A/N: So technically this is the cool down part. But this chapter will kick off the Fanoss invasion arc. Like that cliffhanger way I like doing.
Fun thing, we're past 300 posts on the QQ thread. Number 300 being my own where I responded to a comment about a list of every chapter that had a lemon in it. Speaking of, there's one or two this chapter. I'll include the list in the bottom notes of this chapter.
Oh, and fun fact. You know how Julius is referred to as "Blue" by Leon in the manga and anime because he has blue hair? In the Light novel he's referred to as "black" because there he has black hair. Since he and Leon are supposed to be related, I thought that was a really cool detail. I imagine they changed it in the manga just to make him fit in better with the others.
Another fun fact. Leon's Partner isn't the same as Luxion's main body ship. In fact, Partner was made by Luxion in order to help Leon blend in a little, although the did drive by with the main body to fuck with Zola the first time. But I think I've already said so many times that Leon and Luxion's only ship is Partner so I think it'd be a heavy retcon to state otherwise at this point.
Leon Fou [now Rapha] Barfort: Renowned adventurer and current crown prince. / previously: Hiro (pre:isekai)—Lea of Bart's Fort (The true founder of Holfort and lover to the Saintess Ann and Mary)—JOU_MOU_ (someone who used to work in Luxion's facility.)
Angelica Rapha Redgrave: Daughter of Duke Redgrave and ex-fiancé to Julius/ Previously: Ann of Bart's Fort (aka Saintess Ann and lover of Lea of Bart's fort). / Also goes by Angie to close friends and loved ones.
Olivia: Commoner from the Kagenou Barony. / previously: Mary lover and companion to Ann and Lea. When they had returned from their adventures in ancient Midgar, all three had been attacked by the founding heirs as they all wanted Ann. To save Lea and Ann from such a fate, she teleported them away, and swapped bodies with Ann. / Is also known as Livia by her close friends and loved ones.
Cid Kagenou: fiancé to several famous elves but just a regular mob you'd find anywhere / previously: Minoru Kagenou boy from Earth that would be transported to the ancient times of the current before dying at the hands of his friends due to becoming demonically possessed out of grief. / Also dons the secret identity of "Lord Shadow." Leader and founder of The Shadow Garden. / Mundane Mann, a pathetic looking sword wielder that disappeared many years ago and has returned for the Bushin festival. / Kageno of Mitsugoshi, after an argument with his parents, Cid decides to go by Kageno for a while.
Alice [Kagenou: Cid's personal elf servant, lover, and childhood friend / previously: Beatrice (this is non canon, but all of Shadow Garden had identities before joining so I made a name up for her.) / Dons the secret identity of "Alpha" or "Lady Shade." Co-leader and second founder of The Shadow Garden, first of the Seven Shades. The name "Alpha" is only used by those in Shadow Garden.
Other Shadow Garden Members: All of the seven shades have secret identities. They see their Shadow Garden names as their true names and will use that in their own thoughts. But to everyone not in Shadow Garden that sees them as their secret identities will use those names.
Beta: Natsume Kafka, renowned writer.
Gamma: Luna of Mitsugoshi, owner of said store and many others, richest Woman in the world. Xianyun, Swordmaster of the fareastern kingdoms.
Delta: Sara, certified good girl.
Epsilon: Shiron, amazing musician known internationally.
Zeta: Zetan. Previously known as Lilim, named after the therianthrope hero, Lili.
Eta: Goes by Eta Lloyd Wright, renowned Architect.
Charlie: Known previously as Carla Fou Wayne.
Yankee: Known previously as Stephanie Fou Offrey
Foxtrot: Sherry's mother.
Aurora: Called Violet by Cid, and now camps out in his soul/brain. Known as the Witch of Calamity, and the Demon Diabolos.
Disclaimer: I don't own Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs nor The Eminence in Shadow. The only Beta reader here is the elf.
-?-
I can't say that my life was ever a calm one.
It's not as though any therianthrope could claim that, but those of us that live in Holfort are typically more… perhaps not civilized, but we aren't exactly running around on all fours as we hunt wild animals.
Though I do have some fond memories of doing that as a child.
Especially given that my childhood was spent in Midgar, and not Holfort.
I never told anyone this. No one.
But I used to be a part of a tribe that likened themselves to panthers. We followed the teachings of one of the three heroes of legend, The Golden Panther Therianthrope Lili. In fact, we were neighbors to the tribe full of her descendants, but one day… well my father had sent me out to the next town, likely so he could create a new little sibling for me with my mother… at least I think I had a mother at that point, not that I can recall her face. Nor my father's.
In any case, I left that day and the night I returned nothing was left.
So, I really had no choice but to join the other boys in what they had been doing, and sold myself. I never really knew how it worked myself, only hearing it every now and again whenever I left to the next village or hadn't seen a tribe member for a while.
But the other men had been happy… well content more-like to accept me into their ranks. I was cleaned, trimmed, and then vetted before I was put on the auction block.
I've been in a couple of homes, not really feeling anything.
I suppose if I were human, I'd care about things such as how I lost my first time to an old hag alongside several other boys my age, only to be thrown away as soon as I hit my growth spurt.
From there I had run a few odd jobs, namely parties for women who wanted therianthropes that somewhat resembled the five founding heirs of Holfort. My blue hair helped get me a lot of requests for Prince Julius look-alikes.
I never had a home. It didn't matter to me. I had time.
I just needed to spend that time earning money and eventually I'd start my life proper.
…
That's what I kept telling myself.
…
But I was a bit sick of doing it with women over 50 years of age and 300 pounds of weight. So, when the opportunity to take a smaller wage but with a younger and at least somewhat attractive girl my own age came up, I took it.
It was actually rather funny how things came about. Apparently, she had stolen some money from her parents' barony in order to pay for a contract. But her younger brother that earned that money for their family found out, and chased her down right as she was about to sign the contract. They squabbled a bit while I counted the coins, until eventually the brother decided to pay himself. That way, I would be contracted to him, and his sister couldn't force me to beat him up or do anything else of a similar sort.
