It’s A Long Story

"Um… Luke."

"Hm?"

"What was that?"

"Simple. With how they looked at you guys I justifiably gave them what they deserved."

"…"

"A bloodbath~"

I tilted my head to the side while smiling with my tongue out.

I don't know what came over me, but killing those kobolds lit something that shouldn't have been touched.

While I reveled in the feeling of my blade slicing through flesh, the experience was still fresh in my mind. Scarlett made herself toward me, her walk gallant and steady.

FLICK*

With a flick of her fingers on my forehead, my head involuntarily moved backward from the unexpected strength of her hand.

"OW!"

I recoiled from her initial hit until a hand smacked me at the back of my head. I didn't notice that Seph followed along behind her.

"You too Seph?!"

They both crossed their arms beneath their bosoms, an expression of disappointment mixed with some relief on their face.

It took me a second to realize why they were so upset with me as I looked behind them, my gaze on Laura and Miya.

At that moment my heart sunk to my stomach.

The look of fear and discomfort was vividly in their eyes as they turned their face away when I tried to look at them.

The stinging sensation on my forehead intensified, somewhat emphasizing the inner pain in my heart.

For a second I felt my knees buckle as my mind raced chaotically, my thoughts running rampant in my head.

During the battle an absurd amount of adrenaline was pumping in my body, knowing the dangers of what could come, my body reacted violently to the fore coming danger.

Consequently, I didn't even realize how ruthless I became, but as I recall the moments in battle. From the feeling of my hand moving accordingly with my sword as if it was an extension of my body, effortlessly slicing through the bodies of those creatures like a scythe cutting through grass.

I took a look at the battlefield and my eyes widened in surprise. The bodies were decimated beyond recognition, their bloodied weapons destroyed into dozens of pieces, and their organs ruptured into clumps of meat.

Usually, I would look at a gruesome scene like this and turn my head in disgust.

Yet… looking at it now… I felt nothing. A disturbing realization from the changes in my body.

I don't know if I should be glad or upset that this is happening considering the things that might happen in the future. But as I turned my head back to my girls a suffocating feeling swallowed my heart.

"I-I d-. I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

I hung my head low, disappointed at what I'd become. Seeing me distressed and regretful, Seph made her way toward me and wrapped her arms around my head. I was kneeling on the ground so her bosom completely cushioned my face. But despite her comforting embrace, I was still upset at how I showed something like that to Laura and especially Miya.

"Luke."

Seph called out to me, her voice full of concern and reluctance.

"The question you asked me before… as much as I want to answer it, I can't. Or more like I can't remember."

Her sudden revelation left me baffled, momentarily clearing my mind.

"What do you mean?"

"Hahh* What I mean is that I don't remember. It's just this feeling, like a connection between us."

A puzzled look was on my face as I tried to assess what she said.

"Here, let me explain. As a god we have powers that stretches beyond normality. As a being of fertility, spring, and life. I can perceive the souls of other beings. Ones such as yourself."

I lifted my head slightly to take a look at her face. She was showing a wry smile with her eyes seemingly lost in thought. Sensing my movement she tilted her head down at me as she removed her right arm and placed it above my head.

"Luke, I'm not sure about our relationship, nor am I sure if I know who you are to me. But… never in my life have I ever felt this strong of a connection toward anyone. And something inside me is telling me to never let go."

I fixed my posture upon listening to her words. I sat up my face now leveled with hers. She slowly retracted her hand from my head and placed it on my cheek. Cupping it with sincerity.

"This feeling in my heart… I might not understand why it happened, but I know it belongs here, with you."

She ended her words with a kiss on my lips. There wasn't anything special to it, it was just a simple gesture of love.

I somewhat understand what she means. The moment we met I felt like a thread was connected between us. The red string of fate as they say.

I closed my eyes as I relished this little moment between us. Small indignation cementing the fact of what our relationship is. Despite having met each other recently I can't help but place their safety equally alongside Laura and Miya.

And speaking of Laura and Miya, I ended our kiss my mind clear and seldom. I stood up from where I was sitting as I made my way toward them. Their bodies were no longer facing away from me but their shoulders were slightly shaking, probably relapsing from the initial shock and leftover adrenaline.

Or they were still afraid of me…

I shook my head to collect my thoughts as I took a deep breath to clear my mind.

I finally reached where they are, only taking a couple of steps from where I was, as I gently placed my hands on top of their heads.

"Laura… Miya… are you okay?"

My voice was soft with a slight vibrato from nervousness.

As soon as they heard my words and felt my hand, they instantly rushed out to me and wrapped their arms around my body. Suffocating me in a tight loving embrace.

As soon as they hugged me I reciprocated them back, my arms even tighter than theirs.

"Ugh… Luke, it's, too tight!"-Laura

"Mmf Hmfh Humuumph!"-Miya

"Oh sorry."

I loosened my arms a tiny bit as a hopeless smile bloomed on my lips. As soon as I did they tightened theirs in retaliation, of course, I didn't mind, in fact, I loved it even more.

With the tension calm and relaxed I let go of my arms around their waists and cupped both of their cheeks.

"I'm sorry I showed you something like that. I don't know what happened that caused me to become so savage and ruthless."

"I-It's okay, as long as you come back to being the normal you… I don't mind how ruthless you become."

Despite her initial intent to comfort me, her words were slightly more unhinged than I thought they would.

"What she means Luke, is that as long as you come back to us, the way we know you are. We're fine no matter how animalistic you become."

"I don't think that's any better."

The two girls looked at each other before letting out a small chuckle.

As I listened to them getting along I couldn't help but hug them once more.

Unfortunately, our little cuddle time was interrupted by a mischievous woman called Gwen.

"Wait I want a hug too! I was also scared!"

"Were you really?"-Laura

"Of course! Imagine the blood getting on my hair! Do you know how hard it is to clean blood off of hair? It takes at least 3 bath times to remove them."

She crossed her arms while tilting her head up as if what she said was something that was also traumatizing.

"Alright alright, don't fight girls. Come here Gwen, there's plenty of space."

"Yay!"

She leaped up from where she was, only a couple of feet behind Laura and Miya. Her body instantly collided with the two girls still in my arms, their faces pressed between Gwen's breasts.

"Ugh! You're ruining the moment you stupid cat!"

"Purr~ purr~"

"Oof, my… face."

I chuckled at their little antics as I widened my arms a bit, allowing Gwen to squeeze in the middle. I'm pretty tall so my arms are more than enough to hold these three girls in my embrace.

"Fufu~ you four sure are having fun. Don't you guys think we should leave this place soon?"

Breaking us from our stupor was surprisingly the newcomer to our group.

"Oh, and you are?"

Seph who was already standing, confronted Scarlett with her hands on her waist.

"My name is Scarlett, and as of now, my body, my heart, and my soul belong to that man. So, please take care of me."

Scarlett bowed her head with her hands on her navel, a smug smile on her face complimenting her confident attitude.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Hahh, not again."

"Oh and Luke. I forgot to mention, but it seems when we had sex, you might have gained a new skill explaining why you're behavior was different."

"Sex?"

Gwen turned her head innocently as the other three women turned their eyes to mine.

"It's a long story."

"Yes. It was indeed 'long'~"

"…"