CHAPTER 266: HAZUKI’S HILARIOUS HEEL HUNT ( 266 )

Ridan floated slowly ahead, his voice low but certain.

"So don’t ask about the clock..."

He glanced over his shoulder at Hazuki.

"Or think about making one."

Hazuki stayed silent, walking beside him now, listening.

"Because you don’t need to know what time it is."

Ridan turned back toward the path.

"What you need to know..."

He lifted his hand, mist trailing from his fingers.

"Is what you really want."

Another pause. Then, softer—

"What you really care about."

Hazuki looked down at his own footsteps.

"And..."

Ridan floated upward again, rising with the warm afternoon light.

"...What you want to do."

For a while, neither of them spoke.

The street noise faded into the background—just another piece of a world that finally wasn’t rushing.

Hazuki closed his eyes briefly.

"...Yeah."

He smiled faintly.

"I think I finally get it."

Ridan suddenly smirked, drifting closer again.

"Like..." he began, grinning, "how many years you need to wait to marry Ellyn..."

Hazuki raised an eyebrow.

"Not what time you should get married," Ridan added with a knowing look.

"Most weddings in this world happen in the afternoon, right before the sun sets."

Hazuki nodded slowly.

Ridan leaned in, voice dropping into that annoyingly smug tone.

"Because after that... mmhm~ it’s honeymoon time."

And then—he started mimicking the motion with his misty body, floating midair with exaggerated hip thrusts, back and forth like a rhythm-cursed ghost.

"Oi!!!" Hazuki shouted, face red as he tried to swat Ridan away like a mosquito. "Stop that!! In public, damn it!!"

A passing dwarf glanced over.

Hazuki froze, trying to act casual.

The dwarf muttered, "Weird humans talkin’ to invisible air again..." and walked on.

Ridan, still chuckling, floated back with a lazy spin.

"What?" he said innocently. "You’re the one that wants a catgirl bride. You think no one imagines the honeymoon already?"

Hazuki groaned into his hands. "Can we go eat now?"

"Sure," Ridan grinned. "Just don’t order anything long and curved. Might give you ideas."

"I swear I’m gonna purify you one day."

"Hazuki..." Ridan said with a slow grin, hovering just above eye level.

Hazuki narrowed his eyes. "...What?"

"Why do you want a catgirl? You’re human~"

"Huh? What kind of question is that?" Hazuki looked genuinely confused. "Why? Catgirl is different from a human girl?"

Ridan tilted his head, finger tapping his ghostly chin. "Ahh... no~ not exactly. Well... for Ellyn, yeah, she’s got that smooth skin, clean features. Not like most beastkin girls. The other ones are more on the fluffy, furry side."

Hazuki paused. "...You saying I’m picky?"

"I’m saying..." Ridan leaned in with a sly glint in his eye, "maybe you’ve got a tail fetish."

"HUH!?" Hazuki reeled back. "Don’t ask weird questions, you damn ancient spirit!!"

Ridan floated in smug circles above him. "Ohhh~ but think about it. Ellyn’s tail~ That soft, swishy thing that moves when she’s happy. Or annoyed. Or when you pat her head—"

"I DON’T WATCH HER TAIL MOVE LIKE THAT!!" Hazuki shouted, flailing both arms while turning red.

Hazuki turned his back to them and hissed under his breath. "Keep it down, damn it!!"

Ridan snickered. "Hey, no shame. Some men dream of elves. Others want foxgirls. You? You’re a tail man."

Hazuki slumped slightly. "I’m a normal guy, damn it..."

"Sure you are. Sure you are~"

Just as Hazuki tried to walk away and cool down, Ridan’s body shimmered with soft mana light.

His form twisted midair, and with a puff of magic—his voice changed.

"Uncle~" Ridan cooed, perfectly mimicking Ellyn’s voice. "Look at my tail... swaying slowly~"

At the same time, he conjured a misty, cloud-like tail, sprouting from his back and moving in slow, exaggerated dog-like wags.

Hazuki froze.

Face pale.

Eyes wide.

"OI!!!" Hazuki recoiled, pointing a trembling finger at the floating pervert cloud. "That’s disgusting!! What the hell are you doing!?"

Ridan spun midair, still using Ellyn’s voice. "Uncle~ pet me~"

"Stop that!! You’re using her voice with that fake tail!!"

Ridan puffed his chest proudly. "I worked hard on the tail magic! Look how fluffy it is!"

Hazuki squinted. "That’s not even catgirl tail movement! You’re wagging it like a dog!!"

Ridan blinked. Then shrugged. "What’s the difference? Tail is tail."

"No it’s not!! Cat tails sway with grace and mood! Yours looks like it’s waiting for belly rubs and treats!"

Ridan grinned wider, still swaying his fake tail dramatically.

Hazuki let out a long sigh and facepalmed hard.

"Stop it, Ridan. It’s disgusting."

With a lazy puff of mist, Ridan’s tail vanished and he snapped back to his usual floating form.

"Geh... you no fun," Ridan grumbled, flipping upside down mid-air.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

"Boring human."

Hazuki shrugged. "Idiot."

"Yeah, yeah..."

Ridan floated lower, crossing his arms. "Shitman."

Hazuki didn’t even flinch. "Not feelin’ that one anymore, Ridan."

"...Really?"

"Yeah. You already used it like ten times last week. Lost all power."

Ridan frowned. "Damn. Need to come up with new ones."

"You do that. I’ll be busy not caring."

"Wow. Ice cold."

"I learned from the best."

Ridan smirked, drifting back onto Hazuki’s shoulder like a smug pigeon. "You’re finally growing."

Hazuki rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Into someone who regrets meeting you."

They both kept walking through the town.

Sightseeing.

Checking wares.

Eating grilled skewers.

And, of course—

Hazuki kept asking.

One stall after another.

"Do you craft heels?"

"Do you know anyone who makes ceremonial shoes?"

"Can I place a custom order—"

"SHOO, LAD!!"

"Git! I’m a weaponsmith, not a cobbler!"

"What kind o’ man asks for fancy shoes!?"

Each time, the answer was the same.

Angry dwarves. Thick accents. Flying tools. Sometimes even a half-eaten sandwich.

Hazuki dragged his feet now, slouching forward with both hands shoved in his pockets.

"Man... I’m tired," he muttered, sighing heavily.

From his shoulder, Ridan burst into laughter.

"They started calling you ’Heelsman!’ AHAHAHA! That’s so funny!"

Hazuki winced. "That’s not funny! That’s humiliating! Even the kids were calling me that!"

"One of ’em pointed at you and shouted, ’There he is! The Heelsman!’ and the whole crowd burst into laughter!"

Hazuki groaned. "Great... just great. I’m going to be a legend in the dumbest way possible..."

Ridan wiped imaginary tears from his misty eyes. "Don’t worry, legend—if you keep this up, they’ll probably build you a statue. Holding a glittery boot or something."

"...I hate this town."

( End Of Chapter )