Raven arrived at the city hall not long...
He entered and saw the inside of the facility. There was a lot of golden furniture, the interior was spacious, and everything looked flashy.
It was fascinating for Raven.
Not for long though—he immediately got bored looking around and went straight to the reception area.
"Hello sir, how may I help you?"
A woman greeted Raven, whom he assumed was the receptionist.
Not beating around the bush, Raven stated the reason for his visit.
"I want to buy some land."
"Oh, is there a problem then that you need help?"
The woman politely asked.
"Well, the land is unowned."
"Unowned?"
The woman seemed a little confused, so Raven clarified if even further.
"I'm planning to buy land inside
When buying land with no owner, you need to buy it from the government. It's because the so-called great cataclysm made a lot of land unlivable.
So livable lands are precious, and the government handles unowned lands automatically.
But in Raven's case, he's buying an unlivable one with no single life form living in it.
The woman expressed shock for a brief moment when she heard Raven's words, but she immediately regained her composure.
It was then Raven spoke again.
"I will test some explosives.
'With this, she won't dig into the topic anymore.'
Raven thought, which did happen, as the woman didn't ask any more questions and just nodded her head.
"Please wait a moment, sir."
The woman said and took out a phone. After that, she called someone.
'So phones still exist...'
Raven always uses his V.D to make calls and browse the internet, so he thought it replaced the phones in this world.
'I need to buy one later.'
He thought while deciding what cellphone he should buy.
It was then, the woman spoke again—
"Mayor Rancho wants to talk with you."
She handed the phone to Raven.
He took it casually.
"Hello?"
—Are you the one who wants to buy land in
On the other side of the line, a deep manly voice was heard.
Raven secretly swallowed a mouthful of saliva out of nervousness.
Mayor Rancho doesn't appear in the novel, so he's not an important character.
But Raven knows about him—he investigated Zreles City before coming here as preparation.
And that's how he knows Mayor Rancho.
Mayor Rancho is a rank hero... and a money-hungry bastard.
After calming himself...
"Yes, sir."
Raven replied.
He didn't immediately receive a response, but when it came...
—Why would I sell you the land there?
An emotionless deep voice entered his ears.
The question made Raven frown, but he remembered one of Mayor Rancho's traits: a money-hungry bastard.
'He likes money—it doesn't matter if it's a small amount or not. But his greed for it is undeniable.'
So with that information, Raven replied in the same emotionless manner.
"I mean, why not...?"
"That mountain has no value. In fact, I can just test some explosives there and no one will sue me... I'm just buying private land out of courtesy and in case some unexpected accidents happen."
"So selling me land there benefits us both."
"You get money, and I get my privacy."
Raven explained with a carefree but confident voice.
His words were met with total silence. Raven was actually getting a bit nervous—he just wasn't showing it.
Then after a while...
—How much will you pay?
A reply finally came.
'He's asking for my budget, not the size of the land I'm planning to buy.'
Raven inwardly smiled—the information he had about Mayor Rancho being greedy for money appeared to be accurate after all.
"100,000 Zeals. I'm not planning to buy a big plot."
Raven casually said.
—...Give the phone back to the woman.
He then handed the phone back to the receptionist.
They talked on the phone for a while.
After a few moments...
"Please follow me."
Raven was guided into a room.
...
The room was not that big, but it was comfy. And as Raven predicted before entering, the room had a lot of flashy furniture.
The woman made Raven sit on a sofa, and not long after that—
Riiiing— Riiiiiiing–
A device on the table in front of Raven rang. The woman immediately pressed something on it, and a hologram appeared.
Swoosh~
The hologram projected a person from their shoulders to their head.
It displayed a middle-aged man in a proper black suit.
'Looks like I'm not important enough to have the mayor come and meet me in the flesh.'
Raven thought as he calmly stared at the hologram of Mayor Rancho.
Mayor Rancho then opened his mouth.
—How big is the land that you want to buy?
He asked. Then the woman gave Raven a map.
It was the map of
After using a pen to encircle a place on the it, Raven looked back at the mayor and smiled.
"This big."
Raven made the area he was buying slightly bigger than the dungeon's entrance so they wouldn't suspect anything.
—In the middle of the mountain?
But the mayor seemed doubtful of the location.
