"No, no! This isn't how it would work!" Lili slurs cheekily as she and Jackal stumble into their home... while clinging to a terribly irate Eina whom they visited to have an audience for their dress-up show.
It's... 1:30 in the morning.
"How could you, Lili?" Jackal coughs out blood, at least, he pretends that he did as she falls to his knee before turning to Eina, "Eina~! You'll decide who is hotter in our uniform! Me or Lili!"
"Heh," in her drunken pride, Lili is less 'Jackal-sama' and more, 'Jackal, I'm gonna~' kind of girl, so, she puffs out her well-developed breasts... for a Pallum and grins, "Naturally, the winner shall be Lili! With my secret, you don't stand a chance!"
"We'll see," Jackal climbs up on Eina and tosses Lili a haughty stare.
"If the two of you don't get moving, I shall be leaving," Eina speaks in a colder tone as Jackal laughs, "Yes, yes~! Gosh, I miss my cuter underling, Eina more and more. You're turning too cold!"
"Better cold than murderous for all my sleep interrupted!" Eina snaps.
"I promise it'll be worth your while!" Jackal grins, "And I really am excited to show this to everyone. Even you. It's just better that you're the first person I show it to~!"
Eina huffs and rolls her eyes but doesn't let go of the two of them and lets them down on a couch before both of them curl together naturally. Thinning her lips, Eina calls out, "I'll be preparing coffee for the two of you."
"Just Lili," Jackal calls out as he stirs a bit, "My tolerance has only gotten better. Give me a minute or two and I'll be fine."
"Sure, whatever you say," Eina mutters but still prepares coffee for him anyway.
---
Her toes curl. They have curled many times before. In anger, excitement, anticipation, lust, desire, pain, and sadness. Whenever she threatens to hit her peak, in this mortal body of hers, her toes curl.
Right now she feels rage and anticipation.
Rage at the existence of magic items. Her silver pupils flicker. A hazy glow of wrath extends from her irides while a lilac-silver shimmer of authority layers her supple body as she lays on her chair with a glass of fruit wine in her hand.
This rage is carefully held. It is consoled by her anticipation. It hushes sweet nothings against her ears in temptation. She will see him later. She will see him in his attire later. HER attire. Her colors. Her brand. Hers!
"By every right, I can bypass the Counter Block. No mortal magic item can compare to the divine but... Athena, smart as ever, just had to add a mechanism that informs the user of being spied upon," her silver orbs reveal her disappointment.
'How I want to see him sleep and turn in bed. To hold his sight as I sleep here...' Her grip around her glass tightens, 'Without him next to me...'
World has lost its color to her. Well, it had lost its splendor many, many, moons ago. Interests were just that— interests. A temporary distraction to keep her sane. For her wait has been long and trying. Gods are no better than her. Each one uses the other one in quiet anticipation.
Each one has its prophecies. Each one has hints of obsession waiting to be unraveled by their special someone.
Ishtar still awaits her Gilgamesh behind the cover of hordes of men and undying carnal flames.
Aphrodite longs for her Adonis to hold her in his arms. To be the beauty that surpasses her and thus quench her untamable thirst.
And Freya... her wait is over. She wholeheartedly, with every drop of divine ichor in her being, believes so.
In the end, her toes unclench. Her thinned lips ease into an arousing smile. Her baleful, blank silver irides gradually revert to being vibrant that can captivate any God or mortal alike.
Her cold and cruel heart pumps warmth again.
'My Odr is kind but not quiet. His blood burns hotter but my passion for him is no less warm. If I... take one wrong step, he shall detest me but I shall remain enamored with him nonetheless. I shall fall prey to his tortures. An acceptable fate but I do desire more. I desire his affection.'
Her eyes narrow and her wondrous eyesight, even from this distance, locks upon a lone house as she wonders what he is upto.
'Love truly is troublesome. So sweet yet so sickening that even I feel intimidated by it... a pleasure that I want to feel more,' she lets out a warm, almost moaning breath, 'I want to feel it burn me and hurt me for all the acts of not preserving myself until today. I want to be punished for my insolence~ I want him to touch me where my breath is stolen and then make me beg for more. Only after he has punished me for my desirous body, only when he feels satisfied that I have repented enough... should he hold me. Only then should I belong to him and him to me alone. Only the two of us~!'
