The next morning, I woke up inside the Terra Dome. Reshia and Seraphine were already gone. Then, someone stepped inside—it was Violet.
I smiled when I saw her. "Wanna go on a date?"
She scoffed. "A date? That's a waste of time."
"Alright then, can you be my knight for the day?" I asked, half-joking.
She knelt in front of me. "I would be honored, Master. I can be your knight every day if you please."
I smirked. I'll take this as a date in disguise—but I won't tell her that.
Violet was even more stubborn than Lisa. She was as tough as Hilda, and maybe even more so. There was something tomboyish about her, too. Back when I first tamed her, her hair was long—but now, she'd cut it short.
After breakfast, we went out to greet the children, then stopped by a clothing shop.
"Violet, can you try this?" I asked, holding up an outfit I picked out.
She crossed her arms. "S-Sorry, Master. I can't wear something like that. I only wear armor."
"It's an order," I said, more firmly this time.
"But… Master…" she hesitated, her teeth clenched. Still, an order was an order.
She marched into the changing room, grumbling under her breath. A few minutes later, she stared at her reflection, cheeks glowing.
"Wh-What would Master think of me like this...? Could I... really be his companion, looking like this...?"
"You done?" I called, maybe a bit louder than necessary.
"H-Huh!? J-Just a moment, Master!" she yelped.
She stepped out, her face flushed crimson, wearing the outfit I chose. It revealed a rarely seen elegance beneath her usual rugged aura.
"H-How is it... Master?" she asked, glancing away shyly.
I blinked. "You look... stunning, Violet. Could you wear it—just for today?"
Her expression tensed. "I-I'm sorry, Master! I can't! I must be ready to defend you at any moment!"
"Violet—"
"If you die while I'm dressed like this, I'll never forgive myself!" she shouted, fists clenched. "Still... if it's just for him... I wouldn't mind. Maybe... when we're safe."
I bought her the outfit anyway.
Then someone walked into the shop—Princess Aurora and her husband, Prince Desmond.
"Dear, is that Ares?" Aurora asked.
"Yes, but who is he with?" Desmond squinted.
Without hesitation, they called out to me. I waved back.
"Ares~! What are you doing here?" Aurora greeted, patting my head.
"Yo! Ares," Desmond followed.
"Princess, Prince," I said, a bit awkward. "I'm getting clothes for Violet."
"Who's Violet?" Aurora tilted her head.
"My new, uh… wife," I admitted. "The eleventh."
"ELEVEN!?" both shouted in unison.
"That's not fair!" Aurora pouted. "Maybe you're just too cute," she muttered, patting my head again.
Desmond saluted my harem and held back tears.
Then Violet came out in another outfit.
"Master, how's—" she paused, noticing Aurora patting my head. "WHO ARE YOU!?"
"Huh?" Aurora blinked.
"WHY ARE YOU TOUCHING MY MASTER LIKE THAT!?" Violet burst into pink flames.
"You don't know who I am, do you?" Aurora said, aura tensing.
Their verbal fight began—just words, but the air turned heavy. Like a turf war between a mafia wife and a yakuza wife.
"Violet, calm down!" I tried, but she didn't budge. "She's Princess Aurora! And that's Prince Desmond!"
I looked at Desmond—he whistled innocently and turned away.
"Princess?! She looks like a silent killer!" Violet scoffed.
"Killer? Well, I am Assassin Class, you know," Aurora replied with a smirk.
"Why is she patting your head, Master!?"
"Why can't I?" Aurora leaned closer.
"She used to act like my big sister when I was ten," I explained. "Even Prince Desmond too!"
"Ares~! This eleventh wife of yours is quite bossy," Aurora teased.
"What do you mean bossy!?" Violet snapped. "I'm a Shogun Class!"
Their bickering ended when Desmond remembered a limited auction. He grabbed Aurora's hand and dashed out with her.
I sighed in relief as Violet finally calmed down. She looked at me, then gently patted my head.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Master's not fair," Violet pouted softly. "I want to pat your head too."
"You can pat my head all you want," I smiled. "You're my eleventh wife, remember?"
"Am I really suitable to be your wife?" she asked quietly.
"You don't have to prove anything. Just be by my side—forever."
"Then… let's have a date together, Master."
"This has been a date from the start."
"Not fair!!" she pouted. "But let's go, then."
