The cat's out of the bag, and this is way more important than keeping up a half-assed lie, so I unleash the dragon upon Vanea and sternly ask, "What else do you know about these Gifted?"
She remains still for a second, then she suddenly shrugs and flashes a smile as she casually replies, "Nothing. It was just rumors that perfectly fit a suspicion I had."
My jaw tenses up in anger, and I scowl as I slowly state, "If you value our relationship, I need you to tell me everything you know about those Gifted."
She breathes in, slightly annoyed, and expands further, "As I said, it was only a curious rumor. I don't have the resources to track down a group of Gifted that are being deliberately hidden from the public. Obviously, you're not the only one who's interested in them, though it's clear to me that your reason for it is unique."
I feel an irrational anger flare within me, and I start to dig my claws into the armrests, carving deep grooves into the soft wood.
If I'm not the only one who has been brought here, then that opens a pandora's box of questions.
For example… is she-…?
My mind gets stuck midway, dreading to finish the question, and the rage begins to grow out of control, permeating my whole body. Of all things that could happen, this is among those that I dreaded the most.
My vision distorts as my mind is filled with questions, but I don't care about the answers, I care that, for some reason, I was not the only one wrecked in the ass for a purpose I still don't know!
I just want to… to…
I don't know what I want, I just want to do something, to have some control over things, but I don't have any. I'm just…
grrrrAAAAH…!
I roar internally in impotent rage, then my MP starts to drain as I feel the laws of reality loosen, responding to my will to just tear everything asunder.
Suddenly, my whole body freezes up, and I feel something give me a painful poke inside my head, jolting me into confusion.
My eyes focus properly, and I recognize the beautiful bright brown, almost orange color of Alissa's hair, but her angry face is like a dagger of shame stabbing into my heart.
I look down and notice that my body is covered in scales. I've accidentally shifted into my draconic form without noticing.
I guess I have a bit of an anger issue…?
"It's the unlimited cap on anger that makes dragons so powerful," Hana proudly brags inside my mind.
I chuckle softly, then I sigh as I slowly let the anger pass. After a long moment, I calm down enough to shift back and put the dragon back in its cage.
The chair is almost completely ruined now. I kind of broke the backrest with my tail as it went wild, and the armrests are now nothing more than stubs after I diced them up, so Alissa brings me a new one.
Vanea's tense expression makes it almost worth it, tho. She stiffly stares at me while anxiously running a hand through her slick, sweptback black hair, a rare gesture of discomfort that I have the pleasure to witness.
"Sorry…" I softly apologize as I sit down.
She immediately continues, her tone wooden and a bit quiet, "Your background is the biggest mystery of the decade, so don't let others know that you have a personal interest in those three Gifted."
I nod and softly ask, "What about you?"
Her expression immediately shifts into an angry glare. "Are you implying that I'd take advantage of you after we've dealt with each other so many times before…?"
I clench my jaw in apprehension and quickly admit my mistake, "I apologize for my rude insinuation."
"Hmph…" She huffs haughtily, but then her expression suddenly grows both mischievous and seductive, putting me back on guard.
She stands up and walks towards me while slowly pushing up her dress until it reveals her bare, but visibly wet, flower then she straddles me and wraps her arms around my neck, our faces mere centimetri from each other.
Her thick, intoxicating perfume fills my nostrils, and I breathe it in deeply, savoring her scent. Appreciating feminine aspects is always calming for me.
"I'm ready to take our relationship further…" She suggestively whispers while gently smirking, and her pretty face seems almost perfectly made for this expression. "But since it seems like you're not the only mysterious Gifted of this generation, why would I choose you, specifically?"
Her hands reach down, and she touches my sword through my thin, tight pants, then runs it along its length.
"There's me, my untouched but very sl-tty sister, and my hungry brother, so there are plenty of options available."
Then she pulls on the waistband of my pants and underwear at the same time, releasing my monster. She looks down and subtly licks her lips while raising her eyebrows, then she glances at me and smirks.
"I'd love to negotiate a… Br--ding Contract with a strong, powerful male…"
Then she moves her hips forward and rests her moistness against the throbbing tip, her warmth instantly noticeable. We're both so excited that a small amount of her fluids immediately mix and run down my sword.
"But can you guarantee that you will be the one to come out on top of all of your fellow Gifted?" She coyly asks, but that's just a rude challenge to my draconic nature.
"Am I a damn dragon or not?" I growl, then I grab her thin waist and force her down, but only the tip disappears before she stiffens her legs and prevents me from going further.
