Chapter 28 - Ebonshear

Ebonshear - The Gentle Lady Inn - One Hour Later

Kayae sat naked, covered in warm liquid. Behind her, Simon was wearing only a soft white towel wrapped tightly around his waist, leaving most of his muscular, scarred body exposed.

"Stop squirming already, Kayae," he growled softly at the crying girl in front of him.

"S-stop! I-it hurts! Pull it out already!" Kayae's pained cries echoed through the room, hopefully, absorbed by its thick wooden walls.

"Oh, stop complaining and keep your voice down, Kayae. Also, don't say it like that! People might get the wrong idea if they heard you." Suavi was likewise naked and sprawled out on the large worn bed that took up most of the small but well-kept room. She had a large white towel wrapped around her long pale blue hair and used another to dry the small patch of hair between her legs, mostly to tease the easily annoyed man. He had been quite surprised when he first saw the difference between the two girls but wisely refused to show it externally. No doubt Kayae would have started hitting him again if he did.

"Oww." Kayae let out a soft cry as Simon continued to work out the numerous knots in her long crimson hair that nearly reached the small girl's rear.

"Quiet. It wouldn't be this bad if you actually took care of your hair. I swear if my daughter saw how you treated beautiful hair like this, she'd strangle us both."

Kayae's body suddenly lurched upwards, knocking the comb out of Simon's hand as she turned around to face him, soapy water running down her bare chest, face reddened in rage.

"Oh, you've done it now." The spirit said quickly flipping over on the bed and burying her face between the pillows, leaving her small rear exposed to the air for all to see. Thankfully the windows were closed.

"You have a daughter?!"

Shit.

Simon sighed loudly and looked up at the wooden ceiling and quietly tried to count the boards before Kayae's meek slap against his chest stopped his attempt at ignoring the situation. He rolled his eyes, "Why wouldn't I have a daughter? You realize I'm almost four hundred years old, right?"

Kayae balled her hands into fists and screamed, "Why didn't you tell me?!" her amber eyes darted over towards the bed where Suavi was currently hiding, "Why does Suavi seem to know about her but I don't?" Tears streamed down the girl's tanned face as she collapsed into the tub and hid beneath the soapy water. "D-do you really dislike me that much?"

Simon holds in a sigh and kneels down towards the girl, stroking her long ears softly between his fingers. He watches her usually fully crimson tail that had become heavy with water swish around happily in the tub, "Of course, I don't dislike you, Kayae. If I didn't like you, I wouldn't have taken you from the village. Especially after you tried to stow away in a barrel."

Simon could swear he heard Suavi say Liar, but he chose to ignore it. It was a lie, after all. He actually just didn't want her to get killed trying to follow behind him or appear out of nowhere starving and injured.

Kayae peaked out from between her knees and looked up at him, "I-if you don't dislike me wh-why won't you..."

Simon closed his eyes and shook his head while stroking her ears, "Because you're not old enough yet. Give it a few years..." Preferably twenty or thirty, "and we'll talk about it again."

Kayae's eyes filled with hope, "Promise?"

Simon smiled behind his closed eyes, "Promise."

Suddenly the blue-haired peanut gallery chimed in, "You know, I may look like this, but I'm already twenty-six. Not that age matters much to a spirit, though." Suavi said while giving a come hither gesture in Simon's direction, tilting one of her legs up while lifting her chest upwards with her arms.

Simon opened his eyes narrowly, unamused, "You are NOT helping."

Kayae giggled softly and leaned back into Simon's chest, "What was she like?"

He paused for a moment, comb in hand, "She was like you in a way. I'll tell you about her when you're older." Suavi smiled at his reply and nodded her head before flipping back over on the bed.

Kayae stretched out slightly in the small tub, "You're a real bastard, you know that?"

Simon dropped the comb back into the soapy water and held his hand against his face while shaking his head.

God damn it, Kuro.

Ebonshear - Main Street - Midday

Simon was walking down the street behind two wide-eyed girls observing the sights in front of them.

"S-so many colors!" Kaye cried out first, followed by Suavi. "Idiot, you're looking at the clothes? Look at all that food! They have actual meat here! Not just fruits."

Simon's smile was quickly wiped away as he rubbed the two girls by the neck and pulled them close to him. The girls hadn't noticed it yet, but many of the citizens were looking at them with disdain. A nearby guard glared at them but looked away after Simon brought the girls close and stared at him, "Stay beside me. Do not walk in front and do not speak unless I tell you to. Remember, you are slaves, and I am your master. I am not your guardian or your father. Do not forget that."

