X noticed Kira's look. The serious utter-bewilderment expression. The silent judgment of the destroyed kitchen and whatever insanity had occurred during the night.
He responded casually with shameless comfort. "Oh, don't worry about it. Just say I did it. Nobody doubts when I'm involved. Destroyed kitchen versus other stories about me? Nothing. Barely registers."
He paused, grin showing. "One good thing about being known as a walking disaster. As a certified madman. People just accept it. They expect chaos. They blame me automatically."
He gestured toward the ruined kitchen with its scorch marks and destroyed equipment. "Plus if anyone takes the effort to collect the valuables from there—fix what's salvageable and melt the rest—it should be more than enough to cover repairs. Probably enough to build a new guest house or two actually. I didn't hold back on quality when contributing materials."
Another pause as something shifted in his tone, becoming more serious and knowing. "I've also seen everyone in this household naked. At worst they just save this as a favor to be asked later. Standard arrangement really."
Through the seed network, reactions formed.
?Kira: Naked? What does that have to do with—?
?Spy: His healing policy. Remember? Everyone must be naked for checkups. He probably knows the seamstress. Has done work for her and examined her staff. Standard professional relationship.?
?Void: That makes sense actually. He can handle the explanation. He's connected here.?
?22: Perfect. Let him sort it out. He caused half the mess anyway with his blood wine suggestions.?
?Null: Issue resolved. Efficient. Moving on.?
Silence settled with nobody knowing what to say immediately. The problem had been addressed and a solution provided, but awkwardness still hung in the air.
Then Null noticed something as she focused on 22 specifically.
Her maid dress. Black and white. Standard design. It looked fine. Restored. Maintained.
But maintained how? Restored with magic probably, or just the legendary item's normal self-healing.
Not the proper care. Not the method she herself had taught them. Not the promise 22 had made to both the seamstress and Null about taking proper care of legendary equipment.
Not that long ago there had been the lecture. The joint scolding. The humiliation of an archmage being destroyed over laundry negligence. The promise that had been extracted.
22 had promised clearly and explicitly to take proper care from now on.
But here was magic restoration. A quick patch. Not real maintenance.
Additionally there was Kira standing there with her professional bearing and rested appearance.
But her dress? When had she last maintained it?
Kira was known as one of the lazier maids in the dress care department. She was efficient at everything else but clothing maintenance had never been her strength.
Null also remembered the seamstress's suggestion about the new plan. Washing various clothing items together and then attempting to merge them. Testing the theory to see if effects manifested.
She hadn't had a chance to try it yet.
This was unacceptable.
She asked directly with no preamble or softening. "22. When do you plan to start taking care of your maid dress? It's part of your identity now. You promised the seamstress. You promised me."
Then she pointed at Kira. "And you?"
Kira didn't answer but her mind betrayed her through surface thoughts bleeding unconsciously and gave enough evidence.
Uncertain. Uncomfortable. Aware she'd been neglecting it. Back in Borderwatch probably. Maybe. Should check. But...
She and the Twins had used the bathroom in the airship, but Kira hadn't. Too busy with everything else.
The hesitation was clear. The guilt was visible. The acknowledgment of failure was present.
Null decided simply and efficiently. "Let's go. This house has all necessary facilities. The seamstress designed them properly. We use them now."
Kira followed instantly with no argument or resistance. Just obedience and professional acceptance of correction.
22 hesitated and looked toward Void with an expression that said: help? Please? Some excuse?
Void gave no reaction. He just watched neutrally without intervening.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Then 22 looked at X, pleading silently and desperately.
X barely kept his laughter back as he struggled visibly. "Oh, go take care of your dress. It's clearly something your new role requires. Service standards. Professional obligations. All that."
His voice carried amusement and entertainment at 22's strange problem.
Then he added, "Don't worry. I'll keep your master company until you ladies sort your things out. Professional courtesy. Friendly assistance."
His tone was shameless and deliberate, making 22 more uncomfortable intentionally.
But it was also permission and acknowledgment. Go handle this.
The washing facilities were excellent—professional grade with everything needed and accessible.
