Returning to the shop that started it all

I walked arm in arm with Aqua as we headed towards Wiz's shop. She was being rather touchy feely, which I didn't mind, talking about all the different tastes of the girls she'd just licked up. We had to leave our newest claims to the harem back at the guild, including Sena. The efficient woman had to perform three more 'body checks' so they'd all be busy getting the secretary's royal blessing.

We met up with Kazuma just outside Wiz's, our timings lining up perfectly as he'd just finished up with his fanclub. The familiar sight of his usual green outfit was somewhat comforting, waving at us as we approached. Aqua instantly began rattling off the list of people they'd added to the harem to him, but he was distracted by my grabbing the back of his head and bringing it to mine.

"Did you have fun jizzing into those two priest's panties?" I purred after our reunion kiss.

"Well, yeah, obviously." He admitted with a slight blush after his initial shock from the kiss. "It was hot as fuck watching them put their cum filled panties back on. T-they were moaning, there was a squelch sound..."

I smiled at his timid nature but bold words. "Well it makes sense doesn't it? You normally have complete jurisdiction on all the panties that enter our mansion." I purred, setting him up for a lovely treat for when we get home. "Even if a princess entered our home, you could tell her to take off her panties for you to do whatever you wanted to." His eyes glazing over at the erotic ideas suddenly emerging in his brain. I could have gone on, but a sound interrupted us.

Ding-a-ling!

Chris suddenly emerged from Wiz's shop just as we'd all crowded around it. The shocked look in her eye and growing blush told me she had wanted to leave before we showed up. She bent down quickly and made a flying leap that would normally land her up on a roof, but I snatched her leg from the air and dragged her back down into my locking embrace.

"NGHA! Let me go Darkness!"

"No, Chris!" I hissed while wrestling with her. "I know you're trying to get out of an embarrassing moment, but you need to apologise to Aqua!"

"Fine." She relented in defeat, slumping in my arms. I turned her body over to her fellow goddess who was looking a little confused. "Sorry I lied to you, Aqua. I should have said I come down to this world in this form sooner. But you have to know it isn't a two way thing! I can't help you get back to the heavenly realm."

Aqua just smiled in understanding. "I know. It's not too much trouble... you were probably just scared! The people of this world are strangely sceptical and you were obviously just worried they wouldn't believe that you're a goddess, even if you tell them over and over again!" She explained, earning a side-eye glance from Kazuma as he tried to hold back a chuckle. "Plus, I used to sneak down to various worlds all the time. There was one that had the best candy from this weird factory..."

I was worried that she was holding back on berating Chris for the sake of modesty. "Aqua, is there nothing else you want to say to her?"

"Oh, um..." She looked around a little confused as to what I was asking her to do. "Do you... wanna join our harem?"

All three of our eyes went wide. Chris looking especially happy with the question. "Woah! Really Aqua?! I'd lov-" She paused, looking up from her trapped position to me. "-ve to, as long as Darkness is alright with it. I've caused enough trouble by ignoring her feelings."

I sighed, letting Chris go back to the floor at her compassionate words. "It's okay Chris. I don't mind that you lied, really. You are my goddess and friend, and if you wanted to join our harem, I want you to as well."

The three of us girls all shared a pleasant smile, that was quickly interrupted by Aqua being Aqua. "But she's under me! Eris is my junior in the harem, I want that in writing!"

I smiled at their antics then looked over at Kazuma who was drooling at the second goddess to be at his mercy.

He looked wistfully to the sky. "Ahhh~ to be able to have regular sex with a super cute girl, one with no weird kinks or demanding cum addictions."

My body seized up in pleasure. "Oh Kazuma. You insult me even when you own me!"

"HELLO!" boomed a horribly close voice as soon as we opened the door to Wiz's. "Moi's been expecting you, girl-who's-enjoying-the-power-of-the-gods-in-more-ways-than-one! This partnership is going swimmingly, wouldn't you say? You've been making such progress! Harems! Milk potions! Not to mention the state you've made of their religions! Moi was in absolute stitches!"

Aqua dug her finger into his chest, pushing him back a bit. "Are you insulting my precious Axis Members?! Stupid Masked Demon wouldn't know how what a real worshipper looked like anyway!"

Kazuma bumped my shoulder as the rest of us entered properly, "Darkness? What's he talking about?"

"Uhhh..." I hesitated, giving him a frightened look. "Vanir's just excited... Our harem is going into business with him as well..."

Aqua shot around with an incredulous look. "WHAT?!"

"Hmm, you sure that's a good idea Darkness?" Kazuma asked in a slight hush, "This place isn't known for rolling in the dough."

"And I don't wanna be partnered with a dirty demon!" Aqua whined, still rapidly pressing his jacket and singeing it with her holy powers. "I don't trust him! I don't like him! I don't wanna!"

