The longest day XV

23:59

Mari

When I stepped through the void for the final time and exited the bathroom, the girls were all waiting for me.

I felt a peculiar sense of estrangement. After all, I haven’t seen some of them for almost a year.

“Welcome back, my...Lord…”, greeted me the very tired and also still very naked Sanakia.

“Mari...hmmm...tired”, Aiju joined in the yawn and tried to use Sanakia’s boobs as pillows.

“Hmph, you can walk right back in there. You smell and look like a bum!”, Beatrice complained. Right, she stormed off last time. Seeing her like this was certainly preferable. “And shave that disgusting beard off!”

“Aww, I guess that means your hair down there has grown back too?”, Sylphid pouted. “Pity, make sure to shave it again.”

Like hell I will.

Well.

It wasn’t quite the tear jerking reunion I expected at the start of my year of training. After all, they all deemed it necessary to obstruct my training one way or the other.

And I suppose it technically wasn’t even a full year in the first place. All in all I got roughly 320 days of training out of it.

“We hope your silly, little exercise was not a complete waste of time.” Hebi-san was of course the most to blame for that discrepancy. But it was more then worth it. In the span of a single day her hypnosis had improved leaps and bounds. Of course I like to say my own training was also a factor, I now was capable of keeping Hebi-san’s hypnosis up for multiple hours. Even if I get hit a few times, I definitely should last an hour.

“Don’t worry Snakey”, Sylphid gave me a knowing grin and then swaggered towards me and began shamelessly fondling my body. “Look at these muscles, these abs! Handsome has lost that shota charm of his and has finally become a real man! Haaa, it almost makes me swoon!”

“Stop that.” I gently grabbed Sylphid. She tried to free herself but was unable to.

“Oh yeah, I can sense it.”, she smiled. “You’re strong, Handsome. Tremendously so.”

“Isn’t that just because you are weak as fuck now?”, Cassandra scoffed.

Sylphid laughed and scratched her head with a grin. “Weeeeell, I guess that might be part of the reason too.”

I could only sigh. Yeah, not much has changed here. “It’s good to be back.”

“Braw! Then stop yer time dallying and take a shower! Ya reek like a chimney. And then hasten yer arse to bed! Ya need to re acclimate yer body!”, Fisti urged.

That was true. Even with the periodic pauses, that much time in the void did cause me to feel a bit dizzy every time I was outside. But according to Femto one night’s rest should be enough of a remedy.

Speaking of the devil. She decided to remain in her void. I expected as much. The last days of training I spent with her were a bit odd. She felt almost melancholic. But maybe that is just the result of my brain starting to go crazy after 11 months in that void.

“Your bed is prepared, Master Beta”, Maria informed me politely. Despite the fact that the maid was on her feet for more then 24 hours, there was not a hint of exhaustion on her. That was not the case with Cia who looked even more tired then Sanakia. “While your match is in the afternoon, I still believe it wise to retire in a timely manner. It is already past midnight after all. We will take care of your personal hygiene by morning.”

Right. While I was training it seemed so far away. But the day was already here.

The final day of the tournament. And the day of my match against Minerva.

After all this time it admittedly felt a bit surreal. Thankfully Femto made sure that I wouldn’t lose sight of what was important. I had many matches against the Dark Lord already. And I know what’s at stake.

I took Maria’s advice to heart. After a quick dip in the hot springs I wasted no time and headed tobed. Predictably, Aiju and Sanakia naturally wanted to accompany me. I allowed it, but made it clear that no sex would happen tonight. Above all else I needed to get a good night’s sleep.

…

..

.

Easier said then done!

Aiju was quickly snoring softly. Sanakia, after proudly proclaiming to stand guard all night lasted exactly five minute longer.

But I was not tired in the slightest!

I knew it! All that time spend with Femto and her stupid tentacle ritual made me dependent on her!

Arghh!!!

Should I ask Hebi-san to hypnotize me again? I probably should. This is way too important to screw up.

Silently, as not to wake the two Galmons, I got up.

But instead of towards the guest room, my feet carried me upwards on to the roof.

...

It was a dark, moonless night, dawn was still ways off, but even so I could make out the ominous shape of Minerva’s tower looming on the other side of the arena.

Only two of the towers are left now.

I was surprised by how warm it was even in the middle of the night. When I fought in the qualifiers it was the middle of the winter but now summer had definitely arrived. I couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholic. After all I hadn’t seen this scenery for close to a year and soon it will all be over.

If we take the qualifiers into account as well as my time spend in the void, this journey of mine lasted for 18 months. A long time.

