Freya Extra

"Adela, why did you drag me out here? I'm in a rush to go home and catch up on my show! I haven't watched last night's finale of Sorcerer 100% yet—" "The Eastern faction won first place by a narrow margin, so it ended up a single-heroine finale. Just the two of them, happily ever after." "Adela! I haven't watched it yet!" "Well, now you don't need to—unless you're on the Eastern side like me." "I'm in the Northeast Alliance..." Adela arched an eyebrow. Sorcerer 100% had four main heroines, dividing the audience into East, South, West, and North factions, corresponding to four tropes: the attentive confidante, the childhood sweetheart, the love-at-first-sight crush, and the energetic playmate. In the finale voting, the top three rankings were dominated by East Solo Victory, West Solo Victory, and the Four-Way Free-for-All, with the vote counts running neck and neck. Right up until the broadcast of the finale on the last day, no one could predict who would take the crown. Still, a "Northeast Alliance" was absurd beyond reason—a niche within a niche. Generally speaking, didn't female viewers always vote for a single-heroine ending? Only male viewers tended to vote for multiple heroines. But if you were picking multiple, you'd almost always go for the full harem; nobody ever said they only wanted two... Noticing Adela's gaze, Freya grew thoroughly righteous instead. "I know it had no chance, but I couldn't help it! I'm just that devoted!" "A devoted Veela? That's a first for me... And if you're so devoted, why pick two?" "I only like those two! Sure, I don't dislike the other two, but I'm not going to force myself to like them!" While they bantered, the cab pulled smoothly to the curb. The human driver in the front seat retracted his omnipotent hand from the control console, his slender steel-link fingers pulling a freshly printed receipt from the punch-card meter. Adela took it at once, scanning the receipt's spell mark with her chip to complete the payment. "Have a wonderful evening, ladies." After they stepped out, Adela noticed Freya was still gazing thoughtfully after the departing cab. She asked curiously, "What? You can't possibly be interested in that driver, can you? If you were, why didn't you ask for his Curtain handle just now—" "No," Freya said, shaking her head. "I was just wondering why he'd buy a car that can only be driven with an omnipotent hand instead of one with a steering wheel... Are those cheaper?" "See, that's where you don't know, since you never took mechanics courses," Adela chuckled. "Driving with an omnipotent hand gives much faster response times, making it far easier to control the vehicle during emergencies. Nowadays, almost all low-end cars have switched to omnipotent consoles. Commercial vehicles like cabs, excavators, and construction trucks have done away with steering wheels entirely—all licensed operators are required to work with an omnipotent hand." "Steering wheels are basically exclusive to luxury cars now, though rich people don't drive themselves anyway; they hire a driver to turn the wheel for them..." "So does that driver have to have normal hands just to show off that it's a luxury?" Adela gave Freya an unexpected look. "To make an insightful remark like that, you've already stepped into the realm of high-society thinking. I only learned that bit of trivia from gossiping in the casino... Alright, cheer up! We've arrived at your favorite kind of place!" Freya turned around to find a six-story building dazzling with vibrant, multicolored lights before her. An illusion-woven sign drifted in the night sky, its shimmering characters appearing and disappearing: Mimosa. People flowed continuously through the entrance, with cabs picking up and dropping off passengers every second, proving just how wildly popular the establishment was. "...Kaimeng City's highest-class recreation center? A single visit here costs enough for me to go somewhere else four times..." "Exactly!" Adela linked her arm through Freya's, leading her inside. "Don't worry about the money. I won a lot again recently. This treat is on me, so your only job is to enjoy yourself! Consider it a celebration for finally breaking free from that scoundrel who charmed you!" "Don't you hate coming to places like this?" "Once in a blue moon won't hurt, and the point is keeping you company. You've been wearing that bitter-housewife face all day—I couldn't stand watching it anymore." Freya touched her cheek. "Was it that obvious?" "In short, the best way to get over a man isn't to delete him, but to replace him with plenty more! Come on, this place definitely won't disappoint you!" The first floor housed the bath hall, featuring ten entrances segregated by gender and race. Guests first changed clothes, took a wrist token, and bathed; those interested could also soak in hot springs, hit the sauna, get body scrubs, or enjoy massages. The second floor was a lounge hall offering buffets, board game rooms, card and mahjong parlors, bamboo-mat rooms, and a casino. The first two floors were packed and lively, offering plenty of ways to unwind even without any carnal interest. Having eaten and drunk their fill, the two arrived at the elevator lobby on the second floor. The attendant waiting on them was a beauty whose gender was impossible to discern, clad in a tight-fitting server uniform, boasting a round, pert rear, a flat chest, smooth skin, and pink hearts in their pupils. Their voice was distinctly androgynous: "Which floor may I take the esteemed guests to?" "Which floor is the mud cafe?" Adela asked. "Is it your first time here, guests? At Crystal Affinity, we don't distinguish between mud cafes and tea cafes," the attendant replied with a soft smile, their seductive allure even more intoxicating than Freya's. "The third floor offers private rooms for customized service, suitable for individuals or small groups of three or fewer. Guests may take their time selecting