Of Course... Yeah. Now What?
Humans are foolish creatures, sad in proportion to their stupidity. Animals that only realize they can't escape the swamp once their feet are stuck in it. But the sacrifice of the one ahead who merges with the swamp at least helps those behind immensely. They can take a detour, after all. Take all the venomous creatures in the world—they only became known because people ahead of them ate a bite and writhed in agony. All those who follow can do is pray for the pioneers who got screwed just for leading the way.
But I failed in my duty as one of those behind. Instead of learning from the countless porters who ended up in prison for sex crimes, wrecked their parties, or got beaten to death by heroes on a whim... I followed in their footsteps like an idiot. And plunged both feet straight into the swamp of lust.
One foot in Esen's embrace. The other in Monica's. So now I'm not the one ahead who went first—I'm the one who needs prayers for me. How can I pray for anyone else's safety when I'm the one who's fucked?
Esen's troubled eyes scanned me. The eyes of the tigress I'd grown so fond of, yet feared at the same time.
"Let's sort this out first, porter."
"...Sort what out?"
"What the hell are we, you and me?"
It was a brutal question for a fresh Adamanthon graduate who'd just unpacked his baggage. My arms instinctively tucked between my knees, twisting like a guilty man's.
"Whaaat... what do you mean by that?"
"We can't judge things clearly with Monica-unnie until we sort us out first. There's obviously something between you two from way back. How long have you liked each other? Since your hometown?"
"Well, it's like—"
"What about me? Did you like me?"
My heart lurched. Not because Esen scared me, but because I couldn't pin down my own feelings.
Yeah. We'd definitely been something like sex friends. One-sided on my part at first, but affection had bloomed undeniable as our bodies intertwined. But were we lovers? What emotions had I held for Esen, and she for me?
Thankfully, Esen wasn't trembling in betrayal. She just looked puzzled, awkward. Who could've foreseen a mess like this?
"That day, outside the cabin where you and Tan were... mingling. The scent I caught."
Monica's voice, muffled under the blanket, on the verge of tears. Esen and I both flinched.
"It reeked of intense affection, thick and heavy. A love that wouldn't lose to any couple of years. I could smell it on both of you. I was jealous. How could you two lean on each other and fall that hard, that fast?"
I stared at Esen in shock. Her face flushed crimson as she waved it off with a laugh.
"Come on, unnie, what are you saying? Fall in love that quick with a debt-ridden porter I've known a few days? How could you even tell—"
"As Ishtar's daughter, I can tell. Never been wrong once. And it was so genuine, so dense, I couldn't deny it as fake."
Monica's delicate features twisted.
"I stopped just being jealous. Sorry. It's all my fault, Esen."
"Jealous?"
"If I had to give my first time to someone... I wished endlessly it could've been Tan. I kept my distance fearing I'd ruin him. Before that, outside your love nest of a cabin, I'd erase my presence, soothe myself with touches, thinking those kisses should have been mine."
She treated herself like a criminal, steeped in regret. This woman who couldn't even catch a bug without mercy—the kindest soul I knew. Her tears on those cheeks felt like a disaster I'd wrought.
"In the end, you dated him first, but I liked him first. Every time grown-up Tan said 'rely on me,' 'I want to repay you,' words that sounded like confessions... carelessly."
"...Unnie, that's not your fault—"
"No, it must be mine. Maybe Ishtar led us to this mess because of my twisted desires."
Esen's eyes widened.
"...So running into a succubus demon horde on my promotion quest wasn't coincidence?"
"Succubi are demons, not the goddess's kin. She wouldn't send an army like that."
Monica bit her lip.
"But the target could've been ghouls or salamanders. Connected to Her in spirit, I can guess. She pitied me struggling to give up Tan... and led us to a bind only solved by mingling bodies."
...Or maybe I was marked as sacrifice from the start. The Ishtar I'd met clearly hadn't expected me to still be breathing after Monica imprinted on me. Could be both. She granted her beloved daughter's wish to hold Tan, but didn't love this Tan Bantai fooling around with another woman.
If I'd died imprinted, would Monica have buried me in memories and lived out her days? Or followed her lewd goddess's lead, fallen into heartbroken succubus depravity, hunting men everywhere?
"...Damn it."
I hated both. Monica was mine. Her simple smile, our built-up memories, those full breasts and hips. I couldn't lose her to death or hand her to another man.
I pulled the shivering Monica tight under the blanket. Her tremors stopped with a soft ugh.
"...So, the goddess is pushing this relationship?"
Esen looked a bit queasy. Fair enough. Tigresses rarely faced unsolvable-by-violence binds. But you can't flick a god on the forehead and demand answers. With dozens of gods looming over us, we mortals just try our best not to catch their eye.
"Should I just back off decently?"
"Don't want that either."
But sometimes, you defy those giants. Humans have things they refuse to yield.
"...What?"
"Monica vouched for it too. Now I know for sure. I like you."
Esen's tail shot straight up at the sudden confession.
"What the hell, you crazy bastard!"
If both feet sink in the swamp, cut one off? No. Both legs are mine. I don't give up.
I'm the type who clutches anything in hand. My habit of cramming every vaguely useful item into my luggage? Same reason. And Esen and Monica weren't mere trinkets.
