Novel Bin Chapter 3: Let's Be Kind
Chapter 3: Let's Be Kind
And thats what happened! Dont you think thats ridiculous?! I just helped out, and now I was the one being treated like a dangerous person!
No, if I had been there, I would have freaked out. Jonah, I didnt know you were such a dangerous kid.
Thats mean, Ellie! Im thankful for you saving my life and treating my injured hand, but I want to cry if you react like that!
When I pretended to cry, Ellie sighed and handed me a large glass of milk.
Stop crying in someone elses shop and drink this.
Is it on the house?
Well, you came as a customer today, so I can offer this at the very least.
Yay!
Free stuff is always welcome. I smiled broadly and gulped down the milk. The rich, nutty flavor filled my mouth before sliding down my throat.
Maybe it was because my body has returned to its growing stage, or because the cows in this world are a different breed from those on Earth. I dont know about other things, but the dairy products of this place are superb.
Without even wiping off the white mustache under my nose, I slowly looked around.
Adventurers clinking their glasses noisily, savagely gulping down food. This scene wasnt particularly unusual in a tavern of a labyrinth city.
But there was one peculiar thing. That was, every waiter was dressed in a bunny girl outfit.
Not waitresses. Waiters. Men serving in tight-fitting bunny girl outfits!
Big muscular hunks, small and delicate boys, smart-looking guys with glasses, and so on.
Bunny girls (but not girls) of different types that seemed purposeful subtly flirted with customers they took a liking to, either through physical touch or by shooting them inviting glances.
Perhaps that was why. Although the profession of an adventurer is said to have far more women, those gathered here were all, without exception, women.
This place, Fairy and Silver Coin, was a tavern that also dabbled slightly in risqu business, making this quite the expected scenario.
For them, this must be a paradise where the days fatigue could be washed away Though for me, its a scene akin to hell descended upon this world.
Thus, to purify my eyes, I fixed my gaze on Ellie, the owner of this place, who had earlier provided milk as a complimentary drink.
Her ash-colored hair was tied back casually, with wolf ears and a tail giving off a rough impression. Her yellow eyes stared blankly at her staff, and a cigarette made from magical herbs dangled from her mouth.
Although she was dressed in a neat outfit reminiscent of a bartender, her actual figure was not so neat, making it even more shameful to behold.
Unfortunately, I couldnt fully concentrate on that.
It was her absent right arm that inadvertently drew my gaze towards the flapping sleeve starting at her shoulder.
She blatantly gave off the vibe of a woman with a story to tell.
Knowing her past as a once successful adventurer who retired after losing an arm to a monster made it all the more poignant.
But wellI was well aware of the true nature of this seemingly distant Ellie.
She grasped the swaying empty sleeve tightly and opened her mouth.
Ellie. Ellie.
Hmm?
What are you thinking about right now?
Ah, I really want to eat up our kids. How did you even come up with that outfit? Are you a genius, Jonah?
Wow. Blunt as always! At that rate, why dont you just woman up and try asking them? They wouldnt refuse.
Yes, they wouldnt. But thats the problem.
Ellie sighed deeply and continued speaking while rubbing the shortened magic herb to extinguish it.
They think of me as some kind of benefactor! Did you know? Jason said hes met a good person who doesnt care about his past and is marrying soon. He reported to me crying, saying its all thanks to me. How can I tell him, Heh, if youre grateful, repay me not with words but with your body!? I just cant do it!
I still cant tell if youre good or bad, Ellie.
That was indeed the case. Ellie had harbored the desire to open a somewhat erotic establishment, a reverse harem business where she could engage intimately with her employees at her whim.
Hadnt she mentioned that she had been so preoccupied with honing her skills and amassing wealth during her days as an adventurer that she had never even held a mans hand?
Driven by her primal instincts, she yearned for a relationship where she could indulge her desires whenever she wished, rather than committing to a serious relationship.
It was acceptable to her that she selected men of her preference from the plethora of male prostitutes abundant in the labyrinth city for this very reason
However, the issue was that Ellie was largely unaware of the nuances of this industry.
Ellie didnt burden them with debts, and due to her unusually compassionate nature, she refrained from cursing or striking them, avoiding domination through violence.
Furthermore, since her establishment was primarily a tavern rather than a brothel, she didnt coerce them into prostitution. If they did choose to sell their bodies, she would only take about a 30% commission.
All of this was feasible because Ellie had amassed a considerable fortune from her days as an adventurer.
For context, the standard commission in this industry started at least at 50%. More exploitative places demanded over 80%.
I was intimately familiar with this, having once seriously contemplated becoming a male prostitute myself.
Back then, unlike other men, I found the erotic business appealing and assumed it would be easy work but the reality of the industry was more daunting than I had anticipated.
A single misstep could condemn you to a lifetime as a male prostitute; and even if you managed to escape your past, you would have to start over with absolutely nothing.
Then, after realizing that the profits flowed to the pimps and not to me, I never gave the red-light district another glance.
In any case, up to this point, Ellie might have been seen as just a naive employer. But it didnt stop there, which is why things unfolded as they did.
These are people who have fallen into situations where they must sell their bodies, each inevitably harboring a tragic story.
Perhaps it was due to her innate nature, or because, like a true virgin, she believed her first time should be filled with love.