Though, Raven didn't lose his composure and immediately replied.
"If I use explosives near the mountain's base, accidents may occur as some facilities are near it. Using explosives on top of a mountain is just plain stupid—it can lead to landslides, after all."
He confidently explained as if it were something obvious.
Mayor Rancho squinted his eyes, looking at Raven for a while...
—Then pay 150,000 Zeals.
He said.
Raven had that much money, but he didn't want to overpay more than needed.
He also liked money, after all.
So he frowned...
"100,000 Zeals. I didn't say you can bargain with me."
He spoke in an indifferent tone.
But then, a chilling sensation filled the room.
SWOOSH~
"...!"
Raven looked fine since he had
He was also starting to have trouble breathing.
'Looks like people can emit aura even if their physical body is not present. It's pretty understandable, but at the same time, it makes no sense.'
Then in the corner of the room...
The woman slightly trembled. Her breathing became rough and she started gasping for air.
Seeing this, Raven's frown deepened.
SWAAAAAH~
He activated
Then he spread it all over the room, especially near himself and the woman.
The aura oppressing them disappeared.
The woman looked at Raven with a surprised expression, but soon her eyes showed gratitude.
After making sure she was fine, Raven turned his attention back to the mayor.
He crossed his legs and placed his hands on top of his knees.
Then with a calm but cold voice...
Raven spoke.
"Don't spread your aura carelessly. Your people got affected as well."
Raven didn't notice it, but the woman was slightly blushing in the corner of the room after hearing his words.
At the moment, he looked very dominating and majestic...
Mayor Rancho frowned when he felt Raven's aura. And seeing that force wouldn't work on him... The mayor just waved his hand and his aura disappeared.
Raven retrieved his aura too and deactivated
—Don't make any trouble in my territory.
The mayor sounded frustrated but non-hostile.
After that, the woman approached Raven and handed him a mana contract.
Whatever is written in a mana contract can't be broken and needs to be fulfilled by both parties who agreed to it. If one breaks the contract, they will face consequences—and in the worst case... They die.
Materials used in mana contracts are acquired in dungeons, and their effects are said to be absolute.
Anyway...
Raven looked at the contents of the contract, and seeing no unreasonable or unsatisfying clauses—he signed it.
It was a low-level mana contract, and Raven decided that he could annul it anytime.
'Mayor Rancho is greedy for money, but he doesn't go back on his word. After all, if he did, earning money would be hard for him.'
"I'm happy to do business with you."
Raven said after signing the contract.
—Should I name the land to you?
The mayor didn't care about formality and just got straight to the point.
Not that Raven minded...
He shook his head and opened his mouth.
"I have an alias. Name it after that."
In this time, using an alias in official papers is pretty common, as mana contracts don't work on names... but on souls.
—What's your alias?
With a carefree smile on his face...
"Night."
Raven answered.
*****
(Raven's POV)
The talk with the Mayor is done.
He said that by tomorrow, the land will officially be mine.
So with that, I exited the room.
"Thanks for earlier."
Then I heard the voice of the receptionist behind me.
I looked back at her and saw that she was embarrassed, her ears were red...
"You're welcome, it's nothing big."
I shrugged and briefly replied.
Being humble is nice, but when someone thanks you, you should receive it properly, especially if it's sincere. Thanking someone is hard, especially in this world.
Anyway, I thanked her too.
"I should also thank you for your great hospitality."
This woman never once disrespected me. You might think it's normal, but in this world, it's rare to see someone as respectful and humble as her.
At my words, the woman lowered her head in embarrassment.
'I feel you. Receiving thanks is pleasant, but at the same time... embarrassing.'
I thought and smiled.
Then after a while, she spoke again.
And her next words shocked me...
"Umm... Are you the author of [Exodus]?"
(Raven's novel)
My steps halted and my eyes widened.
I looked back at her again...
"Ah! I'm sorry, I just noticed your alias. I know that it might be just a coincidence and you're entirely someone else... But it's just a hunch."
"Ah... Or are you perhaps hiding your identity? I'm sorry!"
She exclaimed, she's completely panicking.
And seeing her like that—
"Haha."
I laughed.
"No, it's fine."
I said.
Then without me knowing, I placed my hand on top of her head.
