Emiya: "Why?"
Aisha: "Because... because... it just can't be!"
Because a man who is strong both in power and inner self is the greatest weakness of the Amazons. Once an Amazon is defeated by such a male, her life can be declared over.
This is the other side of the Amazons who rob, exploit, and trample men. The dominance and tyranny of the Amazons are built on the foundation of "strength" and "victory." Once they are completely defeated, the pitiful traits in their bloodline begin to manifest.
If it were an ordinary man, it would be fine, as most adventurers are only strong in physical [power], but their inner selves cannot overwhelm the Amazons.
What the Amazons fear most, and yet desire most, is the 'conqueror' who possesses god-like strength and an ironclad inner will.
[King] meets half of the requirements. Ottar, the burly and strongest adventurer in the city, lacks the overwhelming inner strength to conquer everything due to his excessive attachment to the goddess Freya.
On the other hand, the gentle and refined [Braver] Finn, despite being a Pallum, possesses a will as strong as a giant, which is why almost all Amazons defeated by the [Braver] unconditionally fall in love with him.
And so far, [The Sword King] is the adventurer Aisha has seen who most resembles, and even surpasses, the [Braver].
Similarly humble and gentle in appearance, yet with an inner will that would not waver even at the end of Ragnarok.
However, it is precisely because Emiya is such a person that Aisha trusts him like a spell.
'Really... inviting a wolf into the house...', Aisha sighed softly.
She led Emiya to the top floor of the Pleasure Quarter.
"Haruhime is inside. This is her first time receiving a guest, and I specially arranged it for today... The rest is up to you, Emiya."
———
Emiya walked into the boudoir on the top floor of the [Pleasure Quarter].
What caught his eye was the glossy golden hair, as well as the animal ears and thick, long tail of the same color.
A rare race that can only be seen in a few regions such as the Far East, the Fox People.
A figure between a girl and a woman, delicate and beautiful.
The girl was wearing a bright red kimono, sitting in the corner of the room as if accepting her fate. On her slender neck, whether it was an ornament or not, was a black collar, no, a choker.
She looked up at the night sky outside the window, her eyes filled with envy and longing for the night sky.
Hearing the footsteps behind her, the girl slowly turned around.
The girl's emerald green eyes looked over.
A momentary exchange of glances felt like dozens of seconds, or even longer.
Her cherry lips parted slightly, and she smiled.
"My lord... am I dreaming?"
Emiya, who had already removed his cloak and hood, stepped forward and stood in front of the girl.
"This is not a dream. Long time no see, Haruhime," Emiya said softly.
"...Tonight is my first time receiving a guest," Haruhime looked up, a genuine smile on her lips, "It is my greatest honor to serve my lord and to give everything to you. I am truly... very happy..."
Kneeling, her thick tail gently swayed.
Even her movements as she stood up were so meticulous and respectful. She took Emiya's hand and gently led him over.
Haruhime led Emiya deep into the room, where a set of bedding was neatly laid out.
"I admire you," She knelt down, sitting on the tatami in front of the bedding, "Back then, you really were like a hero."
Haruhime whispered, recalling the figure of Emiya standing between her and the tide of monsters, and couldn't help but show a happy expression.
"I know... you were not there to save me," Haruhime lowered her eyes.
'[Gale], [The Pristine Garden], [The Thousand Elf], these spirits who symbolize purity, unlike a prostitute like me, are the ones truly worthy of his protection,' Haruhime knew this.
"But, when you were protecting me, I shamelessly felt joy, even relief...", Haruhime pressed her head down, touching the tatami, her hands on the ground, her tone respectful, "So, I begged Sister Aisha. I have reached the age to receive guests, and I only hope, only hope that my first time... can be with my lord."
At that time, she had also begged Aisha like this, but Haruhime never imagined the courage Aisha had mustered for her.
And now, what Emiya needed, the purpose of his coming here, was only one thing, Haruhime's courage.
With an expression of determination, she propped herself up, and began to untie the sash of her kimono.
However, soon, Haruhime's actions were stopped by Emiya.
Emiya pressed down on Haruhime's hand.
'My arm, my arm... my lord has grabbed my arm... ah...', Haruhime was greatly shaken, but at the moment before fainting, she forced herself to take a deep breath and remained calm.
Haruhime tried to catch her breath, "Haa, haa, for my lord, I cannot faint..."
"Where are you from, Haruhime?", Emiya suddenly asked.
Haruhime was stunned, 'Chatting before starting the main event, is my lord this type of person...'
She thought of the sisters in the familia mentioning that some men like to chat about this and that before and after the event. The Amazon sisters generally found such guests annoying, troublesome, and meddlesome.
But knowing that the other party wanted to know about her, Haruhime was very happy.
She sat up straight as if to hide her shyness, then slightly raised her head, looking at the ceiling.
"My birthplace... is the Far East."
An expected answer, Emiya said, "Can you tell me more about it?"
As if recalling the scene of her hometown, she continued, "It is an island country surrounded by the sea on all sides, with more distinct seasons than Orario. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom; in summer, cicadas chirp; in autumn, maple leaves turn crimson... and in winter, it is covered in thick snow."
Her gaze shifted from the ceiling to the window, looking at the moonlit night outside the open paper sliding door.
Emiya looked at that side profile, illuminated by the moonlight, so crystal clear and somewhat transcendentally beautiful, "Miss Haruhime's hometown, is it a noble family?"
"How did my lord know!?"
"Sanjouno, it sounds like a noble surname."
