The trip back to Geofu was longer than the trip out. Or at least, it felt like it.
"It must be a sign from the Goddess…" I heard Adrian muttering beside me. "There is no other explanation for it," he said in a quiet, hushed tone, as if afraid of sounding insane to himself.
I could understand his awe. You don't witness a new star be born every day, after all. Especially so close, so his awe and wonder are justifiable. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I was partly the cause, thanks to that strange rock. Hell, I am not sure I should, with how he is acting right now.
"How much longer?" I asked, eager to get off this wagon and clean myself off. My own blood soaked the hide and cloth I wore, and dried gore stained my arms. I was a walking biohazard right now, and I didn't like it one bit.
"Oh!" Adrian jumped in his seat, as if he forgot I was here. "We're, uh… We're close, we should be able to see it when we take our next turn," he told me, before pointing to the tree line. "If the trees weren't in the way, we'd see it now, but we're getting near."
Well, at least there was that. The sooner we were back, the sooner these poor girls could get the help they need. I turned back to look at them, and my heart sank. They were each looking down at the bed of the wagon with borderline dead faces.
A part of me knew to expect this, to see them like this despite being freed, but to actually witness it was something else entirely.
"How are you all feeling?" I asked. Only a few of them turned their heads to gaze at me, but they didn't say a word before looking back down. I frowned before turning back to stare at the road ahead.
"Hey," I heard Adrian say. "It's thanks to you that they even get to come home. There are only a few people who can say that they ever made it back, and it's thanks to you that they can," he told me, but as true as that fact was, it shouldn't be that way. No one deserves a fate as terrible as sexual slavery, especially like that.
Just thinking about it makes me feel a shame deeper than I ever imagined I could feel. The fact that I was getting off to this hentai just a few days ago somehow makes the coil in my gut twist more than I ever thought it could.
I swallowed my shame, and tried to push it out of my mind for now. I should be proud of myself after all. I saved these women, I did what no one else could have managed by themselves.
They got their freedom back thanks to me… So why do I feel so ashamed of myself?!
It was all… Different, when it was nothing more than an image behind a computer screen. It was simple to feel guilt-free afterwards, because none of it was real.
Now that it is, now that I am actually here? I can't help but feel disgusted with myself.
Adrian tapped me on the shoulder. "Hey, we're here," he said as he pointed towards the vast fortress that came into view. It'd still take a minute or two to reach the gates, and then the castle. Even so, we were in sight of safety, and I felt relieved by that fact.
"I have to thank you again. Without you, I might never have seen my daughter again. I mean it," he said. I was going to wave it off, but he handed me something that confused me a bit. It was a simple silver ring that had a strange aura about it.
"At least take me to dinner first," I tried to joke, and thankfully it earned a laugh from the driver.
Adrian shook his head with a smile. "Sorry to say I'm taken," he told me before elaborating. "It's a magic ring. I used to get into my fair share of fights before I had my baby girl, and that ring always helped me block better," he explained. "I haven't been in a fight in a long time, and something tells me that you're only going to get into more. I want you to have it, as thanks for getting my daughter back."
I glanced down at it. He was giving me an enchanted ring?
"I can't accept this." I tried to refuse. I don't think I deserved it. I might have gotten his daughter back, but I couldn't save her from that Troll - or whatever it was - from… from taking her innocence.
"You can, and you will." He reached over with his free hand and closed my fingers around it. "You are going to need it, and I won't be getting much use out of it. I get to bring my little girl home because of you. There aren't many who can say that their little ones were saved, so on behalf of all of them: Take this ring, as thanks for rescuing her," Adrian told me in a tone that left no room for declining or refusing this.
I gazed down at the ring and simply nodded, slipping it over my ring finger. Already, I could feel whatever magic was inside of it take effect.
"Thank you," was all I managed as he pulled up to the gates and waved us inside.
Once we were inside, I noticed something was off: The streets were surprisingly vacant. But then, I remembered the probable reason why that was.
I did kinda make a brand new star tonight.
"I'm going to take the girls to the Church. There should be a couple of clerics available to help them there. You think you can make it to the Citadel on your own?" Adrian asked as he drove into the fortress. I gave a simple nod and dismounted before watching them drive away, down the street.
Hopefully those girls can get the help they need. If they can't, then… I don't know, I don't want to think about it.
Watching the wagon turning and vanishing behind a corner told me that it was time for me to go too. I turned and began my trek towards the castle, and as if by the Goddess herself, or whatever god put me here, I witnessed the faces of the people that would fall to Vault's Sex Nation everywhere I looked.
A housewife minding her own business at the market, children playing games, fathers bouncing their daughters on their knee... All these people, these lives will be uprooted in one of the most terrible ways possible. No one would be spared from the cruel fate that'll befall this kingdom. I never really thought about what Vault did in the hentai, since I was more focused on getting my rocks off to pay attention.
All these people will suffer a fate that none of them deserve.
My gaze locked downwards as I continued my walk back to the castle. So many would suffer and die if I didn't stop him. The weight of this world rests on my shoulders, and I don't know if I can support it all.
But damn it, I have to try. I'll need to get stronger, and learn more magic.
There are probably more spell books in the castle's library. I don't think anyone would mind if I caught up on some reading on my way to retrieve Olga and Chloe. And if they do mind, what are they going to do about it? They can't un-absorb the book from me once I read it.
With a new determination, I quickened my steps. I had some books to check out.
