Chapter 5: Groveling
After a week had passed, Ruri went to the builder’s office to check the blueprints as agreed. She saw the plans were finished and everything had been carried out to her liking. In fact, that was an understatement. The designer’s enthusiasm oozed out of every single intricate detail. Honestly speaking, the results exceeded her initial expectations. With things taking shape as they were, reality started to kick in and Ruri became even more excited than before.
With a solemn pledge to see this plan to completion, the builder began construction immediately. Ruri left the actual building to the pros; she only came to check on the progress from time to time. Still, there was one big issue she needed to handle in order to complete the hot spring—the hot spring itself. You certainly couldn’t bathe in hot water if there was none to be had. In order to build the springs, she needed the power of a water, earth, and fire spirit. For water, there was Rin. For earth, she had Chi. And for fire...
Apparently, any fire spirit would do but in order to match the power of supreme-level spirits like Rin and Chi, it was more convenient to ask another supreme-level spirit. That was why Ruri reluctantly went to visit Heat, who was in his personal room in Sector One. Normally, he’d be walking around the castle talking to girls he passed by. Now that he knew his penguin form was popular among the dragonkin ladies, he would parade around for no real reason other than to enjoy the enamored cries of the women around him.
Ruri figured Heat would be enjoying some quiet time in his quarters around now. However, contrary to her belief, he had brought several women back to his room and made them wait on him and serve him wine.
Whether he was in the Nation of the Beast King or Dragon King, Heat hadn’t cooled down one bit. While Ruri wanted to lay into him for being a womanizing cad, she needed his powers to help build the spring, so she tried to walk on eggshells. She went up to Heat, sat on her knees, and put both her hands in front of her. She was literally groveling before him.
“What is the big idea here, brat?” Heat asked.
“Heat-sama, I have a favor to ask of you...”
“Denied,” Heat replied in an unapproachable, frigid manner. Nonetheless, Ruri wasn’t going to let that discourage her one bit. Her dream was within grasp. She had no time to lose heart.
“The thing is, I want to build a hot spring in the capital. I heard I can build one with the power of water, earth, and fire. Rin and Chi said they’d help out, so all I need now is...a fire spirit. So, I beg of you, please! Help me out!”
“Nope,” Heat replied so fast that she barely had time to process it.
Despite her gumption, Ruri felt discouragement rearing its head. Nevertheless, she wasn’t giving up—not by a long shot.
Heat paid no attention to Ruri, as if to say he had no further interest in her. He instead turned to the girls and prompted them to pour him liquor.
“Oh, shall I pour that for you?” Ruri offered, reaching for the wine bottle on the table. However, Heat brushed her hand away, not wanting her to touch it. Ruri couldn’t help but pout in displeasure.
“You pouring it would sour the wine.”
“Oh, don’t be so mean; why don’t you just help out? You’re not doing anything anyway, right? Once it’s done, I’ll let you have the first dip! Come on, come on.”
“I’m busy. I don’t have the time.”
He was busy, all right—busy chasing the tail of any woman that crossed his path.
Ruri decided to try a slightly more forward approach. “Hot springs do wonders for your beauty, meaning the ladies will surely come flocking. And when they do, they’ll most likely be very grateful to you for building the spring, Heat-sama. Why, you might even be more popular than you are now.”
Heat’s cheeks rose at that prospect. Ruri felt she was on to something, so she kept it up.
“Say, all of you would like a dip in a hot spring too, wouldn’t you?” Ruri asked, involving the girls by Heat’s side. They were surprised the ball was suddenly in their court, but they seemed to understand how desperate Ruri was. The astute girls complied, acting as the allies Ruri needed.
“Yes, well, I have never personally soaked in hot water, but I am quite interested now that I’ve heard its beauty benefits. I would certainly like to experience it,” said one girl.
“Will you be making a hot spring? Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised. Only one individual is capable of such an outstanding feat, and that is you, O Spirit of Fire. You have my utmost respect,” said another.
