With the ladies' okay, I parted the curtain like doorway and entered. Both Mia and the ogre princess were deeply blushing, while Treyni was standing beautifully near the side. The purple-haired ogress wore her robes a bit loosely and was checking out her movement capability within the robes.
"Alright, since you are up first, Mia, take off you robe and lie belly down on the table so that you face comfortably rests in the relief of the head rest." I explained to her and demonstrated how she should lie on the table.
Mia hesitated for just a moment before untying the sash around her waist and handing her robe to Treyni. Judging by their looks, it seemed like Treyni had cast cleanse on each of them, removing the sweat and grime that had accumulated throughout the day of hunting.
While Mia was getting settled, I warmed my hands up and explained to the other girls what I was going to do.
"For today, I'll just be giving each of you a massage to loosen up your muscles and relax your nerves." Once Mia was comfortable, I withdrew a clean towel and placed it over her upper body and ass. "I have towels to cover your private areas and keep you comfortable. Since Mia hurt her legs earlier, I'm going to start there first."
I then coated my hands in a layer of mana using the calming calming massage technique from the [God Hand] technique before massaging her left foot, slowly moving up to her calf and thigh, making sure there was nothing wrong with the energy channels in her leg. As I made my way up towards her butt, I flipped up the corner of the towel to reveal her left cheek and thoroughly massage her glutes.
When I finished, I flipped the towel down before repeating the process on her right side. Next up was Mia's back muscles, so I folded the towel back to the base of her hips and slowly began massaging her left side up to her shoulder before gently bending her arm behind her back and massaging the muscles around her shoulder blade.
Once again, I repeated the process on the right side before I moved onto massaging her arms. Unlike previously, Mia only released the occasional hum or groan as I worked on a particularly tense area.
She was so relaxed that she nearly fell asleep by time I finished the back. Still, I needed Mia to roll over so that I could massage the rest of her body. I unrolled her towel so that it was covering her upper body once again, before lifting it slightly and having her roll onto her back and once again covering her body.
The entire time I tried to act very professional to keep the nervous princess who was peeking at us from behind the purple-haired ogress. She seemed to hold her breath for a moment when I had Mia roll over, and only released it when the towel was once again covering Mia.
It was kind of cute, but I stopped focusing on her and returned to making sure Mia didn't have any injuries left unaffected by the full-potion.
I thoroughly massaged the front and side of her legs, carefully massaging the tissues around her thighs so not to excite the blushing hobgoblin too much.
Finally, I folded up the towel so that it was only covering Mia's breasts and massaged her shoulders and neck down into her collar bone, taking care of the connective tissues near her cleavage and moving down sides before moving onto her core.
By time I finished, Mia had completely relaxed and all the kinks had been worked out of her muscles. I turned around while Treyni helped her dress. At the same time, the purple-haired ogress began stripping down the princess.
"Hey Orion, why don't you bring a log out for the girls to rest on, especially for after their massages." Treyni suggested.
I thought about it for a moment before exiting the tent. I pulled out a tree trunk with a thickness about equal to my waist. I cut it into two pieces lengthwise that would fit on each side of the tent, then split both in half… eventually I had cut everything into a couple of slabs with some rounds of the trunk used for legs. After tying it all together with some [Sticky Thread], I had two suitable benches for the girls to use.
By time I brought them back in, the princess was lying on the table with her eyes clamped shut. I quickly settled the benches for the girls and started in on the pinkette's massage to try and get her to relax.
Despite being unfamiliar with being touched in such a manner, by a man no less, she bravely persevered. She tended to make a lot of cute noises throughout the process and was extremely shy afterward.
She kept mumbling strange things about whether or not she would be able to be married in the future. Treyni tried to placate her and find someway to justify it, but having never left the forest, she was just as unfamiliar with the technique as the others.
I tried explaining that where I came from, massages were an ordinary procedure that many people used for relaxation and physical therapy.
In the end, though, it was her friend and guardian, the purple-haired ogress that broke her out of her previous stupor as she directly disrobed in front of me, proudly displaying herself.