their preferred mud-tea host and enjoy service in an entirely soundproof private room. If there are any special requests—including but not limited to costume changes, props, or even biological modification—Crystal Affinity will do its utmost to accommodate." "The fourth floor is the Spontaneous Encounter Hall, featuring a variety of common scenarios such as a rearing institute, a classroom, city hall, an office, a street, a forest, a library, an elevator, a washroom, a treatment room, and so forth. All mud-tea staff wear costumes corresponding to each scenario, with staff wristbands on their left wrists. Guests may either change into costumes for roleplay or enjoy the services directly. The downside is the lack of concealment and soundproofing, so guests need to be slightly more open-minded." "The fifth floor provides services for specialized fetishes. Because they are exceptionally unique, and since you appear to have just finished dining, I won't describe them aloud to avoid upsetting your digestion." The attendant produced a sheet of paper, covering most of it and revealing only the top line. "Among them, the mildest option is this one." Freya was relatively unfazed—she frequently browsed the Curtain looking for videos, so her psychological tolerance was quite high. Adela, however, turned pale instantly and gagged on the spot. The attendant immediately put away the paper, cradled the back of Adela's head, and tenderly kissed her lips. Adela relaxed almost at once. The attendant withdrew their hand and smiled. "Feeling better?" "Much better." Adela touched her lips, a little dazed. "So sweet..." The attendant smiled and continued the introduction. "The sixth floor is the staff break area; guests are not permitted there. Now then, which floor would you two like to visit?" Adela looked at Freya. After considering it, Freya said, "Let's go to the third floor." "Certainly." The attendant pressed the button for them, then winked upon noticing Adela looking at them intentionally or otherwise. "My staff number is 115, currently free and available for booking. I'm fairly popular, though, so if you wish to book me, you'll need to be quick~" Adela, who remained poker-faced even through swings in the hundreds of grand at the casino, blushed slightly. After she and Freya reached the third floor, another attendant promptly guided them to an empty room and handed them a palm-sized Curtain of Knowledge, where they could filter and select their preferred mud-tea host according to their criteria. "Any racial preferences?" "Mm..." "Length? Hardness?" "Mm..." "Any costume preferences? Death row uniform? Hunter outfit?" "Mm..." Seeing Freya's complete lack of interest, Adela asked in bewilderment, "Why do you seem so unenthusiastic? You're an embarrassment to the Veela race." "I just don't have any desire..." The attendant chimed in thoughtfully, "If you're having trouble selecting a mud-tea host from the catalog, why not have the hosts who are currently on standby line up in person for you to see? Perhaps someone will catch your eye. Do you have a rough idea of what you're looking for?" Adela nudged Freya with her elbow. "What did that dog of a man of yours look like?" Freya pondered for a moment. "A human male, about a head taller than me, around twenty years old. Appearance-wise... not as good-looking as me. He always looked lazy and indolent, but had a very charming smile, and his profile was really handsome..." Adela said, "Find someone based on those requirements. Small differences are fine." "Understood. Mimosa will do its utmost to satisfy our guests' desires." Soon, ten handsome young men stepped into the room and lined up. Some had rugged features, handsome white hair, and wore hunter uniforms, as though Gerard had taken an off-duty gig; some were gorgeously styled with stars in their eyes, looking like celebrities straight out of an opera show; others wore wicked, alluring grins, every fiber of their being defining the word 'lover.' Even Adela, whose threshold had been pushed impossibly high by gambling, felt a flutter in her chest. She grabbed Freya's hand and whispered, "I think the second from the left is great, the third is nice too, and the two in the middle look so much alike—they must be twins. And... which one do you like, Freya? Wait, you're a Veela—are you planning to take them all?" "I think... none of them are that great." Adela paused, then waved her hand helplessly. "Next batch." "Well? Any you like?" A shake of the head. "Next batch." "The third from the right is definitely better than that scoundrel of yours, isn't he? Even my heart fluttered!" A shake of the head. "Next batch." Ten minutes later, Adela sighed. "Big sister—my dear sister Freya—what on earth do you want?" Freya lowered her head in thought, then looked up and said, "Adela, thank you for caring about me, but I really have no interest. How about..." "How about what?" "How about giving me cash instead?" "Get lost!" Adela kicked at her directly. "It's rare for me to treat you for once, so why are you so hard to please?" Freya chuckled. "Since it's a rare trip here, Adela, you should have fun yourself. I'm going to head home and watch my show." "Aren't you in the Northeast Alliance?" "Even if it isn't the ending I wanted, I still want to see it through to the end." After saying goodbye to Adela, Freya went back to the first floor to change clothes and left the palace of drunken luxury. She stood on the bustling street under the crimson Blood Moon that reigned supreme over the earth. Neon lights splashed the city with rich, kaleidoscopic hues; as always, the city entertained itself to death. The buildings damaged in the 422 Incident had all been repaired and rebuilt. Financier's Blood Moon Trial seemed not to have changed the city in the slightest; the Blood Moon had settled back into peace. Yet the notices for the combat tournament recruitment plastered to the lampposts seemed to whisper that the