Chapter 11 is here, it took a while because IRL stuff and ADHD is a thing. Thankfully, I plan on making up for it and the first step is doing a double update. One for this one, and one for Sent to Hell.

Anyway, enough talk!

Chapter 11 – A Bear, Some Salt, and A Princess

I don't own anything except some stuff

I woke up early, well before dawn. I carefully removed Chloe's arms wrapped around my waist and tried not to wake her. But it was quite difficult to do so since she is such a cuddler, a fact that I learned just now. I eventually managed to free myself from her and then got dressed.

And then I paused...

I didn't fuck Chloe last night...how the fuck did I miss such an opportunity to perfectly claim this sexy ass Dark Elf as mine?

It's simple, your Gamer System got an update after I finally finished going through it. You got knocked out before you could whip it out.

Seeing the familiar blue screen that I have not seen in quite a long while, I glare at it with narrowed eyes. "Why?" I asked the system, not liking it one bit that I missed out on having some fun with Chloe. I literally got blue balled.

Let's just say that you were getting way too many rewards. Only thing I can do is ensure that future quests will give something less grandiose than lets say a thousand gold coins and an item from a limited boss loot box...and a few changes here and there.

...but I haven't beaten any bosses...especially since my role is purely for support.

Well, let's just call them rare items, shall we?

"Tch."

I'll let you look at the update if you want.

Mentally dismissing the blue screen as soon as I felt movement, I looked down. It was Chloe. Her eyes are open and she's looking at me with a small smile. "Good morning." She greeted, her voice low enough not to echo across the room. I smiled back, kissing her forehead as I put a hand over her shoulder. "Sleep well?"

She nods. "You're warm."

"And you're a cuddler," I slide a finger over her neck, getting a shiver from her.

"I-Is that bad?" She asks, unsure. I shake my head with a light chuckle. "Not at all. I'd actually like that you are comfortable enough to sleep with me." She looks away, blushing a little. I kiss her cheek, feeling her hug me tighter.

"You know," I began, holding her chin to have her look at me. "As much as I enjoy this...you trespassed into my room. I know that you love me, the time we spent in the forest confirmed it." I leaned forward, our lips almost touching. "But I need to know why you're here...especially since there's nothing special in my father, Baron Calarus's lands. If anything, it's the countryside that borders the Dark Queen's lands,"

She serves Olga Discordia, the Dark Queen, but she doesn't need to know that I know. The only thing that I can think of is for Chloe to assassinate my father, which I don't mind. I don't want to end up like Klaus did with his father, Graves.

Being seen as the son of a well known Knight yet being unable to wield the sword had gone badly for Klaus at a young age. Being impotent and unable to impregnate his wife only made it worse. Even now, he is being ridiculed in silence despite being the husband of Claudia Levantine. Even his father is no exception.

That is why I need to make sure that I do not end up the same way. I will take this world by storm with my skillset, even as a Bard that can only support my party and nothing more.

I may be a manipulative bastard but I'm not an idiot.

"I…was..." She pursed her lips, her red eyes looking guilty. I let her gather her thoughts, making sure not to disturb her. She lived as a slave at a young age before young me saved her, there is no need for her to hurry herself.

Eventually, she took a deep breath and faced me. "I was scouting," I narrowed my eyes, urging her to continue. She looks away, her hands tightening their grip on the sheets.

"I was ordered by my Queen to look for suitable settlements to send...excess monsters to their deaths..." I blinked in surprise and in confusion. Didn't expect her to spill the beans on being affiliated with Olga Discordia so soon.

And excess monsters?

"What do you mean?" I asked her as I leaned away slightly. She didn't look me in the eyes, instead her gaze was focused on the bedsheets. "My Queen, the Dark Queen, has been trying to cut the population of monsters by sending them to their deaths by attacking villages, castles, anything that we can use to kill as many monsters as possible. She does not want to resort to it, but the situation calls for it." She said with a grim tone.

"I was ordered to find settlements near the border of the Badlands to be used as 'bait' so to speak." Her eyes looked at me apologetically. "Your father is a renowned Knight and even Esdeath the Ice Queen serves as your personal Bodyguard, so I figured that this is the perfect place to send those disgusting creatures to their deaths."

I blinked, frowning.

"When will they arrive?" There's no time to lose. This will be my first serious battle that is unrelated to bandits and needs to go perfectly. Otherwise, I'll have a very hard time building my reputation in this world. I might not be able to fight, but I sure as hell can provide support and even lead with my high CHA stat.

She shook her head. "Four at least, but it might be a week with the terrain." She said quietly. "Even with all the monsters at our disposal, we have to prepare ourselves. We do not know how many humans live here after all."

"And you will report it sometime soon, right? If you were planning to scout this land in preparation for the attack then you would need to deliver the report immediately, yes?"

She nods, "It won't take long."

I pursed my lips before nodding to myself. "The mercenaries, militia, and my father's Knights should be enough. There's even the former bandits that I took under my wing recently." My lips curled into a smile. "So long as nothing smart is leading those monsters, I'm sure it'll be fine."

"But still..." She whispers, holding onto me. "I don't care about humans, you're different!" She buries her face against my chest, making me feel the heat from her cheeks.

"You saved me! You gave me hope when you freed me from his...his..." She grits her teeth, tears pricking her eyes. "He hurt me so much…you're the only one who had ever treated me right after my mother's death. You and my Queen." Her voice lowers to a whisper as she says that. "I...just want you to be safe. Please be safe, Abhainn."

I smiled at her, stroking her hair gently before kissing her forehead. "I promise I will, Chloe. I am a Bard, the least threatening person in the battlefield, you know."

"And that's even more of a reason to worry,"

I chuckled softly, leaning forward to kiss her again. She didn't move back or even try to stop me as I did so.

Until now, I find it funny that a woman like her can be tamed so easily with just a few loving words. But I guess it's because she really was mistreated during her childhood, and that I saved her when she was enslaved. A beautiful Dark Elf at that too, which adds to her value.

Ah fuck...I want to stick my dick in her now.

Unfortunately, I still have quite a bit to do before the day ends. First, I need to check the new update, there's also the Companion Gem that I got, then I need to inspect the militia and knights, and then there's the salt business that I intend to start. Granted I need to wait for the workers to arrive.

"Abhainn, you're..." She blushed slightly, my bulge poking at her toned stomach.

