60 Chapter 60: A Centaur Warriors Servitude (1/2)
When we checked-in to the Cantering Dreams Inn last night, we found that they have what's called a 'mixed room' that houses groups consisting of large-bodied races like Centaurs and Lamias, and it's very popular due to the 'tatami mats' that give the room a nice nature-like smell. They even provide the appropriate futons of two different sizes, pillows, and down-quilt covers for those who need some help to keep warm. Centaurs apparently have high body temperatures like regular horses do, and so they really only need pillows to rest their heads on.
When I asked the receptionist for further details, it was just as I had suspected that it was a Champion, one highly likely from Japan or well-versed in its culture, who assisted in designing the inn in the past. I wondered if Padimon is the go-to country for Japanese transfers since I've seen and heard so many things related to my home's culture already.
Needless to say, we ordered two double-sized futons put together for each pair of us in our group to sleep in overnight, and somehow the girls wanted to sleep butt-naked and I was too tired to refute, so I joined in.
Sleeping while being surrounded by hot naked monster girls smelling of faux lavender from the bath salts, it didn't take long for me and the rest of us to fall asleep last night, especially when I was smothered lovingly by Ume's and Ren's softness on each side of me from our sleeping arrangements.
Anyway, back to the present, we are currently in one of the tables of the dining lobby after we made our orders for breakfast. Ms. Gallofree explained to us what happened between her and Eugus when she tried to ask his permission to join my newly-formed party.
To keep it short, it didn't turn out well. Some harsh words were exchanged even when Ms. Gallofree prepared Eugus' favorite meals to lighten up the mood a little, and in the end she wound up crying to sleep in her room … for 3 hours (which is apparently the same amount of time as horses need to rest) before she got up, trained herself to exhaustion while in an angry mood, then fell into depression after cleaning her sweat from the bathhouse and made her way here.
”It is just not fair,” Ms. Gallofree says while lying on the side of her face, not even attempting to eat the food in front of her. ”I was even told of how Master Kotori saved Dondgarm the second time on his own and made such large donations to the city's reparations and its local church yesterday. With removing the Toxic Troll threat on top of that, how would Guild Master … nay, Dear Uncle, forbid me from even associating with him further than I already have?”
”Well, if you haven't gotten the whole story, I did kill … what, around 70 humans in the course of two days, plus brutally tortured a few out of extracting information and out of my own self-fulfillment. Take into my Innate Stats that were recorded yesterday, I'd be wary of such a guy if I was talking to him knowing all of that,” I say in between bites.
”I thought being forbidden was bad enough,” Ms. Gallofree continues, ”but I thought wrong when he talked down on my wish to serve a capable human as his steed, just like what I had read in the stories. 'To willingly let one ride their back, 'tis the greatest of shames for Centaurs and I will not let my niece fall into one for such a dangerous human male,' he said. As if my job as an adventurer was not dangerous enough, he said I would be bringing myself lower than a harlot to even allow such action since I am a female …”
”Uh, don't female Centaurs usually seek strong male warriors of the same race to mate and bear strong children? How is this even lower than that if the female doesn't even like the male?” Lili asks.
”Ms. Gallofree … how much do you want to join our party?” I ask her.
”Very much so!” she exclaims while straightening up. ”Dear Uncle has trained me since I was able to carry a sword to be able to hold off on my own, and his influence as a guild master had made others hesitant to approach me, his niece. From the raid the night before, though thou did not know my background at the time, thou art the first to ever fight alongside me as part of a group without him nearby, even though we art from different kin. That aside, I felt something as I fought with thee, Ren, and Erizora that night, and I wanted to continue finding out what that something was. When I learned why thou art taking an arduous journey yesterday, it made me want to join thee more!
”Whatever Dear Uncle thinks of thee, I know thou art a lot more than that, and I want to prove that to him while showing why I want to serve under such a man, especially since he hast not even seen thou fight yet!”
I take a moment to contemplate and consider what would be best for all of us here before turning to her.