I look up and glare at her, my anger quickly rising, but she just smirks smugly then leans forward to whisper into my ear, "You'll never have me, but maybe, if you prove yourself, I can let you do whatever you want with my body and may even birth a few children for you…"
The way her walls squeeze me and their searing heat tell me she's as ready as any to be br-d, but she knows she can get something better if she holds on just a little longer.
And I damn hate women like her.
She grabs my scaled hands and forces my arms apart from her waist, then she stands up and lets her dress feebly attempt to cover herself again.
But her gaze suddenly softens uncharacteristically. "As proof of my commitment to you, here's something genuine."
Then she leans forward and presses her lips against mine as she cups my cheek. This catches me a bit by surprise, but before I can shove my tongue down her throat, she pulls back then lowers her head further.
She gives a cute kiss to the tip, then she straightens again and licks her lips clean of my fluid. "Indeed, you have a nice taste. Work hard for me because I want more of it," she seductively states.
I grit my teeth in anger and hold myself back from pouncing on her, then she giggles mischievously and starts walking away.
But she kindly gives one last piece of advice before she leaves, "When they first appeared, the Gifted made a commotion in Kini Kaina, the main Chimera city, so start your search there."
She's made me so damn mad that it's taking quite a lot of effort for me to not chase after her, but I think that would just end badly, so the human keeps the chains quite tight.
Alissa kneels before me, and I grip her head.
Goddamn. She must be the one who taught Silvane how to be such a damn sl-t…
Just one release isn't enough, so Alissa bends over on the table for me, and I do her like a beast.
No… Silvane's parents were deposed, and that puts her character in doubt. Maybe she was already a deviant and Vanea only re-awakened that part of her.
I grip Alissa's nice pillows and bite her neck as I do it madly.
And the little elven wh-re has definitely corrupted Nono, too.
"Ahn~…! Ahn~…! Ahn~…!" My fox slave whispers adorably, and her fluffy tail tickles my abs as it wags uncontrollably.
I need to dominate Nono so hard that she doesn't think about anyone else ever again… Well, maybe just no other man; I don't want to ruin her marriage.
My slave clenches as she reaches the summit, and so do I at the same time, making a mess as I don't stop moving.
But then I start to slow down because I need to leave some for Lolo. It's time for another session of her c-m sl-t training.
Lolo clenches her muscular thighs, and I feel a nice amount of pressure, so I start to move.
What a damn amazing view.
Her legs are to die for, so I make sure to get a taste of them and her feet, then I cover her spotted skin with kisses.
It doesn't take long before I cover her body. Then I do it again, and again, and again…
As I "accidentally" pull back a bit too far, it angles down. Then it easily slides into, and I feel her legs quiver strongly in bliss, but I want to use a different position this time.
I spin her and force her onto all fours, then I fluff her little pom-pom of a tail and use her long, floppy ears as reins to help me do her like a dog, one of my favorite positions.
She just takes it all, but I'm not the only one giving her attention. Either Alissa or Hana always keep her mouth occupied while Roxanne plays with the rest of her body.
The bunny girl steadily loses herself to pure bliss, then begins to beg for more and more, which we're happy to oblige.
The draconic rage dies down, and the dragon goes to sleep, finally allowing the human the space he needs to think properly.
"What can we do about the Gifted?" I worriedly ask while I fluff Penelope's floppy ears. She's sleeping so peacefully that I almost feel like waking her up just to do her senseless again.
Yunia calmly answers as she massages Roxanne's horns while the demoness eats her. "If we're forceful with our questioning, we'll ruin our relationship with the Chimeras of the Sky Lands. Anyone in their position would be very protective of the Gifted, just like we are with Brett."
"Then let's build good relations with them by sending a Chimera envoy there," Ciel suggests good naturedly as she plays with Gify.
Hana stops abusing Alissa to let the fox girl add, "The spirit Chimera… think that those Chimera… are boors."
Yunia whispers softly and adds, "We just need someone who we know wouldn't jeopardize the mission for petty reasons."
"Osaria…?" I hesitantly suggest.
Klein gives me a concerned look as she cautions me, "You know that the Chimeras like to give themselves horse swords, right? And the ones in the Sky Lands wear even less clothing than elves."
I don't think my milf would cheat on me so easily, but, yeah, maybe there's someone else who's better suited for this task.
I hum huskily as I crawl up to the little monkey, then she reflexively turns around and presents her ass to me.
I absentmindedly use my thumb on her special place as I ponder out loud, "Just Oritiki with the Carrier should be enough. We can't bring the Floater or our knights out of the capital for now in case we actually do join the Purification."
Yunia agrees, "Yes, using the Floater would also call too much attention to our activities."
