AN: It's a mostly 'fluff' filled chapter today, folks. There's a bit of violence at the beginning, but the rest is pretty much just adorable fluff. Oh, the bit at the end won't appear until about chapter 32, and next chapter is going to be another NSFW post. Except this time, it's a detailed gore scene that happens to one poor, unfortunate idiot who got in his way.
As always, folks, thank you for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, let me know down below.
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"Divine Intervention," I whispered, watching the sun rise above the horizon once more from a window in my cathedral. There was a plan forming in my mind, yes, but it was one that would result in myself being confirmed as something more. Some may call me a god, now, but what would happen if I was able to cure "Mana Burn"?
My form was human, and it was naked, as I continued to stare at the slowly rising sun. Some would say my look was one that seemed to search for answers not asked. However, a feminine and calloused hand traced its finger across my shoulders before a pair of arms wrapped themselves around my neck. A small pair of mounds pushed against my back, as a pair of lips kissed my right shoulder. "Come back to bed," said a voice in a seductive manner, "It's far too cold out this morning."
"You know I do not feel the cold," I responded with a rumble. Turning towards the voice, I spied the sing-song assassin from before, who then tried to kiss me. She failed, and pouted greatly for my action.
"You do not feel anything," she pouted, and this is true. At that time, I felt nothing. Sorrow, anger, jealousy, envy, joy, hate. I felt none of those emotions, and would not for many more centuries.
"Correct." My hands began to peel her from my body, as my form became that of a kobold once more.
"Oh? Are we going to do it 'Doggy Style', now?" Her eyes were twinkling as she hungered for my new body.
"No." She frowned, "The children will be waking up soon, and I must be ready to greet them." I began to search for a pair of pants, but was annoyed as the woman continued to try and shove her small chest and rear end in my face. My time spent with her that night was one of experimentation, and nothing more.
However, even though I had to explain it to her on more than one occasion, she would continue to pester my person at every given turn. She desired power, I found out, and what better way to gain it, than by bedding a supposed god? There's a saying among the people of my first world. "Hindsight is twenty-twenty." This means you can see what mistakes you had made in the past much more clearly than you can in the present or future.
It was a mistake to bed her, and I knew this as she continued to try to drag me back to bed. Apparently, she wanted a child from my body, and continued to try even though I had no way of producing seed. Unfortunately for her, she would have to disappear, especially when she whispered, "I'll make those brats disappeared so I can have you all to myself." This was said as she stared at the bed we had dirtied the night before. Her back was towards me at the time, and I do believe she thought I had already gone.
She found herself gasping in pain, as a skeletal clawed hand, my own, gripped and hoisted her into the air. There was no anger in my form, nor in my eyes. No, I only felt a tinge of disappointment for her, and made it known. "You disappoint me, human," I rumbled slowly, "If you hadn't have spoken such words, you would have enjoyed a few more night with my body. However," she struggled fiercely as the bony claws began to dig into her skin, puncturing flesh, muscle, bone, and organs. "However, I cannot have one such as you disrupting everything I have worked hard for.
"Such a waste," I muttered to myself, dropping her crushed and lifeless body onto our shared bed. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth open in a silent scream, as blood continued to flow out of her. Over a dozen four-armed Undying were seen crowding the doorway, as I turned around to leave. many had already entered, and could see my bloodied clawed hand. They then began to search the whole of my home, and found the crushed remains of the female assassin.
"Dei," one began, kneeling in front of my skeletal body, "What happened? Was she not to your liking?"
"No," I rumbled, becoming the kobold once more. There would be no other explanation from my person, as I donned a pair of plain, brown trousers after wiping most of the blood from my arm. The rest was washed off by a maid who was terrified by the body on the bed. "Take it out, and burn it to ash." They did so, and would not question as to why it had to be done, but sometimes I wish they would. Those people I would keep close, as I would find them interesting.
My feet took me towards the dining hall, as I continued to formulate a plan to help those with "Mana Burn". Do you remember the spell that allowed me to summon, at the cost of all my energy, a vial of viscous mana? If you do not, then allow me to explain. The spell itself allowed me to conjure an enchanted vial full of my own energy. What is more, this energy is in a physical form, and can either be plied to various works or drunk. If it is plied, then whatever work that received it would be granted a small boon of randomised beneficial status. It could, when wielded or worn, increase a person's performance even better than before. If drunk, however, it would permanently increase that person's mana pool by one hundred units.
However, after the battle with the brothel compound, I was granted knowledge to mass produce the vials, creating up to a dozen per spell cast. This please me greatly, but what was more, I was given the ability to use "Appraisal". Another name for it is, "Identify". One would think someone, like myself, would gain this ability earlier than that moment, and you would be correct. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you why this is, only that it is a fact amongst we who are Enchanters.
The doors to the dining hall were already open, and I could see steam rising from the many food platters that were to be served to the children, queen, and everyone else. However, before I could enter, a body stood in my way. A male human with a snobbish expression stood staring down his nose at me. This one wore a red and white butler uniform, which was creased to perfection. The facial features of the human were... ordinary. There was no real way to explain it, other than if one were to see his face in a crowd, turn away, and look back, then you would not find it again.
