Ch 5.3

Ben and Chloe ventured deeper into the red‑light district, where the air grew thick with perfume and sweat. The cloying scent was strong enough to sting Ben’s sensitive nose—but he’d come prepared with a rather questionable solution.

Chloe shot him a sideways glance as they walked. Ben, for his part, looked almost cheerful now, striding through the haze without a care.

“You look ridiculous,” she said, brow furrowing. “Does that actually work?”

Ben flashed her a grin. “It does, and that’s all that matters. Plus, the beastwomen are steering clear of me—two birds with two seeds.”

“Right…” Chloe sighed, choosing not to argue.

To block the perfume, Ben had jammed two seeds up his nostrils, then pulsed a trickle of mana into them. The roots had sprouted just enough to seal his nose entirely, tiny green stems poking from each nostril like bizarre ornaments.

The scent was gone, and the sight alone was enough to make the street workers give him a wide berth.

Chloe walked beside him in mortified silence, wondering who was more absurd—the lascivious crowd around them or Ben, parading with plants growing out of his face.

Soon, they reached the marble fountain square. Its pristine white stone shimmered under the noon sun, water catching the light in crystalline arcs. Behind the fountain rose three imposing marble buildings, each draped with banners bearing unfamiliar crests.

Is that… a guild house?
He tilted his head. It looked fortified, prominent—situated exactly where one would expect a guild headquarters in a city like this.

And yet…

Beautiful women lounged by the entrances. Well-dressed patrons flowed in and out. Men exited with rumpled collars and blissed-out smiles.

Ben stared.

…Could this be the place?
It certainly looked like a pleasure house, not a guild hall.

Before he could decide, a roar split the calm of the square.

“You trampling bitch!”

Ben’s head snapped toward the voice.

A rat-faced beastman—face red, eyes glazed, teeth yellow and jutting—stumbled through the crowd, dragging a harpy girl by the arm. His greasy fur clung to him in tangled patches, and he reeked of sweat and cheap liquor, the smell so strong even Ben’s plant-plugged nose twitched.

The square quieted just enough to let his slurred shouting echo.

“Three damn days I’ve been lookin’ for you!” he barked, jerking the girl so hard her wings knocked against a stone post. “Hiding like a coward! You should be grateful I even bothered to choose you!”

Ben’s brows lowered. His jaw tightened.

The harpy girl—barely grown, slim and feathered, her wings trembling—choked back tears as she tried to pull free.

“P‑please… let go. You’re hurting me.”

The rat beastman ignored her, dragging her through the fountain square for everyone to see.

“Oh, come now. Enough with the tears! It’s your duty to please me,” he growled. “Now move!”

Around them, beastmen watched in silence. No one stepped forward.

Ben clicked his tongue and turned away.

Beastmen or humans—trash like this exists everywhere.

He started walking on. “Keep an eye out for that wolf beastman if you see—” He stopped.

“Chloe?”

The girl who had been walking beside him only a heartbeat ago was gone.

“Stop this insolence at once!”

Her voice cut across the square, bright and furious. Conversation died as faces turned; the crowd parted around a small human girl standing between the rat‑faced beastman and his captive.

“Who is that?” someone muttered.

“Is she human?”

“Does she have a death wish, confronting young Lord Pilos?”

Ben’s stomach sank. Not again. He dragged a hand down his face.

Chloe stood firm, finger raised like a scolding teacher.

“Can’t you see she doesn’t want to go with you? Unhand her this instant!”

The rat man blinked, then smiled a slow, ugly smile.

“What’s this? A human tramp giving orders?” His gaze slid over her, leering. “New stock, perhaps? I’ve yet to sample you.”

Chloe flinched but held her ground.

“I said, let her go! Can’t you see she’s bleeding, bruised? How can you call yourself a man?”

The rat threw his head back and laughed.

“Hahaha! Feisty little thing, aren’t you? The last human woman I had was dull and hollow, but you—so bright with righteousness. I’ll have to borrow you from the Pavilion, teach you some manners myself.”

He yanked the harpy girl by one arm and reached for Chloe with the other.

“Unsullied, perhaps? I’ll even pay extra if you are.”

Chloe stumbled back, disgust twisting her face—then the rat screamed.

“AAH! My tail! Who—”

He spun around, eyes wide.

Behind him stood a young man with crimson hair, his boot grinding the creature’s tail into the cobblestones.

“That’s enough,” Ben said, voice calm and cold. “Keep your filthy hands off her.”

“How dare you!” the rat-faced beastman roared, swinging his arm.

A glint—thin and metallic—ripped through the air.

Ben’s body moved before he thought. He twisted aside, boots scraping against stone as a volley of razor-thin needles sliced past him, embedding into the cobblestone with a hard ping.

He crouched low, eyes narrowing. Those weren’t metal shards at all—they were the beastman’s own hairs, stiffened and sharpened with mana.

He’s no ordinary drunk… Ben realised, pulse tightening. One of the blessed kind.

The rat man squinted at him, lips curling.
“A human? Uh?” His gaze crawled up to Ben’s face—and froze. “Uh, is this a new kind of fashion trend. Why are plants growing outta your nose?”

Ben didn’t dignify it with a reaction. His fingers brushed, reaching to get the seeds from his pocket.

“Try anything,” the ratbeastmen snarled, jerking Chloe and the harpy girl closer,
“And I’ll kill both girls where they stand!”

Ben stopped immediately. His hand dropped away from the seeds.

“You dare step on my tail, you bastard!” the rat spat. “Do you even know who you’re dealing with? My brother is the Guildmaster of the Tooth-and-Nail Guild. Nobody—nobody—insults me and walks away.”

Ben’s jaw clenched.
I could take those needles. But she can’t.
His gaze flicked to Chloe in the beastman’s clutches.

“Let her go,” Ben ordered, raising both hands slowly in surrender.

The rat-faced beastman grinned, teeth jagged and yellow.
“Oh, you want me to let your human girl go? Then come closer. If you are able to take one of my spells head-on and survive,” His grin widened. “Maybe I’ll spare them.”

Chloe cried, “Ben, don’t listen to this-”

CRACK

The rat slapped her so hard she toppled onto the stone.

“Shut up,” he hissed, “I didn’t give you permission to talk.”

Something inside Ben snapped cleanly.
He took a big step forward, walking closer to the rat.

Immediately, the rat beastman levelled his hand at Chloe’s fallen form.
“Hey, hey! Take smaller steps, will you?” he warned, “You don’t want me to hurt this girl of yours, do you?”

A sick shiver went through him as he thought,
I’ll be training her soon enough. Shame you aren’t a girl—I’d have enjoyed breaking you too.

Ben’s stare turned murderous. His voice, however, stayed cold.
“You touch her again, and I’ll—”

“Ah-ah.” The rat beastman plucked a few coarse hairs from his arm, charging them until they gleamed like needles.
“Don’t avoid this one. If you dodge, the girls take the hit.”

Ben inhaled slowly. His shoulders loosened, stance shifting.

Fine. Hit me.
The second your spell leaves your hand… she’s gone from your grip.

The rat’s smile warped into something sick and eager.
“I’ll carve that pretty little face of yours,” he whispered, “nice and slow.”