Chapter 38
She was fuming.
Gaia's green hair was turning red in anger, her hands clenched on to her staff but the wood was stressing under her grasp. "What… is the meaning of this?!" she demanded. "They are abusing my legions, they are harassing the new demi and now they have assaulted him!"
Just as angry at the events was Death. In fact the cup of tea he was holding had erupted into black fire! He was brooding at his own table, making everyone around avoid him rather quickly. Gaia however turned and saw his reaction. "That demi, it's your new Shadow King isn't it?" she asked.
He wanted to keep it a secret so none of the gods would try to use their own demis to harass him, but even without their interference it appears to occur naturally. "Yes," he said. "He is the new Shadow King…" he said without a smile. "I am very proud of how he has kept himself calm, if he wasn't in the condition he was in, your demis would have been put through the walls by now!"
"Wait, he's not that strong!" laughed the god of wind.
There came a glare in Death's eyes. "He is a demi god… just confirmed a few years ago. You want to take that chance?" he demanded.
"But why is he fat?" asked Neptune, god of the sea.
Death smiled for but a moment. "He's pregnant," he said rather proudly. "He carries his children and spouse to ensure that his children are given equal food and power."
"Wait… CHILDREN?!" the room demanded.
"Damn it," some muttered as Saitama went around the room and collected money from them.
"Death, this is why…"
He nodded. "He was starving, unable to obtain enough food to sustain him and his family, he has to feed all of them. It wasn't easy to say the least."
"How many souls did he consume to obtain a family that big?!" Gaia asked.
Death paused as he took a small sip of his tea when the fire went out. "He consumed a dragon,"
The room went silent, eerily silent.
Gaia herself couldn't believe her ears by the looks of it. "A dragon?"
"A recently turned shadow, offered himself to allow the Shadow King to have children. He didn't anticipate on having so many at once. But, here we are. He has done everything to ensure the soul is honored and his children are tended to. No easy task for someone so young."
She nodded in agreement as a small ball of light appeared.
It was the fairy Bad saved.
"Great Gaia, I humbly request…"
"Go ahead," she said with a dignified nod. "You are looking after this demi god are you not?" She asked as her hand pointed to the crystal ball. It continued to show Bad and he was trying to clean himself up.
She nodded. "He has been very kind…"
"I have seen it as well. I leave this in your hands, you have my permission to use whatever is needed for his comfort."
The fairy was stunned but smiled with joy. "Thank you master!" and vanished once more.
"I wish to see how he acts after he is given such treatment. Will he come to expect it from that moment on or will he remain the same?" Gaia asked aloud.
"Bad, despite his appearance and rough exterior, is a gracious guest." Said Pig God. "I personally vouch for him,"
Gaia nodded. "I wish to see it with my own eyes."
#
Bad sight aloud.
The kitchen staff had gotten him hot towels to try and clean the syrup off his body, but there was so much of it and he couldn't do it alone. It was embarrassing for him to ask for help to get cleaned up. "Guys, I hate to ask, is there someone that can help get this off of me? I can't reach…" he said with a blush to his face.
One fairy snapped her fingers, a light wind washed over his body as he felt the stickiness suddenly vanish! He still wanted to bathe though. "Thank you for that… uh… is there a bathroom? I'll shower there."
They appeared nervous. "I am sorry, but you won't fit." One of the ogres said.
"Thanks for the honesty… where…" suddenly his guide appeared, she snapped her fingers and Bad felt as is his body dropped through the floor! Yet, he no longer stood in a room, but a forest like setting! "Whoa… why am I naked?"
"We are going to clean your clothing as you relax!" his guide said. "There's a hot spring up ahead…"
"Oh… uh, this is going to sound weird but… is there a place to wash up before the bath? Tradition in me, you clean up before entering something like that, keeps the water cleaner."
She was stunned once more.
The fairy left and came back with a ball of water. From there, she used it to clean him up and gave him a quick shower. "Better!" he said.
"I'm going to make new sleeping arrangements for you now. Follow the path to the spring and rest there for a little while."
"Okay, thanks again!" when she vanished Bad shuttered. "Why the hell am I still naked?" he muttered.
'Nice, you going skinny dipping?'
'Shut up!'
Bad cautiously made his way forward, not too far was a hot spring waiting for him. "Huh… is this safe to use in my condition?"
'Bad?'