"Princess, if you are unable to marry someone else because of this, doesn't that just mean you will have to marry Orion? He's a powerful Majinn by all indications so you'll need to work hard if you want to earn his affections and bare his child!"
Hearing that, not only the princess, but Mia and Treyni were also thrown into a momentary stupor. They just recalled that it was quite hazardous for powerful monsters to give birth to children. Even for B-rank monsters like ogres, there was a chance to loose their magical energy, and past a certain point, it became nearly impossible to produce an offspring.
It also stunned me, as, while regenerating the lost mana is not an issue for me, if I became like the demon lords of this world, I would loose my ability to procreate.
'Hey Saul, do I really have to become a demon lord if I keep growing stronger? I'm not really a fan of all those restrictions…'
『Demon Lord is the natural evolution for all monsters in this world, but there is no reason to lock yourself to that archetype. By devouring various species you can develop various exotic evolutions for yourself to explore.』
'Ah, that's right. It's a little bit if a haze, but something like that did before I got my ass kicked by the remainder of Tensa Zangetsu's spirit. I guess I'll just have to devour more things to unlock the best possible evolution…'
Coming out of my brief conversation, I noticed that the other girls, aside from my current client, were all still lost in their own thoughts. Meanwhile, the trouble maker herself was comfortably relaxing on the table while looking towards me with a playful smile.
"Alright, Lord Orion, I know I am beautiful, but you've got another person still waiting for their turn after me." She smirked.
I raised my brow towards her confidence and forwardness, but still moved to drape her attractive figure with the towel.
She wasn't finished surprising me though. "Hey, I'm feelin pretty hot right now. Is the towel really necessary?"
"Well, it is really only there for your comfort and ease of mind. Are you sure your really alright displaying your whole body to me though?" I asked as I cast [Cleanse] on my hands and prepared to start the massage.
"Hmm? I don't really mind if it's you looking, Orion. Tell me, do you like what you see?" She asked seductively.
It didn't stop me from beginning the massage though. I slightly grinned and started kneading the muscles of her neck and shoulders before moving on lower.
"You are without a doubt very beautiful young woman. You have stunning proportions and a fiery, straightforward personality that I certainly appreciate." I said making my way down to hips before tracing past her glutes and making my was down her legs and towards her feet.
Noticing my teasing approach towards her massage she laughed a bit before saying, "Hey, I think you missed a spot or two!"
"Oh, is that so? I thought I was just saving the best for last?" I smirked and began kneading her ass. She has toned cheeks that had a supple, curvature, both bouncy and taught. They certainly had a wonderful feel in my hand.
Judging by how she seductively bit her lips to muffle her moans, I dare say she was enjoying herself too.
I didn't forget to pay some extra attention to her inner thighs, coming only close enough to graze her moist garden entrance. I occasionally pulled a thirsty groan from the ogress, but that itch would not be satisfied tonight.
When I helped her role over, the other girls finally awoke, startled by the purple-haired ogres well-endowed assets that were completely exposed and jiggling about.
"H-hey, what are y-you doing to her, L-L-Lord Orion???" Asked the ogre princess as she marveled at my hands taking care of her guardian's completely exposed figure.
I answered unwaveringly, "What do you mean, princess? I am just giving your guard her massage too."
"Bu-bu-but, she is naked!"
"Indeed, she said she was feeling a bit heated and didn't wish to use the towel. Since she didn't mind showing me her body I wasn't going to shy away from her either."
Still, the princess persisted, "Y-you don't understand, Lord Orion. An ogre woman from our tribe can only reveal her body to the man she will marry. This is practically a pro-proposal!"
I stopped and looked towards the ogress pressed beneath me. I had been massaging the muscles around her cleavage leaving me fairly close to her face.
She was looking up towards me with an excited grin. The fangs sticking out of her mouth made it look a bit feral, but her eyes conveyed an extreme level of eagerness as she pulled my hands directly onto her ample breasts. "What do you say, Orion? You already agreed that I suit your tastes and you can ask my companions, my combat strength isn't lacking, so I won't get in the way. I can even cook for you!"