We continued on, ending up at a restaurant. We ate together, awkwardly feeding each other. Afterward, we walked through Dendroit Central Park. I shared my story—being a Tamer with zero stats, and somehow ending up with a harem.
"Master, are you going to tame more girls after this?" Violet asked.
"I don't know," I said. "Aisha's the one who chooses—and she chose you."
"Then I'll be her right hand in picking your girls," she declared proudly.
"What!? Aren't you jealous?"
"I'm not jealous if the girls are worthy for you. Unlike that Princess."
Somewhere in an auction room, Aurora sneezed.
"You hate her that much?"
"Of course! For patting your head so much," Violet mumbled shyly.
Violet was tall and tough, but feminine beneath that armor. A thought struck me—was she a Lingering Monster, like Luna?
Lingering Monsters are creatures that escape from Dungeon Breaks and roam the world, sometimes ending up in black markets.
We sat together on a bench.
"Violet, where do you come from? I mean… before, when you were still a Violet Mane."
"I don't know. I just woke up one day and had a vision—to find you, Master."
"Vision?" I tilted my head. "Then why did the Emperor of Kyouro act like he knew you?"
"Maybe I resemble their Guardian Shrine statues," she replied.
Guardian Shrines once protected the Kyouro Empire. Now, statues stand beside every torii gate across their land.
"And you're a Shogun?"
"Yes."
"Are you… Humility?" I asked, watching her closely.
"Humility? No—I'm Pride," she answered casually.
"So, you're Pride," I leaned closer. "What's your motive? Are you an Evil Pride?"
"What!? Master—I'm Pride, not evil! I just want to serve and support you in your achievements!"
"That's all?" I asked. She nodded.
"Then… do you love me?"
"L-l-love!?" Violet's face turned scarlet. "I just want to be your sword but if you insist…"
She leaned in and whispered to my ear: "I love you, Master."
I froze. My heart skipped a beat. This warrior—so brave, so proud—was shaking as she confessed. It hit me harder than I expected. I awkwardly sat back, watching the passing crowd. Slowly, we turned to each other again—our eyes met.
And then… she saw Aurora.
Violet leaned in quickly and kissed me.
Aurora and Desmond had returned and witnessed everything.
"Ares~ what are you—" Aurora started, then froze, seeing the kiss. "—doing!?"
"Huh!? Aurora!?" I panicked.
Violet gave a smug grin. "Hmm hmm."
"Good job, Ares! Nice," Desmond gave a thumbs up.
"CAN YOU DO THAT IN PRIVATE!?" Aurora shouted, unleashing a swirl of hurricane magic in frustration.
Before leaving, she reminded me: "You're meeting my father—the King—tomorrow!"
They left, and I turned to Violet. She noticed my gaze and blushed, her lion-kin tail swaying like a happy cat.
"Violet, can we go there?" I pointed at an inn.
"Y-y-yes, Master," she replied.
The innkeeper looked at us oddly when I paid for one room, but Violet didn't seem to care. We stepped inside. She stood by the window, tail swaying, trying to act calm. I sat on the bed, pretending I didn't feel nervous.
"Master…" Violet began.
"Yes?"
"Can I call you 'dear'?"
"Sure, why not?"
She leaned in and kissed me again.
"How about your surname?"
"Take a look," I said, asking her to open her status window.
> Name: Violet Meledric
Race: Lion-kin (Violet Mane)
Rank: A
Class: Shogun
Magic: Void, Sakura
Level: 350
Ability: The Ruler – Boosts all stats of self and allies within radius by 100%
She stared at the window and began humming with joy. "Dear's surname… I'm dear's wife…"
Night fell. We lay beside each other, facing one another. I held her hand, kissed her, and soon we fell asleep.
"I love you, dear," she whispered.
"I love you too, Violet," I whispered back.
That's when I heard a voice in my mind.
"Help me, Ares… Help me… Please..."
I jolted awake. I wasn't ready for this.
I forced myself back to sleep.
The next morning, all my wives woke me up, worried. They said I was having a nightmare. I told them I wasn't, but in my heart, I remembered the voice. Cynthia's voice. Her crying.
She kept calling my name—and her fish.
And then I remembered… the King wanted to see me in the audience room today.
Time to see what he wanted—and maybe check my growing list of things to do.
> My Bucket List
-King's Order?
-Manaya Village's Mysteries
-Cynthia's Crying
I just had to wait… and see.