To be Happy Ever After: Happy Ever After (ch. 4)

One hundred and sixty points. Normally, capturing a target yielded sixty percent of its value (so, one hundred and twenty points in this case), however since I took Cash Still Rules (which essentially wiped out any budget the Contractor had been given and forced them to take a loan for whatever they wanted to buy to a maximum of five hundred credits), the percentage increased to eighty.

With the debt settled, I was left with sixty-one credits. Well, fifty-six after acquiring Sticky Fingers.

And what a perfect acquisition it turned out to be.

“Ah, U-Unum-chi! Don’t - don’t stop!” Valac gasped, amidst her moans of pleasure.

“Hm?” I inquired, playfully nibbling on the pointed tip of her right ear. “Which part?”

“Ah - hm, all of them! Stop nothing!” If my grin grew any wider, I feared my face might split in two.

“Well, never accuse me of being a stingy friend!” With my right hand, I firmly pinched her right nipple - vertically, not horizontally, my newly found instincts advised me. With my left hand, I continued to slide my middle finger into her drenched pussy, skillfully caressing every sweet spot she wasn't even aware she had. Each time I gyrated my finger she buckled her hips forward, as if trying to push it deeper into herself.

Using my mouth - tongue, more precisely - I traced a wet path inside her ear, leaving a trail of saliva that made her shiver with pleasure. Knowing instinctively that she had such a weakness was such a huge cheat. I love it!

Finally, with my newly acquired tail (thanks to the Primal Shroud) I enveloped and kneaded Valac’s one. Feeling her try to disentangle it from mine as the pleasure overwhelmed her just made me want to tighten it that much harder.

“Ah - I’m - again, I’m HNNGH-” The sound of Valac cumming her brains out reverberated through the walls of the room of my Grand Manor - the thing where I had spent the remainder of my points and housed all the as of yet uncaptured individuals.

As if to remind me of that fact - and the work I was putting off by ignoring it - a forceful knock echoed, and Renner entered the room. Valac continued to convulse on the bed, so I grasped her by the horns and guided my erect member into her mouth, where she mindlessly suckled. She used to struggle a bit to avoid touching my penis with her sharp teeth, but the past few hours had made sure to beat that out of her.

“I see that you're thoroughly enjoying yourself, my lord,” Renner said, her voice slightly tinged with… envy?

Normally, I wouldn't dare utter something like this, but being on the cusp of godhood and having slept with more women in the past week than in my entire previous life - all of them more stunning, I might add - gave me a much-needed confidence boost.

“Yup.” I punctuated my agreement with a firm slap to Valac’s ass. “Wanna join in?”

There was a fleeting moment - so brief that I questioned if it had even occurred - where her eyes filled with an insatiable hunger. As if she wanted nothing more than to answer affirmatively to my question and start fucking like rabbits.

With a slight shake of her head, Renner declined. “After, my lord. Afteryou have bound those beings. I understand your desire to celebrate your victory, but it is crucial that we swiftly handle the binding part to ensure that everything is truly going as planned," Renner explained, and I grimaced, acknowledging the truth in her words. Valac, seemingly detecting my souring mood, started bobbing her head up and down but even that was not enough to fully distract me.

Ishtar was waiting underground - much like Loki Familia who remained in the dungeon, making them inaccessible to Freya’s charm. Ishtar had been deceived into believing that was where I would strike a deal with her, enhancing all her Amazons' power levels and aiding her in dethroning Freya. In truth I just didn’t want her to see Freya charming the entire city and start getting ideas.

Hestia was presently asleep and unlikely to notice any unusual activity until morning.

However, the time I had was not infinite. I was not in any immediate danger considering everyone that had been moved to my demiplane was charmed and I don’t think anyone left in that universe had the ability to invade this place, but still… Fuck, I let myself go.

“Sorry. Let’s proceed,” I lifted Valac by her hair from my cock - she emitted a frustrated moan in response but did not resist beyond that - and prepared to stand up. However, Renner swiftly approached as soon as Valac was removed.

“Let's deal with this first; it wouldn't do for you to be in this state and make a mistake because of it,” Renner deftly wrapped her hand around my erection and began stroking. Her fingers were unbelievably soft. The gentle scraping of her manicured nails along my length sent shivers of pleasure coursing through me with every touch.

On her third stroke, Renner lowered her face, extended her tongue, and traced a path from the base of my cock to the tip. The expression on her face as she performed that action was incredibly erotic, not inherently, but as a culmination of all her gestures, manners, and even her attire. I wondered if that was all on purpose for a moment before the pleasure was just too overwhelming for me to be able to spend any brainpower on that.

Just as I felt my release approaching, Renner forcefully took my cock deep into her mouth. Deeper and deeper, until there was nothing more to take. Her eyes reddened, and she blinked away a few tears.

That was all it took for me to tip over the edge. Wave after wave of semen shot directly into Renner's throat, and for a moment, the sound of her greedily swallowing it all down filled the room. Even Valac seemed captivated by the spectacle.

