RotGM Chapter 80 - Embracing Destiny

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The second half of the team meeting begins after a short break as per my instructions. Opalina took the time to make everyone some lovely herbal tea, and I welcome it with open arms. Gods know I’ve had too much to drink today already, some tea will do me some good to calm my nerves. The taste is sweet and the smell is sobering.

The girls take their seat while I move back in front of the quest board, quickly rearranging a few that are no longer necessary. I have the last sip of my tea and clear my throat. “I’m going to try to get through the rest of this as efficiently as possibly. The subject matter is still a sore topic for me, although I’ve already steeled my resolve.”

“We’re with you, Boss. Just get through it.” Sam raises her gauntlet-ed fist at me as a show of camaraderie. The rest of the girls offer similar statements, save for Zutiria who nods her head meekly.

“Right, so. As Nikita referenced... I made an offering to the Goddess who’s behind most of the more surreal aspects of my life. The eyes. The semen. The fact that I keep drawing adventurers to me.”

“Judging from the state you were in this afternoon, it went even worse than I was afraid of.” The Grekkan sighs and looks off into the middle distance. “I’m sorry that I caused this.”

“...Trust me. It’s not your fault.” Visions of Luxy acting like a spoiled brat dance through my head. It’s not Nikita’s fault that she is the way she is. “Before I begin, is anyone here... all that devout when it comes to the Twin Goddesses? I’m not sure how to say this other than with bluntness... I’m going to reveal a lot of things that would more than qualify as heresy.”

“Um... back home we worshipped the Goddess pretty religiously, but... I wasn’t TOO crazy.” Meri sheepishly tilts her head. “I don’t think I’d be offended.”

“Far from it.” Opalina adjusts her glasses.

‘No.’ The shaken Mage predictably confirms.

“Yeah Boss uh, it was expected of me to be a devout little Princess but can you really imagine me as a church goer?”

“Only Gods ah worship are Dwarven badarses like Thraldrad the Metalmaker or Skolmouth Forgejaw. Ain’t got no need fer pansy ass bitches.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “The Goddess was Lux Ultima this entire time, and the circumstances of why she’s interfering in my life are more bizarre than I possibly could have predicted.”

I run the room through an abridged version of the less important parts of my audience with Luxy leaving out any such mention of the Demon Lord for now. I explain that I wasn’t the cause of my Grandpa’s death this entire time. That I was supposed to become a Guild Master. That I had a ‘late start’ and that I was supposed to be sexually active much earlier, and I even run through the bizarre ‘app’ which sets me up with matching adventurers explaining that it led Sam and Zutiria to my side and Meri shortly after. Opalina is very happy to hear a healer is on her way, but just like me is skeptical of the situation leading up to it.

The looks on everyone’s faces as I describe my infuriating and strained relationship with the Goddess is a mix of shock and awe. I think everyone knew that OBVIOUSLY my meeting didn’t go well, but no one predicted that her childish attitude was the reason why... save for Nikita, who evidently is unphased.

“Sounds about right.” She shrugs dismissively.

“I’m glad you’ll be able to move on with your life now, knowing you weren’t the cause of that miserable old bastard’s death.” Opalina crosses her arms sternly, her face a mix of seriousness and compassion.

“I’m not magically healed just from finding that out, Opal.” I sigh. “Living under that pressure for twenty two years fucked me up.”

“I... I had no idea...” Meri sniffles a bit and fights back the urge to run and hug me. “That we were so alike...” She must be drawing parallels between herself trying to live up to her mother’s legacy and me doing the same for my grandpa.

Gwin, too, looks very sympathetic. “...Fuck.” All she can manage to do in response is shake her head. “Ya fuckin’ weren’t kiddin. You do understand what it’s like...” The Dwarf bites her lip as she struggles to apologize for once doubting me for understanding the plight of her defying her family’s expectations.

I’m starting to see why Luxy claims I have so many perfect matchups... aside from being tall, dark and handsome, that is. Most of the women in this room have a lot of striking similarities to myself that makes me empathize with them and want to help them through.

Gwin and Nikita weren’t chosen by Luxy but they too seem to have issues that draws me to them... I can’t speak for Opal. I don’t know much of her past before she settled in Dewhurst before I was born, but maybe there’s something there as well.

“I don’t want to turn this into a pity party.” I blush and look towards the quest board, but Sam stomps her foot.

“Awful hard not to. Pretty much everyone in this room l-loves and cares about you, Boss.” She says.

“Feel free to join the club, Niki.” Opalina smiles warmly to her Grekkan friend who blushes and smirks.

“Heh. Right.” She rolls her eyes dismissively.

“We need to move on, but I thank everyone for their sympathy regarding the matter of my paternal issues.” I clear my throat and prepare myself for the hardest part. “Tonight is the night I finally come clean on a very pressing matter. I have been keeping a secret from all of you. Especially you, Opal, as I could have told you very, very long ago.”

