Stei Town.

Stei is a small town in eastern Castall which borders the southern and western region. Although it is a lot smaller than Glogow town, people from four different regions often come here due to its strategic location. The noble family who was in charge of Stei was decimated in the recent battle. 

The Castall knights families who previously guarded the town were reemployed. Nevertheless, as the main noble families who took care of it were gone, the security is not as tight as before.

As the new ruler of this region, today I stroll around the town, visiting each establishment. 

I rode here with Gertrude, Clementine and Mirai but now I purposely walked by myself to test the security. I forbid the local knights from observing me. Gertrude and Clementine are now patrolling the demesnes around the town. The only one who is hiding and observing me from a distance is Mirai. As a ninja, she is hiding her presence tremendously.

I have intended to go into a tailor shop but my stride stops when I hear a beautiful voice. I turn to my left and the female voice originates from a shop that occupies three blocks of wooden shop lots. The shops here are all connected to one another but the shops must have demolished the walls between lots. 

"Apple Tavern" is written on the signboard. 

I eagerly walk into the cavern.

"Welcome!"

The tables are mostly occupied, but the waiter guides me to a small vacant table in the middle. 

"Wine? Or dine?"

"I don't drink. I just need plain water and a fish. Any fish will do." Saying that, I put 10 silver coins onto his palm.

"Keep the change."

He looks excited, probably 10 silver coins are too much for anyone who eat here.

However, my attention is lured to the origin of the voice. Customers in here are all men and they are being captivated the singer.

Having lived in this universe for over two years, I had good grasp on its custom. 

The people are entertained by bards. There are male and female bards but nearly all of bards I ever encountered were men. 

The bards make living by telling tales to guests in taverns, citizens and villagers. 

They are given food, place of living, or even coins. Many of bards could sing well, thus they tell their tales by song. They sing while playing musical instruments.

The lady who is singing now is playing a lute. As she is wearing a robe, covering her head and whole body, I can't see her face. However, I could see that she is not tall, about the height of Kurotsuchi. 

Her voice and singing skill is extraordinary. Sekrit used to act as a bard back in Abram but she only relied on her beauty and alluring body. But the lady here is a real deal.

"Come take a seat and I will recite you a tale

Of bold adventure spanning both sides of the veil

I knew a champion, we travelled far and wide

We saw so many wonders roving side by side

In the streets of Kirkwall we brought help to those in need

Word it spread so quickly of our dealings and our deeds.."

Once she completes the song, the men clap thunderously.

"Wonderful!"

"Bravo!"

"A few girls your age can imbue it with such a feeling."

"Excuse me, girl. What is that song called?"

From the veil, the singer answers,

"Hero of Ferelden."

The song stops and the tavern is filled with chats and laughter until I finish my meal. The bard is long gone.

I guess I have to go out. I walk out while waving to the bowing waiter and his boss. 

Not every building is connected to each other. There are gaps here and there and that lead to the back alleys. I walk into the alleys and rest my back on a wall while standing.

Boring. I yawn.

Suddenly, a soft hand covers my opened  mouth. 

I turn to my right. There is a girl who is covered by a veil and a robe. She is that bard with the beautiful voice.

"Good evening, sir." That's definitely her voice. 

She closes in until her face is 5cm from mine. Her head reaches my chest.

"You seem bored, big boy."

Her face is mostly hidden by a loose veil but her skin on that face and hand is smooth and spotless. But, she is a back alley whore.

I push her hand away.

"Sorry. I don't sleep with random women."

With Myla, Ivanna, Farnese, Kurotsuchi, Hanabi, Lupine, Sylvia, Sekrit and Lanaya, and others, all waiting for my beck and call, I am no longer interested in spending my time with these random girls.

This is also why I have never touched any women outside my entourage.

"Hm. That's not a very nice thing to say to a lady."

I sigh, "Look, I am telling you. I am not so horny that I'd bang some broken down old whore!"

She slowly removes her veil and uncovers her robe.

I see a blonde, no, to be precise, medallion coloured hair that is tied to a ponytail with a red string. Ponytail like Hanabi stretches down to her back but this woman's ponytail surges upward. There is a headband with black and red zebra patterns covering her head.

After the veil and robe are fully removed, I am astonished. She is young, looks around the age of Lyla..Her skin is quite fair and spotless. Her coral eyes are sharp. 

Her outfit now reminds me of Clementine. It is black half-breastplate over a sleeveless mesh bodysuit. Contrary to Clementine, this girl emits the vibe of a soft innocent girl with a light orange scarf with a red flower pattern wrapping her neck. 

While Clementine has ripped 6 pack muscles on her navel area, this girl has none of those. 

Below that navel area, she wears a wide split skirt that looks like a short pant but it exposes her delicate thighs and there is a single long cloth covering her crotch and falls hanging between her thighs. 

Her body is slender but alluring.

She smiles. "Look closely and judge for yourself if I am a broken down old whore."

"Not bad. Not bad at all. Fine, follow me."

She gracefully walks alongside me. 

"I don't get it. What's a beauty like you with such talent, picking up  customers at a back alley."

She doesn't reply.

When we reach a place with many forsaken planks, she gently pushes me to a wooden wall. 

"Fate is not always kind. Please no more questions."

She rests her back on my chest. That breastplate is soft and quite loose. It's not an armour like Clementine's. 

I insert my right hand in between her breasts. Her boobs are about the size of Clementine or Luca. My fingers enjoy fondling them. 

She bends her head slightly backward so that I could kiss her.

My tongue invades her mouth and our tongues lick each other for a while. 

"Hiro-sama!"

That's Mirai's voice. 

"Die!" That's the bard's voice.

A small knife nearly reaches my neck but stops.

"What is happening? I can't move my body!"

The bard is frozen while pointing her knife at my neck. I immediately retreat from her. 

"Shadow binding.." Mirai says.

"This woman was suspicious from the beginning."

The bard who is half naked, struggles to move her body. Only her mouth moves, "What did you do to me?"

"It's not as important as why you tried to kill this man!" 

The usually cold Mirai seems furious.

"She is an assassin sent by someone! I had asked someone to call Gertrude-san and Clementine-san!"

"It's fine, Mirai..You maintain that shadow binding. Let me settle the score with her."