With a final gulp, Renner slowly withdrew my entire length from her mouth, her lips creating a vacuum seal to ensure my cock emerged immaculately clean.

As if that was not enough, she then raised the hem of her dress and used it to wipe away any lingering traces of saliva.

Aaaaaaand I’m rock hard again. Fuck.

A soft chuckle escaped the princess's lips as she stood up. “I’m afraid any further indulgence will have to wait for later. Now then, if you would... ”

I rose from the bed and Renner promptly moved to dress me. A complaint threatened to leave my lips but it died the moment I felt her soft hands gliding across my body.

“All right then, let’s go.” Fully dressed, I cracked my neck and headed towards the door. Renner stood there, holding it open for me, awaiting my exit. However, just before stepping out, I turned around and approached Valac.

I grabbed a firm handful of her ass and squeezed. “We’ll continue this later.” With a firm slap, I withdrew and left the room, the sound of Valac giggling herself silly bidding me farewell.

Slipping my arm around Renner's shoulder, I moved my hand until it firmly grasped her right breast. All she did in response was raise an eyebrow and shoot me a look that combined fondness with exasperation.

“Work before pleasure my lord, and I promise you, there shall be plenty of pleasure for you after this.”

At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to just throw her into the ground and have my way with her. However, what remained of the enforced morality from my past life and the fact I knew what I was about to do was extremely important barely restrained me from acting upon such impulses.

Nonetheless, I couldn't resist squeezing Renner's breast a few more times along the way. And maybe fondling her ass a bit too.

#

He was high.

Not literally of course, but in all the ways that mattered he was high as a kite.

As Renner keenly monitored his micro-expressions, listened to his accelerated heartbeat, and witnessed his pores exuding beads of sweat, the enormity of her transformation became glaringly apparent.

Once a Tier 3 individual, Renner belonged to a group that hovered on the upper echelons of ordinary expertise. They possessed minor powers, untrained abilities, or unique traits. This category encompassed individuals such as special forces operatives, political savants, intellectual prodigies, magically gifted children, and those with extended lifespans. But now, she had ascended to Tier 6, and the disparity was staggering. It took her some time to fully comprehend the magnitude of her metamorphosis, more than she desired, but she now believed she had a firm grasp on her newfound capabilities.

A Tier 6 individual possessed at least one skill, power, or extraordinary trait of substantial potency. In her lord's parlance, those at this level could be classified as Multi-City Block level. Yet, Renner didn't feel as though she now possessed the power to demolish buildings with a single blow, nor did she believe she had acquired an ability of that magnitude. Her augmentation and claim to Tier 6 lay in her intellect.

Her cognitive faculties had undergone a remarkable transformation. She now possessed an extraordinary capacity for metacognition, enabling her to introspect and analyze her own thought processes with unparalleled precision. Renner’s mental plasticity, akin to a malleable substance sculpted by the hands of erudition, allowed her to swiftly assimilate and integrate new concepts at a speed that would make the brightest geniuses green with envy. A prodigious memory served as her inexhaustible repository, meticulously storing every fragment of knowledge and information she encountered (including, and most importantly, intricate details about her lord's physical form, his subtle cues, his preferences, dislikes, and every facet of his being).

It did vex her, though, that despite all of this, Renner was not immune to her more primal feminine desires. By that, she meant the burning longing in her loins whenever her lord roughly groped her posterior or caressed her bosom as they walked towards the subjects Freya had charmed.

Just fucking pin me down and have your way with me! - was something she did notscream. It was her desire, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. She wasn't like Valac, who could engage in such acts without remorse due to her limited cognitive capacity and over reliance on instinctual urges.

Renner had plans, plans that hinged on the fact that they hadn't yet engaged in true sexual intimacy, plans that would help her lord grow and mature in ways she knew were profoundly beneficial for him. Renner couldn't afford to simply...

"You're overthinking it." A hand landed on her head, and Renner looked up to see Freya, the Goddess of Beauty, gazing down at her.

Initially, Renner hadn't thought much of the so called Deusdea. However, it seemed falling in love had… changed her. The first thing the Goddess had done (after shedding a not insignificant amount of tears) was charm the entire city… and beyond. Her lord had informed Renner that the Goddess had been capable of charming Orario - and had done so - in the original timeline of that world. However, that Goddess had not been boosted from Tier 8, continent level, to Tier 9, planet level, where the capital G gods resided.

As it stood, even without a good handle on her power, she was able to charm the entirety of Orario plus the Port city close to it and that nonsensical warmongering country.

But that wasn't the reason that led Renner to begrudgingly respect the woman though. What had made her see the Goddess beyond the broken thing she was, was the fact that the moment they were safely tucked inside her lord’s pocket dimension, the first thing she did was focus on him.

She looked at him and endeavored to understand him. Grasp his likes, his dislikes. Comprehend who he was and what made him be what he was today. Freya desired nothing more than to support the man who had allowed her to experience love.

Freya yearned for her Odr to love her.

