Hunter’s Blade

C22 – Tent

Concluding his sword practice, Shire settled to the side to catch his breath.

The night of late autumn was upon them. The wind rustled, sending a shiver through Shire’s body. His gaze fell upon the bronze brazier stationed outside the tent. Its fire was nearly extinguished, yet with each gust of wind, the embers ignited, casting warmth once more.

The soldiers engaged in dice games, wine sipping, and card matches. The hubbub was ceaseless. Occasional quarrels over minor matters would flare up, faces turning ruddy. Nevertheless, no one dared to escalate the disputes. Rocher’s accomplished captains patrolled the vicinity, seemingly his replicas, dispersing tensions wherever they tread. The hushed soldiers would avert their eyes, avoiding these figures. Adorning similar cross-shaped lion badges as Rocher, their attire differed from the familiar green hyacinthus emblem of Gray Tree Hall territory. These appeared to be Rocher’s specially trained elite troops, a step above the ordinary soldiers from these domains.

Yet, Shire questioned their efficacy in battling demons. Demons, he believed, pierced human hearts, transgressing even the most resilient armor and immortal shields, delving straight into the core of human souls. When confronting these fiends, within an instant, horrifying demonic visages would etch themselves deep within their psyche, incessantly howling. Until minds fractured, sanity crumbled, and they willingly surrendered, succumbing to servitude beneath demonic rule.

Against demons, humans falter, but I hold the power, Shire contemplated. However, my conviction isn’t enough to sway them.

“Hey, Shire.” Proulx greeted him.

“Ah?”

“Do you have an interest in women? Young men your age tend to have their minds occupied with thoughts of women. In my youth, I couldn’t focus on anything other than women’s curves,” Proulx deftly shifted the subject, leaving Shire taken aback.

“Women? No… “Shire quickly replied.

“Absurd!” Gradiu’s inner voice roared angrily, “You’re lying! Your subconscious is driven by some base reproductive desires.”

Is that so? Could it be that outwardly, I’m a committed Devil Hunter, but deep down, I’m a lustful individual? Shire’s mind felt like a jumble. But then again, there seemed to be no contradiction between the two.

“We arranged for some companions and were about to have a good time. However, when we learned that Lady Rocher was overseeing everything, the Count handed over control to her. Naturally, when Lady Rocher was in charge, the brothels were out of business. She didn’t want us wasting our energy on such matters and even encouraged us to share intel with each other…”

“Hmm… pretty good.”

“Well, that’s not ideal at all. Without work, there’s no income. That’s why they told me that if a vigorous young man comes from outside, they’d introduce him. You seem like a good fit. Interested? How about giving it a try?”

After all, it’s just about companionship. Etienne took me to a few brothels before. Until now, I’ve always waited outside, so I’ve never seen what the women are like. Shire pondered for a moment. It wouldn’t hurt to take a look. In any case, I had no intention of engaging in any activities.

Shire nodded absentmindedly. Following Proulx, he meandered through the camp’s interior. The seasoned veteran guided him skillfully, and after some twists and turns, they reached the camp’s perimeter. Four vibrant tents stood there, adorned with various shades of flowers on their canvas exteriors, conjuring images of all things lovely.

A few women were gathered ahead. Their attire was bold, causing Shire to feel increasingly nervous and ill at ease. His heart raced, and he firmly resolved to leave. He’d never come to such a place again. Upon spotting Shire, the women’s eyes sparkled, and they greeted him with uninhibited cheer.

“Come here quickly, child.”

“Are you blushing?”

“Hey, don’t be bashful. Come closer,” they beckoned to Shire with their silk in hand.

A strikingly mature fragrance wafted towards Shire, its intensity almost overpowering and bordering on decadence. Etienne often talked about them to Shire. These women of the night had common traits: unabashed and unrestrained. Provided one had the means, they would spare no effort in catering to any client’s desires, whether reasonable or not.

