Chapter 18 - The Rule Of Three

During the early evening hours, Eina arrived at the Hearth Mansion with Lily and Mikoto in tow. She asked them a few days earlier to help her move some stuff. Then hired a horse drawn taxi to carry them all from her old guild apartment to their new home.

"Bell, I missed you! How did things go with Ryū? Did everything go okay?"

Eina asked without pause after he opened the front door to let them in, much to Hestia's annoyance. The elf glomped him at first sight, but Bell kissed her until she calmed down.

When they came up for air, she suddenly remembered where they were and had the nerve to look sheepish.

"Sorry." She said before untangling away from Bell, with only a hand holding onto to his as she turned towards Hestia and gave her a respectful bow. "Thank you for agreeing to let me stay here Hestia-Sama."

"You're welcome but remember our rules!"

"Of course, I'll remember the rules we agreed to." Apparently, Eina had not forgotten how she got his goddess to tone down her crazy strict rules.

Mikoto and Lily then arrived with a few of his advisor's belongings. "Thanks, I really appreciate you two for helping me like this."

"No problem, Lili just wants to make sure that Bell-sama doesn't do anything perverted with a woman's clothing!" Mikoto decided to say nothing.

"I don't have to when I have Eina." Bell retorted.

"La-la-la-lah, Lili cannot hear you. Lili cannot hear you!" She continued until the door shut behind her as Eina led them towards their new bedroom.

"Bell." Now it was his goddess's turn to focus on him again. "No more women in this household okay? I don't want to have you chasing after them all and turning into a delinquent!"

Somehow, he didn't think that was going to happen. Except, maybe, with Syr, but he didn't want to bet on it.

"Do you know about Syr?"

"Another?!" Clearly not.

"Relax, Hestia-sama. Nothing's happened."

"Yet…" She did not look convinced or impressed. This did not sound like a conversation he wanted to have again. His women were his problem to deal with and they weren't in any other familia. Except Ais, then Mikoto.

Bell left the room quietly to give himself space to think about the two other girls who weren't a part of his harem yet.

This would prove to be a bit trickier than Bell expected. He was fairly certain that the beautiful blond swordswoman liked him but was definitely an airhead. Trying to see her would draw too much suspicion, plus he could feel a pair of eyes drilling more often into his back lately whenever the sword princess was with him.

Best he just focused on building the relationship he had with his two elven girls now. But Mikoto? She was an eastern beauty he couldn't ignore. Long slim legs, thin waist, eye-catching bust, beautiful face, incredibly seductive and warm skin. And that ponytail. Bell wished he'd seen more of her back on the eighteenth floor. Living with Mikoto might prove to be a bit more difficult than he thought.

Should he or shouldn't he go after her and break his rule of three? His answer was uncertain. As Bell wrestled with this conundrum, he arrived in front of his bedroom.

"This is not fair! Lili should have asked for more from her own room!" Were the first words Bell heard when he opened the door.

"I wish I had my own personal cypress bath in my bedroom…" Said the woman he was still undecided about.

"Well, Lili thinks that this was too expensive! Especially when you consider Hestia's debt!"

"Her debt?" That was Eina's voice, but Bell decided not to reveal himself yet. He was curious about their conversation.

"Yes, Bell-sama's knife that our goddess bought him was 200 million valis!" The prum continued.

"200 million valis?!"

"Yes, and now no one wants to join our families after learning of our debt now."

I should step in now. Bell thought.

"Hey girls." Mikoto, Lili and Eina looked at him in surprise.

"Bell? How long have you been there?"

"Long enough, and Hestia's debt won't hurt us. It's a personal debt between her and Hephaistos-san." Eina seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Good, because I started to feel guilty about ordering too much for our new home."

"Lili-san doesn't even want to look at the bill for this room…"

Mikoto stayed silent.

The rest of Eina's belongings were soon brought up, leaving only her and Bell in their bedroom now.

"Bell… w-want to take a bath together?" She might have slept with him a few times but asking for intimate moments like this for the first time still made her stutter a bit.

"Sure." He chuckled, there was still a bit of time before dinner was ready. Mikoto had elected to cook for tonight with Lili's help.

A few minutes later, Bell sat in a bathtub hugging Eina from behind as they laid back and let the warm water soak away all their stress.

"Ahhhhh, this feels great…" She sighed. "We should definitely do this more often." Bell hummed in agreement.

The silence continued until Eina spoke up.

"So… I saw you looking at Mikoto earlier."

"..."

"Anything you want to tell me?" She teased as he tensed up.

"…"

"It's okay Bell, you're not in trouble. I just want to know if you like her." Eina giggled.

There was no way out of this, he had to come clean. As his grandfather once told him.