Yet, after a second, her silver eyes darken quite a bit.
'I... still cannot tell if he is serious about Mia... or not...'
---
"You two ready?" Jackal calls out loudly from behind the door of his bedroom. Excitement laces his tone and almost makes Eina and Lili believe that it's not Jackal but a child behind the doors excited to show his new toys.
Finding herself unable to douse that enthusiasm one bit and more than surprised to see this side of Jackal, well, hear this side of him, she smiles to herself and adjusts her glasses, "Please don't keep us waiting for too long!"
"Hmm... yeah... Lili's head will be the death of her..." Lili huffs. Coffee and vomiting did alleviate her headache to some extent before she started nursing and sipping her current cup of coffee again.
"Kay~ Hold your breaths!" Jackal swings the door open. He has a good reason to feel this excited and it's not just his clothes.
Still, Eina and Lili lean forward ever so slightly while sitting on their chairs. The former's eyes couldn't help but feel the slightest bit unreal while the latter let her gaze wander everywhere! EVERYWHERE!
Jackal started out as a usual guy. Five feet and ten inches tall. Slightly thin but adequate physique with a bit of flab and strength on par with if not weaker than the dungeon Goblin. But almost three weeks have come to a pass since then.
Usually, physical change is hard to notice.
But consider this.
An inch or two increase in height. Slight bulk composed of muscles that aid Jackal's crusade within the dungeon. Slight definition of his body. Slight toning. A slightly better posture. A slightly glossier hair. Slight chisel in his looks...
All in a matter of a few weeks and now that Jackal actually wore something to pronounce his features, all these changes hit Eina harder than a truck would hit a lone sorry sod on his way to the supermarket.
Her green eyes simply brighten.
For a uniform, it looked more than lavish but simply suited him too much.
His uniform is composed of black material with strings of silver evenly placed into the fabric itself similar to more formal wear coats. The material comprises his vest and trousers, which might she add, look form-fitting but oddly comfortable. It doesn't just irrationally press into his crotch but it sticks to his legs ever so slightly revealing his bulkier calves.
In fact... he looks swole!
Under the black, silver-threaded vest is a simple white shirt with straight, raised collars instead of folded ones. Instead of a sober silver bow tie or a regular tie, Jackal's neck is collared by a dark pink tie with a pattern of silver stars. On the knot of a tie is a silver crystal cut into the shape of a circle.
Eina briefly glances at Jackal's rolled-up sleeves squarely cut along the thicker bulge of his arms. What truly ties the outfit, however, are the silver-white polished boots which have the highest chance of getting dirty easily.
For once, observing their stare, Jackal cannot help but feel a little bashful and his flushed grin shows that.
Pointing at the circular silver crystal, Jackal rubs the back of his head, "I think this crystal might be a bit much..." He looks at them, clearly fishing for compliments, "So? How do I look?"
"Jackal-sama... are you feeling alright?" Lili questions quietly, "Did you... hit your head?"
"Hey!" Jackal huffs and crosses his arms. The fabric of his shirt tightens a bit around his shoulders as his muscles flex, "This is the first time I ever got a chance to spend myself on, you know."
'Besides... I never got a chance last time,' He sighs internally.
"Ah... sorry..." Lili lowers her head. While his tone had been lighthearted, he has never tried to hide what he feels, at least, most of the time. And it holds true even now as Eina smirks, "Well... if you want to know, how about you spin for us? It's only right that we get to see all of you before commenting, no?"
The half-elf looks at pallum who nods eagerly.
"Well..." Jackal drawls for a moment. "Me alone? In a room with two eager women? Men, too, are afraid at times... hmm, and so forceful at that. Well, if you insist~!" He grins broadly and turns around before striking a pose, "Heh? I can't see my ass but it feels great! The fabric couldn't have been more comfortable!"
Eina and Lili look at him seriously. While Eina cannot help but focus on his significantly prominent back as opposed to a few weeks ago, Lili devoutly focuses on the buttocks of her Brute as the trousers tastefully cover them without just tightening so hard that it looks like one big ball.
