The Horn Is Acting Weird...(2)
I exclaimed with a bright smile, “Wow! A virgin!”
Eve’s face flushed red while maintaining her usual enigmatic smile, her entire body going rigid. I patted the back of her hand gently, offering comfort.
“Aw, come on. It’s fine, it’s totally fine! Everyone knows elves age slowly, both physically and mentally, right? I don’t know how old you are, Miss Eve… but running a shop of this scale means you can’t be that old.”
“Hup…!”
Eve, the oldest living mortal yet still a virgin and broke, flinched visibly. Since she probably assumed I didn’t know her true identity, she wouldn’t think I’d said it on purpose. But sometimes, pure innocence can be the greatest weapon.
…In my case, it’s innocence used as a cover for savage backhanded jabs!
Watching Eve’s composure shatter was valuable in many ways, but unfortunately, it didn’t last long. She quickly regained her color, cleared her throat a couple of times, and continued.
“Ahem. This is top-grade horn that’s practically impossible to obtain in this era. If you wish to sell it, I can connect you with a good buyer. …Of course, I’d take a tiny commission.”
Strip her to the bone (X)
Too embarrassed, change the subject (O)
“I’m not really feeling that. Since it’s such a good item, I’d rather use it myself than sell it. I’m confident I can make plenty of money even if it takes some time.”
“Hehe. Your confidence is fascinating, Mr. Yona. It doesn’t feel like the naive optimism of a child… it’s closer to conviction backed by solid evidence. Yes. It’s quite admirable.”
Eve licked her lips and nodded. In that moment, she seemed to have regained her usual composure. But I knew better. That was just a habit she’d picked up from her days ruling as the Elf Queen!
When someone in a position that carries the fate of an entire race faces a problem, panicking would only heighten the anxiety of those below them. So she’d trained herself to act as if she’d anticipated everything, no matter how flustered she felt. The so-called ‘Ah, I see. So that’s how it is… You don’t need to know yet’ strategy!
Through that process, her enigmatic speech and relaxed demeanor had become second nature. Combined with her suspiciously suspicious appearance, it had actually been quite effective… but now it was just an old habit that caused misunderstandings.
Right now, she was probably still bothered by that virgin slip-up from earlier. It’d be mean to torment her too much, so I’d have to give her a reward next time. What would be good…?
While I was lost in thought, Eve lightly interlaced her fingers and placed her hands on the desk, setting the mood.
“If you intend to use the horn yourself, Mr. Yona, I can process it for you. What form would you prefer? Dagger, protective talisman, elixir… anything is fine. If you don’t trust me, I can introduce you to an outstanding craftsman. Will you entrust it to me?”
Hand over the unicorn horn to me (X)
Please stop with the virgin jokes (O)
“Hmm. Yeah, that makes sense. Since I don’t really know anyone else, it’d be best to leave it to you, Miss Eve. And seeing how much it was shining earlier, I think the horn wants that too!”
“Kuhuk….”
The thousand-year-old virgin, who had just carefully composed herself, crumbled in an instant. The way she was overly conscious of her lack of experience suddenly clicked with me. Click!
A man who’s self-conscious about being a virgin. And a virgin bitch who giggles and says she prefers virgins while looking at him… This works!
I lifted the unicorn horn and pressed it against my forehead. Pointing the brightly glowing horn at Eve, I continued.
“And… it doesn’t seem like the unicorn horn came into my hands for no reason. I like virgins too. Maybe because I’m still one myself?”
“……Pardon?”
Is he serious? (X)
Let’s get married (O)
“Oh dear. How embarrassing, what am I even saying? Anyway, I’ll leave it to you, Miss Eve. Considering my combat style, a dagger seems best.”
At first, since I had the Gluttonous Stomach, I thought about eating it… but it was too hard to chew. It was also too big to swallow. I obviously considered smashing it to eat, but with my current equipment and strength, that was impossible. Since things had come to this, I decided to process it and use it as equipment.
The taste of Rydia’s dagger that I’d briefly borrowed before still lingered in my memory. Increasing my physical specs is important, but if I’m not going to make a living as a martial artist, I obviously need to invest in gear too.
“Hehe… Understood. Then I’ll do the initial processing on my end before contacting the Dwarven Union. Fortunately, I have connections there, and with material of this quality, craftsmen will line up to work on it even if they have to forgo their fees.”
I have this much networking (X)
Let’s get married (O)
“Yes! Then I’ll leave everything to you, Miss Eve! …This is my first time with something like this, so I’m kind of nervous.”
“Oh my? Everyone’s first time is special, so that’s only natural. Please leave something like this to someone with plenty of experience like me.”
Trust me (X)
Let’s get married (O)
The way she put extra emphasis on “plenty of experience” was somehow pitiful… or maybe poignant. I understood how she felt, so I smiled brightly and continued.
“If you’re saying that much, Miss Eve, then of course I’ll trust you and leave it to you. We’re partners, aren’t we?”
“Partners… Yes. That’s right. We are partners.”
If I go down, you go down with me (X)
We’re already a married couple! (O)
I leaned my head in toward the dazed, muttering Eve. As if I were about to share a careful secret.
