Mythran's Master Of All

After getting their shower, Ren and Denise spent the rest of the day in bed together. Once she had discovered that he wanted to go down on her and stay there, she let him give her all the proof she wanted that he really could go all day if they only played with each other and he didn't have to exert himself.

They stopped when supper time came around, and after another quick shower to clean up, they went downstairs to the dining room to eat with everyone else. Stella and Lisa were already there, and so were Barbara and Donald.

“Hey, thanks a lot Stella.” Ren said as he saw the layout of food on the table. “You really outdo yourself some days.”

“Only some days?” Stella asked.

“You're not here every day.” Ren said, and she laughed.

“Good point.”

“Hey, everyone.” Elise said as she came into the dining room. “Whew! What a long day!” She said and gave Ren a kiss. “How was your day?”

“It was amazing, surprising, and over before I knew it.” Ren said and grinned. “Denise had an okay day, too.”

Elise laughed when Denise snorted and coughed. “What about you, Lisa?”

“It was a good day.” Lisa said. “I played online for a while and read some books.” She said as Elise took off her suit coat and sat down. “I also let the maids know what's been going on.”

“Hey, thanks!” Ren said. “I'll be back to Aurora as soon as I can, and then I'll thank you properly.”

Lisa's face flushed red. “You don't have to do that.”

“Oh, yes I do.” Ren said. “I'll message you as soon as I'm out of the caverns and find out how far away I am.”

“B-but...”

“Yes, I've got other commitments.” Ren said.”You're the first one I want to see in the game when I'm free of the caverns.”

Lisa closed her mouth on her response and nodded slightly, and everyone sat down and started to eat.

“Thanks for coming over early, Barbara.” Stella said.

“You offered me food that I didn't have to cook.” Barbara said.

Her husband Donald chuckled. “Plus, she's had a really easy time during her shifts lately.”

“Should I apologize for that?” Ren asked, and Barbara laughed.

“You've been trying to spend time with everyone, and like I told Stella, I can't complain that you have so many people in your life that care about you.”

Ren looked around and beamed a smile at everyone. “There's definitely no complaints on my part.” He felt a hand on his leg under the table and turned to look at Elise, and she smiled warmly at him.

“No complaints here.” Elise said.

“No comment.” Lisa said, and Ren chuckled.

Ren reached a hand out and touched her cheek. “You won't have any complaints after I get back.”

“Ren, I... I didn't mean...”

“I know what you meant.” Ren said and smiled. “Don't worry, I'm going to take care of it.”

“I... okay.” Lisa said. I really hope that you do.

Denise told them that Ren's leg was healing nicely, and he would be back to doing therapy in a couple of days. Donald grunted, and Barbara translated that he was happy to hear that. Everyone laughed and Donald smiled. Stella let them all know where the emergency kits were, which was everywhere, and that everything was restocked. They all appreciated her diligence and ate their food. When the meal was over, everyone was in a much better mood than they were before eating.

“Elise? Do you want to just hang out and watch television for a while? I'm going into the game soon and I'd like to cuddle until then.” Ren said.

“I'd like that.” Elise said happily.

“Lisa? Go get your book.” Ren said, and she looked at him with wide eyes.

“R-really?”

Ren nodded, and she left the dining room almost at a run. “We're going to the first living room!” He yelled after her.

“Okay!” Lisa yelled back as she disappeared around the corner.

“That was really nice of you.” Elise said and pushed his wheelchair out of the dining room and to the first living room, while Donald went to the workout room and Barbara cleaned up the dishes against Stella's protest.

“I figure we can cuddle, and she can spend time with us at the same time.” Ren said. “My arms kind of ache if I'm around her and can't hold her.”

“Oh, I know that feeling.” Elise said with a chuckle and helped him transfer onto the large couch. She sat down on the corner of the couch after putting a pillow behind her; and since she had left her suit coat in the dining room, she didn't have to take it off to be comfortable. “Snuggle in.”

“With pleasure.” Ren said and tucked himself under her arm and rested his head against her chest. “I think I'm getting used to this feeling.”

“What feeling is that?” Stella asked as Barbara and her came into the room, and Denise turned on the television.

“Contentment.” Ren said, and they all looked at him. “You all work so hard to make my life bearable.” He sighed happily. “You don't know how much I appreciate all of you.” He said as Lisa came into the room. “Do you want to sit or lay down?”

“Sit.” Lisa said and sat beside him, and he wrapped an arm around her to pull her close. “I have to wait for your leg to heal before I can lay on your lap.”

Ren nodded, and Elise put her arm around both him and Lisa. They stayed that way, with an occasional kiss exchange between Elise and Ren, until it was close to the time that he wanted to go back into the game. When the time came, their little gathering broke up and Barbara took over control of Ren's wheelchair.

“I'll see you tomorrow night for the next episode of your show.” Elise said, and Ren's mouth dropped open.

“Tomorrow's Friday already?” Ren asked, surprised. “Time is just flying by.”

“It really is.” Elise said and gave him a goodbye kiss. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” Ren said and she picked up her suit coat and left. He thought about everyone he had seen this week, and looked at Stella. “I haven't seen Gloria since the hospital.”

“She's been... busy.” Stella said in a flat tone.

“Does she know what happened to me wasn't her fault?”

“Yes, Elise called her as soon as the guy was caught.”

“Why hasn't she come to see me?” Ren asked.

“If I had to take a guess, I'd say she still blames herself.” Stella said. “Not openly, but it bugs her that her actions led to it happening.”

“I blame myself, too.” Denise said. “I can't imagine what...” She shook her head. “At least he didn't succeed.”

“Well, on that kind of depressing note, Barbara? Take me to the land of corruption!”

Barbara laughed. “Why don't I just take you to your bed?”

“That's what I said.” Ren grinned, and she shook her head. Barbara took him over to the elevator, and he didn't flinch when they entered it. They went up to his bedroom and she helped him get into bed, then handed him the VR headset.

“Thanks.” Ren said and put it on. “I don't think I'll be out during the night.” He said and relaxed.

“I assumed that, since you stayed out for Elise.” Barbara said. “Have fun.”

“I will.” Ren said. “Flow Login Start.”

********

Ren woke up in the shop tower and looked up at the ceiling. Hi, Teepo.

“Hi, Ren.” Teepo said. “You were gone for 4 days.”

I know, buddy. Ren said and sat up. I'm back now, and I think it's time we get out of here.

“I agree.” Teepo said. “It's been fun and all, but all this corruption stuff is getting on my nerves.”

Ren chuckled. You're not the only one that feels that way; but, I think I've thought of a way to deal with it. He got out of bed and ran down the stairs. He concentrated on his Heat Sense Aura, and felt all 20 succubi within it. With his Undead Adept skill, he could feel the skeleton knights within his Aura as well. He took out his Book of Runes and thought about what corruption would look like.

Ren drew a biohazard symbol, with three half circles around a center point and another circle around the middle. He imagined it red for blood, since the corruption seemed to be concentrated there, and touched the image. He poured Mana into it and thought the symbol should keep generating corruption; it disappeared and reappeared on the page, exactly like he had imagined it. It was bright red and had black spots through it.