment."
"Nice soundproofing you have," I look around again. Quiet as a grave.
"Thank you for noticing! The owner specially invited some dark mage, he enchanted each room. Perfect comfort is our main advantage over others."
Modern problems require modern solutions.
"Okay, it was fun to come in—"
"Wait a bit, I'll bring them now," she jumps off the chair and runs into some small arch.
Damn, the way back is closing more and more.
Not even a minute passes before the administrator returns with her "staff". Just from their gaze I blush wildly, my heart starts beating frantically.
"Meet Dana," she points to the right one. This is a tanned girl of medium height with cat ears and tail. She has a divine slim figure, medium breasts and a very beautiful face with brown eyes and dark short hair. She's in high heels, dressed only in brown underwear, which made me automatically become aroused. "And this is Mirelle," next she points to the left one. The second is a relatively tall elf with purple skin, long blue-purple hair and bright green eyes. She has the same gorgeous figure, large breasts and no less pretty face with freckles. She's dressed more modestly—though tight-fitting, but long silver dress, slightly lower heels.
"H-hi..." I squeezed out stuttering, not hiding staring at Dana. Both girls winked.
"Would you like to hear the features of both or have you already decided based on appearance?" asked the administrator.
I'm getting further from God.
Wants to shout "Dana!" but decency forbids dismissing Mirelle so easily.
"Tell me about both."
"Then let's start with Dana. You are fantastically lucky to catch her unoccupied, she is the main pride and the most popular girl of our house of happiness. Deluxe Premium Plus, if you understand what I mean..."
Yeah, it's hard not to understand here.
"...literally just now she finished a session with a client. Her specialty is that she's one of the few who works in the 'cruel mistress' style. Balls crushing, spanking, moral humiliation, mental domination, bondage, wax torture, huge strap-ons. Dana offers the best hardcore in all of Enchantia, thanks to her alone the server has on average +10% online. She works with the richest and most influential people in the world. For example, her most frequent client is the United States President. I'll tell you a secret, he's a closeted femboy..."
Holy shit... Well nooo, that kind of thing probably doesn't attract me yet.
"Does she do anything more vanilla?" I casually interrupted.
"I can lube your ass with vanilla cream before I tear it apart," Dana purred.
Oh... Not a fan, but I won't deny, it still sounded hot.
"Unfortunately, Dana has no vanilla options. And she can also—"
"Is Mirelle also so... dominant?"
"No. Mirelle is new with us and still learning. At the moment she only has several types of happy ending massage from her functions. She herself is extremely friendly and charming. Also she lacks a permanent visitor base, you'll be one of the first!"
Not exactly great, but not harsh spanking either.
"What about those two at the entrance?"
"They're PR people, they don't provide services."
"You have very polite manners, I like that," Mirelle remarked, her voice soft and calm.
"I see, what about prices?"
"Our price is summed up based on time spent, initial rate is fifteen minutes. Thus, every fifteen minutes with Dana will cost 4,500 gold, with Mirelle—500 gold."
Holy crap, truly only the rich visit Dana... Well, since I already came and listened to all this, it's too late to back out. I think fifteen minutes is just enough.
"I choose... to spend time with Mirelle."