Chapter 1013. A Sense of Normality

Now that dawn had faded, and Joy was tucked into bed by Cer, the married duo could now enjoy the night of H9 to their heart’s content.

Their dresses were different this time around.

Frost put on a black robe reminiscent of a short-cut kimono. She had black tights on, wooden slippers and a small hat that sat tilted on the side of her head. It tucked away the small strands of red hair.

Jury had a similar get up, only that hers came in two white pieces. A crop top to expose her midriff to the warm breeze and to Frost’s eyes, of course. The two stood out like a pair of radiant diamonds in a treasure chest.

Coveted, but a jewel was still a jewel. Walking along the paths were a mix of Adventurers and visitors of the Heart of the City of Lust.

Stoic men devoted to the sword wore hearts in their eyes as they were tempted by half-naked Elves.

Women who swore to abstain themselves from pleasures could not resist the siren call of topless men.

Or how about the androgynous Avians who beaconed all walks of life to their roosts? The larger ones would scoop up partners and take them to the highest buildings where their love nest resided.

Catcalls were common, but Frost had drowned them out almost entirely.

Her focus was more on what Jury had planned for her here. They passed through various funhouses where pleasurable cries resonated from deep within those pillowy walls.

Adventurers who came exclusively for certain services were usually the ones who left either without a coin, naked and trembling, or left as withering shells sapped out of their vitality.

Often, they’d choose a Succubus after hearing about their infinite vitality and restorative effects. But little did they know was that this was how they fed. To them, H9 was an open buffet, and they even got paid to eat.

But of course, H9’s proximity to the 6th Branch meant that crimes were uncommon here.

Moreover…

“… Beholder… Jury…?”

Nine purple-dressed Public Defenders picked Jury out from the crowd. A fledgling member of the 31st Peace Flock recognized Jury’s face, stopping to squint and rub her eyes, as though refusing to believe what she was seeing.

*Slam*

“Your eyes are deceiving you.” The Captain of the Peace Flock slammed his Justica Arm downward.

A small crater formed. Nearby, a bear Beastkin maid ‘tsked’ as she brought out a broom and began sweeping stray debris aside.

“Honeybees! Don’t make such a mess on the pathways! Grr!” She rolled up her sleeves, revealing inches of formidable muscle.

“Apologies.” He nodded, tossing her a small pouch of coins.

Justica Arms weren’t the only ones who patrolled the streets.

The Mama Bears Watch, for example, maintained the main streets and provided cleaning services. Moreover, they regulated what was allowed during the days and nights of Ardor.

“But isn’t that also the Amal–?”

“Your eyes should be drawn to potential violators of law, rather than on imitators of the Head.” He dismissed her, for he had no time to ruminate on coincidental similarities. “There are no clauses or laws that does not permit the ‘cosplay’ of the Head or a Beholder; only that white hair may not be imitated.”

Looking around, Frost noticed that there was a surprising number of people with golden highlights.

Beastkin women, Demi-Humans, even Elves wore wigs or dyed their hair black to match the supposed appearance of the Head of the Nexus. Even fewer were aware of the red patch of hair between her eyes.

Frost overheard an argument at a corner store. Two Elves bickered whether the red patch of hair was ‘cannon’ to the Head, and not a misprint in the newspapers. Others deemed it to be slander by the vassals who visited not long ago.

No one knew the truth. Golden eyes, black hair with golden highlights, and undeniably humanoid. These were considered true to most.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

A fox-eared Demi-Human wandered up to Frost.

She unfurled a beautiful ornate hand fan and giggled mockingly.

“An imitation in poor taste, little human~”

“Uhuh.” Frost wryly smiled as Jury wore a cheeky grin.

This hat is putting in work. Plus, the CognitO Filter shades still work even when kept in my back pocket. I’m surprised I haven’t been sniffed out yet.

<

Intoxication, pheromones, lust, and mental-state altering phenomena are masking your presence

>

<

But, do keep in mind to stay away from pets and beasts

>

As if to make a point, a bunch of giant chameleons pulling wagons of quilts rolled over onto their backs to play dead. They surrendered the moment their eyes met with Frost’s. Elsewhere, a bunch of delivery owls hung upside from tree branches.

“Must be bad miasma.” The Fox-woman harped. “But I must say, your design is closer to a Black Dove X Amalgam imitation. I image the Black Dove as the leader of the Black Wings, under the rule of the Head after retiring from being a Color~!”

“You think so?” Frost raised a brow, baffled by the level of delusion.

