Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: The Elf Who Wants to Be Bullied
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‘……Huh?’
The view inside the store beyond the open door was vastly different from what I’d imagined.
Instead of rows of lewd products as I’d expected, the place was packed with occult decor like skull ornaments and voodoo dolls.
If I hadn’t seen the sign, I might’ve mistaken it for a regular witch’s shop.
Was this really the adult toy store? Feeling a bit confused, I took a few steps forward, and someone came clomping from a dim corner.
“Baynen? Who’s that handsome guy next to you?”
A woman who looked to be in her mysterious prime stared at me with eyes as black as graphite, her dark hair tousled and loose.
She wore a gothic dress with frills, holding a pipe in one hand—a strikingly incongruous sight.
Baynen greeted her with a smile, clearly on familiar terms.
“Long time no see, Dremes.”
“Yeah. Long time. But who’s that fuckable hunk next to you?”
Her speech was so crude it threw me off. As I opened my mouth to say something, Baynen stepped in front of me. It looked like he wanted me to leave it to him for now.
“Hey now. Watch your mouth. This is Master Teorad of the Deharm family.”
“Teorad? Who’s that again?”
Dremes scanned me up and down with utter arrogance, then put the pipe to her lips. She pulled it away and exhaled smoke with a puff, nodding as if it had come back to her.
“Oh yeah. The goody-two-shoes bachelor, right? Your fiancée must be dying of frustration. Guys like you, all prim and proper, are suffocatingly dull. If you weren’t so hot, no woman would give you the time of day.”
“Dremes.”
“What?”
“Mind your manners while there’s still time.”
“Nah. So what if he’s the head of the Deharm family? Why should us witches respect the hierarchies humans cooked up? Besides, I’m also the head of the ‘Grudge Moon Guild.’ You know what that means, right?”
I knew about the Grudge Moon Guild.
To explain, it meant ‘Moon of Resentment’—a group that hadn’t forgotten their rage over the witch hunts the church carried out in the past. It was also the largest faction in witch society.
But why was the head of the Grudge Moon Guild running a sex toy shop? My question was answered by Baynen’s next words.
“Means you’ve got a lot of places money needs to go, huh?”
“……Baynen. If you’d been born a woman, you’d have become a witch.”
“Sorry, but I worship the God of Light. If I’d been a witch, I’d have offed myself.”
“You’re such an asshole. Just go die, you prick.”
“The prick here is you for insulting our young master.”
“You, you little shit…….”
Dremes’s hand trembled around her pipe.
I could tell those two were pretty close, but being stuck in the middle made me feel awkwardly embarrassed.
Baynen noticed my discomfort and shrugged.
“So, you gonna do business or not? Our young master might look like a pushover, but he’s got real talent—the family’s loaded. If you don’t wanna lose a prime customer, fix that arrogant attitude first.”
“You’re really my friend?”
“Come on, don’t be like that. I’m your friend, sure, but first and foremost, I’m the young master’s retainer knight. And you’re a shopkeeper before you’re a witch. Gotta separate business and personal.”
“Ugh…….”
Dremes scowled and turned away.
I thought she might storm out the back in a huff, but instead, she dragged a wooden table from the corner and brought over three chairs for us.
Then she crooked a finger, and a wet cloth flew from the shop’s little kitchen into her hand.
Wipe wipe—
After scrubbing the table thoroughly with the cloth, Dremes plopped down in a chair.
She glanced back and forth between me and Baynen.
“What’re you standing around for? Sit down if you’re customers.”
Pride takes a backseat to profit, huh.
I gave a small smile and sat across from her.
Baynen naturally took the seat next to me and suddenly started acting important.
“Tch. My throat’s parched after coming all the way from the mansion. Got anything to drink?”
“Shut it, Baynen. You’re not my customer. Teorad is.”
“You think the young master sees it any different? Right?”
Now that he mentioned it, my throat did feel a bit dry.
I nodded without much thought, and Baynen flashed a victor’s grin at Dremes.
“See? Two coffees, quick.”
“Fine, just shut your trap.”
Dremes waved her hand a few times, and cups and spoons floated up from the kitchen. Baynen clicked his tongue like he’d caught her in the act.
“You supposed to use magic so casually in front of customers? Go make it yourself. Hurry up.”
“No way. Why should I?”
“Remember last time you lost telekinesis control and dumped half the sugar jar in? What’s stopping you from screwing up again? Just go do it. Doesn’t take long.”
Dremes glared daggers at Baynen. Her eyes were fierce enough to seem murderous at a glance, but he just whistled innocently.
In the end, Dremes raised the white flag.
“What a pain in the ass…….”