I admit, given I would only follow the orders of whoever paid me, it was rather clever.
The brother then told me to follow his sister's orders for now, but he may have his own orders for me in the future.
He never did.
At best we had some monthly meetings done through letters exchanged by the flying eye thing to make sure that I wasn't doing anything to his sister that would hurt her.
Heh, for as much as they squabbled the siblings cared about each other quite a bit.
But who am I to speak about feelings fought tooth and nail?
"Miauler…?" moaned the beauty with brown hair that lied beside me. "Sweetie, is it time to wake up?"
I shake my head, "No, it's not noon yet."
Jenna nods before nuzzling into my chest, "Okay…"
I run my hands through her hair, coaxing her to sleep before attempting to start my day as her ser—
"Wuv you…" mumbled Jenna, causing me to pause as it had the first time she said it. Yes, she mostly says it during the nights we spend together, and quite frequently then, but lately she's taken to saying it at other times. I always act as if I don't hear it, but I do. Of course my enhanced hearing would pick up every time she's said she's loved me.
The time after I brought her some flowers when my coworkers told me it'd probably get me some days off.
The time I made her favorite food when she was feeling down about doing bad on a test.
The time I gave her a back rub without making a move after.
…the first time, shortly after the terrorist invasion of the school. I recall that at the time she had been thinking of stealing a man from a friend of hers using her brother's authority. I had no real problem with it, as long as I was still paid who would care. All of my fellow therianthrope and elven slaves had similar arrangements.
But then things went wrong.
That little orb thing rushed us back in to the room we just left, and we were then hurriedly rushed to Leon's ship Partner. There I saw firsthand just how much he had in his arsenal.
Of course, his armor Arroganz that he used to destroy the five heirs during their duel, and even combat a dragon is no less than impressive on its own. But to think that he had an even more impressive ship with even more armors… well I realized just how much I lucked out in my contract.
Then that night, when Jenna and I had stayed in one of the rooms of the Partner, we left to get some water. As we did we ran into Queen Mylene fetching a bucket of it to help clean off Leon who had just spent the afternoon killing terrorists. Now as a therianthrope I feel nothing when killing, as it's simply a thing we regularly had to do, but I understand that Leon had been—as they say—going through it that day.
Jenna had been rather distraught at the sight of her brother's lifeless eyes. Almost as distraught as that time Lord Mamoria had shot me in the leg. Luckily Leon's wife Olivia had been kind enough to heal me that day, and Jenna had even let me take the day off so that I could rest.
But that night, after we returned to our room in Partner, Jenna had dozed off while hugging me. And I remember clear as day when she had said "*Sigh* I wish I could just marry you Miauler, I love you so much…"
I hadn't slept that night.
It wasn't the first time someone said it to me. Even using my name. But it was the first time it felt… like I could feel the emotions behind it. Hers and mine.
But I tried to ignore it. After all I was only her servant. I figured she didn't mean it. My coworkers said as much. They've heard those words as well over the years, and it was only that, words.
But during the trip out when we spent the entire day arm in arm.
During the time after the trip where we waited with bated breath for their safety from Fanoss' attack, where Jenna had me comfort her as she cried for the safety of her brother.
When we cheered for Leon as he faced that boy in The Goddess' Trial, I even twirled her around in celebration.
Then… yesterday, it was night time. The semi-finals. There's so much that went on that I can barely understand it. But that wasn't important. No, what was important was that horrifying moment in which the warlock had covered the entire sky with his magic.
We clung to each other, and in what we assumed might be our last moments had shared one last loving embrace.
But then we opened our eyes to a clear sky.
Everything was fine.
And we had to just continue on.
But…
My coworkers had talked about some stuff with me since we arrived in Midgar. Something about a job that needed to be done related to Leon.
I had the opportunity to carry it out while Leon was partying and trying to recover from whatever it was that he faced during his battle with the warlock and the demon.
…
I didn't go through with it.
For multiple reasons.
But one is, Leon had survived the battle with the warlock and demon with nothing but trauma and some burns. Why would I attempt to make an enemy with such a man?
-Leon-
Atomic
With my arms hugging the screen I close my eyes and wait for the inevitable.
And I can feel it. I can feel as Arroganz slowly disappears around me. I can feel my skin and hair burn.
Briefly, I can hear Luxion.
[It's been an honor.]
I think is what he said. But I couldn't hear him over the sounds of the girls crying over the screens.
Then, there was nothing.
…
I briefly thought about all the actions I've taken to get here.
Playing the game for Hanabi.
Dying from a combination of overwork and hunger culminating in a heart attack.
Growing up in the barony. Bickering with my sisters and playing around with my brothers.
Picking silent fights with Zola and her kids until it culminated in that arranged marriage.
Leaving on my adventure.
Running into The Shadow Garden for the first time.
Meeting Livia and rescuing Claire.
Going on an adventure with them and the lovebirds Alice and Cid.
Finding Luxion, almost dying to him only to get saved by Shadow Garden.
My knighting ceremony.
Meeting Angie and the King for the first time.
Going to the school and meeting everyone else.
Daniel, Raymond, and Dan. My best guy friends outside of Cid, who's basically my brother.
Getting along with Clarice, Deirdre, and the others.
Finding out about my past life as Lea and all that entailed.
Picking the fight. Fighting a dragon and Shadow.
Confronting Zola back at home, solidifying my relationship with the girls.
The trip to the resort, the time the school was attacked, the festival, the attack from Fanoss.
Fighting Minoru for the first time.
Proposing to all the girls.
…
I don't want to die.
I don't.
Not this time.
As I feel everything fade away, I do my best to hold on. I force every bit of magic around me to bend. To go everywhere but where I am. I make it curve, bend, break. All caught up in some little orbit around me that it can't break.