I arrived in the city's main plaza, and found it was packed to the brim with people. So many were crying out for Celestine to tell them about the star that had just been born, what it meant, and if it was an omen for the future of the kingdom. The High Elf was on top of her castle, looking down as the throng gathered, watching them slowly squeeze as many as they could into the square.
"My citizens," she began. Her voice was loud enough to be heard even in the back where I stood, but it didn't sound like she was yelling. "Tonight, we have received a sign from the Goddess herself, one that I believe is an omen of victory against the Creatures of Darkness that threaten our homes and our lives. A singular star has ascended to the heavens above, past the blackness of the night, and shines brightly against the darkness," she told them, creating small murmurs and whispers in the crowd.
"I know times have been hard on many of you. I have done everything in my power to give you all the aid and support I can. I shall continue to provide every one of you everything that I can until this horrible conflict is over. Please, all of you, my citizens, my people, stay strong." With that said, I could already hear people talking among themselves. Swearing that, no matter what, they'll always have faith in her.
Fucking hypocrites. You say that now, but the instant Vault said you could rape her, none of you hesitated even for an instant.
"Thank you for your time, but while so many of you are gathered here, the Archbishop would like a few moments to make some announcements." Celestine added before stepping away, allowing this old and decrepit coot to take her place.
He pulled out a scroll and began reading off a list of things I couldn't care to pay attention to. Things like an increased tax on goods imported from other kingdoms, stuff that I didn't care about. I needed to get back in the castle.
I began pushing my way through the mob. Unfortunately, they were so packed in that I needed to squeeze myself between them. It got me a decent few complaints and curses slung at me, but I managed to make it to the fountain in the middle, which I used to skip past another chunk of people, despite their claims of alarm. I eventually managed to force my way to the gates of the castle, only to be met by spears pointed at me.
"Stop right where you are!" They ordered as they aimed their weapons at my neck.
"Easy, I have business with Her Highness," I told them, but they didn't appear convinced in the slightest by that.
The two exchanged a glance, before one of them spoke up. "You're under arrest for..." She faltered slightly as she gazed again at her partner. "For being suspected in the murder of someone," she said, a bit hesitantly.
I gave her a disbelieving look, before I remembered I was still covered in blood and viscera from my quest in the cave.
"Oh…" I looked myself over. "Don't worry, most of this is mine and monster blood." I tried to assuage their fears, before realizing that what I just said doesn't exactly sound like it'll hold up in a trial.
"Yeah, right." The other guard said in a sarcastic tone. "You're coming with us." She pulled out a small rope, and began tying my hands together.
The urge to groan was strong. "Listen, Celestine knows me, she can-" I was cut off mid-sentence when I felt a hand smack against the back of my head.
"Ow! Hey, what gives?!"
The guard that hit me gave me a glare. "Do not disrespect Lady Celestine by using her name as if you are friends," she spat, before pushing me forward. "Now get moving, the dungeon will hold you until we can figure out what exactly you did," she said as she shoved me to the side and escorted me back through the press.
"Fine, just get Lady Celestine," I added, but that fell on deaf ears as I was being taken to the prison again.
Wonderful.
They shepherded me through the crowd, and led me back to that one area where I first met Isaac.
Hey look, my blood has stained the stone!
"Move!" I was ordered, an emphasizing sword pushed into my back.
"I'm moving, I'm moving, sheesh," I muttered as they pushed me along.
While we were on our way to my jail cell, we were suddenly stopped by a stern, commanding voice.
"You there!" they cried out. The voice in question was feminine, but it didn't sound like Leliana. I tried to locate the origin of the voice, but I didn't see anyone initially. I checked behind me, to my left and right, didn't spot anyone who could have been speaking to us.
"Who is that?" I asked before facing forward and finding myself face-to-face with a familiar stern and hardened visage. Light brown hair in a bun, blue eyes with a little beauty mark underneath her left eye, fair skin and a body that is a solid ten out of ten.
It could only be one person… One person that I found difficult to actually look in the eye without shame creeping into me.
The Guards stood rigid at attention. "Commander Levantine Ma'am!" They said in unison as they did their own form of salute, which was one hand over their opposite breast apparently.
Claudia was looking at me with an analyzing expression. "And just who is this?" she asked as she began walking around me. I strove to regain my composure, swallowing the shame that swelled in my throat to try and answer.
"My name is-"
"We found him trying to meet Her Holiness Lady Celestine," answered the guards, interrupting me.
Claudia stopped in front of me, before asking simply, "Name?"
I waited for my current entourage to answer for me. But they all remained deathly quiet. I could swear, as I glanced at them, one was even shaking in her boots. At this point, the commander was getting impatient.
"What is his name?"
Finally, one of them decided to bite the bullet. "We... never got one, Ma'am."
The Knight Commander looked at me expectantly, so I answered, "James Hind." When I told her my name, I watched as she closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, inhaling and then exhaling.
"Lady Celestine has been expecting this man since he left this morning," she told them, and I swear, that expression of slowly dawning realization was one I was utterly loving.
"You are dismissed. Return to your posts and try not to arrest anyone else that Her Holiness is expecting," she ordered. With that, the guards slumped and walked away dejectedly.
"Thanks for that," I said as Claudia took a knife from…
"Where were you keeping that?"
The Knight Commander raised an eyebrow at me. "Keeping what?" she asked as she cut the binding on my wrists and returned the knife to... Wherever she took it out from, her goddamn thong of storage, I don't know.
I just sighed, and muttered, "Nevermind."
Claudia shrugged. "I'll bring you to Lady Celestine, if only to avoid people mistaking you for some type of murderer." She looked at me once over again. "What happened to you, if I may ask?"