Or perhaps it already started twelve years ago.

I took a deep sigh as I gazed in the distance.

“Yo!”

Uargh!!!!

Suddenly, a figure jumped over the railing and landed in front of me. A-An intruder? Or crazy fan? I didn’t even sense it!

Shit, I don’t even have my dirks with me! “W-Who’s there?”

But my valiant attempt at intimidation was only met with a giggle.

Oh wait, this was just Sylphid.

...

...what do I mean just Sylphid?!

“What the hell were you doing!”, I screamed.

Sylphid shrugged and took a deep breath. “Climbing the tower.”

“C-Climbing the...why would you do that?”

“To see if I still got it?”, Sylphid grinned. Then she collapsed to the ground and fanned her drenched cleavage “Still do, but it was a close one! Almost fell, twice.”

“You could have been killed!”

“Eh, if I land in the arena I just get revived.”

That’s…I don’t think this is how it works!

But the crazy martial artist simply laughed. “Phew! Summer is definitely here, tomorrow will be a scorcher! Or I guess today? You did gave me order to not leave the tower until today after all. So the moment that expired I rushed outside!”

Of course. What was I expecting?

“You didn’t try climbing Minerva’s tower?”, I asked suspiciously, which only got Sylphid to giggle more.

“Of course not! Geez, Handsome. I know how to stick to the plan! More importantly, what about you? Can’t sleep?”, she asked while grinning up to me.

Urgh.

“I mean...yeah”, I mumbled. “I was hoping the night air would calm me down.”

“Nah, try climbing the tower. That helps. Uh! Or sleep naked, with me. You know you want to”

“I already got two girls for that.” I groaned and sat myself down next to her. “How do you do it? How do you keep so carefree all the time?”

Sylphid smirked at me. “Handsome, didn’t we have this exact conversation like yesterday?”

“Well, excuse me. Yesterday was over 300 days ago for me!”

The martial artist laughed and slapped my back. “As I was saying 300 days ago, I just don’t view being nervous as particularly helpful. Man, losing memories after not even year? Might want to get that checked out. You’re getting old, Handsome.”

This girl.

“I don’t think I ever thanked you properly”, she continued. “For what you are about to do.”

“Ah.” I fell silent for a bit. “It’s not just because of you and Valkyrie. Of course I want to help her, but I also want to prove it to myself, you know? Prove it that I can face my fears.”

Sylphid nodded.

I stared towards the cloudless sky. “In a sense, it’s selfish. With so much at stake, running away would be the wiser course of action. But I just want you to know that this is my own decision and Sylphid?”

“Yes?”

“If my defeat...my surrender becomes obvious. I give you command over my girls. I want you to take them and run away. Make sure to prepare so that you can leave the tower within seconds.”

Sylphid just stared at me.

“You only need to evade Minerva for a bit. Femto might not be able to get my soul right away, but even a Dark Lord needs to sleep. Just keep the girls safe until then.”

After quite a long while Sylphid finally replied with a sigh. “For someone who calls himself Handsome you sure can be a handful.”

“Please don’t tell me you won’t do it. I don’t want to order you.”

“It’s not that. Your tendency to self sacrifice hurts people more then you think. Everyone in this tower cares about you.”

For some reason that made me laugh “Everyone? What about Gilbert?”

But Sylphid looked surprisingly serious. “Your hurting them, Handsome. Some have a hard or weird way of showing it but nobody is happy with this deal. And losing you to Minerva, it’s more then some of them can handle:”

“Ah…”

“Basically, what I’m trying to say is…for their sake...don’t believe in you, believe in your slaves who...” Sylphid groaned and scratched her hair. “Ah, I’m not good with this whole motivational emotional stuff! Just make sure to kick Minerva’s ass or I’m stealing even more of your girls!”

I nodded. “I will.”

…

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN EVEN MORE?”

“Aaaaaaanyways, lets get you to bed. I would peg you to sleep, but I’m a bit out of shape. Hebi-san will have to do”, she grinned.

I grinned back. “Let’s.”

Femto’s final estimate on victory over Minerva

Devil of time(1 hour) (+13.6%/+6.8%)

upgrade to high grade equipment (+10%/+5%)

mental anguish due to excessive spending (-5%/-2.5%)

Operation divide et impera (+13.6%/+6.8%)

Hebi-san’s hypnosis LV 2 (+8%/+4%)

Balance Breaker Lucky, trying really, really, hard(+10%/+5%)

Amber Dominator Mari Beta void training completed (+7%/+3.5%)

chances of victory by kill: 57,2%

chances of victory via surrender: 28.6%