“Do it well,” Proulx patted Shire’s shoulder and departed, leaving him alone in the company of these experienced courtesans. Some stood, others sat, all of them regarding Shire with playful eyes. A corner of their clothing lifted to expose their fair skin, enticing him.

He noticed the artificiality of their makeup. Pigmented pollen or ores were used to craft their cosmetics, and a layer of pale powder masked their complexion, aiming to maintain a light fairness. Rumor had it that some women even resorted to magical concoctions to enhance their beauty, a practice Shire found unfamiliar.

“I should leave,” Shire realized he had made a mistake. How could such a reserved individual end up in such an establishment?

“No need to worry,” a mature woman with a generous bosom stood up and called towards the back of the tent, “Alicia!”

Shire observed a girl emerging, her hair wet and drenched as if she had been washing it. With every step, water trailed her path.

Using her hand, she swept her damp hair away from her eyes and scanned her surroundings in confusion. “What’s going on?”

“Someone wants you.” The other women said.

She turned, spotting Shire. With a sweep of her hand, she pushed her damp hair behind, allowing the strands to cling together at her nape.

Shire held his breath. The instant his eyes met hers, his heart raced. A surge of nervousness and unease enveloped him, and his thoughts became a jumbled mess. All coherent thinking seemed to elude him. In front of him stood an incredibly stunning girl, markedly young… Perhaps even younger than Shire. Her eyes, large and captivating, exhibited a blend of brown and green hues. Her lips were painted a vibrant red. A petite nose adorned her face, while her eyes held both tenacity and disdain. She donned a loosely-fitting silk vest, the colorful skirt cascading down to her knees. The juxtaposition between her mature attire and her youthful countenance was striking.

“You want me?” Tilted slightly, her head was adorned with long red hair that she held with her hand, as if twining fabric. This action caused the droplets to cascade from her hair onto the ground.

“I…”

“I want! I want! Very much so!” Gradiu encouraged Shire in his heart, “You want to make her unable to get out of bed tonight. She won’t be able to walk tomorrow morning.”

“Go up, Alicia, go quickly.” The mature woman urged.

The girl walked over and pulled Shire’s arm. Her hand was stained with water, and her hair was smeared with perfume, giving off a nice smell.

“Come here.” Alicia’s tone carried a hint of blame.

This situation made Shire realize the folly of staying put. Seizing the opportunity, he allowed himself to be led into one of the tents by the girl. As he passed those women, he caught snippets of hushed conversations among the prostitutes. Laughter occasionally erupted. Are they laughing at me? Shire felt a bit puzzled, yet his ability to think clearly was compromised.

Inside the tent lay a warm blanket, with sachets hung around it. Candles illuminated the space, lending it a cozy and inviting ambiance. Seated on the blanket, Shire looked up at Alicia’s form. He found it surreal. He had never envisioned himself availing such morally questionable services.

“Unethical. Listen, I reckon the most despised word in your world is ‘unethical’. You pay, they provide services; there’s hardly anything more straightforward in the world,” Gradiu chimed in.

Alicia walked to a shelf, where a copper basin held water. She took a large towel and gently patted her head. Then, she turned to Shire and began removing her clothes.

“Do you like it?” She asked.

Gazing upon Alicia’s body, Shire’s mind went blank. She was young, fair, and delicate. Not long ago, he had escaped the perilous Twilight Forest, and the gruesome and blood-soaked scenes were still vivid in his memory. Now, he beheld an exquisite beauty, an astounding contrast that left him struggling to adjust.

“I like it,” words involuntarily escaped his throat, though he couldn’t speak properly. “I like it very much.”

“I knew it. They said I was a walking purse and wouldn’t be willing to spend,” Alicia teased as she moved around in front of Shire. “Do you like it? Do you?”

Shire’s mouth and tongue were parched, his heart aflame with desire. Once kindled, such flames were hard to extinguish.

“Oh, but not now,” she playfully waved her hand, as if purposely toying with Shire. “Today, tomorrow, the day after.”

“Why?” Shire was a little anxious.