Vanir grumbled at the jabs. "Good to know losing your collective virginities hasn't made any of you any less unpleasant." He slapped Aqua's hand away, "Maybe Moi will be more appreciated if he sends you to hell. Let the sullied goddess see the true horrors of demonic life."

"Don't you dare threaten Aqua, stinky demon!" Chris suddenly blurted out angrily while also getting in his face. "You're lucky you're going into business with Darkness or I-she'd purify you right here and now!"

"Ho-ho~! Bimbo Crusader~! Why did you bring two goddesses into Moi's shop?" He strained his back backwards from the multiple threats while looking calmly, but with an underlying fury, at me.

It was Chris' turn to snap around to me. "DARKNESS! You told him I'm a Goddess?!"

Before I could defend myself Kazuma lazily cut in. "No no, he just has that way of figuring shit out. Some sort of demonic mind reading with the mask."

Her anger quickly turned back to Vanir. "Well then. If he already knows then I don't mind threatening you even more!" She raised a fist that began to glow. "Maybe we'll see how you do against a double Goddess purification!"

Aqua was pleased with the backup. "Yeah! He won't stand a chance!"

Vanir raised his hands to his mask, eyes glowing red. "Bring it on! Moi'll handle you both! Bring all your pathetic angelic friends, Moi can easily destroy you all!"

"Wiz's shop is normally a neutral zone!" I shouted desperately, "So would you three please calm down!?"

The mood shifted, Aqua and Chris lowered their anger to just a frown and Vanir brushed his coat off.

"Fine. But you better be sure about this Darkness."

"For the record, Moi was neither affected by your words, nor was he afraid of taking on the two deflowered despots. Moi simply has more important things to be doing today."

"Yes, great." I sighed in relief the situation hadn't escalated. "Chris, why don't you show Kazuma and Aqua the other relics you collected?"

"Alright, better make sure they're secured before this demon gets any ideas." She huffed, scowling at the masked man on her way passed as the three went to the stairs. "They're just in the backroom with the rest of their weird storage."

Kazuma went up first, "Be careful of the the other items back here. There's no telling the odd side effects that even being in the same air space might cause."

Aqua had chilled out far quicker and went up the stairs next, "Come on, we'll see if Wiz has a potion to make your breasts bigger!" She beamed back at her fellow goddess. "Then you won't need to pad your chest!"

"I-I don't p-p-p..." She defended with a blush before thinking about it and following after. "...do you think she might?"

The sound of Chris, Aqua, and Kazuma's footsteps all disappeared up the stairs.

And I was left alone.

Alone with the man who had given me the earrings.

The Demon who had started this whole perverted story.

The only one who knew how things used to be, and who had answers for my future as well.

He was just dusting some shelves behind the counter, pretending not to notice the tension that was in the air.

I walked up to the counter, standing tall even with his back to me.

"Vanir."

"Yes perverted-girl-who-shouldn't-be-looking-a-gift-horse-in-the-mouth?"

My bravado crumpled nearly immediately. "Okay, firstly, t-thank you. These earrings have let me do a lot. A LOT. And I've definitely been having a lot of fun with them..."

"You're welcome." He chuckled over his shoulder, still dusting.

"...and it seems we've been on the same wavelength, since you haven't come in and interrupted me."

"That's right."

So far so good. "Which means, hopefully, even in this weird situation, there's some level of trust between us?"

That gave him a bit more of a pause, lowering his feather duster slowly. "You think it's wise to trust a demon, girl?"

"Enough to get a few honest answers from him, I hope."

He finally turned and looked down on me while scratching his chin, considering the implication I think, before nodding once.

"Okay, firstly..." Oh god, all my blood is rushing to my face. This is my last chance for some form of redemption... "...d-did you m-m-m-make me hornier?"

"Hm? Speak up."

I slammed my arms on the counter. I knew he heard. "M-my body is out of control! I'm so horny all the time! Did you use the earrings to make that happen?! Make me hornier?! PLEASE!"

His sick, twisted grin grew the largest I've ever seen it.

"Would you prefer it if Moi said yes?"

I slammed my head down into the counter. That was the only other reason I could come up with for why I'd been so ready to accept the new power I'd received. Why I'd been so eager to use it on my friends. That maybe Vanir was manipulating me subtly... but I could tell he wasn't. I knew before I'd asked. Everything that's happened was on me.

Vanir's hands scratched his mask tenderly. "Oh! Such beautiful shame! Never forget girl, that even in this world where your desires are met, Moi shall remember the peaceful town you left behind! He will always be there to soak in your delicious guilt and humiliation!" He boasted, making me feel even worse and making him feel even better.

"T-that leads me onto my next point!" I blurted while raising my red face and pointing at him. "What are you getting out of this?"

"Shame, humiliation, discomfort, mortification-"

"Not just now!" I growled in frustration. I never did match well with Vanir's tempo, he could read me too well and too often. "With the earrings! Why give them to me!? What do you get out of me having sex with whoever I want? You nor-... regularly have so many ulterior motives on top of motives it's hard to keep track." I said, slowly changing my tone from anger to serious. "Almost everything you do is so you can collect negative emotions, but right now no one who's affected by this is feeling bad. This can't all just be because of my shame, you could have done that in a million different ways."