"Oh, sorry for touching you casually... My hand moved on its own, I just thought you were cute."
She's so small that I had this urge to pat her ever since. She's also cute being flustered and all.
Looking at her closely, she's really pretty too. Past shoulder-length brown hair and big blue eyes.
Smooth skin and a beautiful figure...
Her looks are on par with the main characters.
'Makes me kinda jealous...'
"N-no, it's fine."
The woman replied, who still had her head lowered.
"I'm surprised to meet someone who knows my novel."
I mumbled.
Then she finally looked up at me.
And when her eyes met mine, I smiled...
Meeting someone who had read my novel somehow made me happy.
The woman's face became redder after that.
'Is she sick?'
"So you're really the author of it?"
She asked again.
"Yes, I am."
And I casually replied.
I'm not really trying to hide that fact.
In fact, if I had the opportunity—I would even brag about it to everyone.
Anyway...
Earlier, my first impression of this woman was that she was a serious type.
Who would've thought she was this cute.
"Umm, can we take a picture...?"
She then asked awkwardly.
Though confused...
"Sure."
I agreed with her request.
I don't get why she would want a picture with me. No one will believe her even if she tells everyone that I was [Night]... Well, some might, but I'm not even that famous.
So not many will really care.
Well, anyway, we took a picture and she looked very satisfied with it, so I didn't pry about it anymore.
"Umm, I'm Keara Scarlett."
She introduced herself.
And as I was about to introduce myself too, an information entered my head.
Ting!
"...?"
"You're not a pure race?"
I unconsciously mumbled.
I came to know that the woman in front of me has elven blood running in her veins.
How did I know? Well, the system informs me about this kind of thing for me to avoid demons pretending to be humans.
Anyway, at my words...
"Ahhh... Y-yes, well, my mother is an elf... but my father is a human... I-I'm a half-elf."
Keara panicked. She looked sad... scared... and worried.
"Ah..."
It was then I realized that I made the situation uncomfortable with my words.
When two individuals who aren't of the same race have a child, the child will often be ridiculed, saying that they don't belong anywhere and would be called names like halfling.
I created this novel with the protagonist having a harem, and one of his harem members was a half-blood.
I set all the half-bloods to be ridiculed just to strengthen their story and for dramatic effects.
But now that I'm inside the same novel... It's making me feel guilty.
And seeing Keara's reaction—it's apparent that she went through harsh racism throughout her life.
'I'm sorry...'
I silently apologized to her in my head.
Then with a bitter smile on my face—
I took Keara's hand.
"So you're half-elf..."
Keara flinched, she was nervous.
It's no surprise if she's traumatized, and just thinking about why made me feel more guilty inside.
I put on the warmest smile I could muster and spoke in a gentle voice.
"No wonder you're so beautiful."
I said with sincerity.
Keara then looked at me with a bewildered face.
Not minding her reaction, I opened my mouth again...
"My name is Raven Obadiah. And if you think you don't belong anywhere..."
After a small pause and looking at Keara warmly, I continued.
"...Then be mine, so you can say you belong to me."
Then I kissed the back of her hand softly.
Her face and hand became as red as a tomato... And so does mine, my cheeks reddened for a bit!
'The fuck...?! Why did I say that?!'
It was cheesy as fuck, I don't know what got into me!
Anyway—
I'm not dense enough to not notice Keara having a small crush on me ever since I helped her earlier back in the room.
Not to brag... But in my past life, I had a few experience with these kinds of things.
At first, I thought she was just embarrassed talking to me, but after she asked me for a picture, I became a little sure of it.
Also, her revealing herself as a half-elf made me certain.
I'm a total stranger, so I assumed she was throwing a gamble to see what my reaction would be after knowing that she's a half-blood.
She was trying to test the waters if I was like the others.
She's interested in me but scared at the same time.
I don't know why she would like me though.
"Umm... ahh... emm..."
Keara is panicking again, but she doesn't look stressed anymore—if anything, she looks cute.
After a while, she calmed down...
"Umm, can I have your contact... So we can hang out sometimes?"
At her aggressive approach, I smiled.
"Hanging out will be hard as I'm currently attending the Lunar Academy."
I said with a disappointed face. Keara was surprised at what I just said.
"You're a student?"
