Chapter 588

Chapter 595: The Cooked Elf Can’t Fly Away (Please Subscribe!)

Ryu’s current vibe gives Izay a somewhat… strange feeling.

Yes, only “strange” can describe it.

Especially when the elf girl lingers late at night saying she has something to discuss; this kind of move easily leads to misinterpretations…

At least Izay had that thought for a moment.

But he didn’t dig deeper into the reason. After all, Ryu wouldn’t possibly harm him.

He followed Ryu quietly into the back courtyard of The Bountiful Mistress.

Unlike the tavern facilities where Victoria entered, there were dedicated staff dormitory buildings in the back courtyard of The Bountiful Mistress. The two walked past the corner’s stone floor and approached the building below the staff dormitories.

Ryu skillfully opened the door with her key, leading Izay inside.

“The first floor is used for storage; everyone uses these rooms to store wine, ingredients, and miscellaneous items. No one will be here.” In the dim environment of the dormitory, the girl’s cheeks were red.

The “everyone” in her words referred to the owners and waitresses, including Aunt Mira.

For some unknown reason, Ryu carefully explained to Izay that “no one would be here.”

Izay observed the surrounding environment according to Ryu’s explanation.

Besides the entrance, the layout of the dormitory extended into corridors on both sides. Several rooms were neatly lined up along the corridor, and at the end of the right side, stairs leading to the second floor could be seen.

The atmosphere was abnormally quiet.

Just as Ryu said—no one would be here.

Perhaps Aniya and the others might be upstairs, but they were most likely sound asleep. Even if sleeping cats have sharp senses, they wouldn’t pose any threat.

“Uh… Can I ask why you brought me here…?” Izay shifted his gaze to the person in front of him, softly voicing his confusion.

He hoped she would give him an explanation.

What kind of matter required discussing in such a quiet environment?

(Could it be related to the Astrea Familial Group?)

Izay reasonably guessed.

During his pondering, the possibility of a confession was immediately overlooked.

In Izay’s understanding, Ryu was the type who, after liking someone, would blush and run away even when making eye contact with the other party.

For such a personality, getting her to confess actively was no easy feat.

So interacting with her still needed to take its time, slowly progressing like boiling a frog.

Of course, if there was an opportunity to make a move, Izay wouldn’t hesitate either.

Just like at the Great Gold City Casino.

When the timing was right, he could advance from second base to third.

In short, interacting with elves couldn’t be rushed.

This devoted race spent more time evaluating the person they liked, since they only got one chance in their lifetime.

However, honestly speaking, Izay was already considering whether to use this rare opportunity to deepen his relationship with Ryu after their conversation was over.

The current opportunity was truly precious.

But in response to his inquiry, Ryu didn’t answer immediately.

The girl clenched her hands tightly, gathering them between her thighs, even squeezing her leg skin into outlines, nervous beyond measure.

Her azure eyes seemed like boiling water, reflecting circles of mist, with ripples spreading across them.

And this was just the prelude.

The slender and delicate elf girl was preparing what she wanted to say to Izay.

But she didn’t speak because Ryu didn’t know what to say at this moment.

Compared to words, she preferred taking action.

She quickly closed the distance.

Before Izay could react, the elf girl successfully ambushed him.

Once close, the distance vanished, reminiscent of the scene outside the Great Gold City Casino.

Only this time, the active party was the elf herself.

After being slightly stunned, Izay embraced Ryu, clearly feeling the trembling sensation transmitted through his hands.

Like a harmless little animal caught in a trap, pitiable and helpless.

Right now, it seemed that as long as Izay let go, Ryu would flee without looking back.

So Izay, aware of this, didn’t give Ryu a chance to escape.

Isn’t she submitting her answer right now?

How could Izay grade her exam if he let the candidate run away?

Thus, much more time passed…

Until Ryu could no longer bear it and pushed Izay away, scattering mist and crystal in the air.

Ryu expelled air from her lungs as if releasing pent-up breath.

Actually, it was just that she couldn’t catch her breath.

After all, Ryu was still a novice.

The moment they separated, it felt as if all her energy had been drained, and Ryu almost fell to the ground due to weak legs.

Fortunately, Izay reacted swiftly and caught her.

“Ryu… I think you could have been a bit gentler…”

Supporting Ryu with one hand, Izay used his free hand to touch his lips.

There wasn’t any bleeding, but a small tooth mark was clearly left behind from where Ryu had pressed too hard.

