Chapter 9 - Mia

It was only after the words escaped his lips that Ethan realised how inappropriate they were. However, maintaining a stoic expression, he pressed on.

"Please remove your top. It's covered in blood and may attract unwanted attention. We don't want any trouble," Ethan stated, hoping the woman understood the necessity of his request.

The woman likely recognized the practicality behind Ethan's words, silently acknowledging that her safety could be at stake. Though she might have harboured relief that his intentions were not malicious, she must have understood that vulnerability could still leave her susceptible to exploitation.

Thankfully, the woman compiled without causing Ethan any trouble.

Swiftly, she tore off the bloody shirt and placed it within her inventory.

Ethan observed the shirt vanish, just as the body of the wolf he had earlier stored away.

However, as the woman followed his instructions, another issue arose.

When Ethan stole a glance at her appearance before, he had recognized her as a striking beauty. Yet, now, as he scrutinised her figure once more, an audible gulp escaped him, silently acknowledging her undeniable allure.

After removing her shirt, the woman's chest was exposed, adorned with a black bra that prevented Ethan from fully glimpsing her beauty. However, the presence of the bra only enhanced her allure, adding an element of seduction to her dishevelled state.

Uncomfortably, Ethan found himself feeling a slight stirring of desire.

Ethan was no stranger to appreciating beauty, and his physical response hinted at his attraction.

While he didn't want to reduce himself to base instincts, Ethan couldn't deny the appeal of what was on display.

Her fair skin still shone through the dirt that clung to her body. With a beautiful face and an alluring bust, neither too large nor too small, she possessed a captivating presence that would undoubtedly draw envy from others of her gender if revealed.

As his gaze lingered on her, Ethan couldn't help but appreciate her overall figure. She possessed curves in all the right places, accentuating her feminine charm.

If this woman claimed to have never modelled in the real world, Ethan would find it hard to believe, even if it were the truth.

Just as Ethan found himself increasingly engrossed in observing the woman's figure, an odd cough disrupted his thoughts, drawing his attention to its source.

The source could only be the other human in close proximity to Ethan.

When he turned to face the woman, he noticed her flushed face.

It was unclear whether her flushed complexion stemmed from embarrassment, anger, or a mixture of both. Her clenched fist and strained veins hinted at the hidden tension beneath her seemingly forced smile.

"Are you done staring?" the woman asked, her smile devoid of any warmth, her clenched fist betraying her true emotions. It was evident that she had much to say to Ethan, yet, for some obvious reasons, she held her words back, instead attempting to capture his attention with her voice, hoping he would grasp the unspoken message.

Ethan, understanding the unspoken cue, felt a tinge of embarrassment. However, his well-practised poker face shielded his true emotions. He refrained from commenting on the woman's words, choosing instead to divert his thoughts towards another issue that arose upon witnessing her appearance.

Based on the knowledge he had gathered about the world he currently found himself in, Ethan surmised that there was a high likelihood that other players were within this game-like world apart from both himself and the woman before him.

He had contemplated this possibility before, but now that he had decided to bring the woman along in search of other players, he began to realise the potential trouble her current appearance might cause.

While in his world, her attire of blue leather pants and a black bra might be considered relatively decent and even fashionable, he understood that this world was not his.

What might not pose problems in his world could easily become a source of conflict in this unfamiliar place.

Though Ethan recognized that he might be overthinking things due to the current circumstances, he was unwilling to allow trivial matters like appearance to create unnecessary complications among other players. Thankfully, resolving this issue seemed straightforward.

Without giving it much thought, Ethan removed the lightweight zip-up hoodie he was wearing and handed it to the woman.

"Wear this," he instructed her, his tone matter-of-fact.

The woman, perhaps understanding Ethan's intentions through his actions, swiftly accepted the hoodie from his outstretched hand, expressing her gratitude. She wasted no time in putting it on, whether to follow Ethan's suggestion or to simply cover her upper body.

Turning his head to the side, Ethan allowed the woman a moment to adjust and cover herself before speaking again.

"Let's move," Ethan stated, initiating their journey in the direction the woman had initially indicated. He silently hoped to avoid encounters with wolves or any other threats that could jeopardise their safety along the way.

Ethan acknowledged that this was wishful thinking, but he remained optimistic that things would unfold favourably. If they were to come across a wolf or similar creature, he hoped it would be of a similar power level rather than an overpowering one.

As Ethan and the woman cautiously navigated through the woods, their senses heightened and their guards raised.

Various thoughts raced through their minds as they trekked.

Eventually, they stumbled upon something that compelled them to halt in their tracks.

"What's your name?" Ethan suddenly asked the woman, who trembled slightly but managed to find the strength to reply.

"Mia," the woman stated, her voice breaking.

Ethan disregarded Mia's anxious state and issued a command. "Go and stand behind that tree over there, Mia, and be careful not to do anything rash."