Chapter 61 - 061. Pampering Ren
[One Week Later]
The mid-morning sun cast a warm, brilliant golden glow over the sprawling battered expanse of Astelvern Town.
The apocalyptic storm had long since passed. The massive, golden-blue Aegis dome remained deactivated, no longer needed to shield the skies from falling gargoyles.
The town bore the brutal scars of the abyssal invasion. Several massive stone walls on the eastern flank were completely scorched black by necrotic fire.
The central plaza featured deep craters, and dozens of rooftops in the commercial district collapsed under the immense crushing pressure of the swarm.
However the town was far from dead...
The people in the streets were hopeful and fiercely determined.
Guild mages utilized low-tier earth magic to rapidly rebuild the shattered stone walls and pave over the craters.
Citizens and off-duty adventurers worked side-by-side, clearing the massive piles of debris from the commercial districts, repairing wagons and hauling fresh lumber from the surrounding forests.
The suffocating terror of the monster tide washed away entirely. It was replaced by the unified resilience of humanity.
The citizens of Astelvern knew they survived an absolute apocalypse... They knew the Twilight Guild and many other Guilds held the line and rumors of a blue-haired savior completely eradicating the Demon King fueled a massive surge of local pride and endless tavern stories.
Deep within the upper ring, separated from the noise and dust of the reconstruction, stood the Vice Guild Leader’s heavily warded manor.
The estate remained entirely untouched by the destruction.
Its dense A-rank defensive wards successfully repelled any stray monsters that slipped past the vanguard.
The massive gardens bloomed brightly with the silver lotuses glowing softly in the warm, peaceful sunlight however inside the manor, the master guest suite was completely, utterly silent.
Ren lay flat on his back in the exact center of the massive, four-poster bed.
He took a slow deep breath.
The agonizing migraine that relentlessly hammered against his skull for the past week finally faded away, leaving a cool refreshing clarity in his mind.
The terrifying recoil of the Starfire completely processed through his system, leaving his mana core entirely stable and fully refreshed.
Ren slowly opened his piercing golden eyes, staring up at the intricately painted ceiling.
He felt excellent... He possessed an astronomical amount of System Points, he secured his status as a continental legend, and he entirely shattered the Demon King’s invasion.
The sheer narrative disrespect he inflicted upon the protagonist’s destined timeline was immeasurable.
’Haha~ I’m ready to make Jace’s life a living hell toda—’
He attempted to sit up, fully intending to stretch his legs, pour himself a stiff drink from Astrid’s liquor cabinet, and thoroughly review his newly updated stats.
His body refused to move.
Ren frowned, looking down only to see that he was completely immobilized on the massive mattress.
Astrid was pressed tightly against his right side.
She wore a soft, comfortable nightgown with her golden hair spread wildly across the expensive silk pillows.
Her right arm was thrown heavily across his chest, her fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt with an iron grip as she slept deeply with a soft content smile gracing her beautiful features.
Eternia was curled up securely on his left side.
The fiercely loyal Snakekin entirely abandoned her lethal coiled combat posture. Her purple hair rested softly against his shoulder.
She breathed in slowly, completely exhausted from a week of relentless hyper-vigilant pacing outside his door.
Lyra was sprawled out entirely horizontally at the foot of the bed. The Sub-Heroine completely bypassed any standard sleeping orientation.
Both of her arms were wrapped firmly around Ren’s calves, her auburn head resting heavily on his shins, using his legs as a customized body pillow.
And finally, resting directly in the center of his chest, was Kala. The little girl slept peacefully, her tiny arms giving him a massive, unrelenting hug, completely refusing to let go of him...
They were all dead asleep.
They had spent the entire week terrified for his recovery, hovering over his unconscious body, completely refusing to leave his side.
Now that his breathing had stabilized and his fever had broken, exhaustion had completely overtaken them, resulting in this highly complex inescapable human knot.
Ren lay perfectly still.
