Chapter 34

I woke up without Zoe or Tori by my side. I was again in a dream with Gemma, who sat at the edge of the bed, staring at me with a soft smile. At first glance, she seemed tired and a little bit less cheerful than previously.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey, Tobias,” she replied.

“We didn't meet yesterday,” I stated, shifting on the bed and resting against the bedrest.

“Some things changed, and I needed to set new plans in motion. I had a lot of things to take care of and was too tired to meet with you. I don't have a lot of time today either, but I didn't want you to do something stupid left without supervision,” Gemma said.

“So, I need a babysitter?” I asked, smiling.

“Supervision,” Gemma repeated, shifting her gaze toward a wall where I couldn't see anything. “I created a mage with an unknown and dangerous class. Someone needs to keep an eye on you.”

“Dangerous?” I asked, frowning.

Gemma turned abruptly toward me with her eyes wide open, but it was quickly replaced by her wide grin.

“Who knows how many hearts you will break. Hooked up with anyone new?” Gemma asked.

It was obvious that she was trying to cover her slip. What did she mean by dangerous? For me? For others? For her? Perhaps for her. If only women had magical powers in this world, then her whole Mage Guild consisted only of women. Women that I could seduce. But was my class so strong?

“Yesterday I found two guides, and we traveled together to Ortas,” I said.

Gemma frowned. “You are sleeping with three women at once now?”

“Two, but I like your thinking. You could always join us,” I said, to which Gemma only rolled her eyes. “One of them is a man,” I explained.

“There’s a dungeon close to Ortas. Don’t go there with Zoe, both of you don't have experience, and it would be only an unnecessary risk.”

“Sure,” I replied.

“Did something happen along the way, or were you only traveling and having sex?”

“Yesterday, Tori and Marcus, my guides, were doing a mission. Wolves were killing a farmer’s animals. And one of them wasn't an animal, but a demon. Marcus wanted to kill her, even after she changed into a woman, but I protected her. Then she ran away into a forest.”

“Shapeshifter,” Gemma said. “Strange that she lived among the wolves,” she added, frowning.

“She was following us the next day,” I added.

“Another addition to your harem?” Gemma asked, raising her eyebrows.

“I don't think so. I thought about it, and I don't want to add anyone without their consent, and I doubt that anyone other than Zoe would willingly agree to give away their freedom. But I don't know what the wolf woman wants. I asked her to change so we could talk, but she refused.”

Gemma smiled. “You could be surprised. Try to convince her to follow you. I’m curious about her.”

“I'm not going to **** her, but I can try,” I replied.

“That’s enough,” Gemma said, smiling.

“Tori is a demon too, but I’m not sure what exactly,” I said, hoping that Gemma could help me identify her.

“Did you sleep with her?” Gemma asked, sounding more serious and averting her eyes from me to the wall. She must have been checking something in her physical world again.

“Yes,” I replied, and Gemma simply nodded. “Her eyes changed to cat eyes during sex. Do you think that she can be a shapeshifter too?” I asked.

Gemma focused back on me. “Demons that can change into animals are shapeshifters, and they can only change into one form. Mages who can change are polymorphs, and they can change into many forms and also change how they look as humans. And yes, she’s a shapeshifter.”

“How can you be so sure that she’s not a polymorph?”

“Because they’re extremely rare. I have met one in my whole life. Or at least that’s what I know. And they only change intentionally, whereas shapeshifters sometimes change because of their emotions, for example during sex.”

“So, Tori can change into a cat,” I said, wondering about it.

“Not necessarily a domestic cat. There are bigger cats too,” Gemma said with a smile.

“Like tigers?” I asked.

Gemma giggled. “Because she’s a redhead?” she asked, still giggling.

I smirked but then frowned, looking at her.

“I didn't tell you how she looks,” I said.

Gemma rolled her eyes. “You’re on my guild’s terrain. I don't know every mage personally, but we have records of all of them,” she said, and suddenly in her hand appeared a sheet of paper that she passed to me.

There was an image of Tori there, followed by a list of information about her. Tori Maelis was eighteen, her class was a shapeshifter of tiger kin, and she was born and lived most of her life in Sazaras. Nowadays, she was an adventurer, exploring dungeons and completing easy missions. There was also a list of her relatives there.

“You have notes like that about everyone?” I asked, passing her the paper back, but it just vanished into the air.

“About every mage,” Gemma replied.

“Mine too?”

“No,” she answered. “I’m hiding your existence,” she added.

