23 Ephialtes
Following the particularly exhausting bath, Cairn decided to ask Asim how things were with the refugees. He was hoping to redeem his [Alms for the Poor] Quest at the highest Completion Rank, but the Optional Objective asking him to find a solution to the food issues plaguing the refugees had yet to be completed.
"The situation will improve with time," said Asim. "But before we can make meaningful progress towards a resolution, the situation underground must be resolved. Speaking of which..."
Glancing at Kaia, who was hand-feeding Tarou metal fragments as if they were cereal grains, Asim remarked, "I noticed that Sister Kai'ankh's aura more than doubled since your departure for the Gnawing Burrow. During our spar, she even had me on my heels from start to finish. It was the first time in my entire life I felt helpless against someone younger."
Shifting his gaze to Cairn, Asim adopted a broad smile, adding, "Brother Cairn's growth isn't as extreme, but I can tell you got much stronger in a remarkably brief period. I am looking forward to us traveling together in the future. If I follow your example, perhaps I, too, can become stronger."
"Yeah, I'm not gonna lie," said Cairn. "We definitely could have used your help in the Gnawing Burrow. I'm considering picking up a shield, but it will be a while before I'm competent enough to serve as a suitable vanguard."
"Shields are very useful," affirmed Asim, nodding in concert. "If you'd like, I can teach you how to wield one properly. Sister Kaia's form is unique to Karakuts and Classes specializing in mounted combat, so you won't learn much by emulating her."
"Sounds good," said Cairn. Then, as he was feeling tired, he added, "For now, though, I'm going to get some sleep. We'll continue this tomorrow, preferably after breakfast."
"I understand," replied Asim, placing his hand over his chest and offering the usual, "May the Light of the Goddess guide us..."
Though he wasn't exactly a follower of Restia, Cairn mirrored the gesture as a courtesy, causing the smile on Asim's face to broaden. After that, he made his way over to his prayer mat, plopping down and lying against the barely cushioned surface while Kaia and Tarou observed him from the mat to his right.
"Are you going to sleep?" asked Kaia, noting, "It's still fairly early in the afternoon."
"I'm tired..." replied Cairn, staring at the back of his eyelids. He had the distinct impression he was forgetting something, but it could wait until he woke up.
"Then I shall watch over you to ensure you rest peacefully..." muttered Kaia, recalling what Cairn had put himself through to ensure their success in the Guardian's Chamber. She wouldn't be surprised if the incident had left a deep scar on his psyche. He appeared to be okay, but even though she had only known him for a few days, Kaia could tell Cairn was the type to bottle things up so as not to worry or trouble others...
"Just try to get some rest of your own..." replied Cairn, rolling onto his side in a vain attempt to get comfortable. He recalled hearing from somewhere that laying on hard surfaces was somehow better for you, but if given a choice between the floor and a proper bed, Cairn would invariably choose the latter...
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Opening his eyes, Cairn, feeling muddle-headed, found himself in what appeared to be a dimly lit chamber, the boundaries of which were hidden by impenetrable darkness. The light radiating from overhead could barely illuminate an area of more than three meters, but even though it appeared weak, staring at it directly caused Cairn to feel like he was staring into the sun.
Interrupting Cairn's fixation on the light source, the sound of skittering and high-pitched squeaking began emanating from the darkness around him, giving him goosebumps. His first instinct was to open his Inventory and equip the [Ookami's Visage], but he found the system inaccessible. Worse still, he was completely naked, leaving him defenseless as the light keeping the unseen terrors at bay began to diminish...
As the circumference of the light decreased to less than a third of its initial value, Cairn tried to get up and at least adopt a defensive posture but found himself unable to move. The next moment, he was lying on his back, flat against the ground and with Kaia seated atop him, staring down at him with a featureless face. In fact, other than her breasts, everything else about her was completely obscured, allowing Cairn to realize he was in a dream but providing little comfort as, no matter how desperately he tried to force himself to move or wake up, his head felt like it weighed as much as a mountain and his limbs were completely immobile.