"It's almost always better to tell the truth to your girls rather than lie to them. If you're seeing other girls, they'll respect the truth more than the lie. Even if they leave you in the end. The tricky part of this is how much of the truth to tell and when. All I can say is this. The earlier the better to stop things from getting worse."

One day, Bell would have to ask his grandfather in heaven or the next lifetime. Just how did he know about all this? Did he have his own harem at one point and what happened to them? Because all his advice seemed to be working so far.

Almost a little too well.

"Yes." He didn't feel more confident with saying anything more than that.

"Her beauty or something else?" Eina's hands started to drift tantalizingly close to his third leg, but Bell had to concentrate. He felt like he was being tested.

"Both, but I don't want to bring in another woman right now. I want to focus on only you and Ryū for now."

"Bell…" Her hands started drifting up towards his chest. "Please don't forget me."

"Eina, you know I could never do that. I love you too much. You'll always be my Eina and my first girl. No one is ever going to replace that."

His dungeon advisor kissed him. then said, "Prove it."

And he gave her his all.

.

While they were cuddling in bed, a little wet after their exercise, Eina asked him again.

"Do you really like Mikoto though?"

"Eina-"

"I'm sorry, I just want to be sure…"

"Yes, I like her, even though she almost got me killed in the dungeon with a monster parade. But it was a life and death situation. Save her friends or lose them all. I would have made the same decision and she's been trying to make up for it ever since."

"So… are you thinking of going after her too?" Eina was now looking up from his chest.

He was conflicted. "Honestly? I want to, but I promised you I would only take in three women." Eina smiled and met his lips briefly, which he returned.

"Thank you, Bell, but are you sure that's what you really want?"

What is she thinking?

Eina let out a heavy sigh, before dancing on his chest with her fingertips. Bell wasn't sure what was making him shiver more then. Her touches or the thought of what she was about to say next.

"I appreciate you trying to stay loyal to me." Another deep breath. "For giving me a new home to stay in." Her fingers switched from circling to just shuffling back and forth across his chest. "And give me the chance to send more money back home to my family." She smelled really good right now, like flowers. "Plus, you've never lied to me. Just told me the truth." His chest tightened. "But I feel like I'm the only one getting anything out of this… and I don't want you to feel like I'm taking advan-"

"You're n-"

"Let me finish, Bell!"

"..."

"I don't want you to feel like I'm taking advantage of you. I've seen how the other girls look at you. In fact, Ais came to see me the other day. Asking if everything was okay with you moving into your new home." This was news to him. "I don't know why she asked me…"

She took a deep breath through her nose, before continuing.

"What I'm trying to say, Bell… is you don't have to stick with your rule of three for me. I love you and you love me. Plus, I don't think you'll be able to keep your promise with so many beautiful women who keep coming into your life. All, I ask if for you to always be honest with me. Never forget me… and not bring on too many girls." She whispered the last part, but he wasn't going to ask her again. It was obvious just how difficult this must have been for Eina to say. He'd never be able to do it himself.

"Eina, I love you and nothing's ever going to change that. As for my rule of three, I don't really want to change that, but if I do meet someone who'll make me consider it then I'll let you know first. Just one more girl though, because I don't think I can handle more than three already. She has to be extra special too." The girl lying in his arms went stiff one moment, then soft the next as she clung to him.

"So… Mikoto then?"

"Maybe, but there's also Syr…"

"Oh, I remember her. Have a thing for waitresses do you?" She teased, while her hands started drawing circles around his chest again.

"... It's not that." Bell explained how Syr had gotten a date with him in exchange for learning about Ryū's birthday.

"Wow, she's crafty." A tease for sure. Then an evil grin appeared as her hand dipped below his waistline. "So are you going to go after them both?"

Bell's face lost all control then as Eina's hand massage took over him. From there, she entertained him with the wildest erotic story he had ever heard.

.

Later, they all sat around a table having a celebratory dinner over everyone having finally moved in and also as a toast to a prosperous future. Ryū was unable to attend due to her working hours. Plus, she had already taken a lot of days off within the past few weeks.

Once dinner was over, and the dishes were cleaned, Mikoto bayed them all an early night before sneaking out of the mansion. Welf, Lili and Bell followed after her with Eina's blessing since she wouldn't be able to keep up.

.

They end up in the pleasure district, a place Hestia warned him never to visit. Now he knew why. Every street was now filled with magic-stone lamps attached to buildings and pillars giving off a pink light. Billboards decorated with seductive red lips and other alluring feminine features. Women of all shapes and sizes wearing skimpy dresses or clothing that completely revealed their back and hips were walking up and down the street.

More than half of these women were amazons, but several humans, animal people, and even prum dotted the street too. They called out invitingly to men in every direction, flashing smiles. Then they'd spend a few minutes talking with said men before taking their hand, or even their waist, and guiding them into one of the many buildings.

Gulp.

