Satou gestured for both women to sit, Lyra in the desk chair, Jessica beside him on the bed. "Alright. Let's talk about how this works. Lyra, you wanted to establish boundaries?"

"I want to establish structure," Lyra corrected. "Boundaries sounds restrictive. Structure sounds organized. And organization prevents conflict."

She pulled out a small notebook from her pocket,because of course she'd come prepared with notes. "I've been thinking about this since our conversation before you left. Here's what I think makes sense, but I want both of your input."

She flipped to a marked page. "First: Official titles. I'm First Wife—that's established and non-negotiable. Jessica, you'd be Second Wife. Not lesser, just second chronologically. Both of us hold equal authority in our respective domains—I handle settlement administration, you handle medical matters. Neither of us interferes in the other's expertise."

Jessica nodded. "That makes sense."

"Second: Living arrangements. Satou's current quarters are too small for three people. We'll need to expand them or build new ones. I suggest new ones—a central living area with private rooms branching off for when any of us need space, plus a shared bedroom for when we want to be together."

"All three of us?" Jessica asked, her blush deepening. "At the same time?"

"Eventually, probably," Lyra said matter-of-factly. "But not until we're all comfortable with it. For now, Satou can alternate between our rooms, or we can visit his individually. Whatever feels right. The point is having the physical space to accommodate multiple arrangements."

She continued down her list. "Third: Time management. Satou's time needs to be split fairly between us, between settlement duties, and personal development. I propose a flexible schedule where he spends at least two evenings per week with each of us individually, plus shared time when all three of us are together. Remaining time goes to leadership responsibilities and training."

"That seems reasonable," Satou said. "Though what about spontaneity? I don't want this to feel like a scheduled obligation."

"The schedule is a minimum, not a maximum," Lyra explained. "It ensures neither of us feels neglected while leaving room for spontaneous moments. Think of it as a safety net, not a cage."

Jessica was nodding along. "I appreciate the structure. It means I don't have to worry about whether I'm taking too much time or not enough. The baseline is clear."

"Fourth," Lyra continued, "and this is important: Communication. If any of us feels uncomfortable, jealous, neglected, or unhappy with any aspect of this arrangement, we talk about it immediately. No festering resentment. No passive aggression. Direct, honest communication even when it's difficult."

"Agreed," Satou said immediately.

"Absolutely," Jessica added.

"Fifth: Public presentation. We're not hiding this relationship, but we're also not making it the center of settlement politics. We're professional in public settings, affectionate but appropriate. What we do privately is our business, but publicly we maintain dignity. Agreed?"

Both Satou and Jessica nodded.

Lyra closed her notebook with satisfaction. "Those are the main points. Obviously details will need to be worked out as we go, but this gives us a framework. Any concerns? Objections? Additions?"

Satou thought for a moment. "What about children?"

Both women froze.

"Children?" Jessica repeated.'

"Eventually," Satou clarified. "Not now—we have too much to do and I'm still establishing my demon lord position. But eventually, if we're building something permanent, children will be part of that conversation. How do we handle that fairly?"

Lyra's expression became thoughtful. "That's... actually a very good question. I hadn't thought that far ahead."

"Neither had I," Jessica admitted.

"We don't need to solve it now," Satou said. "But it's something to keep in mind. This isn't just a temporary arrangement for convenience—at least not for me. I'm thinking long-term. Building a life, a family, a legacy. All of that includes both of you."

Lyra's eyes softened. "You really mean that."

"Of course I do. Why would I go through all this,the dungeon, the fight, the political complications,if I wasn't serious about building something permanent?"

Jessica reached over and took his hand. "I want children eventually. I want to build a family with you. With both of you," she added, glancing at Lyra. "If that's something we can all agree on."

"I want it too," Lyra said quietly. "I've spent so long focused on being practical, being the administrator, being responsible. But yes, I want a family. I want to build something that lasts beyond just the settlement. I want..."

She trailed off, emotion making her voice thick.

Satou stood and pulled both women into an embrace. "Then that's what we'll build. Together. All three of us."

They stayed like that for several minutes, just holding each other, letting the reality of what they were committing to sink in.

Finally, Jessica pulled back with a watery laugh. "We should probably head to the feast. Urgak will send someone looking for us if we don't appear soon."

"True," Lyra agreed, wiping her eyes and visibly pulling her professional persona back into place. "Though we're going to look like we've been crying, which will spawn all sorts of rumors."

"Let them rumor," Satou said. "We've given them enough to talk about for the next year anyway."

They left the healing hall together, walking three abreast toward the main courtyard where the feast was already being set up. Cooking fires blazed. Long tables were being assembled. People were gathering, the atmosphere celebratory and light.

As they approached, Satou noticed something that made him smile. Someone had created a banner, crude but heartfelt, that read "WELCOME HOME CHIEF SATOU" in letters made from painted cloth. It was hanging between two buildings, clearly visible to everyone.

"Did you organize that?" Satou asked Lyra.

"No," she said, sounding surprised. "I didn't even know about it. Someone must have made it while we were talking."

"Everyone love you," Jessica observed. "Not just respect you or follow you out of necessity. They actually love you. You've given them something they never had before—hope and stability and the chance to build real lives."

"We've given them that," Satou corrected. "All of us together. I couldn't have done any of this alone."

As they reached the courtyard, the crowd that had gathered erupted in cheers. People were clapping, shouting congratulations, celebrating not just Satou's victory but his safe return.

Urgak stood at the head of the main table, a massive mug of what was probably ale already in hand. When he saw Satou approaching with Lyra and Jessica on either side, he grinned and raised the mug high.

"OUR CHIEF HAS RETURNED!" Urgak's booming voice carried across the entire settlement. "VICTORIOUS OVER THE CHAMPION OF A DEMON LORD!"

The crowd roared approval.

"AND," Urgak continued with a knowing grin, "WISE ENOUGH TO CLAIM NOT ONE BUT TWO EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN! TRULY OUR CHIEF IS BLESSED!"

More cheers, plus some laughter.

Satou felt his face heating slightly despite himself. But he also felt pride. These were his people. This was his settlement. This was what he'd built from nothing—a place where goblins and orcs worked together, where rescued women found new lives, where celebration happened not because of conquest but because of community.

He walked to the head table with Lyra and Jessica, and the three of them sat together—making their relationship absolutely clear to anyone who'd somehow missed the earlier announcement.

Urgak raised his mug again. "A toast! To Chief Satou—may his enemies know fear, his friends know loyalty, and his women know satisfaction!"

"URGAK!" Lyra's scandalized voice cut through the laughter.

"What? It's a toast!" Urgak protested, though his grin suggested he knew exactly what he was doing.

Satou laughed and raised his own mug. "To the settlement! To everyone who believed I'd come back! To the future we're building together!"

"TO THE FUTURE!" the crowd echoed.

And as the feast began, as food was served and stories were told and laughter filled the evening air, Satou looked around at everything he'd built and felt something he hadn't experienced in either of his lives.

Complete contentment.

He'd survived the impossible. He'd defeated a legendary champion. He'd claimed his place among beings of immense power. He'd found love—twice over, in a way he never expected.

And now he had a year to prove that all of it meant something. That monsters could build civilization. That power could serve something beyond domination. That the impossible could become reality if you refused to give up.

One year.

It seemed like a long time and no time at all.

But as Satou sat there between Lyra and Jessica, surrounded by people who depended on him, supported by allies he'd never expected, he knew one thing with absolute certainty:

He was ready.

Whatever came next, hostile demon lords, human armies, political intrigue, the countless challenges of building something new. He would face it all.

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