After trekking over mountains for half a day, Riku and his group finally arrived at the werebeast settlement, the journey filled with the noisy voices of three little girls.
Along the way, a group of werebeasts warmly welcomed Riku. Although some were still afraid of Jibril, seeing Riku holding down the rowdy Jibril's head, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
As for the elves, they all looked like defeated roosters, heads drooped, not daring to meet the eyes of the werebeasts around them.
Think Nirvalen quietly stood behind Riku and Fia, her expression a bit dazed, her eyes flickering as she looked at Riku's back, lost in thought.
Soon after, the elves were settled in, while Riku and the others planned to go to the hot springs.
"Riku, let's bathe together." At the entrance, Schwi took Riku's hand and said quietly.
"Hey! Schwi, men and women are supposed to bathe separately!" Hearing this, Fia immediately got flustered, grabbing Schwi's hand in protest.
As Riku's wife, even she felt embarrassed to bathe with him at a time like this, yet Schwi had just said it outright, as if she was going to steal her man in public.
"Ehehe, bathing together with Master. How delightful," Jibril said, wearing her signature silly smile.
"Stupid Flügel, know your limits!" Seeing Jibril join in, Fia glared and shouted angrily.
"Hmph, little werebeast, it's not right to monopolise him. Be careful, or Master might abandon you. He said himself he wants a harem, he won't give up the whole forest for just one tree," Jibril retorted without backing down.
"—!" Hearing that, Fia looked at Riku with aggrieved puppy eyes, as if about to be abandoned.
This gave Riku a headache. Why did things keep turning into a love triangle battlefield?
"Ahem, let's all just go to the hot springs together; they're big enough for everyone." Riku awkwardly coughed, patting Fia and Schwi's heads, trying to stay calm.
"Hmph! Stupid Riku!" Fia pouted angrily at this.
But even though she seemed angry, her body was honest, she rushed into the hot spring ahead of everyone.
She didn't even call him husband anymore. Looks like he'd have to find a chance to smooth Fia's feelings.
Riku rubbed his face and shook his head.
"Alright, let's go in too." With that, Riku took Schwi's hand and walked in.
Jibril followed with her usual silly grin.
"Am I supposed to go in too?" Think Nirvalen, trailing behind, looked at their backs with a conflicted expression, speechless.
"Oh well, I'm a maid now after all," she sighed and followed them in.
Now that she was a maid, she had to have a maid's resolve. For a maid, sharing a hot spring with her master was basically a reward. Forget just this, even if something more "intimate" happened, a maid wouldn't have the right to refuse.
"Ehehe, can ex-machina even bathe? Aren't you afraid water will get inside?" As Think Nirvalen entered, the scene made her mouth twitch. Jibril was staring at Schwi's body like a maniac.
Meanwhile, Fia was pouting, acting like a spoiled child, ignoring Riku.
"Why am I suffering because of these people?" Think Nirvalen felt like crying, silently wrapping herself in a towel and finding a spot to soak.
Instantly, her body relaxed for the first time in ages.
As for serving Riku, she wasn't about to bring it up herself, she wasn't a masochist...
"Schwi is waterproof. This is nothing," Riku explained to Jibril as Fia ignored him, shaking his head helplessly.
"Ehehe, but Master, how did you manage to win over an ex-machina like Schwi? The ex-machina race is so united and troublesome." Jibril asked, full of curiosity.
"When fate brings people together, it just happens. It's all destiny," Riku answered with mystical flair.
"I don't really get it, but it sounds impressive." Jibril grinned.
"But, Master, you really don't want me to serve you?" Jibril asked, giving her usual lovestruck look. "Whatever you want, I'll satisfy you~!"
"You can skip that. I prefer you the way you usually are." Riku replied with a straight face.
"Eh~!" Jibril yelped, as if hearing something unbelievable.
"Hey, Jibril, what's with that look? Is that so surprising?" Riku complained.
"Ehehe, isn't Master a lolicon? To say you like me as I am is shocking," Jibril giggled.