I just chuckled at the question. "I got my ass handed to me by a bunch of monsters."
I couldn't help but laugh a bit. They fucked me up pretty good. Most of the blood was dried now, but it still looked utterly awful.
Levantine nodded in understanding. "I am sure your allies are thankful that you are still alive despite all the injuries," she said as she began leading me.
"Oh, I was by myself," I clarified as I followed her lead.
The Knight Commander's eyebrows raised a bit. "It is impressive that you survived such an encounter. I've known many who have faced them, and none ever survived as well off as you seem to have."
I shook my head. "Can't you tell? I feel just as bad as I look." I didn't really… Well, maybe a little sore, but all things considered, I'm fine.
"Then it is a convincing act," she told me as we entered the castle proper through the guard barracks. "So, Her Holiness has told me she sent you on a quest to purge a monster den. Were you successful?"
"I was. I managed to save six girls, and cleared out the den."
Once more, she looked back at me, impressed. "Truly?" she asked, and I confirmed with a nod. "That is truly an amazing feat to do, especially alone," she informed. "However, by the amount of damage you've taken, I can tell you are still relatively new to combat."
It was my turn to raise an eyebrow. "You can tell just by looking?"
Claudia nodded. "I have become quite perceptive in my time as a Shield of the Alliance. Your cheap armor aside, I assume that the torn and bloody bite in your leg was from an Ghoul, correct?" she asked, and I just nodded again. "It is a common tactic they use to incapacitate targets bigger than themselves, like yourself. Most recruits get bit at least once, the ones that survive learn how to avoid it," she said before pointing up at my arms. "Your arms are scratched up, likely from the same Ghouls you encountered. An experienced fighter wouldn't let them get the jump on him or her."
"That's only two things," I pointed out.
"Indeed, but they are two rookie mistakes. I do hope you learn from this encounter, otherwise I may not have the chance to test your mettle myself." We arrived before a set of huge iron doors. "Lady Celestine is in here. I do not need to inform you, but just in case you need a reminder, be respectful to her. I will not tolerate anything less than the utmost respect for someone of her standing and stature."
"Understood, Ma'am," I replied with a little salute. The Knight Commander nodded, opening the door and allowing me inside. She followed behind me as we entered a large, circular room. It was decorated with religious symbols, flowers, and a statue that Celestine herself was kneeling in front of.
My skills in observation told me that the person the statue depicts was the Goddess that these people worship (no shit, Sherlock). I opened my mouth to call out to her, but a glare from Claudia made me reconsider.
"Your Holiness," she called in a hushed voice to get her attention. "Your Holiness? The man you hired to exterminate the monster den has returned," Claudia said quietly, prompting the High Elf to stop praying. She stood up, keeping her hands clasped in a praying position, before turning to face me.
"Sir James, it is good to see- "
She took one look at me, before gasping and throwing her hands to cover her mouth.
"Oh my goodness! Are you alright?!" she asked, approaching me with quick steps.
I, on the flip side, found my throat drying up as I saw her face. I could barely swallow what shame infested me when I met Claudia, but only barely. Looking at Celestine delivered a feeling so deep, I couldn't even bring myself to keep eye contact.
"I'm fine," I replied, keeping my eyes away even as she began looking around my body for injuries. "It looks worse than it is."
Celestine forced me to look at her, gently turning my head with her hand. "What's wrong?" she asked softly, her eyes pleading. Gazing into those gentle, emerald green eyes only deepened the guilt that now existed within me.
"There's a deep shame inside you, one that wasn't present when we spoke last time."
I wanted to ask how she knew, but it didn't truly matter now, did it?
"I…"
I tried, but… The words just didn't want to come out. She lifted one of my hands into hers.
"Please…"
I took a small breath and tried again. "I…" I started "... I wasn't prepared for what I saw in that cave," I said quietly. "Seeing those girls in that cave… what they were reduced to…" I didn't finish before I felt a single finger rest on my lips.
"I can tell even saying that much is demanding," Celestine said softly. "You do not need to say any more if you do not wish to."
Nodding my head, I just replied with, "Okay."
Celestine withdrew her hand from my face and let go of my hand. "Would you like to report on your quest in the morning?" she asked me. A part of me wanted to, just so I could wash up and get some rest after the day I have had, but I can get to that later.
"I emptied the monster den," I said simply. "I was taken there, and after entering I killed a small gang of Ghouls and a small group of Orcs," I told them, watching as Claudia nodded, no doubt taking note of what I said. "I also managed to kill a Troll that lived there as well." I added at the end, earning a glance from the Knight Commander.
"And the captives?"
"Six in total were saved, they were taken to the church in the fortress once me and the driver got them inside."
Celestine nodded. "I will be visiting tomorrow to check on them. Thank you for your service, Sir James," she told me with a small bow, which I wanted to give the attention it deserves, but right now… I simply can't. "Commander Levantine, please inform Captain Leliana of the successful rescue. She will handle the payment in the morning," she ordered, and with a nod, Claudia left.
"Now, Sir James, I would request that you bathe. I will have the servants prepare a meal for you while you are in the bath. Tomorrow, if you are feeling well enough, I have a new quest for you, if you are willing to take it."
I nodded. "If it means saving more people, than I am always willing," I replied.
The Goddess Reincarnated smiled. "I am glad. I will give you the details in the morning, but for now please go clean yourself. I will have my servants fetch you a change of clothes while you are occupied."
With a nod, I turned and began walking back to my room.