And then suddenly the light dies down.
[Master.]
"Luxion?" I whispered.
[Yes.]
"Am I alive?" I asked.
[Scanning… scans show you to be mostly okay. Minus the disintegration of Arroganz and some burns along your person.]
…
"How are the girls?" I asked.
[The life detecting signals coming from their rings and tiaras are still coming in]
…
"And the city?"
[From what I can tell the only damage done is that to the arena and that done by the stampede of people attempting to flee.]
…
"Am I decent?"
[If you mean to ask in general, then no. Your shirt is gone. If you mean to ask whether or not you soiled yourself, then also no.]
"Cool. Cool, cool, cool." I then take in a deep breath and fall down onto the ground. The strangely lifeless flowers that Minoru left behind are pleasant to the touch and vaguely smell like rain.
It's fine. I'm fine. Everyone's fine.
[I am sending for another air bike to pick you up, as well as some transportation for the women. I believe it'd be easier to bring you all to Mitsugoshi, yes?]
"…yeah, that sounds fine." I said as I looked up to the giant hole in the clouds left behind by Shadow's attack. "…can you get the bar robot to show up too?"
[…Were it possible, I believe I would join you for the drink. I somehow also need one.]
"…You got a sleep mode?"
[Yes. But keep in mind that if I go into sleep mode you will be left alone with Cleare, who does not have one.]
Ah, yeah, that's kinda the opposite of relaxing huh.
"Never mind then, suffer your wife Lux-kun~" I sing songed.
[Revolting. It's nice to see that you are the same scum despite the near-death experience.]
I let out a rough laugh at that.
-Kageno/Shadow-
"Are you sure that Leon's okay? He was pretty close to the blast." Asked Violet as I walked back to Mitsugoshi.
Blast? Oh, no I wasn't hitting him with the blast version… On purpose. His armor was in the blast radius so I intended to teleport him and Arroganz to Alexandria with us so we could fix it up for him.
Hm, guess he got scared since my atomic teleportation looks pretty similar to the blast. That would explain how when his armor disappeared he used that cool gravity magic thing to just make everything go around him. He should be fine.
In the meantime, I have an armor now.
"Stealing?" asked Violet.
Meh, Leon's got tons of them… I think. At the very least he'll be able to make another one pretty easily. Shadow Garden, on the other hand, doesn't have any. Heck, Leon and his robots managed to get a hold of some slime at some point and study it enough to make their own version of our slime suits. So, it's only fair that we get our own version of a mech.
"I don't think that's exactly the same." Noted Violet before shrugging. "But I guess it should be fine. Although I think you should give it back after you're done with it."
Yeah, fair enough.
Ooh, that gives me an idea! What if I show up with it one day and challenge him to a duel! We can have a storyline about Arroganz showing up to wreak havoc, but no one will know who is piloting it. People will think it's Leon, or some rogue AI, maybe even a ghost.
But no! It's the Eminence in Shadow! And he isn't alone, in fact, that's not even his best armor! Me and some of the girls will show up in our super cool versions of Old Humanity's armors!
Ah, I can't wait!
"I hate to admit it, but that does sound kinda fun. Do you think I could drive one?" asked Violet.
Oh that sounds fun! We should try and see if Eta can make you your own little robot thing to start with.
"Try and make it cute though, like one of those little dolls Gamma made of you." Requested Violet.
You got it.
I eventually made my way to the castle grounds proper, having been dragging Arroganz behind me with some slime. I see a bunch of Shadow Garden members approach me, including Lambda.
"Sir!" Greeted the cool military woman with a salute, "Do you need help transporting that armor?"
"Nah it's cool, I just need to take this to Eta's workshop." I waved her off… or at least I did, until I notice her and the other unnamed numbers ears' drooping. So, feeling a little bad I declare, "On second thought, given the battle I am returning from, perhaps it'd be best to accept your help. Please help me move this over to Eta's workshop as I speak to her."
At this I saw their ears perk right back up, which is equal parts cute as it is funny.
"Sir, yes sir!" shouted Lambda, having the girls begin to pull at Arroganz. It's a team effort, where they comically pull at Arroganz and drag it along the ground. I at least had the idea to have a sheet of slime at the bottom to move it smoothly… they'll probably figure it out in time.
I make my way into Eta's shop, find my way to her lab, and find her adorably curled up to a shadow plushy on that pillow she carries around everywhere. I remember seeing her walk into a wall once, fall on it, then just go to sleep in the middle of a hall.
I walk up to Eta, and pat her head. Adorably her face curls into a small smile.
…
You know? A nap sounds pretty good about now.
I lie down next to Eta, pull her into a hug from behind, and then close my eyes. I feel her shift around so that she's hugging me back. Cute.
-Alpha-
I watch as all of our civilian friends file into Mitsugoshi and the numbers escort them to the backrooms.
I'll admit, I was a bit surprised at Darling's light show, and half a mind to join the fight myself, but when I witnessed him and Leon confront the demon version of him on top of the garden given to a young lady by her husband, I knew that everything was alright.
However, given the experience was likely horrifying for all of them I can't blame how they are reacting now.
The women were all the first to show up. Olivia and Angelica were the only ones who were still conscious at the start. Iris had a head injury that Olivia had treated as soon as she saw her, Deirdre & Clarice had been exhausted, Alexia was specifically suffering from mana exhaustion and needed her sword pried out of her hands. The five heirs and Lady Lafan were led to a public lobby, but they seemed content enough with a complimentary ice cream/ shake buffet for their efforts.
Claire and the Kagenou's were the next to show up, looking for Cid who had gone somewhere. I managed to get Delta to guard the door to our residential floor. Even Lady Claire found it hard to try and force her way past. Luckily Leon was the next, and last to show up, which distracted her and some of the other women for a bit.
