Saint Elza

After leaving the bath, I bought food at the snack stand outside for everyone to eat on the go.

The bath and sweating had left us dehydrated, so I got cold tea for everyone too.

We walked along in a group, sandwiches and skewers in hand.

"Treating us to food too. Generous of you."

"If spending a little money improves people's opinions of me, it's worth it."

"Can't argue with that. My girls say stingy customers kill their motivation."

The sex industry was intimate work where bodies came into contact.

Personal preferences in appearance played a role, sure, but when it was your job, it was only human nature to want to give better service to clients who spent freely.

"Anyway, let's report to the matchmaker first, then head to Kazusa's place. Everyone except Elza can go home and rest."

"Sounds good to me."

"Good work out there."

With too many people and wanting them to rest soon, we split into two groups.

We had that promise with Aogiri, and Elza would be enough on this end.

We parted ways with Azu and the others and headed for the brothel district.

"Are those girls your personal hires? Both the slaves and the non-slave?"

"Yeah. I support them, and in return, they work for me in various ways. I take a cut from their earnings."

"So like a private force. They seem to have considerable skill and experience."

"Well, they are adventurers too. They're much stronger than regular soldiers."

"I figured. I thought I was pretty capable myself, but they're quite something."

Aogiri asked all sorts of questions about our group.

She seemed to find us an interesting bunch and was having fun.

Probably planning to use it as drinking conversation later.

I judged her to be a good person, so I answered what I could.

She showed no prejudice against slaves, and learning that Elza was from the Creator King faith didn't bother her either.

By the time we'd traded stories, we arrived at the matchmaker's place.

I knocked and opened the door to find her dozing.

The silent girl turned and bowed to me, so I raised a hand in acknowledgment.

Lili, that was her name.

When she'd been awake and talking, the matchmaker had seemed formidable, but like this she was just an old woman.

The wrinkles etched deep in her face told the story of a long, hard life.

Some might look down on her line of work.

But it was important work.

The women working in this brothel district weren't exploited largely because of this matchmaker.

The products we supplied from my shop made that clear.

Potions and stress-relieving incense were on the delivery list.

… Maybe it was all about maintaining their market value, though.

"What's this, you woke me from a perfectly good nap."

She'd sensed our presence and woken up.

Sighing "good grief," she knocked the ash off her half-smoked cigar and stuck it back in her mouth.

Lili struck a match and lit it.

The matchmaker savored it, slowly puffing the cigar and exhaling smoke.

"So, how'd it go? I lent you the teacher, after all. I'm hoping for good news."

"I wouldn't have come if I didn't have good news to share."

"Ha! Getting bold, aren't you, boy!"

She laughed teasingly.

Even though I'd been an adult for quite some time, in front of this woman I'd probably always be treated like a child.

"Anyway, I handed the ringleader over to the lord. He had plenty of other crimes on his record, so he won't be coming back outside."

"Spare me the extra details. If the upstart who came to stir things up got caught, that's all I need to know."

She cut me off with a "trouble is the last thing I need" attitude.

She knew from experience that simply knowing certain things could lead to complications.

"Aogiri-san's help was invaluable. She's incredibly strong."

"She's our hired muscle. Since her reputation spread, we've had a lot fewer troublemakers."

That made sense.

A direct comparison was tricky, but she seemed about on par with Alexia.

Not many men had the guts to pick a fight with someone like that.

Yet "fewer" implied it still wasn't zero.

"So, Granny, during our talk, the Sister offered to look at the sick girls. I've seen her skills firsthand. That all right with you?"

"Hmm…"

She scrutinized Elza.

Elza just kept smiling, unfazed.

"The girls look after themselves and so do we, but with the nature of the work, issues still come up. As one woman to another, it might be a bit hard to take."

"I'm used to it, so I'll be fine. As one who serves God, I've treated many people. I have no prejudices."

"I'm counting on you. Some of the bedridden girls are in a bad place mentally too. If a priestess made a disgusted face at them, it wouldn't help them heal."

A clear signal that she shouldn't take this lightly.

Elza responded with a simple "leave it to me."

"Come this way."

Lili took the lead.

When I tried to follow Elza, I was stopped.

"No men allowed."

"So it seems. Please wait here, Yohane-sama."

With a soft laugh, Elza followed Lili into the back.

"Boy… That's why you still don't have a wife. That other girl passed away too, didn't she?"

"That was a bit lacking in tact, I'll admit, but it's none of your business."

I just hadn't gotten married.

I wouldn't say she had nothing to do with it, but I hadn't had time to think about such things.

"What do you want to do? Kill some time here? I could keep you company myself."

Aogiri said, emphasizing her chest.

She was muscular but well-proportioned, a striking beauty with a strong personality.

As a man, I'd love to take her up on that offer, but…

"I'll pass."

"What, I'm not good enough for you?"

"That's not it. It would mean staying the night, and I've got work to do."

"Mister… That's cold."

Declining with work as an excuse made things a bit awkward.

Nothing I could do about it. The schedule was tight right now.

"Well, have a smoke at least."

She handed me a fresh cigar.

The tip had a sweet scent.

Lighting it and taking one puff confirmed it: this was the good stuff.

"Share some of that."

I passed it to Aogiri.

She puffed it appreciatively.

We killed time that way until Elza returned.

She looked a little tired, but there was a sense of accomplishment about her.

"All done. Everyone's feeling better now."

Lili nodded in confirmation.