Chapter 67: Thorin Stops By And Invites Me?
Chapter 67: Thorin Stops By And Invites Me?
When I finally blinked my eyes open, the harsh reality of the calendar hit me: it was the final day of our brief academic reprieve. A quiet stillness hung over the estate. Lisa and Ayala had already departed early for the Royal Academy, leaving the grand house feeling somewhat hollow. Even though my own classes wouldn’t resume until tomorrow, the faculty was required to report back a day early for administrative prep.
I rolled over, glancing at the pillows flanking my sides. To my left lay a silken cascade of snow-white hair; to my right, a shimmering curtain of silver.
Shade and Sylvia. A pang of melancholy tightened in my chest, knowing they both had to journey back to their respective posts today. Despite what an outsider might assume of a harem master's holiday, our final night hadn't been consumed by wild, exhausting passion. It was a peaceful, deeply restorative rest. We had already thoroughly attended to our physical desires during the first day and night of the break.
Now that the majority of my wives living under this roof were expecting, my routine had gracefully regressed into a much gentler, domestic rhythm. My days were filled with the quiet study of high-tier magic, culturing specialized yeast strains for my upcoming brews, and dabbling in amateur alchemy and pill-making whenever the mood struck.
Creak.
The heavy oak door groaned softly as it pivoted open. Yin Meng slipped into the room like a shadow. She had just returned to the estate with the assistance of Shehuang and Baihu, while the rest of our detachment had temporarily traveled back to the Demonic Sect to settle outstanding affairs. In her delicate hands, she held a stack of bound parchment. Baihu had successfully retrieved the texts on the esoteric arts of the Gu Master from the First Elder. I set them on the nightstand, knowing I would need hours of uninterrupted focus to weigh whether such a treacherous path of cultivation was truly worth pursuing.
"Master," Yin Meng whispered, her voice a low, melodious hum. "Your brother, Thorin, is waiting in the ground-floor living room. He explicitly stated that you should take your time getting up, but he urgently requests an audience with you."
Despite her impeccable stealth, the slight shift in the room's atmosphere stirred the two blue-eyed beauties beside me. It was time to face the day anyway.
Sylvia shifted against the sheets, her voice thick with sleep. "Go meet him now. Shade and I will freshen up and join you both downstairs for breakfast before we have to leave."
"Mwah. Mwah."
I planted two lingering, affectionate pecks on the lips of my Ice and Time wives, threw on a set of casual, flowing house clothes, and trailed after Yin Meng down the winding corridor.
As we walked, I couldn't resist reaching out to give her rounded bottom a playful, affectionate pinch. Yin Meng’s lips twitched upward into a rare, fleeting smile. Because her unique constitution meant I couldn't always offer her the rougher, intense affection she secretly craved, we found solace in these small, harmless gestures to reaffirm our bond.
We reached the threshold of the sunlit parlor. Yin Meng paused, offering a flawless, formal bow. "Master, I shall inform the kitchen staff to prepare the morning spread." With a stoic expression that mirrored Shade’s unreadable demeanor, she pivoted on her heel and vanished down the hall.
Thorin was lounging comfortably in an armchair, cradling a porcelain cup of tea laced heavily with the golden northern honey imported from my mother's bakery.
"Catch!" Thorin called out the moment I sank into the sofa opposite him.
Flutter!
With a flick of his wrist, he launched a sealed parchment across the space like a frisbee. I caught it deftly between two fingers.
Rip.
Breaking the wax seal, I unfurled the elegantly penned, subtly fragrant missive. As my eyes scanned the sweeping calligraphy, a slow, identical smirk spread across both our faces.
"Just like you predicted," Thorin chuckled, setting his teacup down with a clink. "I got officially 'fired' from my post. In compensation, Owen promoted me to a Count of the Southern Cross Duchy. On our very next academic holiday, Queen Angelica is hosting my dual wedding. She personally insisted that I hand-deliver this invitation to you."
I traced the ink. Her handwriting was flawless, meticulously executed in an archaic, calligraphic script that heavily resembled the Old English alphabet of Earth.
"This is a bit outside my expectations," I mused, tapping the edge of the paper. "Sending you as a messenger should have been more than enough. Why go through the trouble of a royal decree?"
"Because she’s absolutely convinced you’d boycott my wedding after our staged falling out," Thorin explained, leaning forward. "She wrote it explicitly as a royal mandate to ensure that, as a Count yourself, you are legally and socially obligated to appear."
I folded the letter, slipping it into my tunic. "Did Owen fill you in on the details regarding the whole mess between Lana and me?"
