Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: The Man in the Suit and the Bitch in the Mini Dress (4)
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Date.
The act of lovers—or those with mutual interest or affection—spending quality time together.
As a total loner virgin with just two pseudo-sexual experiences under my belt, I'd imagined something sweeter, more tantalizing... but reality fell way short of my dreams.
"Yeah. Good ingredients sell out fast. You did great rushing over early...!"
Diana beamed with satisfaction, arms overflowing with baskets full of fresh vegetables and meats.
"Phew, yeah..."
I set down the baskets weighing down my hands for a moment and wiped the cold sweat from my brow.
'This... is a date?'
It was nothing like what I'd pictured.
From early morning, I'd been running around nonstop with Diana in tow.
Squeezing through the beast butchers in a corner of the market district to snag freshly slaughtered meat.
Watching Diana haggle like a pro with the veggie vendors.
Cheering her on from behind as she turned the tables on a spice merchant trying to pass off black sesame as pepper.
...Come to think of it, aside from carrying a few bags for her, I hadn't done much.
"Thanks, Balkan. We finished way faster than usual thanks to you."
"No big deal. I just carried a couple bags."
"Hehe. 'Just'? Normally I have to make multiple trips alone, but today was a breeze."
Thud.
Diana loaded the baskets onto the cart as she spoke.
She gestured to the coachman, who nodded.
Prance!
The cart laden with ingredients rolled off with the horse's whinny.
The fresh goods would be delivered straight to the Cozy Winter Night inn via cart courier service.
"You went shopping like this every day?"
"Yup. Ever since retiring... it's been over ten years now."
'Running a top-notch inn ain't for amateurs.'
Sure, there were days when the curse turned her into a total degenerate bitch lost in nonstop masturbation, but Diana was usually the picture of diligence and warmth.
She dashed around like this just to serve her guests tastier food, and all I could do was feel grateful for the benefits.
"Now that we've got the ingredients, let's go shopping for clothes."
"Finding stuff that fits me might be tricky, though."
I remembered wandering the market district forever back when I wore nothing but sackcloth, just to find one tight, uncomfortable outfit.
"...Yeah. You're right..."
Diana cautiously rested her hand on her chin and eyed my body.
Her eyes were firmly shut, but I could feel her gaze sweeping over me.
Gauging my size, maybe.
To help her get a better look, I spread my arms wide like a Vitruvian man.
Ten minutes passed like that. Diana stared at my body, entranced.
"Diana?"
"H-Huh? Oh, d-don't worry. They do custom tailoring here...! P-People are staring. Let's hurry."
The morning streets bustled with others.
"Doing that right out in the open. That couple's not just blessed with good chemistry—they're downright lewd."
"If you're jealous, just say so. What guy shows off his body like that? Must be all that love."
"Jeal-ous! I want a decent guy for some pure lovemaking too!"
"Dream on. The only place for you is a lawless district brothel. Go grab a slave stud. Money gets you threesomes or noble-style romps there."
Women who looked like explorers shot me sticky glances amid their filthy chatter.
I was used to those looks by now. My hand itched toward my axe.
But with my gear at Zirnier's for repairs, I was unarmed.
"L-Let's go, quick..."
Diana, cheeks flushed at the word 'couple,' gently grabbed my wrist and tugged.
I glanced at her walking ahead, then carefully lowered my arm to clasp her hand.
Flinch.
Diana's shoulders trembled slightly.
After a brief hesitation, her soft hand fidgeted in mine.
Her fingers, tentative at first in my grip, slowly intertwined with mine.
"..."
"..."
We walked the streets in silence, fingers laced.
Neither of us spoke first, yet we both knew we shared the same feelings.
I fought to contain the emotions swelling in my chest, savoring every second of this sweetness.
Healing? Rest? Peace of mind? Who needs 'em.
Just strolling hand-in-hand with Diana maxed out my heart's recovery meter.
"Ah..."
Diana let out a wistful sigh.
She was gazing up at a building beside us.
[Arachne's Miracle]
A tailoring shop with mannequins in sharp suits and stunning dresses behind sleek plate glass.
"...We're already here."
"...Yeah."
Silence fell again. We looked at each other, then spoke in unison.
