Decision

“Oh boy! I was worried I might die a second time today!”

Ben had found his voice again by the time Black Cuckoo's tower had finished rumbling in the ground. “The strongest Galmon Valkyrie! The Champion Minerva! Amber Assassin Mari! And Speed Demon Sylphid! Who among these four titans will take this years crown? It could be anyone! Well, except Mari, because lets face it, he is sooooo screwed!”

“How dare that rude tutu boy speak like that about my Lord!”, Sanakia frowned angrily. “My Lord is most certainly not screwed!”

...

After my training in the void I thought I caught up to Sylphid. Or that I at the very least could give her a good fight. But this…

“Yeeeesh!” Fisti excitedly pumped her fist. “I knew Lady Sylphid would come through in the end! She’s gonna win this year, ya see!”

“I-I advice you do not climax prematurely!”, Sanakia interjected. “That old lady is now match for my Lord!”

“Who are ya calling old! Lady Sylphid just turned twenty-one last month!”

“Oh yeah? My Lord is even younger then that! He’s barely out of diapers!”

“He better have some spares left! He’s gonna need em when he faces Lady Sylphid!”

Uni was happily bopping up and down as the two girls glared at each other.

…

I watched the lively banter with a dumbfounded expression.

How can they be so carefree?

Have we seen the same fight? The girls acted as if this was just business as usual. Did they not feel the immense bloodlust that was emanating from Sylphid? Even through magic vision, it terrified me to my core.

…

I spend 40 days heightening my senses in the void. They are now keenly sharped.

And perhaps that is not entirely a positive thing.

“Make sure to join us all tomorrow at 10. A.M sharp when we will determine the semi final pairings. No spoilers but we maaaaaaaaaay have some tiny extra fan service for you. Toodles!”

“We are dooone!”, announced a cheerful Estelle as she shoved the door to the playroom open. “Hope we didn't keep you waiting too long.”

I coughed once to hopefully finally get me head back to normal. “Ah yes, no, not at all. Everything went well?”

“It did.” Mindi couldn't suppress a giggle as she supported a rather out of it looking Hebi-san. “I believe we appropriately punished Hebi-san.”

“They behaved themselves immaculately, Master Beta”, Maria assured me as she closed the door to the playroom behind her.

“That's good. Umm...you are free to leave whenever you are ready. Ah...although you should leave the city by tomorrow. Because, should I become a ****, Hebi-san would be **** to obey someone else. And...uh...you might be in danger.”

“I see.” Estelle smile wavered a bit. “Everything alright with you? You seem a bit out of sorts.”

“It's nothing”, I replied. “Just wanted to give you a heads up. Oh and also…” I looked towards the human unicorn. “Can we uh...set her free?”

How did she even enter the tournament? What the hell is wrong with this place?

“About that.” Mindi bit her lip. “Uni is rather fond of Hebi-san. I don't think it would be right or even possible to separate the two.”

To be sure, the moment Hebi-san came into view the Unicorn trotted over to her and started snuggling against the exhausted Galmon.

“That is not an issue”, declared Sanakia. “My Lord is in dire need of a mighty steed! We gladly take Uni out of your hands.”

Yeah, thanks for making that decision on my behalf, Sanakia.

“I guess that's that then”, Estelle pleasantly stretched herself. “Again, thank you for everything. We leave Hebi-san in your care.” She gave the Galmon’s butt a little tap with her staff. “Be nice now, got it?”

Hebi-san predictably responded with an angry hiss.

“Don't treat her too harshly, alright? She is...” Mindi sighs as she looked at Hebi-san. “Well, I won't say that deep down she is actually a good person, but…”

“R-right.” I was a bit surprised how easy these two let Hebi-san off the hook. Well, I guess they only spend a few days with here and the Unicorn...is hardly a good judge of character.

“I will be reasonable”, I promised.

“Gilbert sucks though”, Estelle added. “Feel free to cut him off.”

“I hope you get genital rot!”, the snake screeched.

After making sure the two girls had their fighter pass and thus access to their prize money we said our goodbyes and returned back to my own tower. It was around half past six in the evening when we emerged out of the elevator and rejoined with the rest of my girls.

“Food?”, Aiju asked, looking at Uni in a very concerning manner.

“No, food”; I stated vehemently. “This is Uni, our new friend.”

Aiju hissed at Uni and ran off again. Sheesh, I really need to spend some time with her later to clear this up.

“A cat, a punchy, a snake and now a horse”, Beatrice smirked at me. “My Mari, I have to ask, are you creating a harem, a zoo or both?”

“Not one more word”, I growled. “Unless you want to give an encore of Bumtrice.”

That thankfully shut her up very quickly.

“Where do we let the two of em sleep?”, wondered Fisti before she finally noticed it and angrily snapped at Beatrice. “Hey! Yer trying to pull a fast one over me, Rice?”

“It’s not that she’s fast, it’s that your slow”, Cassandra quipped. “Little Miss Punchbag fields a valid question though” The huntress looked at Uni. “These things aren’t exactly low maintenance, Daddy.”

