Compared to downstairs, Lin Mo’s outfit didn’t stand out much on the second floor.

He only had to look around once to spot two other men dressed just like him.

Unlike him, though, neither of them had come alone. They were nestled in the arms of their respective women, all tucked together on roomy, plush U-shaped couches. The women pressed their faces and bodies against the men, while their long, oversized robes conveniently hid what they were doing.

This was one of the milder cases.

Most of the other men and women were in a completely shameless, debauched state, stopping just short of doing something outright indecent in the tavern.

Even Lin Mo couldn’t help grimacing in disgust at the sight.

Only then did he understand the meaningful smile the female bartender had given him as he headed upstairs.

……

Lin Mo looked around. Most of the second floor was filled with U-shaped couches, but there were also single and double seats facing the walls and long windows.

He found a double table with empty seats on both sides and sat down on one of them.

After setting his drink on the small table, Lin Mo looked around at the men and women who were making him feel a little sick and wondered, “How am I supposed to explain this to Diona later?”

……Forget it.

He’d finish his drink, wait downstairs for a while, then leave as soon as he could.

……

“Ha, hahahaha! Hey, look at this. I can make her do anything I want, and she doesn’t dare say no.”

“Seriously! Just wait till she comes back if you don’t believe me!”

From beside a nearby couch, beyond its rather high backrest, Lin Mo heard a young man’s voice bragging loudly.

The women around him were also busy praising his good looks and elegance.

But the two other men who’d come along with him were clearly skeptical, and teased him about it.

That seemed to leave the young man rather indignant.

“I’m serious! I keep telling you, she’s my dog!”

“Hahaha! She’s such a coward, and so stupid she’s beyond help. She’s a little runt, too. Not even an ugly guy would sleep with her!”

“And yet somehow this useless piece of trash made so much money… Ugh, it pisses me off. But whatever. No matter how much money she has, we can spend it however we like! That’s how a man’s life should be: a girlfriend to keep you happy, a girlfriend to sleep with, a simp to bankroll you, and a simp to look after the kids. And the more of them you have, the better!”

Ah.

So he was trash.

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow. He suspected that sort of attitude wasn’t exactly rare in this world.

Still, none of it had anything to do with him.

“Hey—you don’t believe me? Then wait till she gets back. Huh? What if she hears me? So what if she does!”

The man’s voice continued from beside the couch. “She’s just a dog I keep around, yapping away! What right does a dog have to question its master? If I can say it in front of you, I can say it to her face when she gets back! She’s useless trash—not even a dog would want to sleep with her!”

“Ohhh—oh hohoho! Oh, hehehehe!”

Lin Mo’s eye twitched as he listened.

But he still raised a hand and casually rubbed his eyelid. He had things to do here today, for one thing. Besides, he didn’t have any particular opinion of the men or women in this place. Even if he heard or saw something—or someone—he disliked, there was no need to get angry.

With that in mind, Lin Mo went on sipping his drink. At the same time, he soon heard a string of hurried footsteps pounding up the stairs.

A moment later, a somewhat familiar figure appeared at the top of the stairs.

“……” (Lin Mo)

It was the timid girl with chestnut-brown hair he’d seen during the day.

She was drenched in sweat. Gasping from exhaustion, she clutched a huge pile of food and other things in her arms, probably just bought from a general store.

Lin Mo guessed it was all for someone’s tabletop games.

“L-Little Honey! I bought everything you asked for!”

As she looked over this way, hope glimmered in the girl’s eyes.

Lin Mo almost thought he’d imagined it. But after glancing around, he realized the girl wasn’t looking at him.

She was looking at…

He watched her hurry toward the man who’d been talking just moments ago.

(Scum.)

He cursed the man under his breath once more. Then, determined not to get involved, Lin Mo prepared to finish his “Happy Sweet Orange Juice.”

“Why are you being so loud?”

The moment the girl reached them, Lin Mo heard a man’s voice, thick with irritation.

“Can’t you see I’m having a good time here? I sent you out to run errands. Sure, you bought the stuff, but what makes you think you deserve credit for that?”

“You stink of sweat, and you’re grinning like an idiot. You’re disgusting.”

“Put it down.”

“I, um…” The girl asked nervously, frightened. “Little Honey, can I join you…”

“Join us in what?”

“Did you not understand what I said, or are you deaf?”

“Do you still not get it? You stink of sweat, and you’ve got that disgusting smile on your face!”

“Maybe next time! I’m in a bad mood right now. Go find somewhere out of the way to sit. I’ll need you later!”

“B-but…” (the girl)

“I said I’m in a bad mood. Don’t make me repeat myself—got it?!”

……

…………

“I… understand.”

Before long, laughter and teasing filled the area again.

The girl had just bought a huge pile of things for the others, including tabletop games that could have been used for a long time but were clearly being treated here as disposable. And yet she was completely shut out by the whole group, led by that man.

“……” Lin Mo kept taking small sips of his drink, but found himself biting the rim of the glass without meaning to.

He wasn’t angry.

No, he really wasn’t angry at all. Everyone had the right to make their own choices. However anyone chose to live their life was their own business.

“……”

Watching the chestnut-haired girl sadly try to find somewhere she wouldn’t be in the way, Lin Mo grew more and more irritated.

So he stared straight at her, until she noticed that someone was staring.

“……?”

The girl looked around. Seeing no one else nearby, she pursed her lips nervously and pointed at herself.

Lin Mo nodded.

With his hand hidden beneath his robe, Lin Mo curled his fingers toward himself. “Come here.”

His voice was very soft.

So soft that no one else could notice or pay attention to it, yet loud enough for this timid girl to hear.

The girl stood frozen in place for a long moment. It seemed she’d never experienced anything this strange in her life.

But after hesitating for a while, she finally made her way over to Lin Mo, fearfully and quietly.