My mind is too tired, and it's already quite late, so we'll write a letter to Oritiki and Sandoro sometime tomorrow.
I begin Klein's c-m sl-t reinforcement training, but it's finished quite quickly, so I give my wives a nice and slow session of nightly love.
Today is the 5th, Fo, day of Fire. In Escanso, the town would be filled with the appetizing smell of meat being smoked, but in the capital, today is the official barbecue day, and the effigies from the previous party are re-built so that the entire town can have meat of all kinds being roasted in the open. The Labyrinth provides an endless source of monster meat, so they really go all out.
My [Redirect Mana] increased by 1 (now 7); Roxanne's [Redirect Mana] and [Alchemy] increased by 1 (now 2 and 11); Hana's [Mana Control] increased by 1 (now 8); Lina's [Cursing Magic] increased by 2 (now 11+9); and Yunia's [Weaverism] increased by 1 (now 30).
Aoi is now level 45; Alissa, Roxanne, Ciel, Lina, and I are now level 60; Hana is now level 61; and Yunia is now level 62.
Since we're all hybrids, Alissa, Roxanne, Hana, Ciel, Lina, and I put our new points into mana skills with only Yunia putting her new points into something different, which is [Enhanced Reflexes].
My MP increased by 175 (now 2000) and my MPower increased by 80 (now 860); Alissa's MP increased by 200 (now 1320) and her MPower increased by 105 (now 655); Roxanne's MP increased by 255 (now 3215) and her MPower increased by 160 (now 1440); Hana's MP increased by 110 (now 1050) and her MPower increased by 60 (now 515); Ciel's MP increased by 190 (now 1500) and her MPower increased by 95 (now 895); Lina's MP increased by 200 (now 1425) and her MPower increased by 80 (now 620); Aoi's MP increased by 240 (now 1610) and her MPower increased by 115 (now 455); and Yunia's MP increased by 160 (now 1250) and her MPower increased by 90 (now 630).
Aoi's magic got a surprising increase of 20 MP and 10 MPower just from yesterday, which is unusual since it only rises so much in one go when she does mana circulation training for a whole day. Not even eating a lot of monster corpses should do that, so this growth either came from the orb she ate or the divine power we all got irradiated with, but she's the only one whose magic grew so much.
Roxanne is visibly excited at this prospect while Ciel is internally excited. Maybe I should push their tentacle fetish a bit further since they always become really excited when wriggly things are involved.
Here are our updated "Stats":
Wolf Ryder Skill Report
Physical
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Sword Use 15+15 Spear Use 17+3 Polearm Use 15+5 Dodge 12+8 Parry 9+6 Block 7+8 Shield Bash 4+1 Battlefield Perception 8+2 Muscle Explosion 4+1 Acrobatics 13+2 Ekrano Style (creator) 5
Magical
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Sense Mana 0+6 Mana Control 3+17 Mana Recovery 10+0 Mana Efficiency 13+7 Reduced Mana Cost 13+7 Mana Overuse Resistance 6+4 Blackout Resistance 0+1 Fire Magic 1+4 Earth Magic 6+4 Water Magic 4+1 Wind Magic 1+4 Electric Magic 6+14 Light Magic 2+13 Space Magic 7+23 Summoning Magic 6+34 Blessing Magic 27+23 Nature Magic 2+18 Conjuring Magic 1+4 Spirit Magic 0+3 Illusion Magic 0+2 Golemancy 0+12 Redirect Mana (creator) 7 Sense Soul (creator) 6 Soul Manipulation (creator) 10 Godly Language 30+5 Dragon Transformation (innate) 7 Equipment System 5+5
Miscellaneous
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Dancing 0+1 Cooking 0+4 Andraste Language 4+6 Dismantling 0+4 Piloting 0+3 Massage 0+4 Spicy Charm 0+1 Oral Technique 0+1 Mana Body (innate) 6
Info
Name Wolf Ryder Age 17 Race Weredragon HP 100 MP 2000 Magic Power 860 Level 60
Stats
Strength 15 Endurance 17 Dexterity 12 Speed 15 Intelligence 22 Wisdom 20 Willpower 19 Charisma 17 Piety 17 Perception 18 Sanity 15+4
Other