The two girls' wolf-like ears went limp across their heads as they nodded.

Soon the trio arrived at their destination. Instead of entering through the front door, Simon and the girls went through the shop's rear entrance.

"Pardon our intrusion, Madam." Simon addressed the twenty-something-year-old seamstress by the front desk that nearly jumped out of her chair and gave a quick bow.

"W-what? A customer? W-why did you come through the b-" The seamstress stopped speaking as she spotted the two barefoot wolfen girls wearing tailored rags hiding behind the elderly man's legs.

"I see. I'm sorry we don't serve beas-" the woman's complaints were halted when Simon set down a small bag of coins on the desk. She quickly flicked her eyes between the two girls, the man, and the bag before locking the front door and closing the curtains. When she opened the bag, her slightly round but attractive jaw nearly hit the floor. Inside were five gold coins. Simon had expected something like this to be the case and had prepared accordingly.

Simon crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at the now drooling woman, "You were saying?"

The woman shot straight up and gave a deep bow, slamming her head against the counter hard enough to cause her sharp nose to drip blood. Simon was about to ask if she was alright before she dashed in front of them and gave another deep bow, "Welcome, honored customer to Maria's Clothing Store! You, mut-err girl with the crimson hair, step over here for a moment!"

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Simon raised his eyebrows high while observing the blond-haired woman quickly strip Kayae to measure various parts of her body. This bitch is insane.

"Hmm...A little small in the chest for a ten-year-old, but I guess that's to be expected."

"I'm fourteen, you fat-chested bitch!" Kayae tried to hit the woman across the face, but the seamstress, Maria, nimbly dodged the feeble attack and paid it no heed. She just kept dodging and continued taking measurements.

"S-she's dodging them like...I don't even." Beside him, Suavi mumbled softly, staring in amazement.

Eventually, Kayae grew tired and stopped trying to hit the woman, one of her previously flailing arms falling flat against her side. Only to have Maria grip it tightly and measure it as well.

"Alright, that's everything for you." Maria stared over at Suavi," You there, you look the same as her, are your measurements the same?"

Suavi quickly pulled her tunic off and dropped her shorts, "I-I think I'm a little bigger in the chest." Maria nodded and took her measurements as well while Simon inadvertently looked down. What? Since when were Suavi's that big? Don't tell me she changed their size after hearing Maria mention K-. Suddenly, shivers ran down Simon's back, he turned and saw Kayae smiling at him, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "N-never mind."

Maria tilted her head to the side, "Hmm? Did you say something, dear customer?"

"No. It was nothing. Have you finished Suavi's measurements?"

"The blue-haired girl? Yes, she was the same aside from the chest. She's actually two sizes larger than the redhead over there."

The temperature in the room suddenly dropped.

Ooohh, so that's how this feels.

"That's Kayae."

"Meh, doesn't matter." Maria shrugs her shoulders after hearing Kayae's name. Kayae quietly clenched her fists again but remembered her earlier attempts and hung her head. "Anyway, why are you still wearing clothes? Don't tell me you paid five gold just for these two."

Simon shook his head while eyeing the two blushing girls in the corner narrowly, "We can get mine in the back room."

Maria shrugged her shoulders again and followed swiftly behind him.

- Girls' PoV -

Suavi had her head pressed against the wall while Kayae was trying to peek through the keyhole.

"Stupid lock, I can't see anything!"

"Shush, you'll get found out if you keep talking!"

Suddenly Simon's voice came out from inside the room, "I can hear you two, you know."

Suavi turned towards Kayae and held a finger up to her lips. Kayae nodded once and pressed her head against the wall as well.

"Oh, stop worrying about them and get naked so I can get your measurements already. I'd rather not keep my shop closed for any longer than necessary. It doesn't look good."

The sound of Simon's armor being placed gently against the floor could be heard through the shop's thin wall.

"Hmm? Who made this armor, wait, wasn't this white, and why does it smell like an elderly woman's perfume parlor?"

Simon sighed out loud while removing his boots, "Don't ask questions you don't want answers to."

"Oh, they're all blood-soaked, so you tried to cover up the smell with perfume. Leave them with me and give me five more silver. I can get the odor removed completely."

The sound of Simon handing the woman five more silver coins echoed out instantly, followed by the woman's heavy breathing.

The two girls looked at each other, held a finger up to their temples, and twirled it in a circle before returning to the wall.

