DD 302 Ch 24

A tickle of pleasure woke me up, but it was too much. I was panting, and I cried out, “No. No more. Crimson, no more.” My entire body ached from the workout with Crimson.

I tried to sit up and beg off from any more exercises, only to blink awake as Des and Bellaire were crouched over my cock, trying to wake me up between their breasts.

“Well, that’s not how I expected that to go,” Bellaire said, pointedly glancing over at Des and stuffing herself back into her dress.

“It’s usually far better,” the purple-haired demoness said apologetically and glanced down like she was debating if she could revive the situation. “I think Crimson may have worked him a little too hard last night.”

I groaned and sank back into the bed with a hard flop. “Apparently, since I’m playing in the deep end with someone like Lady Frey, Crimson thinks I need to train at a new level.” Every inch of my body protested being alive.

“Well, that’s just no fun.” Des pouted, deciding I was not going to join in the fun and making herself presentable again. “Crimson took you all night and then even ruined my morning.” Des stood up with her arms crossed under her chest, nearly squeezing them out of the nightgown. “She better have a damn good reason for that.”

“It’s fine. I think that was both my punishment and my reward,” I said with a raised eyebrow, causing both of them to look confused. “I mean, it was good training,” I said by way of explanation, only causing even more confusion from the two of them, especially from Bellaire.

Des, however, sighed. “What you’re missing is that Ken is considering being worked to near death as a reward.”

Bellaire frowned even more. “Is Ken a masochist?”

“No.” Des paused. “Maybe?”

“No,” I said again, far more certain of where I landed on that spectrum. Training was just rewarding in its own way. It was progress.

“He says no,” Des said. “But you never know when it’s really a yes. Some people are in such denial when it comes to those types of things.”

“That is a very confident no,” I said, glaring at Des for that one.

“Well, I suppose he says so.” She gestured at me and bounced off the bed. There were enough things jiggling on her form that I regretted my initial reaction to the wake-up and the missed opportunity.

“Uh-uh. No pouting.” Des wagged a finger at me. “Bellaire, you don’t get to make it up to him with a reaction like that. We can’t reward bad behavior.”

I glared at her. “You make it sound like you’re trying to train me.”

“Oh, but secretly every girl trains her boyfriend at least a little.” She pinched her fingers together and squinted with a smile.

“Really?” I frowned.

“Yes, really. Ask anyone. No guy is perfect-perfect. So, you know, there’s a little tweaking here and there to make sure the fit’s just right.” Des smiled innocently and I was having trouble determining if it was a joke or not. Perhaps it was meant to be vague.

“I’m going to ignore this.” I turned back to Bellaire. “And how are you this morning?”

“Good, I think.” She frowned at our antics. “Sometimes when I spend too much time with Des, I leave more confused than I started.”

“Yeah,” I sighed. “She has that effect on a lot of people.”

“Hush, you,” Des chided me and pulled my CID to start looking at my clothing options. “Everyone loves me.”

I chuckled. “Who wouldn’t? Especially when you do such lovely wakeups. Though you did leave a little something to be desired.” I bounced my eyebrows to see if I could get her back into the mood now that I was more alert and interested.

She rolled her eyes. “Consider it a teaser. I’ll wait until you’re in better spirits tonight.” She swayed her hips a little for me.

“Is there any particular reason I’m going to be in better spirits tonight?” I asked.

“Duh. We’re going back into the dungeon. And you fucking love that place,” Des sighed dramatically, walking to the other side of the bed and quickly picking through her CID to get herself dressed.

“I mean, you’re not wrong,” I said, shamelessly watching her get dressed.

“Of course not. Now, before we get too caught up in everything else, is there anything we need to know from your visit to the UG?” Des pulled her hair back to keep it from getting caught in her shirt.

“Nothing more than the usual. I don’t think Crimson pissed off the president of the UG too much.” I decided to look at what Des had picked out for me, and it seemed we were going to match today.

Des cackled and chuckled under her breath. “Scaredy Cat?”

“Oh, she said it to his face. He was not happy.” I chuckled at the memory.

“No one would like having the strongest person calling them a Scaredy Cat.” Des shook her head. “I mean, when she says it, it kind of makes it true.”

“Well, at least they didn’t go at it in front of me. Who knows, maybe they’ll do it somewhere else. But mostly he just tried to make me feel bad and then did absolutely nothing.” I grinned at what I decided to count as a victory.

“Yeah. Because you’re motherfucking Ken Nagato,” Des said with a chuckle. “What is he going to do? Wag his finger at you and take away discounts at the UG store? Oh nooo.” Des dramatically held her hands against her cheeks.