She asked.
"Yes."
I replied without batting an eye.
"Tertiary?"
Keara asked. I shook my head.
"Sophomore?"
I shook my head again.
"I'm a freshman. I'm 17 years old, turning 18 this year."
Then I declared that.
"Ah..."
Keara was shocked.
"But... I thought you were older than me..."
She muttered.
And before I could even say something, she opened her mouth again—
"Ah! I didn't mean that you look old! I really think you're very handsome! It's just that you give off a mature vibe!"
'Is that so?'
Do I look mature?
I was about to say something, but Keara started talking again—
"Ah! I didn't mean you act like an old man, I mean that you seem very confident and reliable. It also makes you very attractive!"
She said as her face became even redder.
Maybe smoke would come out from her head like in the cartoons soon enough.
She's panicking so badly.
"Calm down."
I said.
Keara then calmed down. She looked at me.
And with a mischievous smile, I spoke again.
"You see, I find older women attractive, so it's all good."
"..."
My words made Keara look away in embarrassment.
'Teasing her is really fun.'
I thought.
After that, we exchanged contact information.
"Hanging out will be hard, but not impossible."
I muttered.
Keara is still looking away from me.
I'm taller than her. She only reaches up to my shoulders, and she's even wearing heels...
So I slouched down and placed my lips near Keara's ear.
She got startled and flinched. Her whole face started to turn red again.
Not minding that, I softly whispered in her ears—
"But if you really want to hang out..."
Ping-
A message was sent to Keara's phone.
"...Here's the hotel I'm currently in. I'll be there until Sunday."
I straightened my body and started to walk away.
She didn't move from her place and just watched me leave, then she checked the message she received from me.
"If you want, you can visit me tonight."
I said to her jokingly before leaving the city hall.
'Teasing her was real fun.'
I thought as I started to head back to the hotel that I was staying at.
But later that night...
Something unexpected happened.
*****
The next day.
I woke up at [5:28 AM].
I had the best sleep in a while after getting transferred to this world.
I looked at my body, I was naked.
Then I turned my head to the side.
Beside me is Keara, sleeping...
And also naked.
"Haaaaa..."
I recalled what happened last night.
Keara really did come last night, she looked dejected. She said her boss—Mayor Rancho—scolded her.
I let her in my room and we drank some alcohol.
Keara talked about herself and I listened to her. After all, I'm also interested in her.
And just as I expected—
Like other half-bloods, Keara also got discriminated against, and so on. Her family is away at the moment as they work in a different place, so she's all alone here.
Keara is a second child, she has an older brother.
Keara is 23 years old, by the way.
Anyway, after Keara finished telling me about her experience so far in being a half-blood...
She got really silent. She looked sad as she remembered all the discrimination she went through.
So I patted her head and comforted her...
Keara then went and hugged me.
After that, she looked at me with enticing eyes... And being swept by the mood, and maybe because of the alcohol—
I kissed her on the lips.
Keara didn't push me away. Instead, she used her tongue. I was surprised, but I didn't let her steal the lead.
The kiss got deeper and continued for a long time.
We got carried away by the atmosphere and went with the flow...
Soon, we lost our clothes.
And after that... I lost my virginity in this life.
...
"Haaaa..."
I had experiences in my past life, though all of my relationships didn't work.
I was single for 3 years before being transferred to this world.
Anyway... I stood up.
Then I wore a sleeveless top and comfy pants.
I washed my face and prepared breakfast.
After that, I returned to where Keara was sleeping...
I shook her body gently to wake her up.
Keara opened her eyes, then she saw me.
She looked around for a while, confused...
And after remembering what happened last night—
"...!"
Her eyes widened and she sprung up off the bed.
Keara's face got as red as a tomato again and she lowered her head in embarrassment.
"Umm... I'm sorry."
She said in a small voice.
I placed my hand on her shoulder and smiled.
"You have nothing to be sorry about. We're both adults here."
I said and patted Keara's head. Well, I'm just turning 18 here, but in reality, I'm older than her.
"I just finished cooking. Let's go eat breakfast."
I then diverted my eyes away from her.
"But wear something first and wash your face."
And after saying that...
Keara started to move shyly.
I had already cleaned her clothes and placed them on the side of the bed.