"Jibril, is your butt itching again? Want me to help?" Riku raised his hand threateningly.
"Uh… maybe not," Jibril laughed awkwardly and moved away.
"Fia, why are you biting me?" Suddenly, Riku felt pain in his arm. Looking down, he saw Fia biting him with an angry glare, making him laugh and cry at the same time.
"Cheater, I'll bite you to death." Fia didn't let go she bit harder, muttering indistinct words.
"Hehe, little werebeast, it seems you didn't take my advice. Careful, or you really will get abandoned," Jibril egged her on.
Riku glared at Jibril to make her stop. "Alright, Fia, that's enough. I'll never abandon you. You're my first wife." Riku gently stroked Fia's head and whispered in her ear.
"First… so you really want a harem?" Fia pouted, looking aggrieved. But Riku's words made her feel a little better. Still, having to share her most important person with others was really hard to accept.
"Yeah. But no matter how many other women I have, your place in my heart will never change. So relax," Riku said softly, stroking Fia's head. "Don't overthink it, just relax, and tonight I'll make it up to you."
"Mmm~!" With those words, plus the feeling of his breath on her ear, Fia's face instantly turned bright red. She nodded shyly, finally letting go, her eyes shining as she got lost in daydreams.
"Then, it's a promise," Fia finally mumbled quietly, her shy and cute posture making anyone want to hug her and spoil her.
"Hehe." Seeing Fia's adorable appearance, Riku couldn't help but gently pinch her ear.
In that instant, Fia's body trembled slightly. But even so, Fia didn't resist at all and simply let Riku play with her beast ears.
Wait, this was really something to look forward to.
The corners of Riku's mouth curled into a smile as his imagination began to run wild.
"Hehe, Master, what were you two just talking about? Can I join in as well?" Seeing the strange expressions and reactions on Riku and Fia's faces, Jibril ran over with a cheerful smile, full of curiosity.
"You? Forget it. Wait until you return to your original form, then we can talk. Right now, it's just too disappointing." Riku glanced at Jibril and shook his head, looking quite mournful.
"Ugh! I've used up all my power, and unless I use that special method in Avant Heim, it'll take months to recover naturally." Hearing this, Jibril looked depressed.
Just as Riku was starting to think this perverted angel was truly down, and was considering whether to give her one of those enhanced rations, Jibril's expression changed again.
"Hehe, but Master, there's something I don't understand. Why can Fia be doted on by you, but not me? Logically speaking, in terms of cuteness, I'm not inferior to her." Jibril puffed out her chest, confident but confused.
Hearing this, Fia snorted coldly and glared at Jibril, clearly unhappy that she wanted to bite Jibril right then and there.
"Jibril, you really don't get it." Riku looked at Jibril with a sorrowful face.
"Eh, Master, why don't I get it?" Jibril looked puzzled.
"Fia herself is already a 'moe' point. Her age and figure are like that, so the first impression is already deeply rooted. Plus, she has beast ears, that's something you don't have." Riku said with a perfectly serious face.
Even though Fia felt a little embarrassed hearing this, she still showed a clear look of happiness, her ears twitching slightly.
"As for you, you give off that older-sister aura, and now with this look... compared to before, it's just far too disappointing. A 'onee-san' type should look like an 'onee-san.'" Riku declared with the air of an expert. "You're a character with allure. To step into the realm of cuteness and hope to beat Fia? Impossible."
"I see. I understand now. So, Master, you're into everything after all. I always misunderstood you before, sorry about that." Jibril's eyes sparkled as if she'd made a new discovery, coming to a conclusion.
"...!" Riku's eyes widened as he glared at Jibril. This girl she'd just set his preferences in stone.
"Jibril, you really need a beating. Looks like I really do have to give you a lesson today." Riku raised his hand with an air of authority.
"Hehe, is Master finally going to punish me? I'm so happy! But after you punish me, could you let me observe your body for a bit? Hehe, I won't do anything strange."
It seemed Riku had underestimated Jibril's perversion. Hearing the word "punish," she didn't feel scared at all; instead, she looked excited, saying something that would make anyone blush.
