It was hard to tell exactly when I had fallen asleep. I wasn't sure if it was before or after Max. Honestly, I didn’t think it even mattered. The two of us had been sleeping peacefully and letting out loud snores before a large door slam woke me up.
I instantly opened my eyes and sat upright, ready to start defending myself from any sudden threat.
“Oh… heya Max” a deep but sly voice said. “Sorry if I woke ya up.”
Light filled the room as someone entered the shack, carrying an oil lantern. Unsure of who was entering, I stood guard, despite the voice sounding familiar to me.
Stepping inside and closing the door, a large lion revealed himself. I could only assume he was Adrianis, Max’s housemate, as the lion comfortably made his way to the other side of the room. He placed the lantern on his dresser as he dropped his belongings on his bed.
“What the hell is this asshole doing home so early?” Max grumbled annoyed but sleepily. I bet he had also just woken up from the rude intrusion.
“So why are you back here so early?” I asked annoyed, trying to tone down Max’s words while retaining his usual attitude.
“Eh… I had no luck today having “fun” so I decided to call it quits.” Adrianis said as he rummaged through his belongings on the side of the room.
I let out a loud yawn as I rubbed my eyes. My sleepiness was slightly fading, curiosity of the lion in front of me growing.
It was hard to make him out as there was barely any light in the room due to the nighttime and lack of windows. Even with my Wolf eyes, I felt too tired to open them completely and focus on him. I could only see he was about the same size as Max but no other noteworthy features as he was currently faced away from me.
“What are you doing now?” I grumbled, trying to sound extremely annoyed. Although I originally had been, the excitement of meeting a new beastman took away my prior irritation. My tail tapped slightly under the covers as a reaction to my intrigue.
“Just about to head to the bathhouse. There’s barely anyone at this time and I reek.” Adrianis answered with a chuckle.
A faint smell entered my nose as the lion’s aroma penetrated my brain. It was different from the musk Max’s body exhibited but it wasn’t bad. Smelled like a mixture of sweat, smoke, alcohol, and Adrianis‘ natural musk.
By now I was clearly excited. I had missed the opportunity to join Ronald earlier and visit my first bathhouse in this world. Now could be the perfect time to try it. I felt mentally refreshed from my slumber and seeked more action.
But the realization that my body was still exhausted physically quickly halted me from asking to accompany him. Right now Max needed rest, and it only made sense to give it to him considering his long day.
I sigh inwardly at my disappointment before realizing that another perfect opportunity presented me. Who said I couldn’t still go to the bathhouse? What if I just joined Adrianis but in a different way?