Exacerbating Cairn's panic considerably, the faceless Kaia pressed down his shoulders, her tits dangling right in front of his face as the foreboding sounds from the darkness became deafening. Then, just as it seemed like she was going to press her tits against his face, Cairn felt a sharp, burning sensation as something entered his left eye, squirming and scratching the interior of his eye socket as it attempted to burrow deeper into his head...
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Awaking with a start, Cairn rose to a seated position, chest heaving and heart beating madly as he instinctively reached up to touch his left eye, confirming it was still there. His body was covered head to toe in sweat, and even though he had been sleeping until moments prior, he felt like he had just finished running a marathon.
Causing Cairn's entire body to jolt, a faint voice emanated from his right, asking, "Do you want to try sleeping together?" in a tentative tone.
Swiveling his head in the direction the voice had originated, Cairn found Kaia staring at him with visible concern. Tarou was passed out in a nest formed from the cloth that usually decorated Kaia's waist, but as could be expected from a Karakut, the bunny-eared Neophyte was still awake, not appearing even remotely tired.
Regaining his senses, Cairn shook his head, softly asserting, "I'll be fine..." despite his complexion making it appear like he had just seen a ghost.
"You don't need to force yourself..." muttered Kaia. "Neither I nor anyone here will think lesser of you because you asked for help. It is natural for people to reach out and depend on those they can trust when struggling or carrying a heavy burden..."
"That may be..." conceded Cairn, adopting a wry smile as he met Kaia's gaze and added, "But you're overlooking one small detail. It's not exactly cool in here, and your body runs like a furnace..."
"Ah..."
Staring down at her coat, which had overgrown somewhat in preparation for the Ice Tide, a conflicted look marred Kaia's face. She would normally wait until the thawing season to shear it, but with Austral and most of the territories further north having controlled climates, there was no need to grow it out nearly as much as usual.
Leaving Cairn utterly stupefied, Kaia met his gaze and abruptly requested, "Then, if it isn't too much trouble, could I ask you to help shear my coat? I would usually ask my mother or one of my younger siblings, but that's not an option right now..."
"Seriously?" asked Cairn. "I can barely cut my own hair, and you want me to help shear your coat?"
"It's not difficult," contended Kaia. "We have special tools that make it so that even someone without experience can do it. You just need to be a little cautious around my hindquarters, or I might kick you inadvertently."
Shaking his head, Cairn asserted, "You should request Asim or get one of the female Neophytes to do it. I'm not even comfortable with us bathing together, and you want me to shear your hindquarters? Give me a break..."
Catching Cairn off guard for the umpteenth time, Kaia plainly questioned, "Do you feel physically attracted to me?"
"..."
Seeing the discomfort her question had caused Cairn, an awkward smile adorned Kaia's face as she supplanted, "Let me be more specific. Do you feel physical attraction toward rabbits and other lagomorphs?"
"No...?" replied Cairn, feeling equal parts confused and taken aback by the peculiar line of questioning.
Placing her hand atop her chest, Kaia asserted, "Then it shouldn't be a problem. The hindquarters of a Karakut aren't distinct from most other lagomorphs. I would prefer it if you didn't treat me like an animal, but you need not be overly conscientious regarding my anatomical structure. It's not impossible for differing members of the Sovereign Races to breed and produce offspring, but most people only feel attraction towards members of their native species."
"I could have done without that last tidbit of information..." replied Cairn. At the same time, he stared off into space with a deadpan expression on his face, both as a result of the conversation and the window that had just appeared before him...
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Quest Name: A Helping Hand V2
Quest Rank: F
Description: Your companion's fur has grown thick, causing her to overheat more easily. Help her out by giving her a proper shave~!
Objective(s): You know what you must do(0/1)
Optional Objective(s): Strike the nerve located on the back of Kai'ankh's hind legs, resulting in her kicking you(0/1)
Rewards: A very comfortable blanket, pillow, and futon.
Failure Condition(s): Have you seen how much she worries about you? Shouldn't you return the favor?