He was stunned. 'Death?'
'Oh thank goodness you can hear me, yes the hot spring is of use to you, it won't harm you or the family. In fact this is a revitalizing spring! Take your time and enjoy, also… I am SO PROUD of you!'
'Uh… thanks… wait… can you see me naked now?!'
There was no answer. Bad decided to slip in before he felt like there would be more eyes on him! The water in the springs was hot but not too hot. The bubbles forming massaged his body, so much so even Garou could feel them! 'This is nice!' Garou purred. 'Where the hell are you?'
'No idea, don't really care'
The tension he carried melted away. Bad closed his eyes as he savored the warmth of the hot springs. It was just like the bathhouses back home, but this felt far more refreshing. But he heard something lingering behind him. He was about to open his eyes and turn when a voice said. "Please don't look upon us."
It was a gentle request, Bad nodded as he closed his eyes once more. Then he felt a blindfold come over him. "Huh?"
"Please do not remove the blindfold. We do not trust men here, they tend to get… grabby," the voice said gently.
Bad snickered. "No problem."
There was a pause. "You… aren't going to fight us on this?" came another voice, just as soft but a little more aggressive.
"No, you asked nicely enough, I respect your wishes. Besides, someone took my clothing and this probably wasn't the best thing for you to walk into am I right?" he said with a laugh. "Nah, do what you need to do to set your minds at ease. I ain't that type either just so you know."
There came silence. "Why wouldn't you want to look upon us? We are nymphs, desired by men of both myth and legend!"
Bad sighed aloud. "Let me save you the hassle, committed relationship, and I really hate to admit this. I am pregnant."
Suddenly the blindfold was taken odd of him. "If what you say is true, then open your eyes!"
He opened his eyes. Bad was stunned to see four lovely young ladies before him, they looked identical but oddly enough, the color of their skin was strange. One was completely red, another blue, then yellow and orange! They wore little clothing but it blended in with their skin tone.
They then squealed with delight. "It's true! Isn't it? Our master said you were the new Shadow King and he is with child!"
"Children…" Bad muttered in an embarrassing tone.
They froze. "Children? You mean… but demis can't…"
"Well aware, trust me…" Bad said with discontent. "Look, sorry about the hassle and all, I intruded on your oasis…"
"Think nothing of it! But, how did you manage to have children… and so many… how many are you going to have?" the one in red asked.
"Five," he said. "Lessoned learned, don't eat a dragon…"
Their jaws hung open. "A dragon… that's impossible! Only a dragon can consume a dragon!"
"Yeah well, I didn't eat A dragon… just a dragon's soul…"
Their look didn't vanish. "That's still impossible!" said the one in orange.
"We should know, only dragons can consume another dragon, it is why they eat their dead to ensure the body is properly taken care of and no one exploits the corpse!" said the blue woman.
"Yeah, well, long story on that… mind if we just drop it for now?"
They nodded, the women then began to go right to work, the spring suddenly warmed up, the bubbles intensified as food and drinks were offered to Bad. He was stunned to how kind they were despite the fact he intruded in their land. But he got to sit and relax like never before.
'What's going on out there? How did you find a hot spring?' asked Garou.
'We got taken here, it's nice isn't it?'
'Not bad, the food is nice, but it's getting close to lunch time… we need something more.'
'Yeah, yeah' Bad thought.
He stretched himself out. "Ladies, thank you for your hospitality, but I need to go. I am getting hungry for lunch and I need to eat…"
"Of course you do, you have a growing family to tend to!" said the blue woman.
As Bad stood out of the hot spring, he was instantly dried and them suddenly clothing! "Thank you!" he called, but then paused. "Oh wait… please have this…" he reached into his item box and gave them a full bottle of the nectar. They were stunned by his offer. "You took great care of me, I may come back for another bath with your permission of course."
They whole heartedly agreed. Bad wondered off for a moment until he realized something. "Uh… how do I get back?"
#
He was able to return thanks to the nymphs, Bad was transported back into the dining hall. Just as the other demi gods came in. They paused at the sight of him, however Brutus appeared confused. "Where did you get that toga?!" he demanded.
Bad peered down at it, it didn't appear any different than the one he got before, but he will admit it was a lot softer and comfier than the last one. "Dunno, given to me after my bath,"
Brutus smirked. "So you were able to fit after all!"
