Chapter 32 – Talking about the future

Anika, Wenammy, and Pearl noticed the sad look that Alex had, and Pearl asked, “You never talk about your parents. Are they dead?”

“My mother died when I was three years old. My father... he retired to a faraway place after the events of the war with ‘The Galtian Khaganat’. He killed the Khaganat most powerful Mage Summoner and a bunch of her supporters, and he didn’t handle his regret very well. My father was always a man of faith, and having to kill so many took a huge toll on his soul. He abandoned his duties, his lands, and his title, and he did his best to teach me to take his place. I started to improve his lands and Earl Kayden’s lands five years ago, and little by little, I developed new methods to do things and I created all sorts of equipment and products. Over time, word spread that anyone was welcome on my lands, and I began receiving a lot of farmers, workers, and servants that wanted to work for me or Earl Kayden. I think Miss Olive is showing the others so many unbelievable things that by the time we get back, they will either be peacefully eating, or they will all be laying in bed, fainting because of so many surprises.”

Pearl fiddled with her fingers for a few seconds, and then she leaned forward, looking at him deeply into his eyes. “Why are you telling us so much? Because you used to be very secretive, and ever since that Priest and the City Chief talked with you in the border City of Haukagil, it’s like you can’t stop showing off. You don’t need to brag so much; you have already conquered us. Unless you want to show us we don’t deserve to be at your side, because it seems you can have any woman you want.”

Alex blinked a few times, surprised by her question. “It... I never intended to brag about anything. I just... I thought I could trust you a lot more, and perhaps have your help, just in case I get myself into a situation I can’t solve on my own. Despite all my Magic and wealth, I am very aware that I lack experience in so many things. You three definitely have plenty, if we think about how many years you have lived. And... maybe it’s foolish of me, but I could use a couple of good friends. My father had a bunch of people who would give their lives for him if needed, and he would do the same for them. I just... I don’t know, maybe I am feeling a bit lonely. I know this is kind of stupid, considering that I have some extremely powerful Spirits and I am never completely alone, but... yeah, it sounds stupid, right?”

Pearl gave a slight smile. “I used to feel lonely sometimes in my village, even with all my family always with me. I suppose what I lacked were beings of a different species, some who could show me new perspectives. Maybe that’s what you are also searching for. What about the others, Gabriel, James, and Bethany? They are also Humans like you, but do you see them as friends?”

“I like them. Miss Bethany is very friendly, and she has a straightforward way of saying what is on her mind. Mister James is very reliable. I would follow him everywhere if he asked me to. As for Mister Gabriel, well, despite his scary size and girlish scream, I think he is hilarious. He pretends to be a serious person, but more than once, I saw him fooling around, just having fun.”

Pearl leaned back and spoke, “I know they also like to have you around. I honestly don’t know what their reaction will be after their visit, but I can’t wait to find out. There is just the matter of Ghar. What are you going to do with her?”

“I suppose I will have her travel with me if that’s okay with all of you.”

“I think that with us she won’t have any problems, but what about your next job? What will happen if another Party hires you and you take Ghar along? What if they find out what she is?”

Alex slowly nodded. “Yes, I also thought about that. I suppose I can’t work again as a rented hero. Maybe I should make a Party with Ghar. Like that, we won’t take any risk by having more people find out about her.”

Pearl slowly shook her head. “I don’t like that. We three already agreed that we would try to conquer you. We can’t do that if you keep on abandoning us to work only with Ghar. Besides, we already consider you a member of our party. Perhaps you should think about joining us, officially, instead of jumping from Party to Party. I am sure the others will be delighted to have you in our ranks. If you continue to work as an Adventurer, because you now have a lot more lands to worry about, remember?”

“I am not worried about my lands. I have people taking care of everything in my absence. If something happens, they send me a message, and I deal with it as quickly as possible. I have never had to do anything about my lands and businesses ever since I started working as an Adventurer, so I suppose I can continue working as one. Unless any of you decide to stop being Adventurers and settle on my lands. I am sure I can find a job for any of you if you want.”

Anika leaned her head on his shoulder. “Well, I could accept a job as your wife if the payment is good. For instance, I could take daily cuddling, night interaction, and a couple of kids as payment. With a raise every two months in the amount of cuddling.”