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Exhaling through his nose, Cairn turned to Kaia, surprising her by saying, "We should use the space around the bath or head somewhere where it's easy to sweep up the clippings..."
Perking up and smiling excitedly, Kaia hurriedly retrieved what looked like a pair of mechanical shears from her belongings. Karakuts used their fur to produce durable, puncture-resistant fabrics that sold for a substantial amount, so despite being a nomadic tribe of hunter-gatherers, they used magic-powered tools to make harvesting and processing their fur a simple task.
After listening to Kaia's explanation of the three different settings on the shears, Cairn accompanied her to the changing room, watching in silence as she stripped off and neatly folded her clothes. After that, they moved to the bath, making use of the lounge area that surrounded the oversized tub to carry out the shearing process.
Following Kaia's example and instructions, Cairn used the basic setting of the magic-powered shears to give her entire body a pass, beginning from her rump and moving against the grain to her back and shoulders. To say it was awkward would be an understatement, but Kaia made things a little easier by taking care of her frontside and the area around her breasts. He still had to take care of the 'other' sensitive areas on his own, but it wasn't nearly as bad as he expected. He had expected her to be more humanoid, like what a well-paid Furry artist might depict, but the reality couldn't have been different. So much so that he initially wasn't sure what he was looking at...
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As Kaia, looking distinctly less fluffy, collected her fur and placed it into a hand-woven bag, Cairn finally remembered what he had forgotten the day before. He still had the [Gift of the Goddess(Lv: 10] slumbering peacefully in his Inventory, so after collecting his memory foam pillow, mattress, and comforter, he cracked open the lid of the carefully wrapped box to see its contents...
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[Gift of the Goddess(Lv: 20)]
Rank: Unique
Level: 1
Use: Open to receive a special set of items suited to your Class.
Description: A special gift prepared by the Goddess Gaia to aid her children in their journey.
Ingredients: [Fragment of Divinity], [Orange Grade Mana Stone], [God of Fortune's Blessing]
Restriction(s): Cairn
Name: [Beginner's Red Potion+]x10
Rank: Unique
Level: 0/80
Use: Restores 20% Max HP for targets below Level 20. HP restored increases by 1% per Level.
Description: Contrasting its name, this is a miraculous and highly potent potion produced using rare, high-quality ingredients.
Ingredients: [Flawless Core of Red Slime], [Tears of a Newborn Goddess], [Angel's Kiss]
Medicinal Potency: 20%
Name: [Beginner's Blue Potion+]x10
Rank: Unique
Level: 0/80
Use: Restores 20% Max MP for targets below Level 20. MP restored increases by 1% per Level.
Description: Contrasting its name, this is a miraculous and highly potent potion produced using rare, high-quality ingredients.
Ingredients: [Flawless Core of Blue Slime], [Tears of a Newborn Goddess], [Angel's Kiss]
Medicinal Potency: 20%
[Restored Overlord's Belt]
Rank: Unique Belt
Weight: 0.2kgs
Durability: 2000
Level: 0/80
P.Def: 30
M.Def: 20
Enchantment(s): [Familiar Storage]
Description: A somewhat worn belt once wielded by a famous Overlord. Familiars and creatures tamed with the [Dominion] Skill can be stored inside, increasing their Health and Mana regen.
Ingredients: [Dragon Leather], [Rainbow Thread]
[Familiar Choker]x3
Rank: Unique
Weight: 0.05kgs
Durability: 5000
Level: 0/80
P.Def: 10
M.Def: 40
Enchantment(s): [Familiarization], [Resizing], [Customization]
Description: A remarkable item developed by an Overlord who wanted to expand the number of Familiars he could command. If worn by a willing target, it permits them to receive correctional bonuses from Talents and allows them to be influenced by Skills that only affect Familiars.
Ingredients: [Dragon Leather], [Fenrir Tail Fur]
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(A/N: At this rate, his Class might as well be changed to Jack-of-All-Overlords xD...)