The first thing she had done was completely erase her previous form from existence and create a new, untainted one that had not been touched by anyone else. She then got on her knees and profusely apologized for not being able to wipe her memories of interloping with other men.

The expression on her lord's face upon witnessing the lengths the Goddess had gone to was incredibly amusing. Freya had done the right thing, though, because by striving to understand him, she realized that was the only way he would potentially see her as a genuine Companion.

In fact, if she hadn't done at least that, Renner's first priority would have been finding a way to convince her lord to demote the Goddess to the rank of a familiar and banish her far away. But as it stood, perhaps Renner had found another ally in her quest to assist her lord.

“Oh, hi Freya. Did not notice you there.” Her lord turned around and passionately kissed the Goddess. It was a brief yet profound kiss. When they pulled apart, a trail of saliva lingered, connecting them for a little longer before it broke.

“Alright then, let’s go.” He opened the door to the street and from there Renner could see a vast beach. The weather was perfect. The sound of chirping birds was perfect. The scent of the sea was perfect. It was all perfect. Suitable, as it was all made by her lord.

‘You only wanted to kiss him again once he loved you, didn’t you?’ Her mind telepathically connected to Freya’s and she saw how the Goddess’ expression cracked.

‘It would be easier to teach him what love is if he exercised some patience. However, I have the feeling that less than twenty-four hours from now I will be loudly moaning out his name.’ Freya sighed, both in anticipation and vexation. ‘Nevertheless, I will not deny him what he wishes. I will simply have to find another way to make him fall in love with me. It is a shame that he’s immune to my charm.’

Renner gave Freya a piercing gaze, but the Goddess merely rolled her eyes in response.

‘Oh, don't be like that. Aren't you happier now? Yet, aren’t you being manipulated into feeling that way? Back on Babel, you told me you were much happier in this state and that the path you took to get here wasn't wrong. So, what's wrong with doing the same to him?’

Renner opened her mouth, closed it, and opened it again before closing it once more. It was a rare occurrence when she found herself at a loss for words. Cognitive dissonance. The word immediately appeared in her mind. It had appeared on the fifth line of the seventy-second page of The Hermeneutics of Self-Esteem: Unlocking the Narrative of Worthiness. It was cognitive dissonance that assailed her right now.

‘It’s okay for him to bind us because of course it is! But, to charm him… it… no. I don’t want it.’

She could not explain why, but she did not want it.

‘And you are now one step closer to realizing why he feels unable to truly love us. Perhaps as the years, centuries, and millennia pass, he will learn to disregard such things, but you also don’t want that, do you?’ Freya smirked and Renner wondered if this was how Ai had felt when Renner was talking to her. The princess was being skillfully manipulated into reaching the answer the Goddess desired. ‘That’s good. I do not want that either. So, let us work together.’

The Goddess extended her hand to the princess -

And Renner took it.

She had said it before. She would save her lord, through any means necessary.

Even if it meant forming an alliance with this vexing woman!

#

The girl possessed a captivating charm and an impressive intellect. However, Freya had lived through countless ages, witnessed the ebb and flow of civilizations as they rose and fell. She had observed once-mighty empires crumble into mere footnotes in others’ histories. It would be absurd to consider a mortal who hadn't even reached full maturity as her equal.

However, she had potential. In a few mere centuries, Freya could envision herself being cornered by this very same girl. That’s why she would take it upon herself to become her mentor, ensuring she reached extraordinary heights that would otherwise take millennia to attain.

“Ah, Odr, please wait for me!” Freya called out, in a calm but loud tone. She watched as he promptly halted and turned to look at her, smiling. Despite his willingness to enslave entire populations, Freya couldn't help but notice his peculiar tenderness towards those in his retinue.

Her mental profiling of him became clearer by the second.

With her arm interlocked with his, Freya gazed up at Odr, a radiant smile gracing her lips.

“Ahem. Well, let’s get this thing going then.”

Ahhhhhhhhhh~! He was simply adorable! His blush was absolutely endearing!

Freya rested her head against his arm, regretting not having been captured by him sooner. She wagered her life that his reactions would be even more charming before he engaged in any sexual activities with the other women in his retinue.

“Yes, let us proceed at once.” Renner chimed in, seizing his other arm and propelling them towards the beach. The people whom Freya had charmed knelt before Odr, as was fitting.

It was in such a way, flanked by a universe-class beauty and a world-class one, that Odr strode along. He was a bit awkward. Things like timing their paces and relaxing his arms to flowingly guide them forwards still eluded him, but that was of no concern. Freya would be more than willing to instruct him.

“Hmm… should I just get the guys done before moving onto the girls?” Odr mused audibly, capturing the attention of both women.

Before Freya could respond, Renner seized the opportunity.

“Remember what I said, my lord? Work before pleasure. I believe you would not like it if you became aroused and then were to be confronted with an old, unsightly man to bind.” Odr’s lips twitched with amusement and embarrassment at the princess’ remark before nodding in agreement.

