Chapter 99 A Royal Capital Date with the Beast-Eared Young Lady꞉ Part Two
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
My date with Aerith, the lovely daughter of the Garou Merchant Guild, carried on in high spirits. After we left Old Man Gan’s general store, we spent the afternoon wandering through a string of curious little shops — a dusty and suspicious-looking used bookstore, an eccentric art dealer’s gallery, and a pet shop that exuded a calm, almost mystical air.
”The autobiography of the Great Hero Callum Camaras! Is this a first edition!?” Aerith exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.
The shopkeeper, a woman with a noticeable slouch — as if she were trying to hide the impressive chest straining against her dress — stammered, “Y-you certainly have a keen eye, miss…! The story of his friendship with Alama Agria is absolutely delicious. I’m, uh, a staunch AlaxCal supporter myself…”
I quickly gathered that the woman was one of those “fujoshi” enthusiasts Aerith had once mentioned. Pretty soon, she and Aerith were chatting away about “submissive younger brothers” and “clumsy older brothers” like they’d known each other for years. It was kind of impressive — I mostly just nodded along, pretending I understood.
At the art dealer’s, things weren’t much different. Aerith examined a painting titled *The Withered Branch* and said, in that calm, thoughtful tone of hers, “This signature is undoubtedly from Wollart Wollasen’s later years.”
The dealer—a tall, rail-thin man who spoke faster than a runaway carriage—grinned from ear to ear. He admitted he rarely sold anything because he got too attached to his collection, which explained the cluttered, chaotic charm of the place. Aerith, however, managed to win him over instantly. I could only watch as she carried entire conversations that went way over my head.
Finally, we reached the pet shop. The atmosphere here was gentle, filled with the sound of quiet purring and rustling cages.
”Oh, how cute,” Aerith whispered. “Is this a juvenile White Snake?”
The owner, a man with flowing silver hair and calm eyes, smiled warmly. “I’m glad you appreciate it. People here often loathe snakes, but in the south, they’re revered as divine messengers.”
I recognized him immediately — the “Phantom Beast Hunter,” a former adventurer turned pet shop owner and rumored heartbreaker. Just another eccentric charmed effortlessly by Aerith’s grace.
By the time we left, every one of them was utterly smitten with her. I couldn’t blame them. While I simply enjoyed tagging along, Aerith’s deep well of knowledge let her truly connect with others. I felt a pang of admiration mixed with mild embarrassment. She’d grown up as a proper lady in the royal capital; I was just some outsider who’d stumbled into this world. I could talk about magic tools all day, sure, but the rest? Best to let her lead.
We eventually decided to rest and headed to West Park — a popular spot located on a gentle rise overlooking the city. The setting sun painted everything in soft gold. Aerith leaned against me just like she had while we were walking, her head resting lightly on my shoulder, her tail swaying with a slow, content rhythm.
”It’s a bit noisy,” I remarked, watching children run past and vendors shout near the fountains.
”Heh, but that’s what makes it so lovely, isn’t it?” she said with a smile. “I’m realizing how little I actually knew about the city I live in.”
”Ah, well, I did drag you through a few strange places today. I just hope you had fun.”
”Oh, I had a wonderful time.”
We sat in a comfortable silence. I could feel the soft press of her chest against my arm, smell the faint floral perfume of her hair. For a brief, quiet moment, everything felt perfect.
”Want some of that apple juice we bought?” I asked.
”Yes, please♡,” she chimed.
I took out the tall cup—only to notice the heart-shaped, double-ended straw meant for couples. Ah. So that’s what kind of drink stand it was. Still, I wasn’t about to complain. We leaned close, sipping together. When I glanced her way, Aerith’s cheeks were faintly flushed, her eyes sparkling with delight. Her tail was wagging wildly, betraying just how much she was enjoying herself.
After a blissful few moments, she reached into her bag and pulled out the Kamara Birch comb I’d given her earlier.
”I’m going to treasure this forever, you know♡?” she purred.