Fuck...maybe I can get a blowjob out of this...

As if reading my mind, she leaned closer and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek before lowering her head and pulling my pants down with her teeth.

"Mmmng..." She took in the scent of my cock, inhaling it like a drug as she looked up to me with sultry eyes. Then, she licked my shaft slowly, dragging her tongue along its length before giving my balls a slow lick, earning another groan from me.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as she grasped my length and began to stroke it while her tongue danced around the tip. I let out a loud sigh as I savored the feeling of her warm mouth wrapped around my hard member.

Her tongue continued to work its magic on my cock, licking all over the sensitive parts and teasing the underside of my head. It felt so good every time she swirled her tongue, I could feel the pleasure build up inside me until it threatened to burst forth from my loins. "So hard," she pauses, brushing her a few strands of her hair off her face, kissing the tip, and running her palm up and down the underside of my shaft. "So hot..."

"All for me,"

Her lips wrap around my shaft, sucking and lapping her tongue expertly along the veins and ridges of my girth. Her saliva covers my dick entirely, making it easier for her to stroke and suck on me. Her hands slid down and entwined her digits against my girth, stroking it as she sucks.

With my size, I wouldn't be surprised if she slowed down a tiny bit...but she didn't. She has no issues working with my cock, slobbering it with her spit and worshipping it with her tongue.

I groaned as I felt her hand tighten and jerk me faster every few seconds. She wants my cum; she may no longer be a slave but her experience in handling men hasn't left her. Her skill is like that of a whore's and it shows as she continues to pump and lick my length without breaking the rhythm. "Uuuh!" My hips buck forward, pushing my member deep into her throat as I felt a surge of pleasure shoot through me.

"MMNHHH!" She moans, taking all of my length in her mouth and continuing to suck hard. She sucks and swirls her tongue around my head, making sure to stimulate every part of my member.

Her lips are getting closer to the base of my cock as her lust grows and her chin moves upward. Chloe is craving the taste of my cock, and with every drag of her tongue, it gets heavier but shorter.

After a while, she pulls back with a wet pop. Her hand still wrapped around my cock, she stares at me. "I'm not a slave anymore...but I feel like its my duty to milk you dry!" She kisses my throbbing length, dragging her tongue along it. "It's like...an addiction now. A need." She looks at me with eyes full of lust as she pumps me harder.

She goes back to sucking me off again. Her tongue swirling around my cockhead while her lips and mouth bobbing up and down my shaft. "Mmmmhnng..." The Dark Elf girl lets out a muffled moan as she bobs her head up and down, sucking hungrily on my meat stick.

I let out a hiss, my hips buck up and I throw my head back, and yet Chloe doesn't relent, keeping her lips wrapped tightly around my length. Her throat refuses to release its grip on my shaft, her lips tighten their hold on me, and her tongue keeps working its magic on my cockhead.

I can't stop myself from moaning in pleasure as I feel my body tense up. My cock twitches and pulsates in her mouth, sending waves of ecstasy coursing through me.

"Oh fuck," I gasp.

I hear her muffled moan clearly, her hands hugging my waist as she starts to facefuck herself on my dick, her cheeks hollowing with every movement. Every lewd slurp she made grows louder and deafens me, echoing inside my room as she continues her assault on my cock. For someone who's supposed to be submissive, she can be assertive with what she wants and right now, she wants my cum.

I look down at her, her face is flushed red and her cheeks are hollowed as she sucks and licks my cock with increased vigor. "Oooh~!" I groan as I thrust my hips upward and grab her by the back of her head, forcing her mouth deeper onto me.

She takes it all eagerly, letting me control her movements as she sucks and slurps on my cock. "Ahhhaahhhh..." I let out a long, low growl as I feel my orgasm building up in my balls. My eyes roll up to the back of my skull as I arch my back and throw my head back, feeling the pleasure building up inside my balls.

She moans, the vibrations made me let out a throaty groan, her response is just to wrap her tongue around my length, edging me closer to my orgasm. She gently strokes my thighs, getting a shiver from me as she pulls back slightly, angling herself to make eye-contact with me. The moment we did, I felt her lips loosen and her tongue slip away from my tip before she took me all in once more, letting me know what she wants: my cum.

With a groan that I barely held back, I give Chloe what she wants as she slowly pulls back. "Mmmnghh!" My fingers tightened against her blond hair, trying to keep her down. I felt my strength leave me with every pump of my cum.

Cheeks bloated with cum, Chloe slowly pulls away, letting the rest of my cum splatter against her tanned skin. Looking up at me, she swallows masterfully, not even letting a single drop drip past her lips. "Mmm...Abhainn's cum..." She parts her lips, showing me my own jizz coating her teeth before closing them again to lick everything clean.

"C-Chloe...fuck..." I pant as she continued to suck and swirl her tongue around my length. Even after shooting my load into her mouth, she refused to let go until she had sucked every last bit of seed from my dick. "You're so good at this..."

She smiles, nuzzling my shaft lovingly, her cheeks brushing against it. "Nnmgh...that was delicious." She purred, leaning forward to kiss my cock. "Y-Yeah...thanks, Chloe..." I mutter as I hold her cheek.

I may not have fucked her sexy Dark Elf ass yet but a blowjob is enough to tide me over. Hell, I haven't fucked anyone for weeks when I first got in this world, only settling for Esdeath's blowjobs until I got to pop Prim's cherry. Fucking Chloe can wait, I need to prepare for when the monster horde comes.

Wiping some sweat off my brow, I turned to Chloe. "You're going to have to report to your Queen about your findings soon, right?" I asked her. She nods before giving my cock another lick, making me wince.

"Yes," she gives me a worried look. "So please, prepare well. Monsters are disgusting creatures, but there will be those that might prove troublesome. I don't want you to die..."

I gave her a grin before booping her nose. "Trust me, Chloe. I'll be fine. And so long as Esdeath is here, I'm sure nothing bad will happen to me or anyone else in this castle." My face softens, "and besides, at best I'll be commanding the militia and Knights while using my magic to support them. Nothing more, nothing less."