Even Fia averted her gaze, deciding it was pointless to compete with this perverted girl anymore. She suddenly felt that fighting Jibril for Riku's attention was kind of stupid...
"Riku, I want to play a game." At this moment, Schwi suddenly spoke up.
"Uh..." Hearing this, Riku looked at Schwi, who seemed a bit different than usual, always staring at him with what looked like a small grudge.
"Schwi, let's play next time." But remembering how "special" Schwi's games were, Riku felt a headache coming on.
If he lost, with Schwi's personality, she would just start right away regardless of who was around.
If it were any other time, it'd be enjoyable, but here and now, it'd be a disaster.
"No, I want to play now." Schwi insisted.
"Hehe, now I'm curious. What game do you and Schwi play, Master? Can I join in too?" Jibril grinned.
"I want to join too," Fia added at just the right moment.
"Ahem, just chess. We'll play next time." Riku tried to sound casual.
"Oh, is that so?" Both Jibril and Fia immediately looked sceptical.
"Yes, chess. It's just... the loser must... mmph mmph!" Schwi was about to blurt out the truth, but Riku quickly covered her mouth. Oh my god, if she said it, he'd be dead.
"Oh, how interesting." Fia immediately grew suspicious, pouting. So it wasn't so simple! There was definitely something going on!
As for Jibril, her eyes burned with wild curiosity.
"This is getting out of hand..." In the corner, Think Nirvalen, looking a bit out of place, watched the scene unfold with a complicated expression and shook her head.
Who would've thought that people who were fighting to the death before would now be soaking in a hot spring and chatting...
Werebeast, Ex-Machina, and Flügel all gathered around this man. Even she herself had become his maid.
What an unbelievable human...
Think Nirvalen sighed.
..........
Finally, the chaotic hot spring session came to an end. Everyone donned yukatas and went to enjoy the dinner prepared by the werebeast maids.
During dinner, the attitude of the werebeast elders shocked Think Nirvalen.
After eating, it was time for bed. It was already late, and after a day of fleeing and fighting, everyone was exhausted.
But when it came to room assignments, thanks to Fia's deliberate arrangements, everyone was separated. Not even Riku and Fia were in the same room.
Once the rooms were sorted, Think Nirvalen was the first to fall asleep. She hadn't slept this comfortably in ages, though her changed status made her a little gloomy.
But half an hour later, under the cover of night, a small figure crept out of her room like a thief, tiptoeing toward Riku's room.
With beast ears quivering and dressed in a yukata, the blue-haired, red-eyed loli was none other than Fia. Tonight, she had a special promise with Riku~.
"Husband, I'm here." Arriving at the door, Fia whispered softly. Her delicate little face was flushed, her tail swaying happily, clearly in an unusually good mood.
After Fia spoke, a faint sound came from inside, and then the door opened. Riku appeared before her. "Fia, come in." Riku touched his face, smiling as he spoke.
"Mm…!" Hearing this, Fia nodded happily. At the same time, she felt a bit odd inside.
Clearly, they were already husband and wife, yet they still had to sneak around like this. Really…
"Husband, tonight, I'll satisfy you with that position too." Fia pinched Riku's sleeve, lowered her head, and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's. Her little face was already bright red.
"Really?" Hearing this, Riku couldn't help but call out in delight.
"…Tonight, I won't refuse!" Fia didn't dare meet Riku's eyes, wiggling her toes nervously, looking very anxious.
But it was understandable. After all, that position was just too embarrassing.
Still, in just over a day, Riku had already gained so many women; her sense of crisis was getting serious, so she had to raise his affection for her!
"Hehe, then it's settled." Riku's lips curled into a smile as he lovingly patted Fia's head. Sure enough, having such a cute wife was wonderful. Tonight, more positions could be unlocked.
"Alright, come in." Riku took Fia's hand and walked her inside.
Then, the door closed. After some random noises, there were some dull thumping sounds, along with Fia's muffled gasps as she tried to endure something.