Still, why did the girl always refer to him as ‘my lord’? Was there something Freya didn't know, some underlying dynamic at play?

“Got it got it, dudes first it is then,” Odr declared, discarding his sandals and stepping onto the sandy shore. "Damn, this feels great." Clearing his throat, he turned his attention to the kneeling individuals. "Alright! Dudes to the left, ladies to the right! Hurry up!" His orders were delivered with an air of indifference, as though he regarded them not as people, but as mere cattle.

Again, Freya had to reassess his mental profiling. Odr was proving much more intriguing than she she initially believed.

Once they had completed his orders he moved and enveloped his Shroud around Apollo.

Freya could safely say he wouldn’t be missed.

It didn't take long for the Shroud to begin shining as Apollo submitted fully to its effects, and soon enough, the god was completely bound, severing the effects of Freya's charm on him at the same time.

"Ah, what an honor it is to be a part of your grand adventure, master! Please allow me to be the one to instruct you in the pleasures of -!” The god of the sun and countless other domains didn't have a chance to complete his sentence before his form promptly vanished, transported to a realm far beyond Freya's comprehension.

“Aaaaaaand, sold.” Odr sneered, a chill running down his spine before he hastily regained his composure. “Okay, next one, step forwards.”

And so it continued, akin to kine being led to the slaughter. Compliant and devoid of threat. Odr carried out his actions with dispassionate efficiency.

Members of her Familia underwent the same process, including the child whom she would have given everything to possess a few hours ago. Freya observed as Odr discreetly - or at least attempting to be discreet - glanced at her, searching for any reaction she might give.

All that Freya displayed, however, was utter indifference. He didn't seem pleased, but at the same time, he wasn't displeased. It was the best reaction she could have hoped for given the circumstances, and she recognized it.

He only completely halted after selling a particularly beautiful mortal child, perhaps the captain of Apollo Familia? Freya wasn't entirely certain.

She was even less sure why he had stopped. There were still a lot of men left. Also, why was his finger trembling above a rectangular-shaped device? Before she could speak, Renner motioned for her to remain silent. Freya frowned but complied.

Still trembling, Odr slowly lowered his finger until it finally made contact with the device. Then, after a few seconds of absolute silence, he burst into laughter. It started as a brief chuckle, escaping his lips before he couldn't contain himself anymore. His laughter echoed, and he doubled over, holding his stomach.

“It’s paid! Holy fuck, the loan is paid!” he exclaimed, throwing his arms to the sky and laughing even louder. However, after a while, he seemed to remember their presence and hiccuped in embarrassment.

“Congratulations, my lord.” Renner spoke, opening her arms, and in one swift motion (that covered in sand everyone behind him) Odr landed in front of Renner. He scooped her up in his arms and spun around, laughing again.

“Oh, you beautiful, beautiful woman! It’s done! It’s paid!” They twirled, and Freya caught Renner's victorious smirk, making her roll her eyes in exasperation. Children. Children all of them.

Soon enough, Odr regained his composure and summoned his Shroud once again to return to work.

“Alright then, next step should be buying Warranty Plan I suppose. It’s going to be dangerous going back…”

Indeed, by now even the Deusdea in Tenkai should be aware of what happened and for once may have stopped bickering among themselves to focus on the issue. However, Freya did not believe there was any way for any of them to reach this place so they were safe in that regard. If they returned though… well, it could get dangerous.

“Uh… re…turn, my lord?” Renner sounded confused, and a hint of worry crept into her voice. “Did you wish to return?”

Well now, this is interesting.

Odr turned to her, confusion written on his adorable face. “I mean… yeah? I would like to one hundred-percent the captures there before moving on so…”

“Well, of course. But, it doesn’t need to be that specific world where all the Deusdea are already alerted to our presence… does it?”

Odr blinked. Once, twice, before he opened his mouth. “Run that by me again.”

“There is a perk in the catalog, Blank Slate, it is theoretically made so one may alter however many worlds one may wish with Meta-Shift and still be able to retain the original world.” Renner was about to continue but Odr took over her from there.

“And we can use it to just pop a world into existence where I did not have Freya charm Orario and did not abscond with a lot of their fellow Deusdea to someplace even they can’t detect. Huh. That's... well, genius. As expected. I mean, that’s what you meant, right?” He sounded a bit worried as he asked it but relaxed as Renner nodded.

There was a hint of disappointment as he talked about the plan though. To Freya it was evident why he did, that was an expected result with how Renner had phrased her sentence, but it seemed that the girl only realized that in hindsight. It was as if her IQ plummeted to a fraction of its usual capacity when she was in the presence of her beloved 'lord.' How amusing.

Still, this would be a lesson for her.

“Of course Odr, we would all happily wage in holy war against that blasted place if you so desire. However, is it truly necessary to attach such importance to that world when there are countless others like it? Why go to such lengths to conquer that specific one when you can achieve the same outcome with far less risk and effort? ”

Freya knelt before him as she suggested the course of action.