Chloe doesn't look convinced. "Still-"

"You should get going now, Chloe," I interrupted, holding her hand. "If you stay any longer, someone might find out that you snuck in and I'd rather not deal with that mess. Everyone knows I have Grace, a Dark Elf, serving me as my personal maid. But I cannot cover for you easily if you get caught," I frowned slightly. "My father already figured out that I had taken some bandits under my protection. I may be lucky, but I'd rather not push it."

"Okay," she mutters quietly. "Then I'll come back again later tonight. Until then, I shall take my leave." Standing up, she dresses herself. Then, she turns to me one last time. "I'll see you later, Abhainn." She kisses my cheek before opening the windows and jumping down.

The moment I looked outside, I saw her body disappear into the trees.

Sighing, I quickly opened the annoying blue screen that stopped me from fucking Chloe last night.

'Let's see...Titles are removed, they are instead counted as Perks. That's fine.' I thought as I went through the 'patch'.

"Gold and EXP from rewards are nerfed, ouch. [Observe] has changed and is now at max level, nice and...huh, that's all?" I hummed as I read through the patch notes. I am not a fan of the gold and EXP nerf, especially seeing as my life is at risk even if I'm in a hentai world. Thankfully, I am going to build a salt business, so I guess it's fine.

But honestly, why do I care? With how things are going right now, I'm more or less fine with the current state of my system. Though it would be nice to get free cash sometimes, that shit is just way too convenient...then again, I do have an unlimited amount of salt thanks to [Salt, The Saltiest Salt Shaker].

Speaking of items, I still have that Companion Gem. I'll need to go to a secluded area to summon that companion. Normally, I would be cautious, but since the companion is ranked E, its probably gonna be someone that's useless in a fight. For protection, I will only need the best wolfy, Ōkami, around.

Well, since I have time, might as well take a bath first.

1 hour later...

After taking a bath and playing my flute, I stand on a clearing in a secluded spot in the forest with Ōkami right beside me. Holding the Companion Gem containing the E ranked Companion, I held it out and activated it.

The gem shines before floating away from my hand and hovering several feet off the ground. I watched as it started to shine, blinding both me and Ōkami. And then...

THUD!

Acting quickly, Ōkami got in front, growling as a large brown furred creature appeared before us...and it was nothing more than a very large brown bear. Seeing the beast, I raised a brow. So this is my E ranked companion? A brown bear that looks like it can crush me in one swing if it wanted to? It at least looks like it can take on some monsters like Goblins and maybe an Orc. "This is..." I slowly approached the bear, my lips narrowed as I kept my eyes on the beast.

"Now that I look at you...you're bigger than the bears I saw in the woods last time I was here." If it stands, this thing is as big as a horse-no wait, it's bigger than that, and that's what makes this dangerous. "And you're strong enough to take down orcs by yourself, aren't you?" I ask rhetorically. "I bet your fur would fetch a good price for armor, but that would be a waste,"

I stopped a few steps away from the bear, staring at it as I held my hand out to touch its head. There are no signs of aggression so far, though it's wary of me and Ōkami. That's fine, I don't mind having something that can be considered a living weapon as my companion. "Welcome to the team."

"Mmmnggh!" The bear lets out a groan as I stroked its snout. It didn't push me away nor did it lash out, just making the same groaning sounds as I petted its fluffy ears. "Aren't you a nice bear?" I smile as I patted the big guy's cheek. "Can you stand for me? I want to see how big you really are."

It obeys immediately, standing on its hind legs and revealing that it is about the same height as a carriage. "Holy...fuck, you're huge." Its strength should be enough to take on multiple opponents, which means I found the perfect mount for a Bard like me that is capable of taming beasts...and it's a male...

I scratched the bear's neck, getting a grunt from the large beast. "I wonder...what should I name you?" I ask myself with a small smile, admiring the brown bear. Glancing at Ōkami, I pursed my lips before it curled into a small grin.

"Pat," The newly named Pat looked at me as if it was raising its brows. "I'm not calling you Brown Bear or anything stupid like that. Your name is now Pat. Don't give me that look, you were supposed to be called that."

Pat the Brown Bear, snorted before sitting back down on its hind legs.

"Now that I have you...[Observe]..."

Pat

Perks: [None]

Level: 20

HP: 1500/1500

Status: [None]

Thoughts about you: Amused, happy

I hummed as I took a mental note about [Observe]. For one, it will still only show me the HP, and MP if it's applicable. Two, Perks have replaced titles. Three, status is a new one with obvious benefits. And lastly...now that I think about it, I barely use this skill at all unless it's an important character that I need to check up on. Hell, I didn't even use it on Risty, Leone, Helga, and their fellow bandits when they attacked me.

'Well," I pursed my lips before sighing. "I might as well get used to it. This isn't going to change anytime soon...and besides, I've got more things to do than play around with Pat and Ōkami." I said as I turned to leave. But then I paused, turning to them again. "C'mon you two, time to introduce Pat to the others." I went around Pat and hopped on his back.

It was soft, comfortable, and warm. It is perfect for long trips in the wilderness and can handle a man's weight. As for a saddle...it's comfortable enough, but I'll have to buy one later since I want to make sure I don't fall off while riding him. Anna, the redhead shopkeep, probably has some enchanted ones...that are more than likely overpriced.

"Okay," I turn to Ōkami who's looking up at me questioningly. "I know he's big, but I want to see if you can ride Ōkami. We're gonna go for a run so try to keep up." Ōkami nods before leaping onto Pat's back. It's not like there was a problem seeing as Pat was huge compared to the average wolf.

Looking ahead, I pat Pat on the neck. "Alright buddy, we're not in the deep parts of the forest, but I want to see how fast you are." I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around the bear's neck. "Go!"

Pat lets out a roar and dashes through the trees with incredible speed, causing me to hold on tighter and for Ōkami to press its body against my back.

The wind blew past my face and the scenery blurred by us as Pat sprinted. He did not slow down or stop until we reached the castle gates. Only then did he slow down, panting slightly as I blinked, a small smile formed from my lips. Approvingly patting his side, I got off him, watching the awe and fear from a pair of guards guarding the gate.

New recruits, probably...or maybe it's because Pat is really large and menacing, it's a well known fact that I have had Ōkami since I was young. But Ōkami is a wolf, and Pat is a bear that is larger than normal. The fact that he is running towards anyone at all would be terrifying, even if the person isn't exactly hostile.

"M-Milord...thats..." One guard gulped, his sword held out defensively. "He's with me," I told him with a casual wave. "So stand down."