Yet another added, “Yes, indeed. Very impressive.”
Every single girl began to shower Heat with excessive praise. It was clear it was working too, considering his expression. A man harsh toward Ruri yet a pushover for other women—that was Heat in a nutshell.
“I see,” Heat muttered, pretending to think before looking back at Ruri. “Well, if you’re that sure, then I’ll play along and assist you in this endeavor.”
(Hell yeah!) Ruri thought, pumping her arms in victory.
“Oh, thank you!” she added, verbalizing her insurmountable gratitude toward the group of ladies, the real MVPs in all of this.
“We will call it even if you were to allow us to touch your paw pads later,” said one of the women, holding out her hands and wriggling her fingers in a greedy manner. It seemed they too were fluffy animal lovers. Still, if that would serve as an appropriate thanks, then Ruri was happy to do it.
Heat would go on to assist in her plan, but he wasn’t going to make it easy.
“However,” he started, clearing his throat, “I have one condition.”
“Condition?”
“I want to go to an establishment called Knies.”
“Pardon?”
“I said I want to go to Knies. Are you hard of hearing?”
“But where is this ‘Knies’?”
“I don’t know, but I heard it’s a garden of dreams, one that any man would desire to go to at least once. If you take me there, then I will consider building your hot spring.”
“Aw, what?” Ruri asked, at a loss for what to do. It wasn’t like she could say, “Oh, sure,” and just take him there. In fact, she didn’t even know where or what it was he was talking about. What in the world was a “garden of dreams” anyway?
“Do any of you know where it is?” Ruri asked the other ladies, but they only responded with bewildered expressions. Ruri was just as confused, but since all she needed to do was take him there, she couldn’t very well afford to say no. “Okay, then. I’ll gather a little information, so just hold tight.”
“Don’t leave me waiting too long.”
Ruri hurried toward Sector Five, toward Ewan who was in the training grounds.
“Hey, Ewan! Have you ever been to a place called ‘Knies’?!”
Ewan did a spit take. Even the soldiers fighting around them stopped what they were doing and stared at Ruri.
“Excuse me?! What are you talking about?”
“Never mind that. Have you or not?”
“I have not,” Ewan refuted, his cheeks flushing red.
Ruri slumped where she stood. “Ugh, you’re useless.”
“Why are you asking that anyway?!”
“Because Heat-sama said he wants to go. It’s part of a deal so he’ll help build my hot spring. What kind of business is Knies anyway?”
“You asked me not knowing?”
“Because Heat-sama asked. What kind of place is it?”
Ewan sighed, explaining, “It’s a restaurant where you booze around while ladies serve and entertain you. It’s the classiest establishment in the capital, and it’s members only, so it’s not a place where anyone can go. In order to get in, you need a member to introduce you.”
Women serving and entertaining? It sounded like some kind of cabaret club.
“It’s members only? So, that’s why he asked me, then,” Ruri surmised. She assumed Heat had already tried to get in but couldn’t because he wasn’t a member. “Ewan, I want to go there.”
“Don’t be absurd. I just told you that you have to be a member, didn’t I? Well, I’m not, so I can’t take you there,” Ewan replied.
Ruri clicked her tongue. Realizing that Ewan wasn’t going to be of any help, she tried asking the other soldiers nearby, but none of them gave her a favorable response. That was no wonder. Knies was more of a high-class establishment than she’d thought—definitely not your run-of-the-mill restaurant. Their unreasonably high prices made it impossible for a common soldier to go, nor could they become members in the first place.
“Isn’t there anybody?” Ruri asked, but she received no reply.
Right when she considered turning to Agate, with his wealth of life experience, Quartz just so happened to show up.
“Oh, what’s everyone gathered around for?” he asked. A nearby soldier whispered an explanation to Quartz. “Oh, you want to go to Knies, Ruri?”
“Less me and more Heat-sama. He’s the Spirit of Fire, but he said he wants to go. Quartz-sama, have you ever been to Knies?”
