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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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The blond, tanned man scanned the crowd.
It was the summer festival in the beach city. He wasn’t about to let this golden opportunity slip by.
Every woman who came to the festival was dreaming of a little romance.
It was the perfect opportunity to find a girl and have some fun. His pot-bellied companion licked his lips, his eyes gleaming like a predator’s.
“So, did you find any cute girls?”
The pot-bellied man shielded his eyes with his hand, scanning the crowd.
“Tsk, you should stop singing the praises of the prettiest girl in our village and start looking.”
“I am looking. And when I find her, I’ll howl with joy.”
He still couldn’t get used to his companion’s ridiculous way of speaking, even after three years.
“Your language is atrocious… Oh, hey! I found them!”
“Where? Woah…”
They spotted two girls walking down the street. One had pink hair, and the other had brown hair.
The pink-haired girl’s cat-like eyes were particularly striking. She looked a bit fierce, but that was even better.
In his experience, girls like that were the most affectionate after a night of fun.
And the brown-haired girl looked demure and composed. Either way, both of them were stunningly beautiful, living up to their reputation as the “prettiest girls in the village.”
“Holy shit, those girls are top-tier beauties! SSS-rank!”
“Even a unicorn would agree.”
They grinned at each other, their hands itching to cause some mischief.
“Damn, look at those tits! They’re practically begging to be played with. Did you bring the potion?”
The potion they were referring to was a special aphrodisiac made from a mixture of poppy sap and mandrake honey.
It was a powerful drug that took effect within minutes, turning its user into a lustful animal.
It could turn a prude into a nymphomaniac, a saint into a whore. One dose was all it took.
In the blond man’s experience, the women he had used the potion on had become completely submissive, panting and begging for more. Their intelligence seemed to plummet, and they became incredibly obedient.
And the next morning, they would cling to him, begging for another round. He had lost count of how many women he had used the potion on.
“Of course I brought it. But they look like nobles. Are you sure about this?”
“Even better. But if things get hairy, we run. I spotted them first, so the pink-haired one is mine.”
The pot-bellied man frowned.
“What? You don’t like her?”
“I do not like her.”
“Then we can switch.”
“But finish outside. It’s disgusting otherwise.”
They had reached an agreement. They followed the girls, who were disappearing into the crowd.
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Sepia sighed, her lips in a pout.
“Where is he?”
And the city was so large that finding Ethan wasn’t easy.
She had been visiting every inn in the city, bribing the innkeepers to contact her if they saw a black-haired man matching Ethan’s description.
“My lady, this is the last inn.”
Vivian, recalling the city map, explained calmly. She had a photographic memory.
“Let’s go in.”
Vivian followed Sepia into the inn. But the innkeeper hadn’t seen anyone matching Ethan’s description.
“He’s not here. What do we do now?”
“Seriously… why isn’t he checking his messages?”
Sepia checked her communication crystal again. The last message from Ethan had been three hours ago.
“This is ridiculous.”
She was annoyed and hungry. She hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast.
She had been riding in a carriage all morning, traveling from the Logness territory to Eastvan, then using the transfer stone to Southvan, and then taking another carriage to this city.
All she had eaten was a piece of bread.
“Perhaps you should eat something, my lady.”
“I want to eat with Ethan…”
“My lady, it would be best to eat something and then wait for him to contact you. There’s no guarantee he’ll show up today.”
Sepia reluctantly agreed and ordered dinner. A short while later, the door opened, and a blond thug entered.
Sepia’s food arrived.
The blond thug went to the counter and booked a room. He went upstairs, then came back down and approached the innkeeper.
“There’s something wrong with the bed. Could you check it?”
“There’s nothing wrong with the bed.”
“Please, just take a look. I’m a light sleeper.”
The blond thug led the innkeeper upstairs. The pot-bellied man casually walked into the kitchen.
He was so smooth that no one noticed.
He put on a fake beard and glasses, tied an apron around his waist, and brought two glasses of beer over to Sepia and Vivian’s table.
“We didn’t order beer.”
“It’s a service, my lady. It’s the festival, after all.”
He placed the beers on the table. Sepia, unfamiliar with the local customs, simply nodded.