“No, I mean yes. That makes a lot of sense. We’ll go with that of course.”

It had likely been a misunderstanding, but Renner did not handle it well. The moment she understood that it had occurred, she should have promptly presented both courses of actions to him - the original one, and the one he had mentioned - and given him the choice.

Men like Odr, they did not mind leaving the decisions and plans in the hands of a woman they knew was smarter than them. They understood that each person was suited for certain roles. However, what they disliked was being reminded that they fell short or were less intelligent than their counterpart.

In this case, it wasn't even because Odr was too proud to bear the thought of Renner outsmarting him. No, the problem was that he was kicking himself for not understanding her original plan and believing, even irrationally, that she - and Freya too since she was present - thought less of him now because of his perceived failure.

"Well then, let's get on with this," he tried to play it off, and many would be fooled, but Freya wasn't one of them.

The joyful atmosphere, while not completely shattered, had undeniably lost some of its luster. With each passing second, Freya yearned to step in and assist. However, she knew that Renner wouldn't learn if she did everything herself. She wouldn't evolve.

The one Odr was the closest to truly loving was Renner. The girl had played her cards right until now but it was simply not enough. Freya could easily usurp her position, it wouldn't even be a difficult task. However, such an action would bring temporary sadness to Odr, while helping Renner evolve would ensure eternal happiness for him.

Even if Freya ended up as second best, the second most beloved, she would do it. She would relinquish that place in his heart for his happiness.

Oh. So this, this is love. It feels… bittersweet.

A moment later, Renner’s voice resounded inside Freya’s head. ‘Please… please help me fix this. And… please teach me. Please help me improve.’ Each word sounded as if it was being forcefully ripped out of Renner’s mouth - or mind, in this case.

Still, she had taken the step, and Freya would not disappoint.

‘But of course. Watch and learn my dear.’

#

So. Fucking. Embarrassing!

Of course you can fucking use Blank Slate to just pop a new world into existence and go capture there! There’s no fucking need to actually go back and risk my waifus getting killed or worse in a world that’s already compromised!

Fuck that was so fucking stupid!

My body moved automatically as I bound and promptly sold all the dudes that were left. Waves of embarrassment coursed through my veins every time I pictured Renner questioning my imbecilic decision to revisit that place.

Should I just Template Stack someone that had intelligence powers?

The idea was really fucking scary, Template Stacking overall was fucking scary, but right now I didn’t find it within myself to care. Of course, I’d never actually do it, the sanctity of my mind came before everything else, but nevertheless, the mere consideration, even in jest, was unsettling enough.

While moving on to the next target, a pair of arms suddenly enveloped me from behind. The perpetrator's chest pressed firmly against my back, and I could feel their ample mounds pushing against me, along with rigid nipples.

“Freya.” I uttered her name yet she made no motion, as if she had not heard me. “You… need something?”

“Hm?” I felt her body slightly lean to the right, perhaps an indication of her tilting her head. "No, why would I?" Before I could respond, she resumed speaking. "Although I must say, exerting yourself to bind these creatures is utterly absurd."

She applied a little force on my shoulders and I understood what she wanted immediately. I lowered my body along with hers, though instead of the lap pillow I was expecting, she instead had my head rest amid her cleavage while her hands skillfully massaged my shoulders.

“So…” I spoke while continuing my work. “Any particular reason for this?”

“Does there need to be a reason?” Freya asked and, well, fair enough I guess.

I continued on, almost mechanically. I Shrouded (that’s a word right?) the dude, the Shroud gleamed, the dude was captured, and then sold.

On and on it went, and with the passage of time, drowsiness enveloped me like my Shroud had enveloped the captures. It reached a point where I just handed the company device to Renner for her to click the Sell button cause I feared I was going to misclick and press something else.

Meanwhile, Freya's hands danced across my body. Her touch was simultaneously firm and gentle, her fingertips unearthing knots I hadn't realized existed and banishing them.

Gradually, her focus shifted upward, her hands gliding along my neck until they reached my face. Her fingers delicately traced its contours, mapping every curve with precision. She pressed her thumbs against my temples, trailed her fingers across my cheeks, and eased the tension in my jawline with her palms.

"You're..." A yawn escaped my lips, interrupting my intended words. "You're remarkably skilled at this."

She offered no verbal response, but a smile graced her countenance.

Before long, I succumbed to sleep.

#

A loud bang echoed through the room, akin to an open hand striking against a metal table.

Startled, he jolted awake, his gaze disoriented as he glanced left and right. His eyes meticulously absorbed every detail of the surroundings, recognizing the familiar elements that composed his dwelling - a place he had called home for the majority of his existence.

“It… was a dream?” He asked, disbelief coloring his words. “No. No. Ain’t no way, ain’t no goddamn way all of that was a dream. That, THAT’S FUCKING BULLSHIT!”

His outcry echoed unanswered in the vacant house, its emptiness being the customary state of affairs.

