Only the Faiumi Merchant Alliance had contacted us before the beginning of the Purification, and that was mostly because of Nour's parents' vouching for us, so we have no desire to make any sort of alliance with these vultures wanting a piece without putting in the effort. We don't even need their help to deal with Katasko, so we won't share our spoils with them.

We have the golems comb through the letters just to see if there's something juicy hidden among the trash, but we pay the messengers no more mind. We've already had enough distractions during our morning training, so we don't have time to waste on that bullshit.

And the rest of our morning goes swimmingly.

I breathe in deeply and enjoy the environment. The falling leaves, the chirping of birds and nature spirits, the smell of nature, the greenery all around us. I've become too used to the elven lifestyle, and I start to dearly miss it whenever we go out. I'm a hermit dragon who finds it too bothersome to leave my cave and plunder the countryside, but I've abandoned my affinity for dark, damp, and warm caves, and replaced it with more elven tastes.

Yunia snobbishly snorts internally at my admission of the elven way being superior, but I'm comparing it to the Earthling way, and I have neither pride nor shame about my utilitarian life back on Earth.

As it's a day of Light, sunbathing feels so good that I even switch to my draconic form to enjoy it better. Aoi wants to feel small, so I grow to my biggest size and coil my body around hers, then we share our comfiness with the rest of the girls through our connection, and our boosted training gains another multiplier.

 

For lunch, the Verners want to have something private among themselves, so we decide to have a meal with only the wives. It feels weird not having Klein or Hukarere with us for lunch, but if they won't commit to the position of concubines, then there'll be moments they can't join us for.

Just to mess with Yunia's smug elven superiority, we have elven shawarma with imperial pita bread. The spicing of the meat is more on the savory side instead of the balanced flavors I usually found in Arabic cuisine, but it's delicious nonetheless.

I think elves favor simple and clear flavors due to the wide variety of tasty veggie ingredients they have available and their skill with smoking meats, whereas other cultures have become more adept at mixing spices to… mix up flavors and create something new. Werefox culture is a good example of the creative use of limited ingredients to spice up their meals.

Alissa simply stares at me with dead eyes, disappointed by my pun game. I love to annoy her, but I also know she plays it up a bit, so it's all fine in the end.

"I never thought I'd say this, but I now understand why we can't serve certain meals to adventurers," Hana remarks as she stares at her piece of shawarma sandwich, which is considerably thick due to the number of ingredients and simply too delicate for most adventurers to eat without making a mess.

"They're unable to appreciate the nuance of flavors in elven food, anyway," Yunia snobbishly states, feeling a bit annoyed by our deliberate mixing of cultures for this meal.

"Most of them wouldn't, but it doesn't mean that we should never even try to get them to appreciate finer meals," Ciel kindly retorts.

And Lina calmly points out, "I'm a common-born dwarf, and I learned to like elven food. Anything is possible."

"True…" Yunia hums thoughtfully. Lina's argument seems to convince her, which makes Ciel rather conflicted, and that makes Roxanne and Hana very amused.

For dessert, we have not-earl-gray tea with not-strawberry meringue cake, one of my favorite combinations. But the cake is almost a work of art as the chef poured their soul into decorating it, and it makes me realize that our own cooks don't try to be so artistic with our food. I can't deny that we're a bit spoiled, but at least we aren't that spoiled.

I get a craving for fluff, so Alissa puts her tail on my lap, and I instinctively start to pet it. But then my trance is interrupted as the golems approach us.

"Masters, apologies for the interruption," Ted begins.

"But we've come to a consensus, and we require your input," Suzy follows.

"We, golems, are vulnerable to theft through [Item Box], so we wish to divert some of our focus towards learning how to resist it," Jarn finishes with surprising eloquence. She almost sounds like a pompous elf herself.

I hum in agreement as I pet Alissa's fluffy tail, then I ask, "That's fine, but how do you intend to research that?"