“And some water.”
He placed a pitcher of water on the table as well.
‘Drink up, bitches. I’m going to have my way with you.’
He left the inn for a moment, then returned with the blond thug and the innkeeper.
“Ahahaha, it seems I was mistaken.”
“It happens.”
“Could we get two dinners, please?”
“Certainly.”
The blond thug sat down at a table a short distance away from Sepia and Vivian. He glanced at them occasionally.
“Why isn’t he replying…?”
“Just call him, my lady.”
“I want to, but… I’ll do that if I have to.”
She could easily contact him and arrange to meet. But Sepia stubbornly wanted it to be a “coincidence.”
‘Does she have a boyfriend? Even better! Jackpot!’
She looked like a lovesick girl.
He enjoyed seducing women who were already in a relationship. He wanted to see the look in their eyes as they succumbed to his charms, their loyalty wavering.
‘Married women are the best, though…’
The last married woman he had seduced was a countess. He still remembered the night the three of them had spent together.
‘Her face was so beautiful when she was under the influence of the potion…’
The pot-bellied man, having removed his disguise, joined the blond thug at his table. No one batted an eye.
The blond thug glanced at Sepia again.
He would wait for the potion to take effect, then pretend to be their friend and invite them to their room. It was the perfect plan.
‘That guy… he’s been watching us… Was he following us?’
Sepia’s eyebrows furrowed. Her intuition was sharp. But she couldn’t accuse them without proof.
She felt parched and took a sip of water.
‘Yes! She drank it!’
He had been watching the brown-haired girl, waiting for her to drink the water. He smirked.
It was almost time.
He exchanged glances with the pot-bellied man and stood up. He approached Sepia and casually placed his hand on her shoulder, as though they were old friends.
“Hello there. You two are here for the festival?”
Sepia, who had been resting her head on the table, looked up. Her lips moved, but her voice was too quiet to hear.
“What did you say?”
“Get your hand off me, asshole.”
“What?”
Sepia’s blue eyes flashed dangerously.
Crack.
She grabbed his wrist and twisted it. The blond thug screamed in pain and fell to the ground. A collective gasp echoed through the inn.
“How dare you touch me?! I’m a Logness!”
Everyone in the inn was staring at them. An invisible force slammed into the pot-bellied man’s stomach.
He gasped.
“Both of you, on your knees.”
They couldn’t resist the command. They fell to their knees, their bodies trembling.
“Is that some new suicide technique?”
Sepia’s patience had snapped. She hated being touched, especially by strangers. And he had dared to put his filthy hand on her shoulder.
‘Shit… We’re screwed. She’s not just a noble, she’s a mage!’
He had never used the potion on a mage before. He had followed his usual plan, but it had backfired spectacularly.
And the brown-haired girl seemed to be resisting the potion as well. She must be a skilled mana user.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
Sepia lifted the two men into the air with her telekinesis and threw them across the room.
They crashed into the wall, a sickening crunch echoing through the inn.
“Get out, before I kill you all!… What is it, Vivian?”
Sepia turned to see Vivian nudging her with her elbow. She looked towards the entrance and saw Ethan standing there with Arthur, flanked by two girls.
‘No… this is impossible… The Lucky Ring… Why is Sepia here…?’
I fidgeted with the ring on my finger. The two thugs apologized and quickly left the inn.
They ran through the streets, their breath coming in ragged gasps.
“Shit, shit, shit! That crazy bitch! Crazy bitch! Crazy bitch!”
“We almost died.”
They didn’t stop running until they reached the outskirts of the city. The streetlights of the city glowed in the distance.
The pot-bellied man leaned against a wall and vomited. He had felt nauseous ever since he had been punched in the stomach.
A dark figure approached them.
“Boss, we found them.”
They turned to see a group of knights and soldiers surrounding them.
“You’re the ones who harassed my lady.”
It was the pot-bellied man and the blond thug, just as the lady had described. Knights? They suddenly remembered the countess.
“Shit… we’re really screwed now.”
The blond thug couldn’t help but laugh. He hadn’t expected them to be pursued.
“Boss, he’s laughing.”