Jackal turns around after a moment as Lili has an eager smile. Her headache has all but gone. Before she could say, Eina points out, "Could you comb your hair sideways instead of wearing them naturally like you always do?"
"Oh? Didn't think of that!" Jackal skips inside with the sound of the heels of his boots striking across the wooden floor. He returns after a few breaths. His hair is now parted 3/4th to the right with not a strand sticking out.
Eina gulps seeing that. All this coupled with his positively startling yet attractive eyes, she does not doubt that... he has become too dangerous to be left alive, or alone in a room full of amazonesses tired after a day of dungeon prowling.
"Jackal-sama..." Lili's lips dry ever so slightly, "You... you should maybe not wear the uniform. Lili will attract all the customers to the shop!"
"As if!" He scoffs, "Although..." he looks at the dark-pink ties, "This part feels slightly forced. A silver tie with a dark pink crystal of some kind would have looked better but Ariana felt that her dream practically had this plan... whatever that means."
"I suppose," Eina coughs into her fist, "An attire different from the Guild uniform... suits you. You look great."
Jackal stills for a moment.
---
"Here you go, just pump the cash into your trait and get us more guns..."
"Ah, Father, I wanted to—"
"What did I say? Do your DAMN job!"
*SMACK*
---
"Ahhh! Come on, I don't want to miss this live match! It's the clash of the titans!"
Every moment of desire cost him pain. Slaps usually. This time the belt.
---
"So? Jona? How do I look? Fucking awesome, right?"
Jona had no right kicking him just because he was jealous of all the 'attention' the family's father 'showered' him with.
---
Jackal's nostrils prickle up slightly. His eyes turn momentarily sad but that's it. It's behind him. WAY behind. Never the kind to press too much into mental problems and strengthen them to a fault, Jackal smiles. His shoulders drop and he nods quietly, "Thank you... really."
Eina looks momentarily confused. She cannot point out what exactly it is that's different in his tone but she nods simply.
Jackal has a simple philosophy in life. Share what you can because it might just be a treasure to another. He doesn't hold out on candies to the kids because he knows it means nothing to him but the world to them.
He saved Lili. It was fucking simple for him. But for her? She is alive. A miracle for her.
He cooks bento because he can live just fine without food yet to others, it's an experience. The fact that warriors like Ais, Tiona, and Tione return for more means he is doing something right.
And now, those words may just be as simple as breathing for Eina but...
It meant the world to Jackal.
All he wanted was one sincere viewer. It wasn't a drunken stupor that led him to Eina's doorstep. It was his belief in her.
"I've had my fun," Jackal composes himself and helps Lili up, "Go on. Surprise us."
Lili nods and then looks at Eina seriously, "Do not share this secret with anyone, Eina-sama!"
"Please rest assured," Eina nods with a smile. But as Lili closes the door behind her, Eina glances at Jackal and speaks with clear worry, "Are you alright... did I say something weird?"
Jackal looks back at her with a wide smirk, "Are you kidding me? You said the exact things I wanted to hear~!" He snickers at the end, "Thank you and for its worth, you'd look like a bombshell in this uniform, too. When I expand, I'm definitely recruiting you!"
"Bombshell?" Eina gives him a sidelong glance, "I'm not familiar with the term but... I'm sure it's nothing good."
Suddenly leaning forward with his eyes captivating hers, he questions, "How about I teach you then? Won't be the first time I taught you something new."
Eina leans back slightly, a soft pink hue dusts her cheeks as her gaze takes in his looks once again... especially his hair. Something as simple as a sober look from combing it sideways does wonders for her.
"Fine, just this once... and refrain from pushing your face this close... you have alcohol on your breath..."
"Sorry, sorry," Jackal pulls back as Eina chews her lips while grumbling internally and supplanting, 'And... it's intoxicating in more ways than one. Especially the ticklish feeling on my lips...'
"So, a bombshell means just that. Something or someone incredibly attractive," Sniffing haughtily, he sticks his nose high, "Like me. Although... I'd reserve the term bombshell for women."
Eina nods quietly.
"Eina?"
"Please stop speaking altogether. The scent of alcohol is unbearable..."
