Chapter 83 - Selfish

Now that Ryuu was outside the door of Mama Mia's room, she had time to think about what she will do from tomorrow. She could just check he was fine and then head back...

'No, this isn't enough.'

Knowing the expedition will surely stop in Riviria, Ryuu remembered that the date was still close to something she had to do...Looking down, the 'expressionless' trait in her eyes was even more evident as she brought a hand on her right arm.

'I'm sorry, Syr. This isn't just for you..'

Sighing, she returned her focus on the door as she knocked a few times.

"..Who is outside my door at this hour..?"

With these words, Mama Mia opened the door just to see Ryuu in front of her. With a large sigh, she added

"Now I'd like an explanation, Ryuu. I left you alone before, what is it now?"

Nodding, she bowed slightly as she replied

"It will seem selfish to ask you such a thing, but I have no choice.."

Understanding she was serious, Mama Mia stopped her as she let her enter her room to talk about it in detail.

Giving her the tea she had prepared for herself, Mama Mia sat on the sofa while 'demanding' an explanation. In fact, she was the first to be worried about what was happening, also because she had already noticed the way Syr was behaving

Bowing again, Ryuu sat on the only chair in the room as she began to explain what happened.

"You're saying that Syr is worried about this adventurer and that you don't want to see her like that, but is that all? I have no problem if you want to go check in the morn..--"

"This isn't what you came to ask, right? I can tell. It concerns..."

Nodding her head slightly, Mama Mia confirmed her theory as she looked away.

"I'm here..asking for time. I don't know how long it will take, but I will take care of both matters so that I can return here as always."

Hearing her firm and cold reply, Mama Mia knew that underneath those overwhelming feelings were always there and, if she had no way to vent them, Ryuu would never have become the person she is today.

"..this pub will always welcome you Ryuu. Come back soon, otherwise you don't know what will happen to you."

Pretending to be furious, Mama Mia stood up as she added

"Now, it's time for you to go. I feel sleepy"

Nodding slowly, Ryuu did as she said, exiting the room while Mama Mia sighed upon seeing the door was closed.

'That girl needs someone able to help her. she is far too reckless at times. But there is nothing I can do to help her except make her find her home as it was before on her return.'

Determined to do so, she decided to go back to bed while Ryuu, now with Mama Mia's approval, immediately decided to prepare everything necessary before going to sleep...

---

Waking up, Syr stretched on the bed for a while yawning. With her eyes still half-closed, she got out of bed to go and call the others and then start getting ready for the day.

With Ryuu's room as the closest to her own, she headed towards hers. Being now in front of it, she knocked on the door a few times before entering.

Upon seeing that there was no one in the room as expected, she sighed with a 'sad' smile on her face. She was certainly glad that Ryuu was doing a lot for her, but she certainly didn't want her to worry so much.

Exiting with these thoughts in mind, she decided to head to Anya's room but, before she could approach it, she saw Mama Mia. Surprised, Syr wanted to ask what she was doing here but, before she could, Mama Mia shook her head

"I wanted you to tell the others that Ryuu will be absent for..a couple of days."

Her words made her flinch but, remembering that surely she would ask for Mama Mia's permission, she nodded without adding anything.

"It's not your fault. I wouldn't have to talk to you about this, but there is another reason why Ryuu decided to investigate...I don't think it takes you long to understand"

Thinking about it for a second, Syr understood what she meant with her words. biting her lips as she went to Anya's room without replying.

'Come back quickly, Ryuu, you have someone waiting for you.'

That was all she thought before entering the kitchen to check that everything was alright..

---

Now in the bath, Ethan released a satisfied sigh while using his new technique to bring water to an ideal temperature.

"how do you feel now..? should I make it a little warmer?"

Asking this, she saw her rest her whole body on him. Now with all her back on his c.h.e.s.t, Ethan had various thoughts in mind. The fact she could act so cute without even trying made him smile but...

'I have to learn to control myself properly from now on. When I want to have a moment for myself without having to resort to s.e.x, I have to be free to do it.'

With this determination, Ethan fought an internal battle with his lower body. Managing to win it this time, he sighed again, this time in relief.

