"Forget it. It's not your fault."
At the City Lord's Mansion, Annan comforted a dejected Peterson.
He hadn't expected Druids to be nearly as set in their ways as Elves. It seemed Druids like Dade, who were willing to get close to humans, were rare.
Should he retaliate against the Druids by ravaging the forest? Annan wasn't that childish.
Oh well. If they blessed the forest, that was something. Perhaps the hunters would have a good autumn harvest.
As for Peterson, Annan assigned him to Francois, fulfilling his promise.
"Don't worry about it. I'm fine."
Annan told the apologetic Dade to leave the other Druids alone and focus on the Otherworld Tree again. Then he shut himself in his bedroom.
The smile he had forced onto his face vanished. He stood there, disheartened.
Even the sunlight streaming through the window couldn't dispel the gloom in the bedroom.
His unfailing charm had failed twice in a row...
What was happening? Was he losing his ability to charm others?
"Lilith."
At Annan's soft call, a hazy Lilith appeared in his bedroom.
"Take me to the Succubus Massage Parlor."
Lilith took Annan's hand and stepped forward. In an instant, he appeared outside the Succubus Massage Parlor.
As one of Free City's attractions, the Succubus Massage Parlor had long lines from morning until night. But for Free City's City Lord, its succubus owner Elena came to greet him herself.
She led him into a room and, cheeks flushed, began preparing essential oils and a robe, then spritzing perfume—
"No need. I'm here to ask a question..."
"Counseling?"
Elena looked a little disappointed, but she came over and sat beside Annan. "I've almost saved up another 100 gold narls..."
Annan suspected that, apart from the rent, she gave him everything she earned.
Candlelight gave the