I woke up to warmth.

Soft warmth. The kind that makes you forget the world has problems, dangers, and responsibilities waiting right outside the tent.

When I cracked my eyes open, the first thing I saw was Aria, curled against my side like a sleeping cat, her hair spilling over my arm.

Even asleep, she looked… peaceful. Something you'd never guess if you knew how intense she was when awake.

I slowly leaned in and brushed a kiss against her forehead. Her breath hitched just a little, her lips parting. I gently pulled the blanket up to her shoulders, trying not to wake her.

I had just started to rise, slow and careful, when something tugged at my wrist.

I froze.

Then I looked down.

Aria's hand. Wrapped around me.

And her eyes… open.

She smiled up at me with that soft, terrifyingly loving smile of hers.

"You thought you could escape?" she murmured, her yandere persona slipping up.

"I wasn't trying to escape," I whispered. "I was letting you rest."

She tugged again, but this time it was playful. "You woke me anyway. You always do."

She finally let go, stretched, then stood with a slow sigh. "Come on. Let's meet with the others before they leave us and go."

I snorted. "There is no way."

We stepped out into the little room we'd used for the night, only to immediately run into the daily morning chaos.

Sarah, arms crossed, cheeks already red, spun around in a flustered panic. "G-good morning! Not that I'm happy you're awake or anything! I just, ugh, whatever!"

Kalia gave me a knowing smile that made my heartbeat embarrassingly quick. "Morning, Ragnar~ You always look good right after waking."

"M-mom!" Sarah exploded. "Stop saying stuff like that! It's embarrassing!"

Kalia only winked.

Then there was Bella, ears shooting straight up, cheeks exploding with color, eyes avoiding mine like I was a sun too bright to look at.

"G-good… morning…" she whispered, barely audible.

Aria stepped protectively closer beside me. "She was staring at your groin."

"I-I wasn't!" Bella squeaked.

Sarah jumped between them. "C-can we just eat before someone gets stabbed?!"

Breakfast was just as chaotic, Sarah dropping her utensils, Aria cutting food like it insulted her, Kalia humming cheerfully every time she caught me looking at her boobs, and Bella quietly trying not to faint whenever I asked if she wanted more milk.

She was a really perverted rabbit.

By the time we were bathed, packed, and inside the carriage heading south, I already felt exhausted.

And the journey towards Vale had just begun.

---

One Day Later

We barely covered one-tenth of the distance by the end of the day. Traveling with four women who could argue over how babies are made took time.

I stopped the carriage near a quiet river. The sun dipped behind the hills, water glimmering gold.

"We camp here," I said.

"Finally!" Sarah threw her arms up dramatically. "My butt is literally broken. Literally from sitting too long~" Then she swayed her huge ass in front of me.

"Do something, Ragnar~"

Kalia placed a hand on my shoulder, a slow, teasing smile curving her lips. "Why don't you show us how you handle a campfire, Ragnar~? You look wonderful when you're focused."

Sarah made a strangled noise. "MOM!"

Aria glided past all of them, brushing her fingers against my arm. "Ignore them. I'll handle the tent."

Bella nearly tripped over the tent poles. "I-I'll help! I, I can tie knots! I swear I can!"

I started working on the fire, trying not to laugh as the four of them attempted to set up camp. Aria barked orders. Sarah complained the whole time. Bella apologized every five seconds. And Kalia… mostly just stole glances my way while pretending to help.

Yet somehow, after arguing, tripping, and more arguing, they managed to build the tent.

But… It was only one tent.

I stared at it. "Where's the second one?"

"No second one," Aria said flatly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"It'd be… inefficient," Sarah added, face red. "We're just saving space, that's all!"

Kalia wrapped an arm around my waist. "We simply sleep better near you~."

Bella nodded quickly. "I-I mean, if he… wants us there…"

I swallowed hard.

After dinner, the four of them exchanged a silent look I immediately recognized as trouble. They disappeared into the tent to "change," and then,

"Ragnar~," Kalia called in a singsong voice.

"We're waiting," Aria added.

"G-get in… already!" Sarah shouted, voice cracking.

"I, I saved a warm spot next to me…" Bella whispered timidly.

I stepped inside.

And stopped dead, gulping, as I stared at them.

The tent lantern flickered softly, and the four of them stood like some sort of carefully arranged painting, cute, beautiful, tempting, stunning, all in different ways, each wearing her own style of nightgown.

Kalia had the most revealing nightgown, red-colored, her huge ass and boobs spilling over, I could see her nipples.

In second place came Aria, who basically had leopard rags on it, barely covering her ass and boobs.

Then Bella, with a white nightgown cut for her boobs, and Sarah, who had a short pink nightgown.

I lay in the center because there was literally nowhere else to lie.

And the moment my back touched the blankets,

They all threw themselves onto me at once.

I choked on air, feeling the softness on me.

Aria curled around my arm possessively.

Kalia laid her head on my shoulder, warm and soft.

Sarah pressed close with a furious blush.

Bella tucked herself against my chest, ears twitching.

"Mine," Aria whispered.

"No! He's, he's not, I mean, shut up!" Sarah stammered.

Kalia chuckled. "Children, children, don't bother your daddy~"

Bella mumbled something like, "I'm not giving him up," under her breath, but she was too flustered to say it louder.

I fell asleep buried under warmth, softness, and jealousy-fueled tension.

Oddly enough… It wasn't a bad way to sleep.

---

Ten Days Later

When the city finally appeared in the distance, towering and familiar, I felt relief.

But only for a moment.

Because Vale looked… wrong.

Gray. Quiet. Heavy, like some dark city from the Victorian age.

"Was this city always like this?" I mumbled loudly.

Sarah frowned. "Why is it so gloomy…?"

Kalia stepped closer to me, her tone unusually serious, scanning her surroundings. "Be careful, Ragnar."

Aria squeezed my arm. "Let's keep close."

Even Bella stayed silent, her usual stuttering swallowed by tension.

We passed through the gates after a strict inspection and hurried through the dim streets. Shops boarded. Windows dark. People avoiding eye contact.

Something had definitely happened here.

Finally, we reached the shop tucked between two stone buildings, faint magical symbols glowing across its doorframe.

Lucy's shop.

I pushed the door open. The bell above jingled sharply.

Aria let out a breath. "Finally… we can ask this mage about the demon rift's location."

I nodded, tightening my grip on my cloak.

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