'I won the battle, but the war will be tough...'

"You really like this position, don't you?"

Nodding, Ais added while she put her hands on his own

"I can feel..the warm on my belly... and it's.. very pleasant"

Inhaling, he tried his all not to mind what she just said as he really wanted to enjoy the moment.

'Her skin is so soft..'

Was all that Ethan thought while he closed his eyes. Kissing her neck lightly, he felt her flinch in an almost imperceptible way. Without laughing this time, he stopped after some kisses because she tilted her head towards him.

Having her mouth within reach, he saw as she kissed him as well but, instead of aim for the neck, she directly went on his lips.

Trying his best to not let the situation out of control, Ethan let her turn completely towards him as their foreheads were now facing each other. Placing hers on his, she closed her eyes as well while he was enjoying the atmosphere.

'I would really like to continue, but there is a risk that someone may hear or even see us, and I would not want to have someone see as I have s.e.x with her'

Understanding what he wanted to do, Ais didn't say anything as she knew as well that the situation couldn't escalate more than that. As Riveria had taught, this should be done in private places..

---

After they washed themselves, The two exited the bath while Ethan decided it was better to let the water evaporate, but, he decided to deal with this later, also because he now wanted to go to the 17th floor.

With a smile, he stored the bathtub filled with 'water' as he took out a new pair of casual clothes. Seeing that she didn't have spare clothes for herself, Ethan already had the solution to the problem.

Taking her clothes, he made water appear from the shop on them before starting to use his technique to let the water evaporate. Even though he knew that to make them perfume, what was needed was something similar to a detergent, Ethan knew he could not buy such a risky thing and use it here, without a washing machine. So, the quickest method was to clean them this way.

Smiling, he gave Ais her clothes while she just nodded her head without caring that much. After she was dressed as well, Ethan added

"It's time to go. Unfortunately, the Goliath won't spawn, so the only thing we can do is hunt as many monsters as possible."

With another nod from her, the two were exiting the forest but, before they could, they heard someone walking. Turning to his right, Ethan saw someone he had recently met.

"Oh, Hyogumi-san? What brings you here again?"

"The two of us were having a bath"

His words made her eyes widen slightly but, without making her expression showed on her face, she returned to normal as she replied in a 'blank' tone

"I see. And this person is..the Sword Princess, right? it's a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e, I'm Ryuu, a free-lancer"

Thinking she had seen her somewhere, Ais replied with a nod as Ethan decided to keep the conversation going

"What about you...? Why are you still here..?"

Looking at him for a moment, she answered while looking at the closest tree in her eyesight

"We elves have a strong bond with nature, so I decided to stay here until you need me."

Her reply made him flinch. He knew that, in reality, she was all alone in the forest, and this made him angry because he didn't want to see her isolate herself so much.

"Let me ask you a question, are you here with a group or alone?"

Confused, she looked at him for a moment to understand why he asked this question but, failing to do so, she decided to answer sincerely

"I'm alone, but what does this have to do with our conversation?"

Shaking his head, Ethan added

"I know this seems out of place, but if you want, I can set up a tent for you..."

Looking at him again, Ryuu was now intrigued by why he seemed so obstinate, also because they knew each other from a few hours. Closing her eyes, she felt she had more or less understood what kind of person Ethan was

"I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine in the forest."

Flinching from her reply, Ethan sighed while holding Ais' hand. He knew that the fact they had known each other for so little would surely cause this response from her, but he knew that Ryuu was not an easy person to approach from the start.

'This time I should let her do as she pleases...'

Heading towards the exit of the forest, the two saw that everyone was in their tents now, except for some parties that had the same idea as Ethan, or others that only aimed at resources.

'I just hope there are no strange anomalies while all these parties are elsewhere to fight even on their day off.'

With this thought in mind, the two reached the entrance to the 17th floor...

---

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(Alternate Titles: "Ryuu...you don't even know what a 'selfish' person is.", "Ethan, you will manage one day to not fall in l.u.s.t every time a woman tease you","As Riveria-sensei said, No s.e.x in private places!")