“Because I have a month’s work to do.” She touched her stomach.

“A month’s work? Is she pregnant?”

“I’m still a virgin, how can I be pregnant?” She laughed mockingly.

“You’re still a virgin?” Shire was taken aback.

“Many people vie for my first night,” she remarked, adding, “Certain clients begin bidding the moment they see me.”

Almost instantly after he spoke those words, Shire felt a pang of regret. “What do we do now?” he asked.

“What we do isn’t your concern,” Alicia burst into laughter.

Stammering, Shire said, “If… if… I want…”

“Alright, that settles it. You’re a demon with desires,” Gradiu lauded Shire inwardly, “Seeking physical pleasure! Besides the young woman, there’s nothing else on your mind. Forget about hunting devils; those are just secondary missions.”

The Blade Devil’s taunt made Shire feel embarrassed.

“Do you desire this?” Alicia wiped her finger near her thigh, revealing a bloodstain. “You can’t have it while you’re bleeding.”

Confused, Shire asked, “Are you hurt?”

“Yes, my stomach aches, and my body feels sore,” she responded, nonchalantly stretching out on the blanket. She tilted her head to look at Shire, one of her legs reaching his knee and pushing against his abdomen. “This is the spot. It’s uncomfortable.”

“Then you have to see a doctor.”

“You need money to see a doctor. I don’t have money. I don’t have a penny. I want money…” Alicia rolled on the blanket and Shire saw her skin.

“Are you doing this for money?”

“Of course. My family asked me to bring the money over asap.”

A shadow flashed across Shire’s face.

“Your family forced you to do this.”

“Absolutely, they took care of me for so many years. It’s only fair to repay them. Besides, siblings like us have plenty of resources. If I continue lazing around at home, I’ll deserve the criticism.” Alicia’s back was turned to Shire.

“My parents sold me to a human trafficker,” Shire recalled that fateful day, shivering at the memory. Someone who had been so familiar suddenly felt like a stranger. “They exchanged me for ten gold coins.”

“So by that measure, you should be worth at least a bag of gold. Me, on the other hand, I’m worth nothing,” she said despondently, “I came here to work for a month and can’t even entertain you properly. I’m so foolish, I really can’t do my job.”

“No, no,” Shire stumbled to respond. He berated himself for being clumsy and not crafting a more eloquent response. “To me, you’re the best.”

“How naive. We’ve only just met.” Alicia didn’t turn around, maintaining her position, gazing at Shire’s form with her back. “You don’t know many girls. I can’t serve you any longer. Go and find the other girls.”

“I want you. Only you,” Shire declared resolutely, “Once you’re recovered, I’ll come for you.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Alicia turned around, weariness evident on her face. “Alright? Unless, of course, you’re going to give me money.”

Shire fished out a handful of gold coins from his pouch, causing her eyes to widen.

“Are you daft? I haven’t even done anything yet, and you’re paying.”

“Without the money, it’s going to be quite awkward… How much did the others pay for your first night? I can offer a higher price.”

“Ah, what’s your name?”

“Shire.”

“Shire, I’ll save my first night for you. Claim it whenever you’re ready,” the young man declared. Accepting the three gold coins, he grinned and tilted his head, proceeding to tightly hug Shire and plant a kiss on his cheek.

“Ugh, how repulsive,” Gradiu shuddered. “There’s no devil in hell who would do this. We’d rather chop each other’s heads off as a sign of affection.”

Later, Shire emerged from the tent.

“How did it go?” A tall, slender woman inquired with a sly smile. “Are you content?”

“I want to take her away. What’s the price?” Shire responded.

“The decision isn’t ours to make. You need to visit Gray Tree Hall and consult our leader,” she answered, then furrowed her brow. “She’s quite valuable, my dear. She’s our future cash cow. You’ll need a gold shovel to dig her up.”

“I’m well-versed in acquiring wealth.” Shire muttered, his gaze downcast as he walked away.

Returning to his tent, Proulx glanced up and spotted Shire.

“God, are you in love?”