[Spirit of Lust] Chapter 216: A few details. (Patreon)

Will understood that the revelation carried a lot of weight, but he didn’t feel it mattered much. I didn’t seem like any new information to Ishtar, either, which further cemented for him that this wasn’t something that changed anything.

“Does that pose a problem?” Belphegor asked, innocently tilting his head.

“I… suppose it doesn’t,” Aoi admitted.

She said that demons were the most likely to become a Spirit of Pride, but the fact that they knew Belphegor’s powers came from Sloth already spoke of how different his priorities were. But on top of it all, the fact remained that Belphegor was a powerful enough being, regardless of what he was, that Will and Aoi were still incapable of stopping him should the man try to do… anything. It was funny to think about, but the one keeping him in check was Cynthia, using the power of money and luxuries instead of raw magic power.

“Glad to hear that. Now, as for this evening party… It’ll be something like a ball, so they have a formal dress code. I suggest you put some effort into your looks. You’ll need a new suit, young William.”

“...What’s wrong with the one I have?” he asked.

“That’s casual clothing. You’ll need a tuxedo if you don’t want to be made fun of.”

“Emergency shopping, then,” Cynthia said, clapping her hands. She then turned to Belphegor again. “I know we’re the ones invited, but could Aoi come with us?”

Amelia nodded. “Yes, it’d be reassuring to have someone with us who knows more about the underworld.”

“Mmm, yes, yes.” Belphegor nodded. “Practically everyone is allowed a bodyguard, just in case something were to happen. Young William is a guest, so that leaves the bodyguard spot open.”

“I promise to protect you should anything come to pass,” Aoi told the two other women earnestly.

“Then we’ll have to pick something for you, too,” Amelia said, grinning. “Now I’m looking forward to this.”

Nanami’s jaw dropped and she frowned in utter confusion. “My aunt… in a formal dress? Huh?”

Will blinked. “What, she’s never worn one?”

“I don’t think I’ve even seen her in a normal dress,” Nanami told him.

“Will you let me handle the preparations?” Belphegor asked Cynthia. “I will hire us a limousine and Ms. Aoi can drive it, if she’s not opposed to the idea.”

Aoi nodded. “No, that’s good. Though a limousine might not be a good idea… Something faster and more compact…”

“We need to make an impression, though,” Cynthia said, biting her lip. “We need people to see that we have money to spend. If not, we won’t be taken seriously.”

“Correct,” Belphegor said. “This is a gathering of very ostentatious individuals. Here is where people make connections. They need to show that making friends with them is worth it.”

“...Very well. A limousine it is, then.”

“Then take care of it, Belphegor,” Cynthia told the old powerful spirit, who smiled sheepishly.

“I will. And by that I mean I’ll ask the hotel staff to arrange it for me.” Right. Sloth. Shouldn’t be surprised. “Then I will leave you to your shopping and stop to pick you up at Lady Amalia’s apartment at 10:00 pm.”

Belphegor left, and after closing the office, so did Will and the others. Their new destination: a good store that sold formal wear.

***

It was exhausting. They made it back to the apartment by 9:00 pm and they still had to shower and get dressed in an hour.

Will and Aoi were quick to get ready. Will put on a standard black tuxedo, the price of which hurt his very soul. If he stained it with the smallest drop of anything, he’d fully redirect his efforts to learning laundry magic, and invent it if it didn’t already exist.

Then there was Aoi, and as much fun as Cynthia, Amelia and Nanami had having her try out different dresses, the warrior woman won in the end. She convinced everyone that, as a bodyguard, she should be wearing a suit instead of a dress. Funnily enough, it was harder to find a suit for her as almost all of them gave her problems around the chest area. They did find one she could button up, though, and now Aoi looked very much like a bodyguard in a plain black suit, white shirt and black tie. All she was missing was the dark glasses. Also…

Will swallowed. “I’m… surprised by how good that looks on you,” he told her. Her long dark hair flowed down her shoulders, and the suit still held to her curvy figure.

Aoi chuckled. “This isn’t the first time I’ve worn a suit, you know?”

“And hopefully not the last, either. Seriously, you look really sexy.”

“Wait until I’m standing next to Amelia and Cynthia and see if you still think the same.”

Even though she was mistaken, Aoi had valid reasons to believe Will’s opinion might change. After all, Amelia and Cynthia also looked absolutely gorgeous in their outfits, though in a more traditional way. The two came back from Amelia’s apartment and went into Will’s, now dressed in their new, sexy evening gowns.

In the middle of their shopping, they decided that matching their dresses might help them be remembered, so they picked very similar evening gowns in different colors. Both were made of velvet, but Cynthia wore white while Amelia wore black. Cynthia’s had no shoulder straps, which made it seem like her chest was the only thing stopping it from falling. Amelia’s did have shoulder straps, if very thin ones, and also a very risque v-cut in its low neckline that showed some inner boob. Both dresses also had long slits along the left side, letting the two women show their beautiful smooth legs.

That on top of the very tastefully applied make up and the sweet perfume they were wearing was a surefire way to make sure they drew eyes, for better or worse.

Will swallowed and cleared his throat. “So… Are you sure we need to go to this thing? Can’t we just… you know, go to my bedroom? Like now?”

“Mmm, tempting,” Cynthia said, smirking and walking up to Will with a sway of her hips. She fixed Will’s collar despite it not needing fixing just so she could whisper close to him. “Especially with you in that tux. But we’ll still be wearing this when we get back. You’ll have plenty of fun getting us out of these clothes, but you better keep yours on.”

Will had been excited for the event, but now he found himself hoping it was a quick affair. Damn his libido, always shifting priorities…