- Arthas -
I was confused so I did the only thing I could do to calm down.
Practice Martial Arts.
My Shingen-ryū Martial Arts Skill had leveled up this morning while training and was just a single level before reaching max level.
Shingen-ryu [Unique Skill] [Level 49/50] [Exp: 102/49000]
Shingen-ryu or "Style That Originates From The Heart" is a school of Martial Arts in which the practitioner learns hand-to-hand combat as well as the ability to control their aura for combat.
Passively Increases +2 STR +2 END +2 DEX +2 INT +2 WIS per level.
Current Increase: +98 STR +98 END +98 DEX +98 INT +98 WIS
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū [Level 38/100] [Exp: 110/38000]
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū is an ancient kenjutsu developed to allow a single samurai to defeat numerous foes single-handedly. Rooted in the concept of ichi no tachi, or to strike in a single blow, practitioners of this style use a combination of immense speed and agility, battōjutsu, and acquired, observation-based pseudo-clairvoyance that permits a practitioner to anticipate an opponent's moves.
Passively Increases +2 STR +2 END +2 DEX +2 INT +2 WIS per level, unlocks new Skills every 5 levels.
Current Increase: +76 STR +76 END +76 DEX +76 INT +76 WIS
These skills are the reasons I could fight with a Level 50 T5 despite being a Level 29 T5 myself. Well, these Skills and the 18% Extra Stats from the Man of Culture Achievements. They pushed me to a level where I could safely contend with peak T5, even the abnormal ones like Arnold Straight in a fight.
The Shingen-ryū Skill was almost complete now and I was anticipating the Max. Level bonus of the Skill. It's also why I had been focusing so much on this skill whenever I had any free time.
The two ladies came out after almost thirty minutes… in their towels.
Rose however was too tired and sleepy to care and directly went to bed.
I looked at Veena who was smiling at me after tucking Rose in the bed.
"You should take a bath too. You have an early day tomorrow."
I nodded and did just that.
I really needed to cool down.
Finally, after a bath, I came back to see Veena in a short black see through night dress, smiling at me.
Yeah… that cooling down was wasted.
___________________________________x__________________________________
I slumped down beside Veena after almost a dozen rounds as the two of us basked in the afterglow.
We had been holding back for a while now and now that we got an opportunity, it was like a dam broke down.
"That was…"
"Amazing."
Rose was passed out after drinking, completely unbothered by the noise we were making. I now understood why Veena had her drink heavily today.
It's just that… she hadn't expected her to be so weak to alcohol.
"Yes, you outdid yourself today." She kissed my shoulder as she hugged me from the side and placed her head on my chest.
I smiled as my hand slid to rest over her bottom.
"Glad you liked it."
We stayed like that for a while.
"Go on, I know you want to ask something." She spoke, making me chuckle.
"About Rose…"
"It's surprising, isn't it? Such a talented girl and yet having confidence issues about such things. Seriously, children these days…"
"Umm… I personally think it was due to the jealousy of her coworkers and classmates. They couldn't beat her in achievements so they went hard on other things. Petty fools."
"Yes, that makes sense. There are always such fools. For them their small four walls are their whole world and making someone feel bad gives them a sense of superiority. I have seen my fair share of them." I looked at her and she had a faraway look in her eyes.
"I sense a story there."
"More like ancient tales." She rolled her eyes at my question but smiled and continued nonetheless. "It reminded me of my half brother, the current head of the Bael House. He has such a personality."
"Oh…" I tried to remember what I could and remembered that she was probably talking about Sairaorg's father. Yeah… that guy was a douche.
"My mother… she was not the main wife but rather a concubine of the head of the house. Her position was much lower than the official wife. My half brother and I were around the same age but my talents were far better than his… and he didn't take it well." She shook her head. "He didn't leave any opportunity to show me up for the slightest of things. It was infuriating when I was young but as years passed, it became more of an annoyance. Then I got married off to Zeo and became the Lady of The Gremory House. He is a good man and we have a very good relationship."
"You say as if he still does that." I asked.
"Oh yes. Yes, he does. Nothing direct… he doesn't have the courage to do so anymore. My son is a patient man but there is a reason he sits on the Lucifers throne." She smiled but that smile was far more dangerous than the normal ones I am used to.
"Seriously, even after… how many centuries was it?"
"Hehehehe, are you asking me my age, Arthas?" She laughed.
"I…" I was surprised for a moment and then shook my head, understanding her joke.
"Jealousy is a very ugly thing. It harms both sides. After Sirzechs was born, he inherited my Clan Trait, the Power of Destruction, the Clan Trait of the House of Bael's, something they are incredibly proud of. Sirzechs however inherited it stronger than any Bael ever… including the first Bael, Zekram himself."
I nodded, already knowing some of this. "And I take it that he didn't take it well?"
"No… no he didn't. Then Sirzechs became the Lucifer and he even lost his usual chances to mock me due to my son's position. In that time he too had a child… and he pushed all his expectations onto his son." She shook her head. "Unfortunately, Sairaorg didn't inherit the Bael's Power of Destruction. Even his Demonic Power reserves were negligible… while my daughter, Rias, she inherited my power once more."