Status Effects 'NONE' Titles 'Nickname "Good Luck", Blessed by the Goddess of Knowledge, Golemancer, Scholar of Rabanara, True Noble, Lord of Escanso, Crown Lord of the Western High Forest, Shapeshifter, Protector of the Last Crown' Affiliations 'Helios (Fellowship), Alissa Ryder (Wife), Hanafuria Ryder (Wife), Roxanne Ryder (Wife), Lina Ryder (Wife), Ciel Ryder (Wife), Aoi Ryder (Wife), Yulania Ryder (Wife), Servant Blood Slaves' Companions 'Alissa Ryder, Roxanne Ryder, Hanafuria Ryder, Ciel Ryder, Lina Ryder, Aoi Ryder, Yulania Ryder' Crimes 'NONE'
Alissa Ryder Skill Report
Physical
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Sword Use 9 Bow Use 41 Parry 6+4 Dodge 2+8 Sense Presence 12 Hide Presence 2+8 Enhanced Olfact 5 Enhanced Hearing 5 Hawk Eyes 6 Muscle Explosion 5 Quiet Steps 5 Quiet Action 4 Enhanced Stamina 1+4 Enhanced Reflexes 2+8 Tracking 3
Magical
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Sense Mana 1 Mana Control 8 Reduced Mana Cost 10+0 Mana Efficiency 10+0 Fire Magic 1 Earth Magic 5+0 Water Magic 1 Wind Magic 1 Light Magic 1 Space Magic 1 Conjuring Magic 1 Illusion Magic 1+17 Fox Transformation (innate) 8 Equipment System 6+4
Miscellaneous
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Housework 3 Cooking 4 Cleaning 2 Washing 5 Riding 2 Oral Technique 4 Pain Resistance 2 Hand Technique 2
Info
Name Alissa Ryder Age 17 Race Fox-type Wereanimal HP 100 MP 1320 Magic Power 655 Level 60
Stats
Strength 13 Endurance 19 Dexterity 24 Speed 20 Intelligence 14 Wisdom 16 Willpower 17 Charisma 17 Piety 18 Perception 19 Sanity 20
Other
Status Effects 'NONE' Titles 'Blessed by the Goddess of Love, Blinding Arrows, True Noble, Lord of Escanso, Crown Lord of the Western High Forest, Protect of the Last Crown' Affiliations 'Wolf Ryder (Husband), Helios (Fellowship)' Companions 'Wolf Ryder, Roxanne Ryder, Hanafuria Ryder, Ciel Ryder, Lina Ryder, Aoi Ryder, Yulania Ryder' Crimes 'NONE'
Roxanne Ryder Skill Report
Physical
Skill Name Level Dagger Use 2
Magical
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Sense Mana 1+3 Mana Control 7+33 Reduced Mana Cost 20+5 Mana Efficiency 10+10 Mana Overuse Resistance 4+1 Fire Magic 8+32 Earth Magic 1+0 Water Magic 6+34 Light Magic 1 Space Magic 1+12 Conjuring Magic 5 Alteration Magic 2 Alchemy 11 Potion Brewing 12 Poison Brewing 2 Redirect Mana 2 Equipment System 4+6
Miscellaneous
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Housework 1 Cooking 1 Cleaning 1 Washing 1 Riding 1
Info
Name Roxanne Ryder Age 22 Race Succubus-Type Demon Race HP 100 MP 3215 Magic Power 1440 Level 60
Stats
Strength 10 Endurance 12 Dexterity 12 Speed 9 Intelligence 18 Wisdom 21 Willpower 17 Charisma 17 Piety 11 Perception 12 Sanity 17
Other
Status Effects 'NONE' Titles 'Master of Poisons and Venoms, Scholar of Xane, True Noble, Lord of Escanso, Crown Lord of the Western High Forest, Protect of the Last Crown' Affiliations 'Wolf Ryder (Husband), Hanafuria Ryder (Wife), Helios (Fellowship)' Companions 'Wolf Ryder, Alissa Ryder, Hanafuria Ryder, Ciel Ryder, Lina Ryder, Aoi Ryder, Yulania Ryder' Crimes 'NONE'
Hanafuria Ryder Skill Report
Physical
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Sword Use 31 Spear Use 18 Bow Use 10 Two-Handed Sword Use 10 Polearm Use 7 Dagger Use 4 Shield Bash 2+7 Block 15 Parry 10 Dodge 12 Tatesomu Style 10 Muscle Explosion 8 Battlefield Perception 10 Taunt 3 Intimidate 3
Magical
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Sense Mana 1 Mana Control 2+8 Reduced Mana Cost 10+0 Mana Efficiency 2 Fire Magic 1 Earth Magic 1 Water Magic 1+0 Wind Magic 1+0 Electric Magic 1 Light Magic 1 Space Magic 1 Conjuring Magic 1 Illusion Magic 5 Equipment System 6+4
Miscellaneous
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Housework 2 Cooking 1 Cleaning 1 Washing 1 Riding 3 Massage 1 Pain Conversion 1 Dismantling 4 Oral Technique 1 Fire Breath (innate) 5 Summon Wings (innate) 10 Draconic Body (creator) 8
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Info