Parental abuse, cruel loan sharks, tuition for their talented younger siblings, and so on.
Surprisingly, Ellie had resolved each of their circumstances to the best of her ability.
And by that point, it was impossible to call Ellie gullible anymore.
To the employees of the Fairy and Silver Coin, Ellie was nothing short of a goddess who had solved their problems, opened up their futures, and even generously provided money!
Seeing them genuinely grateful, showing respect, and being loyal, Ellie couldnt bring herself to take them to bed And thats how it had come to this point.
She was a kind-hearted virgin who, although thirsty for men, was a coward unable to do anything when it came down to the actual moment.
That would be a brief summary of who Ellie was.
And the reason I knew all this is simple. Ellie was a character I created.
I didnt add much of a story to her, but one thing was certain: she is fundamentally a good person.
She was also one of the few people I could trust in this world, where too much had turned upside down. Thats why I decided to become close to her. It wasnt hard to do since I acted as if I knew everything.
Ellie gazed at the muscular giant Jason, the one who said he was getting married, with a gloomy expression.
I smirked again, pulling at her empty sleeve.
Ellie. Dont you think you should marry me after all?
A little kid with a milk mustache isnt my type.
But you like pretty boy types like Kyle.
Kyle is a half-elf. Despite his looks, hes older than me.
Wiping the milk from my lips, I proposed to her again.
Then, will you marry me when I become an adult?
A man who might stab me in the neck with a smile Ill pass.
I told you, thats a misunderstanding! Im not that crazy! Dont worry, as long as Ellie doesnt try to sell me as a slave, that wont happen!
Normally, a kid wouldnt even be able to dislocate their own wrist, let alone kill the boss of a crime clan because they see an opening. Even if they do somehow succeed, they wouldnt come to eat with a big smile the very next day.
With those words, Ellie slipped her sleeve out of my grip.
T, thats so mean But I like Ellie this much!
Alright, alright. Since it came up, let me ask. You propose to me almost every time we meet, what exactly is your purpose in wanting to marry me?
Well, obviously its for Ellies body and wealth!
I shouldnt be one to say this, but thats a really trashy purpose!
Ellie genuinely looked terrified and took a step back.
It was the same reaction as Lydia showed yesterday. But today, I wont back down so easily. I took two steps closer and leaned in.
Look at this, Ellie. I have pink hair? A pretty boy? Youll definitely regret it if you miss out now. Think of it as a long-term investment of about 5 years!
Next pinkette, thank you.
Uuuuugh! Im a virgin, you know?! Drop your prejudice that pinkettes are slutty! And youre inexperienced too, Ellie!
Mmm!
Its natural for me to be inexperienced since Im young but how old are you now, Ellie? Arent you almost 30?
Not yet! I still have 2 years left!
Two years will fly by like that! How about snatching a nice, young man before you get any older? Specifically, someone like me!
Who would want a damn brat like you!
Truthfully speaking, because I retained the memories of my previous life, 30 years didnt feel that old to me.
However, in this world, the ideal age for marriage is 24. Being 30 means youve already missed the marriageable age, and to make matters worse, being a virgin at that age?
From the perspective of a woman over here, what Im saying would tear a big gash in her pride.
Having been a virgin myself on Earth, I understand their state of mind all too well. Thanks to that, I knew exactly where it hurt.
I, Jonah Kim, am a man who, if for the sake of teasing someone, can dig into his own wounds and use them as a weapon.
Of course, its not that I couldnt meet women; I simply chose not to.
I was busy with work. Really. There had been no other reason. There shouldnt be.
Anyway, while I had been bickering with Ellie and continuing my meal,
Bang!
The door of the tavern was suddenly flung open, and a powerful presence filled the interior of the Fairy and Silver Coin.
Silence heavily settled in the noisy pub.
As a place targeting mediocre adventurers with reasonable prices, no one could stand against this intruder.
Except for one person. Ellie, who had once been a successful adventurer.
Whos the bh, barging into someone elses store like
Growling, Ellie rose from her seat. Her ears perked up, and her tail puffed up stiffly.
The movements of her ears and tail were cute, but her sharply narrowed eyes and the fighting spirit glimmering above them were something not to take lightly.
Her threatening appearance made it difficult to believe she was the same person who had been chatting playfully with me.
Despite losing an arm, Ellie leaped over the counter with movements more flawless than most, without a hint of awkwardness. She stood in front of me as if to protect me.
As always, her sturdy figure conveyed a strong will to suppress any trouble with force.
At that moment, everyone present, including me, swallowed anxiously, anticipating what was about to unfold.
Senior Ellie. Its been a while.
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A familiar woman bowed slightly towards Ellie.
With hair and eyes as intense as a blazing fire. Though her stature was somewhat small, the full armor she wore ensured she left no impression of frailty.
Her expressionless face and disciplined movements in every action reminded one of a knight. I knew her name.
Lydia? What brings you here? I wont overlook any misdoing in my shop, even from you.
Sorry. That was a mistake.
With those words, Lydia withdrew her aggressive stance. Ellie, too, calmed down, showing she had no intention of fighting.
With that, peace should have been restored to the shop once more. That was what everyone thought. Until Lydia looked straight towards us and added,
I got worked up after finding the one who stole my wallet.
Ah.
Did I get caught?