Chapter 79: Exploring the Village - Date with Yumiko
\'I should try to remember this.\' Ryuji watched Yumiko eating her bacon, not sparing Erika a single glance.
\'Does it only feel strange for me, that I enjoyed last night with both these women?\'
He couldn\'t quite adjust because this world seemed a little more serious. He tried to avoid too many frivolous actions. However, from the moment his demon blood became active, and he stopped holding back, Ryuji found his desires growing rapidly, especially his lust. To escape that thought, he shook his head and asked Yumiko something.
"Yumiko, do you want to look around town together today?" Ryuji asked Yumiko, his hand stroking hers.
"Together?" Yumiko stopped eating, and her eyes locked onto Ryuji.
Erika went silent and shifted away slightly, glaring at Ryuji with her cheeks pink.
"Yeah." Ryuji stroked her hand, watching her tail swinging excitedly.
"Yes! Let\'s go." Yumiko put down her bacon and nodded eagerly.
"Today, you can rest at the inn, Erika; I\'ll bring you some gifts later." Ryuji had feelings for Erika, but their relationship wasn\'t there yet, and today, he wanted to have a date with Yumiko, his actual partner.
"Ok..." Erika looked hurt. "Bring something nice."
Because she looked so hurt, he couldn\'t help but smile wryly before leaning over towards her. Erika\'s cute face turned bright red as she looked at him, the blush continuing past her neck. Ryuji kissed her on the forehead before pulling back. Erika covered her forehead, smiling shyly.
"Have fun," Erika mumbled.
"I will take you somewhere next time, I promise."
"Nn...!" It seemed that Erika\'s mood improved after those two small things; instead of sulking, she started eating her breakfast with a shy smile, her eyes darting to Ryuji\'s figure with bright red cheeks.
Yumiko puffed up her cheeks, about to complain, before Ryuji stroked her hand softly, his fingers interlocking with hers. Then she seemed to calm down as her tail swayed, and she stood up quickly after eating her bacon sandwiches faster than normal.
"Let\'s go!" Finished eating, Yumiko pulled him with a bright smile.
\'She barely had time to swallow it!\'
"Wait a moment," Ryuji smiled helplessly before finishing his breakfast and drinking some milk. "Ok, let\'s go."
Ryuji stood up, and Erika looked at Yumiko awkwardly, but that only lasted a few moments. It seemed she thought back to his kiss and bid the pair farewell before heading back to the room. "Have fun."
"Ah, ok," Ryuji\'s mind blanked when Erika blushed so heavily he could only respond awkwardly before Yumiko pulled him happily.
"Finally!" Yumiko led him outside and smiled at the morning sun.
****
"Now that she is gone, I can have you to myself again. I shouldn\'t have let her kiss you!" Yumiko complained, but her face looked bright, with a wide smile, and her tail almost smashed, passing villagers as the pair walked down the long road leading to all the merchants and stores.
The purpose of this small village was to cater to adventurers and knights. So, there were many small stores selling items found in the dungeon, as well as blacksmiths and other useful stores. "Ryuji, look at that sword; it\'s huge!"
Yumiko pointed to a massive claymore; the shop was in front of the adventurer guild branch for this small village. Ryuji stopped to inspect the massive weapon. "It would be hard to swing, and one would have to have high strength." He felt Yumiko\'s eyes shine like stars before something else caught her attention.
"Ryuji, can we buy some armour and a cloak for me? I want to match you!" Yumiko was currently wearing the maid outfit from earlier and her bronze arm and leg armour. Although they looked beautiful on her, Ryuji knew they were not as durable as his clothing.
"Sure, first we need to get you some good chest armour, right?"
Yumiko chose breast armour to wear. It was a bronze bikini top; although the bottom was metal, the top was chain mail, making it not so heavy during fights. Ryuji found her to look erotic wearing just the breast armour, so he bought her a tabard with a leather layer to add protection to her belly.
Yumiko bought a black cloak the same colour as Ryuji\'s, and although she looked like a knight now, Ryuji still paid.
"Yeah ~ look at my cute outfit. Do I look good? Hey Ryuji?"
"You look amazing, Yumiko... like my sexy fox knight."
Next, Ryuji spent some time in the blacksmith shop, looking at the swords, axes, and spears. He always liked items and weapons in games, curious about how they differed in this world. The swords were straight blades or curved. Ryuji picked up a curved blade and held it. "This looks nice."
"Hoh, you have a good eye; that sword is made from mithril, and it can use magic attacks."
"Magic attacks?" Ryuji inspected the blade more closely.
"Aye, lad; if you are a knight or an adventurer, fill it with magic power, and you can unleash a fireball. Even if you\'re not a wizard or mage! Isn\'t that amazing?"