“Let him laugh while he still can.”
Screams echoed through the alley.
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“Ethan, who are these girls?”
Sepia asked sweetly, her eyes narrowed.
The two adventurers, sensing the danger, exchanged glances.
“Thank you so much! We… we’ll just go to our room now!”
They booked a room and hurried upstairs. They had been adventurers for five years. They weren’t stupid enough to stay.
“Ethan, and Arthur! Long time no see! How have you been? Come, sit down.”
The two of us sat down obediently. The atmosphere was tense.
“Wow, what a coincidence!”
Sepia clapped her hands together, a bright smile on her face. But her eyes were cold.
“You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Let’s order some beer and dinner. My treat.”
We nodded, unable to refuse. It felt like we had been caught cheating.
The beer arrived, and Sepia raised her glass.
“Cheers!”
Arthur kept glancing at Vivian. He felt strangely drawn to her.
Sepia chugged her beer and slammed her glass down on the table.
She glanced at the ring on Ethan’s left hand. He never wore jewelry.
‘A ring? On his ring finger?’
She felt a strange pang in her chest. She wanted to ask him about it. She could see the Linchester crest engraved on the ring. But she decided to wait.
“So… Ethan… how have you been?”
“I’ve been well. How about you?”
We exchanged pleasantries. I told her I had been training in the Linchester territory.
“Hello, you’re Sepia’s friend, Arthur Pendragon, right? I’m Vivian. It’s nice to meet you.”
Vivian, following her instructions, was chatting with Arthur. Arthur, flustered, answered her questions politely.
This allowed Sepia to focus all her attention on me.
“Hmm? You’ve been busy. But… why didn’t you contact me?”
“My communication crystal broke. See? It’s a new one.”
It was true. It was a new crystal.
“Wow, really? Heehee, you actually broke it?”
“What about you? Who were you fighting at the tavern?”
“I don’t know. Some guys were bothering me, so I taught them a lesson.”
Sepia shrugged, feigning ignorance. She wanted to ask him about the ring.
Vivian suddenly clutched her chest and gasped, as if she were in pain.
“Arthur… could you… take me to my room? I don’t feel well…”
“What? Are you okay?”
“I suddenly feel… sick.”
Arthur glanced at Sepia. Sepia was impressed.
‘Wow… Vivian’s a good actress.’
Of course, it wasn’t entirely an act. The potion, which had been mixed into their drinks, was starting to take effect.
It was taking longer than usual because of Vivian’s high mana capacity, but no one knew that.
“Arthur, be a gentleman and take care of Vivian.”
“O-okay.”
Arthur helped Vivian to her feet, booked a room, and disappeared upstairs. Sepia smiled.
She knew Arthur would take care of Vivian. He would nurse her back to health. And Vivian would find a way to keep him there all night.
“It seems like Vivian is quite ill… Maybe we should call it a night…”
“Arthur will take care of her. Don’t you want to be alone with me?”
I nodded. In the original story, Arthur and Vivian ended up together. And Vivian was essential for Arthur’s development.
“I wanted to spend the night catching up, but it seems like you’re not interested.”
“That’s not true…”
“I missed you. Did you miss me?”
Sepia’s words surprised even herself. She was being unusually honest.
The atmosphere grew heavy, and Sepia’s expression softened.
Suddenly, Sepia swayed, her breath catching in her throat.
I quickly reached out to steady her. She clutched my arm, her hand on her chest. She felt strangely hot.
“Ethan… help me…”
Her voice was soft and languid. Sepia tried to stand up straight, but she stumbled and fell, like a drunkard, scraping her knee.
I quickly caught her. Her forehead was covered in sweat. Her body was burning up.
“Take me to bed…”
“Sepia, are you okay?”
“I feel… really good… Heehee.”
I lifted Sepia into my arms. She wrapped her arms around my neck.
I carried her to her room and laid her on the bed. I sat down beside her. The air in the room was thick with tension.
“Sepia, get some rest. I’ll go check on Arthur and Vivian.”
I started to get up, but Sepia grabbed my shirt.
“Ethan… don’t go… Stay with me…”
She was panting, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
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👀👀👀