Name Hanafuria Ryder Age 24 Race Fire-Type Dragonkin HP 150 MP 1050 Magic Power 515 Level 61
Stats
Strength 19 Endurance 27 Dexterity 11 Speed 16 Intelligence 12 Wisdom 16 Willpower 22 Charisma 18 Piety 12 Perception 10 Sanity 18
Other
Status Effects 'NONE' Titles 'One Thousand Strikes, True Noble, Lord of Escanso, Crown Lord of the Western High Forest, Protect of the Last Crown' Affiliations 'Wolf Ryder (Husband), Roxanne Ryder (Wife), 'Helios (Fellowship)' Companions 'Wolf Ryder, Alissa Ryder, Roxanne Ryder, Ciel Ryder, Lina Ryder, Aoi Ryder, Yulania Ryder' Crimes 'NONE'
Ciel Ryder Skill Report
Physical
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Glaive Use 0+30 Sword Use 5+5 Parry 3+12 Dodge 2+13 Block 8+7 Imperial Hasterrum Style 0+3 Tiretiera Maire Style 1+1 Muscle Explosion 2 Battlefield Perception 1
Magical
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Sense Mana 2 Mana Control 4+6 Reduced Mana Cost 8+2 Mana Efficiency 6+4 Wind Magic 14+26 Fire Magic 1 Light Magic 7+33 Space Magic 3 Conjuring Magic 1 Diagnosis 7 Redirect Mana 2 Equipment System 5+5
Miscellaneous
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level First-Aid 3 Housework 3 Cooking 2 Cleaning 2 Washing 1 Riding 1
Info
Name Ciel Ryder Age 22 Race Human HP 100 MP 1500 Magic Power 895 Level 60
Stats
Strength 14 Endurance 15 Dexterity 17 Speed 18 Intelligence 16 Wisdom 22 Willpower 16 Charisma 19 Piety 27 Perception 13 Sanity 23
Other
Status Effects 'NONE' Titles 'Star of Hope, Blessed by the God of the Sun, True Noble, Lord of Escanso, Crown Lord of the Western High Forest, Protect of the Last Crown' Affiliations 'Wolf Ryder (Husband), Lina Ryder (Wife), Helios (Fellowship), Templar Knights (Honorary Member), Temple Priestess (Former Member)' Companions 'Wolf Ryder, Alissa Ryder, Roxanne Ryder, Hanafuria Ryder, Lina Ryder, Aoi Ryder, Yulania Ryder' Crimes 'NONE'
Lina Ryder Skill Report
Physical
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Hammer Use 4+26 Axe Use 4+16 Throw 3+7 Parry 10 Dodge 4+6 Block 1+14 Muscle Explosion 2 Shield Bash 4+1 Battlefield Perception 2 Dwarven Pride Style 1+4 Enhanced Speed 4+1
Magical
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Sense Mana 1 Mana Control 2+8 Reduced Mana Cost 7+0 Mana Efficiency 3+1 Fire Magic 1 Earth Magic 10 Water Magic 1 Wind Magic 1+0 Light Magic 1 Cursing Magic 11+9 Space Magic 1 Conjuring Magic 1 General Enchanting 7+13 Magic Tool Carving 2+8 Equipment System 6+4
Miscellaneous
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level General Blacksmithing 5 Sewing 4 Housework 1 Cleaning 2 Washing 1 Math 5 Riding 1 Stonebody (innate) 9
Info
Name Lina Ryder Age 16 Race Dwarf HP 100 MP 1425 Magic Power 620 Level 60
Stats
Strength 8 Endurance 8 Dexterity 13 Speed 12 Intelligence 16 Wisdom 15 Willpower 18 Charisma 13 Piety 13 Perception 14 Sanity 17
Other
Status Effects 'NONE' Titles 'True Noble, Lord of Escanso, Crown Lord of the Western High Forest, Protect of the Last Crown' Affiliations 'Wolf Ryder (Husband), Ciel Ryder (Wife), 'Helios (Fellowship)' Companions 'Wolf Ryder, Alissa Ryder, Roxanne Ryder, Hanafuria Ryder, Ciel Ryder, Aoi Ryder, Yulania Ryder' Crimes 'NONE'
Info
Name Aoi Ryder Age 2 Race Azurite Dragon HP 200 MP 1610 Magic Power 455 Level 45
Stats
Strength 18 Endurance 23 Dexterity 8 Speed 14 Intelligence 11 Wisdom 11 Willpower 19 Charisma 13 Piety 8 Perception 11 Sanity 20
Other
Status Effects 'NONE' Titles 'True Noble, Lord of Escanso, Crown Lord of the Western High Forest, Protector of the Last Crown' Affiliations 'Wolf Ryder (Husband), Helios (Fellowship)' Companions 'Wolf Ryder, Alissa Ryder, Roxanne Ryder, Hanafuria Ryder, Ciel Ryder, Lina Ryder, Yulania Ryder' Crimes 'NONE'
Yulania Ryder Skill Report
Physical
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Sword Use 3+12 Two-Handed Sword Use 2+18 Parry 12 Dodge 3+11 Silent Shadow Style 5 Battlefield Perception 8 Enhanced Reflexes 6 Sense Presence 2 Hide Presence 4 Muscle Explosion 5 Quiet Steps 2 Quiet Action 6 Enhanced Stamina 3
