“Only five squares?” Ake asked the annoyed clerk.

One horn was equal to a set of breakfast? That could not be right. Not after all the pain he went through just to get one of them.

“What do you expect, a whole silver coin?” the pretty lady scoffed at him from behind the counter. “You are lucky the horn broke clean at the base or you won’t get as much.”

‘Was she saying it could be worth even less than that?’

Ake sighed inside and shook his head. It wouldn’t have felt as bad or terribly unfair if the pretty lady clerk was a little friendlier.

He realized that Liara's kindness had spoiled him. It had made him totally forget that this realm was not spared from being unfriendly to total strangers.

Well, especially a powerless stranger with a darker skin tone and below average looks, and of course, a ‘white’. He guessed such a thing spread fast in such a small town. Anywhere he went people would steer away, loudly scoff, or some just simply scowl at him as if he had grown another head.

He was lucky he wasn’t born here. The people around made it look like his very existence was a huge sin in itself. It made him wonder how bad it would be if there were a whole other uglier humanoid species in town.

What if he was half-human for example? Would these people pelt stones on sight?

Liara’s former girlfriend’s attitude was obvious but Ake’s modern mind had dismissed it entirely. The truth, however, was more painful than fiction.

It was clear when the clerk and almost everyone's attitudes switched as soon as they saw his much darker complexion and curly hair. The pretty clerk kept a professional tone but couldn’t help it from being very short-fused at every step of the way.

The small town was mostly human with fairer skin color and anyone a little different would be treated as an outsider. He hadn’t really noticed it before because he hadn’t personally interacted with other humans other than Liara.

It had been only a few days after all.

The good news was, it was not that serious but noticeable enough. It would be terrible long-term, but no one was spitting on his face or at his foot at least.

Obvious favoritism aside, he was hoping he got more from the red horn. At this rate, he would be sleeping in the slums for a few days in a row before he could have enough. How was he getting out of town at this rate? As he thought, everything that the woman in red had asked was simply impossible.

And the selling price was very far from the whopping five silver coins he owed Liara for the Guild registration. Each coin equals fifty squares it would take him forever to pay her back.

The square coppers he got would only be able to cover tomorrow’s breakfast and probably lunch if he went to bed hungry. He wanted to complain but perhaps it was just how it was for everyone else.

Gaining his pathetic wooden Guild emblem was easy enough. Liara’s recommendation and sponsor had made sure of it, but only after that, he realized that the petite girl was two whole ranks above him. She was Steel and it made him feel assured for some reason.

Ake couldn’t believe it when she picked up the quest until he witnessed the clerk confirming Liara’s Steel ranked quest. Also, when his eyes could be dragged away from her magnificent pairs for a few seconds, he could see there was a dark steel emblem hanging under her cute patterned black cloth collar.

Obviously, she was not alone as many other female Guilders showed off their Guild emblem in a very similar way. Some even hang them low in between the valleys. More successful members used metal chains to hang their silver or gold emblem, but as he had suspected, no one had used any kind of string or slim rope.

As for him, he was satisfied with the standard cloth armband provided by the Guild.

Liara was chuckling at him as he walked with his shoulder dropped. It was a refreshing view but what she said next had lifted his mood even more.

“Do you want to get out there and get some more?”

“Yes ma’am,” Ake answered eagerly.

Accepting the fact it was normal to be sponsored by someone was hard. There was no other way if he was going to earn from guild quest or monster bounty. He had to pay back the silver she loaned to him and it was already very fortunate to have her to watch his back.

But at this rate, he might owe her more than just coins.

---

He had fought hard under the girl's watchful eyes. Everything was easier when she was there and his wounds healed by themselves.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The bounty in his hands was not much but he was glad when Liara confirmed that he at least had made some improvements. Sadly he couldn’t kill not one of the rabbits and had to be satisfied with only their horns.

The only good news was Liara was going to loan him a dagger tomorrow. He was nervous, but a piece of sharp metal would certainly change things.

It was almost dark as the two suns were barely over the horizon by the time they walked past the town’s entrance. They could have returned much earlier but Liara had decided they should have a quick wash by the nearby river.

Despite the roundabout way of telling him that he smells awful, the shortstop had him again reevaluate and appreciate his senpai’s magnificent bust. Their natural fullness and fluffiness made his mouth water and Liara didn’t mind him staring at them.