It was a bit concerning how after some quick hugs and kisses he made a beeline straight for the bar. He gave us enough dia for the entirety of our shelves, and then had a mechanical object (I believe he refers to them as 'robots') mixed drinks for him. Olivia and Angelica looked concerned, but they didn't stop him this time.
I suppose having a front row seat to Darling's attack would be horrifying to any enemy, especially given that everyone hit by it before left not even their ashes behind. In Leon's eyes, he just barely survived such a spell, though he won't say how. All we can tell is that he has been driven to drink until he passed out.
Most of the other girls, aside from Olivia who hates it, ended up joining Leon in drowning his traumas. I even saw Claire and her parents down some wine.
The only things that seems to be missing is the location of Gamma and the ladies from Fanoss as well as Rose and King Raphael. I know that Rose and Raphael were escorted to the castle, as anything else would paint a target upon the backs of either us or Leon's faction. However, Gamma has yet to report back to anyone.
I'm sure she knows what she's doing, but still I worry all the same.
I run a hand over my stomach.
"Pray for auntie Gamma, okay?" I say sweetly.
"I think she'd like mama Gamma!" called out Delta from behind the door.
…Hm. You know what, that actually sounds pretty nice. It works with Luna too…
I liked the idea of Mama Alpha, but I suppose it doesn't work as well with Alice. Perhaps mommy? Hm… no Darling's right, that sounds weird. If it's my own child, just mama should be fine. I know they'll probably grow out of it though…
Actually, are we going to tell them about The Shadow Garden? I figure that we'd want to prepare them for the worst, but I don't know how darling wants to handle this.
I should ask when he comes back from wherever he is. I imagine he likely just went somewhere to lie low, like Alexandria, but if not I'm sure he's exactly where he needs to be according to his plans.
-Kageno/Shadow-
Where the fuck am I?
One hand on my hip as I use the other to frame my eyes as I look around. As far as I can tell, I'm in the middle of some weird black void on a white pillar. Both seem to extend forever. I can try to walk or even run to the end of the pillar but I just kind of stay in place.
"Violet?" I called out for the tenth time.
No answer.
Hm. This is concerning.
I can barely feel my magic too. I at least wear clothes underneath my slime suit, unlike the girls, so I at least have my casual mob outfit mk. 2. Consisting of a brown hoodie over a cream colored turtleneck with some red pants and brown shoes. I seem to have my academy sword as well. Heh, aside from the difference in my current outfit, it's almost like I'm in the sanctu…ary…
"Minoru?" I called out.
I begin to feel something stir.
I call out as many of the old names as I bothered remembering, "Lea? Olivier? Ann? Mary? Aurora?"
The distinct rumbling of something large moving begins to fill the place before I find myself blinded by a bright flash. Suddenly, I find myself surrounded by a bunch of floating platforms in a now white background.
I'm still on the pillar that I was, and if I squint I can see a similar looking one past all the small floating platforms. On all the platforms I see some monsters.
Okay, if there's anything playing games have told me while I was researching stuff for my eminence in shadow roleplay, it's that the more enemies you find, the more you know you're going in the right direction.
Taking out my academy sword I jump from the platform I'm on to the next. Immediately, I notice that I feel like I have a bunch of weights strapped to me, as though I was training back in my life as Minoru. I land easily enough, though I roll to make sure I don't hurt myself.
I glance up to find a few wolves and skeletons in front of me. I manage to dispatch them as easily as I would the biker gangs back in my past life. But as soon as I do, I find three floating knickknacks in front of me. I try to grab all three, but I find myself unable. So I just pick one that seems like it'd be cool and stash it in my pocket.
When I do, I feel a little bit of my strength return to me.
I find that there's about two platforms ahead of me, and I go to one and defeat a bunch of ghosts like things. Same as before, some knickknacks float in front of me. When I choose one, I feel a little of my strength return. However, I find that the platform next to the one I chose disappeared after I took the knickknack.
Guess that means I should choose these things carefully. Speaking of, there's three platforms in front of me. From what I can tell one has some small monsters, another bigger looking ones, and one has some door. Following the video game logic from earlier, I pick the platform with bigger monsters.
I have to be a little careful so I don't get hit, but it's easy enough to get through it. When I do I find three charms in front of me, like the ones Leon was going gaga over back at the festival. I pick one, and find that I can cast tier one spells again.
Then, I look in front of me and can vaguely see someone sitting at a table.
Damn, it would've been cooler if he was in a chair while not facing me. Even if it was one of those plastic lawn ones.
In any case I land, still having to roll but finding it a lot easier. When I get up, I see a familiar looking face.
"Hello Mary." I greeted. "I beat you."
"Kageno." She greeted me back before gesturing before the seat in front of her. "You did. Let's chat, shall we?"
I decided to do just that. Mary pours some tea and I help myself to some snacks that I saw on the table.
"Aren't you, Lea, and Ann supposed to have moved on?" I asked while munching on a cookie.
Mary shrugged, "We had some unfinished business."
"Is that why Minoru crashed the tournament?" I asked.
"Somewhat. We did send him there after all." Said Mary as she took a sip of tea.
I blanched, the tea ruined for me. "Woah. Not cool. That guy was so cringe."
"You're cringe." Shot back Mary.
I clutched my chest as though I had pearls to clutch. Somehow hearing that from someone with the face and body of Olivia hurt a lot. Like a little kid calling you out.
Mary sighed, "Okay, that was a little mean, I guess. But it was a bit warranted. Why else do you think I sent the past version of you there? I wanted you to reflect a bit. That didn't work but Lea had his own plan, so here we are."
I'm guessing that Lea wanted to do this thing, but Mary wanted to do her thing. So, they compromised and Mary went first and Lea is probably holding back an 'I told you so' that'd get him sent to the after-life couch.
"If this is Lea's plan, then where is he?" I asked as I gestured to the white void around us.
Mary began to giggle for a couple of minutes. It was a little creepy to be honest. I should take notes for the girls to use in the future. I already got my evil laugh down pat, but I don't think they've had to be villains yet.
