Chapter 32

Note: Thanks to Alex for beta reading this!

Halia guided the liberated women to Astovin.

I watched with Baaghi from the edges as the girls, dressed in their torn clothing, were returned to them. Jindag had wanted to breed them to form his own army that would let him exceed the limit of what he could create with his Void Crystal. He planned on using life magic to twist them. Mold them. Shape them.

What a sick man.

The women of the village greeted their traumatized daughters. They were embraced. Some broke down and wept in the arms of mothers and sisters and aunts. Others looked stunned. My stomach twisted with rage at the sight of them. I glanced at Baaghi.

“What did you think of Jindag’s plan?” I asked.

She scowled. “It was piggish. But he ruled. We obeyed.” Her whiskers twitched. “No ... We wanted to obey. We wanted to help him. Now ... Now I feel your outrage. I share it.” She stared at me. “It’s like your will is my will. I don’t understand it.”

“You tied to the Glyph,” I muttered. “I own the Glyph.”

“And now you own me, Lord Leo,” she said, her voice surprisingly affectionate. “You have freed me from the bondage of evil.” A purr rose in her throat, feline and happy. She nuzzled her whiskered cheek into my chest, those long strands ticklish. Her orange, catlike ear twitched as it thrust out of her hair. “I’m yours now. I want what you want. I am glad you killed that pig. He wasn’t worthy of me. He never was. When I taught him...”

She spat on the ground, fur bristling.

Halia spoke with the men as they stared at her golden armor. “You’re a paladin,” said the priest of light for the village. Orvain smiled at her. “You have gained Lady Sherida’s blessing.”

“She approved my vow to serve him,” said Halia, turning to where Lord Leo watched her. The rakshasa rubbed her cheek affectionately against him. He stood tall in his battered breastplate and tattered robes.

“What?” gasped Orvain.

“Halia!” Mayor Bevlin grasped at his heart. “A dungeon builder? You have pledged yourself to one of those filthy beings?”

“Yes,” she said, her chin held high. “He’s not what you think. What we fear.”

“He has held you in bondage,” protested Orvain. “I heard it from Milies.”

He had been a cleric of Sherida, loyal to the Goddess of Light, and her companion. One of the two that was bewitched by Garnet and lured out of the dungeon. She had heard they had wandered for days in the woods before finding their way to safety.

“Only to speak with me,” said Halia. “And look at what he has done here. These girls are returned to you by his actions. He suffered to return them. He wants to protect this village.”

“You mean rule it,” Bevlin said, his face going flat. Hard. “How much will his tithe be.”

“Nothing.” Halia and Leo had talked about this on the return trip. “He merely wishes to purchase supplies, mostly food, from here. He wants to protect you because we’re neighbors. He would rather prosper with us than be our enemy.”

Bevlin shook his head. “What game is he playing?”

“None.”

“What would your father say,” Orvain said. The priest glared at her, his arms folding in the brown robes. The sunlight caught the golden chain of his amulet that vanished beneath his garb. “He died killing a dungeon builder.”

“My father taught me to do what is right. That is what I am doing.” Halia lifted her chin. “I know he is proud of me. Lord Leo is not like the vermin, like this Jindag who stole the daughters of our village. Lord Leo will uphold his word. He is a good man. Sherida blessed me, did she not.”

Orvain looked at her armor. His brow furrowed. “She ... did.”

Bevlin looked at Leo. “It’s not like we could stop him. He can shop, but we will be vigilant. We will not be his slaves, Halia. Just remember who your people are. Do not be a pawn for evil.”

“I am not a pawn!” She would help Leo show everyone that he was not who they thought he was. That he was someone to be trusted.

She would help him in that mission. Her heart had softened to him and now ... Now she saw his passion. His love. She returned it, to her utter shock. She stared at Leo watching them and such excitement rushed through her virgin flesh for him. A quiver that had a pitter-patter beat to her heart racing hot blood through her.

Halia negotiated to get us food. It was given for free for returning the women, but they didn’t really trust me. Hundreds of years of dungeon builders causing problems for this world would not be overcome easily, I supposed.

Halia, Baaghi, and I returned to the dungeon with the food. It took the rest of the day. Baaghi proved herself to have a playful side. She darted around like a kitten. She was clearly excited. Her tiger-like tail flicked behind her, orange with black stripes.

“God, she’s a catgirl,” I muttered.

“Cat ... girl?” frowned Halia.

“Garnet’s going to freak out,” I said. Then I sighed. My little sister had gotten herself killed saving my life. She experienced the pain of dying, but her soul was bound to my Void Crystal, so she was just sleeping. A lot of monster girls were.

The path led up towards the dungeon. We crossed the valley, the mountain I built my dungeon beneath rising over us. This place was my new home. For better or worse, I had been brought here from my world, a copy, anyways. Just like Garnet and Lana Fulmine. How? Why?

No idea.

I found the entrance to the cave. I stored the donkey in the side cave that served as his stable. I should build a paddock for him to graze in. Probably get a second so he has a friend to be around. The three of us carried in the food, heavy sacks of dried meat, beans, and root vegetables for Halia and I to eat.

I opened the door with ease. Excitement barked before me. Nos bounded up. She wagged her tail as she crouched before me and yipped, “Lord Leo! Welcome back!” She looked around. Her eyes widened. “It was bad.”

“But we won,” I said. “This is Baaghi. She’s going to be helping you guard the dungeon.”

“Hi!” Nos said, a bright smile on her face. “You’re a cat! Grr!”

Baaghi hissed and made a playful swipe at Nos. The wildhound leaped up, but not to attack. She grabbed Baaghi’s shoulder and licked at her lips. Then the pair were kissing, loving each other the way I wanted my harem to exist.

My monster girls were all special. All beings to be loved and who were eager to share their affection

Bluish light glowed around the corner and then Kibir appeared. The busty will o’ wisp hurried forward, her big boobs bouncing, and threw her arms around my neck. She kissed me with passion, her tongue thrusting into my mouth, big breasts spilling over my chest.

Excitement echoed through the dungeon as Du, Gwyllt, and Marwo bounded in followed by Svyte, Gintaras, and Dvasia. Usiku was last, my fomorian smiling as she saw us entering and then frowned.

“Yeah, it was bad,” I said. “But we won. Jindag’s dead. Halia’s joining us.”

The wildhounds all barked in excitement and swarmed her. Halia gasped as the four wildhounds pinned her against the wall and bathed her tits and exposed breasts with their licking tongues, their black tails all wagging back and forth. I smiled at their excitement. They were so enthusiastic.

The will o’ wisps took the food from us and all carried it happily. The busty girls walked around me and Baaghi, chatting and giggling. They were all so happy to have me back, thankful that I had returned to them.