"Yes, Milord."

I look at Pat before smiling slightly, "Find my personal maid, Grace, tell her that I'm looking for her." I ordered one of the guards. "While you're at it, inform my father of my new companion."

The guard nodded, bowing before he dashed off into the castle. Glancing at Ōkami, I kneeled and patted his head with a soft smile. "I assume Esdeath is training Risty and the others, lead me to them and I'll have Grace buy some extra fresh cuts from the village's market."

Ōkami perks up immediately at the mention of food and sniffs the air, preparing to guide me through the courtyard around the castle. I turn to Pat as I start following Ōkami. "C'mon, big guy." I smile as I hear his footsteps as I follow Ōkami.

Despite being a Baron, my father has made it so that our castle is big enough to accommodate plenty of soldiers, servants, barracks, and even training fields. Shouldn't be surprised given how my father is a Knight renowned throughout the kingdom for his feats.

Eventually, we reached one of the many fields where Knights were doing their usual training, swinging their swords against wooden posts, targets, or each other. Some even train in horseback riding, which makes sense considering the importance of cavalry. And since Pat is with me, most of the Knights, especially the newer ones, are staring at me.

But I ignored them as there is a group of people that caught my eye the most, mostly because they were the ones who attacked me last time and their features are easily recognizable. After all, being dressed with fur, leather, and a few steel plates is pretty much a dead giveaway.

Most of them are wearing light armor compared to the metal ones worn by the knights, with the female knights wearing steel bikini armor, which are probably enchanted.

Their weapons are clearly made from quality steel, even if the craftsmanship is lacking, though they seem to be taking it easy when it comes to the durability of their weapons.

Esdeath herself was just standing still, watching over them with a stern expression as she crossed her arms beneath her chest. No malice or disdain was coming from her, but she wasn't showing any form of pride or respect either. Instead, she was focused on her task of supervising and keeping an eye out for the former bandits.

"Esdeath,"

Only once did she hear my voice did her eyes land upon me, her stern expression softening slightly. "Lord Abhainn." She greeted me, walking towards me. "What brings yo-" She pauses, her eyes widened slightly upon seeing Pat. "A bear..." It was only for a quick second, but Esdeath's grin was very savage-like.

"As expected of my lord..." She mutters, licking her lips as she looks at Pat.

"Is something the matter?"

She snapped out of whatever trance she fell into and cleared her throat. "Ah, nothing...I am merely surprised to see your newest companion. You had left the castle with Ōkami yet you came back with a large brown bear. What happened during the time you were gone?"

"I came upon Pat right here while I was wandering around the forest," I said, rubbing my hands against Pat's fur. "After that, I decided to tame him and make use of his size. I don't know what exactly I'll do with him, but I'm sure he can prove useful one way or another."

Pat lets out a growl, agreeing with me.

"I see, that is good to hear." Esdeath nods before turning her attention to Ōkami, who looked eager for some food. "Now, why have you called for me? If you wish to join our training then I must warn you that the equipment may not suit your needs." I snort in reply. "Goddess no! I am ill suited for combat, you know that, Esdeath."

She laughs in amusement, patting my shoulder. "Come now, Lord Abhainn. I jest, I am well aware of your talents and weaknesses. I simply thought that I would bring up the topic should you show any desire to train."

"I suppose I should thank you for that," I replied sarcastically, earning a smirk from her. "However, I merely wish to see how Risty and the others are fairing for their first day of training."

"Glad to see you care, boss." Leone chuckled before wincing as she held her side. "I heal fast...but still, she hits like an Ogre, ouch."

Helga glared at her fellow bandit, jabbing her elbow at her ribs. "Shut it, Leone." She hissed, rolling her eyes.

Leone shrugs, unfazed by her comrade's words. "It's true!"

I smiled softly. "How are you guys holding up?"

"Sore and bruised all over, but we're alive...for now at least." Risty grumbled, flexing her arms as she rolled her shoulders.

'[Observe]'

Risty

Perks: [Bandit of the Wild]

Level: 27

HP: 869/950

Status: [None]

Thoughts about you: Thankful for taking them in

Leone

Perks: [Lionel's Descendant]

Level: 25

HP: 1073/1200

Status: [None]

Thoughts about you: Relieved that you came to stop the training

Helga

Perks: [Amazonian]

Level: 31

HP: 972/1000

Status: [None]

Thoughts about you: None

With their perks, I'm surprised with how their HPs are...all over the place despite their levels. But then again, Leone's a lion Halfkin. Very different from Halflings like Ruu-Ruu. And Helga's a tall woman that uses her axe that is very well maintained.

The former bandits all look healthy, even if they're sweating and breathing heavily. There's a new light in their eyes that wasn't there before, which is most likely because they've been given a purpose other than attacking travelers to help the orphanage at Feoh.

"Do you need something?" Helga asks with a raised brow.

"Nothing at the moment," I paused before smiling as I lifted my flute and licked my lips. With some of them having bruises, there's only one thing for me to do as I prepare to play one of my skills as a Bard, [Song of Harmony] on them. "Just doing my role as your benefactor,"

"Wait, what?"

I ignored them and began playing my flute, activating [Song of Harmony]. A soft, melodic tune comes from my instrument, filling the air and spreading across the entire field. Everyone stopped and turned their heads towards me as they heard my music, each of them looking at me curiously.

As the song continued, everyone seemed to relax and smile as though nothing was wrong anymore. Unsurprisingly, their bruises started healing as well. Everyone in the field smiled and relaxed, but also looked confused at the same time.

"Wow..." Leone muttered, her body relaxing as her eyes drooped. "This feels great...!" She said happily, grinning widely as she stretched her arms. "I feel refreshed!" She exclaimed, jumping up and down excitedly. "Like I could fight another thousand Orcs and come out alive! I might even kill them with just a single punch!"

[+10 Reputation with Risty!]

[Risty – 30/100 Reputation]

[+20 Reputation with Leone!]

[Leone – 40/100 Reputation]

[+17 Reputation with Helga!]

[Helga – 37/100 Reputation]

"If you're feeling like that, then you can continue your training." Esdeath said with a wide smirk. Leone paused, her lion ears drooping as she hid behind me, pressing her large tits against my back. "B-But boss healed us! Doesn't that mean we can take a break a little more?"

