The stars outside Kujo's window twinkled above the darkened silhouette of the new town. His room—quiet, warm, and lit only by soft emberlight—was the first truly private space he'd had in days.
And yet… he couldn't sleep.
He lay on his back, one arm draped over his eyes, thoughts swirling. About his people. About the assassins. About the girls. About the future.
And about the feeling that despite everything, something was missing tonight.
Then—
Click.
His door creaked open, barely audible.
He sat up halfway. "Who's—?"
Before he could finish, a figure slipped into the moonlit room.
Chusi.
Her eyes gleamed gold in the dim light, and her short black hair bounced with each step. Her thick, fluffy tail swayed behind her with obvious excitement.
"Couldn't sleep either," she said, voice low and husky. "Too much energy. Or maybe…" she grinned as she approached, "I just missed you."
Kujo blinked. "Chusi—what are you—?"
"I've been patient, haven't I?" she asked, crawling onto the bed like a huntress. "But I'm aching now. You picked me. So breed me already."
His brain short-circuited. "Wait—!"
She didn't let him talk.
Her lips crashed into his, aggressive and hungry, and she pushed him down against the mattress with surprising strength. Her claws lightly dug into his shoulders, and her kiss deepened as she guided his hand upward—straight to her chest.
"Go on," she purred. "Feel 'em. I've been dying for your touch."
He barely had time to react—let alone process—before another voice rang out from the shadows.
"You're loud, you know."
Chusi froze mid-grind.
From the far corner of the room, Fiore stepped into the light, her arms folded across her armored chest, her long pink hair swaying behind her.
"Fiore!?" Kujo gasped.
The normally composed knight walked up slowly, her eyes burning—not with anger, but something else. Something possessive. Something raw.
"I was going to let it go," she said, stepping right up to the bed. "I've watched Dimara cling to you every day. I've seen how Setara teases you. But this…"
Her eyes locked on Kujo's, and without another word, she leaned down and kissed him.
Hard.
It was sudden—yet deliberate. Passionate. She cupped his cheek with her gloved hand, pressing her lips against his with a desire she had clearly been holding in.
When she finally pulled back, her voice was quieter. "That was my first kiss, you know."
Kujo stared at her, stunned.
She looked down. "I just… I want to be close too. Like the others. More than your bodyguard."
Chusi, still straddling him, smirked. "You're lucky I like competition."
Kujo looked helplessly between them. He was pinned to the bed by one half-naked wolf-girl and stared down by his strongest, most serious protector.
He groaned softly. "I'm not going to survive this."
"Don't act like you hate it," Chusi whispered, leaning close again. "Your heart's racing."
Fiore smirked faintly. "And you're blushing."
Eventually, after much flustering, hand placement confusion, and several more heated kisses from both women, the night calmed down. Barely.
When Kujo finally fell asleep—tired, dazed, and pressed between two very warm bodies—he knew peace was becoming a luxury.
And the next morning proved it.
He awoke groggily to the smell of perfume and the soft press of silk against his face.
"Good morning, my prince," came a cheerful voice.
He blinked, groaning slightly, before realizing his head was resting between two soft, bouncing cushions.
Kyrie.
She'd sat on the edge of his bed, pulled his head into her chest, and was running her fingers gently through his hair.
"You've been working so hard," she said sweetly. "I figured I should reward you."
He tried to sit up. She held him tighter.
"Kyrie—"
Her lips met his before he could finish.
This kiss was slower. More graceful. But just as full of intent.
When she finally let him breathe, she rested her forehead against his.
"I've never had someone protect me like you do. So… I want you, too."
Kujo groaned and flopped back onto the bed.
"Is this going to be my life now?"
Dimara poked her head in through the doorway with a grin. "Master's learning!"
Fiore appeared next, fully armored again, but her cheeks were red.
Chusi walked in and stretched like a cat, smirking as usual.
Setara soon followed, scroll in hand, but paused when she saw the scene. "...Shall I come back later?"
Zafira's voice echoed from down the hall. "He'll be busy for at least another hour."
Kujo pulled the blanket over his head.
He had created a peaceful town for monsters and misfits.
