Chapter 158: A Bet

I read the comments on the last chapter, and I am speechless... Asahi wont be making any clone, but a second body he will control himself. If you still think that's wrong, then go ahead and drop it. I don't mind, really :D

—x—x—x—

"Welcome back, My Lord."

Grayfia greeted us with a lovely smile, brimming with happiness for some reason.

"Thank you, Grayfia."

She drew closer, bringing her bewitching perfume, and perked on her toes. "My Lord, should we get a different room for children?"

Her words could be interpreted as 'Let's send the children away and make love to each other~.' I wish that was the case.

"Yes."

It was way better than sending Aiko, Rini, and Grayfia out every time we did lewd things.

"I'll do it."

Before she skidded away, I wrapped my arms around her and bit on her earlobes. "Can I request a lap pillow later?"

"Is that an order, My Lord?"

"No, it's a request."

"...Then no."

"Please."

"...No."

"Please, Grayfia."

My requests hammered down her resistance. In the end, she agreed to a five-minute lap pillow. I kissed her cheeks and let her go.

"Onee-chan," Aiko called, rubbing her eyes. "Onee-chan". She flipped the blanket and looked at Nao. "I'm sorry."

I sat beside her and fixed her awfully messy, cute bedhead. "If it's about the dungeon, none of us blame you."

"Ai-chan, Asahi-kun is right."

"Un un, Onii-san is always right."

The three of us tried to comfort the sad loli with our words. Rini's trust in me was sky-high.

'Can I know her Affection points?'

(142.)

She loved me too much.

Aiko threw herself at me, her tiny body trembling as she sobbed.

"Did the dungeon scare you?"

Aiko shook her head. "Aiko feels sad for the dungeon."

The unexpected answer brought silence into the room. I kept patting her head with Nao rubbing her back. The spoilt loli fell asleep on my chest.

"Asahi-kun, can you send her to Shizuka-chan?"

(Your current headpat skill can't heal a deep trauma. The most it could do is suppress it as long as you keep patting her. Shizuka Nee-san's Holy Element can root out any trauma.)

It was probably for the best.

"Sure. Nee-san wouldn't mind."

Nao kissed Aiko's forehead and stroked her cheeks. "Please, seal her powers too. Some girls there went through horrible things…"

The victims of Kunlungfang.

(I sent it to your ring.)

I easily found the silver chain.

Hopes of Placidity (Rank C): This accessory is made for those with berserk powers.

—Disruption (Passive Skill): Disrupts the flow of any skill and magic of the user.

Price — 999 KP

Just what we needed.

I fastened the chain around Aiko's neck.

"Done."

"Asahi-kun… I love you."

[—Nao Sakurada: Affection +14]

Nao's gentle eyes made me chuckle. She is so easy to please.

"I'll back soon."

I teleported to the forest and flew to the portal. On the other side, I teleported to Yotsuba Household and left Aiko in Shizuka's care, who accepted with a big smile on her face. I almost dragged her to some empty room but Klyscha reminded me of the promise.

The evening sun looked down at me by the time I returned to the inn. Now we only have Nao, Rini, and Grayfia.

I fell on my back and breathed out a sigh. Today was hectic in a lot of ways. Getting back on my feet, I summoned my new weapon.

Gae Bolg. The crimson red spear with pulsing veins coiled around its shaft. Rini shot up from her nap and growled.

"Onii-san...?"

Seeing it was me, she calmed down. "T-That spear is scary."

Her instincts must have warned her of Gae Bolg's threat. Nao entered the room at that moment. Grayfia closed the door behind and narrowed her eyes at the spear.

"Asahi-kun, is that your new weapon?" Nao asked. "It looks cool."

"A demonic weapon?" Grayfia grabbed the spear and pressed her thumb on the blade. "Wrong. What is this?"

"It's the Gae Bolg."

"Gae Bolg?!" Grayfia's eyes shot open. "The spear of Cú Chulainn from Irish Mythology Faction?"

No, it's Scáthach's spear!

I shook my head. "It's more than that. It's a sure kill weapon. However my attacks may be, this spear will target your heart."

"That's bullshit," Grayfia strongly denied my legit claims. "This weapon is too ridiculous."

Say that to Biblical God. That guy is trying to make thirteen anomalies among weapons.

"Why don't we have a bet?"

This bet reminded me of my bet with Rika. I'm gonna cash it in the next time she comes here.

"Never."

Grayfia's response was quick.

Nao chuckled. "He will want something lewd as his reward."

"What's lewd, Nao Onee-san?"

Nao's smile froze. She brought her face near my ears, tickling them gently. "Should we teach her now? She is growing very fast. I don't want her to look eighteen and still know nothing about sex."

"Not yet…"

It would be wonderful if she stayed pure. But given her previous question, she might ask herself.

Grayfia leaned closer. "I will increase the time of the lap pillow if you win."

I grinned at her bashful whisper. Things were going the right way. The maid crawled deeper into the trap.

"Sure."

"You will fulfill my request if you lose."

"Aren't I at a disadvantage here?"

What if she requested me to become a shota, so she can use me as a hug pillow every night?!

She revealed a soft smile. "Will your manly pride reject this?"

The horse she betted on turned out to be a cripple. Grinning, I lifted her chin. "This win will be the first step of the path."

She stared back, still smiling. "...What path?"

"Of winning your heart and taking you as my wife."

"We shall see."

Nao squeezed between us. "Grayfia, are you sure you don't like Asahi-kun?"

I turned my attention to the maid, waiting patiently for her answer.

Grayfia sighed and opened her mouth. "I do like him. I won't deny it. But it's not enough for me to forget myself and throw everything for him."

"I see." Nao nodded her head. "So you mean 'I like him, but I can't go out with him'."

"Not to that level… but yeah. I still haven't fulfilled my duties as the Heir of the Lucifuge Clan..."

"So indecisive… that's not wrong. I would have busied myself in teaching to avoid any relationship. I might stay single for my whole life if the apocalypse hadn't arrived."

I held Nao's shoulders and kissed her cheeks. At least Nao made Grayfia admit her feelings.

Grayfia shook her head. "I still need to become a better maid."

Rini held Grayfia's hand and smiled. "Let's do it together then!"

Grayfia returned a gleeful smile. "Together."

"Now, let's go to the dungeon!"