No one knew exactly what was happening, but just imagining it was enough to stir the heart.
........
Riku launched a relentless assault on Fia, putting his entire weight into it.
No one knew how much time passed before they both trembled and stopped.
"Wait, Fia, did you sense it?" Riku was still savouring the afterglow, about to begin a new round of battle, when his eyes suddenly grew sharp, looking toward a cabinet in the distance.
"Mm… mm! Spirit reaction?! And a scent…! Who's there? Come out!" Hearing this, still a little dazed and her eyes moist, Fia came back to her senses, covering herself and Riku with the blanket, shooting a sharp glare at that spot.
She had been so focused on Riku and caught up in the moment, her senses weren't as sharp as usual, and she hadn't realised someone was hiding there.
Just now, for some reason, that person exposed a spirit reaction, and only then did the two of them notice.
"Riku, Fia, you can just continue, don't mind me. I'm only here to collect data, so I can manufacture the most suitable 'hole' for Riku." Under their sharp gazes, a figure slowly walked out, and a voice tinged with a bit of emotion sounded.
"Schwi!!!" Seeing who it was, both Riku and Fia were stunned.
Then, Fia's face turned bright red, and she buried herself entirely under the blanket in utter shame. To have been watched the whole time, and in that position no less… It was just…
"Schwi, why are you here?!" Riku's mouth twitched in exasperation.
"Based on Riku's heart rate and certain organ reactions, I deduced that something would happen tonight. So, while Riku and Fia were strolling in the courtyard, I snuck in here, hid my presence using special methods, and waited." Schwi looked Riku in the eye and explained calmly.
"..." Hearing this, Riku's mouth twitched again. Schwi, when did you learn all this and get so cunning…
"Based on the data just now, I have a sixty percent chance of manufacturing the most suitable 'hole' for Riku. So, please don't worry about me, continue your reproductive activities." Schwi stared intently at Riku, her words leaving everyone dumbfounded.
"Uh..." Riku was speechless. Even if you say that, even if I don't care, with Fia acting like this, there's no way we're continuing.
"Riku, Fia, what's wrong? Please continue what you were doing." Seeing the two ignoring her, Schwi frowned slightly, almost human-like, as she urged them.
"Ugh!!!! Schwi, you idiot!!!" Finally, Fia stuck her head out, and at a speed that left Riku dumbfounded, dressed herself in her yukata and stormed out in utter rage and humiliation, even activating "Blood destruction" to run away at a speed that surprised even Riku.
"What's wrong with Fia? Did I get in her way?" Schwi asked Riku, confused.
"Ahem, in a way, yes. Fia may act mature sometimes, but she still gets shy at moments like this." Riku coughed awkwardly, feeling helpless.
Well, looks like tonight's happiness was totally ruined.
"Schwi, even though Ex-Machina don't need rest, you should go to sleep anyway. If you want to have a 'heart,' you have to learn from humans." Riku said helplessly.
"Schwi wants to sleep with Riku." Schwi looked straight at him, speaking softly.
"…Fine…" Seeing Schwi's determined look, Riku hesitated but finally nodded.
But then, as if remembering something, he raised his index finger and said seriously, "But, let's skip the 'games' tonight, alright?"
"Hmm, fine." A hint of disappointment flashed in Schwi's eyes, but she nodded at last.
After that, the two of them didn't do anything outrageous and simply fell asleep together.
"Hehe, what a lively bunch. This kind of life isn't bad." On the rooftop, Jibril gazed at the dim sky and smiled.
"But this life won't last long. Even if I agreed to be your servant, those people will still come and cause trouble. When the time comes, how will you get through it?" Jibril propped her chin in her hand, mumbling to herself.
......
The next morning was as chaotic as ever, leaving Riku with a headache. Jibril had definitely noticed what happened last night and kept bickering with Fia. Plus, with Schwi occasionally chiming in, things were just way too noisy.
Only Think Nirvalen looked on in confusion, having no idea what was going on. After all, she'd slept the deepest that night, since she was so exhausted from all the running before.