Arriving at the area with various shopping stands, we were met by a wide array of shops and the items they offered. Most stands sold either sexual items or potions related to pleasure, fitting the theme of the quarter.
However, a few stands didn't match the usual theme of the pleasure quarter. Two offered unique foods I had never seen before and one sold clothing. This clothing stand was decorated with various ornaments from the Far East.
Behind it stood a man of average height, dressed in a blue kimono and wearing a blue kitsune mask, standing motionless with his arms crossed as he waited for potential customers. Few people visited his shop in this part of Orario.
Hermes and I approached easily, and the second the man saw us, he seemed to sense that we were heading toward him. At the stand, the masked man greeted us with a bow, in the Japanese style.
"Welcome to my shop, fellow travelers. How may I help you today?"
His short black hair shifted in a gentle breeze that whistled through the town, and his voice was perfectly calm—unusual for a place like the Pleasure Quarter. Beneath his warm greeting, there was an air of mystery, as though something was out of place.
"Greetings to you as well, merchant from afar. My companion and I are interested in proper clothing from the Far East. We're looking for either a cloak or a kimono, along with one of those kitsune masks like the one you wear," Hermes said in the same respectful tone as the merchant, mirroring his politeness.
The merchant nodded, then picked up a green kitsune mask that oddly matched my current outfit and eyes.
"Would this suit a gentleman? It is crafted from the finest wood, sourced from the gardens of the Gojou House. This is a one-of-a-kind mask, worthy of its price."
Hermes inspected the mask curiously from a distance before glancing at me, though I couldn't care less about the mask's backstory.
"How much would it cost to purchase this?" Hermes asked, his tone genuine, as if he expected it to be very expensive.
The merchant went silent for a moment, then reached for a haori from one of the piles stacked on the stand.
"The mask costs 400,000 more, but since you're my first customers tonight, I could lower it to 350,000 just for you."
Hermes' face twisted in surprise, nearly gasping at the absurd price. He shot me a side glance, clearly signaling his disbelief. Deciding to take matters into my own hands, I silently prayed to my goddess for help.
"Excuse me for a moment," I said, stepping back. "Hermes, stay right here and don't move."
I gave Hermes a quick wink, which seemed to reassure him. His look of confusion faded as he realized I was up to something. Taking advantage of this, he struck up a conversation with the merchant about other items for sale.
Meanwhile, I slipped into a darker corner of the alley, ensuring no one was around to witness me talking to myself.
"Azathoth, please—could you brainwash that man into selling me that mask for five more? I swear, I'll pay you back in any way you want."
After a moment, I opened my eyes to silence and no visible sign of her influence. But deep down, I knew she had heard me. Satisfied that no one had seen my quiet plea, I rejoined Hermes and the merchant.
"So," I said, "how much did you say that mask costs?"
Hermes looked a bit startled by my sudden return but stayed silent. The merchant, however, stared at me for a long moment, which seemed to puzzle Hermes further. Though his mask hid his expression, I noticed small purple sparks flickering around his head.
"This mask costs five valis for you, young gentleman. Would you care to buy it now?"
I glanced at Hermes, who was strangely unaffected by the merchant's unusual words. Still, I nodded to the merchant, handed over the five valis, and received the mask.
"Thank you for your purchase, gentlemen. May the wind guide you to a good path, wherever you are," the masked merchant said, bowing as I pulled Hermes along.
As we wove between the streets, Hermes suddenly stopped, looking visibly confused.
"Uh, Niall," he began, rubbing his forehead, "can you tell me what happened in the last ten minutes? I don't remember it clearly..."
His voice sounded tired, and he looked at me with concern. I decided the best approach was to act as if everything had gone smoothly, keeping any suspicions at bay.
"Nothing in particular," I replied casually. "We bought this kitsune mask from a merchant who gave it to me for a fair price. You were a little spaced out, but I didn't want to interrupt."
Hermes sighed, brushing his head as he looked around, seemingly reassured by my response. "I guess I just need some rest. We should head to the Ishtar Familia, take care of business, and head back. But, you didn't buy that cloak you wanted—why's that?"
We continued down the streets, moving toward the towering Ishtar Familia home.
"I don't need anything else," I said. "The mask matches my clothes, so I'll look like your secretary, or maybe your bodyguard. Either way, this mask should be enough—assuming they don't ask me to take it off."
Hermes stroked his chin thoughtfully as he inspected the mask on my face, seeming pleased with my choice. As I settled it onto my face, a sudden warm sensation spread across my skin.
Out of nowhere, I could hear trees rustling and waves lapping against a sandy beach. My vision shifted, and I found myself high above an ocean, looking down on a majestic landscape. Birds soared in the distance, and I glimpsed a city with Japanese-style architecture. Just as quickly, the vision vanished, and I was back on the street beside Hermes.
"Are you alright, Niall? You don't have to come with me if you're not feeling well. You could always go visit Maya if you want!" Hermes teased, mixing concern with his usual mischievous tone.
I gave him a nod, assuring him I was fine, and we continued toward the home of the Ishtar Familia. The night air grew even colder as we approached the area where a large central tower stood flanked by two smaller ones.
"We're here, Niall," Hermes said. "Be cautious, and don't speak unless spoken to. We don't want you getting jumped by all those women, and be on guard against Ishtar's charm."
We approached the towers, protected by circular walls. The only entry was a bridge that crossed the water, offering a safe path forward.