Scrape. She got up from her chair and stomped to the kitchen to brew the coffee by hand.
I watched her for a moment, then nudged Baynen’s side.
“Baynen.”
“Yes, young master? What is it?”
“How exactly do you know the head of the Grudge Moon Guild?”
“Oh. We crossed paths a few times when I was bouncing between mercenary gigs. We hit it off over drinks by chance, and the connection stuck. She’s got a foul temper, but she’s not a bad witch, so no need to worry much.”
Fair enough. I’d heard Grudge Moon members were hardcore anti-human, but their supposed leader was just a prickly witch.
No way to tell if she was hiding her true feelings, but she didn’t seem the type to demonize all humanity and lash out at random people.
“But Baynen. Seems like you’ve got the fouler temper right now.”
“Pardon? That’s a misunderstanding. I’m just putting on a show for your sake, young master.”
“For my sake?”
“Exactly. You might not realize it, but witches establish hierarchy right at the first meeting, or they’ll look down on you forever. So I’m drilling it into her that you’re not an easy mark.”
……Sounds plausible, but was he really messing around for my benefit?
It just looked like he was bullying his friend using my status as cover, which didn’t sit right with me. Still, Baynen wasn’t the type to lie to me, so I decided to trust him.
“Here, coffee.”
Dremes had brewed it already and handed cups to me and Baynen.
I took mine and thanked her; she nodded curtly.
“Now spill. What adult toy are you after?”
What adult toy? As if I had an answer for that. I was a total novice when it came to sex toys anyway.
“No clue.”
“No clue? Wait, this your first time in a place like this?”
“Can’t it be?”
“Well, no, but…….”
Sensing the explanation might drag on, Dremes pulled up another chair and sat.
“Then tell me roughly what you’re looking for. I’ll hook you up accordingly.”
“Roughly…….”
What kind of adult toy would an elf like? I recalled all the ways I’d bullied her so far and came to a conclusion.
“First off, no blood. Bodily harm is fine, but no wounds.”
“Anything else?”
“Something that gives physical pleasure while mentally tormenting at the same time would be ideal. But not too sadistic.”
“Picky. One more thing to clarify.”
Dremes spread her legs and hiked up her skirt. Garters, stockings, and black panties with a clear cameltoe were on blatant display.
“What about sticking it in here?”
It was too indecent to look at. I deliberately met her eyes, lifting my gaze.
“……Probably wouldn’t like it.”
“Not sure?”
“First time trying adult toys.”
“Hmm. Then the dragon head’s on the house.”
“Dragon head?”
“You’ll see when you get it. Ask your lover if she likes it. For the rest, I’ll pick some hot sellers, toss in instruction manuals, and pack ’em up.”
Dremes dropped her skirt and beckoned with her finger. A crystal orb and a small card floated from a cabinet into her hand.
She held them out to me like it was nothing.
“The orb’s got my mark—location swap spell. Pack up the toys, and I’ll magic them over, so set it on a flat surface. I’ll send ’em before end of day. The card’s my business card. Too lazy to come back? Burn it, and I’ll teleport right over.”
“Payment?”
“I’ll bill your family. Not in a rush for cash. I’ll list it as ‘household magic tools’ so no embarrassment.”
Pro move. She’d done this before.
I nodded and reached for the orb and card, but Baynen cut in.
“Hold up, Dremes.”
“What now?”
“You’ve been awfully curt. Isn’t the young master your friend too?”
Veins gridlined Dremes’s forehead.
“Baynen. Cut the crap. I’ve killed people before.”
“Think I haven’t? Back in my merc days, I slit throats with a fork.”
A brief silence. The air turned icy as Baynen hammed it up like it was nothing.
“Fine. Won’t nitpick your tone, but show some respect in how you address the young master. Or whatever, lose one prime customer. We’ve got other shops. No skin off our backs, right, young master?”
Why drag me into this.
I was about to tell him to quit the power play when Dremes spoke first.
“I... Witches don’t serve humans.”
“Who said serve? Just watch how you name him.”
“That’s…….”
Deep worry creased Dremes’s face. Pride or money? After agonizing, she flashed me a strained smile.
“Ah, looking forward to doing business, Young Master Teorad…….”
Dremes had bowed to capitalism in the end.
Sunlight filtered through the stained glass, pouring softly into the cathedral.
With countless worshippers watching, Parish Bishop Leviham reverently closed the Bible.
“With this, the regular service concludes. Always hold gratitude toward the God of Light, Karathias, spread the gospel to your neighbors, and bestow grace upon the poor.”
Finishing his words, Leviham clasped his hands and murmured a short prayer.
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