I nodded, wondering what she would want me to do, that she was taking care to make sure that no one knows that I’m here and working for her.

“There’s a **** market in Ortas. You might want to look around with your class,” Gemma said, changing the topic.

“Without any money?” I asked.

Gemma shrugged. “I said that you can look around, not buy someone.”

“You could just give me money and solve a lot of my problems,” I said.

“You were supposed to solve my problems, Tobias,” Gemma replied, smiling.

“I don't understand why you don't want to help me.”

Gemma sighed. “Years spent observing young mages in my guild. The ones who had everything handed to them usually ended up weak. They never had to put in effort, never had to try or fight for something. They lived without any trouble. And when trouble finally came, they failed and couldn't handle it.”

“But the ones who had it hard their whole life and needed to fight for everything themselves,” Gemma said, shrugging. “It’s just another problem on their way, and they are used to it.”

“Sure, not all of them make it, some of them fail along the way, but those who persevere are then the best mages. Perhaps I could put you in a villa with a harem of eager young women, but I’m worried that you wouldn't be very useful to me—especially since you don't know anything about this world. This way, you have motivation to grow up and take action. And what’s better motivation for a man than when he’s hungry or horny?”

“Did you train summoning mana as I suggested?” Gemma asked before I had a chance to think it all over.

I nodded, summoned my mana, and sent it toward the pillow, which flew a little bit back.

“If you had twenty horny women around you, would you train as much as you did?” she asked.

I shook my head. I would probably have no time for anything—especially since with my skill I had more stamina, so perhaps I could have sex the whole day.

“Exactly. And perhaps I could help you more and not go overboard, but I believe that this way you will grow faster and become stronger. And you have potential for that, and I didn't want you to waste it.”

I nodded, taking it all in. Her youthful appearance was deceiving, and at times it was easy to forget that the stunning, smiling blonde in front of me wasn’t some naive eighteen-year-old girl, but a grown leader—one who could be much, much older.

“And it’s not like I’m not helping you at all. I left you in a cave with this demon,” Gemma said.

Zoe had really helped me at first. Without her, I would not even have known how to find a city, or I wouldn't have had any food.

“And from what it looks like right now, you’re managing quite well,” Gemma said. “You can continue, gain more levels, and learn about this world, and everything will be good.”

I nodded, but before I had a chance to say something, Gemma sighed. “I need to go. I need to take care of a few things, and then get at least a few hours of sleep.”

“Those new plans—will you need my help?” I asked.

Gemma hesitated, watching me. “Perhaps. But I’m not sure if you’re ready yet. Maybe soon.”

“Okay,” I replied, nodding, and then I closed my eyes.

---

I woke up with Zoe still lying on top of me, her head resting on my chest, looking adorable with her white hair around her cute face.

Fuck! I forgot to use my new skill to take photos the previous day, and I didn't even have one from our sex with Tori.

Something suddenly banged into the door, and I could hear someone shouting, but I couldn’t understand. This person was trying to barge into the room.

“Fuck,” I gasped, and shook Zoe and Tori, who slept next to us. “Get up!” I said quickly, not raising my voice.

The door rattled—someone was trying to break it down. But fortunately, Tori and Zoe were already starting to wake up.

“Someone's trying to get in,” I explained quickly as Tori looked at me through half-lidded eyes.

She sat up instantly, the blanket slipping off her body and revealing her small tits—but that wasn’t the most important thing right now, because whoever was at the door struck again, and this time it gave way.

The lock snapped, sending splinters flying across the room, and the door swung open as Marcus burst inside.

“Where is—” he exclaimed, but stopped when he noticed Tori sitting on the bed. “What the fuck?!” he shouted, and then his eyes jumped to me. “You!” he shouted, and rushed at me, pulling his sword.

Tori leaped over me, gracefully landing on the ground and grabbing her sword that she’d left next to the bed. Then she pushed Marcus back and pointed her sword at him.

Zoe and I slipped off the bed on the other side. My sweet demon had her eyes focused on Marcus, and her lips slightly parted, showing her fangs. She had her legs slightly bent, ready to leap at him if he tried anything.

I, on the other hand, grabbed the blanket and started to cover Zoe’s body, because all three of us were still naked, and I believed that Tori could handle Marcus. But just in case, I summoned a big orb of mana between us.

“I will kill you!” Marcus shouted, trying to get past Tori, staring at me, but her sword blocked his way.

“Marcus!” Tori hissed.

“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” Marcus asked, looking at Tori. First, he focused on her face, but then his eyes quickly went lower along her naked body.