Magical
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Sense Mana 7 Mana Control 1+4 Mana Recovery 2 Mana Efficiency 2+8 Reduced Mana Cost 1+4 Fire Magic 1 Earth Magic 2+3 Water Magic 1+0 Wind Magic 1+0 Electric Magic 1+0 Light Magic 5 Spirit Magic 4+21 Illusion Magic 10 Space Magic 6 Nature Magic 10 Conjuring Magic 1 Weaverism 30 Redirect Mana 1+0 Equipment System 5+5
Miscellaneous
Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Skill Name Level Riding 5 Acting 3 Dancing 2
Info
Name Yulania Ryder Age 18 Race Golden Elf HP 100 MP 1250 Magic Power 630 Level 62
Stats
Strength 13 Endurance 16 Dexterity 19 Speed 17 Intelligence 16 Wisdom 19 Willpower 16 Charisma 22 Piety 14 Perception 21 Sanity 18
Other
Status Effects 'NONE' Titles 'True Noble, Lord of Escanso, Crown Lord of the Western High Forest, Protect of the Last Crown' Affiliations 'Wolf Ryder (Husband), 'Helios (Fellowship)' Companions 'Wolf Ryder, Alissa, Hanafuria, Roxanne Succubus, Ciel, Lina, Aoi' Crimes 'NONE'
The barbecue aroma isn't as strong as it is back home, so we can't smell it from within the embassy, but I summon a bird and tell it to look for an effigy. With sense sharing, everyone can have a nice, stimulating morning as we enjoy the wonders of meat roasting.
Lolo looks under the table, then quickly straightens up, her face stiff in confusion. "Is she…?" She mumbles quietly, dreading the answer.
"Yes, she's milking me. That's her breakfast," I casually answer.
"M-milk-…!"
I give Hukarere a big one, and she hums in satisfaction while caressing herself. The vibration of her throat is quite pleasant, so I give her another as a bonus.
Alissa gives the newest c-m sl-t a sweet smile as she explains, "That's exactly what I taught you to do. If you keep going down this path and join the Companions, you could potentially earn yourself a regular milking position that most Companions would die for."
Hukarere crawls back up to her seat and spits some of her reward into her cup of alcohol to savor it more slowly.
Lolo breathes in deeply, then slowly nods and decides to ignore our eccentricities, resigning herself to the future she has chosen.
Today, the girls would like to study the orbs and test whether they really are the cause of Aoi's magic boost, but Ciel reminds me of some important business that I shouldn't put off any longer.
"You should visit the Oracle, Wolfy," she kindly advises.
Right. Maybe the Oracle can tell us something new about my Gift or that "curse" that doesn't let me sleep without Alissa.
"Can you come with me?" I innocently request. She did a good job calming down Lolo yesterday, so I want to reward her with some private time.
Ciel blushes softly and coyly wonders out loud, "Well… there's no reason for me to say no to that, right…?" Then she glances at Lina, and her gloomy wife gives an approving nod.
I glue myself to Ciel's side and land a hand on her juicyass.
She sighs anxiously as she starts to consider whether or not she should stop me, then I suddenly nom a mouthful of exposed side-pillow, and she gives me a playful slap.
"You're a priestess of Love. It's fine to flaunt your allure just a bit," I assure her, and she relents. Considering how aggressive Roxanne's, Hana's, and Yunia's attires usually are, Ciel is definitely the more conservative one out of all of us, though she ties with Lina sometimes.
We take a comfy ride on the Hyperloop towards the temple, and since the Companions are escorting us, I give in to the temptation and use my mouth on Ciel's huge pair.
"You're going to make me excited…" She whines with a pout, the perfect expression for her juicy lips.
I just squeeze her chocolate milkers and grin while my tongue plays with a dark bit.
The ride is short, so she isn't left too frustrated when we disembark from the monorail.
