Chapter 1306: 64. A Companion’s Outing

Dragon Lady was a good woman. This was a fact Muen had already confirmed beyond all doubt.

That wasn't only because of the gentleness in her nature, but also because, unlike those bad women who wanted to devour him completely, she did not harbor that kind of evil desire toward him.

And as a companion who wished to walk forward with him for eternity, she respected him, understood him, and wanted to maintain a noble and pure relationship with him, scorning any filthy act that meant surrendering to instinct.

Someone like her was practically a ray of light in the darkness, the only warm harbor where he could safely take shelter amid this storm.

If anything, it was completely wrong of him to suddenly have those slightly improper thoughts.

Muen shook his head, feeling that he'd really been frightened too badly by all sorts of bad women lately, to the point that even at a time like this, he was becoming suspicious of everything.

He really needed to take some time to recover.

Both his waist and everything else.

"Want some candy?"

Just as Muen was thinking this, a little girl by the roadside suddenly ran over, raising both hands high and offering them two pieces of candy.

"Huh? What a coincidence."

Speak of needing a pillow when sleepy, and one appeared.

Taking in some sugar really was a good way to relax. Muen casually accepted the candy and placed a banknote into the little girl's palm.

"Keep the change."

"Thank you, big brother."

The little girl happily accepted the banknote, but her gaze didn't fall on what she was holding. Instead, she stared fixedly at Muen, her large watery eyes lively and bright, as though she were waiting expectantly for something.

"What's wrong?"

Muen asked curiously.

"Hurry up and give the candy to your girlfriend!"

The little girl wrinkled her tiny nose and pouted. "You don't even understand that? Big brother is so dumb!"

"......"

Kids these days really were clever little devils.

Muen handed the candy to Dragon Lady beside him while also becoming slightly more alert, afraid that Dragon Lady might frighten the little girl.

But unexpectedly, this time Dragon Lady showed no reaction to the word "girlfriend." Perhaps after explaining it too many times, she had already stopped caring about other people's misunderstandings and no longer intended to go through the trouble of explaining the difference between "companions" and "lovers."

"Not like that, you have to feed her yourself!" Seeing that Muen really was only trying to share it normally, the little girl was clearly dissatisfied again. "Big brother, you're way too dense! Your girlfriend is going to hate you if you're like this!"

"Little brat, don't push it too far..." Muen's cheek twitched.

After surviving battlefields of romance for so long, this was the first time anyone had ever called him dense.

And besides, was Dragon Lady someone who could be casually fed by hand? With her personality...

"Feed me."

Unexpectedly once again, Dragon Lady actually agreed.

Muen raised an eyebrow, but since Dragon Lady herself had said so, and with a certain light bulb beside them flashing like crazy, there was nothing he could do. He could only personally unwrap the candy and bring it to Dragon Lady's lips.

Those lips were astonishingly soft. As the candy was sucked inside, Muen even seemed to brush against that tender tongue. The fleeting touch sent an electric numbness through him.

Even for a Calamity, the sensation of her lips and tongue was exquisitely beautiful.

"Big brother and big sister look so good together!"

Seeing this, the little girl cheered as though she had completed her mission, then quickly ran off.

Muen followed her retreating figure with his eyes and discovered that she had gone back to a candy shop that was running a couples' promotion, something along the lines of couples getting half-price purchases.

Only then did he stop suspecting anything and put his own candy into his mouth.

His finger also brushed against his own lips. Instantly, sweetness spread through his mouth, and whether because of the sugar or something else, his mood really did improve considerably all at once.

"Humans are sometimes very difficult to understand."

Hamreign, however, was still staring fixedly over there as she sucked on the candy. She didn't use her usual exaggerated way of eating. Instead, her cheeks puffed up slightly.

Naturally, the candy shop's couples' promotion had attracted many couples. She watched those couples holding hands, linking arms, and performing shamelessly intimate gestures in full view of everyone.

It was clearly unbearable to watch, yet those people were deeply immersed in it, while even the surrounding onlookers were bizarrely excited, clapping and cheering them on.

"Submitting to one's own desires and instincts should be something humiliating. It's a symbol of weakness. I don't understand why humans don't feel ashamed of it, but instead indulge in it so willingly."

"This..."