Alex made a serious face, pretending to be lost in deep thoughts. “Yeah… sounds like a good idea… I could demand extra attention… A Mermaid with a long life is never a bad investment because she never gets old, wrinkled, or annoying because of old age... an Elfian could also be like that… or a Fairy… I wonder how good it would feel, going to sleep while receiving a gentle breeze from six wings… Shinatobe would kill me, or one of them, if I accept such direct proposal from this daring Mermaid… what to do, what to do…”

The mere mention of Shinatobe’s name was enough to make Anika stand straight, suddenly leaving Alex’s shoulder. Pearl disguised a smile and teased, “It seems Shinatobe is a good deterrent for this Mermaid. Lucky for me, Sarutahiko Okami seems to like me way more than Shinatobe likes Anika, and that means I only need to conquer Shinatobe as well, to have a clear path to your heart. If, like you said, she even agrees with sharing you, I have a happy future ahead of me.”

Alex raised one eyebrow and asked, “What if I can’t decide between any of you and I want to have all of you as my wives? What if I want to join another woman in this group? Or, if I don’t want any of you?”

Wenammy bit her lower lip and spoke while Anika and Pearl were still thinking about his words, “I... wouldn’t mind sharing you with anyone you want, as long as you treat me and them equally.”

Anika put her hands over her own mouth, “Wenammy... you crazy Fairy! What about if he asked for a night with all of us at the same time? I wouldn’t mind having your wings caressing my skin, but I don’t see you up for it!”

Wenammy turned bright red and lowered her voice, “I... wouldn’t exactly mind... if you stopped being so mean to me...”

Anika had her mouth wide open, and Pearl Pearson approached Wenammy, with her lips almost touching hers. “I never had a Fairy in my bed. I wonder what it would be like. Alex also said something about adding another woman to this mix. What do you say to that?”

Wenammy gulped, feeling lost in Pearl’s deep green eyes. “I guess... it depends on the woman... Fairies never had a problem with... being with males or females...”

Alex looked at the two women, who seemed ready to kiss each other, and he felt an elbow on his ribs. He glanced at Anika, who seemed as dumbfounded as he was, and heard her speak in a low voice, “Alex... I don’t know if I am glad or worried... It’s surprising enough to find out that the shy Wenammy is a closet pervert, but now it seems that Pearl also goes both ways! You are either the luckiest man alive, or the Gods have cursed you! I don’t know what to think about all this!”

“Yeah, me neither. It was already weird enough having you three after me, so eager to take me to a bed and to use me as a mere toy, and now you are all talking about our future together... I... don’t know what to say...”

Pearl leaned back and spoke while staring at Wenammy, who was still all red. “You don’t need to say a thing, actually. This is just a possibility. None of us knows what is going to happen in the future, but at least you don’t need to worry about fights between us, even if you choose to be with only one of us. I am not even considering the possibility of you not choosing one of us, because that would mean you are just plain stupid when you have such fine female specimens in your grasp.”

Alex went silent, trying not to pay any attention to the muffled laughter from Kagu-tsuchi, and the annoying mumbling from Shinatobe. He closed his eyes and went into deep meditation to avoid being pulled into another weird conversation. Anika glanced at him and shrugged.

She then smiled at Wenammy and asked, “So, you said that if I treated you better, you wouldn’t mind being with me in a bed. Would you consider me treating you better if I only teased you instead of threatening to cut off your head like I usually do?”

“It... would be an improvement, for sure.”

“I see... I guess I can make some effort if that would mean that Alex would consider being with us a good thing instead of a bother because we are always fighting between us. What do you say, truces?”

Anika showed her right hand for a handshake, and Wenammy looked at it, thinking. Anika frowned and asked, “You prefer to seal this deal with a kiss? I don’t mind, actually, but it would seem a bit forced, considering that only a few hours ago we were about to kill each other.”

Wenammy shook Anika’s hand with a slight smile. “A handshake will do. Let’s see how long it will take for you to forget and try to rip off my wings.”

“Maybe I won’t do that, considering that the idea of having you flapping your wings for me to sleep sounds like a good idea. What do you say, Pearl? Are you willing to use those big boobs of yours to massage my back for me to relax before going to sleep?”

Pearl raised one eyebrow. “I could, as long as you do the same for me once in a while. I don’t want to be the only one on the giving side; I also like to receive.”

“I guess I can do that. Strange as we went from Party comrades to deadly rivals, and then to friends in a matter of days, right?”

Pearl smiled and winked one eye at Wenammy, who still had her face all red. They continued teasing each other all the way to Alex’s land while he was meditating, trying to get used to keeping his Magic from leaking out every time he got distracted.