"Shit! Fuck! Bollocks!" I curse repeatedly, stomping the ground and grinding this stupid dust under the heels of my greaves.

I failed to protect him. Already. Again.

Aria puts a hand on my shoulder, but she is clearly worried about Nii as well. Kali and Kaede have sat down to rest.

Seria said she had possibly detected Rishya's magical signature, whatever that means, and teleported off to investigate.

I hope she finds Elijah as well. That thin hope is holding us back from despair.

The whole fight we just had was... quite ludicrous.

I've never seen such bizarre creatures. They had no endurance whatsoever. Even a glancing scratch from my new blades and they exploded.

But that mobility... Flash Step requires intense concentration. It is a metabolic burst, enhanced with ambient magic. One of the few magical things anyone can do with enough training. You don't even need a spirit. It does strain your muscles and heart, and it feels like you're about to catch fire afterwards, you get so hot. And it’s hard to attack with. The interruption in vision. The ears whine that disorients you. It has plenty of flaws.

But not for these creatures.

They skipped around like... like they were never truly here in the first place, like the mirage and illusion magic used by advanced Fire Mages.

I stomp again.

"Calm down, Kiku-sama, it is not your fault, yes?" Kaede also attempts to comfort me.

The fury on my face must be quite evident.

"Not problem of Ki. Funky stupid bad monster’s problem." Kali adds.

"Even so..." I hiss.

Every moment the feeling gets worse. I decided this was my new path, protecting the man I loved more than anything.

Even if he loves all of us girls.

I do feel jealous, for sure. I want his eyes to settle only on me. I want to fight with him, laugh with him, and have someone who truly appreciates what I can cook. He does all that for me.

And now, I feel calm.

I take a deep breath, and my fury goes away. I smile.

Yes, of course, he gives me confidence. Just thinking of him. It tightens my chest, and makes me remember the lewd things I did.

Yes, he did it with Aria too. And I'm sure it won't be long until Seria and Rishya and Kaede and Kali all cave in as well.

I don't really want to think about it. It makes me a bit sick.

But even so, I can deal with it. I have to. It is fairly clear he is not going to stop now.

And though it is frustrating... part of me can understand. Part of me realises, this is a unique and wonderful man. He is also clearly becoming stronger. And it is the prerogative of strong males to have many girls.

I do feel concern I am worshipping a false idol of sorts. Dad's words... they still nag at me, I suppose. It can't be helped. I'm just that sort of vaguely uncertain girl. I always have been. But when there is something I really, really want... then I get this tingly feeling. I felt that way about learning to cook. And I feel that way about Nii.

So, in the end, no matter what, I will consider this contract eternal.

I sigh. I am calm. I will be calm.

I sit down along with Kaede and Kali, and Aria joins me. I briefly pick up a piece of a cereal bar I made this morning and gnaw on it. It's good.

"What this, Ki? Is good?" Kali asks.

"Um... It's what Nii calls a 'cereal bar'. It's a ration food, but it’s actually tasty." I hand her one to try, though lord, I don't think she needs it with the amount she ate before, right?

The cereal bar is another otherworldly food that Nii suggested. I used Holewasp Honey and Kalbrath Flakes. I can see why it would be a popular snack.

Contrary to expectations, she gnaws it rapidly. It disappears and she licks her lips. Such a glutton!

"Much sweetness! Such wow! Travel food Kali hates. Desert foods are like muchly. But this! Could sell many as merchant! Business should do with Ki!" She exclaims, laughing.

Heh... she's right... I could probably make some money from this if I ever retire from mercenary work and protecting Nii. Mercenaries alone would kill for tasty rations! Actually... I wonder if I could open an inn myself with Nii, like Violet?

J-Jeez... I'm thinking like an old housewife already!

"Um... Are we going to wait here for Seria?" I query, trying to take my mind off Nii.

"Well... maybe that's for the best. She has already been a while. I do hope she's not fighting. Rish as well." Aria also sighs.

"In any case, this overlook is a reasonably tactical rest spot, yes?" Kaede adds.

True, in theory.

Though with the bizarre creatures we've seen thus far this deep, I don't truly know if a height advantage is really an advantage.

Not to mention...

The necrofire!

I'm not alone in spotting it flare up. One that big... can't be...

We're all exhausted, but jump up and adopt battle stances nonetheless.

And just in time. We all dodge aside just in time as a huge explosive fireball sails up from below, exploding in a fashion similar to Nii's cider bomb all those days ago.

Out of the necrofire, a whole squad of skeleton knights emerges, six of them, and behind, an even taller skeleton in a maroon robe carrying a large tome with a pink skin cover also emerges.

The knights are very well equipped, two have bows, two are dual-wielding, and two have tower shields.

"Destroy the lord first! It can repair the others!" I shout.

Easier said than done, though. We had troubles with five of us on one knight before. We're stronger now, but also down three members.

The skeleton mage-lord clatters its mouth in a vague hiss, its void nature showing exceptional distaste for the living.

This is bad.

Nii... come back quickly!