Detesting The System: Sundering Fate

As it was once again early in the morning with the sun shining its safeguarding light over the city of Orario, I wasn't bothered on my way through the P.l.e.a.s.u.r.e Quarter this time either. Additionally, as the guards recognized me from my previous visit, Ishtar was quickly notified of my arrival and I was escorted into her tower.

"Back so soon?" she remarked coyly, "Couldn't wait to see me again, I see~"

Laughing the overtly dangerous comments away, I opened my money sack to show her I was here for business; strictly… "I'm here for that Level 4 member of your Familia. Business went better than I expected, so I've prepared all the money earlier than I anticipated."

Sighing in what I assumed was false disappointment, Ishtar waved for an attendant to call the girl I was interested in as another attendant started counting up the money I was offering. "Come on~" Ishtar almost purred after staring at me for an uncomfortably long period of time, "Tell me, boy… I'm dying to know what someone like you is interested in procuring one of my children for. What about my Aisha has you so riled up, when you won't even react to me?"

'S-she couldn't be thinking... I want to exploit her as a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e, right?' I thought to myself as the enticing look in her eyes became slightly hostile; as if I was deeming her or something. But then again, it made sense considering I hadn't really explained why I wanted to buy a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e in the first place…

Taking a deep breath, I gave the most genuine smile I could muster as I said, "Ah! You must be confused. You see, I'm not exactly planning on using her in 'that' way. If my words and actions came to offend you, I'll apologize right here as I had no intentions to do so."

The sincerity must have gotten to her as all the hostility conceal in her eyes vanished before she asked, "You're not? What about a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e has you so excited that isn't the prospect of indulging in her womanly charms?" She seemed very confused and not at all out to charm me as she had during most of our other interactions; truly curious as to the cause of my behavior.

"Of course, it's her strength and companionship!" I blurted out almost losing myself to one of my fantasies again, "Slavery might be illegal here, but p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.es are the next best alternative for finding loyal companions, which is precisely what I'm after. As an adventurer from a relatively poor Familia with next to no recognition or powerful members, Ms. Belka is exactly what I'm looking for!"

There was what I considered to be a fiery passion in my words as I had been longing for this moment since the Side Mission to get a party member appeared. Moreover, as I finished that last sentence, the "fiery passion" came to life as I stared intently at the woman I had picked as she had just entered the room.

"I see..." Ishtar said, growing a bit distant now that she understood that the root of my excitement wasn't out of l.u.s.t. However, I guess she was in the mood to mess with me as she had Aisha Belka, the p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e I was buying, remove her top and face me as she undid the bond Aisha had for her Familia. Of course, to me, who had already survived the subsequent charming attempts of a Goddess such as herself and was familiar with the sight of the b.a.r.e female form thanks to the internet in my past life, seeing Aisha's exposed c.h.e.s.t barely moved me, if only causing a slight, "Oh," to escape from my mouth as this was the first time I'd seen a woman's n.i.p.p.l.es without there being a screen in between us...

Destiny started grumbling in my stream of consciousness, while Aisha and Ishtar laughed at my apparent innocence. But before the minute ended, Aisha was already reclothed — Well, if the cloths that could at best be considered u.n.d.e.r.w.e.a.r, counted as being clothed — ready to join me on my adventure. Before leaving, however, Ishtar apparently gave her what would amount to as a slave seal as she commanded Aisha to follow me loyally. Now, aside from this later developing into a setup, I had no reason to suspect she would betray me.

So, without sticking around for small talks, Aisha and I walked out of the P.l.e.a.s.u.r.e Quarter and straight to the Tower of Babel. Along the way, I introduced myself and got to know a little bit about her. For a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e, and a beautiful one at that, she hardly flirted with me. So, eventually I got down to business and asked, "Say, how much can you carry?"

Seeing her confused face I elaborated, "In the beginning, you're going to have to bear being my supporter… As a Level 4, obviously, I can't compete with you just yet, nevermind travel to places where you'll improve your strength. So, until I catch up, I only want you to act as my support and carry the things I earn from the Dungeon."

Seeing her face became fl.u.s.tered, no doubt because she had just been bought to become a slave-like laborer for me, I felt just a shred of guilt and said, "Ah, don't worry… I won't mistreat you! Aside from buying supporter gear for you in the tower of Babel, I plan on helping you become stronger as well."

Going into detail about my experience as a Journeyman Alchemist, she seemed to have grown a bit less dubious about me, but it was understandable why she kept a quiet demeanor. Understanding that I would need to prove myself with actions instead of words, our chat quickly ended and we arrived at the sky-piercing tower.

First going to a shop to buy Aisha actual clothes as she only had on what I assumed to be her staple outfit for when she worked as a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e, I bought her a couple pairs of slightly conservative clothes as she actually fought for the privilege of opting for more revealing clothes; apparently, Amazonesses just like to dress in that kind of way...

Still, even I had limits to my tolerance and I couldn't just keep a half-n.a.k.e.d woman running around with me all day… With her clothes picked out, and Aisha herself changed at my behest, I took her to buy armor and spent a tear-inducing 750,000 Vali on a set of armor that should last her at least until I caught up to her level. Luckily, she already owned a weapon, so after I bought her armor, I bought myself a new Chain Sickle — One of Mediocre Quality with no extraordinary features aside from its durability — for another 375,000 Vali.

We ended our trip to the tower of Babel after I purchased Aisha a supporter's bag that could easily fit about a cubic meter's worth of space and support almost half a ton of weight and stored our shopping spoils in the supporter bag. Walking out of the tower, I understood that Aisha, though adamant about staying quiet, took her new position seriously as she didn't even wait for my command to pick up and carry the supporter back while en route to her new home; the ruined church.