”I’m glad,” I said, smiling. “Tell me, do beastfolk use combs for their tails too?”
Her lips curved mischievously. “Oh? You didn’t know? Giving a woman a comb is quite the romantic gesture. It’s like saying, ‘Please keep your tail beautiful for me…♡’”
My thoughts froze. Wait, that sounded suspiciously suggestive for this species. Was she implying what I *thought* she was? Aerith gave me a sultry grin and let her hand trail teasingly down her thigh.
”I… I see I still have a lot to learn about beastfolk customs,” I muttered. “Do you use oils or perfumes on your tail too?”
Her eyes sparkled. “My…♡ if you wish, I’ll wear whatever scent you prefer…♡?”
I swallowed hard. “Is that also considered romantic?”
”It’s *extremely* romantic. It’s like… marking your mate♡.”
I almost choked. Beastfolk culture truly ran deep. And judging by the warmth radiating off her, it seemed Aerith was growing rather flustered — or perhaps something else was stirring under that sweet demeanor.
”Then… I’ll have to give you something like that someday,” I managed to say. “Actually, I’d love it if you helped me. I want to try blending perfumes myself.”
Her ears perked up instantly. “…!!♡♡♡ Yes, I’d love that!♡!”
I chuckled. “Thanks. That means a lot.”
”N-not at all♡! Any scent you make is bound to be wonderful, Kento-san!”
”Funny you mention that,” I said lightly. “I’ve been thinking of expanding my shop — maybe a luxury perfume line. Something that works through scent, even… aphrodisiac effects.”
Her eyes lit up like stars. “Oh, that sounds *so* fascinating! Tell me everything!”
And so I did. I rambled about formulas, alchemy processes, and business ideas — perhaps too much. But Aerith listened intently to every word. When I apologized for talking too much, she just smiled and said she was happy to hear it. She even suggested introducing me to her merchant contacts later.
Finally, I said, “Next time, though, let’s go somewhere you like. I want to hear more about you, Aerith. And I’ll try to dress the part — wouldn’t want to embarrass you.”
She looked up at me, eyes wide. “You’ll… go on another date with me…?”
”Of course. I plan on going on plenty more — if you’ll have me.”
”Of course I will!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around me. She pressed herself against my chest, her face flushed red.
”Um, Kento-san…” she murmured against my neck, her breath hot and unsteady. “I did tell my family I might be home late tonight…♡”
And just like that, I found myself wondering — not for the first time — whether her “mating season” had come a little early after all.
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Summary:
Kento and Aerith continue their date, visiting eccentric shops where Aerith’s high level of education allows her to charm various shopkeepers. They eventually settle down at West Park to rest and enjoy a drink together using a couple’s straw. Kento learns that the comb he gifted Aerith has deep romantic and territorial significance in beastfolk culture. They discuss Kento’s business expansion into scented aphrodisiacs and high-end goods for the nobility. The chapter ends with Aerith making a bold suggestion that she doesn’t need to be home early.
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Character Insight:
In this chapter, we see the contrast between Kento’s ‘modern commoner’ perspective and Aerith’s ‘noble/educated’ upbringing. Despite her high status, Aerith is deeply devoted to Kento, finding his business ambitions and even his accidental romantic gestures (like the comb) incredibly appealing. Her boldness at the end of the chapter shows that her feelings have progressed beyond simple interest into genuine desire, intensified by the cultural weight of the gifts and attention Kento has given her.
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Behind the Scene:
The used bookstore owner’s interest in ‘AlaxCal’ is a classic reference to BL (Boys’ Love) shipping culture, specifically the ‘Seme’ (attacker/top) and ‘Uke’ (receiver/bottom) dynamics. The chapter highlights how cultural misunderstandings regarding gifts (the comb) can lead to much more ‘intense’ romantic implications in fantasy settings involving different races.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Aerith – A wolf beast-person and Ouka’s daughter. She is intensely attracted to Kento’s creative genius and is not shy about showing her interest. Have gray fur hair and tail, wearing elegant dress.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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