Danmachi - Eldritch Apostle

A/N

Hey everyone! Sorry for not posting for a bit. I've been thinking about making some changes regarding the romance in my fic, and I wanted to get your thoughts on it.

I'm considering revising the romantic direction of the story. Currently, Azathoth (an OC character) is set up as Niall's love interest, but I'm starting to feel like it might be better if Niall ended up with an established character from the anime instead. I believe that dynamic would fit his character better and align more naturally with the story.

What do you guys think? I really want to hear your opinions on this, so please share any thoughts or suggestions you have!

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The night air grew even colder as time passed, and I had been running for an hour, searching for the imprisoned fox. The other two towers I had checked were primarily barracks for members of the Ishtar Familia, far less significant than the main tower.

I used all my senses to try to locate her but without success. All I could hear were sounds of moaning and laughter, which confirmed that Haruhime wasn't in either of those towers. In the anime, Haruhime had been held somewhere away from Ishtar's towers, which became my next lead.

After failing to find her back there, I crossed the bridge leading out to the Pleasure Quarter. Thanks to my speed and status, crossing the bridge was effortless, and the Amazonesses didn't dare to interfere, which was fortunate.

Once in the open area, I decided to inspect nearby brothels where Haruhime might be hidden. My plan was simple: find Haruhime, kidnap her, strip her of her falna, and then hide her from the public eye.

I searched building after building, using my enhanced vision and senses, but even heat detection couldn't reveal Haruhime's location. Standing atop the roof of one of the brothels gave me a good view of the streets below, but still, no sign of her.

The cold had caused the streets to empty a bit, as many men had already found their partners for the night, making it easier for me to move around. Deciding to call it a night, I rested on one of the rooftops, taking in the view from above.

There was nothing that caught my attention—just women and men flirting openly in the streets. Haruhime was still nowhere to be seen or heard, so I returned to the tower, waiting for Hermes to leave.

As I descended gracefully to the street below, I received a few confused glances from passersby. Ignoring their stares, I walked toward the tower after a full hour of searching for the renard girl without success.

That was until my sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a fluffy tail with a white tip—resembling the swirl of an ice cream cone. The tail quickly vanished into one of the brothels nestled among the other buildings, most of which were likely brothels as well.

Tensing my muscles, I leaped into the air like a falcon, bounding from roof to roof as I sprinted toward the row of houses. The wind whipped past me as I drew closer to the brothel—after all, I had a fox to catch.

Upon reaching my destination, I realized it was a brothel similar to the one where Bell found Haruhime in the anime. Stealth wasn't necessary, so I casually jumped down and pretended to be a polite customer.

There weren't any Amazonesses standing guard, but I knew that each prostitute here was likely an adventurer capable of killing someone in the blink of an eye. As I approached the Asian-style sliding door, my footsteps echoed softly on the stone path.

The door was wide open, revealing three Amazonesses who seemed to be acting as receptionists. As soon as I stepped inside, they turned to face me with curious expressions—probably because of my mask.

"Ah, here comes Hermes' newest companion. News travels like wildfire around here, so don't be surprised if some of the girls recognize you," one of the Amazonesses behind a table said with a smile, while the other two remained silent. I hadn't realized just how quickly information spread in this place until she recognized me so easily.

Ignoring her smug smile, I brushed past the two Amazonesses who towered over me, paying them no mind. My green cloak seemed to catch their interest, a flicker of curiosity evident on their faces.

"May I ask if there's a Renard available who could take me for the night?"

My question seemed to surprise them, judging by the soft gasps they let out. However, the Amazoness behind the desk quickly composed herself.

"We do have one Renard here who's free, but if you'll take my advice, she's experienced, so I fear she might not be able to properly please someone like you. How about this instead: you get two Amazonesses for the price of one and leave here as a real man, instead of wasting your money on a fox girl?"

The two Amazonesses standing beside me smiled, each placing a hand on my shoulders. I turned to look at them, but they leaned in far too close for my liking.

"We could teach you everything you need to know about women. I promise we'll be gentle..."

"Hey, I can't promise that I'll be gentle! But two Amazonesses for the price of one sure sounds tempting, doesn't it, boy?"

They each whispered into my ears, making me seriously question what was up with Danmachi and its abundance of overly eager women. Naturally, I was going to refuse their offer—my priorities were set in stone: finding Haruhime.

"A tempting offer, but no thanks. I'm still going to go for the Renard. Do I need to pay upfront, or can that wait?"

The two Amazonesses sighed in disappointment and let go of me, clearly frustrated that they wouldn't get what they wanted. Taking turns with someone like me must've been their dream scenario, but I had to disappoint them once again.

The receptionist Amazoness kept her smile and gave me the room number where Renard was staying, even informing me that I could pay after the service—which was perfect. Thanking them for their time, I headed upstairs with the slip of paper in hand.

The interior had a distinctly Far Eastern style, radiating warmth and nostalgia. Being a fan of Japanese and Chinese culture in my previous life, it felt like a dream come true. I climbed the wooden stairs, hearing the muffled sounds of moaning from behind a few doors—fitting for the Pleasure Quarter.

At the top of the stairs, I was greeted by a long corridor lined with various rooms. My assigned room was the last one down the hall. The path grew dimmer as I progressed, likely due to a lack of lamps—either because this section wasn't used often or perhaps to create a more romantic atmosphere.

I slid the wooden door open just a crack, enough to see the yellow-haired fox girl bowing in my direction. Entering quietly, I closed the door behind me and observed Haruhime in silence until she broke it herself.

"Welcome, sir. I will be your companion for the night." Haruhime lifted her head, her eyes betraying a hint of unease. "My name is Haruhime. Now, please come this way," she continued, standing up and gently taking my hand.

Unlike Bell in the anime, who allowed her to push him onto the bed, I wasn't going to let her move me an inch. She turned to me, her expression growing worried, perhaps fearing that she had offended me.

"Is something wrong, sir? Please, follow me to the bed so I can help you undress... This way..."

She tried once more to pull me along, but I removed my mask, catching a flicker of interest in her eyes, though she didn't dare question it.

"I'm not here for that kind of service, Haruhime. First, I want you to sit on the bed with me and tell me everything about yourself."

Haruhime's cheeks flushed with confusion at my unexpected request, her gaze fixating on my eyes, puzzled. Seeing her hesitation, I gently took her by the hand and guided her to sit beside me on the bed.

She let out a small yelp as I pulled her closer but quickly settled beside me. I made no other moves; after all, she was only thirteen. Even though I was sixteen in this body, my interests were firmly set on women who were at least in their twenties.

Haruhime possessed a kind of beauty that didn't provoke any desire to sexualize her; instead, it evoked a sense of admiration for her entire being. Beyond that, she had a good soul—something rare among mortals.

"Now, tell me everything about yourself and how you ended up in a place like this. There's no need to be afraid—I won't harm you."

Her cheeks reddened further, and after giving me one more curious look, she began to share her story. She spoke for a full hour, revealing the details of her life and how she came to be here.