"Heh, no need to worry. If you're really that scared of me, then why not ask our Lord to heal you again? He won't refuse, especially when it means you can better yourselves as his personal bodyguards." She chuckles, earning a glare from Risty. "That's easy for you to say. But still, I must thank you, Lord Abhainn, for your kindness."

Esdeath chuckles. "While I am strong, my own men and I cannot always be with my Lord. In the event that he is attacked, I'd rather have him surrounded by guards that are loyal to him. That way, it'll lessen the chances of assassination attempts." She glances at Ōkami and Pat. "Even with my Lord's pets, I can only provide so much protection. So long as you three and your fellows work hard, you shall earn a place among our ranks." She chuckled. "Well, considering that my Lord has taken you lot under his wing, I expect that it won't be long before you join us."

The three women looked surprised at her statement but nodded regardless. "Former bandits you may be, the fact remains that your intentions were good. And besides, if I can tame a bear like Pat here," I nudged my head towards the big brown furry friend. "Then I can take you in and make use of your talents."

"Talents, eh?" Helga chuckled as she hefted her battle axe against her shoulder. "As long as you keep supporting the orphanage and as long as you don't stab us in the back, then we'll serve you until death."

Risty nods. "As long as the kids back in Feoh are fine, then you will have no problem with us." She glanced at her band of former bandit companions. "The only reason we ever started attacking travelers was because we needed food and money. Even then, we did our best to ensure that no one died during those times...and thankfully, we succeeded every time." She looked away guiltily. "I hope you can forgive us for everything...m...milord."

"Apology accepted," I said with a small grin. "You all care for the orphans and sisters in that orphanage, and for that, I am thankful. You're willing to protect them with your lives, and for that alone, I see no reason not to accept you into my fold."

Risty blinks before smiling slightly. "Thank you for understanding, milord."

"If that's all then I shall return to overseeing the training of these knights and bandits," Esdeath declared. "Though, there is something I wish to ask of you, Lord Abhainn."

"What is it?" I turned to her, gulping silently as soon as I noticed her smirk. "I do not remember you having two Dark Elves serving you," she said, referring to Grace and Chloe. "In fact, I only remember Grace being the only one," she hums playfully. "I do remember seeing her in the forest with you in the past. Why, she was rather adorable with how you kept spoiling her with your loving attention. Tell me, is she your favorite pet, Lord Abhainn?"

"She isn't a pet!" I hissed defensively, earning a chuckle from Esdeath. "I understand, Lord Abhainn. My apologies for assuming otherwise." She bowed respectfully, though her lips were still curled upwards. "Forgive my rudeness, but might I know their name? She must be very special if you chose to bring her here today."

I didn't bring her in, she snuck into my room last night. Hell, I won't be surprised if Esdeath knew about it already. As for her name...well, she hasn't told anyone else yet so I guess I can tell her. "Her name's Chloe." I muttered.

Esdeath raises a brow. "Chloe, is it? Hmmm~" She hummed thoughtfully. "A cute name for an armed Dark Elf assassin." I stared at her with narrowed eyes.

She better drop it. The last thing I need is my father finding out that Chloe, a Dark Elf, has infiltrated the castle and made herself comfortable in my room.

"Very well," Esdeath claps her hands together and turns to Risty and the others. "Enough dilly-dallying! Back to training with the lot of you!" She snapped, causing all three women to flinch. "Yes ma'am!" They cried out simultaneously before running back to their respective groups, who had started warming up again after resting from my music.

Walking towards Esdeath, I grabbed her wrist and stared at her in the eyes. "You better keep your lips shut around my father, Esdeath. I won't have Chloe get in trouble just because you decided to be mischievous." She chuckled in reply. "As you wish...although I do wish for compensation from you, my Lord."

I rolled my eyes, "I will take you to my bed tonight." The only way for me to beat Esdeath is by fucking her. Unfortunately, my END is not up to it just yet.

Oh, I can't wait for the day when I have enough END to outfuck Esdeath.

She giggles as she leans in and whispers in my ear, "Then I shall see you in your chambers later on," she purred, her breasts pressing against my chest. "Be sure to prepare yourself for what's to come. It's going to be quite a long night, and I plan to milk every drop of cum out of you before sunrise." She kissed me deeply, her tongue invading my mouth without any hesitation.

When she pulled away, she licked the string of saliva connecting us before smirking. "Enjoy the rest of your day, Lord Abhainn," she said seductively before walking off, leaving me standing there dumbfounded as I noticed the various servants and Knights staring at me.

"Great, rumors...just great..." I muttered, sighing tiredly as I facepalmed. Out of all the times for Esdeath to get all horny, it had to be now of all times. At least she's smart enough to make it sound like we're lovers and not a lord fucking his subordinate. That would be a PR nightmare. Especially since I need to build a good reputation...

"My Lord!" I blink, a familiar voice bringing me out of my stupor. Grace, dressed in her maid dress that hugs her figure tightly, approaches me before bowing. "I have heard that you asked for me? Is there anything you require?"

"Ah, yes," I said, patting Pat and Ōkami's heads. "Buy the finest cuts of meat," I glance to Pat, "and fish for our newest friends. Then bring them back here." Putting my hand inside my cloak, I mentally grabbed 500 gold coins from my inventory before bringing it out in the form of a sack full of gold coins.

"Here, this should cover everything," I told her, handing her the bag of coins. "Th-This is heavy, milord! Are you sure it's okay to give all of this to me?!" She exclaims in shock. "More than sure," I smiled, grabbing her chin to look at me. "And besides, it's better to have more than less. I can't have my personal maid walk around with anything less." My smile shifted into a melancholic one. "Especially since you balance your duties as my maid and as a friend to poor Anna."

Grace blushes, averting her gaze from me. "I...you flatter me too much, milord." She looked away. "And Anna is...she is doing better," her cheeks flushed heavily. "I-I apologize if I cannot be with you all the time as of late, but I am concerned about her well-being." I waved it off with a shake of my head. "Your friend is mourning the loss of her husband. As I said last night, I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to put your duties above her when she needs you most."

She looks down, fiddling nervously. "But still...I want to do both at the same time...at least until she feels better." Her eyes met mine once again. "If you will allow me to, of course, milord."

