"Is there a possibility that this isn't a dream?"
Jack muttered helplessly, holding Amber close.
"Huh? Huh, huh, huh!"
Amber lifted her head and looked around. Sure enough, Eula and Mona were floating calmly in the hot spring. And she herself was being held in someone's arms, skin pressed in direct, zero-distance contact.
Amber's face flushed crimson at a visible speed. But this time she didn't faint. She pushed Jack away, then hurried to sit in the shallow water near the shore.
"Alright, my wives, let me reintroduce you. Mona, the greatest Hydro astrologer of the century—and also your new sister in the Creator's harem."
Clap, clap, clap! Jack even led the applause to welcome her.
Eula only looked at him like he was an idiot. "Hmph. Mona, let's go." She pulled Mona along and swam to Amber's side.
"Miss Mona, can you tell us why you appeared on Dragonspine? I recall a certain bad guy claimed he'd open up his own world map first, didn't he?"
Mona scratched her cheek. "Well… I only know a little about Jack's world. But the reason I came to Dragonspine this time was to investigate the monsters appearing at night."
"Oh? News reached Mondstadt that quickly?"
"Actually, Mondstadt's Anemo Archon commissioned me. That was several days ago."
Eula rolled her eyes at Jack. "I wasn't asking you. Don't speak."
"Yes, Eula—my wife!"
"Pah! Shameless. Who's your wife?"
Eula's lips curved faintly, as if pleased despite her words.
Then the other two girls shot Jack death glares.
"Of course, my dear Mona is my wife too. And Amber, my wife as well!"
Jack dove underwater, resurfacing with Mona and Amber, one in each arm. The two flustered girls immediately leaned against his shoulders like timid little birds.
That left Eula standing apart, excluded.
Seeing the tsundere noble lady on the verge of tears, Jack cleared his throat. "Ahem… Though the time and place are a little strange, I was just thinking this morning whether I might find you here on the mountain. It's a relief to see you safe."
His words carried genuine relief. After all, he had just faced a three-star boss, a pseudo-god. If not for that wild boss showing gaps due to fragmented memories of the Ice Cicin Mage's younger sister, the outcome of the collapsed cave would have been uncertain.
Eula caught the weight in Jack's gaze. "Did something happen?"
Jack nodded. "Yes. A problem born from pure chance. Anyway… let's play Ludo while I explain."
"???"
All three girls blinked in confusion. Did he really need a board game just to talk?
Jack eagerly wove a floating board from vines, then produced a chessboard and pieces from his Vision.
"It'd be boring if you just listened. And we just started bathing, so we can't get out yet, can we?"
The girls exchanged looks, each seeing the same shy suspicion in the others' eyes.
So this guy wants to drag things out just to enjoy the view, huh!
"Hmph! A game's a game. Bring it on!"
Eula puffed her chest, sending ripples across the water.
"A Water Seer fears no game." Mona pulled out her divination board, already plotting at least four ways to cheat.
"Since everyone's fine with it… then I'll join too," Amber said softly. She just wanted to follow what made him happy.
Jack felt a dizzy wave wash over him. Thankfully, the grass element's calming energy helped him suppress it. He set the board afloat and began explaining the rules.
…
"That Snezhnayan named Najelina is a personal guard of the Fatui's Second Harbinger, the Doctor. She's highly compatible with her Delusion—an extremely strong Thunderfly Warlock."
"Six! Take off."
Eula tossed her die and set her blue plane on the board.
"Why can't I roll a six?" Amber pouted. Two of her planes still sat in the hangar, while Eula's were all out. Even in luck she couldn't keep up…
"It's okay, Amber, don't cry," Jack soothed gently, then went on. "Where was I? Ah, right—the Thunderfly Warlock."
He explained how she and her squad investigated the canyon, how monsters swarmed endlessly, and how desperation led her to use the Doctor's Archon Residue Potion. Though she fought fiercely, even tunneling downward, stronger monsters awaited below.
"Three! Hehe, Jack, I stepped on you. Back to start!"
Mona stretched out a slender hand, sending Jack's green plane back to the takeoff square.
"So amazing! How did Mona step on Jack again?!" Amber exclaimed.
"Shh. Don't say it out loud," Eula muttered. That fraud was clearly cheating—better not to draw attention.
…
"So in the end you're all more focused on the game than on me!" Jack protested.
Mona waved dismissively. "We're listening, we're listening. Your turn, roll."
Expressionless, Jack tossed the die. It showed four.
"Pfft! All four of your planes are back home. Jack, you can't move this round," Mona crowed.
"Hmph. Who says I can't move?"
Before Mona could react, Jack slipped behind her, pulling her into his arms and dragging her underwater.
Eula and Amber only saw pale legs thrash briefly at the surface before vanishing.
With no choice, they dove in after her.
Splash, splash. The ripples faded.
On the water's surface, the unfinished Ludo board floated alone.
But beneath the surface, a different game had just begun.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
If you guys wanna check it out.