“Since we’re partners, there’s something I’d like to ask…”
“A request that can only be made to a partner… How intriguing. Please, say anything.”
“The truth is, I don’t have any money right now.”
“Pardon? The materials were brought by you, Mr. Yona, and the Dwarven Union will either not charge at all or take the bare minimum, so you only need to cover my processing fee…”
“I don’t have that processing fee either.”
“…Didn’t you just receive two gold yesterday?”
“I bought this horn with those two gold.”
When I tapped the horn still pressed to my forehead, Eve stared blankly back and forth between me and the horn. She spoke in a slightly flushed voice.
“In that case, it can’t be helped. But this is troubling, Mr. Yona. I am a businesswoman, after all. I can’t do work without receiving any compensation.”
This is truly troubling (X)
Pay with your body (O)
“Isn’t there any way…?”
“…Normally it wouldn’t be possible, but as you said, Mr. Yona, we are partners. I’m more than willing to show a little consideration.”
“Really?!”
“Yes. Strictly speaking, I should demand payment in advance, but if it’s you, Mr. Yona, paying later at your leisure is fine. It just so happens that a certain generous person took goods instead of cash as compensation for her subordinates’ lives.”
With a deep smile, Eve glanced at Lemon and Apple sprawled beneath me. Just that was enough to make the pair start trembling. They must have gotten scolded a lot even after Rydia and I left…
I patted Lemon and Apple’s chests in turn, then sent Eve a meaningful look.
“Paying later. Paying it back slowly over multiple times is fine, but I’d like to suggest a slightly different method. For example… paying with my body?”
“…Hmm?”
What kind of trick is this? (X)
Is he finally making a move?! (O)
She must have been expecting it quite a bit—her narrowed eyes opened just a sliver, and her green pupils gleamed thinly between her eyelids. It was a gaze that seemed to pierce through everything about me. The sensation of being stripped bare made my body tremble involuntarily. It wasn’t the same lewd atmosphere as before; this was real pressure I could feel.
She was probably using the Eye of Truth at full power. Facing a genuine Authority—not the dregs left behind by a dead god—I spoke clearly.
“I plan to defeat the Floor Guardian on the first floor and receive the World Tree’s Authority. And I’ll use that power exactly once for you, Miss Eve.”
“……!”
Was this unexpected? Her half-lidded eyes flew wide open, fully revealing her pupils. They were a transparent green like emeralds. Perhaps because she was using the Eye of Truth at maximum output, her eyes were glowing on their own.
This was no longer simple pressure. I could feel the colossal being beyond it directly. It was just a small branch left behind by the World Tree in its lifetime, yet it carried this much presence. The setting that the gods’ serious fight had destroyed the world with just the aftershocks finally made sense—not just in my head, but in my body.
If beings like this clashed, of course the world would be destroyed.
Staring straight into those eyes that tolerated no lies, I grinned. Not the cute smile I’d learned to survive in this world, but a laugh closer to my original self.
“I’m serious.”
“…It seems so.”
“But it’s also true that I need help.”
“I will gladly assist you.”
With the Eye of Truth fully open, Eve answered immediately. It must have been because my sincerity had reached her.
If I took the time to grow steadily, in a few years I’d have the specs to at least rack up some contribution against a Floor Guardian. But that would take too long. So I’d rely on equipment and gacha to shorten the growth period as much as possible.
If I become that strong… I should be able to completely overturn the blackening event that will one day come for Eve.
If I asked for help, Elly and Rydia would gladly lend a hand. But separate from that, shouldn’t I also do my absolute best? That would be my responsibility as the person who confirmed her fate as a tragedy, and as her only understanding ally.
I quietly extended my hand. After a brief hesitation, Eve took it, and we shook hands. I shook lightly and asked.
“Miss Eve. But earlier, didn’t you have a slightly strange thought? You know, when I said I’d pay with my body.”
“…I don’t know what you mean.”
Eve, back to her usual narrowed eyes, tilted her head and tried to pull her hand away… but I had no intention of letting her escape like this. Since I’d gotten a bit scared from the Eye of Truth’s pressure being far stronger than I’d imagined, it was only fair to give some payback.
Squeeze.
I gripped the escaping Eve’s hand tightly, stood up, and brought my lips close to her long elf ear.
“Big sis Eve… my horn is acting weird…”
“Huuuht?!”
Was it the coquettish tone? The breath against her ear? Or maybe the content was just perfect for dirty thoughts? Whatever the reason, Eve jolted like she’d been electrocuted. The sight was incredibly satisfying.
Clack.
I set the unicorn horn on the desk and bowed to Eve, who was now breathing raggedly in a daze.
“Thank you for today. I’ll be going now. Once the item is complete, have Lemon or Apple bring the Fairy’s Silver Coin to me. I’m always staying there.”
“Eh? Y-yes…”
Leaving behind the still-spaced-out Eve, I roused the twin elves who had been secretly chewing jerky and watching from the side.
“You two, follow me for a bit.”
You’ve got separate business to take care of.