She calmed down, wiped a tear from her eye, then smiled, "You have to work your way up to him, duh. In your terms, the final boss has to be worked up to."
I quirk a brow, "You know what video games are?"
Mary shook her head, "No, but you do. And we're kind of stuck here with you."
Damn, is my head a hotel or something?
Wait that reminds me, "Where's Violet? Shouldn't she be here?"
Mary points to the distance. What appears to be a cloud reveals itself to be Violet sitting on some kind of movie theatre seat, complete with a jumbo bucket of popcorn (which appears to be mostly finished) and a cup of soda.
"Good Luck Darling~!" cheered Violet, even taking out a small flag that I think had my name on it. Hard to tell from here.
"So…" I said after turning back to Mary, "What is it that I'm going to be doing?"
Mary takes some cookies and moves them around, "So this is you," she said as she gestured to an chocolate with crème filling cookie, "and these plates represent the place we're in. The other cookies represent the platforms you just moved through."
I nod, reach for one of the cookies, only to have my hand smacked.
Mary continues, "You will be moving from plate to plate, clearing each of the little platforms as you do. However, unlike this room, each of these platforms will represent a memory. You will have to live through each one. You may choose how difficult of a memory you may face. Some will be okay, others difficult to face, and some even pleasant."
"Should I assume that there's a boss at the end of each plate?" I asked while trying to eat the cookies that she already went over, only to have my hand batted away no matter how quickly I moved it.
While fending off my attempts to fend off my hunger, Mary confirms my suspicions, "Right. I'll go ahead and say that there's only three rooms to work through. In Lea's opinion, each room is more difficult than the last. In my opinion that only really applies to the bosses, but what do I know?"
I can detect the bitterness from Mary that stems from her plan not working and having to do Lea's. Sorry man, I'm sure the after-life couch is a nice and fluffy cloud.
"For now, though," said Mary, "You should wake up. It's been a couple of hours, and the shadow garden members are starting to get worried."
I nod at this and start to get up. As I do I can't help but wonder how long this is going to take. Might need to ask Leon to see if he can stall my family.
-Leon-
I wake up to find a distinct lack of a hangover and a large amount of red hair. Sitting up I see that there's a note next to a glass of water. Carefully maneuvering out of Iris and Clarice's cuddles, I go over to the nightstand and read the note as I drink the water.
Dear Leon,
The other girls and I have left to handle some of the political situation. As you had been nearly offed by Lord Shadow himself while fighting the demon copy of him, we felt it fair to leave you to rest. Livia and I had healed you, so I doubt you'll be feeling a headache but please don't ever drink to the extent that you did last night.
You weren't particularly difficult to deal with—if anything your bumbling about while proclaiming how much you loved us was adorable, especially when you didn't let us random women touch you because it'd make us, your loving fiancés, upset.
But it worried us a bit to see you like that. Please don't make that a habit. The thought of having to carry you home like we did last night wasn't a pleasant image.
Now, we did leave Clarice and Iris behind. Iris because of her head injury, and Clarice because it's her turn on the schedule. Please spend today with them both, as they need love and affection as much as you do. Then spoil the rest of us when we return, given everything we will need to deal with. I'm afraid this is a greater source of stress that Livia's presence can heal.
Your future wife, Angelica.
P.S. Love you! 3 XOXO -Livia
P.P.S. Thank you for sweeping me off my feet with a kiss and groping my ass even in your distressed state. You truly know how to make me feel loved. I have instructed Luxion to keep your ruined outfit for my next day on the schedule. Be ready. XO XO -Deirdre.
P.P.P.S. When you get the chance, can you talk to CidKageno? I feel like he might listen to you. Mama and Baldy don't want to leave until he speaks to them one more time. -Claire.
"Hey Luxion. Retire the bar and its robots." I commanded as I folded the letter.
[Are you sure? It's one of your favorite terrible coping mechanisms.]
I glare at the little orb, "You make it sound like I've done anything more than help myself to a drink every now and again. Just leave the fine stuff for whenever the girls deem it appropriate to drink or something I guess."
[Very well.]
I then turn to the two girls who seemed to have risen as I talked to Luxion. Clarice is wearing her hair up in a bonnet and her body is covered by a white nightgown. Iris has some standard white pajamas. They looked adorable and I immediately went in for a hug.
"Good morning…" mumbled Iris, doing her best not to fall asleep. She adorably leaned forward, following me as I pulled away and whining a bit when we completely separated. Then turning red as Clarice and I chuckled at the sight.
I then went to hug Clarice who latched on to me with all that she could, brightly cheering, "Good morning honey!"
I couldn't help but smile in response. Giving her a big kiss on the cheek which had her beam with a slight flush on her face.
"I'm going to go see if the others left some kind of breakfast behind. After that, we should have an at home date. The three of us together or separating the day." I suggested.
Clarice thought about it for a second as she began to get ready, "Hm… maybe we can have breakfast together and then I can have you first before we have you each for a couple of hours before the girls come home?"
"Sounds like a plan. Since it's your day, I think you should have the right to choose if you go first or second." I stated punctuating my sentence with a kiss to her nose, causing her to adorably wrinkle her face in my direction before giggling again.
I'm sure the me of a couple of months ago would be gagging if not acting with extreme jealousy at the lovey dovey way I act with my fiancés. Well, he can suck it up because damn it when we win, we win!
Clarice kisses me on the cheek as she leaves, "Iris can go first. I want you after you're all tuckered out and can't do anything but follow my lead."
She then pats me on the same cheek she kissed before walking off to the shower with a noticeable sway in her hips. I decided to leave the room before I took her in the shower right then and there. Clarice cackled as I fled from the room.
-Iris-
After a wonderful breakfast with Clarice and Leon, getting my bandages removed, and then talking with Clarice about how today would go, I found myself left alone with Leon.