The princess instantly paled when hearing the last part, but instead of saying anything she buried her head in her hands and began quivering.
"That's an enticing offer from such a beautiful woman, but you are about to leave to become mercenaries…" I spoke, slightly disheartened.
I looked around the tent while considering the best way to convince the ogres to stay. Mia seemed to have fallen asleep while lost in her thoughts, while the princess was looking between me and the thoughtful purple-haired ogre.
Only Treyni seemed to have picked up on my thoughts and suggested through our party chat, (Orion, if they are going to become mercenaries, why don't you just hire them?)
The purple-haired ogress may have been considering something and was lost in her own thoughts, but the clever princess quickly noticed my thoughtful expression. Still, she didn't interrupt me until I turned my thoughtful expression back towards her before shaking my head.
"L-lord Orion, wh-what is it?" She asked timidly under my thoughtful gaze.
"Hmm? Well, Since you guys we're determined to become mercenaries, I was considering hiring you, but in the end it wouldn't make for a good long term solution. Mercenaries can only be trusted for quick, singular missions or as expendable pawns. The former would just make it more difficult when we separated, and I'd rather not treat you as the latter."
The princess furrowed her tiny brows while thinking over what I said, before shaking her head wryly. "You are a good man, Lord Orion, but also quite harsh. Many of our ogre kin have also left our home to become adventurers and mercenaries. While I won't say they're an unhonerable bunch, it is true that their loyalty is first to their own people and their lives. If I were their employer, I would have concerns over their trustworthiness too…"
She seemed slightly disheartened having to say it, but I simply patted her on the head. "It's a shame that I cant get to know you guys better first, but if you ever get tired of that sort of life, powerful, skilled people like you guys would always be heartily welcomed here."
She smiled bitterly before shaking her head and resuming her normal cheery countenance. "Thank you for your concern, Lord Orion. I'll leave my guard to you, for now. I think I will go enjoy the night air before retiring for the night." She said wistfully.
"Mmm. Goodnight, princess. Take care not to catch a cold."
She gave a slight bow, then gathered her clothing and left the tent.
"Fufufu, still laying bait to catch our princess, even though I just confessed to you? Just what are you—" She smiled mischievously as she sat up and glanced at me. Then, she suddenly froze as her vixen like expression turned into a wry smile and she raised her hands in surrender.
From behind, I could feel Treyni's icy gaze, though, it wasn't directed towards me, but rather the ogress before me. I turned to look at her but the smile she showed me was quite different than the feeling she gave me just a moment ago.
Instead of questioning her, I just hugged Treyni with one arm, while shooing the ogress with the other. Neither woman missed that, but both made the most of the moment.
While the ogress quickly skittered to gather her clothes and exit the tent, I lifted my lady of forest and placed her on the table.
Even then, she was still pouting, while also wrapping her arms around my neck.
"My sweet dryad, what has ruined your beautiful countenance this evening?" I whispered into her ear before giving small kisses tracing from there to the corner of her pouty lips.
When I looked in her eyes, she seemed genuinely concerned about something, and maybe a bit hurt too.
"Treyni, what is wron—" I began to seriously question her, when she stopped me with a kiss. Not a short peck like I had teased her with a moment ago, and also not a passion-filled, hungry kiss like we shared in the morning. It was only a kiss and it lasted for only a minute, but it contained a intimacy that even Áine struggled to share with me.
Sitting on the massage table, Treyni was elevated a bit higher than me, so she was leaning down and resting her forehead on mine after our lips broke apart.
Staring up into her brilliant blue eyes that had a slightly green glow, I was slightly mesmerized and lost in them. It wasn't the effect of a skill, and I knew I could break away at any moment I wished to, but I could feel that I would lose something important if I did that.
Slowly, I could feel a new bond forming between Treyni and I, it was similar to when I first received her affection, but this time it felt much more powerful.