The slight pain transmitted made Izay laugh helplessly.

“I… I didn’t mean to… I just… wanted to try…”

Her delicate face turned an even deeper shade of red, and Ryu dared not look at Izay after being provoked by those words.

“Just trying!?” Izay laughed helplessly, though his emotions were a mix of surprise and joy.

Surprise that Ryu would take the initiative!

Joy that Ryu would take the initiative!

His long-term persistence finally bore fruit.

But…

“Why did you suddenly want to do this?” Izay was curious about this point.

“No… no reason, I just feel like I can’t stay stuck in the past forever.” Ryu looked down, interlocking her fingers and focused on this small action while answering.

“Is it because saying goodbye to your old companions gave you insight?”

Having no idea how staying in the past or questioning oneself was relevant, Izay could only interpret Ryu’s words based on his own thoughts.

“…If you put it that way… sort of…”

Pouting like a child, Ryu muttered softly.

Izay gazed at the elf’s tiny expression and leaned closer to her, “Then what did you think about after seeing Alisha and the others?”

“I want to find Lady Astrea again and apologize to her. And also… confront my feelings for you…”

As Ryu was pushed closer, she instinctively wanted to retreat but found no place to go, so she endured the embarrassment of being close to Izay and revealed her answer.

“At the casino… Izay, you kissed me, so you have to take responsibility!”

The kind of responsibility between partners! Ryu emphasized and added at the end.

This concept was instilled in Ryu five years ago on the twenty-seventh floor.

Compared to the current Ryu, the Ryu from five years ago was more innocent—or rather, singular-minded.

Once she set her mind on something, she wouldn’t change it.

In the mind of Ryu Lyon from five years ago,

Since she had already allowed herself to be kissed, wasn’t it the same as deciding that her future husband would be Izay!?

Moreover, being the same “self,” Ryu Lyon wouldn’t doubt herself in such a foolish way.

So naturally, she could only go with the flow and fan the flames.

However, for some unknown reason.

After returning from the dungeon five years ago, this notion of going with the flow and fanning the flames took deep root in Ryu’s mind.

After being enlightened by Alisha, the first thing she thought of doing was this.

Hearing such remarks, Izay couldn’t help but display a strange expression: “Just now… wasn’t it Ryu who kissed me first? From this perspective, shouldn’t you be the one responsible…”

“It’s different! The order is different! You started first!” Ryu stomped her foot in embarrassment.

“Alright, then I’ll take responsibility.” Izay changed his attitude extremely fast, leaving the elf no time to react.

And giving Ryu no chance to respond, Izay displayed a grin similar to that of a gray wolf: “Ryu, do you know what I’m thinking right now?”

“What are you thinking?”

She asked out of reflex.

“I want to continue what we were doing earlier… and take it further!”

Emphasizing the last four words.

Izay openly admitted to having a bold idea.

The kind of openness between couples!

“Eh!?”

“Eh———!??”

Ryu let out a startled scream as she felt herself floating.

More accurately, she was carried off by Izay.

“Elbow! Let’s go to your room! No need for you to guide me, I have magic, I can find it!”

“—Wait, wait!! Aniya and the others are still there, we shouldn’t… at least not yet…”

“It’s fine, I have a way to ensure they won’t hear anything!”

“This isn’t about hearing or not hearing! Izay! You’re gonna kill me!!”

Ryu tried to resist for the last time. But struggling while fearing to hurt Izay, her delicate arms and legs flailed ineffectually.

A cooked duck can’t fly away… Ryu was fitting this analogy perfectly now.

Even better, she flew straight into Izay’s pot herself.

Too perfect!

After the two entered the room, the cat-eared girl next door perked her ears.

“Meow… Cat heard Ryu’s voice… Is Ryu back?”

Aniya groggily opened her eyes from the bed.

“What time is it now?”

She glanced at the magic-stone clock on the bedside table.

“2 AM… Coming home this late, must’ve wasted time sneaking out to meet Izay. Well, it’s none of Cat’s business, sleep sleep~”

Saying that, the cat-eared girl lay back down, covering her head with the blanket.

Not just Aniya… Kuroi also heard Ryu’s scream.

But she was dreaming sweetly and merely furrowed her brow, dismissing the thought of the scream within half a second, refusing to pay attention.

It’s just Ryu coming back, how important is that compared to sleeping? She needs to rest well for work tomorrow!