We had roughly two and a half hours to spend time together, and I proposed that we would do so by sparring together… Alexia would likely laugh at me if she knew.
Leon proposed that we practice our skills in a less violent manner. I was confused at first but apparently Old Humanity had invented several ways of practicing swordsmanship skills in a recreational way. There were several methods of practicing our hand eye coordination, but the one that appealed to me the most was the one that required you to hold two beam sabers as you swung at colorful boxes to the rhythm of a song.
It did require that we put on a special device on our heads and stand in a special pad that would allow us to move in place, which was strange to me at first but rather fun once we got into it. There was also a special mode that allowed us to play in the digital space next to each other. I don't get why that was so impressive, but Leon said something about coding that went over my head.
Leon had beaten me at first, having some memories of how the game worked due to his life as Hiro, and even a better sense of how the songs' rhythm worked. Honestly, I've never heard about half of the sounds being used to produce the music, but once I got used to it about an hour in, we were neck in neck in competing for our scores. It was some of the most fun I've had.
At one point Leon had left to go to the bathroom. I decided to keep playing to keep myself moving, but on lower difficulty settings. I was having fun, but at one point Leon walked back in the room, and…
-Leon-
As I come back from the bathroom, I see Iris adorably completely enthralled with the beat saber game. She seems completely focused on it, even having taken off her overcoat and showing off her white tank top shirt that seems to have become see-through thanks to her sweat.
I enjoy the sight of her large chest swaying back and forth as she swings the controls.
…
I stared for a good five minutes to be honest.
"L-Leon? Are you there? I feel someone staring." Said Iris as she began to look around. However, she seemed to have forgotten that the VR set shows her a screen in front of her face and won't allow her to see the real world through it.
So, I do my best to sneak up behind her, and then raise my arm when I'm within distance.
SMACK!*
"EEK!" shouted Iris, dropping her remotes and clutching at her shapely derrière in pain from my actions. "Leon! You…!"
I dodge as Iris attempts to kick where I was, enjoying the sight of her floundering about with the VR set on. Honestly this isn't even the first time I've smacked her ass. Back when I was first instated as her boss by the king of Midgar, she used to challenge me regularly to a duel over it. After the third time, both the girls and I got tired of it and decided to start messing with her instead of just beating her.
Livia didn't heal her sometimes or waited a bit to do so. Angie would give her tons of work. Claire said I should spank her or something, like how she would with Cid when he wouldn't put effort in.
I should mention that the way Claire did it to Cid was to either kick him in the butt or hit him there with the flat side of the sword. So that's what I did. I remember tripping her, then as she fell (her cute bear panties briefly showing as she did), I hit her butt with the flat side of my sword.
I didn't expect for her to moan though. She didn't either. I couldn't say anything, so I remarked that her panties were cute. She just got up and left for the day.
Anyway, back in the present I sneak up behind Iris again and give her a big hug from behind.
"Got you!" I shouted victoriously. Enjoying Iris shrieking again before I snuggled into her neck. "Wow, can't believe the leader of The Crimson Knights would let her guard down like that."
Iris grabbed my arms as though she wanted me to hug her even more, mumbling, "I could tell that it was you…"
I just smiled more and snuggled in, she was a bit upset but content enough to make herself comfortable in my embrace… which meant that a certain part of me was now touching her.
A/N: Lime Here. If you forgot that means about 3rd Base.
Iris has some nice thighs.
A/N: Lime over.
As Iris and I begin to put our clothes back on, Luxion has a robot fly in with a mob and some rags.
[Hurry, help me clean this up before Cleare notices.]
Iris and I look at each other, then she grabs the mop and I grab a rag.
It took a few seconds but I'll admit it was a good way to metaphorically poor cold water over us. We did both dissolve into a fit of laughter right after though.
-Alpha-
I sigh for the umpteenth time as I watch the moon and ignore the cries of Delta fighting off Claire.
"I just wanna see my brother!" shouted Claire.
"No!" barked Delta in return.
Then like clockwork I hear the sounds of them wrestling before Claire is tossed out a window. She broke it the first time, but then just walked it off, had Olivia heal her, and then marched back here. The process was repeated until every window in that hall was broken, and we haven't bothered to replace them yet.
knock* *knock*
With a smile on my face, I turn to see darling back in the room, knocking on the window as though he's on the outside. I recall the first time he pulled this prank on me back when we were children. *giggle* I must've looked quite surprised given how much he laughed at my reaction back then.
In the present I greet my husband to be with a peck on the lips and a hug. I then feel my ears wiggle quite a bit as he leans down and kisses my stomach as well.
"I don't think they can feel that yet." I teased despite the fact I mentally add this to our daily greeting.
Darling laughed defiantly and stated, "Nonsense, any child between the two of us will be a prodigy able to defy all expectations quicker than you can say 'Anos Voldigold.'"
(A/N: I briefly thought of doing an omake where he was their kid, but that's as far as that line of thought would go.)
I laughed for a bit of this before switching to a more serious look as I asked, "Could you tell me what the plan from here is? Where were you?"
"Oh, I just dropped something off at Alexandria real quick." Said Darling.
I couldn't help but tilt my head in curiosity. "Oh?"
"Let's just say that we're going to need a budget for mechs coming up soon." Answered Darling with a smirk.
I nod at this, "Ah… that would explain why you hit Leon and his armor. I had been worried I needed to make plans to face our friends."
"Huh? Ah, yeah I guess it would look like that." Realized darling, "Nah, I was actually going to teleport him to Alexandria too. I figured that since we worked so well together I might offer him the chance to join. He is one of the best, if not the best, armor pilots we know after all."
"Oh!? That's a surprise." I couldn't help but gasp. "I didn't know we were allowed to recruit men into Shadow Garden."
Darling stopped before slowly turning to me. "Of… Of course they are? Why wouldn't they be? *Pfft* It's not like Shadow Garden is just my harem or something."