Slowly rising from his resting place, he made his way towards the compact desk adorned with a stack of books. Titles such as ‘Operating Systems’, ‘G.P.T.-Centered Development’, ‘Critical Thinking’, and ‘Introduction to Rust Programming’ among others cluttered the surface.

He randomly plucked one of the books from the pile, indifferent to its title, merely selecting it because of its proximity. For a considerable duration, he stared intently at the cover, as if reminiscing about the countless hours spent poring over its contents.

With a trembling arm, he carefully returned the book to its place and opened the top drawer. A pristine pack of cancer sticks lay nestled inside, almost taunting him. He had never indulged in smoking; the sole reason for keeping them nearby was to prove his ability to resist temptation, unlike most of his peers. Those small triumphs were what fueled him, as did the satisfaction of ranking at the top of his class (even though he acknowledged its insignificance in the grand scheme of things).

His hand grabbed the packet, ripped it open, and placed one of the chalk-white sticks in his mouth. Hands searched around in his body before soon enough he realized he didn’t have any lighter on him. Why would he after all?

Before he could rise from his seat, a beam of pure white light struck the cigarette, instantaneously igniting it. Body shaking in fear, he turned his head towards the source, discovering a young man nonchalantly leaning against the doorway of his room.

He possessed jet-black locks and vibrant, piercing emerald eyes that were concealed behind a pair of rectangular spectacles. His countenance exhibited flawlessness, and even when clothed, it was evident that he possessed an impressively chiseled physique. One could aptly compare him to Freya and confidently assert that he would emerge triumphant.

“So?” The pretty boy asked. “Aren’t you going to smoke?”

The cigarette slipped from his lips, the shock leaving the First Contractor Number 111 dumbfounded and unable to respond to the First Contractor Number 11’s inquiry.

Number 11, the First Contractor that stood the closest to reaching Tier Z (well, beyond the First Contractor Number 1 that is), seemed unfazed by Number 111's astonishment.

Of course, none of them were aware of their numerical designations, thanks to the constraints imposed by the Second Rule.

“You… who - how, uh…”

The boy (hereafter referred to by his given title: Playwright) rolled his eyes at Number 111's reaction.

“We’re the First Contractor.”

“Oh. Uh. You look… younger?” Number 111 struggled to find the right words. He was well aware that the individual before him possessed far superior power, making him hesitant to point out the apparent impossibility of Number 11 being the First Contractor. The figure he had encountered earlier (First Contractor Number 77: The Eviternal) was markedly dissimilar to the boy standing in front of him.

Playwright simply shrugged and, with a flick of his hand, conjured a small chair out of thin air. He settled himself onto it, directly facing Number 111.

“I’m afraid, we all like our individuality a bit too much to settle on one single appearance,” remarked Playwright, his hand holding a mug that had not been there three seconds ago, containing an unidentified liquid. He took a leisurely sip while Number 111 squirmed on the edge of the bed. “We’re not here to talk about us though, we’re here to talk about you. So, tell me, what do you desire?”

“Uh, right now? I mean, I guess… going back?” Number 111 replied hesitantly, unsure of the correct response.

Playwright nodded, savoring another sip from his mug. Number 111 finally caught a glimpse of the inscription as his fellow Contractor placed the mug on the bedside table to his right.

Multiverse’s 1# Dad

For some reason, that made Number 111 all the more scared.

“Going back, hmm… intriguing. Tell me would you say you’re… perfectly happy, with where you are?” Playwright inquired.

“I…” Number 111 appeared taken aback by the question. “Well, I am certainly happier than I was, that’s for sure.”

Playwright displayed no visible reaction to Number 111’s answer. “So, you possess a harem that surpasses any man’s wildest dreams, with stunning beauties who love you unconditionally, god-like powers at your disposal... and all you can say is… ‘I’m happier’? Not even happy, just happier?”

Number 111 struggled to respond. He opened his mouth, gestured with his hands, but no words came forth.

Playwright sighed and massaged his temples. "Listen, usually I'd be more enthusiastic about this, but eternal cliffhangers don't appeal to me. Cliffhangers themselves are fine, of course, but eternal ones? That suggests either an author's incompetence or a desire to be cheeky to its readers. It's lazy, idiotic, and that’s exactly how this conversation is going to end up so I really couldn’t give less of a shit.”

“Can you… run that by me again?”

“Look kid, I’m the Playwright - pleasure to meet you by the way, even if none of us is going to remember this.” He raised his hand when Number 111 was about to respond with his name. “Ah, no need to tell me your name, Unum is the placeholder for everyone. Anyway, where was I? Ah yes, I’m the Playwright, I love stories, hate eternal cliffhangers, plot holes and all manner of open endings. It’s my thing. You’re going to have a thing too don’t worry.”

With each word uttered by Playwright, Number 111 grew all the more confused. And apprehensive. He was beginning to seriously doubt the sanity of the man in front of him.

“Anyway, essentially what I’m here to give you is the same thing that has once been offered to me. Same thing that’s been offered to all of us if I’m to believe this stupid piece of paper.”

