My life was a spectacle of blunders where I was always the main clown. The debt of 10 coins to Rorik, because of the fiasco on the ship, weighed like an anchor, and Melina's song about "the strippers of the port" now echoed even in the taverns of Vaelor. My head was a tangled mess. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel messed with me in ways I couldn't understand. 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 disaster. I wanted to understand these feelings, but with this group, it was like trying to fight a dragon with a spoon. The amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, and medallion in my backpack glowed together, and Selene 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 like a chance to pay Rorik: "Participate in the tournament at the Arena of Vaelor to attract an audience and ensure safety. Reward: 100 silver coins." It was an opportunity to settle the debt and maybe find clues about the Demon King. Dragging Liriel from the inn was the same drama. "An arena full of brutes? Unworthy of a goddess!" she complained, holding her wine glass. Elara looked nervous. "I'll use protection spells, nothing too flashy," she said, gripping her staff. Vespera, with her bow, smiled. "Fights? This will be exciting!" I tried to sound firm: "No crazy spells, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just win the fights." They nodded, but I knew it was all talk.
The Arena of Vaelor was a noisy coliseum, filled with shouting crowds and the smell of sweat and dust. We met Zara, the cheating gambler, and Tilda, the inventor. "The strippers? Great, more chaos," said Zara, laughing. Tilda, holding a strange gadget, scoffed, "Don't destroy the arena!" They introduced Jorn, a gladiator with deep scars and a serious demeanor, who led the tournament. "I've heard of you," said Jorn, with a distrustful look. "Don't wreck my stage, alright?" Zara said rumors of a minion of the Demon King's general were spreading around the arena. The mission was clear: win the fights, ensure safety, and investigate any clues. 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.
In the tournament, chaos came fast. Elara tried a protection spell for the group. "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 that my heart raced, almost as if she wanted to say something more—but the spell failed, and an opponent threw a net, trapping us. Vespera, laughing, used her succubus charm. "Come here, gladiators!" She lured half the fighters, who dropped their weapons, but her arrows flew crooked, hitting a stand that released glowing slime. "What delicious chaos!" she shouted as a blow 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 strike an opponent with the borrowed sword but slipped on the slime. Tilda, watching, scoffed, "You people are a plague." Zara, laughing, bet against us, but Jorn won the tournament, neutralizing the chaos. In the arena, we found a bracelet with markings identical to those on the amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, and medallion. When I touched it, it released even more slime, gluing all of us 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 tied up." My face burned, but Liriel, irritated, tried another spell that only made things worse: the slime glued the four of us and Jorn together. "Mortals and their stupid crushes!" she huffed, but her jealous gaze was more intense than ever. Jorn, furious, said, "This one's going to the taverns."
We got the bracelet, but the arena was damaged. At the guild, we received 70 coins, deducted for damages. We paid off the debt to Rorik, but Jorn charged us 10 coins for the stands. At the inn, I sat, exhausted, while Elara and Vespera argued over who "saved" the tournament. "My protection helped!" said Elara. "And my charm distracted them!" Vespera shot back. Liriel, drinking 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. Jorn stopped by the inn, saying the bracelet confirmed an imminent ritual from the Demon King's general, with minions gathering in Vaelor. "Be careful, strippers," he said, leaving. I looked at the glowing items—amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet. 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.