After thirty seconds of uncomfortable pause, the Warrior re-approaches me with an even bigger blush and an even more confused expression. “So,” Nikita awkwardly coughs. “You’re not bullshitting us, are you, Chief? You’re... the Hero of Light, and you have to go on a big ol’ quest to defeat the greatest evil known across the Realms?”

“Pardon th’ interruption, Lad, but ya don’t exactly look like yer traditional hero type if ya catch mah meanin’.” Gwin leans over on the table with her elbows.

“It’s as you say, Gwin,” I scratch the back of my head. “Lux Ultima told me that there was a need to do things differently this time around, and my powers are different from other Heroes of Light who’ve come before.”

“Hold on just a sec, Boss.” Sam narrows her eyes. “We aren’t, like, distantly related or something... are we? I’m still learning about my family tree, but even I know that the first Hero of Light was Rhoivandis Lundreame... the first King of Karnalle.” The Princess sweats, saying, “I just don’t want it to be weird between us, Boss. We moved away from the whole blood purity thing for a reason...”

‘Well, most of you, anyway.’ Zutiria says coldly.

“Don’t remind me!” Sam groans.

“I don’t think it works like that,” I laugh. “Lux Ultima made it clear that I was chosen and that bloodline had little to do with it.”

The Princess sighs a long, deep sigh of sweet relief.

“Circle back for a sec, Chief. Even if you aren’t an old-fashioned Hero of Light, you still are one, yeah?” Nikita grabs me by the shoulders, excitement ringing in her voice. “So... does this mean you really are planning on fighting against the Demon Lord?”

“No,” I look back up at the tall Grekkan mercenary as confidently as I can. “Just like the Duke of Dewhurst, I plan to defeat him.”

Sam smirks proudly at that.

Nikita’s blush grows stronger, prompting much confusion from me. Finally, she turns tail and goes back to her seat like nothing ever happened. “I... see. Carry on then, Chief.”

“S-So, um, when you said you were different from other Heroes of Light... does that mean...” Meri’s cheeks redden. “Uh... what I’m trying to ask about... is... how does the s-sex stuff factor into it...?”

I let out a deep sigh, wishing I had a drink.

‘I’m willing to wager this is where things get stupid,’ The troubled Mage offers.

“Imagine that,” the Dwarf has herself another laugh.

“You aren’t wrong. To start off small, when a woman takes my semen into their body, they are imbued with my Hero of Light essence. That’s why it has so many magical benefits that more or less just makes girls stronger for a time after consuming it in some way. This means that the goal is for me to build my ranks by amassing heroic young women who I will one day lead into battle against the Demon Lord, allegedly. Although... the Goddess hinted that if things aren’t working out, then we may need to rely on... other heroes.” 

‘So I take it that’s why your semen has the strongest effect when applied vaginally. It’s an incentive for unprotected sex.’ Zutiria sighs, looking disinterested.

“Sounds that way,” Opalina cups her chin. “Good heavens, this is convoluted...”

Meri tilts her head, letting slip that it hasn’t quite registered for her yet. “What? Oh, no... how are we supposed to find all these other heroes when it comes down to it?”

“...Sweetheart,” I sigh and cradle my forehead.

“Master?” Meri blinks, naive as ever.

“We’re supposed to make the heroes, Meri.”

The innocent, backwater country girl stares at me until it hits her- and it hits her hard. Meri’s jaw drops, her face turns beet red, and she stammers, “W-W-We were chosen by the Goddess as breeding stock?!”

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

Sam, not one to usually get embarrassed, blushes too. Hers is more out of anger. “What, so I’m supposed to do my best and give up if it doesn’t work just so that our kid can finish the job? Fuck that! I want to finish this shit in OUR generation! That’s just... just... fucking DEGRADING!”

Meri stands up, trembling and distant. She sniffles and balls her hands into fists. “I... I think so too, Sam...” The anxious girl grabs her beloved shield and stares at it deeply before dropping it to the floor. “My mom died just because two Goddesses are having a fight, and now... now I-I’m just supposed to pop out babies? Is this what my mom earned for her sacrifice?”

“Meri!” Nikita stands and grabs the troubled Shield Maiden by her wrist. “Calm down. We can talk this out.” The Grekkan takes on a protective big sister role as she strokes Meri’s short, curly brown locks. Meri frowns but leans into it.

“Hold on just a moment...” Things suddenly start piecing together in place.

