After quickly leaving the tavern, Hitory and Tekime set up their tent near what they believe is a safe distance from the strange place. The camp is simple but functional, and soon they are lying down, trying to rest after a long and exhausting day.

  The silence of the night is broken by muffled moans and laughter coming from the direction of the tavern. Hitory turns his head, feeling the atmosphere become more uncomfortable.

  Tekime, with her eyes half-closed, looks at him, a look of discomfort on her face.

  — "I think it was a bad idea setting up camp so close to there." — She says, her voice low and concerned.

  Hitory sighs and, unsurprisingly, responds with an indifferent tone:

  — "So, this is one of those famous 'Succubus Brothels.'"

  Tekime, who had been trying to relax, lets out a slight laugh and looks at him with a sarcastic smile, but still maintaining seriousness.

  — "Famous, huh... right, Hitory?" — She responds with a hint of casual humor, but the concern is still visible in her eyes.

  Hitory, defensively and almost muttering, replies:

  — "Not that I’m interested, Tekime... It was just some kids talking about this place, nothing special."

  He turns to his side, trying to ignore the sounds coming from the tavern.

  — "But for now, let’s try to rest. Tomorrow will be a long day." — He says with a sigh.

  Tekime, with a look of disdain, closes her eyes, but a smile lingers on her lips as she responds:

  — "Since you don’t want to do anything, it’s all we can... Let’s try."

  They both fall silent for a moment, trying to focus on resting, but the tension in the air, mixed with the sounds from the tavern, makes sleep harder to reach.

  After a long night filled with strange noises, muffled moans, and screams echoing from the succubus tavern, dawn finally arrives. The first light of day begins to tint the horizon in shades of orange and pink, though the sun still hasn’t fully risen. In the makeshift camp, Hitory and Tekime are alert, already hurriedly packing up the tent.

  With tired but determined eyes, they work together in silence, not wanting to waste any time. The morning air is fresh, and the quiet of the early hours brings a slight sense of relief, far from the tavern and its unsettling noises.

  — "Let’s be quick." — Hitory says, his voice low and pragmatic as he rolls up the tent canvas.

  Tekime, with a look that suggests she barely slept, quickly agrees.

  — "I don’t want to stay here any longer than necessary." — She says as she packs up the utensils and equipment. — "This place gave me a really strange feeling."

  Hitory finishes packing everything and stands up, looking around. The road ahead is empty, but there’s still much to do before reaching their next destination.

  — "I think it’s better if we head out soon. It’s going to be a long day, and we need to avoid more surprises."

  As Tekime finishes the last adjustment on her backpack, she glances at the horizon, where the sun begins to rise.

  — "I hope the next place is quieter." — She says with a touch of irony in her voice, but a hint of hope remains.

  After finishing up, Hitory decides to go into the tavern to grab a few more loaves of bread. The atmosphere inside the "inn" is a little calmer now, but the tension is still palpable. He approaches the counter and watches the succubus waitress attend to him.

  — "Excuse me, could you give me some more bread?" — Hitory asks, trying to stay calm as he observes the other succubi around him.

  The succubus smiles at him, her gaze full of seduction, and responds:

  — "Of course, darling... I’ll bring it right away."

  She steps away to go to the kitchen, and Hitory stands there waiting, his eyes returning to the stairs that lead to the second floor. Suddenly, he sees a dwarf elf descending the stairs, a satisfied smile on his face. As he passes by the succubi at the counter, he waves at them.

  — "Bye, sweetie, come back soon!" — The succubi say in unison, with provocative looks.

  The dwarf elf smiles and leaves the tavern, clearly satisfied with whatever happened during his stay. Hitory watches the scene but doesn’t comment, focusing again on the waitress, who soon returns with the bread in hand.

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  — "Here’s the bread, darling..." — She says with a sweet smile and a soft tone, her eyes fixed on Hitory.

  She steps closer to Hitory, and her gaze becomes even more intense, as if she’s trying to envelop him in the same aura of temptation that fills the place. Hitory notices the movement, but before he can react, she whispers in a soft, seductive tone:

  — "Don’t you want something more? I can make you feel really good... I promise."

  For a moment, Hitory hesitates, feeling the pressure of the situation. He almost falls for the succubus's trick, but something inside him, a warning voice, makes him react quickly. He pulls out his sword with precision and points it directly at the succubus's neck.

  — “I don’t want any kind of service. Just the bread.” — Hitory says, his voice firm and authoritative.

  The succubus, with a confused and slightly offended look, takes a step back, but still maintains a seductive smile.

  At this moment, the dwarf-elf, who had been leaving, notices Hitory's sword and quickly turns, his brows furrowed. He rushes back, making a threatening motion.

  — “Hey! What are you doing?” — The dwarf-elf shouts, pointing an accusatory finger at Hitory. — “You’re threatening one of mine... I don’t like that!”

  Hitory, still with his sword pointed, calmly looks at the elf without backing down. He responds with a serious tone:

  — “I’m not threatening anyone, I’m just making it clear that I’m not interested in anything here. I just want the bread I asked for.”

  The dwarf-elf, now furious, takes a threatening step toward Hitory.

  — “Don’t talk to her like that! You don’t know who you’re dealing with, human. It’s not good to mess with people you don’t know!”

  Tekime, who had been outside observing the situation, realizes what’s happening and immediately approaches, ready to intervene. She places a hand on Hitory’s shoulder to calm him and speaks to the dwarf-elf:

  — “I think you’re overreacting. We’re just getting something to eat. Better go back to your tavern and avoid problems.” — Her voice is firm and cold, making the dwarf-elf hesitate for a moment. — “As if he wanted any service here when he has me.”

  Hitory sighs, thinking he’s avoided a confrontation, and sheaths his sword. He takes the bread from the succubus, who still looks at him with a provocative gaze but doesn’t say anything more.

  — “Let’s go, Tekime.” — Hitory says, looking at her.

  As Hitory and Tekime walk away from the tavern, with the bread in hand, the dwarf-elf, still irritated by the situation, exits through the door and yells at them.

  — “Hey! You, happy couple!” — The dwarf-elf calls, with a challenging smile. — “I didn’t like how you treated my girls! Come on, a duel! Me against you two!”

  Hitory stops for a moment, surprised by the elf’s proposal, but doesn’t hesitate to turn and face him.

  — “A duel? And why do you want that?” — Hitory asks, his tone calm but firm.

  The dwarf-elf approaches, with an evil grin on his lips, clearly eager to challenge them.

  — “If I win, you’ll come to me on your knees and beg for forgiveness, kissing each one of their feet.” — The elf says, with an arrogant look, already preparing for what he believes to be an easy victory.

  Hitory, without losing his calm, faces the dwarf-elf head-on. He exchanges a quick glance with Tekime, who is by his side, before responding.

  — “Okay. But if I win, you’ll work for me. You’ll become my subordinate, and I’ll be your boss.” — Hitory says with a challenging smile, clearly willing to accept the challenge, but on his own terms.

  The dwarf-elf’s eyes widen, surprised by Hitory’s response. He seems to evaluate the proposal for a moment but then lets out a mocking laugh.

  — “Hahaha! You think you have a chance against me? Let’s see what you can do, human. If you think you can beat me, give it a try!”

  The tension in the air rises, and the atmosphere around them becomes heavier as both prepare for the duel. Tekime, although not fond of the situation, knows there’s no backing down now. She positions herself beside Hitory, ready to support the challenge.

  End of EP 17: "Blood and Pride Bet"