"...As my lord said, my family is a noble family with a long history. I have no mother, and my father is a state official. When I was young, I was always taken care of by many maids."
She said she only knew the large mansion she lived in, knew nothing about the outside world, and every day she learned the manners and behaviors of a noble. Although the pampered life was a bit lonely, she still had a few friends, and life was comfortable and well-provided.
At this point, Miss Haruhime's expression suddenly became sorrowful, "However, five years ago... when I was eleven, I was expelled from my home."
"Why?", Emiya asked.
"I was so sleepy, I ate an important item of my father's distinguished guest... an offering."
According to Miss Haruhime, in the year she turned eleven, a certain Pallum official started visiting the mansion frequently.
Then one day, Miss Haruhime, being so sleepy, ate the offering brought by the guest staying overnight at the mansion, an offering meant for Amaterasu, the ruling God of the Far East.
Emiya: "Did you really eat the offering?"
"I have no memory of it, but when I woke up, there were food crumbs all over my mouth. It must have been Haruhime being hungry, sneaking out to eat every night..."
Miss Haruhime covered her face with her hands and sobbed.
Later, her father, an official serving Amaterasu, was furious and wanted to punish Haruhime severely, but the Pallum guest persuaded him, "Alright, alright, it's already eaten, let it be," and Miss Haruhime was able to keep her life. In return, he no longer recognized Miss Haruhime as his daughter, and she was taken away by the guest.
Emiya: "...And then?"
"Wuu... I knew nothing, I could only let them take me away. But on the way back with that person, wuu, we were attacked by monsters..."
"That person, seeing a group of ogres coming to kill, abandoned me and ran away."
"Just as I was about to be killed, I was fortunately saved by a group of bandits. The bandits, knowing I was still a virgin, sold me to Orario."
Emiya sighed softly, looking at the crescent moon outside the window.
The description from the Takemikazuchi Familia, the bandit leader captured by Lunoire, the information extracted by Chloe, plus Haruhime's confession.
The chain of information was complete, with sufficient witnesses.
According to the plan of the goddess Astrea, there were still two elements left before the Ishtar Familia would be in a hopeless situation.
First, the physical evidence of the [Sesshou-seki].
Second, and most importantly, Haruhime's will.
"I did not become a prostitute voluntarily," "I want to leave the Ishtar Familia," or even a simple "Save me."
As long as she spoke, and made such a request to Emiya.
Then, they could turn the Ishtar Familia upside down.
Emiya was not in a hurry to advance the plan. At this time, there were still a few days before the full moon night necessary to activate the [Sesshou-seki] ritual, and Astrea and the others were not fully prepared to act yet.
He sat down on the floor, in this pleasure quarter, Emiya saw tatami for the first time since his rebirth. The contact with something familiar unexpectedly calmed his mood.
The light from the candles and magic stone lamps illuminated his face from the side, but the other side of his eyes was hidden in the shadows. In the warm light, his crimson hair appeared even deeper.
Emiya looked at Haruhime, still with those amber, molten gold-like eyes. The Lv.2 Ishtar Familia Amazon battle prostitutes would feel fear, but Haruhime, who was powerless, felt at ease.
'Besides the experience at that time, a similar 'name' should also be the reason why Haruhime trusts me,' Emiya thought.
Although he, who was reborn from another world, actually had no connection with the [Far East Country] of this world, the name "Emiya Shirou" clearly had a Far Eastern style. Anyone would think that he at least had some connection with that country.
The [Far East Country] is too far from Orario, and that country has already formed its own unique God system. Therefore, residents from the Far East in the dungeon city are actually not common.
Emiya only knew that his captain Tsubaki had half Far Eastern blood, the [Takemikazuchi Familia], a small faction from the Far East that had recently arrived in Orario, and the former Astrea Familia's Gojouno Kaguya.
In contrast, the scale of the [Pleasure Quarter] in the red-light district was surprisingly large, but whether it was the guests or the courtesans, the vast majority were locals of the dungeon city. Including Haruhime, there were actually no more than ten courtesans with Far Eastern blood.
The reason why the [Pleasure Quarter] style red-light district was so popular in Orario was purely due to the trend set by many male Gods, the well-traveled male Gods highly praised the [Pleasure Quarter], and the Ishtar Famila naturally followed suit.
Haruhime, due to the strict protection of Aisha and others, rarely had the opportunity to interact with the outside world. Emiya was the first fellow countryman from the Far East she encountered outside the pleasure district.
Therefore, Haruhime inevitably projected her longing for her hometown onto Emiya, and even after learning that he was not from the Far East, she still maintained such feelings.
After all, for Haruhime, the brief few years she spent in her hometown during her childhood were the happiest times of her life.
However, from Emiya's perspective, Haruhime's life at the [Sanjouno] residence, even with its luxuries, could hardly be called completely happy.
"Aside from learning noble etiquette, have you been taught any other knowledge?", Following the topic of her hometown, Emiya inquired.
"This one learned to read and write at a very young age from a tutor, and since then has been continuously learning noble etiquette and ceremonial rites," Haruhime answered meekly, "Father believed that the daughter of the [Sanjouno] family did not need to master any other knowledge. Apart from textbooks related to [etiquette] and [ceremonial rites], the only books I have read are [heroic tales]..."
[T/N: Hey everyone!😆 I have published another fanfic named 'Naruto: Transmigrated With AFK System!'. I'd love your support on that one too—check it out, drop some power stones, and let me know what you think! Your feedback keeps me motivated to keep writing. Thanks for being awesome!😘]
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