Demi-Human District, Yotsuya Area. Yōkai Apartments.
"I can probably hold out for another two months. I should find a job."
Mifuyu Yukino calculated her expenses, planning for the future.
Mifuyu's daily routine wasn't complex. Due to her long-term self-suppression, she often needed frequent self-pleasure to take the edge off. Otherwise, she stayed home reading—anything to distract her mind. If she focused too much on her increasingly uncontrollable needs, her 'composure' would shatter.
She had thought about finding a job before, but her suppressed 'Desire' would occasionally affect her. Since her husband was still alive then, she'd abandoned the idea.
Now, her husband had been gone for a long time, and her savings were mostly depleted. She couldn't wait until she was penniless to find a solution. While she still had at least two months' worth of funds, she had to find a way to earn money.
Moreover, the job had to be flexible. Otherwise, when 'Desire' intermittently affected her, she might do something strange. Being a waitress at Liliana's shop was one option.
Revealing her situation to Liliana had been partly motivated by this. During their chats, she could tell Liliana was like a young girl; she had some guard up, but if you shared your situation, she'd spill her own information in return.
One thing that bothered Mifuyu, however, was that Liliana seemed to have a special 'talent.' She could tell when Mifuyu was being untruthful. For example, when she previously claimed her financial situation was dire and she only had two weeks left, Liliana had seen through it immediately, even though the girl couldn't possibly have known her real circumstances.
But when she later said 'two months,' Liliana didn't notice anything odd—and at that time, her finances were indeed around that mark.
Mifuyu had tested her twice more before stopping, afraid of upsetting the girl.
From their conversation, she deduced that Naoto Alistair came from an extremely wealthy background. He owned an apartment building and a company, and those were apparently just 'toys' his family gave him to play with. His background must be incredibly powerful.
Unlike the Demi-Human side, where 'Power' mattered alongside 'Wealth' and 'Influence,' humans relied almost entirely on the latter two since their superpowers were mediocre. On the human side, 'Intelligence' was supreme; both wealth and power could be acquired through it.
However, under the current system, 'Intelligence' struggled to make a huge difference; everything was stagnant. It was the same in the Demi-Human District. Their 'Power Theory' was less about effort and more about bloodline and race. Mifuyu, being of a high-tier race, was at the top of the pyramid, so she didn't dislike the system.
Of course, the 'Power Theory' was waning. Long-term coexistence with humans meant 'Equality' was more deeply ingrained. Yet, it was undeniable that in many job recruitments, 'Noble Blood' races like Snow Women and Ogres had priority. Ordinary Beast-kin didn't suffer huge discrimination, but the gap existed.
So why wasn't Mifuyu Yukino looking for a job in the Demi-Human District? Why go all the way to the Human District?
The answer: She was being ostracized.
The more powerful a Demi-Human race, the harder it is for them to reproduce. Most live long lives, so the overall population remains balanced, but their numbers are relatively small. Consequently, they are very tribal. Mifuyu was no exception. As an elite member of the Yuki-onna clan, she had chosen a human as her partner.
If the partner had a special background or the ability to ascend to the Extraordinary, it would have been fine. But he was truly just an ordinary man. This made the match seem unequal, and it predestined the Yuki-onna to a long period of loneliness.
Furthermore, her massive 'Desire'—larger than a normal person's—meant she needed a 'partner' with a very resilient body. Otherwise, he'd be milked dry in no time, leaving the Yuki-onna frustrated. Since Yuki-onnas generally have high moral standards—unlike some 'open' tribes or Succubi—their standards for partners are very high. Mifuyu's choice seemed reckless to her clansmen, leading them to give her the 'cold shoulder' for a while.
As for exile, that was impossible. It wasn't an unforgivable crime. With reproduction being so difficult, doing that would be asking for extinction.
"Speaking of which, why was Naoto Alistair's aura so complex?"
Mifuyu opened the milk cream puffs, thinking of the chaotic aura she'd felt when shaking his hand, and the strange ring on his finger.
Specifically, the eye-like ring. it made her very uncomfortable... no, it was a very subtle feeling. Instinct told her that ring might not be good.
And the aura on Alistair himself was a total smorgasbord. He had traces of Demon aura, Succubus aura, and several strange items. Even with her talent for perception, it was all very blurry. This indicated his background involved Extraordinary powers.
Mmm, the feeling is coming back...
Mifuyu suddenly felt a flame rising in her heart. She couldn't help but reach her hand downward. With the other hand, she stuffed a milk cream puff into her mouth, wiped her lips with a stray tissue, and pressed against her own bountiful chest.
Nnn... mmm...
The milk from the puff slowly flowed down her throat as she tilted her head back. In her mind, she imagined something else being poured into her mouth. Her palm kneaded her high, soft peaks, squeezing them into various shapes. Simultaneously, the fingers she'd slid below expertly entered the place that was rapidly being flooded by 'stream water.' Her fingers hooked and rubbed against the squirming internal walls, bringing a massive wave of stimulation that began to quench the fire in her heart.
As she moved, she suddenly recalled Liliana's previous description of her sessions with Alistair. She involuntarily began to imagine Alistair's 'heavy cannon.' According to Liliana, that wasn't something an ordinary person should possess. Moreover, having seen him in person, Alistair looked quite slender. How did he hide a 'cannon' of that caliber?
Soon, as the fire died down, Mifuyu withdrew her hand. Her breathing was ragged, and her mind was a total mess.