Along the way, I was stopped a few times by guards, nobles and nuns, but eventually I managed to reach it, and promptly started the bath. Unfortunately for me, they don't have showers yet, so I had to make due with a tub of water, soap and a cloth. Once I had everything ready, I began stripping away my bloodied hide armor, and managed to get a good look at the damage.
The armor itself was in a pretty okay condition, except the blood that now stained it. If I can get this cleaned, I could use it again, but my pants? Yeah, I'm going to need a new pair. The hole that the Ghoul bit into them was bigger than I had anticipated. I don't think there is a skilled enough tailor in the world that can salvage these.
With a sigh, I tossed them by my hide armor, throwing the bracers I had into the small pile, then finally the socks and boots. Once I was free of my clothes, I realized there was far more dried blood on me than I originally expected. Don't misunderstand, I knew it was a lot, with how people were reacting to it. But I never considered the full extent of it: I looked like I just butchered some people!
I grabbed the rag and after dunking it in the tub, began slowly scrubbing the dried blood off of me. Doing so took a while, but as I cleaned myself more and more, I noticed all the little cuts the Ghouls left, as well as bruising I missed with Healing, and stopped to stare at it. The ugly dark color left by whatever it was that hit me lingered there, covered up by the vital fluids that I had been drenched in.
Setting the rag down, I prepared the healing spell, and as I watched it fade away, I couldn't stop thinking about the price that this entire war was going to weigh on me personally. As selfish as it may be, I now know I am able to take much more punishment than your average person, and I have a feeling that I will have died ten times over by the end of this conflict… if I ever arrive at that point.
That cave proved to me that this will not be an easy endeavor. I will be beaten, cut, bruised, and broken over and over again throughout the course of this war. But unlike everyone else, I can't afford to die, otherwise I will damn everyone in this world to the fate that destiny had originally picked out for them.
I looked over the area where the bruise was, and after I made sure it was gone, I began scrubbing myself again. Eventually, I ended up down at my legs, and after unveiling the wide, gnarly scar left by the bite of the Ghoul, I couldn't help but trace the bite with my finger.
If I hadn't healed this when I did, there was a good chance that it would have gotten infected, and I might have lost my leg if that happened. I am not sure what I would have done if that were the case…
Odds are, it won't be the last time I'll get a wound like this.
No, no, it wouldn't be the last time. These are monsters, and they will fight with everything they have: Tooth, nail, claw, venom, strength, weapons they manage to take or fashion for themselves. Maybe I ought to consider myself lucky that I only got off with a few cuts, bites and bruises.
You know, it's kinda silly. Here I am, thinking of how awful it will be for me to defend this kingdom, of all the types of wounds I could receive.
But I would rather be the one to suffer as many wounds and injuries as needed, so long as I can keep Celestine and this kingdom safe.
I shook my head free of my thoughts and began cleaning myself again, trying my hardest to make sure I was at least free from all the dried blood that was on me before. I scrubbed myself clean, emptied the bath, refilled it, soaked for a bit, washed my hair and went to bed. I wasn't even hungry tonight anyways.
After I made sure I had a clean set of clothes for the morning, I climbed into the bed and passed out in short order.
I stood on a street in the fortress. Heavy clouds blocked the sun, and there was no one in sight, almost as if the entire city was empty…. What was going on?
I looked up and down on the vacant street, and there wasn't an end in either direction. There wasn't even anyone here, it was empty, and almost painfully quiet. There wasn't even the howling of the wind to at least give me some form of reprieve from this deafening silence. So I did the only thing that I could do: walk.
As I began my trek down the empty street, I swear I started to hear small things. At first, it sounded like someone was following me, then a group of people, before evolving into an invisible stampede echoing around me.
As those sounds got louder and closer, phantoms began inhabiting the street, city guards running and clashing with other phantoms. The sound of sword on sword, and the cutting of flesh filled the air in a symphony of clashes, clanks and cries of agony.
"I must atone for my sin of getting us into this war." I heard Celestine say… and my heart stopped beating.
I began racing down the street as the cries of agony began turning into ones of misery and despair. "Citizens who followed me for so long, if I can ease your pain... even for a little bit." Celestine continued as I began sprinting down the street, and as I did, I noticed the end of the road had turned into the plaza. "Please..." My breath caught in my throat as I ran as fast as I could.
"Fuck me…"
As I got close, I could see Celestine standing there, surrounded by people. They all jumped her, and as I got closer and closer to the square, the further and further it moved away. "GET AWAY FROM HER!" I shouted as I ran, but my words were drowned out by her moans of forced pleasure.
The sky turned a bloody red color as the moans and voices of pleased men died down, and I finally managed to get into the plaza.
I felt my heart stop beating as I saw her laying on the ground, covered in the essence of so many… her eyes had lost their shine, and I felt cold as she barely turned her head to look at me.
"You...too?"
I awoke with a scream as I sat up, breathing so heavily that I wondered if at some point I had stopped taking air into my body. I looked around and saw my room. I put a hand on my chest, taking deep breaths in an attempt to regain control of myself.
"It was just a nightmare..." I said, almost relieved that was all it was.
Placing a hand on my head, I felt it matted with sweat. I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash my face. Splashing the cold water on myself helped me wake up and calm down from the nightmare that visited me in the night. After I turned off the sink, I glanced up at the mirror and looked away just as fast, my face grimacing in recollection of myself in the past.
I hated this… I wish I could just go back to a time when the reality of what I got off to was nothing more than an image behind a screen. I know I can't, but I truly want this disgust that I'm feeling to go away, as selfish as that is.
