'This spot looks okay...' Luna, in bat-form, perched herself behind a tree close to the village's entrance. Her enhanced senses told her that there was nobody around, so she transformed back into human form without worry.

"That's better." She reveled in the feeling of having thumbs as she straightened out her clothes. "Well, let's go get that dumbass some pants."

Feeling slightly nervous, she walked out from behind the tree and began heading for the nameless hamlet.

Although she'd called it "The Village's Entrance", it was really just the gap in the three feet high fences that surrounded the village. There were two logs of wood erected vertically on both sides of the gap and a flat piece of wood set on top of them.

Simple, yes. But it was still an entrance.

'The fences are so crude...' Luna inwardly remarked as her eyes traced the row of wood. 'Good thing there aren't any monsters in this world. Otherwise, they'd be super toast even without the whole demons-invading-the-human-world thing.'

Since this was a Dark Fantasy world, she'd just assumed that there would be monsters and whatnot. Like goblins, orcs, and dragons.

But Illya's memories told her otherwise.

"Illya..." Luna thoughtfully whispered the unfortunate girl's name.

The village girl was created just so Luna could be injected into the story's narrative, but the memories Luna had inherited made her feel some attachment to the pitiful young lady. It could be said that Luna had a front-row seat to vividly watch how she lived and how she suffered.

'Speaking of these memories...'

She couldn't help but think about how weird the memory infusion that happened earlier was. Memories of the events that happened in Illya's fifteen years of life were akin to a particularly memorable movie.

However, the experiences and skills that the girl had acquired during that time were now deeply ingrained in Luna's psyche. It wouldn't be too far off to say that it felt like she had learned all these things, not Illya.

'Well... it's convenient, so there's no problem...?' She shrugged it off.

It was pointless to ruminate on it more, seeing as she knew so little about their situation.

She and Zayne were in the world of his book.

Conventional logic didn't seem like it would work well for this issue.

Luna's steps led her toward a three-story building primarily made of wood. Horses and wagons were parked close to it; acting as a beacon leading her to the place she sought.

'A cannibal, huh? I wonder what she's like?' She couldn't help but frown while trying to suppress her unease.

 

---

 

"Pah! Nothin' like some booze to start yer afternoon off!" Malcolm exclaimed as he set down his half-empty mug right next to two empty ones. "Innkeeper! Bring out some munchies fer me!"

"Are you drunk? You already ordered!" A lively voice called out from the kitchen.

Soon, a pretty middle-aged woman with long dark-brown hair and a devastatingly seductive figure that resembled an hourglass walked out with a plate of roasted nuts that were likely foraged from the forest.

"Here you are." She smiled as she bent over lightly to place the man's order on the table.

"Thanks, Oli." Malcolm thanked the woman as his gaze wandered onto her fat bum. Then toward the plump pair of breasts hidden under her tunic.

"My eyes are up here, Malcolm." Olivia sighed in exasperation as she stood up straight.

"Ahaha... my bad." Malcolm awkwardly scratched his cheek while reluctantly peeling away his eyes from Olivia's assets. He threw some of the roasted nuts into his mouth, and even though he still hadn't started chewing, he still smiled as he offered a compliment. "Oli, ya really know how to run this here inn!"

"My my. Thank you." She giggled while covering her mouth before eyeing Malcolm mischievously, "But even if you compliment me, I won't be giving you any extra ale."

"Oh, I don't want the ale..." Malcolm's lips formed a dirty grin. "By the way, Oli... can ya sing a song for me?"

Olivia sighed as she shook her head. "We don't offer those services here, Malcolm. Also, I have a husband."

"Had a husband, Oli. C'mon. Stop holdin' a candle for 'im and live a little!" Malcolm cried out in frustration as the innkeeper walked back to the kitchen. He cursed under his breath. "Damn wench..."

This inn was one of his stopover points on his peddling route, and he'd been trying to bed her for months — even going as far as giving her gifts. And yet the bitch still refused him.