Though it seemed amazing, Ryuji could cast magic and use his battle axe. Though some of these weapons were cool, neither he nor Yumiko really needed any. Then he saw a beautiful elf dagger, the hilt and handle a lovely silver colour with a black leather grip. Along the blade was elegant and charming; this dagger felt like an heirloom, but using observation...
\'This dagger is a true killer! It can penetrate armour and magic shields!\'
"How much for this dagger, sir?" Ryuji asked, his hand taking it; something drew him to it. The observation didn\'t show ownership information, but it was indeed amazing.
"That dagger, lad? 20 gold coins!"
"I\'ll take it here!" Ryuji tossed the coins and sheathed the sword. He thought Yumiko might seem jealous, but she nodded and gave him a warm smile!
Ryuji stored it in his storage ring and bought Yumiko a beautiful bronze round shield and gauntlet polish before taking Yumiko\'s hand. "It\'s almost lunch; let\'s eat something."
"Ehehe~ this shield can attach to my gauntlets hehe, thank you, darling!" Yumiko\'s tail swayed, and Ryuji felt her happiness through holding hands.
Although a shield was cumbersome in the dungeon, because of how she had grown since they met, she could carry it and fight with it without that issue now.
Ryuji purchased a sandwich from a food stall. Sitting with Yumiko, a wine jug was on the table; he poured some for her before enjoying his own. He did not know why the cheese, bread, and meat tasted so delicious in this world. \'It\'s like their cheese and milk are from divine-level cows!?\' he said.
Yumiko ate her cheese sandwich. Happily, her tail swung against the chair as her armour shone in the sunlight. Ryuji remembered something while watching her eat, pulling out the dagger he had bought earlier.
"Is it okay if I give this to Erika, Yumiko?"
"Erika?" Yumiko ate her sandwich, her mouth and chewed the delicious cheese and bread. Ryuji felt she struggled not to be angry or sulk; instead, she nodded reluctantly. "It\'s not like I\'ll be hysteric like human women, Ryuji!"
"Thank you."
Ryuji kissed her lips softly. His hand caressed her golden fox ears before Yumiko blushed. Her tail almost smashed into the chairs, eliciting a slight scowl from the stall owner.
"Of course, Yumiko." Ryuji smiled at her softly and promised; in his eyes, she was a rare beauty. "You are number one."
Yumiko giggled happily; she was satisfied with the promise. Ryuji put the dagger away and finished his sandwich.
\'Women are really troublesome but beautiful, and I enjoy spending time with them both.\'
The afternoon faded into early evening as the pair held hands enjoying the various trinkets and odd items they saw.
Yumiko didn\'t ask for anything except the occasional treat after she got her new armour and shield. Instead, she stroked the bronze shield obsessively as if it were a rare treasure for her. Ryuji enjoyed her happiness more than shopping.
When it got dark, Yumiko\'s hand clutched his tightly. "Ryuji, shouldn\'t we go back and visit Erika?"
"Hehe, I\'m hungry again. Darling, buy me some bacon!" Yumiko smiled happily; her tail swung, and her armour shone in the evening lights. Ryuji bought her some honey and bacon sandwiches again, and they walked back to the inn while she ate happily.
\'She eats a lot! But I love her.\'
Ryuji could not help smiling while they returned to the inn; Erika would probably still be training or in the dining area downstairs. They entered the inn, and Erika was in the lobby drinking some wine and shooing away male adventurers before she saw Ryuji, and her face lit up.
"Ryuji! Welcome back; did you have fun?"
Erika wore a blue dress instead of her armour. She rushed to greet them, but her eyes rested on Yumiko\'s armour jealously before brightening up after Ryuji\'s tender gaze, throwing herself into his arms.
"Erika, did you train today?"
"Hehe, I trained till all sweaty and took a bath, then came here to wait for you both." Erika hugged his arm, and Yumiko pretended to frown. Ryuji didn\'t forget his promise and pulled out the dagger; its beautiful appearance seemed to match Erika perfectly.
"This is for you." Ryuji presented Erika with the dagger; she was stunned before gently accepting it.
"Darling, that\'s an elf dagger; are you giving her a valuable weapon!?" Yumiko pulled his other arm and asked suspiciously. Of course, she was just playing, trying to build Ryuji\'s stock in Erika\'s heart. The sly fox knew how to manipulate things and wanted only for Ryuji to be happy.
Erika seemed touched, a bright smile on her cute face after inspecting the dagger before hugging Ryuji happily! Yumiko clicked her tongue at Erika before looking at Ryuji and becoming excited again after receiving a thankful gaze.
"My dear ladies, shall we have a light meal before going upstairs tomorrow morning? I\'ve booked a carriage back to the mansion." Ryuji smiled, enjoying both women clinging to him; Erika\'s passionate eyes made him happy. Yumiko was reluctant to leave this peaceful place but nodded, while Erika didn\'t care and just agreed.
\'Such a lovely fox and hero.\'