There were large sinks and multiple stations. Proper drainage. Magical heating for water. Drying racks positioned perfectly. Storage for supplies. The workspace had been designed by someone who understood clothing care at an expert level.
Null examined everything with growing impression. This was perfect design with optimal layout and maximum efficiency.
She turned to Kira. "Get the plans. Deliver them to Tornin for the planned redesign in the maid house. Use this as an example. Copy design if needed."
Kira nodded with understanding and appreciation of the order. "Yes, Mistress. I'll handle it."
Then washing began.
22 finished in approximately five minutes. She was clearly rushed and barely acceptable. Minimum standards were met but nothing more.
She left quickly, escaping and avoiding prolonged exposure to a task she clearly disliked.
Null decided not to make an issue of it. She would prefer more care, but ultimately it was 22's dress. And five minutes was probably more than an average piece of clothing would receive in washing sessions—so acceptable.
Kira took longer and was more careful and thorough. But it was still functional efficiency with professional completion and no dwelling on the task.
About fifteen to twenty minutes. Then she was done and departed.
Null was left alone.
With a mountain of clothing, all those requiring care.
The maid dress obviously. That was the primary item. Most important. Most bonded.
But also all the other pieces. All the items that the seamstress had selected.
Additionally there was uncertainty. A problem. A gap in knowledge.
The seamstress had talked about feeling clothing happiness. Clothing envy. Emotional states of fabric and enchantment combined.
But how? How to measure it? How to perceive something that abstract and alien?
Null was an expert at reading feelings and perceiving emotions.
But clothing emotions? That was different. Outside normal parameters. Unknown territory.
She decided to experiment. To try. To see if something worked.
She started washing methodically and carefully, following the seamstress's advice.
She focused while doing it, trying to sense something. Trying to feel. Trying to perceive whatever might be there.
Nothing obvious. Nothing clear. Just fabric. Water. Soap. Mechanical process.
But she continued. Repeated. Kept trying.
Hours later, the Twins arrived.
They washed and dried their dresses with professional efficiency. Standards were maintained. Everything was proper.
Then they left, returning to the others.
Null remained and continued her cycles.
Wash. Dry. Stack. Store.
Then repeat. Same process. Same care. Same attention.
She kept trying to feel something—anything. Some indication of success, some sign of the connection deepening.
She lost count of repetitions. Time became irrelevant. Just the process, just attempting, just seeking that elusive perception the seamstress had described.
Finally, after an unknown number of cycles, when she was placing all clothing as the seamstress had selected, stacking properly, arranging correctly...
Something.
She wasn't sure what exactly. It wasn't clear or definite.
But something. A feeling? A sensation? Acknowledgment maybe?
Like happiness? Gratitude? Contentment?
It was alien, temporary, faint. Almost imperceptible.
But it was there. Present. Real maybe.
Null decided this was good enough for a first attempt. First success, however minimal.
She had all the time in the world. Literally. She could perfect this process, master this skill, develop this perception however long it took.
As many tries as required. As much practice as necessary. As many repetitions as demanded.
No rush. No deadline. Just eventual mastery through inevitable improvement.
She stored all the other clothing in her Item Box.
Then dressed in her maid dress. Primary equipment.
Time to rejoin the others.
The scene in the living room was lively—different, transformed from the morning's awkwardness.
Void, X, 22, Kira, and the Twins were all present. All comfortable. All engaged in something. Conversation maybe. Companionship certainly.
A large table was covered with food. Drinks. Various items. An extensive collection with professional presentation.
Additionally there were boxes marked with text. Designs that suggested takeaway containers? Delivery containers?
And Spy was visible. Present. Manifested physically for everyone to see.
Not hiding anymore. Not staying imperceptible. Just there. Obvious. Acknowledged.
Spy noticed Null first as his attention was drawn immediately to her entrance.
Then his gaze moved, tracking toward the food. Toward the boxes. Toward evidence of a delivery system.
He spoke with dry amusement and slight disbelief. ?Yes, they have magical food delivery. Can you believe it? This stuff was delivered by various golems, drones, or something else—multiple services operating—over the day while you were occupied.?
Null processed this information. [Oh. OHO.]
