novellhall Chapter 66 The Enemy's Friend
Chapter 66 The Enemy's Friend
Chapter 66 The Enemy's Friend
To be honest, Venus was strangely calm after returning home. She resumed her energetic, spinning top-like self, bustling around the house as if her crying in the red-light district had never happened.
...Could her usual energetic demeanor be an act?
However, Raino can probably understand why Raino on Line 2 has arranged for Venus to be the only cook at home until now.
She gets upset if we don't let her do it.
So the only thing I could do for her was to provide the house with all sorts of convenient magical gadgets to help her with chores, however...
This house is now filled with convenient magical gadgets.
I feel like I've gone through the same emotional journey that Lei Ye went through on Line 2, and he's already accomplished what he wanted to do as a compromise.
So this is fine, right?
The online classes continued, and the magic items were still being made by hand.
This time, Lei Ye focused intently on his research for a whole day, spending all his time in the studio except for lunch and dinner, and then he clearly realized...
He can't make a mechanical watch.
Then it occurred to me... why be so fixated on this kind of watch?
He just wanted to calculate the duration of each time stop, so anything that could achieve the timing effect would do. Therefore, Raino changed his approach and went to the shop near the guild.
This is an ordinary general store; you won't find any powerful items here, but you can buy everyday necessities and all sorts of interesting gadgets.
The little gadgets that Lei Ye wanted couldn't be bought at the guild, and it wasn't easy for him to make them himself, but it seemed like he could get them here for just a few copper coins.
"Boss lady, do you sell hourglasses?"
"Here you are! Oh, it's Boss Lei. Don't you have some really useful, non-sale items? Why do you need to buy this little toy?"
"I bought it to play with."
"Okay, five large copper coins, thank you for your patronage."
Lei Ye casually paid with a small silver coin, and kept the rest as a tip.
Anyway, copper coins were a bit rarer for him.
The proprietress happily accepted the tip, clasped her hands together and pressed them against her cheeks to thank Lei Ye.
"Hey boss, you look great! Is something good happening?"
"Oh, this? Haha..."
The proprietress pointed to the room next door.
It turned out to be the same general store, with almost identical decor. The only difference was that the proprietress next door was younger and prettier.
On Line 1, Raino would occasionally come to this general store to buy things, but there was no one next door. Unexpectedly, on Line 2, she would have a competitor.
Oh no, upon closer inspection, that competitor is actually quite cute.
Next time I go shopping, I'll check out the place next door.
"Haha, ever since she opened her shop next door, she's been provoking me, saying she'll steal all my business. I didn't believe her at first, but for some reason, my regular customers have gradually gotten used to buying things from her, even though the prices are the same."
"Yes, yes..."
"However, I believe that discerning old customers will still choose my side in the end. Just like Boss Lei, you didn't even glance over there. Hey, why are you looking away?"
I'm so sorry.
"I can let it go that she steals customers, since we're all here to make a living, so I won't fuss about it. But this girl keeps mocking me for being an ugly old woman, and I can't stand that. But I can't do anything about it, so I can only sulk by myself. But look at this."
As she spoke, the proprietress did a standing split.
...How come everyone knows this trick?
Then she patted her socks and high heels, looking smug.
"She wasn't chosen to wear the new shoes, which means she's not nearly as charming as me, hehe."
"Boss lady, are you sure you didn't buy this yourself?"
"What are you talking about?! How could I do such a thing!"
Because the person who did this has no recollection of her...
Well, seeing her flustered expression, Lei Ye guessed what was going on, and out of consideration for his old neighbor's pride, he didn't ask any further questions.
On the contrary, the other proprietress next door, who was also serving customers and eavesdropping, was very annoyed.
"What are you so smug about! You enjoyed being played with by those stinky-footed sluts, didn't you?!"
The proprietress on Lei Ye's side immediately leaned out to reply.
"Hey, why are you getting all worked up? Why are you calling him a pervert? I think he's clearly a gentleman. He would put on new shoes for the beautiful lady he likes to show his affection. Besides, what's wrong with liking feet? They're part of the body. Liking breasts is normal, but liking feet is perverted? Some people who don't have breasts or beautiful feet shouldn't be called that if they haven't been noticed."
