In the city of Pindos, in the usual brothel, Ortia's room.
　She was leaning on me, her voice so s*xy.

"Hermes, do me a favor for life.

　I silently grizzled the side of Ortiz's head that was making a shina (,).

''Ouch, ouch!''
....

After struggling out, Ortia stared at me with tears in her eyes and resentment.

'What's the matter, Hermes, you're not your usual umeboshi?　It's too strong, I don't feel any affection for you.
Okay, sorry.
"No, it's fine," ouch, ouch, ouch!

　He pulls Ortizia to him again and grills her again with the umeboshi.

'No it doesn't. I didn't mean to say do your usual umeboshi.'
Really?
Shit!　You're a terrible little Hermes, you know that?
So, what's this, this lifetime favor?

　The words are failing in a grand way, but I let it pass because it's too late now.

'You know, it hurts that you want me to teach Hermes-chan how to use a sword!
You too, Brutus?
Hey!　That's awful, Hermes, isn't that a bit strange?
Oh, sorry, I'm munching on it.
They'll catch you.
Don't matter. If they catch me in this town, they will be judged by me.

　He's a lord, after all.

　But still... what?　To Ortiz.

Can you elaborate on that?　Why the sword?
'Well, what I'd like you to teach me is ... the sword dance?　You mean?
Sword dance as an art form.
Yeah, that's it. I thought if I learned that, I'd be able to please the customers more.
"Hmm.
See, I think I look better in that way than playing an instrument.
That's true.

　Ortia lacks the straightforward s*xiness to be called a prostitute.

　Of course beautiful is beautiful, but her personality is too bright and carefree.
　I often feel as if we've been great friends for ten years.

　Of course, that's almost synonymous with "easy to spend time with" and "comforting", so it's a fine weapon in her arsenal as a prostitute.
　But that's not to say that it doesn't suit her, but I also think that maybe Ortiz would be better received if she danced one of her swords, as she says she does, rather than playing an instrument and singing a song.

So, hey, please. If you teach me, I'll do whatever you want, I'll be your own woman for the duration.
That's normal.

　I dared to go into it, I think this ease is also the reason why Ortiz is a popular prostitute.

"But.........sword dance?

　I stood up, drew the sword from my waist, and began to dance.
　I'm not that good at sword dancing, but well, let's give it a try.

　The kata I learned as a kid, the story in my head, the story I have in my head, the fantasy to accompany it.

　The sword light drew an afterimage in the room, a beautiful trajectory.

　I played the song I had played in my brain until the end of the song and then danced back to it.

'Is this how it's supposed to be done?'
....
'Oltia?　Hey, what's up?

　Oltia is stunned for some reason.
　I put my hand out in front of me and showed it to her with a flutter.

　As if in response to this, Ortiz stood up slowly and put her hand around my waist--.

''Wait a minute!　Why are you trying to take your pants off?
Oh, sorry.
'You know what?　Why do you want to... take my pants off?
Because she's so beautiful. I was just wondering if you were actually a girl.
'It's crazy!　I don't know what my gender is or what it is to you now!
Oh, yeah, that's right.

　Ortiz huffed and took a deep breath.

''But it was really amazing. Hermes-chan, you're really good at sword dancing too.''
Really?　I'm not very good at it.
But it was so beautiful... hey, can you tell me right now?　It's easy, right?
I don't know if it's easy or not but it's a pattern and I'll teach you now.

　Then he cast a spell on Ortia.

''Huh?　Your body--?
Don't worry, you see?　

　I raised my right hand, and as I did so, Ortizia's right hand was raised as well.
　Just like when I taught Midea the kata, it's a spell that takes away the freedom of the opponent's body and traces it to my movements.

'With this, I'll make your body learn the same moves. It should be easier to remember when you actually do the correct moves with your own body.
'I know!　So, please, Dr. Hermes-- ouch, ouch, ouch!　Why!　How did you get into the Umeboshi stream now?
I'm sorry.

　I was told that I was the "teacher" that had been holding my head up lately, and I tugged at it.
　Oltia was teary-eyed again and stared at me with more resentment than before.

'That was my fault. I'll do it right.''
If you do it again, I'll bully you...
All right, all right. Let's go.

　I maneuvered Ortia's body and did the same move I had danced earlier.

　I tried to do something like taking it out on Ortia by falling for "sword" or "teacher" or some other key word that's sensitive at the moment, but it's surprisingly neat to try it.

　Plus, it's good to know that no matter how much I try this, my reputation doesn't get better.
　If Ortizia's impressions are true, then I'm "beautiful" earlier, and there's no way my reputation will go up in a direction I don't want it to.

　That's also why I was pleasantly taught by Oltia.

　　　　　☆

　A few days later, in the parlor of the house.
　I heard that someone had come for me, and that she was coming over to the house to visit me.

I said, "Mr. King.

　There was His Majesty the King.
　The King, I quickly replaced the word "King" with "King," and at his side was an old woman, a youngish woman.
　Because Daphne, the whore, is with me.

'What's wrong with you today?'
''Ortiz told me about it, you should teach this man the sword dance!
Another one!
Please!

　King asked me to do it with an almost down-to-earth vigor.
　The momentum was even greater than when he asked me to do his own thing.

'You tell me and I'll do whatever you want,'
Don't do anything you wouldn't do, for God's sake.

　The king's anything-goes mood made me feel a little dizzy, like I was going to get a little lightheaded.