CH. 308: Xenos Village (II)

Ranye squinted at the adventurer standing next to Ray. She didn't like the temptation oozing from him.

"Scum."

All the adventurers, who hunted their kind for no reason, had skills that yielded mystical effects. She thought of Asahi's charm as one, labeling him scum at a moment's notice.

"Woah there. I did nothing to earn that name."

"Ranye… Master isn't like that."

"Master?" Rayne scowled. "You tamed Ray?"

"He tamed me with his kindness," Ray muttered with a sheepish smile.

"Damn you."

Asahi raised his brow. Being Ray's friend didn't give her the right to walk all over him.

"Hey, Listen."

Asahi circulated his mana and lifted the curtain hiding his aura. Although he had yet to comprehend any 'Blood' element, the number of deaths by his hands easily surpassed a million. Gros, Ranye, and Lyd immediately bore the first-hand impact of his bloodlust. Their heart stopped for an instant, enough to make their head dizzy.

Gryuu's reptilian eyes narrowed to slits. He had been through a shaking battle against an Amphisbaena, which he utterly lost. Yet, the man before him exuded a far greater presence and bloodlust than the scariest Monster Rex he encountered. As part-monster, he understood this feeling better than most adventures—the feeling of facing a stronger monster. The gap between him and Asahi was enough to break his spirit, steal away his ability to even speak his mind, and force him into submission. But he resisted. Even if a shell of his former strength, he was a dragon.

"Young man, you are strong."

Asahi returned a smile. He hadn't unleashed his full pressure on the dragon due to its body wounded beyond imagination. He had given Gryuu the leisure to speak, while the others were still stuck in a limbo of consciousness and unconsciousness. Of course, Ray felt none of it, and could only watch her clan members shivering.

"I told you I'm not here to fight." Narrowing his eyes, Asahi emphasized each word. "So stop being jerks."

"Ranye, would you listen now?" Gryuu asked with a sigh. As a past leader of the village, he hoped the Arachne listened to him.

Asahi sealed his aura and smiled like the most innocent person in the world. The disparity between his bloodthirsty and friendly approach made every Xenos shiver.

"Ranye, please don't hate Asahi… His lover and Lord Ouranos are friends. You can trust him..."

Hearing Ray's sincere appeal, Ranye nodded her head. "I apologize for my previous insults… And thank you for safely returning Ray."

After glimpsing at the difference in their strength, she was quick to apologize and thank him. She'd rather bow her head than letting her entire village be wiped out for her mistake.

Lyd chuckled as though the entire scene was amusing to him. After seeing the monsters on the higher floor, he had accepted he wasn't the strongest. Still, he felt like sparring Asahi would be very fun.

Lyd's awkward cackle dispersed the tension in the cave. Almost immediately, the harpy Fia walked toward Asahi. Stopping less than a meter away, her breasts almost touched Asahi's chest. She observed him as though he was a unique specimen. She closed her eyes and sniffed him.

"Wow. I know why Ray got tamed," Fia said as she turned toward the lamia and pointed at Asahi. "He smells good."

"Stop annoying Master."

Ray pushed Fia until the Harpy stumbled a few steps, the tail feathers on her butt shaking left and right. Fia scratched her head, wondering what she did to earn Ray's retaliation.

Ray turned to Asahi. "Fia is never serious… It makes her a charming person, but she often makes mistakes like flying into a wall or walking naked after bathing."

'The humanoid Xenos are almost like humans.'

Asahi had noted it among Xenos like Ray, Fia, and even Arachne had clothes to hide their privates. Arachne's panties fit rather crudely. Most likely stolen from the adventurers or given by Ouranos with a slight chance of them being knitted by her silk. This habit paired with their speech set them apart from the normal monsters, pushing them into the territory of humans.

'Are they Dungeon-chan's attempt to imitate humans? Create a more intelligent army?'

He had a feeling his hunch hit the mark on this one.

'I'll go fuck some juggernauts after this. Have to give Rini her gift.'

He had become accustomed to torturing the child of calamity every time it showed up.

"Asacchi, can I call you that?"

"...Sure."

It still sounded better than the 'Noble Rookie' nickname the adventurers shoved on him.

"Follow me! We'll show you our humble settlement."

At Lyd's booming call, Asahi and Ray followed Lyd through the corridors dotted with the magic stone lamps Astraea and nearly everyone in Orario used in their houses.

The corridors led to a room with a spring on each side; both were surrounded by crystals. One even had two cute mermaid girls swimming about. They popped their heads from the pool and curiously gazed at him with large, innocent blue eyes. Asahi waved back with a wide smile, and they returned a cheerful wave.

Ray puffed her chest at his friendly interactions with Xenos, stretching the thin tube containing her larger than average breasts. Asahi's eyes were naturally drawn to her. The Siren tilted her head in ignorance.

"Master?"

"You'll wear maid clothes?"

She responded with a tiny nod. "Grayfia-san will prepare one for me."

'Not surprised about that. Her maid fetish is getting to others.'

It only profited him as a maid dress instantly increased their charm beyond the mortal realm.

After crossing yet another corridor, they arrived in a spacious cavern. The harpies flew and lifted the thick cloth from the quartz crystals. The hellhounds rushed forth to switch on the magic stone lamps.

The cave became bright, revealing a stone platform occupied by several non-humanoid Xenos. They started another cycle of curious observation on Asahi.

Lyd beckoned Asahi to sit and everyone formed a circle around him. Fia and Laura tried to sit beside him, but Ray forced Laura away and snuggled against him.

"She has taken a liking to you," Gryuu said, his eyes smiling. He had yearned for the day surface dwellers and Xenos could sit like this and chatter.

"Master also likes me," Ray confidently stated.

Perhaps it was her friends' presence or Asahi's compliments, Ray had become more assertive.

Asahi smiled at her fast growth just like Rini's.

(Stop acting like Rini is your sister!)

'It's more fun if I think she is my sister. Incest is wincest.'

(True…)