I wouldn't be getting back to sleep tonight, that was an undeniable fact. So I threw on some clothes and went for the only place I could at this time of night: the library. I needed to check out some books anyway. I grabbed a candle, lit it with the Flames spell, and set out for the library.
Navigating my way to the library was easier, because I knew the way now, so I didn't waste any time getting lost or turned around, and made it there in just a few minutes. Once I was there, I began strolling up and down the aisles, collecting some things for light reading. Among those was a Spell Book called Lesser Ward, but that wasn't all. I took a few tomes on basic skills and knowledge to research while I was here: The Compendium of Flora V.1, Wilderness Survival Guide V.1, and lastly The Monster Book V.1.
With my reading material collected, I took them over to the table, putting my candle down and setting the heavier books down onto the desk with a loud *THUD* before I opened the Spell Book, devouring the knowledge inside.
L̸̮͖̟̤̊e̶̟̭͆̓̆̓š̶̠͆͜s̸̫͛͛e̸͚̣̽͠͝r̶̛̲̰̦̞͑͂̾ ̵̩̟́͛̕W̵͓͍͇̐â̵̡͔r̶͇͋͆͛́d̷͍͋́ͅ
Ahh… Nothing quite like instantly absorbing magical knowledge into your head.
Once I recovered from that, I sat down and pulled The Monster Book V.1 over and began reading…
It wasn't a particularly exciting study, but it was one that I needed to, if I wanted to know the most effective places for killing monsters that aren't simply stabbing them or cutting them. What was it that G.I. Joe said again? Knowing is half the battle?
Well, in this case I don't know even half of what I am going to be going up against, so I have to change that. And what better way to start than doing my research on them?
I read about the more humanoid monsters first, the bipedal ones, and wasn't too surprised to discover that they are easier to kill, because they can be debilitated exactly like a normal person. The issue was they were hardly ever alone enough to do that. Still, valuable info to know.
What I didn't know was they tended to hate light, so much so that during the day, you are more likely to encounter bandits than a monster. The only exception is when they attack a fortress, and even then, the only reason is because they need women to reproduce.
I briefly thought back to the cave. If it were up to me, they all would be purged. I am not normally one to consider genocide an option, but in this instance I believe it would be immoral of me not to at least consider it. None of these creatures deserved the right to life, and each warranted a swift and painful death in my eyes.
Only issue with that is that I am one man, and I need to figure out a way to clear more than one cave a day, or at least get strong enough to clear them within an hour, so that I can quickly move onto the next ones.
With a sigh, I turned the page. I was getting side tracked, caught up in my own thoughts, and I had some more required reading to get through before the night was out.
"Sir James?" I heard the soft and gentle voice of Celestine come from behind. I only could spare her a glance however.
The look she gave me in the nightmare still lingered in my mind, no matter how much I tried to distract myself from it.
"What are you doing up so late?" I asked without looking up from my book.
"I…" she hesitated. "I could not sleep. I find sleep more elusive than I would have liked. Then, I felt a fear and dread that was so grand, it almost felt like it was my own," she told me. "It was almost certainly a nightmare, but the feeling still lingers."
I frowned at my book, so she is awake because of me, then? Wonderful.
Celestine sat down next to me, before asking, "Why are you awake at this time of night?"
Now it was my turn to hesitate. "I…" I started to say, wanting to tell her about my nightmare, but decided against it. She didn't need to know about that.
"I was just feeling restless. Couldn't sleep, so I came down here to do some reading," I said, giving a fake laugh. "After all, what's going to put someone to sleep faster than exciting encyclopedias and compendiums?" It was half intended as a joke and in a way it was true, this is kind of putting me to sleep.
I glanced at her and saw a small smile on her face. "I suppose that is as good a method as any to tire an active mind," she said, before placing her own book on the table, much more softly than I had done mine. "Would you mind if I read with you? I did not bring my own candle."
A part of me wanted to tell her no, because looking at her reminded me of that nightmare, but I couldn't find it in myself to deny her, no matter how much I wanted to. "Okay," I said. "But once you are sleepy enough, go back to bed, okay? You don't want to get all stiff by sleeping hunched over a book, do you?"
"I will, so long as you promise to do the same."
With a nod, I agreed. "Sure," I said quietly, before returning to my book.
I tried to focus on my reading, but found it difficult to concentrate on it when, just out of my peripheral vision, I could make out the edges of her body. I hoped to god that what I could see was an arm, and not her boob. Although, given this world's nature, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.
"Sir James…" I heard her say quietly, prompting me to turn my head slightly to signify I heard. Doing this, though, answered my question.
Yep, I was seeing her tit in my peripheral. I want to be excited by that, but after that nightmare I don't think I could get horny about her right now, even if I wanted to.
"Do you know what caused that star to be born last evening?"
Ah, that's what she wanted to talk about.
"Yes," I replied simply. After all, it was me who accidentally set that stone off.
I was not expecting the Goddess Reincarnated to have an audible reaction to it. Her gasp almost sounded exaggerated, but the urgency in her question told me it wasn't.
"You do? What was it, then?" she asked.
My answer was plain and bare bones. "I touched a weird rock, and after depositing… some kind of energy into me, it shot a star up into the sky."
"It deposited an energy within you?" I hardly realized Celestine had turned fully to give me her complete attention. It'd be rude if I didn't extend to her the same courtesy, so I reluctantly turned away from my books to face her.
"Yeah," I answered, trying my best to avoid looking at her. Even now that I was facing her directly, I still found it hard to do so. "I touched it, and some sort of power flowed into my arms. I don't feel any different, so I don't think it did anything harmful to me." As I answered, she had already taken one of my hands and let a special magic flow out of her hands and into mine.