"Yeah. He deployed Skogul to relay the situation via telepathy. Apparently, the Milf Queen pushed Angelica’s buttons one too many times. Angelica rushed this wedding together just to completely derail whatever political counter-provocation you were planning."
I nodded silently. Thorin was still blissfully unaware of the deeper, intricate history binding Lana, Leandra, and Angelica. That was a web of secrets best left kept from him for now.
"So, Angelica wants Lana to retain her status as a Princess rather than stepping down to a Countess," I murmured, piecing the puzzle together. "Classic damage control. She has to maintain the public facade of a doting, flawless mother. Banishing her own daughter to the rustic North would look incredibly petty, and it would expose her blatant favoritism toward Vali."
I laughed softly, leaning back against the cushions. "It also proves she isn't confident Vali can secure the title of Crown Prince without utilizing you as leverage. Man, I am so incredibly glad I spent my past life reading those ridiculous web novels. The political tropes are practically a blueprint for her psychology."
Thorin let out a heavy, dramatic sigh. "Must be nice. I missed out on all of that by growing up way too early back on Earth. Computers always sounded so damn cool. To think I got taken out by 'Tank-kun,' as Owen so eloquently puts it..."
I grinned, leaning over the table. "Hey, I've been meaning to ask. Did Tank-kun actually blow you up when you tried to take it head-on?"
Thorin’s face instantly flushed a brilliant crimson. He took a hasty, defensive gulp of his tea before answering. "I was run over, alright? I didn't realize modern light tanks could haul ass at forty miles per hour!"
"Oh, wow!" I burst out laughing. "That explains it! That's exactly why Owen called it Tank-kun instead of the traditional Truck-kun! You got turned into a pancake!"
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Enough teasing me about my tragic, motorized demise," Thorin grumbled, though a smirk tugged at his lips. "Are you actually going to show up to this circus, or are you skipping?"
"Are you kidding? Free high-end food and top-shelf liquor? I wouldn't miss it for the world," I chuckled, rising from my seat.
"Alright, Count Sky. I'm heading out then."
"Let me see you to the stables."
Neigh!
A chaotic, earth-shaking ruckus echoed from the courtyard before we even reached the stable doors. Thorin froze, his face dropping as he suddenly remembered a vital detail.
Sleipnir, having survived a grueling month of forced celibacy, had finally caught sight of his equine lover. To put it mildly, unspeakable, highly unchristian acts were currently transpiring in the paddock.
I stared blankly at the chaotic scene, then slowly pointed a finger toward a pristine, pure-white Clydesdale stallion tied to the nearby hitching post—the horse Yin Meng typically rode.
"How about we just trade horses right now?" I offered, rubbing my temples in sheer exhaustion. "I am too profoundly ashamed to even attempt to scold that absolute menace."
Thorin didn't even hesitate. "Deal. Besides, an all-white stallion looks way cooler anyway. Wait, my custom saddle is still buckled onto Brown Sugar."
"I'll have the stable hands retrieve it, get it thoroughly sanitized, and bring it to the academy tomorrow," I sighed, waving him off. "Just take our mount for now. Please."
Thorin mounted the Clydesdale, looking back at the distant, roaring sounds of horse passion. "Now I finally understand why Owen pawned Sleipnir off to the Duchess. The beast is a literal pain in the ass."
"Agreed. Get out of here before he spots your new ride."
With a swift nod, Thorin galloped away, completely liberated from the cursed legacy of Sleipnir.
Later that morning, I walked Sylvia and Shade to the local post-office station, kissing them goodbye as they boarded their transport.
With the rest of my day suddenly open, I locked myself in the estate's distillery to brew a fresh batch of spirits. The process was astonishingly rapid now. By weaving together Greater Air, Fire, and Life Utility magic, I could accelerate fermentation, control distillation temperatures perfectly, and purify the liquids in a fraction of the time, utilizing barely a fraction of my mana reserves.
By evening, I returned to the main manor, enjoying a warm, boisterous dinner surrounded by Yin, Ayala, and Lisa.
The next morning, the mounts walked along the cobblestone streets leading to the Royal Academy. As I stretched my arms, a sudden surge of ambient mana rippled through my soul. The mental connection to my summons hummed with newfound power. It was the unmistakable signature of Shehuang; the serpent had officially broken through its bottleneck, evolving into a terrifying 8th Circle mythical monster.
With this change, I also gained two new abilities from her.
Summons Telepathy: As previously unlocked, this ability permits your Summons to broadcast their thoughts like an audible voice, or target a specific individual.