There was no way he’d answer truthfully, or so Ruri thought, but Quartz subverted her expectations and nonchalantly answered, “I have.”
“Wait, you have?!” Ruri asked, incredulous.
“Yup, sure have,” Quartz said, nodding. “If he wants to go so badly, then should I introduce him? I’m a member, after all.”
“Would you? Thank you so much.”
“All right, then we’ll head there tonight. You should come along, Ruri.”
“I appreciate it, sir!”
Ewan and the soldiers listening from the sidelines all wondered if this was a good idea. Knies was in the nightlife district, a place surrounded with brothels and the like. It wasn’t a place a young lady should visit.
“Should we stop her?” asked one soldier.
“No. I mean, Master Quartz is accompanying her,” replied another.
Another soldier suggested, “Maybe we should report this to His Majesty?”
The worried soldiers all went to Jade to report the news, but Jade replied that Ruri would be fine so long as Quartz was with her.
That night, Quartz took Ruri and Heat to Knies. This certain back street in the capital, said to house brothels, had a completely different atmosphere than the commercial district bustling with people during the day. Ladies were trying to attract patrons into their shops, dressed in outfits skimpy enough to put the Nation of the Beast King’s attire to shame.
Ruri had followed along out of sheer curiosity, but she felt out of her element. Knowing she wouldn’t last if she were left behind here, she made sure not to get separated from Quartz. Although Heat seemed likely to follow the female hawkers, Ruri got him back on track and they reached a certain elegant-looking building, glittering with dazzling lights.
“This is it. The place I used to go to ages ago and the most high-class establishment in the capital,” Quartz noted as he entered the building without a moment’s hesitation. Ruri hurried along after him.
“My, my. If it isn’t you, Master Quartz! I see you’ve made your return to the kingdom.” They were greeted by an elderly woman, whose eyes lit up as soon as she saw Quartz. She seemed to be an acquaintance of his and welcomed him warmly.
“Hey there, Madam. It’s been quite a spell,” he said in a friendly manner.
“Indeed it has. It seems you have some guests with you tonight,” the madam observed, turning her eyes over to Ruri and Heat behind him. Making eye contact, Ruri gave a formal bow.
“Oh yeah, this is the Beloved and the Spirit of Fire,” Quartz added.
“Oh me, oh my. You coming here was enough of a shock, but having a couple as distinguished as a Beloved and a spirit visit our establishment is such a joyous occasion. Now then, I cannot very well allow such honored guests to stand around forever. Please, allow me to show you to your seats.”
The interior was what you would expect from the classiest establishment in all the capital. Everything from the floor to the ceiling was lavish and luxurious. The furnishings looked exquisite and expensive. For all that, the place wasn’t gaudy; it was all refinement.
After Ruri’s party arrived at a room, women started to bring them loads of booze and food.
“Please, please. Enjoy yourself,” said the madam, filling their glasses to the brim with wine. Then women began to dance in front of them, accompanied by instruments. It was less like a cabaret show and more like a personal geisha performance.
Ruri looked to her side to see Heat wearing a dopey expression and letting the women serve him as he drank. He seemed to be having a ball. She hoped that he’d stay in a good mood. The rest depended on how the girls working here panned out. Living up to this establishment’s reputation, the girls carried themselves with style and offered very courteous service.
Ruri figured that Quartz would be just as much of a womanizer as Heat since he’d said he used to frequent this establishment. Nevertheless, he wasn’t flirting with any of the girls. Instead, he was sipping his wine with silent grace.
“Quartz-sama, did you come here often?”
“Long ago, yes. Back when I was still king. Isn’t that right, Madam?” Quartz mused, looking at the proprietor.
She smiled sweetly as she poured his glass and answered, “Indeed, you surely did. When you would drop by, you’d always partake in this manner. That reminds me, Master Jade and Master Finn are not here with you tonight, I see.”
Ruri couldn’t help but blurt, “Huh?! Jade-sama would come here too?”