“Ah!” Sam stands up, shocked. She must have figured it out, too.

Her mom, a powerful adventurer, died a couple of years ago. She’s from a small farming village up in the Echora Province. Why did I never notice it before? “Meri... what is the name of the village you’re from?”

With her head held low, she utters, “...Bridgebury.”

I knew it.

Sam gasps. “Your mom was the adventurer who beat back the Demon Lord’s army single-handedly?” The Princess is hardly able to believe it. “She was my hero! I asked about her all the time, but no one ever told me her name or her class...” If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say they never told Sam the details out of fear it’d inspire the young firebrand of a Princess to leave her home and go out adventuring. Lot of good that did.

“Her name was Marienne Tillot...” Meri turns to her friend, frowning. “I guess I didn’t think about it too hard, but since you’re the Crown Princess, then that means... that man who came to see us after it happened was your father. The King who praised Mom’s bravery and then didn’t lift a single finger to actually help us in the aftermath...”

“Meri...?” Sam grows concerned, deeply terrified of losing her newest friend. “I’m not like him, Meri. I left home because I was so sick of no one doing anything about the Demon Lord! Please...” The Princess fights back a few tears. “You gotta believe me!”

“Children, children... that’s enough,” Opal grabs Zutiria and places her on the table like a doll, then stands up to cut in between Sam and Meri. “Samantha, you don’t need to crowd her. You’ll only make things worse. Meri, you’re justified in being upset, but don’t take it out on the wrong person.”

“Sounds like you should take it out on that God if anyone...” Nikita crosses her arms and then looks my way. “Are you really going to keep dancing to the beat of her drum, Chief?”

“To an extent, yes. The popping-out babies thing is only a backup plan- a fail-safe, she called it. If we win... which we will... making dozens of super-powered heroes will be a fun bonus and nothing more. First and foremost, the Goddess chose the three of you by hand because of the enormous potential you possess.”

I can see this answer doesn’t impress Nikita, who sighs in response. But, as far as Meri goes, it perks her up a bit. “Do you really think so, Master?” Meri asks.

“Of course I do. I’ll be the one to unlock all of that hidden power you have inside you.”

“Alright,” Nikita throws up her arms and starts walking away. Her expression wavers with conflicting thoughts, “I’ve had enough for one night. There’s a lot on my mind, and I’m gonna go hit up a bar or three. Don’t worry, Chief. I won’t be far...” The Grekkan waves over her shoulder on her way out the front door.

No one stops Nikita as she leaves, but we’re all a little confused about her sudden decision to hightail it out of here in the middle of such a critical discussion.

“Fuck’s tall, dark an’ sexy’s problem?” Gwin asks as soon as Nikita is out of sight.

“I’d love to that know, myself...”

Opalina is the only one here who’s known Nikita long enough to have any clue, so she speaks up. “I don’t think she likes the idea of playing along with a God’s plans, even if Lux Ultima is ‘one of the good ones’. I can’t say I fault Niki for that. Best to just give her the space she needs.”

“Fair enough,” I sigh, hoping Nikita is alright.

Speaking of space, Sam and Meri sit down next to each other after sharing a small hug. “I’m sorry, Sam... I just got a little emotional...”

“You’re ok, Meri.” Sam smiles before taking the opportunity to steal a kiss from the ironically unguarded Shield Maiden. Meri blushes and jumps backward, but Sam holds her tight. “Hey... can you tell me more about your mom sometime? I’d just love to hear all about her!”

“O-Ok...” Meri stammers as a small smile creeps across her nervous face. “I’d like that.” She giggles.

As cute as these two are, the meeting isn’t complete, and we have some more serious things to discuss. “I want to go on to say that I’m sincere when I tell you that I want to one day defeat the Demon Lord. However, I also want to reaffirm that this doesn’t change too much of our day-to-day lives. Our goal was already to improve the Guild and turn you all into legendary adventurers.”

Meri bites her lower lip and holds her hands in her lap.

Zutiria sits idly on Opalina’s lap, remaining as unreadable as ever.

Sam sits at the edge of her seat, looking fired up and packed with nothing but raw, unfiltered determination.

“We’ll take baby steps towards greatness, knowing that every step will lead us towards the ultimate goal of vanquishing Karnalle’s greatest evil. Whether or not this helps a Goddess irrelevant- I’m pledging myself to this goal for my own sake. That being said... if anyone wants out of my eventual war versus the forces of darkness, this is your time to speak.”