Chapter 56. I'm Here for a Friendly Discussion
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The most awkward moment for a teacher and student is when they run into each other in an inappropriate place.
Like saying, "Oh, you're here at the internet café... to write a paper?" while quickly closing the game screen.
"Ouch! Why did I get knocked over?" Bell winced as he rubbed his arm while trying to escape.
Hiding under Hades' helmet, Cyd silently watched Bell sitting on the ground, his body still carrying a strong scent of perfume.
"Hey, you're also strolling around the Pleasure District, huh?"
There's no way he could ask that!
Cyd silently curled his fingers.
A student who should be constantly advancing in the dungeon now appeared in the alluring Pleasure District. Suddenly, Cyd understood the sorrow of parents witnessing their children fall astray.
He had to correct this immediately!
"Bell, I definitely didn't teach you to come here."
"Wait! Teacher, listen to me!" Seeing Cyd preparing to break his legs, Bell panicked and opened the package Hermes had given him. Inside, he pulled out... an aphrodisiac.
Now… there was no way to explain this...
"Teacher, I came to help you!" Bell threw the bottle away and pitifully tugged at Cyd's clothes.
Cyd raised an eyebrow. Even though Hermes' blessing wasn't glowing, he could tell Bell wasn't lying.
Ah, sure enough, even if you trust them, when they make mistakes, your mind jumps to the worst conclusions.
"Where is he?"
"He went in the direction of where Haruhime is. We should ask her."
"Find him before that damn toad does!"
It was the delicate discussion of bewitching maidens, yet Bell cringed as if he had heard some demonic sound and hunched his shoulders.
"But I feel like now is when I should help you," Cyd said as he handed the helmet to Bell. "You've really stirred up some trouble here."
"Teacher?" Bell hugged the helmet, looking bewildered.
"Put it on and hide," Cyd gestured dismissively. "You're not great at dealing with these things, are you?"
"But you're the same, Teacher!" Bell argued, unwilling to back down. "I came here because I wanted to face this with you!"
"One day, you'll stand in my place, but not today." Cyd tapped Bell on the forehead. "Don't think about putting on the helmet and sneaking behind me. Behave."
Bell bit his lip but obediently donned the helmet.
"So troublesome," Cyd muttered as he cracked his neck and continued towards the palace. "So young yet so daring, with so little strength, yet wanting to face things with me."
Surrounded by scantily clad battle prostitutes, Cyd exhaled slowly.
"That sounds exactly like something a hero would say."
He raised his right arm, black scales slowly covering it.
"You are not evil; plundering through strength is your nature."
"Though I cannot comprehend it, I won't loathe it."
"But it's a relief; if this is truly your nature, there should be no resentment in crushing you head-on."
It was a declaration of war, no doubt. One man calmly challenging all the battle prostitutes present.
"Of course! The stronger you are, the more excited we become!" The prostitutes laughed as they charged at Cyd.
To decide everything through strength—to plunder men if they were strong or be plundered if not. This was their way of life, unconcerned with others' judgments.
To indulge in desires, to follow instincts!
That was why they were powerful!
Having discarded morality, they were freer than anyone!
"Rest assured, at most, I'll bury you in the ground to calm you down."
Cyd waved his hand. The crystals on his bracers glowed, and with a deafening roar, the earth split apart.
The combat instinct caused the prostitutes to halt, but it was already too late. From the darkness of the crevice, something squirmed. Its life force was minuscule, too weak to express its will, but now it was granted strength.
Countless thick roots surged like tentacles, ensnaring those unable to evade and dragging them into the chasm. The ones who escaped the initial wave scattered in all directions.
Were they fleeing?
No, escape was not in their vocabulary. To plunder or be plundered—they would give it their all, regardless.
Give up?
Even if they were eventually plundered, they would not stop, for they never thought of changing.
Cyd was strong. So what? It was precisely strong men they sought to plunder.
How could they know the outcome without trying?
They'd deal with failure later!
Eyes glowing with fervent light, the prostitutes dodged the roots' attacks, approaching Cyd from different angles.
"To be able to face one's desires directly, in that respect, I do admire you." Cyd lowered his hand.
"Boom—"
The ground collapsed. From the abyss surged countless roots, engulfing the battle prostitutes who had lost their footing. To prevent troublesome magic or skills, the roots firmly restrained their limbs, stuffing an appropriately sized apple into each of their mouths.
"You're probably the kind who can't be swayed by softness," Cyd took a step forward. The roots that had effortlessly subdued the prostitutes were meek in his presence, intertwining to provide him with a platform.
"Well then... goodbye," Cyd waved as he walked leisurely toward the palace, now almost within arm's reach.
The earth began to heal, the roots fulfilling their duty of repairing the ground. The captured prostitutes... only had their heads exposed. To ensure they weren't accidentally stepped on by passersby, a conspicuous sunflower bloomed next to each of their heads.
"That power... If only I could possess him," Ishtar was nearly pressed against the window, her slender fingers scratching the glass, her face twisting with obsession.
"Hey! I already said that guy's mine!" Phryne unabashedly flaunted her massive, bloated form. "Only he is worthy of me."
"Phryne, shut up!" Ishtar raised her fist and smashed it against the glass. With a crisp crack, countless fissures spread across it. Her smooth hair moved without wind, creating a sense of pressure that silenced Phryne's shouting for the moment.
This was a god!
"He belongs to me!"
Tyrannical yet rightful, this was a god!
"Boom—"
The tightly shut door fell with a thunderous crash.
A pure white figure leisurely stepped into the palace, filled with all sorts of temptations.
"I'm here for a friendly discussion."