Chapter Eighty One: Fun Times

I took a rest from the dungeon for a while. In that time, a lot of things happened. 
What stuck with me was a scene with Liek. I bumped into her in the middle of town. She looked lifeless almost as if all life had been sucked from her. 
What shocked me the most was seeing her light up the moment she saw me. She acted very energetic till we parted ways when night came. 
She told me that she had been weak and lacked appetite ever since I left that day after our kiss. That it was a deep longing for me that almost ruined her life. 
Begging me for a kiss before we parted, I flew her back to that barn. There, I smooched her lips leaving her there unconscious. But before I could leave, the other girl cut me off. Telling me how I'm acting against their master and that they wont take that lightly. In conclusion, she asked me to never see Liek again. Stating that their master gave me permission back then but not now. The sad look in Liek’s eyes were that of intense longing. She was like a child being separated from his parents. But even in her situation, she knew it wouldn’t end up well if she disobeyed her master. 
I remember clearly the time he offered me to choose between the two girls. They were both knockouts, but I think I would have gone with Liek back then.
He offered to lend me one of them, meaning it was only temporary. And after that night with her in the barn, that offer expired.
But to think she had been waiting for me since then…….. just how long has it been? It was before my relationship with Lust even began. I would have been fine with her feelings a few weeks ago but now…..It would be in her best interest if things remained this way. I’m really scared of what Lust will do to her if she gets close to me. From the short time we’ve been together, I can tell that her jealousy is not something to be joked about.
I couldn’t eat lunch properly when I returned home. There was still that lonely feeling from Figlo leaving the city, but what bothered me the most is the condition of the girls I kissed. My eyes moved between Meila and Etis as I sat in the dining table while they chatted in the living room.
Aside from Etis whose condition I don’t know since leaving the gate town, Meila doesn’t seem to have change much from when we met. We did stop arguing with each other, but that’s about it. She doesn’t show……………..
Hmm……………!!? I was about to say that she doesn’t show any longing for me, but is that really the case?
The first time I kissed Meila was when she was passed out in Taht’s house. She did act weird after that but it was because her magic was gone. But our relationship started changing after we returned home. We decided to stop fighting not long after and she started doing the house chores………
“Ha. I’m just over thinking things because of the condition I saw Liek in. I’m sure there must have been a catalyst that turned her like that.
As for Etis, she doesn’t seem much different to me from how I knew her. She’s still a bit of an air head and she smiles all the time. The one I’m really worried about is Taht. Aside from Meila, she was the only one I kissed twice. She asked for it each time.
But if Meila is alright then I guess she is too.
I do feel bad for Liek, but there is nothing I can do for her. I’ll give her a cure if I knew how but I don’t. and I cant be with her right now. Because after all, there is someone that I really like.
It was Etis’ third day in our house. It has been more lively than it’s ever been since her arrival. She and Meila always share stories about things they’ve learn. They both look happy each time they do the chores together. They do whisper sometimes though. I feel like they are talking behind my back. They always pretend like it’s nothing when I ask what they are doing.
I bet Meila must have felt lonely staying in the house all alone when I’m in the dungeon.
We were all seated in the living room when I subconsciously said “How nice. How I wish Etis will stay with us longer. We look as if we are family.” 
“Meila also agreed with me when she yelled “I know right!?” but Etis had a concerned expression”……”She remained silent.
Meila and I became silent as well. We all looked at her waiting for her response. I started to think whether I said something I shouldn’t when she spoke “……… I really wish it is possible. I really do. But grandpa………”
That’s right. She has her grandpa to take care of. What was I thinking putting her on the spot like that. 
“Hey I was only playing around. It’s not like you can’t visit us whenever you feel like it. And since I can fly, I can take Meila along with me to see you anytime we want.”
I thought that might cheer her up, but instead she looked even more sad “But you didn’t come back. Even though…………………..” she paused for a really long time.
“Sis………..?” Meila called out worriedly seeing Etis was spacing out.
She calls her sis for certain reasons.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m quite happy right now so it doesn’t matter anymore.”
It doesn’t matter huh? Now that she mentions it, I really didn’t visit her after I left her for the capital that day. Not even once. I was too occupied with Leila and the dungeon that it never even crossed my mind to go see her. 
But one thing I’m certain about is that “I never forgot about you Etis. I swear it. A day never passes by when I don’t remember the kindness you showed me. It’s just that………..”
Ah! I said that out loud!!
Both of them turned their eyes at me surprised by my comment. It was something I was thinking to myself but I somehow ended up saying the most important thing out loud. How embarrassing.
They were like magic words to her. The sadness in her eyes instantly disappeared “Th-thank you……… it makes me really happy.” she smiled brightly.
I went and said some embarrassing lines, but I’m glad it turned out great.
The girls played some games while I watched bored of myself. It was a game that can only be played using magic.
Using a playing field of exactly two meters wide, the field is divided equally in half each player places fifteen wooden plates on fifteen different boxes in their different sides. Five plates are placed in each row by a player. After that, they induce magic onto their respective plates which are about the size of a DVD plate in my world but a lot thicker. When they’ve activated the plates using their magic, the game begins. It requires the utmost concentration and calculations to win the game.
Just like tanks that fire lasers, the wooden plates shoot out magic in a laser form from holes like eyes to attack the opponents plates. Each player can only attack one at a time. The stronger a person is, or the stronger the magic induced in their plates; the stronger the attack.