"I already gave you permission, Grace." I said bluntly. "So long as you keep up with your work as my maid and continue looking after Anna, then I see no reason to stop you." I gave her a small grin. "In fact, I might even sneak out another bottle of wine for you two to enjoy later tonight. You know, just so the two of you can bond even more."

Her face reddens as she shakes her head vigorously. "No thank you! One bottle was enough! I-It felt good but...it made us both act...well..." She blushed heavily, covering her mouth as she tried to hide her embarrassment. "You get what I mean."

"Oh, I do, Grace." I chuckle. "But think of it as a way to heal Anna's heart. It might not be the best, but alcohol tends to numb the pain for a while. If that's what it takes for her to recover, then I say that's a worthy investment." Grace nods slowly. "Thank you, my Lord...I appreciate it very much."

"Anytime, Grace." I replied, turning to Pat and Ōkami. "In fact, I think I'll have them both accompany you to the market. Let them pick what they want the most," I grinned, feeling Ōkami lick my hand while Pat just growls in approval. "Looks like they're happy with that idea."

"Well then, it seems we have a shopping trip to make!" Grace announced enthusiastically. "Shall we?" She asked, bowing slightly towards me. "Go on ahead," I smiled. "I will remain here in the castle," I turn to Ōkami and Pat, "be good to her, understand?" I pat their heads before watching them walk off.

'Now then," I mentally opened my skills and took a look at [Song of Harmony].

[Song of Harmony] [Level 4]

Heals allies by 100, scales with level.

It's the first time I used my skills, from level 1 to 4, it's probably because there's a lot of people here in the field training...probably should have used it back when Risty and the others attacked us. Trying to juggle strategies and healing will be taking a lot of getting used to. For now, I need to focus on building the salt business and the monster attack that will occur in 4 days. Hopefully, the terrain will slow down the attack as Chloe told me about.

Walking through the courtyard, I paused as I eyed a building on a hill. It's nothing special, just a building that will be used for storing my salt. The hill is near the village, which means it's perfectly safe. "Haven't visited it since I bought it...guess today's as good a day as any."

Making my way to the building, which is just 3 minutes of walking, give or take, I arrived at the front door and turned the knob. With a soft creak, I entered the building. Inside are rows of shelves, barrels, crates, boxes, and even some benches. There are no windows, but there's plenty of torches hanging on the walls to keep everything lit up.

The floor was made of stone tiles, making it easy to clean if anything spilled over. I didn't go past the doorway, instead choosing to sit on one of the benches and lean against the wall. Taking out [Salt, The Saltiest Salt Shaker] from my inventory, I removed the lid and walked over to one of the many barrels.

The good thing about this place is that it's not dusty, so I can just use my infinite saltshaker without worrying about the environment. It doesn't seem like anyone has been here ever since I purchased the place, which makes sense considering that there aren't any guards here to protect it from thieves.

Surprisingly, filling the barrel with salt didn't take long, only about 2 minutes tops. After that, I went on to do the same thing with all the other barrels until they were full. It'll take some time for the workers to get here, especially since my family is bordered by mountains. But once they start bringing the salt into the town, that's when the money starts flowing in.

Once I finished filling the last barrel, I put my shaker away and wiped my forehead with a sigh. "Alright," I muttered to myself. "Now to wait for the workers that Anna hired and to see how I can inform my father that a monster is gonna be attacking in a few days without exposing Chloe or sounding crazy."

Frowning, I left the building before putting my fingers on my lips. Blowing a short whistle, I stared at the forest, waiting. There's one way for me to inform my father without making it suspicious, but I will have to convince my father in person. I'm a Bard. I am capable of convincing people, but trying to convince my father that an attack will happen in a few days is going to be difficult. Mostly because I am his son that, in his eyes, never made the effort to be anything but a Bard.

HOOT!

I smile softly as I see a white owl descend from the sky, landing right in front of me. "Hey girl," I greeted, rubbing her head affectionately. "How was your night?" The owl hooted happily before rubbing against my leg. "Yeah? Me too." I chuckled as I brought out some paper, a quill, and a jar of ink.

"Write a report using these papers about the monster attack. Their numbers, what monsters there are, and your estimates on how long it'll take them to reach us..." I pause before pursing my lips and shaking my head. "Esdeath will be visiting me later tonight, forgive me but we will have to postpone our playtime. I need you to stay hidden inside the forests for a little while longer. I don't want her finding you and asking more questions, or worse." I wrote it down on the paper before handing it to the owl. "Find a blond Dark Elf hiding in the woods and give it to her. Make sure no one sees you."

The owl gave a single hoot before taking off again, flying towards the direction of the forest. Once she disappeared into the trees, I sighed and turned around to face my home. "Now then, how should I enjoy the rest of my day?" I asked myself with a cheerful grin as I stretched my arms over my head and turned to the forest.

"Home or forest?" I hummed, looking between the castle and forest. "Well, there is nothing much to do back at the castle, so the forest it is! Not like I'll be in danger since the forest animals love me!" With those words, I walked opposite the village and started heading towards the forest.

Pat and Ōkami are going to be gone for a while, but since my wolf loves running around in the forest, I'm sure they can find me easily. The fact that its been a while since I spent time with him helps. Ōkami is a good boy, the best boy, even if he likes licking my cheek too much. And Pat, well, I think it'd be fun to take a nap on his furry body. It was comfortable, after all.

Now then, where should I play my flute to relax?

30 minutes later, Catue POV

"Mother! Get behind me!" She brought out her greatsword, facing the monsters suddenly appearing while wandering the woods. Catue stood protectively in front of her mother, holding her greatsword firmly.

"Catue!" Her mother whimpered, seeing the grotesque monsters leering at them. The fact that many of them are wearing nothing, showing off their disgusting cocks and their clear desire to rape them, only served to increase her fear. And the stench that is somehow worse than those of their Kingdom's Pig Clan, does not help in the slightest.

Her daughter merely tightened her grip on her sword, standing her ground in front of her despite the danger. "Don't worry, mother. I will protect you," she declared bravely. "I will not let anything happen to you."

She looked into the eyes of the monsters, glaring fiercely as she pointed her weapon at them. "If you want her, you must go through me first!" She growled, her voice echoing throughout the forest. "Know that I am not someone who surrenders easily. So either back away or die!"