Banishment Immunity: Absolute protection against spatial displacement. The Summons can no longer be forcefully exiled, forcefully recalled, or banished by High Circle Mages of any affinity.
I smirked at the second power. My ass isn't going anywhere, bitches.
Lisa was curled comfortably in my arms as we rode, her head resting against my chest. Boredom struck, and a wicked idea popped into my head. I decided to test out my newly upgraded telepathy.
Focusing my mind, I beamed a direct, crystal-clear mental voice straight into her consciousness.
[Lisa, dear... that extended session we had in the bathhouse tub last night was incredibly refreshing, wasn't it?]
Lisa stiffened instantly, her eyes widening in sheer panic. "Loki! Don't say things like that out loud in the open streets!" she squeaked, her face turning bright red.
Ayala, riding her own mount parallel to ours, glanced over, her brows furrowing. "What did Loki say? I didn't hear a thing."
Lisa looked utterly bewildered, her brain short-circuiting as she tried to comprehend how I had thrown my voice without moving my lips. Seizing the chaotic momentum, I seamlessly switched my telepathic channel, targeting Ayala next.
[Just ask her about the bathtub incident.]
Ayala didn't flinch. As a seasoned teacher, she was well-accustomed to telepathic transmission, but a mischievous glint flared in her eyes nonetheless.
Leaning forward over her saddle, she called out loudly, "Lisa! If you need that much assistance in the bathroom next time, just make sure to yell a little louder than you did last night! Haha!"
Pinch!
I gave Ayala a discreet thumbs-up, which immediately earned me a vicious side-pinch from a mortified Lisa. I merely smiled; with my reinforced physical stats, her vengeful grip felt like a gentle caress.
As the horses moved on, I took a moment to explain the phenomenon, filling them both in on Shehuang’s sudden evolution. The pieces clicked into place. By the time we reached the academy gates, both women were utterly thrilled by the realization that I could now bypass the professors entirely and broadcast my inner voice directly into their minds during boring lectures.
At the academy entrance, I tracked down Thorin and handed over his thoroughly cleaned, polished saddle.
Ayala, passing by with a smile, casually invited him to audit her advanced combat class whenever his schedule allowed. Thorin looked like a kid on Christmas morning, nodding enthusiastically.
However, the lighthearted mood shifted the moment Ayala and Lisa walked away. Two figures approached us from the main courtyard path: Vali and Princess Lana.
According to the strict narrative Vali and Lana had meticulously constructed for the public, Thorin was supposed to be completely oblivious to the secret, passionate relationship brewing between Lana and me. Watching them try to maintain standard, rigid etiquette made the entire encounter spectacularly awkward—and secretly hilarious.
Thorin had naturally been demoted from his official position as Lana’s Protector Knight. In his place stood Frigg, the legendary, high-ranking Valkyrie summon. She loomed just behind the princess, her piercing gaze and radiating aura making her look deeply intimidating to anyone who dared get too close.
Lana cleared her throat, breaking the tense silence. "Sir Loki, the Summoner curriculum is about to begin. Would you do me the honor of escorting me to the lecture hall?"
I fell into step beside her. Locking my eyes forward, I sent a focused beam of telepathic energy straight into her mind.
[Good morning, my beautiful Sif. I missed you terribly. Tell me, how is our little baby doing today?]
Frigg, standing guard behind us, couldn't decipher the encrypted telepathic frequency, but the ancient Summoner bond linking her soul to Lana instantly transmitted the sudden spike of sheer embarrassment and overwhelming joy radiating from her master. The legendary Valkyrie slowly rolled her grey eyes, letting out a silent, long-suffering sigh.
Lana’s face flushed a deep, brilliant shade of crimson. Having grown up in the royal court, she had been surrounded by telepathic mages her entire life; she knew exactly what I was doing.
"Princess, let us proceed," I said aloud, maintaining a perfectly professional facade. "You look radiant today. Something wonderful must have happened to you recently."
Before we could cross the threshold, Vali stepped into our path, a confident, slightly arrogant smile plastered across his face. "Count Loki! To properly celebrate your spectacular survival and success within the Secret Realm, I would like to formally invite your entire circle to join me for a lavish luncheon today."
He practically radiated financial confidence this time around. It was entirely obvious Queen Angelica had personally refilled his coffers with a massive budget to ensure he played the part of a generous royal benefactor flawlessly.
I smirked internally. Even if we deliberately ordered every single bottle of vintage elven wine and gorged ourselves on high-tier Demonic Beast steaks, the royal treasury was footing the bill. And if there was one thing Loki Sky never did, it was backing down from a blatant challenge.