"The servant's dining hall is down the hall and to the left," he pointed, expecting me to comply.
"You must be new here," I growled a low growl, to which he took a slight step back, and summoned a pair of Undying.
"Remove this... dog," he sneered at my person, "and put him out like the trash he is."
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The pair, on the other hand, were looking towards my person. "You heard him," my lips peeled away from my teeth, revealing sharpened canines, "Remove this dog from my sight." They shrugged, and began to drag away the now squawking human butler, just as the first few children began to arrive.
A few, it seems, were still sleepy, and were either being carried by those who were older, or were being led whilst trying to rub the sleep from their eyes. Upon seeing my kobold self, however, many became excited, dashing towards my body with arms stretched out. I had knelt down by then, and received them with a great hug. Those who had tails were seen waiving in an excited manner, and many whined whilst having their heads pat, or their hair ruffled.
Ah, I can see a few confused looks, so allow me to explain. You see, those children who were abused, were abused by humans, for the most part, and would become frightened around males. So much so, they would run and hide from my human guise. However, around my kobold self, most of the girl-children, and a few of the boy-children, would rush my person for safety. It was decided then, by myself and others, that only beastmen and myself would interact with them until they allowed themselves to be near another human.
If you are wondering if they are kin and beast-children, the answer is "mostly". For you see, although many humans' disgusting appetites were for the kin and beast-children, a few were human children. Although few in number, they were there, and were not shunned by the others because of their race. No, they were received well enough that many adults were surprised by their actions.
This leads to another piece of information. The castle began hiring non-humans as staff since the rescuing of these children, much to the horror of many nobles and commonfolk. They believe them to be less than themselves, which made me wonder how they survived this long, if they hate all who are not of the same race as they.
After being released from their brief hug, the children were then being seated by about a dozen rabbit-eared maids in short black and white outfits. These outfits were much too short for my taste, and when they bent over, their actions revealed their undergarments to the world. When I expressed my disdain for such an outfit, many cried foul, as it is a common outfit throughout the land. However, the females were elated when I pushed forward a motion to change their outfits to conceal their undergarments, but the first batch would not be ready until the following week.
A small tribe of horse beastmen came trotting into the hall, just as the last of the children had begun to eat. Imagine an average sized human, if you would, with mottled coloured skin, and a horse's head. Their tribe was only of about two dozen, and were actually rescued from an auction house within the city. Many Undying had come together to raise the funds necessary for their complete release, and had been living on the castle grounds for almost a full turn of the sun. The Undying had done this to please my person, and please me they did. They were rewarded with enchanted a single bar of enchanted mithril, to do with as they see fit.
You seem to be confused, so allow me to explain. Enchanters, such as myself, cannot enchant items. No, they can only enchant bars of processed ore, which can then be made into enchanted items. If one were to place various precious and semi-precious stones within a finished product, then one would see an increase in a variety of status's. For example, if one were to place a stone of Malachite within an enchanted silver ring, and wore it, that person would receive the ability to slightly resist poison by a small percentage. Another example would be if you were to pair an enchanted silver necklace with an emerald, and wore it, that person would gain the ability to resist fire by a small amount.
I have yet to test out the properties of an enchanted blade infused with a precious, or semi-precious, stone, but I had heard tales of warriors with more strength after wielding such things.
"Who are you?" Asked one of the horse beastmen, as they came to a halt in front of my person. Each was wearing a plain, pale yellow tunic, brown pants, and a dark brown pair of boots. Their garb was common amongst farmers, but were grateful for the clothing, nonetheless. Those who had purchased their freedom stated that most of the males wore only a loincloth, while the females, including girl-children, wore next to nothing.
Yes, the auction house was raided soon afterwards, and yes, they did have naked children who were abused. The auction house was then shut down, the owners and most of the staff were sent off to the mines or quarry. All others, on the other hand, were either taken to the castle, or placed into the hands of reputable slavers.
"Canis Dei," a soft growl ensued in reply, and many shook slightly in fear, but calmed down.
"They said you were in charge," a small female spoke quietly, then ducked behind another when I turned my head in her direction.
"I am." Many had become relieved, and I inquired as to why they were.
"They said you were kind, and would help if we asked."
"Asked for what?" I was confused as to who told them such a thing. Yes, I did help those who were part of my 'family', but they were not.
"Our elder has 'Mana Burn', and they said you could help him, or your god can. Sorry, I don't remember what they said exactly." The female's head popped out from behind another, as she stared in my direction with tear filled eyes. Those eyes, I had seen before. They were ones that had lost hope for so long, and became desperate after regaining it.
"Perhaps," I said slowly, "I came into possession of something that may help, and am in need of a guinea pig." They didn't understand what I had meant, but were elated that I would help them.
Within my mind, however, I simply laughed at my good fortune. This small tribe would become my test subjects, and would do so gladly, but only after I healed their elder. This thought caused my kobold self to grin in an evil manner, and if one were to look upon it at that time, one could see the darkness it ensued.
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AN#2: GASP! The MC had sex, and it wasn't rape? The world MUST be ending, right? RIGHT?!