”I will be honest with you, Ms. Gallofree,” I start, ”I almost didn't really care who would be joining my party at first since I lived a mostly solitary life, but after spending some quality time with the girls here and what I've experienced, I made some 'prerequisites' in order for those interested in joining be considered qualified. They may sound superficial to you based on how you might view of me so far, but do you still wish to hear them?”
Ms. Gallofree nods firmly and sits up to give me her utmost attention. The other girls gathered around the table also turn to me with great interest.
”I admit that things might've gone differently if the circumstances were different, but as you may see already, Ume is officially my wife now, and Ren and Erizora are the second and third members of my growing harem,” I declare as I wrap one arm around Ume's waist and I pat Ren's head next to me with the other, the two of them look to me with shocked, blushing faces. ”Things might get complicated if we allow other guys and girls uninterested in joining the harem be a part of this party. With the exceptions of a familiar or two I may summon later today, I've decided that those who join this party must be capable girls who're willing to get along with the others as part of the harem. Is that okay with you three?” I ask the girls in my 'party.'
”As long as I still have the place as your primary wife, I have no problems.” [Ume]
”I'd honestly be uncomfortable having other males aside from Master's potential familiars join the group at this point.” [Ren]
”And of course, females who're strong and able to fight for the protection of Master's and the party's safety is also a must.” [Erizora]
”Seems we're all in agreement. There may be girls who wish to keep relations while not joining the party, but we'll go over that later,” I say before turning back to Ms. Gallofree, who stares at me with shock. ”That aside, if Eugus were to allow you in joining us, I would make an exception and give you the part as our 'advisor' of sorts.”
”Advisor?”
”Ume and I are strong, but we got our high ranks by paying the extra money and proving our strength. We pretty much know next to nothing on what adventurers usually do over the course of their daily livings. Ren and Erizora, you've probably only been taught in how to serve your owners through your slave-training, right? Were you taught any rules on what's to follow as adventurers?”
”Not really, no.” [Erizora]
”We learned what we could while on the field, but we only just followed what those who rented our services ordered us to do without letting us give much input.” [Ren]
{I'll have to change that in this group, then,} I decide. ”Then, Ms. Gallofree, that would make you the most experienced adventurer in the field out of all of us here. We would likely go to you on questions about what behaviors are acceptable between adventurers, strategies of attack and defense while on the field, and so on. Would you be confident in giving us your inputs for those situations and then some?”
”Y-Yes, of course. Dear Uncle had me read through what rules to follow as an adventurer and also taught me everything he knew in the field when he escorted me on certain quests with other people.”
With my maxed out 'Intuition' activated, I could see and hear how firm her resolve was when she answered. Not even catching a hint of a lie on top of that, she's definitely not taking this lightly.
”Then, while you'd be with us as part of the exception, I wouldn't force you into joining the harem along with the … 'activities' that goes with being in one, but I would be expecting you to get along with us as we go about our lives together, putting our differences in race aside,” I continue. ”The dangers of being with us are inevitable, but I want to put cooperation as our highest priority when it comes to this party. I gave you this chance when I wasn't thinking much on it at first, but after considering more of your background, I believe you'd make an excellent addition and contribute a lot to our party. Do you guys agree?” I ask the three girls, of which they nod in agreement. ”So, I will now ask you this, Ms. Gallofree: if I can convince your uncle in some way to change his mind, would you still want to join our party, taking what you know of us now into consideration?”
Ms. Gallofree takes a moment to look down and think hard with a fist to her mouth. Her cheeks at one-point tint red for some reason before looking back up to me. ”May I ask some things for confirmation?”
”Of course.”
”These … 'activities' thou said will do with thy harem … thou meant sex, right?” she asks with her face a little redder than before.
”Well, yes, that's right, but that may not be all that we'll do, though, other than taking quests together, of course. Even if I try to change things up a bit, I could only imagine how bored the girls might get out of it later on.”
””Are you kidding?!”” the girls in my party exclaim, making me jump in my seat.