One of the monsters, a large brutish green humanoid creature, took a step forward. "Kweh kweh!" It sneered, grinning menacingly at them. Its yellow teeth were clearly visible, making both women cringe at the sight. "Women! Good! Make good breeding slaves!" It laughed before pointing at Catue with an ugly finger. "Breeding bitch! Breeding slave!" It shouted, snorting as it eyed Catue lustfully. "Take you! Breed!"

It licked its lips, causing Catue to narrow her eyes as she readied her blade. "Then come at me! I won't allow any of you filth to touch my mother!" She snarled angrily. She would never forgive them if they dared hurt her mother. Even if she had to fight tooth and nail to keep them away, Catue was determined to protect the only person she managed to save from Ginyol's clutches from their former world.

"Come at me, monster!" She roared before charging towards them. Her mother watched with wide eyes, horrified by what she just heard. She was about to yell at her daughter to run, but her words died in her throat as soon as she saw her daughter effortlessly cutting down several monsters with ease. Their blood splattered across the trees, staining the grass red as she continued slaughtering the foul creatures.

However, those monsters were merely the smaller ones, fodder for those that follow. They were nothing more than cannon-fodders, and despite their numbers dwindling, they still charge head on, intent on violating them.

"Hah! Women for fucking!" The ogre snorted, swinging its club at Catue. "Get out of our way!" Catue narrowly dodged the attack, but she couldn't avoid getting hit by a goblin that slammed against her stomach with its club. The impact made her gasp before quickly stabbing the goblin's throat. However, before she could recover, another Goblin smacked her back with its club, causing her to fall onto the ground.

She winced, holding her side as she glared up at the goblins surrounding her. "You bastards! I'll kill you all!" She yelled, gripping her greatsword tightly before swinging in a circular motion. The sharp blade slashed through every monster within range, cleaving them in half while knocking over several others. Blood sprayed everywhere, staining everything nearby crimson as Catue rose to her feet.

Her muscles ached, yet she refused to give in. "Die!" She shouted, striking out again, managing to leave a deep gash to an orc that tried to sneak behind her. It let out a cry of pain before collapsing on the ground, clutching its chest as it struggled to breathe through its bloodied mouth.

The other monsters seemed intimidated by her ferocity, backing away slowly while keeping their distance. None of them wanted to risk being killed, especially when the only reason they're attacking is because they want a quick fuck.

Catue glanced to the side, seeing her mother trembling fearfully. She looks back at the monsters before clenching her fist and gritting her teeth. "Above you!" Her eyes widened as she rolled to the side to dodge a fireball.

"Keheheheh!" A small group of flying imps cackled, their bat wings flapping rapidly as they hovered above the two women. One of them grinned maliciously, showing off its sharp fangs as it shot another fireball at Catue.

She immediately threw herself to the ground, rolling to safety as the fiery projectile missed her completely. However, before she could get back up, the Goblins charged at her once again, forcing her to stand up and face them head on.

As soon as she was on her feet, she swung her sword again, decapitating a goblin before kicking its head towards another. "Damned monsters!" She cursed, ducking beneath a goblin's club before slamming her elbow into its chin. The creature fell backwards, landing on its back while holding its broken jaw.

More goblins swarmed around her, trying to overwhelm her. But she refused to let them touch her, much less get close enough for them to grab hold of her body. Every time they got near, she would strike them down with her weapon, using her blade and fist whenever needed.

Another goblin lunged forward with its claws extended, aiming right at her chest.

CLANG!

"Kuh!" She grit her teeth, managing to block the attack with her gauntlet before delivering a swift punch into its face, breaking its nose in the process. It reeled back, clutching its bloody snout as it whimpered pitifully.

But she didn't stop there. Instead, she continued pummeling the monster relentlessly. After punching it several more times, she finishes it off by stabbing it straight through the heart with her greatsword.

Blood splattered everywhere as she pulled the blade out from the dying creature. It crumpled to the ground, lying still as blood pooled beneath it. "Hah, I won't...I won't fall to filth like you," she said breathlessly, wiping away some sweat from her brow.

A loud roar interrupted her thoughts as the ogre charged forward with its club raised high, ready to crush Catue. Its eyes burned with rage and hatred, clearly furious over losing so many of its minions.

Catue narrowed her eyes, staring at the beast head-on before stepping forwards towards it. "I've had enough of you bastards!" She yelled furiously, swinging her sword horizontally across the ogre's chest. The ogre, with surprising speed, moved to block the sword with its club...

SLASH!

"Gurgh!" Only for said club to be split in two as the sword easily sliced through it, cutting deeply into the ogre's torso. The monster let out a cry of agony, stumbling backwards while clutching its wound tightly. Blood poured freely from the injury, staining the grass below crimson.

Using the momentum, Catue quickly followed up with an upward swing, slicing through its arm, causing blood to spray out. The ogre collapsed onto its knees, looking up at her with wide eyes.

"Filthy beasts!" She panted before quickly decapitating its head from its body. The corpse falls down and doesn't move anymore, letting out one last gurgled groan. Gulping in the air, she turned to look at the imps flying above them. They seemed hesitant about attacking her after seeing how easily she defeated an ogre that stood at 8 feet tall.

With her mother behind her, she glared at them, "If you dare come closer, I will not hesitate to kill you." She snarled threateningly, causing them to back off slightly.

One of them, however, snorted in disbelief. "You think you can scare us?" It cackled mockingly, flapping its wings aggressively. "We still outnumber you ten to one!" It screeched angrily before launching a fireball directly towards her. Catue dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding being scorched by the projectile.

The other imps began firing off their own spells, filling the air with magic attacks of every element imaginable.

"Get her! Get her now!" The imp leader shouted, signaling for them all to attack simultaneously. Catue could barely keep up with the barrage, blocking the ones she could while attempting to dodge the others. In addition to that, there are the goblins and now most of the orcs, charging at her once more.

Roaring, she swung her sword, killing many goblins and injuring some of the orcs, but she was too slow to deal with the number of enemies surrounding her. "You...guh!" She gasped, feeling something sharp piercing through her thigh. She quickly retaliated with a kick, sending a goblin stumbling backwards while holding its nose.

"Catue!" Her mother cried out, watching helplessly as her daughter struggled against the monsters. "Why won't you leave us alone?!" She demanded tearfully. "Stop! Please!"