“Yes, Master Quartz would visit with both in tow very often.”
This establishment was by no means seedy, but Ruri couldn’t quite feel easy hearing that Jade “very often” came to a place where he’d been constantly surrounded by beautiful women. Picturing Jade where Heat was, up close and personal with the young ladies here, made her brow tense. She wanted to believe that his personality wouldn’t allow him to flirt and act goofy, but Jade was as handsome as they came. Even without asking any of the ladies to, they probably coddled him like mad. The thought of him nestled up to another woman frustrated her to no end.
Perhaps noticing the mixed feelings on Ruri’s face, Quartz explained, “I like drinking with a group of people rather than on my own. Jade and Finn are so dead serious all the time that not many women would come near them. They simply accompanied me here.”
Ruri let out a sigh of relief. That made sense. After constantly running away from Agate’s advances to find him a bride, there was no way that Jade would ever cling to and flirt with another woman. Even though she knew that, she couldn’t hide her relief. Nonetheless, Ruri was confident that she was the only one Jade would cling to. It filled her with an odd sense of superiority.
Seeing that Ruri was clearly reassured, Quartz’s lips curled into a smile. “It would seem that Jade’s feelings aren’t unrequited. How far have you two gone, by the way?”
“‘How far’?” Ruri echoed, putting her lips to her glass.
“Have you at least kissed?”
Immediately, liquor came spraying out of Ruri’s mouth as she stammered, “Wh-Wh-What are you talking about?! I have done no such thing!”
“Oh, you haven’t? Jade is a surprisingly passive romancer, huh?” Quartz said, delivering a devastating amount of damage to Ruri in an aloof, nonchalant tone.
Quartz asked, “But you do have feelings for him, don’t you?”
“Am I that easy to figure out?” Ruri replied. Was it written on her face that clearly? She knew exactly what she felt just a second ago. It was jealousy.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that. But your face right now is the spitting image of Seraphie’s when she found out that I visited this place, so I just assumed that to be the case.”
“Seraphie?” Ruri asked.
“My mate.”
“Oh, wow. So you have a mate yourself? Where is she now? Did she come back with you to the Nation of the Dragon King?” Ruri wondered what the woman who won over someone as dashing as Quartz was like. It was extremely intriguing. There weren’t many women around her married to dragonkin, so she hoped to maybe pick her brain about a few things. She soon regretted asking her insensitive question, though.
“Seraphie died. Quite a long time ago, in fact.”
“Oh...” Ruri’s face stiffened. The madam most likely knew as well since she silently cast her eyes downward. “I’m sorry, um, I just...” Ruri mumbled.
Quartz, on the other hand, seemed unaffected. He smiled and patted Ruri on the head. “No need to worry. What’s in the past is in the past. Besides, I actually need to thank you.”
“Why, sir?”
“Ever since Seraphie passed, this nation, that castle...they all remind me of her, so I’ve had a tough time returning. That’s why I didn’t come back this entire time. But after hearing about you, a Beloved, I felt the urge to finally return home.”
Ruri hesitantly asked, “And remembering her now doesn’t hurt you?”
“No, I’m actually more comfortable than I thought. That aside, judging from Jade and Agate’s reactions, I regret not coming back sooner. Agate bawled his eyes out when he saw me.”
Agate had served as Quartz’s aide during his time as king. It made sense why Quartz’s return most likely overjoyed Agate as well as Jade.
“I could tell by looking at Jade-sama,” Ruri offered. “His face and attitude screamed that he really cares for you, Quartz-sama. He is truly happy that you made your return home.”
“It’s really nice to know that someone out there cares about you, eh?” Quartz replied with a sweet and kind smile. He likely considered Jade someone very important to him, like a little brother perhaps.
Afterward, the liquor continued to flow and Ruri found herself getting more drunk by the second—talkatively drunk. She babbled incoherently about things in her own world and events that had happened after she was summoned to this one. Quartz listened to every word with a smile well into the wee hours of the night.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login