Our presence at the temple causes a bit of a commotion, even though I've hidden my shiny draconic characteristics with a cloak, and Daddy Xander comes to receive us.
"Your Highness Wolf Ryder, what a pleasure to see you again!" He excitedly exclaims and almost crushes my large draconic hands during our handshake.
I'm a bit weirded out by his enthusiasm. "I'm a rather reserved person, so I'd appreciate it if you considered my visit today a private affair," I politely request.
"We wish to meet with the Oracle," Ciel quietly adds.
"Ah…" Daddy hums in understanding and clamps down on his excitement. "She's with the Seekers, but she doesn't have a lot of duties, so she should be able to receive you after a short wait."
Ciel suddenly becomes quite excited, "That's great, but I have to confess that I don't know how we'd actually go about seeing her."
And he kindly guides, "Well, you can ask for a meeting at the Templar HQ. The Oracle would be eager to meet with someone so obviously Gifted."
"Is it really that 'obvious'?" I grumble with a frown.
Daddy amusedly replies, "Pretty much. The way you hide your powers is a clear warning flag."
And I groan internally. There's no escape; there's always someone cunning enough to see right through me.
Then he politely adds, "But I won't hold you here any further. I know you must be eager to talk to her."
The Seekers of Truth is a Templar order that safeguards the secrets of their lie-detecting method under lock, key, and a few meters of solid steel.
We enter the Templar HQ, and the attendant takes us down into a bunker of solid metal, then we cross through a couple of heavily defended gates before we're taken to a private waiting room. The high security makes us anxious, but I guess it's understandable considering how "mysterious" this Oracle is.
After a mere ten minutes of waiting, we're called in.
How expedient!
"Maybe she was just bored," Roxanne jokes inside my mind.
We walk down a corridor, then we cross through a heavy metal door into a dimly lit but comfy-looking carpeted room. The sparkly glint of emellanat covering every wall catches my attention, and I notice a number of symbols painted in white that remind me of occult stuff. Runes, hieroglyphs, and odd geometrical shapes. There seems to be some sort of pattern to the symbology, but it's too obtuse for us to gain any insight into it, so I just ignore it all.
At the other end of the room, there's a thick glass wall glowing with enchantments, just like the one we have back at our Lord's Hall. And behind it is a petite, masked, imperial woman with her hair tied in a bun. She's just casually lounging on comfortable cushions while snacking on some chocolate and tea.
Her white mask has a cute dog face with its tongue out drawn on it, and her attire is simple but fine-looking robes that seem a bit too loose, instantly awakening the spicy predator within me. That lightly tanned imperial skin is just begging to be painted white while her well-manicured toes are worthy of a chef's kiss.
As we approach, I try to use [Sense Soul] on her, but nothing happens. It seems that the glass wall is blocking it, somehow.
We sit down on the nice pile of cushions in front of the glass, and Ciel hungrily eyes the chocolate snacks on the Oracle's tea table.
"You just had breakfast!" I exasperatedly exclaim through [Bind].
"I uh… just want a taste," she guiltily lies.
"Royal Crown Lords Wolf Ryder and Ciel Ryder. I'm the Oracle," the young woman stoically greets. Her voice is quite soft and pleasing to the ear, and I even sense a hint of high "Charisma."
"Well met," I reply in kind.
Ciel smiles brightly like an angel and nods, "Indeed. It's an honor to finally meet with the famous Oracle."
"Hm…" The woman hums thoughtfully, then she leans forward, seemingly "staring" at me even though her mask doesn't have eye slits. "What are you…?"
"I'm sorry…?" I confusedly reply, my eyebrows a single line of concern.
She grabs her chin and hesitantly continues, "I'm sorry if that sounded offensive, but I have no idea what I'm looking at."
And my concern immediately doubles. "W-what do you mean?"
She shrugs. "That's the problem… I don't know what I'm looking at, but that's not all." -She turns to Ciel- "What have you done to this poor woman, Royal Crown Lord Wolf Ryder?"
"Just Wolf is fine…" I meekly whisper.
"I'm completely fine!" Ciel exclaims, exasperated.
The Oracle calmly nods and continues, "Physically? Yes, but under that…? I'm slightly horrified."
Ciel's mind immediately goes to the gutter, but I have a few hunches about what she's describing.
I stiffly question, "What do you mean…? Do you see some sort of connection between us?"
The Oracle turns back to me and tilts her head in confusion, just like a cute puppy. "'Connection'?"
"I… I obviously have a Gift; doesn't that explain what you're seeing?"
"No. Maybe. I don't know. Every person is different, but both of you are just…" -she shrugs- ''wow,' though you are a lot worse than she is."