"What are you doing?"
Celestine didn't answer right away, seemingly concentrating on examining me, before the strange magic in her hands faded. "I cannot find anything wrong with you," she said finally. "I believe you are correct in assuming it is harmless. But please, inform me if you discover another one of these stones. I would like to observe one for myself before you begin pouring strange magic into yourself again."
I couldn't help but smile almost mournfully. She treated me like a child who just fell over, and I remembered that, above all things, she was a mother on top of everything else… And that same realization made the guilt in my gut all the more troubling.
"Thank you for checking," I added quietly.
"You are welcome," she said with a small smile.
We entered a comfortable silence, both quietly reading our books, and it was pleasant. I felt myself feeling calmer and able to focus more on my book with her next to me, and I couldn't explain why, exactly. I wasn't sure how much time passed between then and when she finally started to doze off, I only realized she had when she started leaning on me for support, trying to stay upright.
I didn't want to seem rude by shaking her off or waking her up, especially when I was the original cause of her restlessness. So I reluctantly let her remain like that while I continued reading my book, absorbing the information the old-fashioned way. I actually managed to finish it in a decent time, but now that I had nothing to do, I decided that I'd just take the other books with me and read them some other time.
Now I had to gently guide Celestine off of my body, which was an ordeal and a half, but I managed to get gravity to assist in leaning her over the table and not on me. Once I was free of her, I stood up and placed the books in my satchel. I gave it an experimental bounce, and I couldn't help but wonder just what type of magic could do this. It still acted as if it were empty, despite the books I placed inside of it. I just shook my head at this.
"I love magic."
I then turned my attention to the sleeping goddess. I can't just leave her here, can I? No, I don't think so.
If anyone but me caught her sleeping like this, I doubt they would have the self-control to keep themselves restrained. I walked over to her and grabbed her book. After putting my thumb on the page, I closed it, only to pause at the title: The Knight and the Maiden.
Sounds like a romance novel. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, considering she doesn't strike me as someone to read educational material in her downtime…. If she has any downtime, with how many responsibilities she has got. I was about to put it away, only to realize I didn't have a bookmark for it. I set it back on the table and opened it again on the page it was before.
My search for one was simple. I just took a quill off another desk, and after inspecting it to make sure it was dry and in no way would damage the pages, I returned to the book.
As I set the new feather bookmark inside, my curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to read the pages she was on.
The Knight held the Maiden closely, taking in her scent and imagining smelling it every morning, every evening, day and night to the end of his life. He loved his Maiden, he wanted to take her and run, run away from all their responsibilities and worries; to start a life with her somewhere where no one could find them, not the Evil King, not his army, not even the eyes of the Goddess. He felt every curve on her body, the shape of her breasts, the firmness of her plump butt... he wanted to experience this every day.
"I won't let you go." The Knight whispered into her ear, making her shiver.
The Maiden leaned towards him, and gave him a single kiss. "Nor I you," she told him, as she felt him as he did her, every muscle and scar on his body were all perfect in her eyes. But there was one thing that she needed to pay more attention to, and that was his long, hard-
I shut the book so quickly that I almost jumped at how loud the sound was. I glanced over at Celestine, who only stirred slightly, but remained asleep, and took a breath of relief at that fact.
She was reading smut… She was reading smut next to me! Have you no shame, Celestine?!
…
Actually, she might not, considering how she dresses. Still, scandalous. If people found out this Holy Woman was reading stuff like this, then I am not sure how they would react.
I set it inside my satchel as well, and approached the sleeping goddess. It took me a few moments to figure out how to do this without waking her up, but thankfully I managed to pull her backwards enough to get her into a bridal carry.
While I carried her, I tried not to think about the softness of her skin in my hands, her innocent sleeping face, or the fact that from her position in my arms, the cloth on her boobs was one wrong move away from exposing her nipple at any moment.
No, I instead chose to focus on the fact that I didn't actually know where her room was, so I did the only thing I could.
The route to my room was easy to remember, and a bed is still a bed, even if it isn't hers. I am not sure she would care exactly. She doesn't strike me as the type to get mad or upset at something like this. So I set her down on my bed after we arrived, covered her in the blanket, set her book on the nightstand, and took a seat on one of the chairs.
I tried to let myself relax too, and I felt the embrace of sleep slowly take me.
The next morning I found myself staring at the ceiling with a neck that felt as stiff as a board. I reached up and tried turning it a few times, tilting my head from one side to the other, going through various motions to relax the muscles in my nape. While I did that, I noticed the sun was up and bleeding light into the room.
I was covered in a blanket, and there was a note resting on the nightstand. So I got up and after stretching a little bit, I returned the blanket to the bed and grabbed the note, starting to read it.
Dear Sir James.
Thank you for taking the time to bring me to a more comfortable place to sleep. I had not intended to fall asleep while reading, and I appreciate you saving the pages I was on. That being said, I would kindly request that once you are done waking up and have had something to eat, I would like your presence in the War Room.
May the Goddess bless you,
Celestine Lucross
P.S. I noticed how awfully tattered your old armor had become during your first quest, and while I am thankful that you survived, I must insist you don't wear it again. I have had some leatherworkers create a replacement armor for you. I hope it brings you more protection than your last set.
I flipped the note over, just in case she wrote anything on the back, but there was nothing. I wasn't surprised by that, but still felt compelled to check anyways.