Malcolm had seen Olivia carry a drunken man into what he assumed was her room, so he knew that she wasn't being faithful to her dead husband.

Malcolm couldn't help but gnash his teeth at the memory.

From what he knew, the drunken man was just some filthy pilgrim traveling alone.

As for him? He may not be able to compare to those big-name merchants who led massive companies or caravans, but he still did well as a peddler. Malcolm even had a few platinum coins stashed away in a small spacial storage pouch he'd bought for cheap.

He was even thinking of settling down in some small town and opening a shop soon! A woman like Olivia would've been perfect as a wife, since the woman knew how to run a business.

And because her tits and ass were amazing!

That last part was particularly important for Malcolm.

"Haha! No luck again, eh?" Another drunk merchant slapped Malcolm in the back good-naturedly.

"Oh shut up, ol' Harry. You've got no luck with her either!" he irritably retorted.

"I'll drink to that! Cheers!" A very drunk old man butted in and clunked mugs with both Malcolm and Harry. The two didn't know who the old man was, but his happiness was infectious. The three drank till their mugs were empty.

 

---

 

'Ugh, it reeks...' Luna's nose scrunched up as she involuntarily sniffed the air that smelled of booze, sweat, and piss. 'Having enhanced senses isn't always good...'

She pushed the wooden door open and went inside the inn with the cannibal innkeeper. Luna was immediately greeted by loud cheers and laughter, but the place went radio silent when the people inside noticed her.

Luna walked on, indifferent to this. She'd been alive for twenty-four years, so she was used to her presence invoking a moment of silence. Though, she wasn't used to it being this silent.

'Is it cuz they don't have internet...?'

After all, in modern times, people could easily see attractive people. Heck, they could even see attractive people naked by paying a small monthly fee. But these people probably had an extremely lacking portfolio of beautiful faces in their minds.

'Come to think of it, Zayne didn't have all that much of a reaction the first time he saw me...' Her face twitched in annoyance. 'Is it because I was flat back then too...?'

That annoyed her even more, though.

Once she reached the counter, her knuckles knocked on the wooden tabletop to call for someone to attend to her. But when nobody came after a few seconds, she frowned in annoyance and decided to call out.

"Excuse me!"

The crowd of drunkards shifted uncomfortably — some even cupped their ears, not sure if they were working properly.

"What's this? Why is all quiet...?" A very bewildered woman came out from the kitchen holding a plate of roasted duck. Her eyes widened when she set her eyes on Luna, but Luna's eyes did the same.

'Wh-what the hell is up with this woman's figure? Are you an anime middle-schooler!?' Luna gulped as she gazed at the woman's massive bosom and derriere.

Even though she was confident in her future figure, she couldn't help but feel inferior at the moment. She sent a silent curse toward her lover for writing a woman that had such unrealistic proportions that one normally wouldn't be able to get unless they got implants.

"Oh my, you're so pretty..." The woman with a fantastical figure smiled as she set the plate down on the counter.

"I know." Luna confidently flipped her hair back as she peeled her eyes away from the scenery that caused her heart pain.

"Fufu..." The woman giggled at Luna's boldness. She smiled mischievously as she asked, "Your voice is also incredible. It felt like my ears would melt."

"Thank you. I also know that my voice is beautiful." Luna smirked in satisfaction. She was beginning to regain her footing from the blow she took from this woman's anime girl-like assets.

"You'd do well as a singer."

'A singer...? Do they have musical performers here too? Oh, but I suppose bards and stuff existed, so that would make sense actually.' Luna mused. 'I guess I can be called a singer since I do it on stream sometimes...?'

Luna nodded. "I am. People say I'm good at it too. But I don't really want to do it often since it's a pain and I can earn money in other ways."

"O-oh...?" The playful grin disappeared from the woman's face as she blanched. "Y-you're good at it...? But you look so young..."

"Hm?" Luna's head tilted. "I'm twen— I mean, fifteen. And I've been doing it for three years now, I guess?"

