Cliche Chapter 312-313: Tears

The next day started with a knock on the door. Asahi tried to move, but the pile of bodies around him refused to move. Without thinking much, Asahi simply opened the door with his telekinesis.

“Oi, Junior. What the hell is wrong with you?”

Alise blushed at the indecent sight. She could see Asahi and the rest were naked under the bed. Even Grayfia, the usually stern maid, was clinging to him.

On her side, Ryuu was even more stunned. She came to request Asahi to let her join the expedition, only to find the lewd sight of Asahi and his women entangled naked on the bed.

‘What was I thinking when I agreed on coming here in the morning?’

Asahi pushed the girls and sat up. The blanket slid down as he stretched his arms, revealing his chiseled chest. He wasn’t burly by any means. But he owned a set of taut and well-defined muscles that put most trained adventurers to shame.

Alise’s mind came to an abrupt halt. She and Ryuu both couldn’t move their eyes, their heartbeat pumping up the more they saw Asahi. Alise’s cheeks grew hot in embarrassment.

“Jeez. Why are you two here? Want to sleep with me?” Asahi yawned before giving the two a blank stare.

Alise suppressed the turmoil in her heart.

‘He is just my junior.’

She crossed her arms and gave him a haughty look. “Wake up. I want to spar with you.”

“Spar?” Asahi checked his wristwatch. “Who the hell spars at fucking six?”

“Did you forget you’re taking us directly to the 45th floor? Lion and I need a warm-up.”

“Ryuu too?” he turned to the blonde elf. “Why?”

“I want to help.”

Despite her hate for elves, Ryuu had a deep-rooted pride. She owed Asahi too much, and this was a good start to return some of the favor.

“Okay. You can come.”

Ryuu hadn’t expected him to agree so easily. Then again, he asked Kaguya last night, so he must have no trouble bringing another girl along.

“Let’s go,” Alise said, grinning widely.

Asahi gave her a blank stare. The redhead’s grin became cramped as she became fidgety.

“W-What?”

“Care to leave me?” he shook his head. “Or you intend to watch me naked? Shameless Captain.”

Alise couldn’t help but imagine Asahi without the blanket. Heat rose in her core as her arousal grew. Aware of the changes in her body, she blushed before she silently dragged Ryuu out of the room.

“She is cute…”

He shook his head and put on his clothes. He arrived at the yard where Ryuu and Alise stood side by side. Her scarlet ponytail fluttered from the passing wind. Asahi couldn’t deny her charming smile stole his heart. Strong, unwavering will, and a caring heart—she might be a near-perfect woman if she kept her mouth shut.

Ryuu smiled seeing Asahi’s gaze stuck on Alise. The way they teased each other, and Alise’s reaction to the spanking incident had made one thing clear for the entire Familia—Alise had a crush on Asahi. Most of the adventurers in the Familia were on board with this ship, hoping Asahi will fix Alise’s narcissism.

Asahi turned his gaze to Ryuu. The blonde elf, especially her long ears, fascinated him.

Being a level 4 adventurer, Ryuu could feel Asahi’s gaze glued to her ears.

‘Why is he after my ears?’

She mumbled in her head.

Asahi clapped to get their attention. “Why don’t we have a bet to make things more spicy?”

Asahi’s soft smile made Ryuu’s heart flutter. Yet, something about it was unsettling. It was very similar to the smile he showed when he was about to spank Alise for good.

“N-No,” Alise denied, recalling his last condition. “I refuse!”

She wasn’t going to get any more spanks!

“If either of you lands a hit on me, I’ll do everything you want,” Asahi ignored Alise and stated his condition with a grin. “If not, I’ll spank you both.”

Some punishments were needed to keep the tsundere in check, or she’d disturb him every day like this.

“That’s unfair!” Alise yelled.

Ryuu agreed with a nod. “Really unfair.”

How could they go against a man who could travel between worlds like a god? Even with two of them, they stood zero chance.