This world was advancing constantly. Every minute revealed new sophistication. New technology. New magic-mechanical integration.
Flying platform taxis. Now magical food delivery. What next—
But she didn't fully manage to finish her thought. Didn't complete the thought process.
Because now everyone noticed her. Attention shifted. Focus redirected.
X spoke first with his usual shamelessness and clear entertainment.
"Oh, you always take so much time washing your clothing. We actually had a bet going on who could guess most exactly how long you'd need. The Twins won by simply offering the most hours. You beat everyone's estimates significantly."
Null checked the clock on the wall.
[Oh.]
Approximately twelve hours. She'd used twelve hours there. It was evening now. The day had passed completely.
She'd lost count of time. Lost track of hours. Just focused on the process. On attempting perception. On seeking that elusive connection.
But well. Time was used. Progress was made maybe. First success however minimal.
X continued talking with casual delivery and a professional report mixed with shameless commentary.
"While you were busy, I gave everyone here proper checkups. Happy to report that everyone is well. Healthy. Functioning properly."
Through the seed network on a private channel just between Spy and Null, commentary came with dry observation and clinical assessment.
?He used fifteen minutes for Void. Thirty minutes each for the Twins and Kira. TWO PLUS HOURS for 22.?
There was a pause with clear emphasis. ?The last one was a proper pervert session until 22 got tired and ended it forcefully. He was enjoying himself way too much.?
?He also tried giving a quick checkup to ME. He suggested keeping away from true dragons because some would probably go near-frenzy wishing to eat me. It seems Dirty Dog was NOT an exceptional case. Let's avoid dragon lands in the future.?
X's expression shifted. Weight building.
"Well..." He paused deliberately. "Except for a few issues you should probably know about."
Eldritch Story, so please don't expect standard tropes like a harem full of blushing elves.
1. The "Read Between the Lines" Harem (LOVER’s Team)
LOVER is the closest the story gets to a "normal" harem, but any "action" is typically delivered through the gossip and observations of other characters rather than explicit descriptions.
Examples of how this is framed:
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The Evidence: LOVER recently ordered a custom bath "big enough to fit a dwarf and 10 maids."
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The Perks: He added a king-sized bed to his factory office for "employee happiness."
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The Tally: Maids often gossip about the "healing" count—currently sitting at 21 maids, 7 non-maid staff, and even a red-haired City Watch adventurer.
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The Rule: If you want to know what is happening in LOVER's quarters, you'll have to look at the grocery bills and the exhaustion levels of his assistants.
2. Monster Logic
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Licking: A monster's way of showing friendship or claiming something as "theirs".
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Coiling: Two dragons, fox-spirits, or monsters sleeping with bodies wrapped around each other for thermal or magical stabilization.
3. Totally Inhuman
- Clothing: Sara's dress is a boy.
4. The Gentlemen Goblins & Ponygirls
Gentlemen Goblins. They are small, cute, and surprisingly charming—every beauty needs one. They don't take "slaves"—they take "ponies."
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The Professionalism: Our ponygirls are properly dressed in suits, work under legal contracts, and carry small bags on their backs for their goblin masters.
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The Vibe: It is structured, transactional, and weirdly wholesome in a dark way. No "hentai-tier" chaos here.
5. Regarding "Actual Action"
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The Clinical Version: "Dress up. Underwear down. Enter." * This fits the detached, mechanical POV of the eldritch characters. However, I am worried this version might result in the story receiving unwanted "Explicit Sexual Content" tags on the platform, even with all my chapter-level warnings. I want to maintain the "Eldritch" tone without the story being misclassified as pure erotica.
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The Implied Version: "It happened." (Followed by a narrative transition).
I'd love your input in the comments: Should I stick to the Clinical/Direct approach because it fits the monster-logic, or go with the Implied version to keep the platform tags focused on the dark fantasy/horror elements?
Regarding the Clinical Approach:
This is the level of detail you can expect. Brief. Mechanical. Focused on emotional emptiness rather than physical description. The point is demonstrating character transformation and monster immunity—not titillation.
But author generally believes this approach serves character development and thematic consistency.