The road from the Forgotten City to the Central Capital is long. Even with an Airship’s quick speed, non-stop it’s roughly three to four days.

You still have to factor in weather and all kinds of variables on the way.

Mid-route, you’ve got to land at specific points to refuel and do basic maintenance, which wastes more time.

Since there’s no rush, Yuri and the others looked pretty relaxed.

The Airship had flown a full day. Nothing happened at all, oddly calm for a routine leg.

Dusk settled a little. The mood didn’t quiet down; it got even livelier.

Bars and restaurants were packed with people coming and going.

Some had probably just met, yet were chatting like old friends.

Of course, some single men were out there hunting for “prey.”

And the reason we bring that up is…

“Beautiful miss, are you alone?”

Yuri set down her teacup, then lifted her head slightly and looked at the man hitting on her.

He looked around thirty, the rugged, uncle-type kind of handsome.

His clothes said money—probably a merchant who wasn’t short on cash.

For the first uncle to hit on her, the girl’s brow tipped up a fraction.

Plenty of eyes had been sneaking looks her way, but Yuri’s face was just too loli, so no one dared bother her until now.

This guy made the first move.

Yuri tilted her head, eyes lowered, as if thinking. “Yeah. Uncle, are you alone too?”

“Uh… uncle?” The man rubbed his nose, a bit embarrassed.

People here live long. Two or three hundred years isn’t unusual; those with higher cultivation last even longer.

So although he looked like an uncle, he only counted as a young man in this world.

Still, with the girl’s soft voice, he couldn’t feel any displeasure.

Maybe you’d even call it a kind of flavor.

“Yes, I’m alone too. Judging by you, miss, are you going to the Central Capital with your parents for fun?”

He spoke, a little puzzled, while rubbing his nose.

“Parents?” Yuri let out a light chuckle and shook her head. “I’m alone.”

“Really? If you’re alone, be careful. A cute girl like you might run into bad people.”

“Then… are you a bad person, uncle?”

Faced with Yuri’s innocent gaze, the man’s body stiffened a little. He smiled, awkward.

“Me? No way. I’m a good guy through and through.”

A good guy?

Yuri hid a tiny curl at the corner of her mouth. Would a “good guy” go after someone who looks like a total loli?

Back in my previous world, he’d get his little thing flicked to death for that.

What was in Yuri’s head, the uncle didn’t know. But he did know how to keep the mood lively.

They chatted for ages. It was almost all him talking; Yuri only dropped a line now and then.

Even so, the uncle was in high spirits, not a hint of awkwardness.

After a long idle chat, once the black tea in her cup was gone, Yuri set it down and stood.

“It’s been fun, but I’m getting a bit hungry, so…”

“What do you want to eat? It’s on me.”

The uncle laughed knowingly, open and bright.

“Mm…” A sly glint flickered in her crimson eyes. She tapped her lips with a finger. “What I want to eat isn’t served here.”

“…Huh?”

He blanked. Yuri’s smile turned strange. She didn’t explain, and walked toward the side stairwell.

The uncle froze for a few seconds, then as if he understood, got up and followed.

…

Click!

The tight-shut door opened from inside. Yuri yawned and stepped out in small, light steps.

She seemed to recall something, glanced back in, and smiled. “Not bad. Thanks for the treat.”

Inside, the uncle lay limp, life or death unknown.

Two neat little blood punctures on his neck drew the eye.

His unfocused gaze was filled with indescribable colors. Half ecstasy, half agony.

“Tsk. Didn’t think someone that old would still be a virgin. With how smooth he talked, I thought he was an old hand. Well, fine. At least the taste was good.”

A childhood virgin’s blood versus a non-virgin’s—there’s a huge difference in flavor.

That’s why Yuri didn’t finish him off. Being this old and still a virgin is pitiful. Mm… let’s spare him.

Besides, he did treat her to a great dinner. The minor offenses in the chat are canceled out.

Of course…

“Whether he can wake from his self-spun illusion, or ends up with lasting damage, that’s not my problem.”

Seeing the uncle still trapped in the illusion, Yuri shrugged, closed the door, and walked toward her own room.

Oh, right. Almost forgot.

He swallowed a bit too much just now. Given time, it might turn life-threatening.

Naturally, that’s not something Yuri cares about.

If you try to make a move on me, be ready to bear the cost. Right?

Thinking as she went, Yuri reached the corridor section where her room was.

Most people were drinking in the hall, so the stairwell was pretty quiet.

She opened her door, about to step in, when two figures turned the corner nearby.

“Useless, you have no idea. That guy just tried to cop a feel! If it wasn’t so crowded, I would’ve broken his—”

The girl was about to spit more fire when she looked up and saw Yuri watching them.

Their gazes crossed for a brief moment. Yuri nodded politely to them, opened her door, and went in.

“Huh? A neighbor? She’s so cute.” The girl blinked at the shut door and muttered.

Useless’s brows, which had been relaxed, tightened hard for some reason.

In the end, he looked deeply at the room Yuri had just entered.

“Useless?” The girl seemed to catch his odd mood. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Probably just my imagination.”

He pulled back, smiled faintly, and spoke in a calm tone.

“Hmph. If you don’t want to say it, just say you don’t. Don’t act all mysterious! Wait—did you… fall for her?”

Useless: “…”