Jackal blinks but nods and leans forward to fish out a toad wallet from Lili's bag set aside and takes out a pouch covered in fish-like scales.
Sprinkling the powder over him, Jackal heaves, "Better? I know you don't drink but didn't consider the situation to be so severe. I'll be mindful to not disturb you the next time Lili and I get drunk."
Although even more annoyed for all the wrong reasons and feeling a burst of warmth coursing through her veins... Eina simply understands to not encourage 'bad' behavior... and despite her overly active mind thinking of various more situations how a drunk Jackal may stumble through her doors... and may need her to help to get him into the bed before he'll promptly pull her scantly-clad self, Eina coughs, "As long as you don't repeat this... we'll be fine, Jackal-san..."
The authority in her voice crumbles by the end of her words.
The two fall into a comfortable silence and after a few breaths, Jackal feels his 'mind' stir ever so slightly at the sensation of something supernatural beyond the door.
Magic.
His mind refuses to be molded. His energy refuses to bend just at his will. But... this only makes Jackal more stubborn in trying and reinforcing his body with pure energy like Two Piece.
---
Lili's knees threaten to give out the moment she closes the door behind her. It may be the ale... or Jackal. Her face is beet red and her round chestnut eyes are watery. She presses her small mouth together in an effort to keep her voice in check but a soft squeak still escapes her lips.
'So handsome~!'
It wasn't just the outfit but also the Brute who tore open a hole in her heart to fill it selfishly with his presence that made her hear her heartbeats against her ears.
'And... with how cute he was acting... he must really like the outfit,' Lili grins, more than happy to see him happy.
"But... I don't intend to lose this challenge! If Jackal-sama looks better than me... he will have to face the combined degeneracy of Orario! No way!"
She affirms her heart and stands straight.
Her mind strains into focus. The last bits of her drunken carelessness flicker out of her existence as she begins to whisper.
[Your wound is mine.]
A soft hazy glow momentarily graces her eyes and she feels her magical reserves stir and respond to the call of her chant powered by her mind.
[My wound is mine... Echoing the message of midnight.]
The magical energy swirls around the side of her head and her hips in a familiar fashion as her smile turns every bit brighter and more confident.
'When it comes to battle, Jackal-sama is the best but when it comes to cuteness... Lili shall overload Eina-sama and take this victory!'
[Cinder Ella.]
---
The door slowly opens. Eina and Jackal lean forward despite their seats to shower Lili with the same attention but their voices are stuck in their throats.
More used to tomboyish outfits if not outright exposing, Lili wanted some comfort in her customized uniform. After all, Jackal planned the uniform to have the same color, not the same look.
So, there she stood. Her fingers interlace each other in front of her waist as she looks sideways with a blush and a shy smile. Her petite body is covered by a three-piece suit. Starting with a white shirt with a similar dark pink tie and a silver crystal. The shirt is covered by a slightly bastardized vest that extends to a hoodie with a deep plunge of the neck of the vest to make it feel more comfortable which gives her bust a prominent focus despite being covered by a shirt.
Instead of a regular coat, Lili wears a tailcoat, looking right for the part to dine with the classiest of women and men that can ever exist. Her chestnut locks slip out from under her hood, too. And her soft legs, Jackal can attest to the quality of which, are covered by a pair of tight trousers and this time they are TIGHT tight. It's more like form-fitting jeans pants.
But... her look is enhanced by the feline tail swishing behind. It sports the same color her hair is and is too... organic-looking to be considered a prop. Finally, Lili pulls down the hoodie connected to her vest.
*Twitch*
A pair of fuzzy chestnut feline ears twitch cutely. Their inner creamish fur looks very soft to the touch. And boy... do they truly have a winner.
---
'He is staring! He is staring! He is staring! He is staring at Lili so much!' Lili feels her heartbeats go erratic. Her tail begins to wave around fervently. In the depths of her mind and heart, she sears the image of Jackal's stunned look. He who can drill into the hearts of others as effortlessly as dealing with hordes of monsters... he is looking at her for once. Seriously.
A wave of unhinged obsessions blooms within.