If he moved his right arm, he would wake Astrid, who would likely immediately start fussing over what happened.
If he moved his left arm, he would wake Eternia, who would instantly draw a weapon, assuming an enemy had infiltrated the room.
If he moved his legs, Lyra would fall off the bed and if he sat up, Kala would tumble off his chest.
He was trapped. The Second Star of the Empire... the Slayer of Kings and the absolute terror of the abyss, was completely incapacitated by his own fiercely devoted entourage.
Ren let out a long exasperated sigh as he let his head fall back against the plush silk pillows, staring blankly at the ceiling.
’What the fuck ma—’
Immediately Chesnu appeared on his face.
...
The fat cat familiar materialized directly out of nowhere, dropping onto the bridge of his nose with a soft furry thud.
"Meow~"
It demanded immediate, undivided attention, completely ignoring the complex, precarious human knot currently pinning its master to the mattress.
Ren narrowed his golden eyes, staring cross-eyed at the fluffy menace resting on his face as he blew a sharp puff of air out of the corner of his mouth, attempting to physically dislodge the familiar.
However Chesu was simply too fat!
Chesnu simply dug its tiny paws into his collar, settling in perfectly comfortably.
The shifting movement on his chest sent a cascade of minor vibrations through the massive mattress.
Lyra stirred at the foot of the bed. The auburn-haired girl let out a soft sleepy murmur. She rubbed her cheek affectionately against the dense muscular calf serving as her pillow.
’Huh...?’
She slowly opened her eyes, blinking away the heavy fog of deep sleep.
She stared blankly at the thick blankets. Her sleep-addled brain registered the specific, unmistakably human shape and density of the object she currently clung to with both arms.
The realization hit her like a physical blow from a warhammer...
’Master’s leg...?’
Lyra’s breath hitched violently in her throat as an intense blindingly bright flush of crimson heat exploded across her cheeks, spreading rapidly all the way to the tips of her ears.
She froze entirely. She fearfully tilted her head upward, looking past the blankets, past Kala, directly toward the head of the bed.
She met Ren’s fully open, intensely piercing golden eyes staring right back at her, with Chesnu perched completely unbothered on his face.
Lyra squeaked with a sound resembling a startled field mouse as she frantically released her iron grip on his legs.
The woman scrambled backward with wide panicked eyes and then tumbled entirely ungracefully off the edge of the mattress, landing on the thick plush carpet with a muffled thud.
The sudden abrupt movement at the foot of the bed triggered a chain reaction.
Eternia reacted instantly. The sudden shift in the bedsheets triggered her advanced senses. Her golden slit-pupils snapped wide open, dilating rapidly to take in the environment.
She instantly coiled her muscles, fully prepared to draw her hidden weapons and ruthlessly butcher whatever intruder dared to breach her Master’s sanctuary.
She whipped her head up, baring her sharp fangs and she immediately spotted Ren’s open golden eyes watching her.
The terrifying tension evaporated from the Snakekin’s body in a single flawless microsecond. Her dilated pupils softened entirely.
"Master?"
She let out a soft incredibly contented hiss with her tense muscles melting perfectly against his side.
Eternia nuzzled her face deeper into the crook of his shoulder with her hand giving his waist a gentle affectionate squeeze beneath the heavy blankets.
The commotion finally roused the others.
Kala yawned loudly, stretching her tiny arms wide. She rubbed her eyes with small fists, looking down directly at Ren’s face and the fat familiar resting on his nose.
She beamed a bright innocent smile as she squeezed his chest in a tight, immensely happy morning hug.
"Good morning, Ren!" Kala chirped happily, reaching out to give Chesnu a quick pat on the head.
Beside him, Astrid woke slowly.
She stretched her arms elegantly above her head, popping her shoulders.
The thin white silk nightgown slipped precariously down her left shoulder, entirely exposing her smooth collarbone and the glowing silver pendant resting against her skin.
She turned her head with her striking blue eyes locking directly onto his golden gaze as a warm breathtakingly beautiful, overwhelmingly relieved smile spread across her face.