With a clap of his hands, three word appeared on Number 111’s lap.

Happy ever after.

“Look, I am really sorry, but I’m afraid you lost me already. I am… so confused right now.”

Playwright nodded understandingly. “You and me both, kid. To clarify, each of us - those who selected the First Contractor as our Patron, and who seemingly share his soul or have a part of it within us, not sure about that last one - is presented with a simple choice.” The paper Playwright had been reading materialized in front of Unum, and he began to examine it. “A choice you won't remember making, and a choice I won't recall giving you.”

“This… this is mind control.” Playwright shrugged. “You’re asking me if I want to be fucking mind controlled.”

“Look, I don’t think you’re really getting what’s going on here kid. Iwas fucking offered that choice. I do not remember taking it or what answer I gave. And that is making me reevaluate my whole fucking life up to this point. You think you’re having it bad? Imagine not knowing if the love you feel for your kids is true or if it’s a fruit of a younger version of you deciding that he no longer wanted to be plagued by his insecurities.”

Number 111 cringed and looked down at the paper once again.

“So, by signing this, I will be… fixed?”

“For lack of a better term yes.”

The pen, which Number 111 couldn’t recall picking up, twirled between his fingers.

“Why are you so interested in my answer though? I mean, it’s not like it’s gonna change yours right?”

Playwright let out a weary sigh and shook his head. "No, but your answer will be the answer I once gave. It's the only certainty I have. We're all essentially the same, except for the time we were born."

Suddenly intrigued by this new information, Number 111 couldn't contain his curiosity. "Wait, when were you born?"

“Around year seven thousand.”

“Oh damn. Did humanity manage to achieve immortality? Oh, what about alie-”

“B.C.. Seven thousand B.C..”

“…damn.”

“Eh, it wasn’t a bad life all around. Could have been worse. You?”

“Two thousand and twenty-seven. Uh, A.D..”

“Huh.” Playwright seemed surprised. “I can’t believe there are still people that call their kid Abel in the second millennium.” Before Number 111 could question how Playwright knew his original name, the answer flowed of his senior’s lips. “We all are named Abel. As I said, the only difference is the time we were born.”

“How… what did you mean by the fact that no one will remember this?”

“You’re delaying the inevitable, kid, but I’ll indulge you I guess.” Playwright conjured a scroll in his hand, his company device, which he promptly opened and turned towards Number 111.

No record of the decision that will be made in 731 words will be kept.

“…what the fuck?” A shrug was the only answer that Number 111 was given.

“Tier Zs kid, don’t try to understand it. It’s the same reason none of us is freaking out over having been cloned and what that will happen to us when all of this,” he gestured to everything around him “goes poof.”

With a deep breath, and a single minded desire to not dwell on the fact that what Playwright just said was true - Number 111 really did not care about being cloned or what would happen to him after this conversation was over - he distracted himself by focusing on the incomprehensible number that changed seemingly according to its own will.

“Ok, ok, putting that scary shit aside. Look at the paper. I only said three words, but that shit went down by fourteen before you started talking!” Number 111 stared intently at the counter, realizing that with each word he uttered, it decreased by one. Yet even after he stopped speaking, the counter continued to dwindle.

“It makes no sense kid. Just accept it.”

“…okay, but now it only dropped by seven which is the number of words you spoke, and it continues to decrease one by one as I talk,” He said, perplexed. “Fuckin- where the hell did the three extra words come from now?! Bah, fuck this shit.”

Number 111 threw himself onto his past life’s bed and massaged his temples. After a few minutes of tense silence, attempting to regain control of his emotions, he spoke once more.

“…you’re sure that I won’t be able to remember this?”

“Nope. There is another meeting happening at the same time right now, one when I was not informed I was to give you this choice - where I do not know I ever took it - and where I am calmly talking to you about your problems, how I faced the same ones, and how I attempted to surpass them.”

Both of them looked sardonically at the piece of paper before them, now fully aware of the insignificance of the conversation their counterparts were having.

“…won’t my retinue notice something different in me? I mean, I’ve got a Goddess of Love in it you know?”

Playwright took a brief moment to consider before shaking his head. “There's no way. Tiers work differently for contractors compared to captures. For a contractor to be Tier 5, they should be capable of defeating all Tier 5 captures. Even if your Goddess is a Tier Z, which I highly doubt, she wouldn't detect something like this unless it was intended. Besides, the effect is not immediate, it will take its time so that you don’t notice anything weird even after you go above the Numbered Tiers.”

One last question danced in Number 111’s mind and he had to verbalize it. “Why… why do you think he is gave us this choice? Like, the only one who has the power to do this is the actual First Contractor, and from what I understood, I guess we are all… him? Versions of him?” Playwright waved his hand around, indicating that Number 111 was mostly correct, just missing some pieces, and he continued, “Still… why? Why do all of this?”

