Chapter 419: Sweet Mouth "Why’s your face like that?" Esme asked as she looked at Azel, narrowing her eyes at the strange expression he was making. "Do I look funny?" "Well it’s not like that, but look at your lips." Azel replied, lifting a finger to point at her. His tone was soft, but he was clearly holding something back. "My lips?" She blinked, touching them with her fingertip and her eyes widened in horror when she realized they were coated in bright red pepper sauce, smeared unevenly like she had kissed a fire spirit. She instantly snatched a napkin and began dabbing at them aggressively. "What a waste of perfectly good pepper..." she muttered as she wiped. "Seriously, Azel, next time tell me quickly so I don’t remove the flavor." Azel just stared at her. "You love pepper a lot?" he asked, genuinely curious. It wasn’t something mentioned in the game, but learning this side of her... these little preferences felt strangely comforting. In the game she had been an annoying character, but here... she was human. And endearing... very endearing. "Of course, pepper is life." She said with complete sincerity as she cut into a huge chunk of fish with her fork. "You can’t blame me." "...Cute," Azel muttered under his breath. Esme froze mid-bite. She heard it. Her ears burned as she lowered her head and lifted her juice cup to hide her face before gulping it down quickly. Azel shifted his attention back to his side of the fish. He lifted the fork, carved out a piece, and inspected it. ’It’s completely cooked... and not only that but pepperish,’ he thought while examining the colorful spices coating it. ’But it can’t be that pepperish...’ He brought it to his mouth and took the entire piece at once. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺 At first, it tasted wonderful... rich, savory, infused with layered pepper heat. Then the heat intensified. Intensified again. And then... It felt like his entire mouth had been set ablaze. ’WHAT THE FUCKKKK!!’ He didn’t scream out loud, but inside his mind, he was rolling across the floor begging for a water mage. He immediately reached for the juice, snatching the cup like a drowning man reaching for air. He downed it in one breath. The heat dulled a bit but it was not enough. ’How spicy is this thing?’ He turned slowly toward Esme who was calmly biting into another thick piece of pepper-coated fish like it was a mild snack. ’Is she a monster or what? How is she eating so much pepper?!’ His eye twitched as he cut another piece. This time, he used the remaining effects of the Focus-Bloom pill to examine it more closely. And immediately wished he hadn’t. ’What the—?! There are several kinds of pepper layered inside AND outside?!’ Even the fish meat was red. ’Are these people trying to kill customers? Who puts pepper INSIDE the fish too?!’ "Is there any problem?" Esme looked up, her cheeks puffed with another mouthful. "If you don’t like pepper... we can g-go to another place." She suddenly looked extremely guilty... her eyes went down and her shoulders shrinked slightly. The sight killed him. He didn’t want her thinking she ruined anything. ’I hope this store has a potion for this,’ Azel thought grimly. He took a deep breath. "Not at all," he said bravely. "What I think is that it isn’t even pepperish enough." He took another bite. Chewed. Forced it down. Took three more bites for good measure. "See? It isn’t even pepperish enough..." Steam... actual steam slipped out of his mouth as he exhaled. Holy energy raced across his tongue desperately trying to heal the burning flesh. ’AHHHHH!!!!!’ he screamed internally. ’HOW IS SHE EVEN EATING THIS?!’ [Hubby bring this up] Nyala chirped sweetly. [I want to taste this spicy fish as well with my own mouth.] ’Sure sure... later... when I want to die...’ A waiter suddenly approached, holding something that immediately filled Azel with dread. A small vial. "Ah, kind sir," the waiter said, bowing while adjusting his face mask. "I heard you say it isn’t spicy enough. I apologize for your disappointment and would like to make it up to you." Azel already knew this man wanted him dead. "This," the waiter continued reverently, holding the vial up like a sacred relic, "is our Explosive Spice. Please add it to your dish." Azel sighed internally as Esme stared at him with shining, excited eyes. "Go ahead," she urged. He sprinkled a tiny amount on the fish. Even with Focus-Bloom, the spices looked like literal flames. He lifted the piece to his mouth. He ate it. He swallowed. ’Contrary to what I expected, it’s not even that—’ His eyes widened and heat exploded inside his throat. Azel looked up and... a burst of fire shot from his mouth into the ceiling. "My goddess..." Esme gasped, stumbling backward in shock. Then she grabbed her juice and rushed forward, pouring it desperately into his mouth. ... "I’m sorry." Esme muttered as they stepped outside the shop some minutes later. It was late afternoon now... the sun was low and warm, casting orange beams across the busy street. She kept glancing toward Azel’s mouth with guilt. "I shouldn’t have dragged you there. Next time, we’ll go to a regular restaurant." "It’s not bad." Azel said, lightly stretching his jaw as he placed the pepperish takeaway for the goddesses into his Inventory. "We can come here again next time..." "Hey, does your tongue still feel pepperish?" Esme asked softly. "Strangely, it does." Azel replied. "I’ll wash it down with water..." Esme suddenly stopped walking and puckered her lips. Her eyes closed. They were still on the sidewalk, hand in hand, with people moving around them... but right now, she couldn’t care less. "I can help you calm it down..." she whispered. Azel didn’t hesitate. His hand slid around her waist, pulling her onto the tips of her toes... she let out a small gasp as their lips met and her hands curled lightly against his chest. Their tongues met next. She tasted sweet like the citrus juice she drank earlier. The pepper in his mouth dulled instantly as her saliva mixed with his. Her breath hitched... And Azel’s holy wings unfurled from his back in a burst of soft light. One flap and they soared upward, disappearing into a low patch of clouds. She broke the kiss briefly as she caught her breath. "Why are we in the... clouds?" "So we can kiss better," he murmured, brushing a thumb against her cheek. "Your mouth tastes sweet..." Her face flushed scarlet. No one could see them here... not even the people below. She wrapped her arms around his neck shyly as he secured both hands around her waist. He kissed her again... deeper this time. Something about her mouth was addictive unlike any of the other girls. "My mouth?" she whispered between kisses, touching her lips with wonder. Then she exhaled shakily. "Are we supposed to be kissing so early?" "If you don’t wan—" "Come on..." She puckered her lips again. He didn’t make her wait. ... "Do you really have to go now?" Sybil asked with sad eyes. Evening painted the Astra mansion’s large front yard in golden-orange light. Helena, Layla, Sylus, Sybil’s sisters and Esme who was still lightly pink stood watching Azel prepare to leave. "I do. I have a very important thing to do." Azel replied as he hugged Sybil gently. "But I’ll get back soon for a visit." She reluctantly pulled away. Layla smiled knowingly. "Well, my son-in-law," Layla said proudly, "I talked about it with my husband, and you’ll probably see it tomorrow. When you’re coming next time, bring some alcohol though." ’Alcohol?’ Azel sweatdropped. Then Esme suddenly stepped forward and hugged him tightly, surprising everyone. "Be safe," she whispered. He gently patted her head. "Sure. We’ll eat more next time." She let go quickly. Azel pulled out another Focus-Bloom pill, swallowed it, and his wings burst into the air as he shot skyward. ’Now that that’s done... I need to get an instructor for Lillia... and probably Edna too. I wonder who can do that.’