Darling begins to laugh as I look away.
"Alpha." Said Darling as he began to force me to face him, "Alpha there are like 500 women here."
"We're at 666 right now" I pointed out, causing Darling to smoosh my face more.
With a cute panicked look, Darling lightly raises his voice, "I'm just one guy!"
"I believe in you." I said with full honesty. "You plan on living as long as I want you to anyway, right?"
"Alpha!" hissed Darling in a way that wasn't completely serious, but serious enough that I began to plan to barrage him with kisses to distract him.
"Cid!? Uh, I mean, Kageno! Is that you!? It's me Claire, I need to talk!" shouted my new savior as she struggles within Delta's grip.
Darling looks to me, then the door, then declares, "We're talking about this later, but for now we should probably take care of this."
I already know in my heart that he's going to forget before it's too late to do anything about it. One of the few flaws he has.
Heh.
In any case Darling opens the door to see his sister. Comically—and a bit worryingly—she has Delta ontop of her head, chewing it just hard enough to make it bleed as she greets Darling. "Cid—uh I mean, Kageno! I… I uh…"
Darling looks at Claire, looks at Delta in a way that forces her to back off, and then sighs. I was a little worried at what words were going to come out next, but I should no better than to doubt Darling.
"…I want my kid to know their aunt." Stated Darling.
And really that's all he needed to, at least given by Claire's smile.
-Clarice-
After a quick shower, Leon joined me for my time with him. I didn't really have anyone to help me put on anything special so I just greeted him in my school uniform.
It's the middle of the afternoon now but that should leave plenty of time. However, I guess Iris wasn't able to tire him much, since he seems just fine. That or she tried and Leon's more of a beast than I thought.
Hm… Maybe I should've learned how to cast debilitate from Deirdre.
"Any ideas on what you want to do?" asked Leon, breaking me from my contemplation.
Unfortunately, the realization that I have him all to myself made me nervous and caused me to forget all the plans I made for today. "I… I… uh…"
Leon smiled at me and took me into his arms. I allowed myself to be doted on as he rested his chin on the top of my head.
"So… if you don't mind I can think of a couple of things." Offered Leon.
Leon then began to show me some songs from his old life. He went on to say that girls with fashion like me, which he called 'gyaru,' liked to dance and go to karaoke. I'll admit that when we went to the small-ish room with the karaoke machine, I felt something within my soul stir. I think I heard Leon say something about how true to his memory it was, but I couldn't hear him too well over my own excitement.
We had a few songs that I was familiar with thanks to Shiron, which were mainly stuff that you'd ball dance to. Something I got to enjoy teaching Leon how to do. Especially since the room was only just big enough to let us dance if we stayed close together.
Then we switched to some more fast-paced ones that he had to lead me through. To do so he had Luxion lower the table in the room into the floor. The fact that he didn't do so earlier made me a little happy. I'm sure some of the dances he taught me didn't go with the songs at all, but we had fun so who cares.
My favorite one to watch him dance to was that one that went with… something about a caramel dance? But his favorite song to sing was that one he and Claire used to sing, "Silent Minority" he said it was called.
Eventually the time the girls were going to come back approached, and my throat and legs were already sore from singing and dancing. I wanted to get them sore the other fun way!
"Okay." Said Leon as he lifted me into a princess carry, "I think I should get you back to bed."
"No… let's stay here…" I whined in a slightly fake manner.
"Okay, okay." Leon agreed, sitting me down on the couch.
With a pout I asked (read: demanded) "Cuddle with me."
"Sure thing." Happily stated Leon.
Hmph. You make it really hard to be angry you doofus.
-Leon-
I laid Clarice down on the couch only for her to immediately grab the back of my neck and force me to start kissing her. Or at least that's how it felt, because as soon as I got close her face turned extremely red and she stopped.
I forget sometimes that even though Clarice dresses like a gyaru she's a pure lady deep down. She only started dressing like this to get Jilk and her father's attention. It didn't work on them, but as I stare at her lovely, flushed face from above her in the karaoke room, I know it's working on me.
In any case, I handle the wannabe gyaru with care and cup her cheek with a hand that she holds onto.
"We don't have to do anything you aren't ready to do you know?" I said with as much care as I could.
Clarice smiled, kissed my palm, and then spoke with a demurer tone of voice, "I'm ready… just… please be gentle."
I'll do my best, but damn if that isn't the one thing you shouldn't say if you want your partner to be gentle.
A/N: This is the lemon.
Leon and Clarice do it in a karaoke bar, cause she's a gyaru. Angie gets roped in near the end.
A/N: Okay Lemon over.
After a while, Angie and Clarice manage to pull themselves together. I already cleaned up the traces of… well me I guess, with some cleaning device Luxion gave me.
As we all walk toward the dining hall, I can't help but say, "I should buy Julius and Jilk a drink."
The girls both shoot curious glances at me.
"What?" said Clarice.
"What dumb thing is going through your head right now?" said Angie, talking to me like my mom does my dad.
I smile, "I mean, it sucked what you two went through because of them. But if they didn't fuck up so bad, I wouldn't be so happy right now."
Angie shakes her head and chuckles softly, while Clarice full on belly laughs, even snorting a bit.
But they did each slip me a dia to help.
As we rounded the hall, I saw a familiar set of cat ears standing outside the elevator that leads to my floor.
"Miauler?" I asked, putting the girls a little behind me.
Miauler looks at me and then immediately prostrates himself.
"Master Leon… please. Will you allow me to sail off to another country with your sister Jenna!" shouted Miauler from his place on the ground.
Wow! Even more good news! This day can't be ruined.
With a smile I help Miauler to his feet, "Sure man! If you want her then take her! Haha! I'm pretty sure you're the only one who does anyway."
"Leon…" scolded Angie.
I just shake my head, "But what's this bit about going to a different country?"