Right. Sleeping arrangements.

Personally I would have liked nothing more then to shove Hebi-san into a dusty closet and make her sleep on some bundle of straw but that might trigger her humiliation issue. In that case... “Hmm..Hebi-san, I think we have you bunk in with the bad girls.”

“Fucking great!”, Cassandra groaned. “As if the witch and her bitch devil isn't enough, I get to sleep with snakedick girl now!”

“Would you rather have the giant horse?”, Beatrice asked.

Oh yeah, speaking of. “Uh...Hebi-san is Uni, you know, potty trained?”

“How dare you ask us such a vulgar question!”, Hebi-san hissed. “Your manners are as inadequate as your manhood!”

Looks like she has already completely recovered from her punishment. A pity. I took a deep breath. “Alright. Sanakia, you wanted her, so I put you in…”

“You will NOT put that big breasted fool in charge of my Uni! And we shall not lodge with that impudent flat chested girl and her old matron!”

How to piss off multiple people at once, Hebi-san style.

“We will require the master bedroom”, Hebi-san further stated. “You peasants may arrange yourself as you see fit. We expect three meals a day of the finest quality. Meat for Gilbert. And will someone finally show us to our private bathroom? We dreadfully need to freshen ourselves up.”

I smiled.

…

..

.

“How dare you! C-cease this at once!”

I casually sprayed Hebi-san with the shower-head. “Arms up.”

The Galmon sputtered in protest. “You will pay for this, Mari Beta! You will...”

I focused intently on her ample breasts, before giving Hebi-san's nether region a lot of attention. The shower-head here was quite curious, as it could be adjusted to allow for only a small but very concentrated stream. I decided to make full use of it.

Of course I didn’t want to burn her, so I made sure the water was nice and cold.

“Gyaaahh! This is water ****! Help! Help! This is in violation of my rights! I demand a fair trial! Garglgargl!”, Gilbert screeched and wiggled in all directions to escape the stream of water.

“Now then, Hebi-san”, I began as I hosed her down. “I decided to put you in charge of Uni. That means you will care for her. This includes feeding, brushing her fur, cleaning and yes any droppings are your responsibility as well. You are free to ask Maria or Sanakia for help, which you no doubt will need, but you will do the main work.”

“You can't! Such base work! Is utterly beneath us!”

Well, she was saying that but no hyperventilation occurred.

“You will”, I stated in a voice that broke no argument. “Now turn around and bend over. That place needs particular attention.”

“Gyaaaahhh! We will make you bleed!”

After thoroughly cleaning her, Hebi-san was panting, wet in more ways then one, and shivering. She should be fairly used to the cold, so this was definitely a bit of a weird picture.

I could just leave her like that to teach her a lesson.

...

“Fine, you can take a hot bath”, I allowed and turned towards the exit. “Get warmed up.”

“Y-you will not join us?”

The question caught me quite by surprise. Yes, by now I certainly need to take a bath, but why the hell would I ever bathe together with her? “Of course not”, I scoffed, as I made my way to do door.

“Do you hate us, Mari Beta?”

I stopped and turned around again.

“Are you seriously asking me that?", I angrily glared at her. "After everything you have done? Of course, I ha…”

The word stuck in my throat. I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Not physically, I mean. This wasn’t the same as when I could only address Hebi-san as my Queen.

But the realization hit me like a brick wall.

I want to pay Hebi-san back. Humiliate her for years of torment. I definitely feel angry and punishing her brings me immense satisfaction.

But I don’t hate her.

Am I just that nice of a guy that I can’t hate anyone?

No, I definitely hate that monster that took my sister from me. And more recently I absolutely despise the golden knight for what he did to Sanakia.

And while my feelings certainly had changed, there was a time when I hated Cassandra, Beatrice and Femto.

But I never hated Hebi-san. Not even once.

I’m not talking about the last few days either. Never during my years of torment did I felt hatred towards her.

What the heck? I never actually thought about it but this isn’t normal, right? After what she put me through I should absolutely despise her.

Hebi-san just stared at me, with the water slowly dripping from her body.

…

This has to be one of her triggers. Some, long deep ingrained mental alteration that still stuck inside me.

The truth is much simpler, a voice whispered to me.

“Mari Beta?”, she asked and I shook my head.

“Take a bath”, I commanded again and retreated from the spa.

Then I moved into my private bathroom for a cold and much needed shower. This was not something I could concern myself right now. Not while still in the tournament. Not while I had way bigger worries.

…

..

.

Once I emerged from my bedroom, Maria had finished preparations for dinner.

Perhaps it was because I spend the last forty days on conserved food but the meal looked even more extravagant then usual I admit I was looking forward to the tournament’s excellent cuisine.

The allure of the food was even enough for Aiju to stop her pouting. The catgirl was already happily tearing into a large piece of Henderopa when I arrived at the table.

So where the rest of the girls, except Hebi-san who was very well known for her fondness of long baths. That suited me just well, I need a bit to collect my thoughts on her.