A quick scan of the room led me to a nice new set of leather armor. The texture of it felt sturdier than the hide did. I was no expert in armor, but I was almost certain I'll be capable of taking a few hits in this. Although I would have preferred some metal armor, I am not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
I went through my morning ritual quickly, cleaning up and getting ready for the day, and getting dressed in my new armor. Although I did not understand why it didn't come with pants, so I borrowed a pair from the closet, and after putting the helmet in my satchel, I went to grab something to eat…
If only it were that simple.
As I arrived in the dining hall, I noticed something different from last time. The previous time it was full of stuck up nobles and servants, but now? Filled to the brim with fucking thugs that decided on making the most irritating racket I had ever heard in my life. I pushed past them as they shouted, yelled and ate, and grabbed a sausage, a slice of bread and cheese, and made myself a little morning treat.
I had just barely finished it, when I heard a serving girl let out a yelp. "Ah! Stop that!" she yelled at one of the men who was currently trying to get his hand up her skirt.
"Aww, don't be like that babe," said the guy as he continued to try, but the girl just backed away from him, accidentally tripping over one of his companions and falling flat on her butt.
"Hey, look!" The man pointed down at her. "I can see her pussy!" he cried out, making a small crowd converge on her.
Before I even realized what I was doing, I was pushing my way through the crowd roughly, downright shoving men into tables and their companions. I heard them yell at me for what I was doing, but I didn't care about what they had to say. When I arrived at the center of the group, the original perv glanced at me.
"Hey, you, get over here and look at this!" he offered with a smile.
A smile that I broke as I sent a fist flying right into his mouth.
He was on the ground, and I noticed a bunch of these guys started laughing harder as they backed off to make some room. "What the fuck was that for?!" he asked as he rubbed his jaw. The vile man glared at me with murder in his eyes. "You wanna go, punk?! I'll beat your ass into the ground!"
I just looked down at the girl and offered my hand for her to get up. She took it with some hesitation, and with a small effort I pulled her to her feet. "Get outta here." I told her, and she just nodded before pushing her way through the men.
The man was looking downright homicidal now. "Looks like we got a white knight here, boys!" he yelled out as some of his friends began forming a little arena around us. "Why don't we show him what happens when you try to play hero?!"
With that, he charged at me, the punch he threw was sloppy, lazy, and telegraphed, easily avoided by merely tilting my body and head.
"If I'm playing hero, then I guess that means you're the bad guys," I told him as he turned around to face me. "And you wanna know what happens to bad guys?" I asked him, but he didn't answer me. I raised my fists and got into a fighting stance of my own.
"They always lose."
Now, I am no expert in fighting, but I understand the basics. Block or dodge the person who's trying to hit you, and make sure you hit them somewhere they can't recover from easily. So I avoided the swing, and retaliated with an open palm to the man's nose. He grunted in pain as he retreated from me, one of his hands feeling his nose. "You bastard," he growled out.
I wanted to say I was disappointed, that I expected better from a goon like him, but that would be a lie. "That's the best you got?" I taunted, only to watch as his expression changed from angry to smiling. Before I even had the chance to ask about it, I found myself in a full nelson.
"Hey! Get off!" I yelled as I struggled in the other fighter's hold.
The first man approached, his fists clenched, and without any taunts or barbs, he began wailing on me. One fist after another, and another. Granted, he wasn't as strong as the Orcs in the cave, but still it hurt. I struggled as much as I could before I had a brilliant idea, and with a nice clean kick to my assailant's stomach, I relaxed my arms and shoulders to let myself slide out of the grab.
The man who grabbed me tried to get a hold of me again, but I was already too far out for him to do anything. A punch to the dick and a quick shove as I got back on my feet got me some breathing room between the two. I hadn't realized that everyone else was surrounding us until I actually was looking between my two attackers. It looked like damn near everyone that was in the dining hall was spectating this.
I barely had a moment to react when they both came running at me. I barely had enough room to dodge their punches, and in a surprising turn of events, noted that they had hit each other. While they both recoiled from this, I saw my chance to go on the offensive.
With a quick punch to the nose, I got him to drop his guard even for just a moment, and used that to grab him by the collar of his shirt, and aimed two more strikes to the face, each earning a grunt of pain. I didn't want to waste time wailing on him while his buddy was still up though, and put my leg behind his, grabbed him by the face and pushed him down.
Once he was down, I turned around just in time to have a plate shattered on my head. It made me regret not putting on that helmet when I had the chance. The one who hit me didn't stop with only the plate, though. I felt him hit me a few times in the face, making countering a bit harder than one would expect.
Eventually, I managed to get hold of his fist. It was sheer luck that I managed to grab him by the wrist to keep him from pulling back, but that didn't matter, all that did was that I managed to do it. While he struggled to get his hand back, I aimed a kick right for his shin, and actually to my own surprise managed to knock it out from under him. He dropped to one knee, and I didn't waste the chance to deliver a knee to his chin, earning a series of 'Ooh!'s from the spectators of the fight.
He went down after that and didn't get up. I was a bit concerned I may have killed him, but noting the rise and fall of his chest put me at ease. At best, he was knocked out, at worst he wasn't and was merely hurt. I looked up and saw the first guy getting on his feet, and I wanted to put an end to that real fast. I jumped over the unconscious man and did a running kick on the one still getting up.
I might have put more force into it than I had expected, because when my foot connected with him, he rolled on the ground a few feet before coming to a stop face down and groaning into the stone floor.
Now, I was expecting another fighter; but to my surprise, I was hearing cheers all around me. I was surprised, even if I didn't let it show. Shouldn't they have been angry that their buddies lost the fight?
