My life was a comedy where I always ended up flat on my face. The 10-coin debt with Bjorn, because of the fiasco in the rural village, was another weight on my back, and Melina's song about "the cabin strippers" was already making adventurers laugh even in the taverns of Vaelor. My head was a whirlwind. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel messed with my feelings in ways I couldn't understand. Elara's shy glances, now more intense after regaining her memories, made my heart race like a wild horse. Vespera's teasing, softer since Infernia, still left me red as a bonfire. Liriel's jealousy, hidden behind sharp sarcasm, left me more lost than ever. And to make matters worse, I received a letter from Princess Lyra, praising my "bravery" at the Moon Festival, in a tone that sounded… affectionate? That only made things more confusing, with Elowyn, the elf druid princess, sending cryptic messages of support that made Elara and Vespera exchange murderous looks. Vespera's kiss still lingered, with her avoiding my gaze, while Elara hesitated to speak. I wanted to understand what I felt, but with this group, it was like trying to read a map in a storm. The amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet, necklace, royal scepter, cord, orb, diadem, key, cord, ring, stone, necklace, bracelet, ring, bracelet, medallion, ring, pendant, cord, and bracelet in my backpack glowed together, and Elowen said the Demon King's ritual was getting closer. The danger rumbled like distant thunder, but today, I just wanted to pay off Bjorn and avoid more humiliation.
At the Vaelor guild, a wooden and stone building smelling of wax and parchment, we were summoned for an urgent meeting. The attendant, with a serious look, said: "Minions of the Demon King have attacked nearby villages. We need you." Elowen, with her mysterious aura, explained that the items in my backpack were keys to sealing the Demon King's ritual, but a general — a dark being named Kaelthorn — led the attacks. "You're… peculiar, but necessary," she said with a faint smile. Liriel grumbled: "Minions? Unworthy of a goddess!" Elara, clutching her staff, promised: "I'll use magic carefully, I swear!" Vespera, with her bow slung over her shoulder, smiled: "A general? This will be interesting." I tried to sound firm: "No crazy magic, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just investigate the village." They laughed as if I were dreaming. A letter from Lyra arrived, praising my "leadership," and Liriel snorted: "Little princess in love? Pathetic." Elara blushed, and Vespera teased: "Careful, Takumi, your fame is spreading."
The attacked village was a scene of devastation — burned wooden houses, trampled fields, and an aura of dark magic in the air. Elowen introduced us to Gunnar, a Viking-like warrior with a red beard and a huge axe. "The strippers? Don't destroy what's left!" said Gunnar, his tone a mix of seriousness and sarcasm. He explained that minions — creatures with claws and glowing eyes — had attacked at night, leaving trails of dark energy. Melina appeared, plucking her lute. "New verse ready!" she announced, drawing the eyes of the survivors. Elara tensed as she felt the residual magic. "This is… strong," she murmured. The air was heavy, with Lyra sending a pendant as a "good luck charm," which made Liriel throw the letter to the ground. "Ridiculous!" she said, while Elara and Vespera exchanged jealous glances.
The investigation began, and chaos followed quickly. Elara tried a tracking spell to locate the minions. "Just to find the trail!" she said. The spell glowed for seconds before she collapsed, panting. "Mana… gone," she groaned, falling into my arms. Her face was so close that my heart skipped a beat. "Takumi, I… I wanted to…" she began, but the spell activated a magical trap, releasing dark vines that bound us. Vespera, trying to help, used her charm, but distracted the villagers, who knocked over a cart. Her crooked arrow hit a pillar, which collapsed. "What a delicious chaos!" she shouted, while Gunnar pushed her away — and she seemed to enjoy it. "Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her wine cup. "Divine purification magic!" The light exploded but set the cart on fire, spreading smoke. I tried to cut the vines with my borrowed sword but slipped on a rock, falling with a thud that knocked over tools. A smaller minion appeared but fled, leaving behind a fragment marked like the items in my backpack.
Amid the chaos, Elara, still in my arms, murmured: "Takumi, have you ever felt… afraid to fail?" Her voice was fragile, and I felt a tightness in my chest. Vespera teased: "Getting cozy, huh, Takumi?" Liriel, her eyes burning with jealousy, shouted: "Focus, mortal, or you'll burn the whole village!" Elowyn, who had followed us, appeared and said: "You're brave, Takumi, but clumsy." Her soft tone made Elara and Vespera fume. Lyra's pendant fell from my backpack, and Liriel kicked it away. "Stupid princess!" Gunnar, sighing, doused the fire with a bucket, but the cart was in ashes. He picked up the fragment and said: "Curious. Looks like a map." When he touched it, it vibrated, knocking over more debris. Gunnar, irritated, said: "You'll pay for this." The villagers laughed, and Melina sang: "In the village, they strip the carts, the strippers fall into confusion!" Gunnar grumbled: "You're a plague!"
We returned to the Vaelor guild with the fragment — and the village even more destroyed. They paid us 60 coins, minus damages. We cleared Bjorn's debt, but Gunnar charged 10 coins for the cart. At the inn, I sat, exhausted, while Elara and Vespera argued over who "messed up less." "I only used one spell!" said Elara, her cheeks red. "And I only fired one arrow!" Vespera retorted, avoiding my gaze. Liriel, drinking wine, scoffed: "You're pathetic. I did everything." Elowen appeared, examined the fragment, and said: "A map to the Demon King's ritual. Kaelthorn is near. Be careful, strippers." Then she left without explaining more. The atmosphere was heavy, with Elara, Vespera, and Liriel throwing jealous glances, and Lyra's letter and Elowyn's comment only made it worse. "What's going on, Takumi?" asked Elara, her jealousy evident. Vespera muttered: "Nothing, just stuck-up princesses."
When Elara and Vespera left to get food, I pulled Liriel aside. "If you're a goddess, who's on your throne now?" She shrugged, with a lazy smile. "Celine, my assistant. She's annoying, but she takes care of the rest." She took a sip. "Why? Planning to send me back, mortal?" She smiled, with a look that left me confused. I looked at the glowing items — amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet, necklace, royal scepter, cord, orb, diadem, key, cord, ring, stone, necklace, bracelet, ring, bracelet, medallion, ring, pendant, cord, bracelet. Vespera's kiss, Elara's memories, Liriel's jealousy, Lyra's letter, Elowyn's flirting, Gunnar's debt — my life was a nightmare, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.