Bathhouse Bonds and Daphne's Night Awaits
Standby—splash. As the stream of water poured down by Tier cascaded over Daphne's head, the tiny specks of dust clinging from their tower climb were swept away, leaving her signature golden hair to brightly illuminate the bathroom interior.
"Hehe. Daphne sis is pretty."
"Thank you, Plang."
Plang sidled up beside Daphne, her eyes sparkling as she admired the shimmering golden locks and the graceful curves that truly befitted her fairy-like elven heritage. Seeing her with those broken horns giving her a childlike innocence stirred a pang of pity in me, but she'd blended seamlessly into the party, forming a family with Tier without issue—my lips curved into a warm smile at the thought.
"Sheesh, snap out of it, Daphne."
Tier's bright smile had apparently sent my mind wandering to flowery fields for a moment; as she massaged my scalp with firmer fingers while washing my hair, worries about my current and future situation crashed over me, making my chest heave.
"Eek!"
"Ah! Sorry, did that hurt?"
"Nngh. No... it feels good."
"Hehe. Good."
Tier beamed back at me in her water-soaked, primal form. Her muscular build exuded reliability, but recalling how even this sturdy Tier turned into a quivering mess after being with him, I let out another sigh.
"What's wrong, Daphne?"
"Yeah... I'm just worried... Can I really handle it?"
Tier's eyes softened as she caught the implication in my words about today's events.
"I-it's fine! Elves are pretty resilient compared to humans, right?!"
"That's true, but..."
Tier tried her best to reassure me and boost my confidence. But her words offered no comfort whatsoever. Hadn't I already peeked through the hole and seen just how massive his thing was, and how endless his stamina?
'She said it was torture for her too.'
Every time after being with him, she'd wobble around the mansion on shaky legs, crawling more than walking, sniffling yet grinning like an idiot—the mere thought of Tier's behavior made my lips pout.
And Tier was a beastkin with superior physical prowess, no less. She'd been with him countless times, plenty experienced by now, yet she still ended up bedridden. How was a virgin like me supposed to endure it?
I felt a twinge of hurt that my friend didn't understand my plight.
Tier sensed the prickly atmosphere from my unconsciously sulky glare and scratched her head, finally realizing the contradiction in her situation and past actions.
"Still... you'll do great, Daphne. You even birthed a Spirit Stone."
"Tier!"
"Eek!"
Tier flinched in a way that didn't suit her, scampering toward Plang splashing in the bath like a scolded child.
"Hoo..."
There were things you said and things you didn't. Tier's comment basically implied that since I'd birthed a Spirit Stone, my insides were loose enough to take Berg's thing with room to spare. Of course, she hadn't meant it that way, but with my nerves frayed from anticipation and anxiety about tonight's bedchamber, I'd raised my voice without thinking—guilt now boomeranged back at me.
Turning, I saw Tier in the bath, hugging Plang and peeking over guiltily. Her childlike remorse stabbed at my heart with guilt and apology, so I rose and trudged toward the bath.
"Sorry, Tier... Sniff."
A wave of melancholy made my nose tingle. Had my sincerity gotten through? Tier stood with Plang in her arms and pulled me into the embrace too.
"Hehe. It's okay. I get it—it's your first time, Daphne."
"Tier..."
Her arms wrapped around Plang and me, soft yet strong.
"Besides, we're family, right? No sorries between family."
Tier was Tier, after all. Grateful once more for our friendship despite my side-room status, and for being folded into her family circle, I silently offered fervent thanks to the World Tree.
"Huh? No sorries between family?"
"Yeah! Just trust your big sis, Plang!"
The warm atmosphere brought a smug adult grin to Tier's face.
"Um... actually, Plang snuck some of Tier sis's snacks a few days ago...?"
"I-it's fine."
"I ate some too, Tier..."
"..."
"Eek!"
"Aaaah! Tier!"
Tier's arms bulged with muscle as she squeezed Plang and me, drawing screams from our lips. Even as I cried out in pain, a faint smile crept on, and I pressed closer against them without thinking.
I'd felt it in the elven village too, but no matter what, family warms the heart.
"Aaaah! Tier sis! It hurts! Hurts!"
"Huh? It's just affection, Plang. Family's the best."
Unlike me, Tier's face—not heart—was flushing hot with veins bulging.
'Hehe. Better not mention what I ate before... Ugh!'
"Huh? Why's Plang like that?"
The women were supposed to be bathing together, yet here was Plang limp in Tier's arms like she'd fainted as they emerged from the bathroom. I shot a questioning glance, and Tier blushed faintly, waving her hands in flustered explanation.
"Sh-she got too hot and collapsed! Hehe, chief."
"Hm..."
A red clan's dragonkin collapsing from bathroom steam? It was a ridiculous excuse, but I chuckled and nodded.
"No matter how much she whines, take good care of her, Tier. You're the big sis, right?"
I grinned knowingly, and she scratched her head, nodding with affectionate eyes—clearly pleased at being treated as the eldest.
"Yeah. Got it, chief!"
"By the way, where's Daphne?"
I pointed out the missing one who'd gone bathing with them, and Tier smirked slyly.
"Said she went ahead to prepare?"
"Oho..."
Even with childbirth experience, a virgin Daphne taking the initiative for intimacy? My lips curled in anticipation without me realizing.
'Guess women understand women best?'
Tier's reliable grin and boundless affection warmed my heart, so I reached up to scratch under her chin. Good deeds deserved rewards.
"Good girl, Tier. Must be 'cause of you they're all getting along so well."
"Ch-chief. Grrr."
At my gentle affection, she gulped, tail swishing wildly as if in heat. How long did I stroke her throat and fluffy ears? She writhed, body heating up, then squeezed her eyes shut and stepped back.
"Hah! Hng. Heh. Heh."
She swallowed hard, calming her arousal.
"Heh. D-Daphne's waiting, so hurry, chief."
Suppressing her instincts for her friend and family left me stunned. I'd clearly underestimated Tier all this time.
'They care for each other this much?'
Among my women, Tier had the least restraint regarding sex. As a beastkin with her heat cycle, plus my Incubus ability, her lust must hit like an aphrodisiac overdose compared to the others.
Yet she held back for Daphne's first night? Even though Daphne was shifting from friend to concubine?
'Unexpected...'
I'd subconsciously lumped these NPCs with Park Jisu, but Tier's pure affection toward me cracked that notion.
'These girls could get along with Jisu too... Gotta think on it.'
Scouring games might yield a way. Ownership surging unexpectedly, I ruffled Tier's hair one last time.
"Got it. Tonight's for Daphne. Right?"
"Yeah!"
She beamed. I kissed her lips softly, then turned toward Daphne's room.
"Oh! Tier, after tonight we're all sleeping together, so keep that in mind and tell Plang and Daphne tomorrow?"
"Ah...! Y-yeah, chief!"
Relaying it through her made her shoulders puff up proudly as the eldest. I chuckled softly and walked off.