As I considered this, the door to the dining hall opened, and I heard a familiar voice at a decidedly unfamiliar volume, silencing the cheers and laughter of those around me.
"What is going on here?!" I didn't need to see who was speaking to know it was Captain Leliana. "Well? Any of you mutts got anything to say?" she pressed.
Everyone remained silent, unwilling to say anything, until one pointed at me. "He started it!" he yelled to the captain while giving me that accusatory point of the finger.
If I ever see you again, I swear to god I am breaking that finger.
Leliana approached the little makeshift arena and saw me standing between two fallen men. With a groan, she pinched her brow and said, "Follow me," in a tone that left no room for negotiation or argument.
I followed her silently as she turned and left the room. I could see the snickering faces of the men as we left, almost like they were watching a child get called to the principal's office during class. As we left the room and the doors closed behind us, I heard Leliana let out a deep sigh.
"I apologize on their behalf," she said. "The Black Dog Mercenaries are a rowdy bunch, and you've already done our kingdom a service by rescuing those captives, so I am willing to overlook this little brawl so long as it does not happen again. Do I make myself clear?"
The Black Dogs. I had hoped this was just a rowdy bunch of idiots… But if they are here, that means Vaut is too. My face took on a scowling expression as I thought about the fact that I might encounter him here, somewhere.
"We're clear," I said quietly as we walked. A part of me wants to try and kill him here, but I know that I don't have the experience or ability to pull something like an assassination off right now.
"I've got your payment from yesterday's quest ready, we just need to stop by my office," she told me as we walked. Right, I had almost forgotten I was meant to get paid.
She led me to her office and stepped inside. The place itself wasn't large by any means, about as big as my guest room, but had swords and shields decorating the walls, a fancy solid wood desk with a sack on it and a bunch of papers, as well as a sword that I assumed was hers leaning on the side of the desk.
"Here you are." She grabbed the sack and handed it to me. "Six captives saved, six hundred gold coins earned," she told me as I took it from her.
I know that Celestine or anyone here wouldn't try to swindle me, but I couldn't help but take a coin out and examine it in the light, looking at how it shined and admiring the detail on it. One side had the image of their Goddess, the other had the crest of the kingdom on it. Or at least, what I assumed was the crest.
"Thank you kindly," I said as I put the coin back in the bag and put the whole thing in my satchel.
"There is one other thing," Leliana said, before grabbing the sword leaning on the desk and presenting it to me. "I am aware of how difficult it is to obtain reliable equipment these days. So I pulled a few strings to get you this." I took it from her arms and slowly pulled it out of its scabbard.
"One of the girls you rescued told me how you lost your original iron sword, that an Orc snapped it in half. I would ask you to not let that happen to this one," she told me as I gave it a few test swings to get a feel for it. "This steel sword has been laying in our armory for a while now. It's a relic from an older time, but it should serve you better than any old iron sword."
Ah, I was wondering why it felt a little heavier than my old one. I sheathed the weapon and put it on my belt. "Thanks."
"You are welcome," she replied simply. "Now that you have been properly rewarded for your efforts, is there anything else I can do for you, Sir James?"
I nodded. "Yeah, could you lead me to the War Room? I was supposed to meet Celestine there after I ate."
She stared at me in shock. "You mean to tell me that Lady Celestine requested your presence, and you decided to make her WAIT?!" Leliana practically exploded before grabbing my arm, and quickly ran out of the office, pulling me behind her.
"Gah!" I exclaimed as I tried my best to keep up "Slow down! She wanted to see me after I ate, I thought it would be fine!"
Leliana didn't respond and solely focused on running down the halls with me in tow. She stopped almost suddenly at a set of two heavy looking doors, and after grabbing my face and bringing it up close for inspection, she fussed over my appearance like a mother would their child, fixing my hair and making sure I don't have any less than presentable smudges on my face from food.
"Okay, you can go in, but do try and be respectful to her Majesty!" Leliana said as she left quickly. "And do not let her know I was the cause of your delay!" she called out as she vanished behind a corner.
A part of me wants to know why she seemed so alarmed. Celestine isn't truly a punishing person, as far as I can tell. She could forgive a little delay like this right?
I took a calming breath and pushed open the doors.
"Ah, Sir James, so wonderful for you to join us," Celestine said as she looked my way, I noticed Claudia was standing next to her. "We were just negotiating the terms of your next assignment." She said in that wonderfully gentle voice.
But who was 'we'?
I got the answer to that question when I looked at the other occupant in the room: a burly man with dark tanned skin, black clothing, a black cape, a single pauldron with a red plate decorated with the symbol of a dog and a sword, a single black gauntlet, and a sword as long as I was tall and half as wide.
I was staring at the bastard himself, the great King of Rape.
Vault: leader of the Black Dogs Mercenaries.
"So, you're this James I've heard so much about?" he asked with a broad and vicious smile. "I look forward to working together."
AN: Hey, it's me… ya boi.
Sorry this chapter took so long to make. I honestly did not expect Christmas and New Years to put such a delay on it.
I know I promised it would have been out by the new year, but it was already so late that I couldn't make the deadline in time.
I won't bore you with all the issues that I have. But next chapter, we should start reaching the actual canon of the hentai, at least the VN. So look forward to that.
Sorry that you guys are going to have to wait a bit longer to meet Olga and Chloe, but good things come to those that wait, right?
Anyways, leave a review, follow/fav if you are so inclined.
I'll see you again next time.
Stay Safe,
Special thanks to LittleWhiteMouse for proofreading this chapter.