“Look up, creep,” Tori said, pressing her sword against his chin, making him lift his head.

“Tori, everything is good. I will protect you,” Marcus said.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Tori hissed.

“What do you mean?” Marcus asked, frowning. “You must be in shock,” he added, quieter.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Tori said slowly. “And what the fuck are you doing?”

“About him. He **** you. But don’t worry, I will kill him and he will not hurt you anymore.”

Tori burst out laughing, backing her sword away from his neck.

“Marcus, do I look like someone who was ****?”

Marcus’ gaze shifted over her naked body again, and immediately he had Tori’s sword at his chin.

“But… what?” Marcus asked quietly.

I grabbed the sheet from the bed and put it over Tori’s shoulders. Marcus tried to rush at me, but Tori’s sword held him in place.

Tori glanced at me from the corner of her eye. “Thanks,” she murmured. “I will handle it,” she added and focused on Marcus. I backed off to stand next to Zoe.

“I don't know what you don't understand. I had sex with him because I wanted to, and it’s not your business. You better explain what the fuck you are doing. You wanted to see me naked so much?”

“What?! No! It’s not like that,” Marcus shouted, but his gaze shifted lower over her body—though this time, at least she was covered.

“So what the fuck are you doing here?! Have you lost your mind completely?!” Tori shouted at him, backing her sword from his neck. “You are barging into the room where I sleep naked. And then brazenly stare at my tits like a creep. And you rush at me with a sword.”

“Not at you, Tori! I would never... It’s him. I thought… that he hurt you…”

“I will repeat once more—I wanted this and came up to him myself.”

“Umm… but… but why?” Marcus gasped.

“For the same reason you stare at my ass all the time. I was horny and wanted to have sex.”

“B-But… I was in the next room… Why did you ruin our first time like that?”

“What fucking first time?”

“I mean… us… we were supposed to…”

Tori started to laugh, lowering her sword completely. “Marcus, my first time was with Ben months ago.”

“What?! With this asshole?!” Marcus gasped.

Tori stopped laughing and looked at him seriously. “It's none of your business who I slept with or will sleep with. And for your information, I will not sleep with you. Never. And you are an idiot if you didn't realize this after all this time. And you know what? I’m done. I agreed to travel with you because my parents begged me, but after these last few days, I’ve had enough.”

Marcus stared at her, his face shifting between shock, anger, and something like desperation. Then his gaze shifted to me, and he grimaced with anger.

“It’s your fault! It’s all your fault! Everything was good before you appeared!” Marcus shouted, rushing at me, but Tori raised her sword and blocked his way.

“Marcus!” she shouted. “It’s not Tobias’s fault. It’s yours. Completely. I was frustrated with you before. And actually, you’re lucky that he was with us and stopped you from killing that shapeshifter.”

Marcus scowled. “Tori, that was a mistake. I already apologized for that. I thought she was just a wolf, or a wild demon.”

“Just like I’m only a tiger? You can just kill me? Because I’m not human?!” Tori hissed at Marcus.

“Tori, you know it’s not like that,” Marcus tried to explain.

“Enough! I’ve had enough of your excuses and apologies. That’s the end, you get it? End. Now we are not working together. You can deliver the pack to Ortas and take the reward. I will take the reward for killing the wolves, and we are done. We don’t travel together anymore.”

“And what?! You’ll be with him now? You’ll throw me away like trash for some new asshole?!”

“Marcus! We were never together, and you’ve convinced yourself that there’s something between us. Or that there will be. But there isn’t. And who I travel with, work with, or have sex with is none of your business. It never was. But if you have to know—yes, I’m taking him to Ortas. Yes, I will sleep with him again, because he’s good at it. And then we’ll go our separate ways.”

“Just as ours today,” she finished.

Marcus stood there watching Tori, one of his eyelids twitching. His mouth moved like he was trying to say something, but his brain was failing him in creating anything. Then he frowned.

“You’ll regret this, just watch! You’ll come crawling back begging to be with me!” he shouted, then stormed out of the room.

Tori instantly rushed to the door and looked down the hallway after him. “Dream on! And pay for the damn door, you creep!” she yelled after him, then slammed the door shut—only for it to creak open slightly again.

Tori turned to face me and Zoe. “Get dressed. We’re leaving as soon as possible,” she said, tossing the bedsheet back onto the bed—and in doing so, revealed her naked body.

This time, I snapped a photo right away to keep as a souvenir before I started getting dressed.