“Well, I believe I can make an educated guess on why he would want various versions of him to be running around, but I don’t know why he would offer himself to be our patron, or do any of… this. If you asked me to make a bet though… as the First One, the First Unum, he didn’t have anyone to offer him this choice.”

Playwright picked the cigarette I had let fall from the ground and took a long drag before continuing what he was saying. “Perhaps he wished that someone had?”

Number 111 nodded. Perhaps that was true. Then again, perhaps not. Perhaps I just wished to see what I would have chosen. Or perhaps it was all part of a grander plan. A plan to stop a stupid Liberator from ruining everything I worked for my entire life.

But that did not matter right now. The only thing that mattered, was that Unum, the last of the (currently) one hundred and eleven First Contractors, the one that would come closer to reaching Tier Z than even Number 11 did, picked up the paper -

And he made his choice.

#

I woke up on the master bedroom. My bedroom now, I suppose. A quick look around was enough to notice that there was no one around me and that either I had slept for a multiple of twenty four hours, or that not that much time had passed since my involuntary nap.

I mean, I had definitely been tired, but I don’t know if I was exhausted enough to succumb to sleep simply from Freya working her magic on me. Although, her hands felt pretty magical I must admit.

Eh, Playwright probably just stopped time or some bullshit like that. Can’t believe that guy is ‘only’ a Tier Y. Makes me fear what kind of shit a Contractor in Tier Z can get up to. He was pretty cool though, and gave good advice. Honestly, I feel like I’m feeling better already just from listening to it.

Still, I can’t shake away the feeling that it is a bit weird to not have anyone in my room…

I was expecting to wake up to either Valac or Rindo deep-throating my cock. Maybe both if I was lucky.

As it was though, I groggily rose from the bed, slipping my feet into the conveniently placed slippers, and made my way to the bathroom. My bladder felt as if it were on the verge of bursting at any moment.

When I went inside though, I wondered for a moment if I was not still under Playwright’s illusion and this was just another prank of his. After all, I mean, finding two naked girls - one besides the toilet with her mouth ajar, and the other near the sink while holding a towel in her arms - both kneeling in the room you’ve just entered is cause for a little doubt about the nature of reality.

“Nope.” I firmly declared to myself. “Not thinking about it right now.”

I go, take a piss, get my dick cleaned by Yamato’s mouth, wash my hands, have my hands cleaned by Lili and I am out of there.

Whose fucking idea was that anyways? Was it Freya? I bet it was Freya.

As I reached the hallway, my hearing detected sound coming from the floor below. I follow it, my footsteps as silent as I can make them, until I reach the dining room.

A cacophony of voices were coming from there, and they immediately fall silent the moment I reveal myself.

Well, they fall silent for one second.Then they’re back ten times stronger.

“UNUM-CHI!”

“Ah, I was just about to go wake you up Your Grace.”

“Good to have you back in the land of the living my dear.”

“Hey hey hey! Come sit here, I’ll hand feed you!

“You’ll hand feed no one Hoshino! If there is anyone that will hand feed him that’s me, cause I made the damn food!”

I looked at them. At Valac, Alice, Lilly, Ai, Rindo, all of them, as they laughed, bickered and played amongst themselves.

“Guess who?” Soft, dainty hands covered my eyes, and I smirked.

Instead of answering, I swiftly turn around, seizing the wrists of my assailant and raising them to meet my gaze.

“Hey! That’s cheating!” Renner pouts cutely, and I can't help but laugh.

Playwright was right. I had everything. A home, women that loved me unconditionally, god-like power at my fingertips. What more could I ask for?

“I love you.” The words slip out, unbidden, from my mouth.

Renner’s stunned expression is all that greets my statement. Well, that and a massive fucking blush that soon covers her entire face.

I pivot around, noticing that everyone has fallen into silence.

“I love all of you.”

A few seconds pass where nobody moves or makes a single sound. That impasse is broken by Rindo that sighs defeatedly, knowing there is no way we will eat on time today.

Valac is the first to throw herself at me, but Alice is not far behind. Lilly hampers my inevitable fall and Ai stands above me, sporting a smug grin. Rindo too, soon appears behind her.

It may not have been the complete truth, I may have been lying. Maybe to themselves, maybe to me. But in this moment, I did not care.

I knew, that if that confession I uttered would turn out to be true or not depended only on me.

It depended only on my choices.

I was Abel - some mortal who shared part of the soul of the First Contractor. Not the foremost among those men, nor perhaps the last.

I am Unum - a contractor who vows to do everything, overcome anything, if it means I can achieve what I desire.

I’ll become The Archivist - a man who will find happiness, and preserve that feeling for eternity.

#


THE END



I’m not the hero, or even a hero, you’re right about that. Maybe I’m even the villain, and you know what? Fuck it. See if I care. You say nothing is infinite? You say eventually everything deteriorates? Then clearly buddy, you haven’t beheld my collection yet.

How about I make you a part of it and change that?

Archivist to Liberator, The Battle Where Many Became One, Circa Eleven Thousand One Hundred and Eleven years after Narrator became the First Contractor.