Sauros, Who Lived for the Moment

After spending so long with the Boreas Greyrat Family, Cui Ciyou had gained a more "profound" understanding of Alice's grandfather, the lord of Fitoia Territory—Sauros Boreas Greyrat.

This noble old man, well past fifty, was an "old bastard" who made no effort to hide his particular fondness for "beastfolk" and "huge breasts."

The purest bloodline of the Boreas Greyrat Family ran through Sauros's veins.

Whenever the mood struck him, he would drag some beastfolk maid in the manor whom he fancied off for a sudden "party."

Even more astonishingly, Sauros never avoided the subject or tried to conceal it.

Whether day or night, in the manor's spacious drawing room, its quiet and elegant attic, or even the towering watchtower west of the abandoned castle—a high point once used to observe enemy movements during battle—Sauros had left behind traces of his "passion" and sounds embarrassing enough to make anyone blush.

More than once, Cui Ciyou had inadvertently heard Sauros's slightly hoarse yet vigorous shouts coming from those hidden corners:

"How is it?! Ah! How does this old man's stamina compare to those strong young lads?"

Along with the helpless, bashful moans of beastfolk maids:

"Lord Sauros... no... please, not here... I really can't keep going like this!"

Whenever he heard such unbearably awkward sounds, Cui Ciyou would deliberately quicken his pace.

He would keep far away, lest he stumble upon something he should not see.

But there were always exceptions.

It had been a bright, breezy afternoon.

Cui Ciyou and Ghislaine had been sitting in a pavilion in the courtyard, sipping locally made fruit wine while chatting about Alice's recent progress in swordsmanship.

Then they unexpectedly came across Sauros and a young beastfolk maid with adorable rabbit ears engaging in some indescribable "card-playing."

Remembering the complicated expression on that rabbit-eared maid's face—half resisting, half yielding—and Sauros's ridiculous appearance...

Even now, Cui Ciyou could not help thinking viciously deep down:

I really should have cut him down without hesitation back then!

Thinking back to what had happened:

While Cui Ciyou and Ghislaine were idly chatting, strange rustling sounds of clothes rubbing together and the faint, suppressed sounds of a woman struggling suddenly came from deep within the courtyard.

They were accompanied by a man's rough, unrestrained laughter, enough to make anyone deeply uncomfortable.

(He was so loud, it was as if he was afraid nobody would hear him.)

"Lord Sauros... please, don't do this!"

"Hahaha! What does it matter? Hurry up! Stick that ass up for this old man!"

"Lord Sauros, I think... I think someone is here..."

Cui Ciyou and Ghislaine had overheard a conversation more than suggestive enough to spark anyone's imagination.

Cui Ciyou sighed helplessly and was about to pull Ghislaine away from this troublesome place.

Yet subconsciously, he casually glanced in the direction the sounds had come from.

That single glance caused his eyes to meet those of the rabbit-eared beastfolk maid, who had raised her flushed, disheveled face from the bushes.

"Ah..."

The rabbit-eared maid cried out in alarm. Like a startled rabbit, she struggled fiercely and shoved Sauros away from behind her.

Clutching her rumpled dress around herself, she fled in utter embarrassment without looking back.

An eerie silence fell over the scene.

Cui Ciyou sat upright and stared straight ahead, pretending he had seen nothing.

He focused intently on studying the patterns on his wine cup.

Amid that awkward atmosphere, Ghislaine, who had been silently drinking beside him, suddenly said something earth-shattering and completely out of nowhere.

"If it's Ciyou, I could."

"Huh...?" Cui Ciyou looked at her in utter confusion, completely unable to understand what she meant.

Could what? Fight me? Or could she... no, considering what we just saw, she couldn't mean...

"Though if it isn't mating season, I probably can't have children."

Ghislaine gently swayed her fluffy tail of her own accord, wearing an utterly calm expression.

She paid no attention whatsoever to how shocking her words had been.

Ghislaine's thought process is even more absurd than Alice's.

How did she suddenly jump to discussing having children with me?! Cui Ciyou roared inwardly.

"Well, well! So you two have that kind of relationship!"

As though he had happened to overhear their conversation, Sauros emerged leisurely from the bushes deep in the courtyard while unhurriedly tugging up his loose trousers.

"I thought you were like those perverts in the royal capital with special tastes, kid—only interested in men!"

"I heard you turned down quite a few of my adorable maids before!"

Sauros met Cui Ciyou's black eyes and Ghislaine's calm gaze. Not a trace of shame or embarrassment could be seen on his old face.

"No, Ghislaine and I aren't in the kind of relationship you're imagining."

Cui Ciyou waved a hand helplessly and explained.

"I just see Ghislaine as an older sister. Also, my sexual orientation is normal. I have no interest in men."

He paused, glanced at Sauros's still-loose trousers, and added in an even tone:

"Lastly, could you put your trousers on properly before talking to us?"

Sauros said carelessly, "I'm pulling them up already. Noble clothes are just troublesome—putting them on by yourself is always a bit inconvenient."

Then his expression turned serious. Changing his tone, he put on the airs of a noble and demanded loudly:

"But, kid, have you forgotten that I am the lord of Fitoia Territory, a high-ranking noble of the Asla Kingdom?"

"According to the kingdom's basic etiquette, shouldn't you address me as Lord Sauros?!"

Cui Ciyou looked at Sauros, who had instantly changed faces and was trying to throw his weight around because of his age. The corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Then he replied with a smile that did not reach his eyes, "I'll cut you down, old man. Want to give it a try?"

"Hey, hey! You little brat..." Sauros choked on his words, then glared at him indignantly.

Cui Ciyou continued without the slightest politeness, "Don't you hate how your son Philip acts? That fake, affected noble demeanor?"

"Why are you putting on the airs of a noble lord now?"

"I'm a Sword Saint. Ghislaine is a Sword King."

"The strongest people in this manor should be you and that butler, Alphonse, right? You're probably both Sword Saint Rank?"

Cui Ciyou calmly swept his eyes over the furious Sauros.

In a very rational tone, he briefly analyzed the manor's current top-tier "combat power" for Sauros.

Upon hearing that, Sauros's previously imposing manner vanished without a trace.

He gave a dry laugh, patted his chest hard, and pretended nothing had happened.

"Hahaha!"

"I was joking, just joking! That's Roa City's unique kind of humorous joke."

"Young people these days really can't take a joke."

"I won't disturb you two while you continue enjoying the beautiful scenery of this courtyard."

"Honestly! Young people these days should show more respect to us old folks!"

Cui Ciyou watched Sauros.

Sauros complained as if he were speaking quietly—despite his astonishingly loud voice—while rapidly walking away, and Cui Ciyou could not help laughing to himself.

But is that black-haired kid really going to cut me down?

After walking some distance away, Sauros touched his neck. A faint cold sweat had broken out on his back. He even calculated the manor's combat strength... that kid is a little terrifying!