"Most definitely," I replied smoothly. "I'll make sure Princess Lana, Ayala, and Lisa are all in attendance. Tell me, brother, will Mary and Jane be joining us as well?"
Thorin was practically suffocating, trying to suppress a hysterical laugh because I had simultaneously dropped a message into his head: [Might as well feed the entire army on their dime. It’s obviously Queen Angelica’s gold paying for it anyway, haha!]
Thorin subtly nodded, assuming I was utilizing a high-grade communication talisman to pull off the mental stunt—a very reasonable guess for a non-mage.
"They’ve been dying to meet you officially," Thorin answered aloud, coughing slightly to hide his amusement. "So yeah, they’ll be there."
Vali beamed, practically glowing with pride, utterly oblivious to the fact that his mother's wallet was about to be bleeding dry by noon.
Inside the grand Summoner lecture hall, the seating arrangements felt wonderfully familiar. Lana and I took our places right next to each other at the rear desk. Nominally, we were focused on the professor’s complex diagrams on the chalkboard. In reality, a completely different type of study was underway.
[Not being able to see you after we parted ways at the realm boundary really had me worried], I projected into her mind, keeping my expression entirely neutral. [I'm just incredibly glad to see you're safe and healthy.]
Lana didn't possess the active skill to project her thoughts back to me telepathically, so she resorted to a classic, time-honored Earth tradition. Her quill danced across a scrap of parchment, which she subtly slid over to my side of the desk. The margins were littered with cute, meticulously drawn little hearts.
[You absolute bad guy... you've officially turned me into a terrible girl. All I can think about is wanting to do it more. After spending four straight days and nights with you completely inside of me, I feel so incredibly empty now that we're apart.]
“Pfft—! Cough, cough! Cough!”
A violent choke erupted from my throat. My lungs seized, and I violently hacked into my sleeve.
The entire lecture hall fell dead silent. Dozens of heads snapped around to stare at me.
"Ah?! My deepest apologies, Professor!" I stammered, frantically waving a hand while trying to regulate my racing heart. "I... I saw a massive, venomous insect on the desk and it completely startled me!"
A wave of muffled laughter rippled through the classroom. Up at the podium, the professor simply shook her head in exasperation before returning to the lesson. Beside me, Lana’s lips curved into a triumphant, utterly delighted smile, thoroughly enjoying my volatile reaction. It was a fair strike, considering I had slept like a log through the final leg of our journey.
I hurriedly scribbled a response beneath her note, sliding it back.
[Oh my goodness, Lana... when I finally woke up, that magic sleeping bag was absolutely ruined. Was that seriously all from us?!]
Her quill flew across the paper without a second of hesitation.
[I cast a cleansing charm on it every single morning, so what you saw was literally just the final day's worth of results. I am completely shaped around you now, ♥Husband♥!]
My hand trembled slightly as I took the parchment back. My pride was warring heavily with a deep, primal sense of masculine bewilderment.
[I'm almost terrified to ask... but do you happen to have an exact count of how many times we actually did it?]
Lana’s smile widened, her golden hair brushing softly behind her ear as she leaned over the page. Her pen moved with fluid, terrifyingly precise motions. When she slid the paper back over, I froze solid, my face draining of all color as a wave of utter humiliation washed over me. My vague, hazy memories of a seemingly endless dream were suddenly laid out in cold, hard, mathematical data.
[Inside me: 174 times. In my hands: 34 times. In my mouth: 27 times. On my chest: 12 times. That was the final tally before I had to depart the chamber. I have absolutely no idea what you did to yourself after I left.]
I stared at the numbers. Total completions: 247.
Over a ninety-six-hour period.
Given our superhuman, ascended physiques, the absolute lack of a need for sleep when supplemented by high-grade mana, an endless supply of premium health and rejuvenation potions, and the overflowing reservoirs of Primordial Life humming within my veins... the math, horrifyingly enough, completely checked out. Holy shit.
I slowly turned my head, my pale, wide-eyed face locking eyes with her. I grabbed the quill one last time, my handwriting visibly shaking.
[Hey Lana... I think I just figured out the exact scientific mystery of how I managed to get you pregnant.]
Lana gracefully tucked a stray strand of golden hair behind her ear, her piercing blue eyes crinkling at the corners as she stared at my shell-shocked expression. She didn't say a word, merely smiling with a profound, radiant sense of maternal pride.
Okay. Lana was absolutely, terrifyingly amazing.
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