"Shall we walk a bit more?"
Diana smiled warmly at my question and squeezed my fingers again.
We circled the city streets three more times before finally entering the shop.
'What a cringey display.'
Silkness, manager of Arachne's Miracle and a mid-level explorer, scowled at the couple before her.
Every time she'd step forward expecting customers, the pair would lock eyes at the door and wander off again.
She couldn't see the man's face under his helmet, but that vibe? She could guess the look in his eyes.
Not once, not twice, but three whole times of this lovey-dovey nonsense right in front of her—it made her side ache.
"Thank you for visiting. We specialize in only the finest garments made from Arachne silk—please browse at your leisure."
But she couldn't let it show.
This was money-making time, and these customers were a cut above the rest.
'Diana Ordia...!'
Silkness, a veteran mid-level explorer, recognized Diana on sight.
She'd been iffy at first.
Just a vague memory from that one retirement announcement years ago—no instant match.
'She's a totally different person from back then.'
Silkness couldn't suppress her tailor's instincts.
She instinctively scanned Diana's body.
The fierce, sharp gaze and lean, toned frame were gone, replaced by soft, gentle eyes and plump, sexy curves.
No flab anywhere unnecessary.
Just the right feminine swells in all the alluring spots—enough to make her own gut twinge with envy.
'And she's got a man on her arm!'
Unbelievable as it was, the guy beside her was no slouch either.
Her instincts zeroed in on his body more than Diana's changes.
His tight t-shirt clung just enough to hint at the muscles beneath.
'Is that really a man... or even human?'
A towering height that forced you to look up. Muscles packed densely into that massive frame.
Yet nothing overdone—perfectly harmonious, ideal fusion.
Even a master sculptor's torso would pale in comparison.
A body impossible by nature alone.
'Like a god handcrafted it himself.'
"Mm..."
Diana let out a low moan, sensing Silkness's admiring stares at Balkan, and clung tightly to his arm.
"I'll get you a stunning suit. Pick whatever catches your eye."
A shy claim of ownership, flaunting her wealth in the process.
She didn't run the inn for the money. Her explorer savings were plenty.
She could've said, 'Everything from here to here,' but that'd burden Balkan.
"Huh? No, it's my clothes—I should pay."
As expected, Balkan bristled sensitively at the generosity.
"It's fine. Normally I wouldn't splurge, but this is for Ellie's graduation. If it's too much, think of it as tavern uniform vibes. Go wild, no pressure!"
"Hmm... alright then..."
Balkan nodded to the excuse Diana had prepped all night.
Hard to bluntly refuse when she put it like that.
But he had no clue how to choose.
Lifetime of avoiding fancy suit shops like the plague.
"Any particular style in mind?"
Silkness cut in at the perfect moment as Balkan pondered.
"It's for an academy graduation. Need a suit that fits the dress code."
Silkness blinked in confusion, glancing between Balkan and Diana.
"...Oh my. D-Don't tell me. Your... child?"
She'd sensed the vibe wasn't ordinary, but a kid? Graduating academy-age, no less.
Silkness struggled to keep her face neutral at the bombshell that'd shock the town into fainting.
"...Uh, well..."
"......"
Balkan looked lost on where to start explaining, while Diana fidgeted, face beet red.
'Balkan's child...?'
Diana absentmindedly rubbed her lower belly.
Memories flooded back of that day—pinned under Balkan, legs splayed frog-like, thighs soaked as she took his load.
'If that day... I'd taken it in my womb instead of my thighs...'
Her female body quivered at the thought of conception, belly swelling soft and round.
And she recalled their daughter—recent progress aside, the vibe felt off lately.
'Ellie's an only child, after all...'
Balkan, seeing Diana lost in thought, spoke up for her.
"Ahem. Mind if we check out some options first?"
"Ah, yes. This way, please."
Silkness nodded smoothly and led them.
The pro kept her mouth shut.
'They must've done breeding sex for sure. Classic Diana Ordia—turned that masterpiece body into a merciless breeding sow and got knocked up? Kid's an adult now, and they're still this hot and heavy? Successful folks are on another level. Sigh. Need a smoke...'
...Her thoughts were a bit wild, though.