My life was a circus where I was the main clown, falling face-first into the mud every chapter. The debt of 10 coins to Nyx, because of the disaster in the Enchanted Forest, was another weight, and Melina's song about "the strippers of the forest" now echoed even on Vaelor's docks. My head was a knot. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel messed with me in ways I couldn't decipher. Elara, with her shy looks that made my heart race; Vespera, with her teasing that made me blush; and Liriel, with that jealousy she disguised with sarcasm—every moment of closeness turned into a fiasco. I wanted to understand these feelings, but with this group, it was like trying to sail a stormy sea without a compass. The amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, and pendant in my backpack glowed together, and Sylva said the Demon King's general's minions were gathering for an imminent ritual in Vaelor. The danger was closer than ever.
At the guild, I found a mission that seemed connected: "Face pirates on a ship docked at Vaelor's port, suspected of ties to the Demon King's general. Reward: 90 silver coins." It was a chance to pay Nyx and strike against the threat. Dragging Liriel from the inn was the same drama. "A stinking ship? Unworthy of a goddess!" she complained, holding her wine glass. Elara looked nervous. "I'll use protection spells, nothing too flashy," she said, clutching her staff. Vespera, holding her bow, smiled. "Pirates? This will be exciting!" I tried to sound firm: "No crazy spells, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just defeat the pirates." They nodded, but I knew it was all talk.
The port of Vaelor smelled like salt and rotten fish, with seagulls screaming and ships rocking. We met Selene, the merchant, and Harlan, the reformed bandit. "The strippers? Great, more chaos," Harlan said, laughing. Selene pointed at a ship and scoffed, "Don't ruin my trade!" They introduced Captain Rorik, a pirate with a gray beard and a cunning look, who commanded the suspicious ship. "I've heard of you," said Rorik, with a provocative grin. "Don't sink my ship, eh?" Harlan said the pirates were transporting something linked to the Demon King's general. The mission was clear: board the ship, capture Rorik, and recover the item. I noticed Elara walking closer, Vespera throwing me teasing looks, and Liriel posing with her glass as if they were all competing for my attention. It was confusing, and I just wanted to focus on the mission.
On the ship's deck, chaos struck fast. Elara tried a protection spell against the pirates. "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 pound, almost as if she wanted to say something more—but a pirate threw a net, trapping us. Vespera, laughing, used her succubus charm. "Come here, sailors!" She lured half the crew, who dropped their weapons, but her arrows flew crooked, hitting a barrel that exploded into glowing slime. "What delicious chaos!" she shouted as a pirate hit her—and she seemed to enjoy it.
"Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her glass. "Divine purification magic!" The slime turned into a sticky substance that clung to everyone, leaving our clothes semi-transparent—again. I tried to hit Rorik with the borrowed sword but slipped on the slime. Selene, watching, scoffed, "You people are a plague." Harlan captured Rorik, but the ship rocked, damaging the deck. In the captain's cabin, we found a medallion marked like the amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, and pendant. When I touched it, it released even more slime, gluing us all together. Elara, still weak, murmured, "You're so brave, Takumi… I…" blushing, almost a confession. Vespera, laughing, leaned closer. "I like seeing you like this—all wet." My face burned, but Liriel, irritated, tried another spell that only made things worse: the slime glued the four of us and Selene together. "Mortals and their stupid crushes!" she huffed, but her jealous glare was more intense than ever. Rorik, laughing, said, "This one's going to the taverns."
We got the medallion, but the ship was damaged. At the guild, we received only 60 coins, deducted for damages. We paid off the debt to Nyx, but Rorik charged us 10 coins for the ship. At the inn, I sat, exhausted, while Elara and Vespera argued over who "defeated" the pirates. "My protection helped!" said Elara. "And my charm distracted them!" Vespera shot back. Liriel, sipping her wine, scoffed. "You're pathetic. I did everything."
When they went out to get food, I pulled Liriel aside. "If you're a goddess, who's sitting on your throne now?" She shrugged. "Celine, my assistant. She's annoying, but she takes care of things." She took a sip. "Why? Planning to send me back?" She smiled, with a look that left me confused. Selene stopped by the inn, saying the medallion confirmed an imminent ritual from the Demon King's general, with minions gathering in Vaelor. "Be careful, strippers," she said, leaving. I looked at the glowing items—amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, pendant, medallion. Those moments with Elara, Vespera, and Liriel—almost confessions—messed with me but always turned into humiliation. And now more of the Demon King's plans? My life was a nightmare, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.