Now, he had to survive the real challenge:
Being the center of a very, very affectionate harem.
The morning sun poured through the window, golden light casting a warm glow over Kujo's face. He wasn't alone in bed. That had become a certainty rather than a possibility.
As soon as he sat up and rubbed his eyes, he was greeted—ambushed, really—by the soft weight of Dimara throwing herself onto him.
"Master~ Morning kisses~!" she chirped, arms locking around his neck.
Before he could reply, her lips met his. Soft, wet, a little too long for something called "good morning," and definitely more tongue than necessary. She giggled afterward, nuzzling into his collarbone.
Fiore followed behind her, still in partial armor. She knelt on the edge of the bed, leaned in close, and kissed him on the cheek. But when he turned his head slightly, she took the opportunity to press her lips to his for a brief, intense kiss before pulling back without a word.
Kyrie glided in like a breeze. "Don't think I'm being left out." She climbed into his lap and wrapped her arms around him gently, her feathers tickling his neck. Her kiss was sweet, but firm—and she let it linger long enough for her chest to smother his face when she pulled away.
Zafira was next, draping her arms around his shoulders like she belonged there. She didn't ask. She simply kissed his forehead, cheek, and then his lips—slow and deliberate. She smiled. "You taste like exhaustion. You need more rest, my prince."
Then came Chusi.
She dropped onto his lap from the other side of the bed with a gleeful laugh, her tail wagging rapidly.
"Ready for your prize~?" she asked.
Before he could answer, she grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him into a deep, open-mouthed kiss, grinding slightly against his lap as she guided one of his hands down and slapped it firmly onto her rear.
"Go on. Give it a squeeze. You've earned it."
He blushed violently.
The moment broke only when Setara entered with a clipboard and said in the flattest voice possible, "It's six minutes past the start of your workday."
Kujo groaned. "Okay. Okay, I'm up."
After getting dressed and escaping the clingy, affectionate storm that was his harem, Kujo entered his makeshift office—now upgraded with maps, crystal lighting, and way too many chairs for impromptu council meetings.
One report caught his eye: a village petition to install a public fountain in the main square.
"I want to build it," he said aloud, brushing hair from his face.
Setara narrowed her eyes. "You don't have time."
"I'll go tonight. I know where to get the stone and the enchanted water veins. It'll be quick."
Dimara's tendrils flexed behind her, practically bouncing. "Let me go for you, Master~! I'll carry everything!"
Chusi leaned against the doorframe. "Or send me. I'll break the rocks with my claws and bring the whole mountain."
Kujo looked at both of them, then shook his head. "Actually, I have another job for you two."
They stood up straighter in sync.
"I want the assassins interrogated. Find out everything. Use any method necessary."
Dimara's eyes lit up with manic joy. "Yesss~! I've been waiting for this!"
Chusi bared her fangs. "You got it. I'll loosen their tongues—maybe their joints, too."
"Just don't kill them," Kujo added. "Yet."
They practically skipped away with too much excitement.
Then came Zafira, gliding in to his side and wrapping her arms around his arm like an elegant vine. She rested her cheek on his shoulder.
"My prince, the dark elves are experiencing difficulty."
He glanced at her. "What kind?"
"Food shortage. Specific plants we cultivate don't grow in this region. We'll need your permission to establish a secondary greenhouse, ideally with controlled moonlight spells."
Kujo pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alright. File it under urgent. I'll authorize whatever you need."
Zafira smiled and kissed his neck. "Always so capable."
"I'm trying not to collapse."
Finally, Kyrie entered from the northern walkway, face serious.
"Problem on the horizon. Adventurers spotted heading this way. I flew high and counted at least seven. They'll arrive by noon tomorrow."
Kujo leaned on his desk.
"Great. Could be a scouting party. Could be mercenaries. Could be trouble."
Kyrie nodded. "I'll set up a forward watch with Fiore. We'll keep them from entering without permission."
He nodded.
By the time he sat down again, the room was filled with scrolls, reports, complaints, and six gorgeous women, each tugging him in a different direction.
Overwhelmed?
Absolutely.
But bored?
Never again.