He had to get out of here fast as luscious breasts, thin shoulders, and seductive thighs called out to him in every direction. The air was tinged with perfume, which Bell doubted Eina and Ryū would approve of when they learnt about him being here.

Welf seemed like he could follow Mikoto and her friend easily, so Bell kept an eye on him. Unfortunately, a loud cheer followed by a crowd of hungry men pulled him away and soon he was lost.

But then a familiar person greeted him, it was the god Hermes. After a brief exchange, he gave Bell a small vial with a red liquid. Aphrodisiac. A potent mixture that boosted ones sexual stamina. That's what the god told him.

I might need this later. He told himself. Especially on a night where he'd be expected to pleasure both of his elves. A silly grin sat on his face until he walked into someone and one thing led to another.

Being "escorted" by an amazon who was far stronger than him into the home of Ishtar familia, ruled by a goddess of beauty. Then being chased around like a piece of meat as he ran for his life. If those seductive adventurers ever caught him, then Bell feared that he'd be ruined. Body and soul.

Not knowing where to run after escaping a throng of amazons from their own home, Bell ran into a brothel unawares and chose a random room. Only after sliding the door to hide his presence did he finally let out a small sigh of relief.

That was way too close.

But a series of shouts nearby alerted him that the chase was still on. Slowly, he backed away from the door and walked down the only corridor available to him where a bright light peaked out from behind another door.

"I have been awaiting your arrival with great anticipation, master." A voice greeted him when he opened the new door.

Master?

An animal person sits on her knees opposite him with three fingers outstretched in front of her on the Far Eastern - style bamboo mats. Tatami, isn't it? She bowed, then slowly raised her face.

"I shall be accompanying you this night. Please address this humble servant as Haruhime."

Long, shimmering golden hair, with a matching tail and wide fox ears on the top of her head. She's a renart. He realised as his eyes glided over her gorgeous red kimono. Beautiful. He gulps. I want her. Not in an overly sexual way, but-

"Right this way, master."

Haruhime looks into his eyes, before rising up to her feet in one quiet, swift motion. Then took his hand, before gently leading him deeper into the room. Bell was about to object, when he realised she had impossibly soft hands. Far softer than Eina or Ryū's skin, but maybe because she was a courtesan. So her skin was better cared for than most.

As they passed through another set of golden sliding doors and into another chamber where a futon was laid out on the floor, Bell's mind screamed at him. No! He couldn't do this and betray Eina and Ryū with a casual fling. A few approaching voices caught his attention. Those had to be the amazons chasing him earlier.

Think, Bell. Think!

Then an idea came to him.

I'm sorry Haruhime, please forgive me! He begged within his mind as he grabbed her shoulders and pulled them both down into the futon.

"Master!" She cried, now laying on top of him.

"Shhh, please. Hide me!" He begged, but she looked confused, then nodded before smothering his face with her womanly pillows. Right before a pair of amazons opened the door in front of them.

"Haruhime?" Asked a surprised voice. "Oh, sorry. As you were." Said another, before they both turned to leave.

"To think that Haruhime could pin down a man. Didn't know she had it in her." Was the last words Bell heard, before they disappeared completely. For some reason, those amazons sounded happy.

But a more pressing matter was the renart in front of him.

"Master? Are you okay?"

It might have only been for a moment, but Bell was lost to la-la-land. Haruhime's pillows might have been hidden behind her flaming red kimono, but her scent and warmth were not. She was like a furnace that didn't burn him and her scent was like soap mixed with flowers from the spring.

"Master? Are you hurt? Did I do something wrong?

Haruhime was practically straddling him right now. If he didn't pull her off soon, then it would be a problem.

"Ah… no, but could you get off me for a moment?" She was straddling him right now and if that continued, then there'd be a problem. Especially with the golden fox tail swishing adorable back and forth behind her. "I'm not a customer… and my name's Bell Cranel."

"Oh, okay, Master Cranel, if you're not my appointed customer, then why are you here?"

He began to explain his situation. Haruhime didn't seem like someone who would rat him out and not only because she just hid him from two amazons, but she had an aura of pure innocence about her. Something that felt completely unlike anyone else in the pleasure quarter. That's why he told her everything from the past few hours, how he became a fugitive deep in hostile territory.

"You have experienced… a rather turbulent evening."

Her demeanor hadn't changed after his story was complete. In fact, she looked sympathetic. Did this kind of thing happen often? Them chasing after a single man through the pleasure quarters? Is that why his goddess warmed him never to come here? Bell placed his hands over his crotch.

They talked a little more back and forth, with her asking if he knew lady Aisha. He did, because she's the one who started it all. Apparently, Aisha had a softer side to her as she had been very kind to Haruhime.

"I have a proposal. Once our time together has come to an end, I shall guide you to the safest escape route. It's highly unlikely you shall be discovered if you remain hidden in this room until early morning."