Right, I think Gecynd had a similar reaction, but she said that only my soul was borked, not the girls'.
Ciel blinks blankly in disbelief and slowly asks, "Should we be concerned…?"
The Oracle sighs and scratches her head as she thinks. "No… I think… maybe… I don't know. You're the weirdest pair I've seen in my entire life." Then she chuckles softly.
Gecynd once used a specific phrase to describe my Thread, so I try to recall it, "How about… a sea, a stormy sea? Do you see something like that within me?"
Suddenly, the Oracle jumps forward and slams both of her fists against the glass wall. "Who told you that?!" She shouts, irate, making Ciel jump in surprise and wrap her arms around my chest.
"Uhh~…" I hum, a bit distracted by the fleshy masses wrapping around my side.
The Oracle slams her right fist against the glass again to grab my attention. "Answer me! Who told you that?! If you don't tell me, I'll force it out of you through the Seekers!"
It's incredibly jarring how her calm mood has suddenly flipped a complete 180º, but she's really not threatening; it's just the content of her words that worry me.
"Gecynd, the Tree of Mana," I begrudgingly confess.
Her arms fall limp beside her as the anger is instantly snuffed out like a candle. "Oh… well, shit. I'm sorry, I guess it makes sense that she'd be interested in you," she awkwardly admits, then slowly scooches back onto her cushions.
Gods, this woman…
"Why were you so angry?" I stiffly ask, starting to get annoyed.
"That's a secret, I'm sorry," she immediately replies with a flat tone.
I sigh and facepalm while Ciel slowly detaches from me. This is really not how either of us expected things to go.
I shake my head and focus on what's important, "Well. I wanted to learn more about my Gift. Do you have any insight into it that you can share?"
The Oracle "stares" at me again while rubbing her chin thoughtfully, then she wryly answers after a moment, "All I can say is that you're cursed, boy. Did you cheat on or abandon someone…?"
That instantly grabs the attention of all of the girls, even Gify.
I frown concernedly again and hesitantly reply, "Maybe…? It wasn't my fault that we got separated, tho."
Did Lily damn curse me?
"Do you have trouble sleeping? Like, constant nightmares?" The Oracle calmly asks like a physician.
I eagerly answer, "No. I used to. In fact, if I sleep without Alissa, they come back."
But the Oracle just casually hums, "Huh…"
That's not a very reassuring response!
I facepalm again, and Ciel consoles me by gently rubbing my back.
But then the woman concernedly continues, "I don't know if the Goddess of Love likes you or hates you. Maybe both, or maybe someone really wanted you to meet that second woman…"
Wait, what?
"Wait, what?!" I repeat out loud.
She raises her hands and leans back, motioning for restraint. "I wouldn't assume that the Gods are playing with your Fate, but you're either very unlucky or very lucky. Maybe both…?"
I chuckle bitterly. "Yeah, that fits. That's my entire life."
"You're way too young to have gone through all of this, tho."
I just laugh again.
"Do you know how to remove the curse?" Ciel kindly asks.
"It should go away with time as the wounded heart of the abandoned woman heals."
But Lily isn't the kind of person who could be so hateful to the point that she'd curse me.
"Or, if you're a good husband, you can pray to the Goddess of Love for help."
"I think Alissa's Blessing is the 'help' that she gave us," I quietly reply, feeling downcast.
The Oracle nods thoughtfully, then scooches closer to the glass and tenderly apologizes, "Well, I'm sorry for not being able to help more. It's just that people are normally like open books while you two are like a pile of… random things, completely unreadable for me right now."
"Maybe if we came here regularly, you could learn something about us?" Ciel hopefully wonders.
The Oracle responds positively, "Oh, definitely. I'd love to study the two of you and all of your other wives, but I don't think you'll be staying here for long, correct?"
"Yeah, we'll have to return home eventually, and we're kind of busy people," I dejectedly explain.
She kindly comforts me, "That's unfortunate, but we're all young, so we might one day have time for it."
"Indeed," Ciel agrees wholeheartedly.
There's nothing more that the Oracle can do for us today, so we leave.
Intermission – Emperor Andreas Doxa
"How was he?" I ask my adorable little Oracle.
She jumps onto my lap and snuggles up to me as she meekly recalls, "An abomination. Definitely Gifted, but I'd never seen anything like that before. His Thread and soul were so messy and intertwined with… everything that it actually looked frightening; but even worse, it's affecting his wife, too."
I pat her head to calm her down, and she closes her eyes in bliss. "Is he like the others?"
"Yes, his Thread is too short; he's a Realm Traveler."
Intermission end.