Her purple eyes fill with curiosity and the older woman leans in closer. “Go on.”

“...I never told anyone what my grandpa and I were arguing about before his death. I was afraid if I came clean about it then it would change the course of my life. We were arguing over something my father told him when putting me in his care shortly after my birth... namely, that I would become a Hero of sorts who would defeat the oncoming Demon Lord who was about to appear. I told him I wanted to be a Guild Master instead, and he died from a heart broken by disappointment... which was actually just the failed interference of a Goddess trying to CALM him and make him realize that being a Guild Master was the correct course my destiny was supposed to go in.”

Sam’s eyes light up more than anyone else’s in the room, which is no surprise, but everyone else has very conflicted reactions.

Opal is legitimately shooken. Gwin, intrigued but concerned. Meri is noticeably scared.

The two most telling reactions from from Nikita who looks as if she was just struck by some sort of divine inspiration... and Zutiria. Who seems like this is something she saw coming from a mile away.

“N-No... it can’t be...” Meri hangs her head and hides behind her shield.

‘I thought that your reaction to Sam’s dream was suspicious, Sir.’ Zutiria calmly states.

Sam is torn between happiness and confusion. “Why didn’t you tell me...?”

“...You broke me out of my shell, Sam, but I couldn’t just suddenly get over the trauma from my youth.”

Zutiria reaches out to grab Sam’s hand and she shakes her head, telling the Princess to calm.

“...You could have told me.” Opalina tries her best to hold back a tear, and she clenches her fists. “I’m not mad at you. I couldn’t be in this situation. I know why you didn’t... but... it’s not like I wouldn’t have supported your choice to become a Guild Master. If anything I would have tracked down that good for nothing father of yours and gotten some legitimate answers out of him.”

Opalina’s words predictably sting the most.

“Chief. Glasses.” Nikita asks me for the second time tonight.

She glares into my soul and makes a stern expression. “You’re actually doing it then? You intend to fight against the Demon Lord?”

“No. I intend to win.”

The room goes silent.

“Righ’ so I’m a wee bit outta mah element here but... ya don’t exactly look like yer traditional hero type.” Gwin speaks for everyone else in the room, eventually.

“I said that the Goddess of Last Light intended for me to be a Guild Master all along did I not? I...”

Should I really tell them everything? I look across the entrance hall to see the varied expressions of the women in my life thus far and sigh.

How stupid of me.

Of course I should.

“This is all part of a bet that Lux Ultima made with her elder twin, Tenebris Primis. Tenebris believes Lux has grown incredibly lazy and sloppy with her job over the years and doesn’t take it seriously any longer. This bet was meant to light a fire under her ass. It didn’t. From what I understand, each Goddess is backing a mortal as their respective ‘Hero’ of light and darkness. Is everyone ready for the kicker?”

Nobody says anything.

“Her response was to not take it seriously and claim she’s tired of ‘standard’ Hero of Light’s. No righteous warrior, no magic sword, no hero’s journey. So she made up this convoluted plan that would be more ‘interesting’ somehow involving my eyes, the magic semen and the Guild. Better yet- it gave her a backup plan in case I manage to lose. If things get hairy she was planning to just have me impregnate the countless women in my harem and father the next generation of heroes. Yes, in the event of failure the three of you were officially chosen as breeding stock.” I point at Sam, Zutiria and Meri.

“...That would be fucking hot in ANY other situation...” Sam swallows nervously and her face turns angrier.

‘...I suppose that’s all I’m good for.’ Zutiria says drearily, looking off into the distance.

“The Goddess... w-wasn’t even taking this seriously...?” Meri trembles, small tears falling down her cheeks. She has the most intense and conflicted expression in the entire room. “My... MY MOM DIED FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND NOW I-I’M JUST SUPPOSED TO POP OUT BABIES?!” Meri stands and throws her shield across the room in a fit.

“MERI!” Nikita stands and grabs her wrist.

“...Meri.” I approach as things start to add up in my head.

Her mom died several years ago. She’s from a small country farming town up north with scarcely anyone her own age. Really, really out there in the boonies.

Sam stands up in shock as she must have pieced together, too.

“Where do you actually come from?” I ask.

The trembling Shield Maiden answers with her head hung low. “...Bridgebury.”

I knew it.

“The site of the first Demon Lord attack in Karnalle...!!” Sam gasps, hardly able to believe it. “YOUR MOM WAS MY HERO!”

“...I guess I never realized it.” Meri says. “Since you’re the Crown Princess, then... that man was your father. The man who came to see us and praised Mom’s bravery without lifting a single finger to actually help us...”

“Meri...?” Sam looks at her friend with a horrified look in her eyes. “I’m... I’m not like him... I left home BECAUSE I was so fed up with him ignoring the oncoming threat... P... Please...” She starts crying genuine tears. “Please. You need to believe me...”

“Children...!” Opalina rises from her seat in case she needs to get between the two of them, and so does Gwin, but it’s unnecessary.