It reminded him how fortunate to already feel them pressed to his face and felt them in his hands. It was probably the pumping adrenaline talking, and he was unable to pull his eyes away. Their eyes were on each other when the girl used the [Cleanse] sigil card, similar to the [Light] he had activated before when he asked about it.

Liara’s unwavering smile told him that he had done something right. Maybe this was his reward? Had he done something she approved of during the fight without himself knowing it?

She probably knew men by heart already and didn’t mind being admired by one.

Ake shrugged at the thought as he walked back to her.

“How much did you get?” Asked Liara as he got close.

“Not enough,” Ake said and chuckled. “At this rate, it will take a long time before I have enough to pay you back.”

Liara sighed and led the way again. This time the girl hooked his arm and once again he could fully feel her softness. If he hadn’t witnessed the hungry kiss between the two, he would have thought that she was into him for some reason.

Ake noticed that she wasn’t heading towards the eastern wall but he said nothing and just followed along.

“There is another way to make easy money,” Liara suddenly said.

“Easy money, how?”

“You see there,” she pointed at an alleyway, “that’s the unofficial red district for this town. If you know what I mean,” Liara played with her eyebrows.

All adults living in reality knew what she meant.

Ake froze on his feet, “No, I rather not, but I don’t think any woman would ever buy my service. Not when I look like this.”

“Well, I believe someone would, being rare and all,” Liara said and chuckled.

Ake stared at her before she giggled.

The girl was probably joking around.

Regardless of his worry, Liara continued to lead them until they arrived at a fine residential area. Compared to other places, this neighborhood looked luxurious. She stopped after they walked past a few houses.

“This is my place,” Liara said with a tinge of red on her cheeks. “And please come in,” the girl invited with a smile.

“Okay,” Ake said. It was not the first time he was invited to a girl’s place.

And most of the time it wasn’t because they had interest in him. They might fake it just to trick him into fixing their computer or some random electrical issue they had. Nicer ones would invite him for some drinks while others just chased him away after they got what they wanted.

Liara was probably in the nicer group as she smiled almost shyly as she opened the door and let him in. The whole situation was kind of weird, but maybe there was something she needed to tell him without anyone overhearing them.

Inside her place was pretty simple but warm. There was this huge round fireplace in the middle of the place. It was made from solid stone which extended all the way to the roof to form a chimney. Obviously, it would be the main source of heat and a place to cook. He could tell that it was made first before everything else was built around it.

There was a sizable bed on one side and a wooden table was placed not far from the fireplace. Ake noticed no seams on any of the furniture in the place as he followed the owner to the back of the place through a seamless wooden doorway.

He was surprised to find a solid stone tub which should be right on the other side of the hearth. Four people could fit in easily with enough room to spare. The very back room was a storage room with crates and cupboards arranged neatly within its walls.

“Help with the wood, please,” Liara said as she walked towards the cupboards.

Cold fog escaped one particular compartment as she opened it. He wondered if the stone box was somehow magically refrigerated.

Ake took a few from the stack and carried them to the front before arranging them in the hearth. Liara joined him before long with a cauldron filled with plain water in her hands.

She then hung the cauldron over the hearth with a very suggestive pose before she proceeded to light the fire with a card. She turned, noticed he was staring, and walked towards him who was sitting on the floor.

Liara smiled as took a seat on his lap.

She then took his hand placed on her chest and squeezed. If that wasn’t suggestive enough then he didn't know what else she would do.

He must have imagined it when it felt like something within him arose from its slumber.

Echoes of dark whispers filled his head.

He abided when he couldn’t take it anymore and pulled the girl closer until their lips met. He savoured the small thick lips and felt it when she hungrily kissed back. Any man would know what the woman wanted when her nails began to claw his back.

But it was then he recalled his terrible mistake in the past and gently pushed her away.

“I’m sorry, I can’t,” Ake said as he pulled his hands back from under her shirt.

Liara was taken aback for a moment before she rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.

“Don’t be surprised when I say I’m glad how this has turned out,” she said as her hand roamed him. “I don’t really mind either way, but as I’ve suspected, your [Resolve] is stronger than the average man. But if you didn’t even try to fight the dark urges off, I might have your blood on my hands as tomorrow comes,” she muttered.

Ake gulped, “Care to explain more on that?”

Liara looked up and smiled knowingly.