“Yeah, until your sword breaks, my armor shatters, a freak accident happens and we have to rush to a healer who asks for a gold coin payment…” I brood.
“Well… I told you a few days ago that making a living from labyrinth clearing becomes exceptionally great from the 11th floor onwards. If people could just waltz into the 1st floor and clear their way to the 5th to become wealthy then not many would strive to climb further downwards or even pursue other career paths.”
“Stop being so logical and let me whine for a while…”
She doesn’t respond verbally as she only giggles cheerily.
We make our way through the winding streets, the labyrinth’s towering walls gradually giving way to the bustling city. The market district is lively, filled with vendors hawking their goods and shoppers haggling for better deals. It’s a cacophony of sounds, scents, and sights, the lifeblood of the city.
“We are going to Garen, by the way.” Ayame speaks up before I can check around for the best prices.
“Come on, he might be screwing us over. Market research is mandatory to get the best return for our hardships.” I vehemently disagree.
“Then the slaver might go home before we finish looking for the best deal. I promised him that we would go to him… Please do this for me just this once. Next time I won’t complain even if you spend three days and nights doing your ‘market research’.”
I don’t like this situation at all, but if there’s one thing I learned from the ladies of my past world is that sometimes you have to give in to their absolutely ridiculous, immensely illogical sudden whims otherwise they will think of you as a heartless man who doesn’t care about their feelings.
“Alright, but only this once.”
She smiles brightly, “thanks, I really appreciate it.”
Well, there you have it. Naturally, I won’t just bow my head and let her have her way with me like I’m her butler or something.
“It has occurred to me that you promised to sleep in my embrace tonight if I defeat the 2nd floor’s boss, which I’ve accomplished magnificently if I may say so myself, but tonight might become really hectic.
I don’t know when we will finish and I might be too tired to even enjoy my reward, so in exchange for granting your request I ask that your promise changes retrospectively into ‘I will sleep in your embrace once, and you, Quinlan, can decide on the date of the occasion.'”
I won’t let her make an unreasonable request without getting anything in return for myself, of course, otherwise she might become more and more brazen and disorderly with her attitude, thus I must nip this from happening in the bud before it can even begin to blossom.
It’s not that I refuse to listen to her or let her make our decisions, but I must remind her of the pecking order between the two of us. The fact that she outright stated “We are going to Garen, by the way.” as if my opinion didn’t matter at all was a worrying sign that made me feel that I must put my feet down hard this time.
My goal of having a great, rich harem made up of diverse and exotic beauties sounds like an amazing dream at first but if I want to maintain my sanity I have to discipline my ladies to a satisfactory degree or I will never be able to enjoy peace and quiet for the rest of my life.
I don’t think I have to worry about Blossom because she is simply the best girl but while Ayame is a very sweet and lovely woman I can’t ignore the fact that she used to be a high noble up until a year ago. I can see a future where, if I let her boss me around, she gains, or perhaps regains, some annoying haughty attitude reminiscent of young ladies of such a privileged background.
Naturally, I can’t allow that to happen.
My beautiful samurai abruptly stops in her tracks, her body becoming absolutely motionless. She suddenly looks at me like I’ve gone crazy then in the next second realization hits her hard, and her cheeks redden into a crimson flush. What an adorable girl, she’s already forgotten about this promise of hers. I will have to make sure to remind her.
It takes her a good few seconds to mount a response, which comes out in a meek voice completely shattering her previous domineering attitude that she displayed in the labyrinth. “Alright…”
Seeing her sheepish attitude I can’t help but draw closer and pull her into a tender hug, then I whisper into her ear while petting her head with my other hand; “don’t worry, I will be real gentle…”
“Quinlan…!” Her voice is full of protest telling me to stop right this instant, but her body doesn’t attempt to disengage, a feat which would be easily achievable for my companion with 49 Strength.
“Yes?” I ask in a low tone.
“You make it sound so lewd… I know you are doing it on purpose!” Ayame regains some of her spunk as she angrily rebuts me.
“Shh… Shh…Everything will be fine. Just leave it to me.” I make soothing sounds while stroking her dark hair lovingly.
“Grr!” She growls, “are you forgetting that my contra-”
I interrupt Ayame and silence her by putting a finger on her delicate lips. “I know about all your contract clauses and also that you only promised to sleep in my embrace, nothing less, nothing more, and I will honor everything.”
She lifts her head and looks me in the eyes for a good while, ascertaining the validity of my words for herself, then finally relents; “good. Now stop petting me and let go. You have a literal dog-girl at home who loves your pats, so stroke her head, not mine.”
I chuckle, “are you sure that’s what you want? From what I see you are trying really hard to suppress yourself from showing signs of pleasure- or perhaps comfort would be the more accurate word here- while I’m doing this.”
“I’m absolutely certain and you are also seeing things wrong.” She states with total confidence.
I accept her opinion for now and raise my hands in surrender as I step back with an amused grin on my face.
While we are walking down the street towards Garen’s shop I examine my personal gains in the form of XP and levels;