"Are you sure?"

"I am. It may be for only one night… but I, Haruhime, would like to lend my assistance to you, Master Cranel."

It was hard to believe her; this could be a trap, but her smile seemed genuine. It felt genuine, filled with pure innocence.

"Okay, but two things." She tilted her head. "Please, call me Bell."

"I-"

"Please, call me Bell. It's what I prefer." The fox girl seemed to hesitate for a moment.

"As you wish, Bell."

"This isn't a hard request, but feel free to speak to me normally. I like that too."

Haruhime was about to object again, then smiled. "Okay, Bell…"

"The second thing is… why do you want to help me? I'm not a paying customer."

Then she told him her story about being born from a long line of nobles going back many generations. Her mother was never present, and her father worked long hours for the government. So she was raised by many servants from infancy.

Years of being trained to be an aristocrat, with no knowledge of the outside world… Raised with a silver spoon in her mouth, she was very lonely while being surrounded with luxury, and next to no friends.

At least I had my grandfather, Bell thought.

Then she was disowned by her own family at the age of eleven. The case around it sounded both ridiculous and suspicious, but what broke his heart was how Haruhime was sold into slavery. To work as a courtesan in the pleasure district, because she was beautiful and a virgin. Both of which would fetch a high price.

It also helped that renarts were a special race within animal people. They were the only ones who were natural born magic casters and each of their spells were unique. So they treated her like highly valued merchandise, not that it made him feel any less terrible about it all. Slavery was not something he condoned.

She was his mood drop and tried to reassure him, but all he saw was pain in that beautiful smile of hers. "It may not be the best of circumstances, but my newfound sisters take very good care of me." It had been five years since then.

Bell wanted to say, "let's run away together, right now," but that would be impossible in his current position. With an entire familia looking for him in a city they knew better than him.

"There's also the fact that… many stories of this city have reached the Far East. Orario has always been appealing to me."

That's when the conversation took a drastic change and in a happy direction. It turned out that she loved the tales from his favourite book growing up as a child, Dungeon Oratoria.

A book which detailed the journeys and deeds of many heroes in Orario. It was rare to find a copy of the original book, but he had one from his grandfather. Bell thought of it as his most prized possession. The only thing left from his grandfather, aside from his lessons on how to build a harem, how to live a good life, and how to be a cool hero everyone admired.

He and Haruhime spent the rest of the night talking about the various stories they knew. What surprised him the most was how she seemed to know even more than him, which felt both embarrassing and almost intimidating.

Then she drove a knife through his heart.

Figuratively speaking.

She dreamed of being taken far away by her own hero, just like the stories in the Dungeon Oratoria. But believed no one would save someone like her. A prostitute who had given their body to many men. They ruined heroes after all.

There wasn't a story he remembered which refuted her words.

Plus, it sounded like she had given up on all hope.

His grandfather also warned him,

"The most valuable trait a woman can possess is innocence, when it comes to men, because it's the only one they can lose forever. With it, you can show her the world and be her first for everything. It's the easiest way to gain her loyalty, because you're the one who gives her everything. However, women who've had a lot of experience with men are the ones you should stay away from. They make everything a lot more difficult and you don't want that."

But Bell was confused, how could Haruhime radiate such innocence and purity if she had slept with so many men? Not even Eina or Ryu felt this pure when he first started dating them.

"I have no right to indulge in the world of fairy tales and heroes since the day I learned what had become of me. Dreams and desires have no meaning. I'm not allowed to have them… I am just a prostitute."

That's what her lips said, but she had been staring longingly out the chamber all night. The black collar around her neck flashed in the moonlight, looking more and more like a shackle every moment. It had to mean something, his instincts screamed, but now was not the time to act. He needed more information first.

"It appears the time has come." Then gracefully rose to her feet. "I very much enjoyed our time together this evening… Thank you." Why did she thank him? It was just a simple conversion, but her compliment felt genuine.

"You're welcome, Haruhime." His brain told him to speak his mind. "...I know you have no reason to believe me, but one day… I'll free you." He had to return to his familia first to form a plan.

Her eyes widened in shock, but her mouth simply smiled.

"Let's go." She didn't believe him.

Bell finally escaped the maze that was the pleasure quarter, now half asleep as most of the lights were turned off. It was still night time, as the sun had yet to rise, but all Bell could think was…

I really like her.

I want to save her.

I will save her.

.

But when he got back home, there was someone else he had to save first.

Himself.

.

A.N.

Haruhime's arc was hard to write for these three chapters, including this one, because I can't just straight up ignore or gloss over it too much for the sake of this story. Plus, I couldn't avoid lifting a lot of the text from the official light novel and condensing a lot of scenes. I added and changed a few things where it made the most sense.

Chapter 18: 4106 words. (Including a few dots that act as transitions and dividers)