The trek toward the Water Temple's inner sanctum had grown strangely quiet.
The walls pulsed with soft, eerie light as we approached the massive gate that led to the boss chamber, but there was no sign of the others—no echoes of Chimera's bouncing footsteps, no muttered curses from Ziz, no divine commentary from Bahamut, and no smug teasing from Saphielle.
It was just me… Behemoth and Leviathan.
And maybe I should've been nervous about that.
Instead, they were bickering.
"Stay behind me," Behemoth said firmly, placing her hand protectively in front of me.
"But I can shield him too," Leviathan huffed, her cheeks puffed slightly. "I have water wards and a full-body barrier spell!"
"My body is more than enough protection," Behemoth replied, her golden eyes calm, though a faint smirk played on her lips. "I won't allow any harm to reach him."
Leviathan grabbed my arm, hugging it to her chest. "W-Well, I'll stand closer!"
"Your breath is warm," I squeaked.
"S-So?!"
They were in a full-blown affection war. Every step toward the boss room was laced with subtle magic flares, competitive glances, and shoulder nudges. I was the prize, and neither of them was backing down.
We stopped at the final chamber. The ornate gates parted with a rumble.
Inside, the boss waited.
A Basilisk—a massive serpent with glistening scales, a frilled crown, and venomous yellow eyes. It slithered around a glowing altar, its fangs dripping, its presence exuding enough pressure to knock most adventurers unconscious.
Leviathan tensed beside me. "Master, stay back. I'll—"
"No," Behemoth said quietly, stepping forward.
We both blinked. "Wait, you're going in alone?!"
She nodded. "I won't let anything that dares to threaten Master's life survive." She turned slightly toward me, her golden eyes unwavering. "It looked at you. That's enough."
Then she vanished.
With a shockwave, the stone beneath her cracked, and in less than a blink, she was atop the basilisk's head. Her fist slammed down like a divine hammer, crushing scale and skull in a single blow. The basilisk let out one screeching hiss before collapsing in a heap, its body twitching once before it dissolved into spiritual particles.
I stood frozen. "Sh-She… one-shotted it…"
Leviathan blinked, stunned. "That… that was hot…"
The walls rumbled again, this time not in danger—but in reward. The treasure vault behind the altar opened, revealing a radiant chamber of glowing relics, water-washed gold, and spirit crystals.
But Behemoth didn't even look at them.
She walked directly toward me.
And without a word—
She kissed me.
Firmly, softly, right on the lips.
My eyes widened, but she didn't stop. She pulled back, then pressed another kiss to my forehead. Then one to my nose. Then my cheek.
One. Two. Three. Four—
Then a dozen more.
"I told you I would protect you," she whispered, peppering my face with kisses between every word. "And I did. So this… is my reward."
My knees wobbled.
But before I could even respond—
Leviathan clung to my other side.
"W-Wait! T-That's not fair!"
"Leviathan—?"
She pouted. "I want kisses too! I want to reward myself for helping Master get this far!"
Then she started kissing my face. Shyly at first—tiny pecks on my jaw, my cheekbone, the side of my lips—but they became faster, more desperate.
"I—I like kissing you… I want more…"
My brain short-circuited.
Their kisses overlapped. My face was being bombarded with affection from both sides—lips, cheeks, forehead, even the tip of my nose. I lost count after fifty.
By the time we reached the hundreds, my skin was tingling, flushed red, and slightly numb.
But I didn't stop them.
I didn't want to.
Even as I sat there, dazed and flustered, with two gorgeous spirit beasts covering me in kisses, I couldn't bring myself to say no.
Because deep down…
I liked it.
I barely made it three steps out of the Water Temple before I started getting laughed at.
There I was, standing between Behemoth and Leviathan, my face glowing with the aftermath of what could only be described as a divine kiss assault. My cheeks, forehead, nose—even the edge of my jawline—were plastered with glossy lip prints, shimmering faintly with magical residue and affection overload.
And of course, my loving party of spirit beasts did not let me off easy.
Chimera bounced up to me first, squinting with exaggerated confusion. "Master… did you get attacked by a horde of succubi while we were gone?"
Ziz sauntered over, arms behind her head. "Or did you finally admit you're into being worshipped? Behemoth, Levi, gotta say… that's some fine territory marking."
Bahamut smirked and muttered something about "facial enchantments of ownership," while Saphielle, arms crossed and one elegant eyebrow raised, surveyed me like a teacher catching her student with a love letter under his desk.
"Honestly," she sighed dramatically, "I leave you alone for one boss fight…"
My face was hotter than dragonfire, but I didn't push them away. I couldn't.
I liked it.
We gathered the basilisk's head—its scaly crown still intact thanks to Behemoth's precision—and packed up the glittering relics we'd claimed from the temple's vault. Spirit crystals, enchanted scrolls, and a few golden idols that Chimera insisted would look adorable on my bookshelf.
Back on the surface, the sun was warm and high, casting long shadows as we made our way back to the tower—laughing, teasing, and walking like a real adventuring party.
Like a family.
---
Later that evening, after the girls had bathed, sparred, and stuffed themselves with Bahamut's cooking, I retreated to my room, ready to collapse into bed.
But of course, I wasn't alone for long.
Three knocks. Then the door opened.
Saphielle slipped inside, still dressed this time—though her long robe was cut scandalously low and her smirk said she knew I was expecting something else.
"Disappointed I'm clothed tonight?" she teased.
I turned red instantly. "N-No! I mean—well, maybe a little—wait, that's not what I—!"
She laughed and walked over, her silver-lavender hair flowing like moonlight. She sat on the edge of my bed and crossed one long leg over the other, resting her chin in her hand.
"Well?" she asked. "How are you enjoying your new life?"
I blinked.
She tilted her head. "You've been with us a while now. Fought beside us. Trained. Slept beside most of us—sometimes on most of us. How are you feeling, cutie?"
I looked at the floor. At the edge of my blanket. At the gleam in her eyes.
"…I like it," I said softly. "Even with the chaos, the teasing, the… you. I've never had anything like this before. It's embarrassing sometimes, sure… but I really do like it."
I paused, my cheeks warming.
"I think I… like being around all of you."
Saphielle's eyes widened for a moment—just a flicker—then softened into a gentle smile.
She reached out and ruffled my hair.
"Good answer," she whispered. "That makes me happy."
I looked up at her, blinking. "…Really?"
"I didn't bring you here for you to be miserable," she said. "I wanted you to thrive. To live the life you never got to in your world. And seeing you blushing, flustered, surrounded by girls who adore you… well, it warms this perverted little heart."
She leaned in closer, lowering her voice.
"I also have… a secret."
My eyes widened. "A secret?"
She nodded, then tapped her finger gently against my forehead.
"But I'll only tell you when you're ready."
I swallowed.
Saphielle stood, robe swaying behind her as she turned for the door.
"Rest well, cutie. Tomorrow, the world gets a little bigger again."
And just like that… she was gone.
But the words stayed with me.
A secret.
One I wasn't ready for.
Yet.