Faced with this sudden and highly philosophical question, Muen didn't know how to answer for a moment.

After thinking it over, he carefully chose his words. "Maybe it's because whether it's desire or instinct, both represent the most fundamental needs that guide living creatures toward survival. For example, love ultimately extends into reproduction, into the need to propagate the species. So no matter what, people can't really avoid it, much less resist it... barring certain special circumstances."

"That makes sense."

Hamreign turned her head. "But dragons long ago were also extremely obedient to their instincts. They scattered their seed freely across the entire continent, which is why so many dragonblood subspecies remain active even today... yet their final outcome was near-extinction."

"This... I really don't know much about that."

The corner of Muen's mouth twitched. Compared to the history of the dragon race, his age wasn't even worth a blade of grass. How could he possibly know something so complicated?

Fortunately, Dragon Lady didn't dwell on the matter. After pondering briefly, she nodded again:

"I personally still believe that submitting to instinctive desire is an extremely humiliating thing. It's just like losing a battle and then being captured by the enemy."

"Is that so..."

That sounded like the sort of thing that could directly be expanded into a wonderful five-thousand-word story.

That really was quite humiliating.

"Exactly."

After saying that, Hamreign didn't wait for Muen to answer. She completely crushed the candy between her teeth and continued walking on her own, leaving this place she believed was filled with shameless people.

Muen was helpless and could only follow.

Before long, the two crossed this street and arrived at another.

The road became broader, and the shops on both sides were clearly much more lavishly decorated.

They were getting close to the Upper District...

Muen raised his head. Not far away, the Glein River flowed calmly, glittering beneath the sunlight.

"Hungry?"

Hamreign pulled Muen out of his thoughts and pointed toward what looked like a fairly high-end restaurant.

"A little..."

Muen rubbed his stomach.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't hungry.

After all, over the past two days, he'd constantly been doing high-intensity physical labor, while the actual rest and meals he'd gotten had been extremely basic.

He could practically be called a beast of burden in another form.

"Then let's eat first, so you don't run out of strength later."

Hamreign pulled Muen into the restaurant. She moved so decisively that Muen didn't even have time to think about how exactly he would "run out of strength later."

The restaurant's melodious classical music soon filled his head. Amid the flickering candlelight, Muen raised a hand and was just about to call a waiter over when Dragon Lady beat him to it and began negotiating with someone who looked like the dining hall manager.

It was obvious that at first, the manager was extremely resistant. But when Dragon Lady produced an ancient coin that was clearly extremely valuable... he immediately became warm and friendly.

"Wait here for a moment."

Hamreign turned back and said this before following the dining hall manager away, leaving Muen standing there blankly with one hand still on the back of a chair, having wanted to play the gentleman for once.

What was she doing?

Muen silently sat down and waited for a while.

It wasn't very long before Hamreign returned carrying an enormous serving dish. After lifting the silver cover, the rich aroma caused guests at the other tables to repeatedly turn their heads, grabbing waiters and continuously asking questions.

"What is this?"

Muen blinked and asked the question everyone else was asking.

"A little... nourishing food."

"Nourishing food?"

"Food with medicinal supplements added."

Hamreign remained expressionless, but the sight of a mighty Calamity personally carrying a serving dish somehow felt... extremely unreal.

"Your body seems somewhat depleted. I made something to replenish you a little... Don't worry, they're all very mild medicinal ingredients. They won't have any negative effects on your body."

"Dragon Lady... made this herself?" Muen asked in disbelief.

"Do you think I've lived for a thousand years without learning even a little cooking?"

Hamreign gave him a cold glance. "Although it's been a very long time since I've actually practiced, I imagine it shouldn't be too bad."

"I... I see..."

Although he still found it somewhat hard to believe, the evidence was right in front of him. Combined with Dragon Lady's golden pupils staring directly at him, Muen couldn't bring himself to refuse no matter what.

Steeling himself, he took a small sip, and then...

"It's delicious."

Muen's eyes lit up.

Unexpectedly, the thick soup-like nourishing food in the serving dish had an exquisite flavor perfectly matching its fragrance. With just one sip, Muen felt that from the tip of his tongue to his throat and then down into his abdomen, everywhere the warmth flowed, every cell in his body seemed to tremble with excitement.

