"So let me get this right…I am an imoogi, correct?"
"And to be extra clear, that is a sub-species of the dragon race correct? As in I'm a nonhuman."
"With all those facts laid before the jury, can someone explain to me how I have a class? The path specifically designed for humans?"
"Just answer the question. I'll explain what sarcasm is to you at another time."
<...The presence of a class is due to the boon left to you by the entity. The boon was one of your wishes.>
The memory of his second wish came to mind at that moment.
"A god of all forms of martial arts huh? That was a little weeb of me looking back at it. Still, I have no regrets! But does my having a class conflict with my evolution path?"
Thinking of the "hidden" tag attached to his evolution path description prompted his question.
The voice was silent for a moment. Nevaris could almost hear the magical gears in its head spinning as if calculating the level of reality-busting badassery he was now capable of.
Nevaris blinked before a look of realization crossed his face. "Does this have to do with my first wish?"
The voice responded with a tone of intrigued confirmation.
Nevaris nodded. That information was concurrent with what he remembered from his own memories.
"So my wish to be able to grow infinitely…" Nevaris whispered.
His mind spun as the weight of what he was…what he could be, crashed down on him. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed that the two lazy cats beside him were beginning to stir.
Nevaris felt a little uncomfortable about the term of address the voice had used for his future wives, but managed to hold back the flicker of anger that had sparked.
"What is this 'extra load' and you haven't explained why my race changed either? I am sure I was a silver wyrm before, not an apocalypse imoogi. Though the name is badass."
Nevaris felt a bead of cold sweat drip down his forehead as he remembered contemplating fighting back against Lilith the other night.
'Thank god I didn't chop her neck like in anime. I would have probably cut off her head.'
Thinking the voice had retreated once again, he began to lay back down to digest the new information when it came back.
Nevaris was speechless at the voice's passive aggressive words. Then as if remembering something he asked, "By the way? What's your name?"
"Cue."
<...what?>
Nevaris chuckled at the genuine confusion in its robotic voice. "You are Cue. That will be your name. Nice working with you, partner."
The voice was silent for a moment before it let out what Nevaris could only assume to be a "hmm" of acknowledgement before its presence faded.
'What a tsundere, kekeke.'
Unconsciously, he wrapped his arms around both girls and had gripped them both tightly.
"Humm~"
"Ahnn~"
Listening to the adorable purr of Ana and the unconscious moan of Lilith, Nevaris let out a chuckle. Careful not to disturb them, he gently untangled their limbs and stood from the bed.
Looking back at the two, now somehow with Lilith as the little spoon, his gaze grew a little softer.
'Alright, yesterday was a bit of a mess. Let's make them breakfast and start this day off right.'
Motivated, he exited the spare room and walked toward the location of the kitchen from his memories.
…
"Ughhh, my head. What is that smell?"
Lilith woke up with what felt like the worst hangover of her life thus far. The strange throbbing pain from her nose caused her eyes to tear up a bit. Just as her senses began to return, a lingering pleasant aroma immediately wiped away any sensation of pain.
Trying to sit up and locate the source, she was suddenly pulled back down with a yelp. A crushing pressure wrapping itself even tighter around her torso.
"GYUAA! H-HELP!" she squealed like a crushed pig.
"Mmmm~, warm. Sleep…longer." a voice said from behind her.
Hearing the familiar voice, Lilith strained her neck to look behind her and finally located her captor. Seeing the familiar dull iron mask, she could only lay there helplessly as Ana used her body as a pillow, leaving Lilith without knowing whether to laugh or cry.
SQUEEZEEE!
"GUAA!"
Cry, definitely cry. Was this woman trying to crush her to death!?
Trying to speak through her gradually deflating lungs, Lilith managed to squeeze out, "A-Ana…w-wake up! G-Get…off…can't…b-breath…"
Sensing a disturbance, the sleeping beauty reluctantly released her crushing hold on Lilith. Trying to rub her bleary eyes through the mask, she mumbled out a drunken greeting, "Gwood…worning, Lilith."