“I came to a similar conclusion,” I admitted. “He really doesn’t have anything leverage to hold over me unless he were to do something stupid like block me from the dungeon.”

At that, Des simply laughed. “Oh yes, block the world’s biggest dungeon-head from the dungeon. I’d love to see how that turns out for Scaredy Cat. There’s absolutely no way you’d let him get away with it. If we forcibly kept you out of the dungeon, you might even get violent.” She shuddered.

Secretly I knew with [Portal] they could never keep me out, but I let her dream.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence. Now, let’s go figure out what our next step is and see if I can find a way to quietly beg out of training in a way that Helen doesn’t call me out for.” I said, slipping my shirt on.

Des chuckled. “Good luck with that one. I put the odds of success very low.”

“Let’s not give up before we try,” I said dryly, rolling my eyes.

Regardless of everything else, we did need to train. And we needed to get a move on for the day. “Bel, walk me to breakfast?” I held out an arm to the woman.

She went from staring at the two of us to taking it in a flash. “I thought you’d never ask.”

“Hey.” Des ran to catch up with us and take my other arm.

A few guests were milling about and spotted me with both ladies on my arm. An old man did a sharp double take at us before the old biddy with him threatened to drag him by his ear and nearly shoved him into their room.

“You’re distracting everyone.” I complimented Bellaire.

“I’m very much enjoying being able to portal about rather than commute. Planes have been a significant pain point lately.” Bellaire said.

“No private jet for you?” Des asked.

“I was putting it off…” She trailed off and glanced at me out of the corner of her eyes.

“At least when you open a portal now, it should give you a fair amount of respect.” I said already knowing that it was becoming a bit of a signature entrance for myself and Crimson.

“Yes.” Bellaire smirked. “It’s very pleasing to see everyone’s eyes pop open when I portal somewhere. Though, more than a few grow disappointed when I am the one that steps through.”

“Oh. Because you aren’t Crimson?” Des asked.

“No. It’s the ladies that grow disappointed that I’m not Ken.” Bellaire laughed and Des joined her.

I rolled my eyes. It wasn’t that bad.

The two of them continued to chatter while I wobbled into and out of the elevator. I barely made it downstairs on shaky legs before Helen was looking me over with a raised eyebrow before she turned to Des.

“Well. If there’s one thing that shows your prowess, I guess Ken walking bowlegged is a first.” The fiery paladin scoffed.

I nearly choked as Des began roaring with laughter.

“See? She gets it, Ken.” Des nudged me in the arm and winked. I wondered if we would make it through the breakfast without too many questions given she might want to avoid that topic.

“I heard from my mom that apparently you managed to piss off the president of the UG last night,” Helen said.

I paused halfway to check the menu. “We may have had some lively discussion. But ultimately, he doesn’t get to say what I do or don’t do.”

I was feeling a little feisty on this topic and frustrated that apparently the president of the UG was already spreading news. Was this another way to try and punish me? I doubted Heather would do much more than give me a little praise and flirt with me.

Helen paused and looked up at me. “My mother didn’t give any specifics. Instead, she told me to tell you ‘good job.’ I guess you did something stupid that worked out after all.”

“Something like that.” I frowned. “I didn’t know the president of the UG shared everything with your mother.”

Helen waved a dismissive hand. “One of her simps. He’s high up in the UG. There’s not much they get to keep from him. And of course he sprints over to tell mom every little dirty detail.” Helen rolled her eyes.

“Damn. Well, I’d like an in with the UG like that.” Des added. “Her extensive harem is pretty good for some things, right, Helen?” Des added maliciously.

Trying to get Helen to admit a harem was good for anything was a recipe to upset her and Des knew that fact, which was probably why she planned to poke that bruise all breakfast long.

I glared at Des to see if there was any hope of ending this quickly, only for Des to slowly shake her head, the surest confirmation she was in it to win.

“Well,” I said, turning to Helen for literally any other topic, “I hope the evening wasn’t too boring without us last night.”

Helen waved a dismissive hand. “No one even noticed you were gone. You’re free and clear for whatever it was you got up to. I’m just saying, I am part of your class and can drag my mother in for what it’s worth. Though I guess you have Crimson to help.”

I groaned at the mention of Crimson, and Des snickered, which only ignited Helen’s curiosity.

“Trouble in paradise?” she asked judgmentally.

“Oh, Crimson just put him through the wringer,” Des laughed. “I’m honored you think I did this to him.” She gestured at me. “But that was all Crimson. Worked him over so hard he woke up with nightmares about it.”

