Jack woke up with a headache.
The pain he felt in his head was a new experience since he got into this world. As he sat on his bed, he went through his [Inventory] to see if there was medicine for it.
The first option he tried was a healing potion. It was the most obvious choice. He took out a bottle and drank it.
Nothing happened. His health bar was already full so it wasn’t surprising that nothing happened.
Maybe he should try a potion that deals with negative spells.
Again, nothing happened.
Jack went through his [Inventory] in search for a potion that gets rid of headaches specifically. But he had none.
He had a potion to make one invisible. Another potion to double one's physical stats for ten minutes. But he didn’t have one potion for a headache.
Jack then noticed something ruffle around under his bedsheet.
He almost bolted out of the room. But the thing under his sheets wasn’t attacking him. So he lifted the cover and saw a woman sleeping.
She strangely had green hair with little flowers growing on it. Her ears were pointed. She even had wooden earrings on. Who sleeps with earrings on?
Then he remembered. She was the woman he slept with last night. He didn’t even know her name.
The incident with Octavia, who took it very personally when he forgot her name, was something he was determined not to repeat.
[Appraise]
Name: Erzilla
Rank: Concubine
Level: 28
Class: [Herbalist lvl 20], [Elementalist lvl 8]
Her name sounded familiar but he wasn’t sure where he heard it.
It didn’t matter. He had things to do. The first being the privy council meeting. But he needed to find an [Alchemist] to brew a potion that will cure his headache.
If only he was back on Earth, he’d grab a painkiller to get rid of the headache. Paracetamol was his go to for pain relief.
Jack felt an arm wrap around his chest.
“Morning, handsome,” Erzilla said behind him. The sweet smell of her perfume wrapped around Jack.
“You’re awake.”
“Come back to bed, my lord.”
“I can’t. I have work to do.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Jack felt something amiss. His body felt warm. Was he getting a fever?
Instead of him getting up, he fell back into bed.
“I thought you had work to do,” she smirked.
“I–I do…”
When Jack realised his headache was gone, he knew something was wrong. But the way that Erzilla stared at him with her glowing green eyes enchanted him. Why were her eyes glowing?
Her smell was so sweet. He couldn’t help but draw closer. They kissed.
Maybe work can wait some other time. Erzilla needed him. And who cares what happens to the palace? Isoldea will handle everything.
Yes, what mattered now was him and Erzilla.
Erzilla and Zodark.
Erzilla and Zodark.
Jack knew that Erzilla was perfect for him. Together, they’ll have plenty of children and live happily ever after.
[Gate].
Jack teleported to the corner of the room, a distance away from Erzilla. He raised his arm in the direction of Erzilla.
“[Fireball],” he cast.
A ball of fire formed in his hand, aimed at her.
“My lord, spare me!” she screamed.
“What spell were you casting on me?” he shouted at her.
“I didn’t cast any spells on you, my lord. I would never!”
The fireball doubled in size. The heat it produced increased.
Erzilla screamed again. She realised he wasn’t playing.
“Pheromones!” she admitted loudly.
“What?”
“Pheromones, my lord. It’s not a spell. I’m a nymph. I produce pheromones without effort. I can’t help it. It’s a passive ability my race has.”
Damn. Jack lowered his arm and extinguished the fireball.
“I apologise. I overreacted,” Jack said to her.
She stared at him in silence. He wasn’t sure if he had traumatised her. Was he becoming a monster?
“You can make it up to me,” she said.
“Huh?”
“Well you said you were sorry. And if you’re really sorry, you’ll want to show it by making it up to me.”
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“So saying sorry isn’t good enough for you.”
She smirked, “No, my lord.”
Jack laughed, “Okay, fine. What do you want?”
“I want to spend the whole day with you.”
“The whole day?”
She nodded.
“Why?”
“I just want to,” she pouted. “Please, pretty please.”
“If you insist then okay.”
…
…
“What is she doing here?” Isoldea asked as Jack and Erzilla walked in for the privy council meeting.
“She’s just a spectator,” he told Isoldea.
“Lord Zodark, I don't’ think it’s wise to let a mere–”
Jack glared at Isoldea, “Mere?”
Isoldea paused. She gathered her thoughts then spoke, “I don’t it’s appropriate for a Lady of the Harem to be in meetings such as this.”
Erzilla wrapped her arm around Jack’s arm and held his hand tightly, “I’ll leave if I’m such a bother.”
Her kitten-like eyes made Jack’s heart skip.
He faced Isoldea, “She’s staying. Now let’s get on with the meeting.”
Isoldea nodded reluctantly.
The first item of discussion is the progress Leofric had made in the Icy Island.
“He’s sent a report informing us that he had completed the construction of a work camp. I believe he estimated that the wooden bunkhouses they built could house 500 individuals.’
Jack nodded. Soon, more tribute will come to help in extracting the resources.
It was only a matter of time before the Yellow Moon tribe came to Jack for protection.
“Tell Leofric that his work ethic is excellent. He should keep up the good work he’s doing there,” Jack said.
