Chapter 193

Jack and I sat at a table in a corner, led by Roxy, the owner with cat ears.

The chair had a plush backrest, and there were thin veil-like curtains we could use to create some privacy, making it a perfect spot to have a long, secretive chat.

Jack waved the curtain aside, sat down, and pointed at the menu with his finger.

—Whatever you order here is bound to taste good, so just pick anything. I’m going for a spicy desert snake eel curry rice.

—I’ll have the same.

Since I couldn’t read the menu, I figured it was better to follow Jack, the experienced one in this place.

—Then I’ll place two orders. And what shall we call the kids?

Roxy, taking our order, asked Jack again. He put his hand on his chin, seemingly pondering, before answering hesitantly.

—Today… let’s go with number 3…, no, let’s go with number 2. How about you, what number do you like?

—What’s that?

In response to my question, Jack pulled back the curtain slightly and pointed at several girls of different races sitting at nearby tables.

—I’m talking about the type with hair growing. We can consider the girl like Roxy, who has nothing growing except for hair, as number 1; that red-haired girl over there with short fur here and there represents number 2. And then, that jackal girl over there with fur all over is number 3. Lastly, number 4 is… girls like you with four paws.

“Ah, so the numbering is based on the degree of beastliness.”

I understood it was a classification for gentlemen. I had thought of a few numbers, but honestly, the more beast-like it got, the stronger my sense of reluctance and burden became, so I found a form similar to Roxy, the ‘meow meow’ shop owner, appealing.

I preferred forms that resembled humans as closely as possible.

—I’ll go with number 1.

—Wow, coming on strong right from the start. You don’t look like it, though.

—Right? Surprisingly so.

Seeing Jack and Roxy being taken aback, I shrugged.

—What’s the problem?

—It’s nothing. It’s just that you’re not like me, cursed and transformed into a human; you’re really just a four-legged beast. Choosing number 1 feels… odd, doesn’t it? Do you perhaps like forms resembling humans?

—Ah.

Maybe beasts that prefer human-like forms are treated a bit like those with peculiar desires.

—Still, I’ll stick with number 1.

—Wow, despite your cute appearance, you’re quite the provocateur. You can change your mind later, so if it feels wrong, just say so.

Hehe, since we have a newbie, I’ll pair you with some friendly and sociable girls.

Roxy went somewhere far to process our orders.

Once I confirmed she was out of sight, Jack drew the curtain and spoke in a low, discreet voice.

—Actually, I like number 1 the most too. Since I have a human-like body structure, my taste in women has changed as well. But I still lack the courage to name number 1. I admired your bold choice. Courage is crucial for us grave robbers.

—So, what’s the point of this? You brought me to such a nice place. It seems pretty pricey.

—Ah, it’s nothing really. I’m gathering a party for exploring the newly opened second pyramid. Looking at your spiky back and muscular front paws, you seem pretty strong. How about taking on a leading role in our party? It’s quite an important position, and I don’t have anyone trustworthy to assign it to.

—I don’t even know what it is. Are you sure you want to give an important role to someone you just met?

—I’ve been rolling around this city and ruins for over ten years now. I can tell at first glance. There were probably many grave robbers who had their eyes on you too. I share the spoils evenly, so you won’t be at a loss.

—The second pyramid…

So, simply put, he was asking me to join in breaking into the pyramid as the muscle.

I pictured myself, like Indiana Jones or in a mummy movie, running around inside a pyramid.

—Is there a lot of muscle work involved in pyramid robbing?

—Absolutely. Inside, there are traps left behind by ancient stone dwarfs and bizarre creatures that have thrived there. One wrong step, and it’ll be a one-way trip to the great beyond in the freshly discovered underground ruins.

I replied casually to Jack’s eerie voice.

—Sounds like a place like The Ancient Nest.

—The Ancient Nest… Right, that. You said you came from the eastern side, right? If you’ve lived in that barbaric place, you surely won’t d*e at the hands of those ancient fools.

Jack continued to PR himself afterward, mostly talking about how many ruins he had discovered and how much treasure he sold for profit.

—And here, the White Beast is a symbol of luck. If you come with me, I feel like we’ll really score some incredible treasure this time. Let’s hit the jackpot and put an end to this dreadful tomb raiding!

—A symbol of luck, huh? That’s the exact opposite of the East.

In the eastern The Ancient Nest, the White Beast was a symbol of misfortune and bad luck. They say with their conspicuous white bodies, they get quickly spotted and eaten by others.

While I lost myself in thought and didn’t respond, Roxy peeked back in, pulling the curtain aside again.

—This time, it’s the last adventure, the last grave robbing and all that. You know, those words are spoken by countless male adventurers. This shop used to be a bustling and noisy place. But eventually, they all ended up as scattered bones somewhere. I swear, do guys really find it so entertaining to gamble with their lives…

—But this time, I’m serious about it being the last journey! Plus, you guys thrive off those kinds of guys, right?

—I can’t deny that. But since they keep dying off, our clientele is dwindling, so it’s a problem.

—That’s why I’m bringing new customers like this. There are countless beasts and humans flowing into this desert looking for quick cash. So, what about the girls?

—You’re in such a hurry! Unfortunately, the experienced girls have left their spots open. Instead, I’ll bring in some new girls this time. I’ve instructed them to treat you kindly unless you’re too mischievous, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

At Roxy’s words, Jack licked his dry lips with his long tongue.

—New girls, huh? Nice. Just as many females are constantly flooding in here as males.

—Hehe, exactly. Now, my dears, come on out.

As Roxy clapped her hands, some girls timidly emerged through the curtains from somewhere.

“White Fur…?”

The first thing that caught my eye was white hair, and the white fur that generously wrapped around her neck like a scarf.

The white fur also grew abundantly around her wrists and ankles, reminiscent of winter mittens.

—This is Nebah. She just started working here two days ago.

—Ah… Hello.

The girl introduced as Nebah bowed her head shyly. With her pointed ears and slender, long tail, she seemed to be a type of cat as well.

At first glance, she looked around twenty, with a lithe body reminiscent of Azidahaka, and her chest was well-developed under the thin dancer’s outfit, which I found quite appealing.

—P-please take care of me…

Though she seemed all shivery and scared, looking quite helpless.

Jack let out a whistle while looking at Nebah.

—Other than her wrists, ankles, and neck, she’s super sleek. Looks like she’s not from the desert. So, where’s the number 2 girl I mentioned?

—She’s in the back. Sand, come on in.

Soon after, another cat-eared girl entered. True to her name, Sand had fur shimmering with sandy tones.

—Nice to meet you, meow.

—Oh, how lively. So she really is a sand cat.

—That’s right, meow! I used to roam the desert with four paws. And you, are you a caramel camel, meow?

—Yeah, that was me in the past.

—Hehe.

Roxy, watching our first meeting, smiled gracefully before retreating, swaying her tail as she backed away.

—I hope you have a wonderful time. Your food will be served soon.