She'd only stater streaming a year after they moved into a decent apartment.

'Since my age regressed though, they'd think I started singing when I was twelve, but there aren't any problems with that. I've seen some pretty crazy kids perform so well on national television. Singing isn't an age thing, anyway.'

"Hm!?" The woman seemed to be very shocked by this though, and so was everybody else in the inn's tavern.

'What the hell?' Luna's head tilted to the other side as she wondered what was wrong with everybody. But then she quickly shrugged it off. She had more important things to worry about.

"Can I get a single room please?"

"Oh." The woman seemed to snap out of her trance at Luna's inquiry. She put on a strained smile as she nodded. "Yes, I can get you a single room for twenty bits. Food is a separate expense. Oh, and you can call me Olivia."

"I see." Luna didn't bother to introduce herself as she took out a single silver coin from the pouch, too troubled to count out twenty coppers. "I'll eat later."

"Okay." Olivia took the coin and walked back to the kitchen for a few seconds, then came right back out holding a key and a pouch. "Here's the key. It's the first room you see on the second floor. You can't miss it. And here's the change. eighty coppers."

"Mm." Luna frowned as she began to count the coins.

She tried to avoid counting out twenty coins but ended up doing eighty instead. Zayne's laziness was a really bad influence on her. Even her brain was starting to take breaks.

Once she finished, she tied the pouch with eighty coppers in it to her waist, right next to the other two small pouches. She was about to turn around to talk to a merchant-like person about getting some men's clothing, but she suddenly stopped when someone walked up to her.

"S'cuse me, miss. I'm Malcolm." The drunk middle-aged man held out a hand.

'What's with this smelly bastard...?' Luna's brows couldn't help furrowing as she was suddenly assaulted by the thick smell of alcohol that the man emanated.

"Is that so? That's great, your parents liked you enough to give you a name. Goodbye." Luna swerved past the man whose name she'd already forgotten, walking toward the particularly well-dressed — better than everybody else in the room at least — man she'd had her eye on since she'd entered.

"Hm? Do you need something, young lady?" The well-dressed man noticed Luna walking toward him and put on a business smile on reflex.

"Yes. I'd like to buy some men's clothes. A simple tunic and pants will do. And a belt." Luna listed, then her eyes widened. "Oh, and some boots, too."

'I almost forgot...'

Zayne had told her to go get clothes but said nothing about footwear, so she'd almost forgotten.

'That moron. I don't think he noticed he wasn't wearing any footwear, since I mainly flew him around.'

"Oh, forgive me. This old Harry doesn't deal in clothes. I mainly trade salt and herbal spices." The well-dressed man, Harry, shook his head in regret. Then he pointed behind Luna. "I believe Malcolm over there, deals in what you need."

Luna looked behind her and saw the man who approached her a while ago waving at her with a wide grin.

'Great...'

She sighed as she walked toward the man named Malcolm, whose name she just decided to remember for a little while.

 

---

 

"So, whadd'ya think?" The man whose name Luna had still forgotten despite her efforts, asked with pride.

"They're okay, I guess," Luna said with indifference as she picked up a black-dyed tunic with purple trimmings, some ordinary brown pants, a black leather belt, and a pair of simple work boots. They seemed to be about the right fit for Zayne's current body, though she picked a slightly oversized tunic and pants since she knew he'd get bigger anyway. "How much for these?"

"Hmmm... the pants, belt, and boots I can give ye for six silvers. But the tunic's gonna cost ye."

"Just tell me how much," Luna grimaced. She had about three gold coins each worth double the boots and pants. How much could a single tunic cost? Luna didn't worry too much.

"Hmm..." The man thought for a bit, then held out four fingers.

"Four silvers? Tch. Why'd you make such a big deal out of it..." Luna clicked her tongue as she reached down to start counting out four silvers.

"Four gold, miss." The man's lips formed a crude smile.