And it really was exactly as Dragon Lady had said—simply food with a little medicinal supplementation added. Muen could feel the medicinal power instantly dissolving throughout his body, unbelievably gentle. Aside from rapidly restoring his depleted condition, there were actually no side effects whatsoever.

"So good, so good..."

Small sip after small sip gradually became ravenous devouring that completely ignored noble etiquette, and Muen was so moved that he nearly burst into tears.

When had he ever enjoyed treatment like this?

Those other bad women only knew how to put strange things into his food!

Only Dragon Lady genuinely treated him this well!

Was this what it meant to have a companion? He loved it.

"Dragon Lady, aren't you eating?"

In between bites, Muen noticed that Hamreign was merely watching him quietly and had no intention of touching the utensils.

"I'm not hungry."

Perhaps feeling that this explanation wasn't convincing enough, Hamreign added, "This was made for you in the first place. You know how much I eat. This amount wouldn't even be enough to get stuck between my teeth."

"......"^

Dragon Lady...

She's so good to me...

I'm really going to cry!

Muen was overwhelmingly moved, but since there was nothing he could do to repay her, he could only clean out every bit of food in the serving dish to show his appreciation for her cooking.

Seeing this, Hamreign's expression genuinely softened quite a bit. Her profile beneath the candlelight was dazzlingly seductive.

Muen stared in a daze for a moment. Perhaps because capturing someone's stomach was equivalent to capturing their heart, he felt that his heartbeat was speeding up slightly.

Fortunately, with his extraordinary self-control, he didn't let Dragon Lady notice.

"Finished eating? Then let's go."

She was still as swift and decisive as ever. In this respect, she was actually somewhat similar to Ariel.

The two left the restaurant and continued wandering through the streets.

No, rather than simply wandering around, Muen vaguely sensed this time that Dragon Lady had a purpose.

Sure enough, just as he'd expected, they soon stopped at a new place.

Muen looked up...

"A hot spring?"

"That's right."

Hamreign looked as though it were only natural. "We've just eaten, so naturally we should comfortably soak in a bath."

"......"^

Come to think of it, he'd only taken a bath this morning...

"What? You don't like the idea of washing the scent of human women off your body?" Hamreign glanced sideways at him.

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant."

Muen waved his hands with an awkward smile:

"I'm just a little curious... Dragon Lady, how did you know about this place?"

Muen found it rather surprising.

After all, he was supposed to be the local here, yet even he hadn't known when such a hot-spring bathhouse had opened.

And such a high-end one at that.

"An annoying person told me about it."

Hamreign didn't explain further. She merely tossed Muen a stone bead that looked very similar to the jade bead from before, yet was slightly different.

"Soak this in the water. It'll be good for you."

"Is... is that so?"

Muen instinctively grew suspicious... and then immediately became angry at himself for having such a contemptible thought.

He'd already said that Dragon Lady wasn't like those bad women. What sort of evil intentions could she possibly have?

"Then thank you."

Muen put away the stone bead. "As for a return gift between companions..."

"Just give me some sort of accessory."

Hamreign raised her jade-like hand and brushed it through her hair. The hair ornament there wasn't particularly expensive, yet at this moment it seemed more exquisite and dazzling than any jewel:

"I really like the hair accessory from before."

"......"^

Muen froze for a moment, then nodded firmly. "Then I'll make sure to choose carefully next time."

After deciding what gift to give her next, the two booked the most expensive private hot springs and separated in the lobby.

The private baths weren't divided by gender, so their rooms were actually right next to each other. Muen had only just lowered himself into the hot spring when he heard splashing water from next door.

Just hearing that sound, Muen could almost imagine how the tall beauty was dipping her jade-like foot into the hot spring, followed by her pale ankle, firm and powerful calf, rounded thigh, and then...

Smack.

Muen hurriedly slapped himself, driving away those strange thoughts.

No, no...

Dragon Lady was his pure and innocent companion. She treated him with complete sincerity. How could he possibly use her as the subject of his fantasies?

That was far too obscene! It completely violated his path as Belrand's number-one good man!

"What happened?"

The sound carried through to the other side, and Hamreign asked in confusion.

"N-Nothing. It was just a little slippery, and I almost fell."