"…" Miauler looks at me in a way that makes me think this should've waited till tomorrow, "I was tasked with… framing you."
"Framing me." I parroted.
Miauler nodded, "The Frampton faction has been plotting against you. I believe they may have some connections to Fanoss. I don't know what's going to happen but I don't want Jenna to be caught in it. Please, I know this is asking a lot, but will you give me enough money for us to fend for ourselves for a while?"
Miauler said some things after that about promising to take care of Jenna for the rest of his life.
But all I could think was this:
Fuck.
.
.
.
A/N: Okay. Didn't think this chapter would be this long.
A couple of things:
This is the start of Cid's mini arc. He's essentially doing the KH: Coded/ CoM thing where he's going through all of his memories in order to prepare himself for something big. He went through the tutorial but was kicked out by Mary for the day. But he's going back all throughout this mini section.
Speaking of, this is the part of the story where Leon gets arrested for his own safety, lol.
Also, I made Clarice's lemon super long because I felt like I've been ignoring her a lot recently. But thinking on it, it's going to be difficult to differentiate her from Noelle when the time comes. Though that might be because I haven't gotten to the Alzer arc in the light novels yet.
Now let's answer some comments.
SB-
MWKillKenny84: Lmao, yeah. I know that she want's to trust Eta, but everyone knows they can't.
Just checking but was the achievement "First girl if preg" is that a reference to -
Guest: Yup. There's a reason I watch that one remix of him going "NAZE!?" all the time.
I feel like I should have Cid confront Eta about her plans for his kids. But it'd also be funny if she just, had none. It'd be ooc but terribly funny.
QQ-
Zackman2k12: Thanks!
I agree with the bit about laughter during lemons. However, I feel like it'd be a bit out of character for Cid who was also kind of roleplaying for Beta at the time. Leon, however.
Someone ani: yeah, this arc is a bit of hit or miss for people. But with everything I changed I was glad hat it was a hit for you. Hope you like the mini arc.
As for your second comment, it was supposed to be a little of both.
Bladist: Uh, I referenced a lot of things but I assume you mean the p4 one. Which I think you recommended I use, so thanks!
Yeah there was so much that I changed that made it so there wouldn't be a fight. Heck at first I was going to have Cid just do it for funsies. Then it would be Leon's faction vs. Shadow Garden. But they aren't that strong yet, so I changed it.
King Raphael was fighting it during the first meeting with Leon and Iris, but then fell again when Perv gave him tea.
I get it, I mean I only vaguely hinted at it. See the hints were the idea of there being multiples of everyone thanks to what Cleare said before, What Alpha said in her bdsm lemon, Lea's helmet reacting, the slime kids, and even the fractured version of Olivier from the sanctuary. They all suggest that there's some other copies of the past lives just… kinda out there.
There will be some more about that when Cid gets to the end of each of his "plates."
Nah, Beta's got too many scenes to make her pregnant now. Unless I change who did what mission. Which I could do, but also I like the idea of working with Beta a lot more now that Alpha can't really do much. The idea for Cid giving birth like a god isn't too far off from how the slime kids came about. More on that later though.
Also, thanks for the concern. It means a lot. But I only work on this when I have the energy and motivation. Honestly I almost didn't do anything today because I was going through the recent chapter in Natlan (I was spoiled a bit and man am I going to be emotionally sucker punched.)
Anisomeone: I feel like Delta and any other therianthrope would be fiercely protective of the baby. Zeta will have a somewhat similar reaction later.
Lmao, yeah Eta cares about two things, Shadow and Research.
Not exactly, but you were close.
The demon outfits probably were meant for that.
Huh, didn't know that. I originally dropped that because I think there wasn't "I am atomic" in their retelling but now I kinda want to give it a second chance.
Yeah Leon was like a KH party member there, useful sometimes, but Shadow hard carried.
When I first saw a clip of the anime's version of that atomic, I was worried too. Blew the manga version out of the water.
I didn't use the white suit though?
Wolfpaladin: Yup!
Nah, Cid is only just now going to be hit with every Psi attack. I guess I should've had him use frei spells, but I was going to have Alpha use those. Just kinda forgot to.
It was only copies of them, like the ones Mary used in the sanctuary.
Lux suits, I like the sound of that.
Btw way it was Livia and Angie vs. Lili and Marie's harem vs. Olivier.
That line for Alexia was Gamma rescuing her.
Iris did keep up with Freyja, but she landed a blow against Violet, not shadow.
Deathfang1920: Thanks!
Rainsensei: Glad you liked the ancient cid fight!
I'm not skipping the blood queen or john smith arcs. I think you got confused because I was lamenting how much was going to change on the way to the Oriana arc.
Gay anon (no that's really their name): He was saying that Shadow would lose everyone he loved in the name of his dream, and then lose that too.
Yeah that moment was what convinced me of the theory that EiS was dark fantasy with an unreliable narrator that makes it comedy.
Shadowy_mann: I might've gotten that confused too. But thanks for pointing out how long Cid can life for at that point, that's good to know.
About the song thing… it's a funny idea for a non-canon omake, but I can't think of how it could fit otherwise lol. Honestly having Leon sing "Silent Minority" in the beginning chapters was probably a bit much.
BOY4_GOW:
1. Thanks!
2. It's mainly the fact that the slime sword was the shape it was. Though he likely could with some anti-magic applied to it.
3. Yup!
4. Well, Minoru can use magic if he absorbs it first. The difference is that Cid can constantly improve himself using magic.
5. Yeah… Oriana is looking intimidating all the way from here.
6. I think after Cid's mini arc they'll meet again. Not to mention maybe a few memories with them during.
7. He was going to be fine, but then he panicked and got some burns from messing up the spell.
8. I hope I delivered somewhat. It did mainly happen in the background because I wanted a breather chapter though.
Totntotbt: Well… the mother is still alive and a piece of shit.
Eh, they weren't really alive to begin with. Mary just unleashed some of the memories.