The morning sun gently warmed the town of Valerra, casting a soft golden hue over its peaceful rooftops. The scent of fresh bread and blooming spring flowers drifted through the cobbled streets. Life had returned to normal—or at least as normal as it could be after a demonic invasion, a corrupted queen, and an explosive celebration of survival.
Within the top floor of the inn, however, time had slowed.
Inside the largest room, silence reigned. The only sound was the quiet, rhythmic breathing of four bodies entangled on a single bed.
Noah lay at the center, eyes closed, hair slightly tousled. Scarlett was tucked under one arm, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder, her delicate fingers clinging to his hand. Lyra lay at his other side, her cold aura muted as her soft breath brushed his neck, the tip of her nose barely touching his collarbone.
And Layla… Layla was draped lazily across his chest like a velvet blanket, one leg hooked over his hips, her arms loosely holding him in a gentle but clearly possessive grip. Her expression was peaceful, dreamy—serene, even. But her lips moved slightly, murmuring something under her breath.
"Noah is… mine… mm…"
Then came the knock.
Knock. Knock.
No response.
Olivia stood outside the room, a rolled-up report in her hand, ready to submit to the Church's high council. Her emerald eyes held their usual serene glow, though a hint of hesitation lingered in them. She had come to say goodbye before her journey back—one final moment before parting ways.
"Noah?" she called softly.
Still silence.
With a sigh, she opened the door and stepped inside.
And froze.
Her breath caught.
There, before her eyes, lay a scene that stopped her heart.
Noah… lying beneath a pile of warm bodies. Scarlett pressed against him with her usual sweet serenity, Lyra looking like a sleeping snow queen at his side, and Layla… on top of him, arms wrapped around his torso like he was a pillow. The three of them clung to him like lifelines, utterly at peace.
"...W-What…"
Olivia's throat tightened as she blinked once. Then again.
Her composure cracked ever so slightly.
"I… I knew they liked him but… this… isn't this a bit fast? Since when…?"
She took a step back instinctively. Was it shock? Or was that… jealousy?
Before she could make sense of it—
"Noah is… mine…"
Layla's voice murmured again, muffled against his chest, her voice dripping with sleepy possessiveness.
Olivia's eyebrow twitched. Her composure shattered.
"NOAH!!!"
The shout was a divine strike in itself.
Instantly, chaos erupted.
Scarlett sat up like a bolt of lightning had struck her. "Wh-What?! Enemies?!"
Lyra blinked awake, her black eyes groggy but alert. "Are we under attack again…?"
Layla grumbled sleepily, refusing to move. "Too early… go away…"
Noah, buried under limbs, blinked himself awake slowly.
"Mmm… morning already…?" He squinted at the figure near the door. "…Olivia?"
"Yes. Olivia," she said, arms folded, eyes glaring with holy fire. "Explain. Now."
Noah glanced at the girls around him—Scarlett still half-hugging him, Lyra pressing lightly into his side, Layla purring sleepily on top like a satisfied cat.
"Uhh…"
He sat up slightly, careful not to disturb the warm pile of women, and scratched the back of his head.
"It's… not what it looks like?"
"Oh, really? Because it looks like you've been used as a cuddle sacrifice and no one told the Saintess about the ritual."
"Okay, that's dramatic," Noah mumbled, trying not to laugh.
"Noah." Her voice was deadly serious.
"Alright, alright," he sighed. "After everything that happened in Valerra, everyone's been exhausted. They just… fell asleep here. That's it."
"All three of them?"
"We were… talking about future battle formations. They got tired." He shrugged.
Scarlett nodded, going along with it. "Mhm. We discussed our synergy."
Lyra added, "We were… planning team strategy. It became late."
Layla, still refusing to move from her perch, muttered, "Noah's warm. We needed warmth. That's all."
Noah gave Olivia a half-smile, hoping she'd drop it.
She narrowed her eyes. "You're a terrible liar."
"I'm a great liar," Noah countered.
"Which is exactly what a bad liar would say."
There was a long pause.
Then Olivia's expression softened—just slightly. A small sigh escaped her lips.
"…I'm leaving soon. I came to say goodbye."
Noah looked at her properly now. Her robe shimmered slightly with divine threads. Her usual aura was calm, but today… there was something else.
"I see," he said softly. "Be safe. And come back when you can."
"Of course," she said quietly. Then her eyes flicked once more to the girls around him. "…Just try not to turn your bed into a cult by the time I return."
"No promises," Layla said with a smirk, eyes still closed.
Olivia groaned and turned away, her cheeks tinged pink.
"Just… get dressed before breakfast. And clean up your harem."
With a final huff, she left the room, her footsteps echoing down the hall.
Noah exhaled, rubbing his temple. "…That could've gone worse."
Scarlett giggled.
Lyra offered a rare smile.
Layla purred, snuggling closer.
"I'm not letting you go just yet," she whispered.
-To be continued..