『Warning: Dryad Treyni is about to imprint on you. This will irrevocably connect you to one another on a spiritual level.』
'Saul, is there any downside for me or Treyni from this?' I concernedly asked, and immediately used hastened thoughts to give myself ample time to dissect the situation.
『If you truly care for her, there will be no downside. She may become a bit clingy until you both have grown used to the bond. Imprinting will do very little to you other than allowing you to sense her feelings better and detect when she is in danger. If you accept this, Treyni's status will automatically be upgraded to [Wife]. This will unlock additional functions within the system.
For Treyni, she will have a slight compulsion to remain by your side and her feelings for you will be become much stronger. Like you, she will also be able to sense your emotions and safety. Weaker women might be strongly influenced by your will, but with Treyni's strength and experience, this can be easily resisted.』
'That… why is she imprinting on me, Saul? We barely know one another?'
『Imprinting is a somewhat rare phenomenon that is inexplicable, almost like love at first sight. It generally happens more frequently with species that have closer ties to their animalistic instincts. Records do indicate that heroes and otherworlders frequently have higher odds of becoming imprinted on in this world.』
For what felt like an hour I tried to sort out my feelings for this woman while staring into her eyes. In truth, they were only skin deep, but there was an almost insatiable greed buried in a corner of my mind that demanded I take her as my own.
I did my best to restrain that feeling and keep it locked away. It was something different than simple lust or greed, but something much deeper. Perhaps it was an aspect of my powers that I had only now discovered, but after training with Áine for weeks, I was able to contain it too.
When I did, I realized this wasn't a decision I needed to make on my own. I canceled my hastened thoughts and brought my hand to Treyni's cheek.
"Hey, do you understand what's happening to you, to us?" I asked with concern in my voice.
Treyni's eyes widened in surprise and the connection between us thinned, nearly breaking.
"This… what is this feeling… Orion? It suddenly feels like I'm about to lose something important!" she spoke with a panicked look in her eye.
She was about to pull away, but I stopped her and maintained eye contact with her while speaking softly. "Treyni, what you're feeling is the bond from the imprinting process. I interrupted it to check with you and now it is withering. That's what you're feeling right now. If this is something you don't want, you won't feel this if you stop it before the process completes."
"I am i-imprinting on you?" She stammered.
"Yes. I know it's sudden, but if you don't want—"
Before I could continue, she interrupted me, "I want it! Please, Orion. I've never even heard of someone having a choice in this situation, but this is something I've always wanted, and I trust you, Orion."
I looked into her eyes' impassioned plea for a moment while gently stroking her cheek. "I'm not the best man, Treyni, and I won't be able to return the same level of affection, right away. I won't even be able to share my affection solely with you. But, if you are still willing to have me, I promise to care for you and not take advantage of this bond between us."
She smiled brilliantly, and I could feel the bond connecting us immediately grow as the imprinting process resumed.
"Ara ara, capturing this old lady and still chasing after others. Luckily, I already knew that from the moment we met. It was quite hard to keep a straight face when I met you after seeing how you played with Mia. Still, perhaps this was destined after you held me so tightly in your embrace last night…"
I couldn't help but grin widely recalling the hazy memories. "You know, on second thought, I don't think I could give up such a fluffy hug pillow. You might just win my first wife status after all." I teased her, but her brilliant smile somehow managed to blossom into an even more beautiful one as she kissed me, and the process completed.
"Well, then how about we skip the massage and go straight to cuddling?" She asked before she hopped from the table and slipped out of her robes, laying them on the ground as her previous negligee materialized around her.
I smiled and lied down on the ground. Although not as comfortable as my web-bed, once Treyni joined me and worked her way into my embrace, all such thoughts left me as her fragrant and soothing scent filled my mind. While laying on my back with Treyni at my side, and the sounds of gentle breaths began lulling me to sleep, one final notification resounded within my mind.
『You have gained the love and admiration of the dryad Treyni. High-level affinity with wood element and nature elementals gained. Wife Treyni has gained title [Bride of the ▮▮▮▮▮].』