CHAPTER 21 - First 'Hunt'
═──────═══✠═══──────═
The isle of Isilia, or more specifically the town of Guella that was placed at one of its southernmost points specifically, was not much in the best of states.
The bustling, although reduced, continued through the night. If there was anything humans were good at, it would be constantly trying to keep themselves entertained even in the most dire of situations.
"Now where to …?" Rei found her feet walking on their own, not necessarily admiring the environment though, as its decadence rivals that of the European wastes, reduced to a pseudo-feudalism mess in her own world.
Eventually, picking up her pace as more shady-looking men started to take notice of her face, she hightailed it to a district that seemed to be a lot more active than the others during the time of night.
'This is …?' Rei looked around for indicators, before realising the kind of place she was in.
Within its red district, where arguably it was the most lively in the night, Rei could be found wandering through the streets lit with the red-orange flames of lit oil lamps.
'Hmmm …' Rei found it quite amusing that there was still significant foot traffic even in the dead of night, but then again in a shithole like Guella she should have only expected its many lowlives to crawl around these parts during the most convenient of times.
Rei put her gaze upon a warrior of grey hair, with bulging muscles and a quite an out of place ornate sabre resting on his waist, embracing two women at either side …
'Mmmmm …' The warrior's mana was alluring her, refined across training …
'No, obviously not.' The man was too dangerous for a first target, not to mention that if he owned a sword like that, it most likely meant that he was too high profile and would attract unnecessary attention in the case that Rei were to succeed in her 'venture' anyways.
Rei then shifted her gaze upon a woman, filled with young beauty, and even wearing clothes noticeably more valuable, but scant than others …
'No, just no.' Rei smelled an STD or two from her, most likely Syphilis and Chlamydia.
'Wait, how do I know what STDs smell like?' Rei thought as she shifted her gaze to a fat man turquoise feathered hat, of nicer clothes with pockets so loaded they were seeping out.
This one seemed like the most natural choice–
'Too much grease …' But alas, Rei was quite conscious of what she ate, and she was not yet at the stage where she would just bite anything she could get her hands on quite yet just as she was during Maltha.
Not to mention, he simply smelled too bad for her liking.
'Hmmm …' Rei thought about it for a while, and realised that maybe her mistake was looking at the ones that attracted attention too much.
'Right, I'm not exactly trying to dine Michelin here …' Rei scanned, basically lowering her standards or else she would be losing control soon.
A non-suspecting joe.
Someone who smelled nice.
Someone untouched by diseases … as much as possible in a mediaeval time period at least.
And most importantly … someone who seems easy to lure into an isolated alley to dispose of easily.
'Right on the mark …' Rei made her way to her match, her stomach eager for delight.
…
…
…
…
…
"I see, so Mister only have a younger brother who went north to find work as a sellsword?"
"I-I'm afraid that's correct … I have to make do everyday by myself …"
"I'm sorry for asking about such a sensitive topic …"
"Ah, no, it's really fine!"
Berto, without much apparent reason, seemed to have scored the attention of Rei … for no reason of course other than his natural charm, of course, that's what it would look like.
Rei with an elegant stride casually bumped into him, and while apologising the conversation suddenly lengthened into revealing things about themselves slowly and steadily.
Although most of what Rei said was utter nonsense, that is.
His heart was easily enamoured by the beautiful maiden despite her oddities.
Hair as black as the night sky above, if it were starless that is, which was as unusual as the coveted pale white hair of ash and silver.
Eyes as red as blood, to Berto looking almost scary as he was a pacifist who lived his life around the principle of trying to avoid getting into trouble.
Skin almost like milk, unblemished, its softness and texture so apparent that it almost feels like he knew what it would feel like just by seeing it.
But …
"I-I'm sorry, but I couldn't possibly afford your services …" Berto was naive, but even he knew how these things worked, and he thought he shouldn't waste Rei's time.
Hearing this, the black-haired maiden was confused for a bit, thinking for a bit before understanding what Berto meant.
"Pffft, hahaha!" Rei gave out a soothing giggle, it was probably the cutest thing he'd ever heard in his life.
Such a scene looked quite heartwarming, and would have been too, if the maiden in question wasn't thinking about ripping his head from his body right then and there.
But still, Rei curbed all desires of violence bubbling up within her, and responded.
'Yes … it would be more convenient if it was like this, wasn't it?' It was the red light district after all, and suddenly a maiden considered quite above just average looking approached a young man in the middle of the night? To anyone who was a native in the city it would appear pretty clear what the intentions really were.
"I think you may be misunderstanding something, Mister." Rei said, moving her finger back and forth, beckoning Berto to lean in closer before whispering in his ear.
"Mister, just for you … it's free." These words were enough to make the young man flush.
═──────═══✠═══──────═