wheels of history had already begun to turn. It was quite a distance back to her apartment. Freya initially thought about taking a cab, but on second thought, an unexpected reluctance seized her. She chose a rental bicycle nearby, unlocked it with her chip, and pedaled home. Passing by a Meilejia convenience store, Freya stopped in to buy some snacks and alcohol. At the checkout, the clerk said, "This brand of moon sugar is currently on promotion—buy three, get one free. If you have our membership card, it's fifty percent off. Would you be interested in taking some home to keep on hand?" Freya glanced at the Snow White brand moon sugar prominently displayed on the counter and shook her head. "I don't need any." After half an hour, Freya finally arrived downstairs at her apartment. Just as she walked up to the third floor, the familiar aroma of Lalafell hit her nostrils. An inexplicable rush of excitement made her hasten her steps, only to see a delivery courier handing a Lalafell meal to her neighbor. Stepping aside to let the courier pass, the Veela sighed softly to herself, pulled out her key, and unlocked the door. The moment she flipped on the light, she was ambushed by a ferocious predator pouncing with tooth and claw— "Meow~ (=•ω•=)" "Xiaoxian, I'm back." Freya quickly poured cat food for it and cleaned the litter box. Watching the Scottish Fold devour its meal, she gently stroked its back and asked, "How are you feeling? Does it hurt?" Xiaoxian looked up at her in confusion: "Meow (do you seriously think you understand what I'm meowing)?" Realizing she had exposed her own silliness, the Veela ruffled the cat's head messily and headed off to shower. For some reason, over the past few days, she had felt an urge to put on clothes after showering. She had resisted the urge for the past two days, but she was in an especially foul mood today, so she simply went with it. When she stepped out of the bathroom wearing underwear, Freya felt as though her life had undergone a tectonic shift. She opened the Curtain of Knowledge, went to the video platform, and clicked on the finale of Sorcerer 100%. Naturally, what first greeted her eyes was a thirty-second commercial. But after ten seconds of the advertisement, a twenty-second Sin Hunting Hall public notice took over: "The heinous criminal 'Death Eater' Langna Chios remains at large. The suspect possesses combat power of Two Wings to Three Wings. Citizens are urged to contact the Sin Hunting Hall headquarters immediately upon obtaining any information. Bounty: 50 gold coins for death or capture; 5 silver coins for verified information." "'Swindler' Igola Bogin, 'Necrophile' Archibald Harvey, and 'Fiend Saint' Yaxiu Heath have exiled themselves from the Blood Moon Country. Their bounties are rescinded." "He really left the Blood Moon..." Freya slumped over the desk, staring at Sorcerer 100% on the Curtain of Knowledge. Suddenly, it felt utterly tasteless, and she even began to resent this sort of happiness that only existed on a screen. She closed the page and lay there spacing out. After a long while, Xiaoxian hopped over, nudged her head, and nuzzled affectionately against her cheek, wearing a look that said, 'Master, I'm worried about you.' Freya froze for a moment, rubbed her moist eyes, pulled Xiaoxian into her embrace, and instantly revived at full health! Nearly suffocated, Xiaoxian scrambled furiously to escape her bosom and hid far away in a corner, licking its paws as if having survived a disaster. Freya paid it no mind, energetically opening "New Folder" - "Used Countless Times"! Good riddance to bad rubbish; the next one will be even sweeter! Time to watch something good to recharge! First video, second video, third video, fourth video... Half an hour later, having flipped through the entire folder without finding any suitable casting materials, Freya pondered for a moment, opened her chip, and selected "Photo Album." The chip could take pictures directly, with her own eyes serving as the camera, effectively capturing whatever she saw and saving it inside the chip. But because such photos took up too much storage space, and chip capacity was very limited, only the most precious photographs were worth saving. Freya had once thought about photographing the cult leader, but the man possessed an alertness that completely belied his outward appearance. Whenever Freya intended to snap a picture, Yaxiu would immediately turn his head, evading the Veela's gaze time and again—even when he was sleeping. Until one night, struck by a sudden burst of mischief, Freya had pounced directly onto Yaxiu in the dark, secretly capturing a picture of his profile while he had no room to dodge. Though her nighttime raid had ultimately failed, she had managed to preserve a precious close-up of this 'most ferocious criminal in Kaimeng in a century.' The lights hadn't been on in the room back then; only a sliver of Blood Moon light filtered through the window, spilling across his slightly flustered and embarrassed face. Looking at this photograph, the Veela couldn't resist cracking open the alcoholic drink she had just bought, chugging it down in hearty gulps. A few minutes later, she accidentally spilled and soaked her chair. Moving to another chair, after a few minutes, she soaked that chair as well. Going over to lie on the bed, after a dozen minutes, she soaked the sheets too. After several rounds of drinks, Freya was finally a little tipsy and tired. She casually wiped away the spilled alcohol with a tissue and lay contentedly in bed, hugging a pillow as she went to sleep. After a good while, Xiaoxian hopped onto the bed and nudged the Veela to see if she was dead. Freya opened her eyes and reached out to scratch Xiaoxian under the chin. Looking at the photo on the light curtain, she sighed helplessly, a faint smile curling the corners of her lips. "I've already used you up, but I still want to look at you." "I really might miss you."