“GIRLS!” I raise my voice to capture their attention. “Meri, Sam’s not her father. You know that.”

“...I-I know.” She meekly looks up at Sam with tears in their eyes, ashamed of what she just thought about her friend.

“If you want to be mad at anyone, be mad at Lux Ultima. The Goddess meant to look after us and enrich our lives who ultimately fell victim to her own sloth, putting us all in this position no one asked for.”

“Chief. Why are you still planning to fight despite everything your patron deity has done to you and those around you?” Nikita lets go of Meri’s wrist and walks straight up to my face, leaning down slightly so we’re at eye level.

“...Because I’m fucking mad and I won’t allow her to jeopardize all the realms just because she fucked off for twenty-two years and barely helped me, all while the enemy has grown stronger thanks to his own divine sponsor’s ongoing support and blessing. Lux said that it’s too late for me to win and that I should just focus on the breeding new heroes part- completely discounting my own abilities and that of the girls I’ve grown to love. She underestimated me, and that’s all I need to prove her wrong.”

“...You’re going to fight against your Goddess... by working alongside her and doing what she wants...?”

“Yes.”

Nikita stares at me with none of her typical casual familiarity and instead shows me a look of pure, fragility that I never expected to see coming from her. She looks broken, unsure and confused... eyes wavering from lack of confidence and twitching with just the slightest hint of rage. “...I’m done for the night. Need a drink.” Nikita silently exits the hall to presumably hit up the closest bar to the Guild.

No one stops her, although Opalina looks on the verge of doing so.

“If anyone wants out of my oncoming war versus the forces of darkness, let it be known I won’t hold it against you. Speak now.”

Sam marches right up to me with all the grace of a true, blue-blooded Queen. “From the very first second I found out about your magic jizz, Boss, this is exactly what I fuckin’ wanted. You’re going to need a link to the Royal Family to gain support one day, and I’ll be waiting for you down at the end of the aisle in the girliest, frilliest, stupidest fucking white dress I have to in order to make that happen.”

“...Sam, I...”

“Shut the fuck up and let me say it properly for once.” She nervously gulps and with a fierce determination Sam looks me straight in the eyes. “I l-love you... ok? So don’t EVER ask if I don’t want to be by your side anymore.”

“...Understood. I love you too, Sam.” Were it not for our surroundings I would have kissed her then and there, but I don’t want to make this... unfair to everyone else.

She’s right, whether it’s a year from now or more I’m eventually going to need the support of Karnalle’s central government. This goes much higher than the stuffy bureaucrats who head up the Association.

I wanted to avoid a political marriage with Sam at all costs, but... it was just me being prideful as always and refusing to look at the bigger picture.

It needs to be done, and we both love each other. Who gives a shit if it’s political on top of that?

Zutiria remains seated and says without looking up, ‘I don’t have anywhere else to go. I’d never leave you, Sir.’

“Zutiria...” I plan on spending the rest of the night with her. She’s clearly not yet recovered and under the circumstances I think the others will understand.

“...I’m in. It’s not like after yesterday I’m suddenly a b-brave warrior. I’ve got a long way to go before I live up to my Mom’s legacy... but... she died so that... she... she died saving me. I won’t let that be for nothing.” Meri closes her eyes in tears as she runs up to me and hugs me for support. I hug her back.

“It won’t be, Meri. We’ll make sure it wasn’t... together.”

“...I wish this would have happened in my prime.” Opalina sighs. “I’m not good as anything other than support now, not after...” She delays her words and thinks back to her past unknown to me, “Not after everything that’s led me to where I am today. But you already know my answer.”

“Thank you.” I share a heartfelt smile with the good Doctor and she returns it of course.

All eyes turn on Gwin, who is seriously out of place. “Ah’m a fucking carpenter, Lad. Fuck’m ah supposed to do here? Ah give ya a single fuckin’ handy and ya try an draft me into yer God’s fuckin’ damned holy war?”

I laugh at that, as does the rest of the room sans Zutiria.

“It was a frighteningly good handjob.” I smirk and respond.

“Men, fuckin’ typical. Ah’m in ah guess if ya eventually get a fuckin’ forge in here and convince mah family.”

“No rush on that.” I nod my head. “But thank you.”

I smile and feel like a weight has lifted off of my heart. A weight that’s been dragging me down for twenty-two years... just like that, it’s gone.

“We’re going to do this.” I clench my first. “We’re going to defeat the Demon Lord one day and WIN!”

“YEAH!” Everyone, again besides Zutiria, shouts and follows my lead as I raise my fist into the air.

“WHO CARES THAT IF WE LOSE THERE’LL BE TEN THOUSAND YEARS OF DARKNESS ACROSS ALL REALMS OF EXISTENCE? WE CAN DO IT!” I shout even louder.

“YEAH!!!”

...

Meri looks at me with sudden confusion. “Wait, w-w-what?”