"What about the little explosion wizard?"

I winced at that. "She's... complicated." I looked away, thinking about Megumin and the life I used to have. "I'm still deciding what to do about her... if I'll let her have Kazuma's heart or not..." I sighed, knowing that this week will be over soon enough and I'd have to face that reality. Then shaking my head and pointing at Vanir again. "But still, I don't want her to be unhappy either! I'll still use this power to make her life better! Be that with Kazuma or with anyone else she's interested in! So don't change the subject! Why are you doing this!?"

He gave me a frown. "Moi doesn't want to answer! He gives and gives and is still treated this way! Why don't you just take your ultimate power and accept it!?"

"Because... it's you!" I flat out accused. "You're too much of a question mark to continue this odd game we're playing! Is this really just to make me feel bad?! Am I just a shame filled cow for you to milk!?"

"No. And stop being excited by weird things."

I slumped my shoulders in defeat. This was getting me nowhere. I only really had one play left...

"Look Vanir... I'm just scared." I admitted, the demon raising an eyebrow to my vulnerability. "Scared that when I take these earrings off… everything goes back to how it was. No more Harem Knights, no more harem… no more Kazuma." I mumbled that last part, a little too sad to even think of it. "Or even worse, what if I take the earrings off, everyone remembers their previous lives, and then hates me? What if everyone thinks that I'm an irredeemable wreck of a human? They'll kick me out of the house. Out of their lives. I'll be shunned from society living long hopeless days with no friends and no family. Leaving me completely alon-"

"ALRIGHT FINE! MOI'LL TELL YOU THE REASON!! JUST STOP TALKING! Sheesh!" Vanir suddenly screamed. He moved around the counter and speedily pushed me towards the table at the front of the store.

I sat down quickly, still a little in shock I'd gotten such a rise from him.

Vanir sat down opposite me, but didn't start right away. In fact as we sat there, he had such a serious look on his mask. A dour, almost sorrow look that I'd never seen on the demon. He looked downright upset.

His usual flamboyant tone even replaced with calm quiet words.

"It started a few months ago. Moi not feeling quite himself. New pains and problems... such problems that cannot go ignored for long before they compile and snowball into further issues."

He sighed, looking out the crystallised glass window.

"Eventually it was too much. Moi had to see the demon doctor and find out what was wrong. They poked and prodded all day and all night, various tests to see what was wrong. All for the greater good of extending Moi's happy life even slightly..."

I remained silent as he spoke, letting him get through this story at his own pace. His glove dove through his slicked back hair, I'm not sure if he even could cry but it definitely sounded like he was holding his emotions back.

"The next thing Moi remembers... the demon doctor was there, telling Moi the horrible results. It was news Moi had thought it was, feared it was, but could not bear to think about. The diagnosis that had plagued his nightmares for years, but hoped to never reach his ears in reality..."

I rubbed my hand over his comfortingly. "Oh Vanir, I'm so sorry."

"Moi was allergic to loneliness."

...

"...what."

He nodded with thin pursed lips. "Mmhmm. It used to be a particularly tasty emotion, now completely cut off from Moi." He spoke with his hand waving his face like he was blowing back tears. "You can imagine how dangerous Moi's life is surrounded by you pathetically single humans."

"...like, deathly allergic?"

He shook his head plainly. "No no. Just gives Moi a runny nose."

I blinked at him. Calmly assessing the situation. "Are you trying to say that you set this whole normality earring thing up... so that you wouldn't get the sniffles?"

He nodded at me with a look that said I wasn't taking this seriously enough. "Moi hates getting a runny nose."

...

..........

"....I, but.... WHAT?!"

"What?"

I dove over the table, grabbed his stupid lapel and began shaking him. "I'VE BEEN WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOUR CURSES, AND YOUR PLANS, AND YOU SAY THIS IS ACTUALLY JUST SOME PLOT ABOUT YOU NOT WANTING SNOT IN YOUR NOSE?! I'VE CHANGED EVERYONE INTO SEX MANIACS! I'VE CORRUPTED TWO GODDESSES! HOW COULD THAT BE FOR SOMETHING SO STUPID!?"

"Oi, hands off the coat, gorilla girl!" He hissed and snapped my hands away before brushing himself off. If he didn't start talking quickly I was going to strangle him. "As Moi said, you can imagine how it was for Moi before I gave you those earrings." He raised his hand to begin counting on each finger. "The perverted boy and the wizard girl, both lonely from their breakup. You, lonely from thinking you'd been rejected by perverted boy. Blue haired bitch, a nuisance even without being lonely. And worst of all, the loneliest of you all and the annoyance that keeps Moi up at night STILL! Is-"

Ding-a-ling!

"-HER!"