"Alright, now the pan- what? How the fuck did you fit THAT in there?" The girls suddenly pressed their heads against the wall even harder. "Wait, no, how can you even walk with that thing bunched so tightly in there, much less fight like that. I mean, that thing is bigger than my arm."

Suavi's cheeks blush brightly as Kayae’s breathing becomes harder.

"Why do you even need a knife that big anyway? I understand having it hidden, but that's excessive, isn't it?"

The girls deflate quietly.

"Eh, maybe, but it's the only thing I could find that wouldn't break when I used it properly."

"Still, your cock's nearly the same s-" Maria sighed, most likely after receiving a glance from Simon. "Fine. It's still huge though."

Suddenly the door opened wide as Simon and Maria appeared from the room. He was once again wearing his uncomfortable pants, "Could you please find me a pair of pants to wear? After that, you can focus on these two, then get back to me afterward."

"Alright, it might take a bit to find something that can accommodate your weapon and your...other weapon." Maria gives the two blushing girls a quick wink while Simon covers his face with a hand.

—

"So, How do they look? These are the casual clothes you requested, by the way. I'll have the adventuring gear sent to your room later. You didn't get it from me, though. Beastmen aren't supposed to have armor, leather reinforced cloth or not."

Simon nodded his head as he observed the two girls in front of them. Gone were their previously shabby rags. Instead, they were wearing similar short sleeve sundresses. Personally, he thought the skirt length was a bit too short, but Maria had refused to budge on the issue. Kayae had briefly flashed Simon her rather adult-looking red laced panties when she caught his gaze, causing him to narrow his eyes at her.

Meanwhile, Suavi simply shook her head but ultimately decided to do the same. Her's were made of thin blue lace that allowed her blue hair to show through slightly. Simon couldn't resist holding his head and letting out a sigh when he saw that. For her part, Maria was just smiling evilly on the side, clearly enjoying the scene.

Kayae's dress was white in color and had a red vest sitting over top that complimented her crimson hair nicely. His own sigil was embroidered across the entirety of the vest’s back while a smaller copy sat atop the right breast. The set was complete with a pair of crimson stockings that nearly reached the end of the skirt's length.

That gap was intentional, wasn't it?

Suavi's dress was also white, while the vest overtop was ice blue instead of crimson. Her stockings were the same icy blue and also had a gap between them and the skirt.

Both girls were wearing nearly knee-high color-coded boots that were laced up in the front. Standing side by side, they gave off the impression of ice and fire. The girls glanced at each other and quickly twirled around, lifting their skirts up just enough to show a hint of the underwear beneath. Simon sighed again while Maria snickered behind him. She'd clearly taught them that move.

Each of the girls received three sets of the same clothing along with a set of basic armor.

Simon's outfit was one step below a nobleman's attire and as, requested entirely black save for his sigil also embroidered on the back and right breast. He only ordered two sets and three extra pairs of pants along with seven pairs of socks and some rather loose-fitting underwear.

Despite receiving such an expensive set of clothing, Simon's hadn't even cost a fifth of what the girls had.

The extra twelve sets of underwear and socks for them he had requested had inflated the total massively. For some reason, the 24 pairs of panties alone had cost 24 silver coins, a silver coin each. Although he wasn't sure of a coin's exact worth here, even he knew that was ludicrous, but one glance from the girls caused him to pay it regardless. Some things just aren't worth it.

In addition to the sets of clothing mentioned earlier, Simon also commissioned the seamstress to send an assistant to get the measurements of the ten men left with the wagons by the gate. Each of them would receive a set of basic but well-made traveling clothes and three sets of underwear along with a pair of sturdy boots.

Kurtin would also receive a chauffeur's uniform complete with a silly-looking hat that made him want to buy an extra one to give to Kuro, which he did after Kayae also mentioned it.

Simon exited the rear of the shop with the girls in tow. Even after paying five gold coins up front, Simon's clothing, armor treatment, and clothing sets for the other men had cost nearly two more gold coins. In comparison, the girl's clothing had forced him to pay an additional amount best left unsaid.

He started to sweat slightly as he clutched his rapidly shrinking money pouch tightly. Despite still having well over four hundred gold coins stashed between the caravan and the inn, he couldn't help but worry that it might not be enough. Simon gazed at the two beaming girls beside him and sighed.

Is this why Ironwood told me never to get married?

The trio returned to the main street with that final thought and headed towards the large building in the center labeled Adventures' Guild - Ebonshear Branch.