Chapter 192 - A New Traveling Companion

—Next Day, Ghislaine's Village—

"Dear, you are certain that Sauros will not mind that all of us came here today?", Sapphire asked, as we stood outside the front door, "I do not want to hassle them, we can wait at Melromarc Castle for you."

"Oh no, we need to put that Elven whore in her place.", Leviathan remarked, crossing her arms in front of her chest, "Like we told all of you, she has been trying to get in his pants since they met. I trust Cole, but it still rubs me the wrong way that she does not take no for an answer."

Before anyone could say more about Elinalise, one of Sauros' maids answered the door and welcomed us in. Greeting her with a nod, I paused for a moment when I saw the new uniform that Sauros had bought them. Modifying the traditional maid outfit, he had them modified so that the skirts came halfway up their thighs and also made sure the uniform had a snug fit. Knowing exactly why he had these adjustments made, it was clear everyone needed to vacate the home soon before things became awkward.

'Well, I better ask Hilda when she wants to move out today.', I thought, as the maid began to speak.

"Welcome, Sir Cole. Master Sauros is with the others in the Dining Hall, please follow me and I will take you there.", she said, with a polite curtsy. 

Following her lead, I glanced over my shoulder to give my wives an apologetic look. Shaking their heads, they remarked that Hilda and Lilia had warned them well in advance that this might happen. Without any strict guidelines holding Sauros back, they honestly expected to see them strutting around in bikinis.

"Really?", I asked telepathically, "Bikinis for maids?"

"We heard plenty of…uncomfortable stories from Hilda.", Shera replied, with a shiver, "While the Boreas-Greyrats are relatively good people, they are also a bunch of perverts. I understand these women are not innocent, but I feel kind of bad for all of them."

"This is honestly luxury compared to what the others will endure.", Leona remarked, flashing a toothy grin, "Do not forget that the alternative was sending them to the Mines to work until they dropped dead."

"Fair enough.", Shera acknowledged, as we neared the Dining Hall.

Having us wait a moment outside the room, the maid poked her head inside to announce our arrival. Telling her to let us in with a booming voice, the older man sounded in high spirits today. Motioning for us to enter, the maid excused herself and returned to her duties.

"Hey Sauros, sorry for dropping in while you were eating.", I said, walking into the room.

"It is no trouble at all!", Sauros assured me, as we began filling the room.

Waiting for everyone to enter, Paul and Sauros' faces began losing a bit of color as they met everyone for the first time. Realizing that I had not been exaggerating this whole time, they were left unable to speak.

"Damn, you were not lying about having a large family!", Elinalise commented, noticing a similarity between most of my wives, "You are not related to Paul in some way, right?"

"No, I am not related to him.", I said firmly, before introducing my family to everyone.

Watching everyone's gaze fix solely on Elinalise, the elven woman began squirming uncomfortably under their gaze.

"This is the woman you were annoyed with?", Celestial remarked, looking Elinalise in the eye, "Leviathan, you should learn to have a thicker skin. This hussy is not going to be a problem for any of us. You should just ignore her and continue with your life like nothing happened."

"Hussy!?", Elinalise shouted, slamming her hands on the table, "I will have you know that I-"

"Enough, there is no need to start a fight over this.", I said, stepping in, "Elinalise, I have no interest in sleeping with you. The man you are supposed to end up falling in love with and marrying is currently enroute to the Ranoa Magic Academy. If you are tired of living this way, go seek him and rediscover the happiness you lost all those years ago."

"What makes him different from all the other men?", Elinalise replied, skeptical of my words.

"Unlike everyone else, his way of helping you will not be to sate your lust every night. He will work tirelessly to find a permanent cure so that after he dies, you do not have to resume this life again.", I told her.

Surprised by this information, Elinalise took a seat again and looked at the cup of tea in front of her. Having diffused the situation, I moved on to the original reason for our visit.

"Here are the approval letters I promised you, Eris and Rudeus. I will set up a portal here in the village that will link to my capital city. Tomorrow I can show you the way there and help get you signed up for classes.", I promised them, as I handed two additional letters to Ghislaine, "These are for your niece Linia and her friend Pursena. If Gyes still wants to send them there, I am more than happy to ensure they get the crap kicked out of them and mellow out."

"That would be very helpful.", Ghislaine acknowledged, "I will pass this along to my brother before I leave."

"Before you leave?", I repeated, "You are not staying here?"

"No, Sauros has released me from my contract so I am free to leave now.", Ghislaine said.

Glancing over to Sauros, who was ogling the maid refilling his tea, he quickly collected himself when he felt my gaze on him. Asking us to repeat what we said, Ghislaine told him we were discussing her release as the family bodyguard.

"Ah yes, I let her go as we no longer need her services.", Sauros stated, thanking the maid as she walked away, "We are no longer under threat of attack from rival nobles or enemy nations here so she will wither away if she stays here. Ghislaine has already given my family over a decade of her life, I cannot ask her to give us more for no reason."

"Understandable, all of your maids are more than capable of protecting Eris, Hilda, and you from any danger you may face here.", I agreed, nodding my head, "So where are you headed off to?"

"I was hoping you would add me to your traveling party. Honestly, traveling with you these past few months has been the most fun I have had since I was a child. I know that there are plenty more adventures to be had out there, and you make excellent company.", Ghislaine advised, with a toothy grin, "Does that work for you?"

"Hell yeah!", Ciri proclaimed, "We can be like the Three Musketeers!!"

Cracking a smile at that comment, I nodded my head and agreed to let Ghislaine join Ciri and me on our travels. Changing topics to the Boss and Labyrinth loot, I tossed a magic bag to Paul containing everything that had been collected. Telling them to split it up equally, he inquired what my cut would be.

"Do not worry about it, consider it an investment into your children's future. Just do not screw up anymore and everything will work itself out.", I assured him.

"He knows.", Zenith said, with a grateful smile, "Thank you for bringing us all back together, Cole."

"No problem.", I chuckled, "Let me know if you ever have any issues with your suppressed ability."

"I will be sure to do so.", Zenith acknowledged, looking at Hilda, "It is now or never girl."

Collecting herself for a moment, Hilda rose from her seat and turned to look at me. Giving her my full attention, I asked her if there was something she needed.

"Cole…is the offer to stay at your home still good?", she inquired, "I would like to continue being around you, and see where our relationship leads us. While it might some time, I do see a future with you."

"Of course, you are more than welcome in my home.", I told her, with a smile, "I can escort Eris and you over tomorrow."

"That would be wonderful.", Hilda said, with joy, "I will see you then!"

Pulling me into a hug, she held me tightly for several moments before letting me go. Giving me a grateful smile, Sauros made me promise that I would cherish Hilda.

"Treat her with love and kindness Cole, no matter what she will always be my daughter-in-law.", Sauros proclaimed.

"I will.", I assured him, "Well then, I will see you all later!"

Excusing ourselves after that, my family and I headed off to our brunch with the Melromarcs.