None of the monsters responded. Instead, they simply continued attacking without mercy. Catue could only grit her teeth as she fought on, slaying those who came within range and taking hits meant for herself whenever possible. Cuts, bruises, dirt, and blood covered her body, yet she refused to yield. Even as she bled from various wounds, she kept fighting valiantly despite having no chance of victory whatsoever.

Her strength slowly faded away, leaving her exhausted and gasping for breath as she kneeled, her hand still holding onto her greatsword as if she were using it to prop herself upright. She is exhausted, no energy to spare. Not even enough stamina to stand properly. Yet, she forced herself to rise despite her aching limbs and bleeding wounds, refusing to fall down despite everything that happened.

"N-No..." She murmured weakly, gripping her weapon tightly while glaring defiantly at the small horde of enemies in front of her. "I...won't let you have me!" Their numbers have dwindled to a mere 20. All that remains are the 14 orcs and the 6 imps. Everything else is dead or dying.

"Come at me! You filth!" She roared, standing straight and facing them fearlessly despite the pain she felt.

An orc sneered before rushing towards her with its club raised high above its head. It brought its arm down upon her with tremendous force, intending to crush her skull beneath its massive weight. But instead of hitting her directly, it hit her sword instead. Catue grunted loudly as she felt the impact reverberate throughout her entire body. The metal rang loudly as both weapons collided violently. Her arms shook violently under the strain, causing her hands to tremble uncontrollably. However, despite this, she remained steadfast and refused to give in.

She pushed back, forcing the orc away from her and making it stumble slightly. "Argh! Damn!" She growled before charging forward once more, swinging her sword wildly. It strikes the creature's chest, drawing a deep wound across its torso.

Her eyes widened as the orc clenched its fist, ignoring its injury completely. She realized what it intends to do just as it struck her petite body with an uppercut. The blow knocked her backwards, sending her flying into the air and crashing onto the ground hard. Her vision swam as she groaned painfully, struggling to get up again.

"Mother..." She mumbled weakly, watching helplessly as one of the remaining orcs pinned her mother down and ripped off her dress. "No...please don't..." She pleaded tearfully, unable to move due to exhaustion. "Close your eyes, Catue!" Her mother shouted, looking at her desperately. "Please! Don't look at this!"

"Mother...! I'm so sorry! Mother!" Tears streamed down Catue's cheeks as she lay motionless, staring blankly at the scene unfolding before her. Her mother, lying naked on the ground, about to be violated by monsters.

'Damn it...! I saved her from Ginyol's clutches before we jumped into that portal...and yet...she's going to suffer from something similar here.' Catue thought bitterly as tears continued falling from her eyes. 'What good am I if I can't protect her?! What's the point of becoming stronger if I couldn't save her from these filthy beasts? Why did I even bother trying to escape the first time if it was just going to happen all over again?!'

A sharp pain shot through her leg. The stab wound from one of the goblins from earlier began to turn purple as blood seeped out from the wound. She clenched her teeth tightly, enduring the agony. "Poison..." She muttered weakly in disdain. "Damn it!"

'Can't I save her? Please…' She thought in remorse, watching her mother resist while the monsters cackled at her as the orc rips off its loincloth.

The orc's member sprang free, hard and erect as it pressed it against her mother's entrance. Her mother struggled furiously, thrashing around violently as she tried to push it away from her. "No! Stop it! Let go!" She begged, kicking at its groin repeatedly, but it doesn't seem to feel any pain whatsoever. "Get away from me! Leave me alone!" She screamed hysterically, fear and panic creeping in from her inevitable fate.

"Mo...ther..."

AUUUUUUUUUU!

Suddenly, the howl of a wolf echoed throughout the forest. The monsters paused, turning to see a gray wolf looking down at them from a nearby hill. It growled at them, making some of the orcs scoff dismissively while others grew nervous. "Wolf," one of them said gruffly.

"Food." Another added simply.

"Food for the monster horde!"

"Wolf for fo-bear?" An orc looked up and saw a very large bear. And on top of it is a white haired man glaring down on them.

"Tch! More humans!" One of the imps scoffed. "Kill them! We will take the women as breeding slaves!" The leader declared, ordering the rest to attack. The orcs charged towards them, roaring angrily while brandishing their weapons.

Catue watched with wide eyes as the wolf pounces onto an orc, biting into its neck and tearing out a chunk of flesh before leaping off. The bear roared as he charged into the crowd of monsters, bowling over several orcs along the way.

"Ōkami, get the imps! Pat, get rid of the orcs!" The man commanded before jumping down from the bear and landing right next to Catue.

"You okay?" He asked gently, kneeling down beside her.

She shook her head slowly, sniffling quietly. "I'm...I'm fine! My mother, please bring her to me!" She cried out, pointing towards her mother who had remained lying on the ground. The fear and despair that had engulfed Catue vanished almost immediately as soon as she saw him appear so suddenly. "I will. But please stay still, you're hurt." He said softly, gently caressing her cheek. She flinched slightly, unsure whether or not she should trust him completely yet.

His touch felt warm and comforting, however. It made her feel safe somehow, despite the situation they were currently in.

GRAAAGH!

"Argh! Bastard!" A scream caught her attention, causing her to turn around just in time to watch as Pat bit into an orc's face, crushing its skull between his powerful jaws. Another monster screamed in agony, struggling futilely against the bear's immense strength. Its cries of anguish died abruptly when Pat slammed it into the ground.

An orc rushed towards her savior with an axe. "Die, human!" Before it could reach him, the wolf rushed in and bit the orc's neck. The imps are already dead, lying on the ground. Their small bodies are torn with bites and gashes from the wolf's claws.

"Good boy!" He said with a smile before turning to the bear. "Come quickly, Pat! Ōkami, grab one of the imps' bodies," he ordered as he attempted to lift her up to ride the bear.

"We need to get back home, now!" The bear lowered itself, allowing her savior to hoist her up to its back before quickly going to her mother.

Seeing the man gently cradling her mother, her vision darkened.

"Mother…"

AND CUT!

This was a fun one, if I'm being honest. Sure, it took a while, but hey, Abhainn has a fren sized bear now!

Anyway, I have a naughty P word if you want to support me. You know what it is!

Pat /luckyerofu

Here's my link for my inactive discord: discord .gg/3Tw93K8anZ

I'll see ya all in the next chapter/fic/update!

Ciao! Peace!