"He didn't take it well, did he?"
"More than just that. He more or less exiled Sairaorg and his mother. One of his concubines however did give birth to another son who had inherited the Power of Destruction and now he is the current heir. Poor Sairaorg and Misla… they didn't deserve that. Actually, not even Sairaorg's half brother, the new heir wanted any part in all this." She sighed.
I didn't say anything and stayed like that, softly caressing her back.
She continued after a while. "Fortunately Sairaorg is a very strong willed and hard working young man. He has made himself into one of the best in the younger generation and reclaimed his position as the heir of the house. He is doing very well nowadays." She smiled.
"I… can't imagine how a person could do such a thing to their wife and child." I said, speaking from my heart.
"That's because you are a good person, Arthas." She patted my chest. "And that's why I think you would be good for Rose."
"..."
She giggled again.
"Really… when I called you dumb for not understanding a woman's heart… I wasn't wrong. Don't tell me you didn't notice the obvious crush the girl has on you. Then again, I don't think the girl notices it herself. She is too inexperienced about her feelings."
"What?" I asked in a deadpan.
"Rose has a crush on you, you blockhead."
"That… seriously?"
"It's plain as day. Not only me, even Bina and Suika, even Elaine have noticed this. Seriously, it is plain as day for anyone watching her. You can see it in her actions, the way she looks at you or how she behaves around you. That girl has a massive crush on you." She explained.
I was still taking the fact, trying to recall the time spent with Rose.
"Then again, it's understandable. Imagine it from her perspective. A girl, shunned by her coworkers, gets tricked into playing a game to find a significant other. But instead of finding love, she gets trapped, defeated and even enslaved, even being bid on publicly to be sold… that's a very low point of life for anyone."
I nodded. I can actually see that.
"And then you come in, like a prince from some fairy tale, swooping in and saving her from a fate worse than death. Tell me if that's not an ideal situation for an innocent girl like her to fall in love."
"Falling in love is a bit…" I tried to speak but she just rolled her eyes and continued.
"And then you spend time with her, fighting together, often standing in front of her, blocking attacks meant for her… I have seen people fall in love for much less."
…
Makes sense… I guess.
"So go on. Take her on a date. You two will have a good time." She urged.
I looked at her and shook my head. "I… don't want to lead her on. That would be incredibly cruel to her."
"Who is asking you to lead her on? I really think you will enjoy her company."
I opened my mouth in surprise.
"What? Did you forget what you had promised me on our first night together?"
"…you were actually serious?" I asked, surprised. I had thought it was some kind of test or something like that.
"Obviously. I was very serious. You are not going to go back on your word, are you?"
"It's not…" My words stopped as I felt her hand on my length.
"You did say that you would have loved to go out with her just a while ago. Or could it be that you were lying?"
"I wasn't…" I gasped as she grabbed my length and started moving her hand slowly.
"Rose is a beautiful girl, isn't she?"
"That I won't deny."
"Then tell me, has she never made your heart skip beat."
"It's not like that." I denied, not risking the ire of the woman who held my manhood in her palm and possessed enough strength to do with it as she liked.
Dammit mind, you are supposed to be scared… get it together.
"Oh come on. You live in a house with three beautiful women. Don't tell me you have never imagined Rose mewing under your thrusts or… Bina, giving you that stoic look of hers while gagging on your cock while you hold her gorgeous silver braids and push her down on yourself."
Unconsciously, the image of the two girls flashed in my head. Of the night I had seen them in their night dress… my dick twitched.
Fuck.
I didn't even need to turn to the side to know the grin that Veena was sporting right now.
"You are too good at this."
"A thousand years are enough to learn a lot of things." She replied, calmly but the victorious smirk was still on her face.
I rolled my eyes at her words.
"Give it a try. You will like each other." She said, this time quite genuinely.
…
I just stared at her for a while and then nodded.
"Okay."
She smiled and snuggled closer to me and I too closed my eyes to sleep for the day.
___________________________________x__________________________________
I woke up early the next day and went out for my daily training.
By the time I came back, Rose and Veena had already awakened.
The poor girl was sober once more and perhaps the entire weight of the previous night's events came crashing down on her sober mind as she looked like she wanted to bury herself alive to get away from the embarrassment somehow.
Veena on the other hand had just laughed it off and reassured the girl.
I had known that Rose had a complex about being single, not that I understood why she would, but I never imagined it to be so big of a deal.
Thankfully, we didn't have time as today's competition was going to start in a few hours and I had to go out early.
Arnold was going to attend the competition with the higher ups today as well so Veena and Rose went on to join Roland again while I went to the Knight's Academy to join the rest of the Knight's Academy representatives for the matches.
Sir Ralph was there to see us off before the matches.
"Remember boys, whether you win or lose, it doesn't matter… just fight fairly and give it your best shot. May the best man win."
"Yes Sir!" Everyone shouted together.
"Now go, show everyone what the Greenfrost Knight's Academy is made of."