"Haha, boss lady, please keep this little gold coin. Buy whatever you like, and consider the rest a tip. Don't be shy."
"Oh dear, what are you doing? This is not a good idea."
"This is a tip for the best general store owner I can get, here you go!"
This interaction made the proprietress next door blush, as if she wanted to jump out and start a fight.
However, since there were still other guests to attend to, she couldn't really lose her temper, so she irritably searched for the items the guests had requested.
"Five large copper coins, thank you for your patronage," she said, glancing a few more times at the oddly dressed customer, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Did you also tip me?
"...Could you first explain what a 'lewd insect' is? I've heard many people discussing this along the way, but I don't quite understand it."
Raino also noticed the mysteriously dressed guest.
First and foremost, I have to mention that expensive outfit. No wonder the landlady next door couldn't resist asking for a tip. This jewel-encrusted outfit is almost identical to that of Queen Celia, whom I saw in the Goblin Cave.
However, she is very petite, even smaller than Venus, only about one meter tall... At first glance, one can't help but wonder whose child she is.
But she didn't have that childlike vibe; her face was adorned with bright, heavy makeup, giving her a glamorous, mature look.
Unfortunately, her face was encased in a glass dome, with pipes connecting to a box behind her. This bizarre device disrupted the beauty of her attire and makeup, making her appear mysterious.
Who is this person...?
Lei Ye searched his memory but had no recollection of this person.
Anyone who has seen her even once would have an impression of someone dressed like that.
"This customer must be from out of town. You probably don't know about the strange things that have been happening in Hillius lately. Let me make a long story short..."
The landlady next door briefly recounted the story of time stopping, embellishing the details with a description of the person behind this despicable act, calling him a rare lecher.
This is also the prevailing opinion among the people of Hillius regarding that person; only those whose shoes were swapped would speak well of that child, no, that little beauty...
Lei Ye hesitated for a long time before deciding on a name for this strange customer: Little thing. This little thing must be a traveler from somewhere else, because she doesn't have any of the characteristics of a Hillius person.
After hearing the neighbor's story, the little one's expression turned very unpleasant.
"Are you alright, customer?" The proprietress next door scratched her head and added, "Actually, you don't need to be afraid. Although the guild suggested evacuating to other cities, we don't think it's a big problem. That pervert only did a little sexual harassment. He's considered a very innocent person in our Hillius. It won't affect your fun in Hillius. Of course, if you're really scared, it would be safer to go to another city."
"Judging from your reactions, you don't seem very scared."
"What are you afraid of? Are you afraid he didn't take my shoes off?" The landlady next door snorted irritably. "You have no taste!"
""
The little thing's expression turned even uglier. She looked over and stared at Lei Ye, who was scrutinizing her.
They looked at each other.
When Raino first arrived in the other world, he still had a bad habit: he would subconsciously look away when he made eye contact with others. But he soon realized that this would make him feel overwhelmed, so he even had special training to force himself to make eye contact with others.
Their eyes met for a long time, and Lei Ye realized from her deep, ancient eyes that although this little thing was very small, her soul was by no means childlike or naive. Rather, she gave Lei Ye a very dangerous feeling.
"Put it on his tab." She suddenly pointed at Lei Ye and looked at the proprietress next door.
The proprietress next door looked at Lei Ye again.
Lei Ye looked at the little thing, stunned. "Me? Why?"
"Of course it's because I didn't bring any money! What are you thinking? Hurry up and pay!"
Wow, they're so self-righteous about letting others pay for things?
"What do you mean by that? Do we...know each other?"
"What, you've become so arrogant just because you're doing well here that you don't even listen to me anymore?"
You actually know each other?
Therefore, this person must be a connection of Raino from Line 2.
Although I know nothing about her, I can tell she must be very strong just by looking at her outfit.
"How much?"
"Five large copper coins."
It's a small amount of money, so it doesn't matter.