'Jackal-sama! Jackal-sama! Please... look at Lili more!' She turns around and hates the fact that her tight trousers are slightly covered by the tail of her coat. Yet, it cannot hide her hips entirely. She can feel his gaze landing right there instantly, at the base of her back from where her tail slips out of the spot in the outfit. She squirms and bit and presses her knees together which makes her hips stick out compared to the rest of her race.
She slowly turns around, her face acts like a furnace that has been stoked against her ass by his gaze alone.
As she does, she looks only at Jackal.
She is drunk again. And she likes this more than ale. The sight of his gaze only on her. Fervency roots deeply in her heart.
An act of kindness in this world for him is a debt of a lifetime she is willing to pay with an exuberant heart.
'Just look at me~ I may be a pallum... but I can be hard working, too!' She squirms and looks away.
From the corner of her eyes, she watches him stand and walk towards her before crouching. The fabric is quite stretchable so it doesn't restrict his movements all that much but Lili and the dazed Eina flinch with Jackal casually setting his hand atop Lili.
'Too forward!' Lili tightens her shoulders and is beet red by now. Her knees continue to rub together while her fingers twiddle against each other at the sensation of him curiously touching and petting her ears.
A jolt of pleasure spikes through her spine and her excitedly swishing tail drops down weakly. Her ears bend down ever so slightly to cover his fingers as she looks into his eyes.
'Jackal-sama~ If you continue to do this... if you look at me like this more... if you touch me like this more... I won't be able to stop myself from showing my true self~!' Her chestnut eyes take in his red-gold curious and somewhat excited orbs with pure pleasure.
'Jackal—'
"Mfgh~" A cute moan squeaks out as Lili looks at Jackal with her large watery eyes. Her voice is soaked in unadulterated sweetness and something a bit more, "N-no more Jackal-sama... hah... Please... Lili is..."
'Oh, she is feeling things.'
Blue Papilios flutter in her stomach and her head feels lightheaded. Her blood wants to rush into many, many places at once. Her body now has an illicit fire raging in her heart to break in the new outfit with something more... warm and moist. But her vision is compromised. Her eyes roll back and she falls back only to be caught by Jackal.
"Woah!" He exclaims and holds her with an arm as he looks back curiously, "I thought she was fine a few minutes ago..."
"You unrepentant brute!" Eina sports a deep flush as she stomps off her chair and leaves in a flurry. Her own heart beating without stopping. She won't be able to sleep now. Not... not after seeing SO much...
Not after seeing Jackal manhandle a maiden's heart with such ease that it set her in uncomfortable hotness of her own. She blames this on her human half... elves are known to be less delirious with desires, right?!
As Jackal hears the door open and shut, he hums, "Huh... okay, that was weird?"
Looking at Lili with a wide grin, Jackal pokes her fuzzy ears once again.
'Magic, huh... how lucky. Anyway, let's get you tucked into bed... since I'm going to meet Syr tomorrow, might as well get my four hours of dungeon right now before Lili wakes up~!'
The plan is formed and Jackal soon works on it. As he leaves his house, Lili sleepily latches onto a pillow. Her body is now calm but her mind is showing her dreams beyond anyone's imagination.
"Jackal-... sama..." she mumbles in her sleep, "Yes... those skanks have nothing... right there... as hard as you'd like..."
Meanwhile, Jackal jogs through the main street with slight dismay.
'And here I thought I could win after putting on some muscle... the women of this world are crazy...' He sighs under his breath, 'I'll ask Lili if she can have dog ears and tails, too... or those of a Renard with thick and soft fluff, hehe~ She's just like a plush toy.'
***
Alternate Title: Stranded between Obsession and Yandere; Booty Call at Eina's!; The Words That Mean the World to Him; One's Kindness, another's Grace; One's Petting, Another's Wet Dreams; God Bless Ariana's 'Dream'; Cinder Ella's Brute Charming; The New Harem and the Beast!
***
Enjoyed the Chap~? Consider supporting my works with loads of power stones brothers and sisters!
Shoutout to Abdulaziz, Elia, King Gilgamesh, Calmsea900, and Josh!!
Read 10 advance chapters here—
Patre on.com/Fanharem
Join the discord for well... uh, dead chat room~
https : //discord.gg/egdFUe5