“I’ll write to him immediately after this meeting, my lord,” Isoldea nodded.
The meeting continued uneventful. Except for the little distractions that Erzilla caused Jack.
She’d do silly things like bump her leg against his. Or brush his arm while he was talking to Isoldea.
She was a bit too playful. Maybe she didn’t understand the importance of a privy council meeting.
After the privy council meeting, it was time do attend the department heads meeting. As usual, he wasn’t thrilled to go there.
“You look so grumpy, Lord Zodark,” Erzilla said as they walked down the hallway together.
“I’ve meetings to attend. It could last for over three or four hours,” he sighed.
“Well, you are the ruler. If you don’t want to go then don’t go.”
“It’s not that simple,” he chuckled.
“But who’ll force you to attend boring meetings?” she titled her head.
She had a point.
“It’s my duty to hear the concerns of my subordinates. I can’t slack off.”
“I’m your subordinate as well. And I’m very concerned how grumpy you are.”
“I’m not that grumpy.”
“Yes you are. Look at the wrinkles forming in your forehead.”
“Really?” asked Jack with concern.
She nodded with a cheeky smile. “I have a cure for wrinkles and grumpiness. I guarantee it’ll work for you.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“So where is it?”
“I’ll have to show it to you.”
She grabbed his hand and dragged him to a nearby empty room. Her 100% cure for wrinkles and grumpiness involved them getting undressed.
Jack was suspicious at this supposed ‘cure’. But he wasn’t going to say no to her advances.
…
…
Hours passed away.
Jack felt utterly exhausted. But Erzilla still looked energetic and very jovial. Does she even get tired?
“Let’s go for another round,” she nibbled at his right ear.
She’s out of her mind! How many rounds before she gets tired.
Jack got up and put on his robes.
“I need to go to work,” he shook his head.
Erzilla pointed to a window. “It’s nighttime.”
Nighttime?
Jack looked outside the window. It was dark outside. Crap.
How long have they been in this room? The meeting with the department heads, he missed coompletely.
“Get dressed, Erzilla. You need to go back to your place.”
“I thought we were having fun together,” she sulked.
“I think we’re having too much fun. So get dressed.”
She reluctantly put on her clothes.
Jack opened the door to leave.
And to his horror, waiting for him outside was Isoldea and Pec.
How long have they’ve been out here?
“Isoldea, uhm… what brings you here?” he asked nervously.
Erzilla walked out behind him, “Lord Zodark, can I spend the night in your room again. My bed is sooooo uncomfortable. I like yours better.”
“Not now, Erzilla,” Jack reprimanded her.
The look Isoldea was giving out could kill someone.
Erzilla then noticed Isoldea. “Oh, hi Isoldea! Have you come to bring us tea?”
“Do I look like I [Maid]?” Isoldea scoffed at her.
Erzilla shrinked behind Jack.
Isoldea turned to face Jack, “My lord, I bring you grave news. I wish to speak to you in private.”
She glared at Erzilla.
“I undestand,” Jack nodded. “Erzilla, you may return to the harem.”
“The harem? You promised that I’ll spend the night with you.”
Jack didn’t recall ever making that promise.
“Y-You promised me, my lord. You have to keep your promises,” she sobbed in a baby-voice.
Looking at her pure eyes, he couldn’t say no to her.
“Fine, you can wait for me in my room.”
“YES!” she squealed.
A look of disgust fell over Isoldea’s face. But she remained silent and waited for Erzilla to leave.
When she left, Isoldea spoke freely.
“My lord, you shoudn’t fall for the immature antics of a nymph. Behind her innocent face is a nymph who’s trying to have you for herself. She’s no better than a snake.”
“Don’t be silly, Isoldea. Let’s focus on these grave news you were talking about.”
Isoldea shook her head. She had more to say about Erzilla but Jack had shut her down. “Very well, my lord. The grave news I bring comes from an intel report from the Yellow Moon tribe.”
Jack smiled, “Are they coming here to ask for assistance?”
“No, my lord. They’ve killed Chief Ravem and are sending his severed head to the Black Grass tribe as we speak.”
“What?”
“The Yellow Moon tribe doesn’t want assistance from us. They wish to appease the Black Grass tribe.”
Don’t they know that appeasement never works?
“This wasn’t part of my plans,” he said annoyed.
“I know, my lord. But surely you have a fallback plan.”
“Of course I do!” he said loudly.
Jack didn’t have a fallback plan.
Since the Yellow Moon tribe didn’t ask for assistance, Jack doesn’t have a casus belli to attack the Black Grass tribe.
He wasn’t willing to attack Black Grass out of nowhere. Usually in any grand strategy game, if you attack another nation without a good reason, your nation’s infamy goes up.
And with high infamy, other nations will form alliance against your state. Jack didn’t want that. He wanted the human tribes to remain fractured and not see him and the demons as a warmongering nation that enjoys conquest for conquest’s sake.
“So what is your plan, my lord?” Isoldea asked him.
“Well…”