“My perfect captain is scared?” Asahi narrowed his eyes, a mocking smile on his lips. “You don’t have to come with me then. Some monsters in the dungeon are stronger than me. What will you do when you face them?”

Recalling the juggernaut, Alise faintly nodded her head in agreement. “No, no. What does facing monsters have to do with spanks?”

Asahi sighed as he turned to the sky with a faraway look. “To surpass your limits, we have to overcome our greatest adversary.”

Ryuu almost gave in to him, until she realized everything was happening for spanks. Blushing to her ears, she shook her head.

“Anything but that…”

She might be a little girl by the Elven standards, but getting spanked would be very… embarrassing.

“How about your ears?” Asahi asked.

He wasn’t backing off from tasting the forbidden fruit which was her ears.

The last time when he asked that question, Ryuu was a little unnerved. They were strangers under the same goddess. However, the current circumstances were different as she felt no repulsion with his request. So much had happened ever since—from the end of Evilus to the discovery of Xenos. Her impression of him had drastically improved.

‘It’s just ears…’

She nodded, distracted in her thoughts. “That’s… okay. I guess?”

[—Ryuu Lion: Affection +3]

Asahi smiled at the tiny progress.

Meanwhile, Alise stared at Ryuu in disbelief. Ryuu’s consent was nothing less than a betrayal in her eyes.

“Traitor! I’m not joining you. I don’t want spanks. Ever!”

“I’ll be gentle,” Asahi said and caressed Alise’s butt with telekinesis. “Happy?”

“W-What is this?” Alise brushed her back with both hands. “Stop it!”

“Fine.” He put an end to his harassment and took a fighting stance. With a smile, he beckoned the two with his left hand. “Come at me.”

Ryuu and Alise shared a glance as they clutched their respective weapons.

Ryuu had Alf’s Lumina, a wooden sword forged from a branch of the holy tree in the elven forest. It worked exceptionally with the elven magic power, and could be used as a staff in emergency cases.

Alise had a rapier made out of Mythril. With the magic stone of Amphisbaena, it had improved attack power with fire spells and skills.

“Lion, we need to humble this arrogant junior.”

“Indeed…” Ryuu played along, a smile tugging at her lips.

Asahi chuckled and gave them the initiative. Alise spearheaded the charge, and Ryuu followed her. Alise straight up slashed at Asahi’s chest, with no hesitation in her attack.

Asahi could see the sword’s trajectory going straight for his chest. As if she was confident that Asahi will evade the blade.

Asahi took a small step back to dodge before shifting to his right. The wooden sword missed him by a second and smashed into the ground. Ryuu jumped back and sprinted around Asahi. Her skills and magic spells were centered on raising her attack power and healing. None of them helped in her battle with Asahi. Alise, however, had Lubrude Bequia to boost her base parameters. Her speed exploded in an instant, and she unleashed a ferocious combo of slash and stabs.

Asahi still leisurely dodged her and Ryuu’s unpredictable backstabs with his instincts. He could do it even while talking to Klyscha. It was like having an auto button in combat.

‘This is like a weaker version of Ultra Instinct!’

Alise stopped, her breathing a little rougher.

“Stop being dodgy. Let me hit you once! It’ll feel good, I promise.”

“Nope. Try your best.”

Alise gritted her teeth and swung her sword at his smug face. The more he evaded her attacks, the more her frustration grew. The image of Asahi and his women kept flashing in her mind, and something warm accumulated in the corner of her eyes.

She didn’t realize the root of her rage. It wasn’t Asahi’s smirk as she believed. All blame went to an earlier event, when she was forced to see Asahi sleeping with his women. Her intense feelings turned into flames of jealousy and exploded in the form of rage.

Asahi realized something wasn’t right with Alise. She was too engrossed in swinging her sword with tears in her eyes.

[—Alise Lovell: Affection -5]

‘What the hell? Did I go too far?’