“To celebrate Master Beta’s victory and to account that this is technically lunch for him I decided upon a slightly more sophisticated meal”, Maria informed me with a polite bow.

Looking at the crowded dinnertable, I could only shake me head about how insane everything has gotten. I never wanted a single ****. How did I end up with seven?

“Looks like the little snakegirl is too embarrassed to show her face”, Bea remarked with a smirk. “But I agree with your treatment of her. Haughty people need to be humbled or they never learn their place.”

Yes, she actually said that with a straight face.

“Not looking forward to having a fucking horse here”, Cassandra groaned as she glared at Uni who happily munched on a plate full of salad. “This place will reek!”

“Just be happy that Hebi-san needs some readjustment very urgently or else I would have put you in charge of her grooming”, I threatened.

Cassandra laughed at me. “You think shoveling horseshit bothers me, Daddy? I grew up in the slums!” She demonstratively shoveled some potatoes on her plate.

“Aye, which is why ya always reek like shite, slaver.”

“I-I am no stranger to manure as well, my Lord! If you care for my advice I am happy to teach you the best shoveling technique! The trick is to not slip and fall.”

“Sisters and I poop in stream, near home. Is fun.”

Beatrice made a disgusted face. “That is in no way appropriate dinner conversation, but since we are on the subject: Did you ever properly clean your rectal canal since this morning, Mari? You spend a lot of time in the void and knowing you...ugh you are so gross!”

I loudly cleared my throat. “May I please say something?”

That at least got the girls to stop talking about feces.

Unfortunately what I’m about to say wasn’t particularly tasteful either.

I took a deep breath. “I entered this tournament for a very specific reason. To get enough money to pay a magician to find my sister.”

“Yes, so you told us”, Beatrice rolled her eyes. “If you ask me that isn’t exactly a particularly wise investment of your money but…”

“Let me finish”, I interrupted her. “By now, I achieved this goal. In order to do so I defied fate time and time again. The fact that I made it all the way to the semi-finals, it is quite frankly absurd. In an alternate reality I might very well have lost against Aiju in the first round.”

The catgirl looked at me, mouth full of meat and nodded pleased.

“But there comes a time when the wall to overcome is simply too massive. And after the fights of my fellow semi finalists I believe that time has arrived. I have zero chance of defeating any of the three.”

The table fell silent.

“I have to fight since I am a Lucky Loser. But I will no longer try to win. I intend to lose in the semi finals without having to surrender.”

That was it. I wasn’t particularly proud to make that announcement. It was a far cry from the bravado I had when I first entered this tournament. But this was no time for false pride. Pushing any further ahead would be extremely irresponsible not just to myself but all of my girls.

“Fighting to lose?”, Beatrice scowled. “I can’t say I am particularly impressed with that. If the wall is too big you simply crush it and step through the rubble as my invincible champion!”

Ok, you delusional brat.

“Hm, well, I get where ya coming from.” Fisti had a particular troubled expression on her face. She doesn’t quite have the audacity to goad me into keep going just so that I can become Sylphid’s ****. But she is clearly not happy about my decision. “But I got to agree with Rice, fighting just to lose is kinda lame, ya know.”

“N-No, it is most certainly not lame!”, Sanakia interjected. “My Lord ill needs some vainglorious reward! He joined this tournament to vanquish the Dark Lord and since the Dark Lord is vanquished he shall now nobly ride into the sunset! It is only proper.”

Aiju was too busy eating to comment and Uni gave me an encouraging “Uni!” before returning to her salad.

Phew.

There are some frowns but knowing the rambunctious nature of my girls, this really went a lot better then expected. I glanced towards Maria, wondering if maybe she had an objection but as always she wore a mask of politeness and merely smiled at me.

“Daddy, question.”

I nodded. “Yes, Cassandra?”

“Are you a fucking moron?”

I stared at her in complete confusion. “W-what the? You were the one who constantly pushed me to dropping out!”

“Yes!”, the huntress sneered. “But geez fucking willikers have you considered maybe not announcing this while in the presence of a fucking tournament official!”

Oh.

Ohhhhh!

“It’s not illegal, you know”, Beatrice argued. “Not that I support this boorish decision but nothing in the rules state that he has to do anything beyond showing up to the match.”

Cassandra only laughed at that. “Oh fuck me sideways. For someone’s smart you sure are pretty fucking dumb! Sure, it’s not technically illegal, but do you have any idea how much the tournament is capable of screwing Daddy over? They are not letting him ruin a fucking semi final match, I can tell you that much.”

A cold sweat ran down my spine. Between getting utterly terrified by Sylphid and the stuff with Hebi-san I completely forgot about that aspect of the tournament. I nervously looked at Maria, who was still smiling but her smile now started to look a bit foreboding.

“Master Beta, “she finally started. “Might I trouble you for a word in private? It does pertain to the subject at hand.”

That sounded ominous.

“You can’t say it here?”, I asked.

The maid smiled at me.

“I believe that would not be in your interest.”

...

Am I in danger?