“Doesn’t it make for great material? Hoooh~ But you won’t hear more from me. I would be spoiling my fantasy fiction.”

Fantasy fiction was this world’s equivalent to Earth’s ‘Fan Fictions’. There was a fine line between this and historical revision depending on one’s perspective. As a result, these books had to be explicitly titled as such.

But all in all, they were relatively harmless. If anything, they reminded Frost more of how stories and tales of legendary figures were made. It only felt strange because it was about

herself

.

“Fanfics of real-life events?” A spark of interest filled Jury’s eyes. “And of the Head? That sounds weird. What’s in it?”

“My spicy interpretation of the Head’s unparalleled beauty. How little humans–” She glanced at Frost, then to others in the background. “–And imbeciles hold only a fraction of her divine luster.”

Frost’s cheeks twitched. She didn’t know whether to feel flattered or annoyed that

she,

the real Head, was no more than a ‘little human’ to this Fox-woman.

“How much?”

A hand reached to pinch Jury’s fluffy ear the moment those words came out.

“Nooo, no you don’t.”

Frost dragged her away.

“But why!?”

Jury was brought into an alleyway and shoved against a wall.

“Would you rather have a book or the real thing?”

She tried to fill Jury’s vision with her body.

But she couldn’t match Jury’s height even when on her toes.

Still, the way her messy bangs covered her face left Jury’s jaw gaping.

“Real thing…” A tail slithered beneath Frost and lifted her till they were face to face. “Always, the real thing~ Did you get jealous?”

“More so annoyed, if anything.”

“So you did ger jealous~”

“Keep pestering me about it. See what happens.” Frost bared her teeth and brought it dangerously close to Jury’s cheek.

Then, she used her lips to ‘nibble’ on her.

“Alright, fine. Maybe I was. A little. Haaaah. Don’t tease me so much, alright? You’re gonna make me angry.”

“Stop making it so tempting.” Jury brushed those strands aside.

“It’s not my fault I’m naturally weak to you. Also, as a precaution, Nav: don’t you dare ask the Bookkeepers to look for that book.”

“Telling me what not to do makes me want to do it. I shall read it under the guise of education. It will reveal how the Nex Megalopolis views you. Until of course, you make your next grand appearance.”

“I doubt I’ll show my face again until we get a stronger CognitO Filter working. So… You got a place in mind?”

“Lots! I looked through eight pamphlets before coming here and scheduled six appointments a week in advance!”

“You know, I never asked what those were for. Like I know they’re for lewd stuff, but you’ve been hyping it up I feel.” Warm fingers squished Jury’s cheeks. “Surprise me.”

For some reason, Jury melted at the mention of this.

“I will~ Let’s take a look around first.”

She took Frost by the hand and dragged her back into the bright street.

“We’re wandering again? Didn’t you have a place in mind?”

“Trust me~!”

* * *

Frost envisioned that they would spend their time in H9 much differently. Tonight, it felt closer to a regular date at a festival than a spicy honeymoon.

But she wasn’t complaining.

A part of her preferred this, especially after what they’ve witnessed within G-Y0.

They didn’t enter any lewd shops, or went to purchase items Jury had promised to hoard weeks ago. Frost wondered if she was making a conscious effort to avoid it. Did she also have an aversion after G-Y0? Or was this simply how the flow went?

Frost found herself visiting stalls and participating in festival games she had never played before. Recollections of Earth and the morsels of memories from the Old World had nothing on the games Jury led to play.

She had to catch fake fish from a fountain using a fishing rod. It was no more than a wooden stick with a rope and a tiny hook at the end. Surprisingly, her skills were subpar. The refraction in the fountain surface made it hard to pinpoint where the fish were.

Precognition didn’t help either, as the visuals and positions fluctuated on seemingly a whim. If she were to readjust, then someone else would make an unexpected movement, and it would change the trajectory of the future.

It was new. The game likely did have its own version on Earth, but she didn’t think about Earth at all. She found herself enthralled in the moment, but also slightly irate when she saw even children could catch these fishes.

It wasn’t until she shut her eyes and closed off the world that she could sense their movements. That one moment of tranquility opened up a world of possibilities outside of her precognition, and with a bit of luck:

“Aww. Sorry, lady. It’s a ghost fish~!” An announcer apologized. She had snagged the most unlucky fish, which automatically burned up her attempts.

But Frost found herself smiling. She didn’t like unexpected outcomes. She much preferred to be in control.

However, when it came to normal, fleeting moments such as these…

“Gimme another attempt.” Frost tossed a copper coin. “I got it this time.”

… losing made her feel ‘human’.