Chapter 70: Recommended

“…………”

“You’re being too jumpy.”

“W-Well… It’s just that… it feels like a different world, you know?”

Although the three of them hadn’t changed in height using the magical disguise items, their appearances had altered considerably.

“Yeah, I can see how you’d feel that way.”

“If we come here more often, you’ll get used to it eventually.”

“…But why are we even in a place where we’d need to come back?”

Even Gulf couldn’t shake off a vague sense of guilt that was difficult to put into words.

“It doesn’t really matter, right? Besides, for us living in the dorms, it might be a place we want to come to regularly.”

“Ishud’s got a point, Gulf. You gotta let off some steam from time to time.”

In dormitory life, there are roommates, of course.

Even if you manage to find time alone, being restless during bedtime… unless you’re incredibly insensitive, it’s not easy to do.

“Well, that might be true, but… w-what should I do?”

“When you enter the establishment, right? There’ll be a row of girls lined up, so you just pick the one you like, pay them, and go to a room. Whether you’re a virgin or not… even if they don’t ask, it seems it’s better to just say you are.”

“T-That’s a bit embarrassing, but is that really a foolproof method?”

“That’s what it seems like. Ah, there it is, coming into view.”

“It’s coming into view…” Ahead of their gazes, there was a shop clearly different in exterior design from the others.

“I-Ishud… are we… going into that shop?”

“That’s right. We’ve come this far, it’d be a waste to run away now.”

“Ishud’s got a point, Gulf.”

Gulf was being dragged along by his two male friends and taken to the nighttime establishment.

(Wha-!? What is… this place?)

The first thing that caught his eye was the scene Ishud had described… many girls employed at the establishment were seated in chairs in a row.

And then there was a scent he had never experienced before… a fragrance concentrated with the essence of temptation enveloped him.

“Look, Gulf. Those ladies over there have tags with numbers on them. Just tell one of the staff in black suits the number of the one you like.”

“Y-Yeah, I-I got it.”

Ishud and Phillip chose their companions with ease, but for Gulf, being in an unfamiliar place and about to experience something for the first time, his nervousness was at its peak.

(Oh no… Looks like I won’t be able to choose on my own.)

Seeing that Gulf was having trouble deciding, Ishud came to his rescue.

“Excuse me. This guy here, it’s his first time in a place like this, and he’s not really experienced with this sort of thing. Could you point out someone who’s good with beginners?”

“Is that so? Hmm…”

The black-suited employee, with a serious expression, thought for a moment… and then introduced several girls to Galuf, who was experiencing many firsts today.

“S-So then…”

Thanks to the suggestions from the employee, Gulf also made his choice.

“Well then, enjoy yourself, Gulf.” 

Ishud said as he paid for Gulf’s selection. The three of them then went into separate rooms with their companions and enjoyed themselves for about ninety minutes… reuniting at the entrance almost simultaneously.

“Ahh… that was a relief. So, Gulf, how was it?”

“Uh, well… um…”

“Wait a sec. Let’s have a drink while we talk.”

“Alcohol, huh? Well then, I know a good bar.”

“Oh, nice one, Phillip!”

Since they still had time before curfew, the three of them conversed at the bar recommended by Phillip… or rather, the other two bombarded Gulf with questions about his first experience.

“Alright, I guess it’s time to head back.”

No matter how impressive their performance in the fierce competition, breaking curfew would bring trouble.

The three of them managed to return to the dormitory just in time, safely.

“Gulf, wanna go again sometime?”

As they lay in bed, Ishud asked Gulf if he wanted to go back to the adult establishment they visited today.

For Ishud, Gulf was welcome anytime.

“…I think it was a good experience. I’m really grateful to Ishud, but… I also don’t feel like going too often… might not be a good idea.”

“Hmm? Well, isn’t that fine too? We have a knight here who spends most of his salary at those places, so I think it’s way better than becoming like him.”

In fact, Ishud felt relieved that Gulf didn’t seem too inclined to become overly invested in such places.

“Hey, mind if I ask you something?”

“Huh!? Uh, sure.”

The next day, Ishud and the others agreed to a tea party proposal from the young ladies and three days later, a tea party for six was held.

“I wasn’t quite sure what’s trendy, so I bought some sweets recommended by the shopkeeper. Is this okay?”

“Of course.”

The young ladies who proposed the tea party brought the tea, while Ishud and the others were in charge of the sweets. Since Ishud truly didn’t know much about what was trendy, he simply bought a variety of recommended items from a famous shop in the capital.

(But what exactly is a tea party?)

While it wasn’t uncommon for Dante, the second son of the Regula family, to discuss matters over tea, today marked the first time for both Gulf and Ishud to participate in a tea party with women.

“Hm? This flavor… is it from the Cresta region?”

“Yes, that’s correct… Do you happen to have an interest in tea?”

The tea provided by the young ladies wasn’t top-grade, but it was certainly of a higher quality.

Philip is the son of a duke, after all. 

Despite being labeled as a barbaric tribe from the frontier, Ishud is also the son of a frontier count.

In general, their family titles are higher than those of the young ladies, so they managed to prepare something of decent quality…but Philip never expected Ishud to guess the origin of the tea.

“Nah, it’s not my hobby. It’s just that our second son… Dante nii-san, is quite a unique individual. He’s not really suited for our family… though he can easily punch out an ogre bare-handed, so I guess he’s not completely unsuited.”

“Yeah, he’s something else. He looks cool with his glasses and all, seems like a mage, but he’s also ridiculously powerful.”

“That’s right… even though he’s supposed to be a mage, he knocked out an ogre with his fists… I was honestly surprised by that sight.”

Even within the Regula family, there are mages, and their son, despite being one, has the power to knock out an ogre with his bare hands.

Whether this conversation was appropriate for a tea party or not, it was undoubtedly quite shocking for the young ladies.

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