"I like you. Crazy-like. Don't know why. Maybe 'cause you're pretty. Or strong in that beautiful way. Or maybe, Adamanthon-style, I fell hard after you took my virginity. But one thing's sure."
I hadn't ditched the weasel, the grappling hook, or even half-eaten rye cake from a frantic fight. Why toss one or both of the world's treasures?
"I like Monica too. Sorry I didn't say sooner. Won't let go again."
"Tan..."
"I can't let Monica go, so stay by my side too, Esen? Am I asking too much?"
"Unnie, this guy's lost it."
Monica nodded, head buried in my shoulder. Esen looked grossed out but relieved too. Her honest face eased my own tension. I'd braced for a beating or insults, but none came.
Esen fidgeted, leg-twisted, staring at the door. Then she bolted from her assigned bed, plopped her ass firmly beside me on ours.
With an unprompted excuse.
"Came over 'cause it's cold. What're you staring at, porter?"
"...Yeah?"
The cabin was chilly—not total excuse. The ship hadn't escaped Bitsurk's damp weather. The deck creaked faintly, windows tilting, raindrops and salty foam pattering, seeping chill into fingers and toes.
Which made their warmth beside me all the more precious. These two hadn't ditched my worthless side yet.
"Mind-blowing that unnie's some forgotten goddess's daughter... but our situation's unbelievable too."
Esen pressed her side flush to mine, twirling her lengthening hair to hide her blush. Futile.
"...Kissed me first, confessed to unnie first. 1:1 tie."
Damn, I sounded like trash.
"Sexed me first, creampied unnie first. 2:2 tie."
Tan Bantai, you lunatic.
"If I'd known you were unnie's crush, maybe I wouldn't have touched you, porter. If we're picking who complicated pure love, it's me, not Monica-unnie."
"No. I lacked courage to define things with Tan, then jealousy blew it up—coward that I am—"
"Quit apologizing, unnie. 3:3 tie to the end."
Esen's lip twitched, just like when she'd train-luggage'd me last time. Ominous. I felt like running.
Trapped between them, though.
"Can I suggest something, unnie?"
"A... suggestion?"
"Might sound crazy."
My shoulder, loaned to Monica, had one spot left. Esen headbutted it like a stake, claiming it.
"Ever tell you, porter? In tigress society, strong males are polygamous?"
...Vaguely rang a bell.
—————
Stunned by Esen's pitch, Monica finally asked via prayer. To Mother.
...You sure about asking something so sordid?
"Say it like, 'A friend suggested this— no heavenly punishment, right?'"
"...I'll ask more politely. I've only just realized the connection; never properly conversed before..."
The once-vague oracle now hit her clearly with strengthened divine power. After long prayer, Monica looked dazed, whispering skyward.
"What? Right now?"
Purple-pink rippled in her eyes. She told us, voice tinged with fear.
"That's exactly... what She wants?"
Insane.
"Sweet. Got permission. Now... what're you sitting for, porter? Pants off?"
As Esen flexed claws at my belt, I yanked them down fast. Then panicked late.
"Doing what right now?"
Mitra's paladin passed the cabin door. We three froze. But Christensen's lackey had his own sneaking around—voices from nearby cabins spooked him into fleeing.
Good—he knew he'd pissed off other parties.
...Not peeking inside was a relief. Even if curious, doubtful he'd notice.
"Unnie, soundproofing solid?"
"Ishtar's blessing works fine. Outsiders can't see or hear us."
We can sense outside, though. A barrier for secret lewdness. No wonder straitlaced Mitra folks cracked down on this faith.
"Like when you were getting eaten up there?"
"...Yes. Though..."
"Like when you peeped outside our cabin?"
"Ughhh."
Monica pouted; Esen cackled it off as a joke. Between their contrasting faces, my dick stood tall. A warrior awaiting final doom.
Monica's eyes glazed faintly, murmuring dreamily at it again.
"This thing... so proud and veiny, plunged inside me, stirring and ravaging."
"Veins like muscles. Kinda cool, right, unnie?"
On their knees, Esen and Monica inspected my cock like a curiosity. Driving me mad.
"H-Hey, back up a bit. Don't talk so close."
"Why?"
"Your lips are too near. Every appraisal, your breath grazes—"
"Grazes feel good? You porter-dick perv?"
Monica flinched at the crude tease; Esen clasped hands, bowed apology. Then flicked out her pink tongue, stretched long.
Grinning seductively, sudden vixen. Monica gawked, gasping, as Esen's tongue lapped firmly from my cock's base upward. Root to frenulum to slit-tip. Slug-slow savoring, tip scraping the hole as it withdrew.
Spine-melting jolt. I exhaled a held gasp; Esen grinned, whispering.
"Feels good?"
Threatening tone, but not aggressive. Scolding, yet not demanding answer. She'd decided. My cocky attitude earned a spanking.
Our dynamic from the start: her bratty, me dog-fucking punishment. Do it like always. Fuck her to remind her place.
Her yellow eyes brimmed expectant; Monica swallowed hard watching. The lewdness wafting from Esen must hit the lust goddess's daughter hard.
...No choice for me. Feet in inescapable swamp, I had to fight now. With lewd acts. Against these two who'd nearly snuffed me mid-fuck.
Could I... survive?