My life was a circus where I was the main clown. The debt of 10 coins with Zara and another 5 with Gorr, because of the swamp fiasco, weighed on me like chains. Melina's song about "the strippers of the swamp" was now sung even by the children of Vaelor, and I just wanted to pay those debts and stop being the town's joke. My head was a knot. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel messed with me in ways I couldn't decipher. Elara with her shy glances that made my heart race, Vespera with her teasing that made me blush, Liriel with that jealousy she hid behind sharp comments—every moment of closeness turned into a disaster. I wanted to understand these feelings, but with this group, it was like trying to read a map during a storm. The amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, and crystal in my backpack glowed together, and Sylva said the Demon King's general's minions were gathering in Vaelor. The danger was getting closer.
At the guild, I found a mission that seemed related: "Rescue a caravan stolen by bandits, suspected of having ties to the Demon King's general. Reward: 80 silver coins." It was a chance to pay off the debts and strike against the threat. Dragging Liriel out of the inn was the same drama as always. "Filthy bandits? Unworthy of a goddess!" she complained, holding her wine glass. Elara looked nervous. "I'll use protection spells, nothing excessive," she said, clutching her staff. Vespera, with her bow, smiled. "Bandits? This will be fun!" I tried to sound firm: "No crazy spells, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just rescue the caravan." They all nodded, but I knew it was just talk.
The caravan, attacked on a road near Vaelor, belonged to Selene, a merchant with sharp eyes and her hair tied in a bun. We met Harlan, the reformed bandit, who now worked as an informant. "The strippers? Great, more chaos," he said, laughing. Selene, furious, greeted us: "My goods! Don't destroy what's left." Harlan said the bandits, led by a man named Krag, might be connected to the Demon King's general, using the caravan to transport something dangerous. The mission was clear: retrieve the goods, capture Krag, and avoid damage. I noticed Elara walking closer, Vespera shooting me teasing glances, and Liriel posing with her wine glass as if they were all competing for my attention. It was confusing, and I just wanted to focus on the mission.
At the bandits' camp, chaos came quickly. Elara tried a protection spell. "Just to block attacks!" she said. The shield glowed for a few seconds before she collapsed, panting. "Mana... gone," she groaned, falling into my arms. Her face was so close I felt my heart race—almost like she wanted to say something more—but a bandit threw a net, trapping us. Vespera, laughing, used her succubus charm. "Come here, you thieves!" She lured half the bandits, who dropped their weapons, but her arrows went crooked, hitting a wagon that exploded in shimmering dust. "What a lovely mess!" she shouted, as a bandit struck her—and she seemed to enjoy it.
"Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her glass. "Divine purification magic!" The dust turned into a glowing goo that stuck to everyone, leaving our clothes semi-transparent—again. I tried to hit Krag with the borrowed sword but slipped in the goo. Selene, seeing this, sighed. "You people are a plague." Harlan captured Krag, but the wagon was destroyed. Among the wreckage, we found a scroll with markings identical to those on the amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, and crystal. When we touched it, it released even more goo, sticking all of us together. Elara, still weak, murmured, "You always save me, Takumi...," blushing—almost a confession. Vespera, laughing, got closer. "I like seeing you like this, all tied up." My face burned, but Liriel, irritated, tried another spell, which only made things worse: the goo stuck the four of us together with Selene. "Mortals and their stupid crushes!" she huffed, but her jealous glare was sharper than ever. Harlan, laughing, said, "That one's going straight to the taverns."
We managed to rescue the goods, but the damaged wagon cost us dearly. At the guild, we received 50 coins, reduced for the damages. We paid off the debt with Gorr, but Zara's remained at 10 coins, and Selene charged us 5 more for the wagon. At the inn, I sat exhausted while Elara and Vespera argued over who "saved" the caravan. "My protection helped!" said Elara. "And my charm distracted them!" countered Vespera. Liriel, sipping her wine, snorted. "You're pathetic. I did everything."
When they went out to get food, I pulled Liriel aside. "If you're a goddess, who's on your throne right now?" She shrugged. "Celine, my assistant. She's annoying but handles things." She took a sip. "Why? Trying to get rid of me?" She smiled, giving me a look that left me confused. Harlan passed by the inn, saying that Krag confessed the scroll described a ritual by the Demon King's general, with minions planning something in Vaelor. "Be careful, strippers," he said, leaving. I looked at the glowing items—amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll. Those moments with Elara, Vespera, and Liriel—almost confessions—shook me, but always turned into humiliation. And now more of the Demon King's plans? My life was a disaster, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.