Helen’s fiery eyebrows climbed up to her hairline. “Ken had nightmares about that?”

“I know,” Des said effusively. “I couldn’t believe it myself.” Though I was fairly sure they were talking about different types of exercise.

“Are you sure she didn’t just torture him?” Helen scowled at me like I’d grown a second head.

“Something like that.” I waved a hand dismissively. “Crimson was just feeling that if I was going to fight someone of a certain level, then I should be training to that end.” I groaned to let the whole table know how I felt about that particular training.

“Well, don’t train too hard,” Helen said, “or none of us will ever catch up to you. What are you doing for your two days off?”

At her question, I grinned. “As soon as I can get blood flowing back in my limbs, our group’s going back into the dungeon.”

Helen deadpanned. “I asked what you’re doing with your days off,” she emphasized.

“Yeah. Back into the dungeon.” I reiterated.

Helen glanced over at Des for clarification.

“Oh, don’t look at me. You think I’m the one making this decision? The guy only has one setting.” Des told her.

“Yeah, but you chose this.” Helen stared at Des.

“I did. And I don’t regret it. I like an ambitious man. If that ambition is cranked so high he just never really stops? Even better.” She winked and blew a kiss at me.

“Well, can we at least get a portal over to Chicago? It would be nice to not have to fly myself.” Helen looked uncomfortable asking for a favor.

“Yeah, just ask Bellaire,” I said, waving with a fork. “Des said she got the hookup.”

Helen grunted and grumbled something about portals and how they ‘might be worth it,’ but I was already ignoring her, daydreaming about where we’d head in the dungeon. I’d loved that undead zone where we could kite to our heart’s content. It let me stack my [Liminal Speed] high enough I was like a chainsaw ripping through monsters.

With all the physical training, that type of exercise might even push my leveling up another gear.

Bellaire wandered back with her own fancy plate made from the buffet while I waited on my meal. I glanced at her food, then up at her.

“Did you want to be a chef?” I asked.

Bellaire laughed. “No. It’s just that ninety percent of ‘fancy food’ is presentation. The rest, the part that actually tastes good, is just butter and salt. I’m avoiding that, so the least I can do is make it look nice.”

“Besides,” Des added for her, “you can tell the woman works hard on presentation.”

“So, Bel,” Des continued, “once you’re done with breakfast, tell us when we have to be back to prepare for the next interview. Because, as you know, once Ken goes back into the dungeon, it’s going to take all of us to drag him back out so he doesn’t miss all the fun up here.”

I rolled my eyes and waved for the waiter to bring me some coffee. I was hoping that a little caffeine would get me back on my feet faster so I could dive the dungeon.

I was starting to understand the stories of adventurers braving the unknown of the sea once upon a time. It had seemed odd to choose unknown waters over known ones, especially having to leave loved ones, but somehow they always went back. I understood what they must have been feeling far more now.

I felt it myself. The dungeon was calling me. I wanted levels. I wanted power to steer my life however I wished.

“And there he goes,” Des said, waving at me. “You can tell when he daydreams of the dungeon. He gets a big smirk on his face.”

I scowled at her.

“Tell me I’m wrong,” she shot back.

I pointedly took a drink of my water and ignored her. Damn, I hated it when she knew me so well.

“See? Dungeon-head, daydreaming of it even now.” Des shook her head with a smile. “But to catch you up on what you missed, Helen,” Des continued, “Ken found Threadspawn in New York and he dealt with them without telling the UG. Now they’re all pissy because he didn’t do it their way. And other stupid politics.”

I groaned. “Des.” Then I shifted to Helen. “She’s heavily reducing that one.”

“I know. But she’s right,” Des smirked. “The best part was the UG clearly couldn’t do anything to him. They really just brought him in to moan, as if he was going to punish himself. After they finished scolding him.” Des rolled her eyes.

“Most people would do a lot to get in the UG’s good graces,” Helen said, “and even more to avoid angering them.”

“I guess we’re different,” I cut in. “Even if we upset the UG, all we have to do is go make a name for ourselves in Star City, and there’s nothing they can do.”

Helen paused thoughtfully. “If you guys are going to go dive the dungeon. Then would you at least drop me off at Star City on your way? I’d like to make some progress, even if it’s only trade.”

“Yeah,” I said. “That’s fine with me. You're always welcome. And we’ll swing by Crimson’s place before we head to the interview. If you’re there, just let Ambrosia know we’ll come pick you up.” I told her.

Helen grunted and grumbled something about portals again before she began stabbing at her breakfast a little more violently. Once again, violence seemed to always be the answer for Helen’s frustrations.