"You’re finally awake..." Astrid murmured, her voice thick with sleep and profound affection.
"Yes I am entirely recovered..." Ren formally announced.
He reached up, plucking Chesnu off his face and setting the familiar gently onto the pillow beside him.
"Now I’d really like some liqour..."
"Absolutely not." Astrid vetoed instantly.
She issued a direct unyielding command to the room immediately after.
"Hold him down! He utilized a high-tier spell at maximum capacity so he is on strict mandatory bed rest until I personally clear his mana pathways."
Eternia tightened her grip on his left arm with her legs constricting tightly around his waist. Kala giggled, pressing her entire body weight flat against his chest to pin him.
Lyra scrambled back up onto the edge of the bed, grabbing his right ankle with both hands, her face still burning a furious, vibrant red.
Ren let out an exasperated sigh. He let his head fall back against the plush silk pillows, fully accepting his luxurious inescapable imprisonment.
A sharp, perfectly timed knock echoed from the heavy oak double doors of the master suite.
"Enter," Astrid called out, sitting up and adjusting her nightgown.
The doors swung open smoothly. Mandy, entirely restored to his impeccable, pristine butler aesthetic, stepped confidently into the room.
He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, his white gloves completely spotless, betraying absolutely no sign of the apocalyptic mud and blood from the previous week.
He wheeled in a massive, extravagant, three-tiered silver breakfast cart. The rich, intoxicating aroma of roasted meats, fresh pastries, and heavily spiced coffee immediately filled the sprawling suite.
Mandy stopped the cart near the bed. He placed his right hand over his heart, offering a deep, profoundly respectful bow directly to Ren.
"My lord, it brings me joy to see you awake." Mandy said with a smile, the full family and servants would have been on his ass if Ren died... and by on his ass, he would be executed. "I have prepared a specialized, high-calorie morning feast to rapidly replenish your severe physical exhaustion."
The top tier featured massive plates of thick, peppered prime-cut bacon, perfectly poached eggs resting on buttery sourdough toast and a mountain of roasted potatoes seasoned with rare herbs.
The second tier overflowed with fresh, imported fruits, honey-glazed apples, and sweet wild berries.
The bottom tier held a heavy silver carafe of steaming, dark coffee and a crystal pitcher of chilled, freshly squeezed orange juice.
Ren felt his stomach rumble aggressively as Starfire had completely cannibalized his internal energy reserves.
He reached his right arm out, fully intending to grab a polished silver fork and devour the bacon but Eternia intercepted his hand seamlessly.
She caught his wrist with gentle, absolute firmness. "You expended too much energy, Master. You must completely conserve your physical strength so allow us to serve you."
Ren blinked, staring at the fiercely determined Snakekin. "I can feed myself, Eternia. My arms work perfectly fine."
"The Vice Guild Leader ordered strict bed rest..." Eternia countered flawlessly, utilizing Astrid’s authority in the manor to justify her intense desire to pamper him.
She released his wrist, turning toward the cart. "We will handle everything so you will relax."
The pampering commenced immediately.
Lyra grabbed a small polished silver fork.
She speared a perfect slice of honey-glazed apple from the fruit platter and her hands shook violently.
She brought the fruit carefully to his lips, her auburn hair falling over her eyes.
"Say Ah Master~"
Ren opened his mouth, accepting the bite. He maintained intense golden eye contact with her the entire time.
Lyra let out a soft, embarrassed squeak with her face turning a deeper shade of red. She quickly retreated to spear another piece of fruit, entirely unable to handle his intense gaze.
Eternia claimed the massive plate of thick, peppered bacon. She lifted a prime slice with reverence.
’Now I get to feed Master...’
She held it close to her face, sniffing it delicately.
’Nothing out of the ordinary.’
Fully satisfied with the purity of the food, she offered it to him.