But attacks don’t always land on opponents. If the accuracy or the strength of the laser isn’t enough, the attacks mediates of course or doesn’t reach the opponent at all. When that happens, a person can either move their pieces into the enemy territory to increase the chances of landing the attack or crash their pieces onto the opponents. Pushing the plates out of the field results in a win for the attacker. But if the attacking plate also leaves the field then they both lose their pieces and the game is continued using the pieces on board.
And if a player fails to destroy an opponents plate twice in a row, then the other player gets to attack twice in a row. It is a very well thought out game.
I was hella surprised to see how good the both of them are. I couldn’t believe the strength of Etis’ magic.Her plates from the last row are able to accurately destroy Meila’s vanguards or back plates.
In terms of sheer magical strength, Meila is nowhere near Etis’ level. But Meila knew another way to play. That’s when I learned that you can smash your plates together in order to kick out an opponent’s pieces.
After taking quite a few losses, Meila came up with a strategy. First she uses a piece from her vanguard to scatter Etis’ pieces by forcefully pushing it into the opponents field. And since the plates can only fire out the laser if the eyes are pointing at an opponent, Etis will have trouble turning the holes to face Meila’s pieces. She can only turn one piece per move and that is without attacking.
Using that trick, Meila was able to stand her ground by winning a few rounds. When she gets lucky enough to scatter many of Etis’, she moves her pieces closer to make an efficient attack. 
It was a strategy game more than anything else. The pieces get blown up like actual battles when the laser hits them. They can be stuck together after the game by using magic.
AAAAAAAHHHHHHH “LET ME PLAY!!!!!!!!!!” I roared when I couldn’t stay still anymore.
“It’s no fun if you guys are the only ones playing!” despite my protest, it’s not like I can actually play the damn thing. All pieces are controlled using magic alone and even if I do have magic, I still wouldn’t be able to control it like they do.
Etis comes from an orphanage so she’s been playing the game with her orphanage friends ever since she was a kid. The same applies for Meila as well. Leila was apparently a bad ass at the game as Meila told me. She defeated even the adults and her prodigy friends because of how powerful she was. They even gave her a nickname for it.
Meila however, was always at the losing end. Her magic was weaker and her friends wouldn’t go easy on her. That’s how she learned how to scatter her opponent’s plate.
Meila just smiled at my ridiculous request to join in. Etis however didn’t say a thing. She looked as though she knew I can’t use magic.
So in the end, I watched silently thrilled by the intensity of the game for a long time. Etis emerged victorious with 20 wins and eleven losses while Meila had 11 wins and 20 losses in a total of 31 games. Draws are impossible in that game. A single plate always remains in the end since players have to switch turns. Most games end in just five minutes.
The funniest expressions they make is when they both have a single plate remaining. It’s game over if you make a mistake.
It was a bit hot today but I didn’t think they’ll sweat that much just by playing a game. They entered the bath together after their tough game.
How I wish I can play it as well. It looked really interesting and addicting. I didn’t get tired of watching them at all.I was with Lust just this morning. I want to go back but I cant. I still haven’t told her that I’m taking a break from the dungeon. She would get mad at me if I did. She wants me to become stronger more than anyone else. It was only because of the strength I’ve gained that yesterdays long kiss was possible. I know it cant be considered long, but it was the longest by far out of them all. And she also felt it. She gasped for air like she’d never done before.
If only I’d thought about using my own energy to negate her’s even in the slightest in the beginning, then I wouldn’t have died too many times.
Even though I’m sure she’s thinking of me right now, she doesn’t always want me being too close to her. She cries whenever I die. And it’s not like I can stop myself from touching her when she’s close to me. I just cant help it.
I’ll have to wait till tomorrow to go to her house. But I have to go there in the evening or the afternoon so that I can return at night. I don’t want to make the girls wait for me all night long again.
“I have an idea!! why don’t we eat out tonight?” Meila suggested after coming out of the bath with Etis.
Etis agreed rather too easily “That sounds like a good idea~.”
“No it’s not. Why would we go out to eat when we have too much food in the house?”
“But it got late while we were playing………”
“It’s not that late. You can start now and finish before bed time cant you? don’t tell me you prolonged your game so that you wont have to cook?”
“That’s not it. It’s just that it’s good to eat out once in a while right, sis?”
“Nod! Nod!”
“It can’t be helped then. I’ll cook since you girls are tired.”
It seems that cooking isn’t the reason Meila suggested to eat out “No~! I want to it out today~!” she protested like a child.
“But……… it’ll take a while before we find a restaurant……….”
Etis had a different idea when I talked about distance “I know, we can just fly there! No one will see us since it’s dark right?”
So she also wants to eat out badly? What did they talk about in the bath?
“Then lets’ get ready………”
“Great!”X2
Girls can be stubborn when they want to be.
Getting dressed took them forever, I could have cooked some noodles and made tea with the time they took.Meila wore her brown dress which she bought along with some of my clothes. Etis wore a long red dress just like Meila’s. it looked just as expensive as Meila’s. 
Make up, lipsticks, earrings, necklaces, purses and eye whatever they call it. They were especially dressed for the outing. They went all out.
“Wow! This must be how it feels to have to wives………” the truth is; I didn’t intend for them to hear that. 
“Did you say something?”
“NO! I didn’t!” I grabbed Duddul’s straddle and waited for them outside. 
If they weren’t going together with me, I would have seriously believed that they are meeting their boyfriends or something.
But there is only one problem. Duddul can only carry two people. I’ll have to fly alone while the two of them ride on Duddul.
I asked about the place we are going when they came out together.
“I know just the place. Remember when we were sampling foods the other day? I saw a fancy restaurant there. MeiMei says you have enough money to buy a country so it’s okay right?”
A country!!?? what did Meila tell her!!??