Woman Hunting at the Tavern
Inside the tavern. It had been a long time since I'd shared drinks alone with a guy instead of a woman.
"So, what do you want to say?"
I chewed on some jerky and cut straight to why I'd come. The beer was rough-tasting and far from smooth, but that was the romance of it. Would've been even better if it wasn't with some dude.
"There's something I want to ask."
"You?"
That fucker Jed was treating me a bit more politely than before. Of course, his shitty nature hadn't changed. He was probably just buttering me up because he needed a favor.
"By any chance... did you fuck Elinne?"
What? That's what he was dying to know?
Well, sure—coming out of the same room that morning, and above all, we looked way too cozy. Since he and Elinne weren't an item, he couldn't start shit, but his gut must've been churning.
"Why the hell do you care? You into Elinne or something?"
"Just curious as a teammate."
"You think I wouldn't get it as a fellow guy? Honestly, if Charlotte wasn't in the picture, she'd be prime for hitting on."
"So, did you or not?"
"Elinne's pussy was delicious."
"As expected..."
"We did it a lot. Even up until yesterday."
That line carried the implication we'd fucked more than once or twice.
"I... see."
Jed's eyebrow twitched. He'd missed his shot, but if a gap opened later, he'd definitely try to seduce her.
"How the hell... did you end up fucking Elinne?"
"Why? You wanna give it a shot too?"
"N-no. Just curious. With Elinne's personality, she wouldn't go for someone like you..."
Despising the weak? Even as a genius, she was just a barely legal girl back then.
"Hmm, how'd it happen? Oh yeah—she was way easier than she looks."
I blabbered on boastfully, like spinning tales of my conquests.
"I remember popping her cherry. She was extra lonely 'cause of you lovebirds, but a little sweet talk and she folded easy."
No need to mention Elinne crushing on Jed. What would that get me?
"That girl acts all ironclad, but she spreads her legs like nothing. Secretly a total perv."
"E-Elinne?"
"Hesitates at first, but once I start pounding, she loses her shit. You gotta see how she works those hips, Jed."
I spiced it up with real details and bullshit for vivid effect.
"And you know it—her tits are huge. Those royal jugs bouncing while she's shaking her ass on top of me... now that's the art of sex."
"I-is that so."
I'd only been lightly fucking with Jed to mess with him, but damn, it still pissed me off knowing some other bastard was having dirty thoughts about my woman. If even the winner like me felt this sour, Jed must be drowning in massive defeat.
Jed pictured the slutty, disheveled Elinne from my words, then his face hardened.
"Revenge?"
"Huh?"
"Revenge for me stealing Charlotte?"
I couldn't claim it was zero. But calling it revenge just reminded everyone of my past loss.
"Ah—revenge?"
Truth was, I'd gotten over that shit. Hey, I'm a regressor, after all. The old me who'd wailed on the ground had grown up.
"If it was revenge, wouldn't I go after Charlotte myself? Or get payback on you directly?"
Even without bad blood toward Charlotte or Jed, I'd have targeted Elinne. She was worth it.
"Actually, I'm grateful to you."
"Grateful... to me?"
"Was pissed at first. But that kicked off my change."
They say the best revenge is living well.
"Started working out, hitting the nightlife, learning how to handle women. Hugged a ton of 'em, and boom—ended up balls-deep in a girl like Elinne."
"Hoo... yeah."
Jed showed no real reaction, just downed his drink to soothe his frustrated chest. Something was clearly eating at him.
"You. You really wanted to ask about something else, right?"
"...Yeah."
"Can't fuck other girls 'cause of Charlotte? Must suck."
Jed glanced around to make sure Charlotte wasn't nearby before nodding. What a pitiful, leashed pup.
"But in my case, banging multiple women out in the open seems fine—so you wanna know why."
"Yeah."
Not just Ray and Elinne. He'd probably sniffed out that I'd at least railed Kelly and Grace once each. Smart enough not to bring it up—would just make him jealous as fuck.
Jed on his own was the type to melt women's hearts: handsome, skilled adventurer. Before Charlotte, plenty of girls must've dropped to their knees for him.
But Charlotte matched him in strength and stamina, so he was stuck on a leash. That was the problem.
I'd lost to Kelly before, but now? I could handle her. Might lose in raw power, but at night, I'd drill in the male-female pecking order. Then she wouldn't dream of bossing me around during the day.
Cough. Thinking like this, I seemed trashier than Jed. But obviously, bending her via sex wasn't an option for him.
"Lots of reasons. You're weaker than Charlotte for one, and she hates cheating."
Even if she hated it, a guy like me could make her okay with my dick. Or show her upfront what kind of man I am, conquer her... then she'd accept me with others.
Hmm. Yeah, I'm trash.
"If you hadn't snagged Charlotte, I'd be in your shoes right now."
"Kuh."
"Kidding. You gonna dump her over it?"
"N-no way!"
Jed denied it fiercely—uncharacteristic for him. Slipped his real feelings there.
"I... really love Charlotte."
"What's so impressive? Don't act all high and mighty."
Probably something like: He had the hots for multiples, and stealing Charlotte from me started with his dick before his heart. But spending time together, the bastard actually fell in love.
"Quit pretending you're some ethical saint. You're the same breed as me."
"Same breed?"
"What's wrong with wanting other pussy? If you want it that bad, hit a brothel."
"Sh-should I?"
If he owned it like me, fine—but all shrunk up like that, he just looked like a sleazy creep.
No matter how much he loved Charlotte, the urge for other women wouldn't quit.
"Scared she'll catch you? Then go fuck Charlotte instead."
"Haa."
If sex with his girl satisfied him, he wouldn't agonize like this. Already Charlotte-dominated in bed, he'd feel good but not filled. Boring as hell. Sometimes it'd feel like a chore.
"Hoo."
Nonstop sighs. Staring at this pathetic Jed, a thought hit me.
...Play it right, and I could wreck things between him and Charlotte.
Not overnight. But today would lay the groundwork.
"Hey. You ditched Charlotte today, right? If she suspects later, I'll vouch you were with me. Let's give it a shot today."
"Give what a shot?"
"Pick up chicks and fuck 'em, dumbass."
At that, Jed's eyes went wide. With my alibi promise, he started falling for the bait.
Before Charlotte guilt kicked in, I jumped up first and scanned the other tables.
This place was crawling with one-night hopefuls, guys and girls alike. Booming spot meant open-minded crowds.
Striding over, I zeroed in on two hotties: a black-haired bob-cut beauty and a white-haired long-haired stunner.
Highborn like princesses or duchesses had silver streaks in white hair, but this one? No noble vibe.
Wait a sec... Is this chick...?
One more reason to hit on her.
"Hey, you two. Wanna join us?"
Come to think of it, first time cold-approaching a drinking table like this? But with experience bagging tons of girls—and old soldier tips—I went for it.
"Hmm. Who's your friend?"
The black-haired one eyed me up and down. Gate not slammed—good. Not some tall pretty boy, so checking my buddy before deciding.
Usually the hot one approaches, so she figured my companion was ugly.
But my wingman? Prime stud Jed.
"Whoa."
Black-hair gasped at Jed's looks.
"Seira. Let's join 'em."
"Lilith. I'm scared..."
"It's fine. Just drinks."
Black-hair was Lilith. White-hair, Seira.
Lilith kept nudging her timid friend until she caved. We merged tables, two-on-two.