Regardless of whether someone with Crowned-level control over his own body could really trip on flat ground, Muen casually brushed it off anyway, then took out the stone bead Dragon Lady had given him.

The stone bead entered the water and dissolved at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Then Muen felt his entire body become light. Although he was clearly soaking in water, it felt as though he were flying through the sky, the sensation of comfort passing from his physical body... straight through his soul.

"How is it?"

"Dragon Lady, you're too good to me."

First she'd restored his body, and now she was restoring his spirit.

Muen felt that if Dragon Lady treated him like this every day in the future, she'd end up spoiling him rotten.

"Don't worry too much about it."

Hamreign's tone was calm. "This is simply what I, as your companion, should do."

"......"^

That's right, companions.

Still companions.

Muen leaned against the edge of the hot spring and completely relaxed himself.

For a moment, he seemed to forget even that slight acceleration in his heartbeat, that faint ache, immersing himself entirely in those two words.

Long live companions. Companions are the best...

Companion—what a wonderful word it was...

......

......

By the time they finished bathing, sunset was already spilling across the sky, dyeing the clouds fiery red.

Because of the two great rivers, Belrand's sunsets had always been beautiful.

Muen narrowed his eyes as he admired the scenery, while from the corner of his eye he saw that tall figure standing spotless beneath the softest sunlight, even more beautiful than the scenery itself.

"Phew..."

A gentle breeze swept past, stirring countless thoughts.

Muen couldn't help feeling emotional.

Eating, shopping, soaking in a hot spring—it was practically like a date...

No.

Muen immediately dismissed the thought.

This wasn't a date at all. It was merely ordinary recreational activity between companions. If this counted as a date, then everything they'd done back in that small city would already have counted as dates too.

"What are we doing next?"

Muen asked eagerly.

Whether it was the lunch Dragon Lady had personally made at noon or the hot spring that had allowed him to completely relax that afternoon, both had brought Muen an unexpectedly immense amount of enjoyment. Especially after constantly being "tormented" by those bad women before, the comparison made the difference obvious.

So he was equally looking forward to the next activity.

...Huh? Strange?

When he thought about it like that, which one of them was actually supposed to be the host?

"Now that we've eaten and washed, there is indeed one more activity."

Hamreign tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She was a Calamity, yet at this moment she unusually revealed a touch of softness no different from that of an ordinary human woman:

"The most important activity."

"Really?"

That strange feeling of host and guest having switched roles was instantly thrown out of Muen's mind. The words "most important" immediately made his eyes light up even more.

If the mighty Dragon Lady had deliberately saved it for last as the grand finale, then it definitely couldn't be anything simple...

Hamreign turned around and started walking. Muen hurriedly followed, and the two continued strolling side by side along the beautiful Glein River.

Along the way, their shoulders still bumped from time to time, their arms brushed together, and their fingers touched. But all of that was still well within the acceptable range of interaction between companions.

As for all the little "bumps and brushes" between them, naturally there was no need to elaborate.

Before long, Hamreign stopped.

"A hotel?"

This time Muen was surprised again, because he truly couldn't imagine what sort of interesting activity there could possibly be at the very hotel they'd already visited that morning.

But seeing that Hamreign said nothing and simply walked inside, Muen didn't suspect too much. After all... how could his companion possibly deceive him?

And so he followed her inside as well.

The young woman at the front desk was dozing off and seemed not to notice the two of them at all. Hamreign didn't stop walking and directly led Muen to the room they'd booked that very morning.

The door opened, revealing that familiar purple-themed decor, still somewhat painful to the eyes.

"Go in."

Hamreign extended a hand, indicating for Muen to enter first.

Muen didn't think much of it. After the pleasant day he'd experienced, his trust in his companion had already reached its absolute peak.

He merely looked around the room while wondering what exactly this mysterious activity Dragon Lady had prepared could be.

A fun little game?

Some secret story passed down among dragons?

Or perhaps some special activity only companions would do together?

He was really looking forward to it.

A day without having to worry about bad women was truly so wonderful...

Click.

"Huh?"

Muen's steps paused.

Was it his imagination again?

Why did he feel that the instant he'd walked into the room, he had heard... the sound of the door locking behind him?

Impossible.

Between perfectly innocent companions, why would Dragon Lady lock the door?