Time rewound to earlier. After Bell left the tea party, he ran straight toward a certain place.
Sunlight fell over the street, glinting against the beautiful golden hair of the elf girl.
"Laurier, sorry to keep you waiting."
Bell stepped into the alley and met up with his lover.
"I just got here too. This is for you."
Laurier took out a glass vial. Inside were several strands of hair she had collected.
She explained everything to Bell and openly admitted that what she had done was rather underhanded.
It was proof of Laurier's obsessive love. On the other hand, using the strands to forge a weapon would not have any negative effect on Eina and the others.
Because of that, Bell had no reason to refuse.
He gently stroked his lover's head and accepted the glass container with care.
After that brief interlude, the two of them entered the Pleasure District together.
The scent of musk filled the streets.
Compared to the night, the Pleasure District was much quieter during the day, but because of the season, the brothels were still open as usual.
Bell and Laurier pulled up their hoods, ignored the lewd sounds around them, and headed straight toward a huge Far Eastern-style building.
Blue Cherry Blossoms came into view.
Bell found an empty corner and chanted Magic.
"Divine Light • Voyage (Argo's Ship)."
The moment the words left his mouth, Bell's figure turned transparent.
He had already investigated the layout of the brothel beforehand and tested the effects of the invisibility Magic.
As long as Laurier was within a certain distance and chanted the Magic first, Bell could copy Argo's Ship.
Even if the two of them separated afterward, as long as his Mind held out, the invisibility effect would continue.
Of course, the farther apart they were, the faster his Mind would be consumed.
For a single brothel, however, the distance limit was no real issue.
"Be careful."
Laurier hid in the alley and sent her lover off with a blessing.
...
There were not many people in the brothel during the day.
As the rulers of the Pleasure District, the Ishtar Familia was certain no one would come looking for trouble. Most of the guards were gathered around the goddess, while the front of the brothel continued business as usual.
Calmly and without hesitation, Bell combined the information he had gathered with his own deductions and ran swiftly through the brothel as if there were no one there.
Before long, he reached his target's room.
Goddess Ishtar was not worried about Haruhime running away. The fact that she had kept Haruhime receiving customers in the brothel all this time made that clear.
After the first full moon passed, Haruhime had been placed in a room and forbidden from receiving guests.
Bell nimbly climbed through the window and saw the golden-haired girl on the bed.
"Haruhime, Haruhime-san."
Bell dispelled the Magic and softly called out to the fox girl.
"Mm... Cranel-sama?! Mm-mm..."
Haruhime opened her eyes, and her golden tail shot upright in surprise.
Bell hurriedly covered her mouth with his hand and made a quieting gesture.
Haruhime nodded, showing that she understood what he meant.
She obediently slowed her movements, sitting up while lowering her feet over the edge of the bed.
Haruhime wore a vivid red kimono. The drowsiness faded from her delicate, beautiful face, replaced by a pure blush.
"Cranel-sama, I am not receiving customers right now..."
Haruhime parted her cherry lips. In her stubborn way, she believed that given the current situation, the two of them should not be meeting here.
"I know."
Bell answered softly.
Judging by Haruhime's attitude, she likely did not know what Aisha had gone through. Otherwise, this kindhearted fox girl would have anxiously tugged on Bell's clothes and asked where Aisha was.
Bell had no intention of telling Haruhime the truth, nor did he intend to reveal the fact that she was still a virgin.
Both matters would have to wait until the rescue. That way, Haruhime could be spared further harm, and their side's movements would not be exposed.
"I was passing through and happened to stop by."
Bell lied without changing expression.
"I see... If we are only catching up, then I suppose it is all right."
Haruhime did not doubt him at all.
"Mm. I don't have much time."
Before Bell could finish speaking, Haruhime's fluffy golden tail drooped in disappointment.
First came the joy of reunion, then the sadness of realizing their time together would be short. This fox girl was far too easy to read.
Bell gently stroked her long golden hair and said, "The first thing I want to talk about is Mikoto."
"S-so it really did cause trouble for Cranel-sama? This is all my fault..."
Haruhime remembered what had happened a few days earlier and could not help but frown.
Her childhood friend had seen her walking with the boy and slapped Bell across the face. Haruhime was convinced it was all because of the awful influence brought by her status as a prostitute.
"No. Actually, that was all Mikoto's acting."
Bell told another lie.
"Acting...?"
Haruhime's ears twitched in confusion.
"Mm. How should I put it? Mikoto is very kind, but she often acts like a samurai, right?"
Bell thought for a moment, then explained, "That was also a kind of [game] between Mikoto and me. It was something we both enjoyed, so you really don't need to blame yourself, Haruhime-san."
Bell chose to deceive the innocent girl.
If he said that he and Mikoto had once had a conflict and then made up, it would only make Haruhime feel guilty.
"A game? Mm... I understand..."
Haruhime nodded thoughtfully.
She glanced at the scandalous picture book in the corner of the bed, as though she had thought of something.
"So Cranel-sama and Mikoto-sama have that kind of relationship..."
Haruhime murmured softly. It was as though she had glimpsed another side of her childhood friend, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"..."
Bell was silent for a moment.
He felt a little sorry for the samurai girl, but if it meant seeing Haruhime smile, Mikoto would surely laugh it off.
Well, probably...
Bell gathered his thoughts and spoke again. "I might not be able to come visit you for a while, Haruhime-san. Before I go, could you give me one strand of your hair?"
The longer he stayed here, the higher the risk of being exposed.
If Goddess Ishtar learned from Haruhime that Bell had secretly slipped in to meet her, she would only think he was a man who could not suppress his desires.
But if he were caught and confronted the goddess face-to-face, the situation would be very different.
Bell quickly stated his second objective and prepared to leave as soon as possible.
"Hair? I understand..."
Haruhime nodded and began undoing the sash around her waist.
"...Haruhime-san? I meant a strand of your golden hair, not anything else."
Bell reminded her.
"Eh? I thought it was some kind of code for a game..."
Haruhime blushed as she straightened her kimono and handed him a strand of her hair.
"..."
Just what kind of picture books had this fox girl been reading? Her behavior right now was far too erotic.
Bell did not say that out loud. He put away the strand of hair, told her to take care of herself, and hurriedly left.
Haruhime gazed out the window, her eyes rippling with reluctant affection.
The scent of musk hung all around.
Aside from avoiding exposure, Bell also had to hurry to another promised meeting place.
That golden-yellow-haired elf was kind and understanding. She definitely would not get angry over the scent of musk.
Well, probably...