It was the second instance of someone’s affection decreasing. Both were tsunderes, who refused to admit their feelings. He couldn’t find what triggered Alise now.

Ryuu stopped after noticing Alise’s erratic behavior and patted Alise’s shoulder. “Captain?”

The redhead froze, her sword an inch away from Asahi’s neck. She pulled herself together and rubbed her eyes with a forced smile.

“Something went in… my eyes. I’ll clean it quickly.”

Asahi pulled her hands away from her face and gently wiped her tears. “Alise, I’m sorry, okay?”

“It was dust,” Alise blushed and muttered her excuse again. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Yes. Yes. I believe you.”

He cleaned up her tears while thinking of a way to solve her problem. He couldn’t just say ‘I like you. Join my harem’ to her. It won’t work on Alise. The only feasible way to make her fall was to go all out on offense similar to what he did with Saya.

‘I won’t find time for that in the dungeon.’

Alise pushed his hands and took her sword again. “Let’s do it again. My perfect self won’t lose again.”

She bounced back to her usual, cheery self as if nothing happened.

“Come at me.”

Ryuu sighed. The two were back to their antics.

***

The trio sparred until Nao came to call on them for breakfast.

“So sweaty…” Alise mumbled.

Asahi couldn’t stop his eyes from wandering to her clothes. Her white shirt had become translucent with the accumulated sweat. Asahi could make out the pink brassiere under her shirt.

Alise followed Asahi’s gaze and covered her chest in a hurry. “You pervert!”

With her hands on her chest, she scampered inside the mansion.

Ryuu looked down. Thankfully, her white sleeveless top wasn’t made of thin linen. She gave a nod at Asahi before following Alise.

“Asahi-kun, you should shower.”

He closed the distance and threw his arms around Nao. “Am I sweaty?”

“No… you still smell good.” Nao gently hugged him. “Like always.”

“Good to hear.”

He dragged Nao to the shower and spent some ‘quality’ time with her. As he sat down at the table for breakfast, Loki barged into the dining room.

“Oho, looks delish. Haven’t eaten this morning.”

She shamelessly took a seat and clapped. “Send some ’ere!”

Asahi just shook his head and continued eating.

After breakfast, Loki wiped her face with a napkin. “I came to grab you.”

“I know,” Asahi replied with a shrug. “Alise and Ryuu will be coming with me.”

“Didn’t you say you can only bring ten people?”

“You believed it?”

“Nope.”

Loki turning her squinting eyes to the pair of Alise and Ryuu. She would be an idiot if she didn’t know the two most powerful members of Astraea’s Familia. Her party will only become stronger with their presence, which will only benefit.

“A level 4 and a level 5. Sure, tag along with your man.”

“My man?!” Alise blabbered. “You got it wrong! Asahi is just my junior…”

“Yes…” Ryuu nodded.

Loki grinned at Asahi. From the goddess to the adventurers, he had everyone wrapped around his finger. And he did it without using any manipulation or power.

‘I wasn’t wrong in calling him a demigod.’

Before leaving, Asahi hugged all of his women one by one and kissed them goodbye. Rini, Aimi, Saeko, and even Nao wanted to come with him, but he had told them to farm XP on earlier floors. With Ais’s adventurer party around, they will rarely get any chance to fight. He could always return to them whenever he wanted.

After everyone came Astraea’s turn. He pulled Astraea in for a tight hug and nuzzled his face in her silky brown hair. “Don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything.”

“Yeah… I can use telepathy,” Astraea whispered, returning his hug. “Return safely.”

“You know the answer to that already. And don’t worry about Alise and Ryuu. I’ll protect them from everything.”

“Thanks…”

He pulled back and softly pecked her lips. “Sorry and thanks are forbidden in my family.”

Her cheeks turned rosy. With a timid smile, she nodded. “I will keep that in mind… now go.”

With Loki at helm, Asahi departed alongside Alise and Ryuu.

***

Were the chapters up to usual quality? I was having some doubts when I was writing these.