Monster Girl Ranching in Another World-Chapter 403 Drinks

"How many guards were there at the cave?" I asked after we locked the Vault door and were clear of the castle.

"Three," Lillia said, and I nodded. "I can take care of them."

"No, that can wait until morning. Today has had enough crazy things happen. I think it is time that we relax and take the night off. We aren't going to get anywhere like this today. I think that we are going to have to split up and talk to people around the city to get a better feel for the place and what the people think. There is also the Elemental that I want to meet and, hopefully, convince her to join us," I explained, and Lillia nodded, linking her arm with mine.

"Since we are headed back to the same place, do you want to grab a drink in the inn before we go upstairs to bed?" Lillia asked, and I nodded with a grin.

"I think that is a great idea," I said, and we headed back to the inn.

The place had more people in it now, but it was still early in the night. We made our way to the bar, and I ordered a couple of drinks before we found a couple of seats. I leaned back in my chair with a sigh as I took a drink of my ale.

"This town is more complicated than I thought," I said, and Lillia nodded.

"I know what you mean," she said, taking a drink of her own. "But we will figure it out."

"I know we will," I said with a smile, but I was still troubled about this task that the King had set me on.

"I have never seen anyone like you, but I haven't spent that much time on land," Lillia said as she took a sip of her drink, and I sat back in my chair.

I could give her the long version, but there was no point. That was something she would learn with time. For now, I just gave the simple answer.

"I lived on an island like this one, but it was covered in fire lakes and filled with Demons and other monsters. The whole thing was challenging, but I made some good friends and met some really amazing girls that are all waiting for us on a boat. After we are done checking out these islands, we will be joining them and exploring more," I explained.

"It sounds like you have had quite the life," Lillia said, and I nodded.

"I have, but it is nothing compared to what is ahead of us," I said, and Lillia smiled.

"I am looking forward to it," she said, and we drank in silence for a while, lost in our own thoughts.

"What about you? You never really talked about yourself," I said, and Lillia shrugged.

"There isn't much to say. I was born a slave and spent my whole life working for other people. I never really had any friends or any family that I could rely on. When the opportunity came to escape, I took it and never looked back," she said, and I nodded.

"I can understand that," I said, and Lillia sighed as she leaned back in her chair.

"I just wish that things could have been different," she said, and I reached over, taking her hand in mine.

"Things will be different from now on," I said, and Lillia smiled as she squeezed my hand. "I promise. How did you end up in the cage that I found you in? How did Old Goddess, Eelyasha catch you?" I asked, and Lillia shrugged.

"I was stupid," she said, and I frowned.

"What do you mean?" I asked, and Lillia sighed as she took a drink of her ale.

"I was on my own for a while after I escaped, just trying to find a place to belong. I met some people along the way that told me about this group of girls that were looking for someone with my skills. They said that they would take me in, no questions asked," she explained, and I nodded.

"That sounds like a pretty good deal," I said, and Lillia nodded. 𝒇𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"I know, but I should have known that it was too good to be true. When I met them, they seemed nice enough, but they were just using me. They had me stealing things for them, and when I tried to leave, they caught me and sold me to Eelyasha," she said, and my heart ached for her.

So much of this bull shit went on under the sea and on land, but no one seemed to care about it. I was here now, but one day I would have to leave after the world was purged. When I did, I would make this world into something less twisted before leaving.

"I'm sorry," I said, and Lillia shrugged.

"It's not your fault. I should have been more careful," she said, and we were quiet for a moment before she spoke again. "But thank you for rescuing me."

"You don't have to thank me," I said as I squeezed her hand. "I'm just glad that you are safe now."

We sat there in silence for a while longer before we finally decided to call it a night and head upstairs to bed. We made our way up the stairs quietly, not wanting to wake Mati up; She looked like she needed the sleep anyway.

Both of us started to get undressed.

"Do you want to sleep in here with me tonight?" Lillia asked, and I nodded as I slipped into bed with her.

She pulled me close, and I wrapped my arms around her tightly as she rested her head on my chest. We lay there in silence for a while before Lillia spoke up quietly.

"Thank you for everything," she said, and I hugged her tighter.

"I'm just glad that you are safe," I said, and Lillia nodded as she drifted off to sleep. I followed shortly after, pulled into the darkness by exhaustion.