Ren ate the bacon, immensely amused by the fact his bodyguard felt the absolute need to poison-check a breakfast cooked by his own fiercely loyal butler, inside a heavily warded estate.
The extravagant breakfast concluded an hour later.
Mandy efficiently cleared the empty silver plates, pouring a final cup of liquor for Ren before bowing deeply and exiting the suite to attend to the estate’s affairs.
Kala immediately retrieved a heavy, brightly illustrated hardcover book from the dark mahogany nightstand.
She climbed back onto his chest, completely ignoring his terrifying reputation. She dropped the heavy book directly onto his face.
"Read it," Kala demanded cheerfully.
Ren pulled the book off his face. He read the ornate, golden title embossed across the front: [The Grand Adventures of Sir Fluffington the Brave.]
He stared at the cover art. It featured a small, incredibly round, fluffy white bunny wearing a tiny, highly detailed suit of silver plate armor, wielding a carrot like a broadsword.
Ren slowly turned his head, looking directly at Astrid for assistance.
Astrid simply smiled.
She leaned back comfortably against the intricately carved wooden headboard, crossing her arms beneath her chest. Astrid clearly possessed absolutely no intention of rescuing him from this specific torment.
Ren sighed heavily as he accepted his fate. He opened the book to the first page then he cleared his throat.
"The meadow was fraught with unimaginable peril..." Ren read aloud dramatically. "Sir Fluffington twitched his nose. He sensed the impending doom of the great shadow fox approaching his territory so he prepared his ultimate, devastating technique: the hopping maneuver!"
Kala listened with rapt, completely captivated attention. Her eyes grew wide with absolute awe hanging onto every single syllable of the dramatic narration.
Astrid covered her mouth with both hands.
Her shoulders shook violently with silent uncontrollable laughter.
Ren soon finished the final page, closing the book with a heavy, dramatic thud.
"And thus, the meadow was secured through overwhelming physical force. The fluffy bunny stood victorious over the broken bodies of his enemies... The end."
Kala cheered happily, clapping her small hands together. "Read another one!"
Astrid finally caught her breath.
She wiped a tear of pure mirth from the corner of her striking blue eye.
"Alright, everyone," Astrid announced, clapping her hands together once to gather their attention. "Playtime is over. I need to run a full, uninterrupted diagnostic scan on his core."
She looked directly at Eternia and Lyra, issuing a specific, highly important errand.
"Eternia. Lyra. I need you to visit the central Twilight apothecary in the lower ring," Astrid instructed, her tone brooking no argument. "Request Master Vane. Tell him I require three ounces of refined Sun-Stalker Root. It is a rare, high-tier mana-stabilizing ingredient required to properly reinforce Ren’s internal pathways after channeling so much mana..."
Eternia accepted the mission instantly.
She viewed the task as a vital, sacred quest directly tied to her Master’s health so she slid off the bed, her boots hitting the carpet silently as she planned to carry her swords too.
Lyra eagerly agreed, happy to contribute to his recovery in a tangible meaningful way. She hopped off the bed, smoothing out her clothes.
"I want to go too!" Kala chimed in, sliding off Ren’s chest and grabbing Lyra’s hand tightly. "I need to pick out a ’get well soon’ flower from the market for Ren!"
"Take Mandy with you for the heavy lifting," Astrid instructed softly, offering the girls a warm appreciative smile.
The three girls quickly readied themselves. They filed out of the master suite with their footsteps echoing lightly down the carpeted hallway.
The heavy oak double doors clicked shut behind them as the intricate locking mechanism securing the room.
Total, absolute silence descended upon the sprawling master bedroom.
Astrid moved closer.
She shifted her weight, sitting on the very edge of the mattress directly beside Ren’s waist.
She reached up with her right hand... Her delicate fingertips gently traced the fine mithril chain of the silver pendant resting against her smooth collarbone as the teardrop-shaped gemstone pulsed with a soft warm and immensely comforting light.
She looked down at him.
"Ren... You knew..." Astrid spoke softly. "How...?"