"What!?" Luna spluttered. That was more than what she had combined! How could a single tunic cost the equivalent of four thousand dollars? It wasn't some High fashion or worldwide brand stuff, so why did it cost so much? Then it hit her, and her expression darkened. "Are you scamming me...?"

"Whaaa~t? I run an honest business here, miss." The man, obviously still quite drunk, wagged a finger in front of Luna. "Some country girl like ye may not notice, but this tunic right here is made with rare materials ye can only find in a country past the sea!"

'Shit, so it was foreign goods...' Luna cursed.

"Then sell me something cheaper. I don't want anything fancy."

The man shrugged. "I don't sell cheap tunics. That's me cheapest one. I only had the pants, belt, and boots since I bought them off of a friend who sold them fer cheap."

"Damnit. I'll just take the others then." Luna snapped as she counted out six silvers and made to leave with her stuff. She didn't bother haggling over the price, since she wanted to get back to Zayne as fast as possible.

'I guess Zayne's just gonna have to go shirtless for a while. Though I suppose he can just continue wearing that sack thing. It's better than nothing at least. Maybe I should also try buying a tunic from one of the residents instead.'

Luna was interrupted from her thoughts when the man ran up to block her path, though he almost fell to the ground since he was still quite inebriated.

"What's this? Please don't block my way. I'm very busy." Luna frowned as she tried to move past the drunk, but was blocked every time.

"Now, don't be too hasty miss, I think we can negotiate?" The man smiled as he licked his lips. "How's abou' ye come with me to me room and sing fer me?"

"Sing...?" Luna paused, confused. "For a tunic worth four gold coins? Are you sure? Don't you lose out on this too much?"

"Aye, maybe yer right." The man nodded as his eyes narrowed, his gaze passing through Luna's immature proportions and non-existent breasts, then ending at her absurdly beautiful face. "I'd never pay this much for a singer, but yer face is enough to bring up the price. I'll give ya this tunic for one song, how's that?"

'Can I kill this guy? Does he think I didn't notice him sigh when he looked at my chest?'

But Luna calmed herself. She was used to creeps like this. It came with the whole being-pretty-and-hot thing that she had going on all her life. A kick to the nuts would usually be her answer if they went too far, but it was too much to assault the man just for checking her out. Plus, she would be able to get a good tunic just from singing for a bit.

"Alright." Luna cleared her throat. "But I don't wanna go to your room. We can just do it here."

"Woah, das some kinky shit... but okay." The drunk chuckled as he reached down and undid his belt, letting his pants fall to the ground. "C'mere, girl."

The man pounced forward with his wriggling fingers.

"What the fuck!?" Luna exclaimed as she avoided the man's attempt to grab her waist, sending a kick to the guy's gonads. She could swear she heard a crunch as she felt her boots make contact with flesh.

"#@%!" The man fell to the ground with eyes almost popping out of their sockets as he cupped his crotch — which Luna observed through a brief glimpse had nothing impressive.

"You sexually harassing piece of shit!" Still feeling a bit angry, she sent another kick to the man's stomach as she turned to leave.

But then she went back for a moment to take the black tunic.

"I'm taking this as compensation for soiling my eyes!" Luna harrumphed as she stomped toward her room. The key unlocked it, as it should. She dashed inside and locked it behind her.

She took a nearby chair and propped it up against the door, then transformed into a bat once again.

However, contrary to her expectations, the stuff she was carrying wasn't included in the transformation.

They fell to the floor with a thud.

"What the hell..." Luna transformed back into a human and cursed.

After thinking for a bit, she took off all her clothes and threw them and the pouches of money on the bed, wearing the stuff she got for Zayne instead. Once she'd dropped off Zayne's things, she could just go back to get her own clothes later.

Luna turned back into a bat and flew off through the open window.

'There were some hiccups, but I got you some pants, Zayne! You better be thankful since I feel like gouging out my eyes right now...'

She couldn't help but gag when she recalled that drunk's thing that looked like a shriveled-up baby eggplant.