"So it seems," Bad muttered back. "You know, for being demi gods, you guys suck!" Bad announced. "You got terrible attitudes to say the least, hell I thought I worked with a bunch of assholes, but you… oh man, you guys take the cake!"
They froze to his comment. "What did you just say?!"
Bad smirked, he was about to speak until the chef called. "Lunch is served" and broke the tension of the room. Everyone went to their respective tables as Bad's meal arrived. The table erupted in a bright white fire, then filled with food. There was a massive salad as the main event, in a light cream dressing and cuts of steak on top. "Oh man, I was craving one of these!" he announced.
"What is with this food? This is pathetic and unbefitting of demi gods!" Brutus announced.
The chef however came out, as Brutus began to yell at him, the chef said calmly. "If you have issue with the food, take it up with the master. This was her request and what she wished to serve. She has implemented a new rule as well, if you do not wish to eat what is before you, so be it and wait until the next meal. If you do not come when the food is ready and it goes cold by the time you eat, endure it. No fresh dishes will be provided to you."
They froze from the decree. Bad however nodded in agreement. "That's fair," he said aloud. He cleared his table and asked for seconds on the massive salad. "Oh and some fruit as well please, whatever you have,"
The Chef smiled and he obliged.
After Bad took his fill he was gratified with the meal. "I need a nap…" he muttered.
Brutus smirked. "Well, enjoy your pig pen PIG!"
However his fairy guide appeared. "Young demi, we have made new sleeping arrangements for you, if you wish to rest, please follow me."
"Wait, you are changing his accommodations? That's not fair to us!" said Deira.
She turned and glared at the demi goddess. "YOU all ruined his sleeping chambers, you made it PERFECTLY clear you don't want him here, so we are removing him from the room!"
"He better not have a better arrangement than us!" Brutus warned.
"He's in the supply closet across the hall, I'll even show you!" She led the way, all the demis followed her out, as did Bad. When she revealed the supply room, she opened up the doors and showed them the silk tent that was the same as before. "See!" she protested.
Brutus nodded his approval but smirked. "I wouldn't keep him here, he'll eat everything!"
They all got their shots in, Bad was left alone with his guide who appeared nervous. "Is… is this okay?" she asked gently.
Bad smiled. "If I am away from those assholes, all the better. I appreciate you doing this for me." Bad walked into the room, he went through the tent, however the tent wasn't the same as before.
He walked into a lavishing bed room!
"Whoa…" he whispered.
The room itself was a brilliant, shimmering white color. He dared to think it was even silver in his mind. There was a massive bed that was just as big as his in the shadow realm. "Whoa ho! Look at this thing! That's calling my name!"
His fairy guide smiled. "I am glad you like it. If you wish, do you want me to wake you for dinner?" she asked gently.
"Sure, I got an alarm clock already but a back up reminder would be great. Thank you…"
"Elle, you can call me Elle" she said and smiled.
"Elle… okay, thank you very much. Now, it's nap time!" Bad said with glee.
Between his meals and the hot bath, he has been relaxed and now he wants to nap off his lunch until dinner. "I got to remember to come here again when Death gets invited!"
#
He would be woken up a few hours later by Garou.
'Dinner! We want dinner!' he chimed in cheerfully.
"God, I get it, just shut up already and quick jostling about!" Bad scolded, well, it wasn't just him either. The kids have picked up on the habit too. They would move and squirm about oddly, perhaps indicating they were hungry and wanted food NOW. Bad got the hint as he struggled to sit up!
He was able to use the momentum in his favor, he barely got himself up but was winded from it all. "You kids and Garou better appreciate the shit I put up with…" Bad said in a warning tone.
He eased his way out the door, which took him through the silk tent and out into the hall. He arrived in the dinning room just as dinner was called, and the spread appeared amazing.
He would take his fill as always but noticed the food somehow got better. "It's more succulent than before… even the technique of the display…" he muttered.
'You a connoisseur now?' Garou said. 'Enough chat, get that in here!'
Bad snickered as he cleared his table once more, he took another course before declaring he was full. His stomach mumbled from the feast, he picked his teeth and sighed. "That… was awesome"
Elle reappeared before him. "I will pass your compliments to the chef," she said. "Would you like anything else?"
He requested some water, nothing more. Besides, he was going back to bed shortly. "I hope everyone at home is doing okay…" Bad thought aloud.