Meanwhile, free of the grasp of death, Lilith sucked in air greedily as she shot a fearful glance at the still sleepy serpent. At a loss, she could only sheepishly greet her wanna-be murderer, "G-Good morning, Ana. Slept well huh?"
Ana gave off an aura so pure that Lilith felt her soul be cleansed as she responded, "Yeah! The best sleep I've ever had! Who knew being able to hold someone while you sleep could feel so good?"
'A-Angel!' Lilith mentally covered her eyes from her blinding cuteness.
Flustered, she blustered out a reply, "G-Glad you enjoyed it. You uhhh…you have quite the grip. I thought you were gonna squeeze me to death for a second there, haha."
Ana tilted her head in confusion, her mind still fogged by the morning haze, "What are you talking about? I was cuddling with my husband all night. How could I have held onto you?"
Lilith was a little surprised hearing how fluent and composed Ana now sounded, before letting out a helpless and slightly pained smile as she lifted her shirt, one Nevaris had probably slipped on her earlier, and pointed to the blackish-purple marks around her ribs.
"Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. I could have swore darling was the one I was clinging to but suddenly I woke up to being the little spoon of an adorable little serpent." Lilith joked amusedly.
However, Ana stilled, Lilith could almost see the frown on her face, as she realized she had indeed been holding Lilith. That realization at first stunned her and filled her mind with panic, but that panic quickly gave way to a deeper feeling of unease and confusion as she gazed at Lilith.
'She still remembers me. Not to mention she also shows no signs of mental instability and has been exposed to my touch for an extended period of time.' Ana's thoughts were chaotic as she tried to understand what was happening. 'Could she also be a key to my curse? But then what about my husband?'
Wanting to confirm her thoughts, she began to ask, "Do you feel–"
But the sudden opening of the door caused her to shut her mouth as a mouth-watering scent hit her nose with the force of an atomic bomb.
'W-What in the Absolute's name is that smell!?' Ana screamed internally.
It would be no exaggeration that Ana's senses were filled with a near euphoric pleasure just at the smell of whatever just entered the room. Lilith was in a similar situation, her scythes had already come out of her back, all eight of them rubbing together and jittering in visible excitement.
Just then, two plates of food appeared from behind the open door, followed by the handsome visage of their husband-to-be. With a knowing smile, Nevaris winked at the two salivating beauties as he set the covered dishes on the table opposite the bed.
"Good morning you two, glad to see you both join the land of the living." Nevaris laughed out.
Neither girl responded to his jab, both of their minds completely overwhelmed by the scent of the dishes flooding their minds. His voice had barely even registered.
Chuckling in satisfaction, he let out a prideful smirk as he raised an eyebrow at the two of them. "Are you two just gonna stare at me like two apes in heat or are you gonna come eat?"
Lilith snapped out of her trance, her face flushing as she glared at him angrily. But not willing to waste a single second, she hurriedly jumped out of bed and landed smoothly on her alluring, long legs. Walking leisurely toward the table.
Ana showed no embarrassment at all. She practically bounced out of bed and scurried over to the table, a fork and knife already clutched in her hands tightly.
Nevaris watched the scene in amusement, as he also sat down at the table with them.
"I'm glad to see you both so excited for breakfast, but will you be able to eat with that thing on, Ana?" he asked worriedly.
Of course he was more worried she wouldn't be able to enjoy the masterpiece he created to impress them more than anything. But there was a small part of him–okay, a large part of him, that wanted to see the mystery behind the mask.
At the mention of her mask, Ana's mood visibly deflated a little as she seemed a little hesitant to talk about it. Lilith was also looking at her mask intensely. But her gaze was less judgemental and more curious.
Seeing her reluctance to speak about the mask, Nevaris' gaze turned contemplative before he seemed to come to some sort of decision. Putting his own utensils down he looked at both women and spoke in a serious voice.
"Actually, now might be a good time to clear the air between us. I think…there are things we have to make clear."