"Then deduct it from here. I just recharged a large gold coin. Boss, you can come and collect it from here in a bit."
"Huh?" Both proprietresses were stunned.
They each arranged the merchandise with strange expressions and handed it to the customers on either side.
There is an hourglass on one side and an hourglass on the other side.
"Huh...?"
Before Lei Ye could think anything, the little thing approached him and beckoned him with its finger.
"I'm lucky to have found you so quickly. Let's find another place to talk. I have something to ask you."
"Oh...huh?"
When they agreed to go somewhere else, Lei Ye thought she meant he had to follow her. But instead, the little thing took a small step, circled around behind Lei Ye, and jumped, landing on his back.
An arm extends from Raino's shoulder, directing the direction.
"Let's walk this way, and you can show me around the city."
This completely baffled Lei Ye.
He had initially thought that he and she might be old acquaintances, but wasn't this a little too familiar?
What kind of relationship is that allows someone to climb onto another person's back the moment they meet?
Could it be infidelity?!
Impossible. Not to mention that he believed Lei Ye from Line 2 wouldn't do such a thing, even if he really had the intention, Miss Octopus wouldn't give him the chance.
"Wow, the hotels in this city are quite nice. Let's get a single room."
However, things took a rather bad turn. As he passed the hotel, the little thing behind him patted him on the shoulder and pointed in that direction.
"This is it. Let's get a room, the most expensive one."
"ah?"
"Remember, only one room should be open."
"ah??"
Lei Ye's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself, "I'm doomed."
He had initially only suspected that she might be a close friend he had met outside, but seeing how skillfully she took him to book hotel rooms, he was now really unsure.
Now that things have come to this, running away is not an option. We need to find out exactly what happened. Lei Ye decided to do as she said so that he could make a more accurate judgment.
Book a room.
Lei Ye raised a finger and pointed to the example picture behind the staff. He chose a spacious twin room, which was perfect for two people to sit on the bed and talk face to face.
However, a finger also extends from the other shoulder, pointing to another example image.
"You really have no taste, you little slacker. Look at the room you chose. Listen to me, choose this room, it's nicer."
The room the little one chose had almost no furniture because the space was filled with that big pink bed.
Under the watchful eyes of the staff who saw him as a scumbag, Lei Ye nervously took the key, carried the little thing up the stairs.
As soon as they entered the room, before Lei Ye could even ask a question, the little thing uttered another surprising statement.
"Ah... traveling is so tiring. I can finally rest for a while. Come here and help me change my clothes."
"what?"
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up."
Raino's momentum grew weaker and weaker, and he became increasingly confused as to why Raino from Line 2 could do such a terrible thing and have such an evil relationship with this little thing.
He silently helped the little thing take off her gorgeous coat, only to be dumbfounded to find that she was only wearing this one coat, underneath which was a set of old-fashioned underwear. The little thing's slender arms and legs were exposed. She was still wearing a glass mask and carrying a strange box. He hadn't thought the device was that big before, but now that the little thing had taken off her coat, it looked huge, like a large Japanese schoolbag carried by an elementary school student in some works.
Or rather, the little thing is too tiny, much smaller than a child of the same height.
"What are you standing there for? Keep taking your clothes off. I need to change my underwear. Can you help me?"
"We really can't continue," Lei Ye said, taking two steps back and shaking his head.
"I...I'm so sorry, really, but this can't go on, it's really not right, I..." Lei Ye stammered.
Whatever your relationship with this guy was before, it has to end here!
Whether she asked for money or an apology, Lei Ye was willing to agree to her conditions.
I just hope she doesn't make a big deal out of it; this kind of thing is too embarrassing.
"Oh, so now you know you've wronged me? I heard you had a lot of fun, didn't you?"
"Very happy? Still very happy?!"
"Yeah, I heard you've got a really exciting new girlfriend."
As she spoke, she climbed up the big pink bed with difficulty, as if scaling a wall, and sat on the edge of the bed with her legs crossed.
"Kermeleon, kneel down!"
She shouted a curse.
"You like feet, huh? Then how about you lick these old woman's feet clean?!"