"We'll test on each other," Ted flatly answers.

"Be careful with messing with [Item Box]," Roxanne soberly warns them.

Suzy turns to her and nods with her little blonde doll head as she replies, "Yes, we're aware that it has the potential to damage one's soul."

"Do you know where to start?" I curiously ask and lean to the side so that I can wave Alissa's tail in my face, tickling my nose with her unbelievable fluffiness.

And Ted suddenly launches into a long explanation, "We know that you can't store living humanoids, animals, or monsters inside an [Item Box], yet we, golems, are able to be stored in one, so there's something that we lack that would give us resistance to the spell. An inconsistency we noticed is that elementals can be stored, but they simply dissipate when it's attempted as they aren't made of real matter, just like a dungeon's mana solidifications. We know this quirk isn't related to the divine humanoid level and skill system since we've been under the effects of [Bind] for a considerable length of time, yet there has been no change to our vulnerability, so we plan on exploring the soul through [Sense Soul] and noting every single difference between ours and every other being that can't be stored."

Sometimes, the golems show glimpses of budding personalities that make me excited for their future, but it also makes me sad because there's so much to learn about [Golemancy] that I'm not free to explore due to other priorities.

"If you could continue my [Sense Soul] research, I'd be very grateful," I gently state and smile.

"No need for gratitude, Master. We live to serve," Jarn replies and bows.

And Alissa chimes in, "Would you like some help with that? I know that the soul is an inconceivably large thing, so with only the three of you, it'd take a long time to scour through it all."

"More comrades that can be stolen is a dangerous thing, especially when Master Wolf's [Bind] is limited," Ted retorts.

"Can you use [Bind]?" Alissa questions as an idea comes to her, and her tail attempts to escape my hand as it begins to wag.

"Only Jarn has memories of [Bind], and there aren't many, though we can learn with Master Gify's help," Suzy answers.

"Gih…?" Gify chirps, surprised at being called "Master."

Then I realize what Alissa's getting at, and a frightening idea escapes my mouth, "If we taught you [Bind] and [Golemancy], you could create your own golems that you could [Bind], and then those golems could [Bind] others, creating a chain."

But Ted immediately finds a problem with that plan, "We don't know how feedback from a golem further down the chain can affect those at the top."

I sigh tiredly and even my thick tail drops down in defeat. "Right, [Bind] is full of flaws."

It's extremely telling that Alissa found a way to control my body through [Bind], and the girls can even talk mentally among themselves without me noticing unless I'm specifically paying attention.

"Not only that, but there are dangers of mind-melding with inexperienced use of [Bind]," Suzy adds, and Alissa and I share a look. For some reason, I have to be careful when delving into her mind because our "mind blankets" stick together like glue.

I rub my chin with my claws as I ponder thoughtfully, "Like the Chuckys, this is something we can experiment with, but there are many other things with a higher priority that we have to work on before we should study that. Though, it's trivial to just make a few golems and have them use it on each other just to see what happens…" -And Alissa starts to regret giving me this idea- "but anyway, you can start exploring the soul and making notes."

"Thank you, Master Wolf," Jarn politely replies and bows while the other two lower their little doll heads.

Then Yunia casually remarks at the golems, "I'm surprised by your creativity. From what I understood of Wolfy's… understanding of your existence, you're not the most creative due to your obsession with obedience."

"The concern about theft has been on our minds since our conception," Ted begins.

"Yet we only came up with the idea of developing a resistance to it now," Suzy completes, her emphasis sounding like sweet music to my ears.

"Technically, we didn't have the resources to safely study things until recently," Roxanne points out. She, most of all, knows the difference that having appropriate protection makes to research.

Jarn nods at her, then finishes, "That was all we had to say." And I resume the petting of the fluffiest tail.

"Apologies for interrupting your rest, Masters. We didn't expect this conversation to last this long," Suzy politely states.

But Alissa immediately remarks wryly, "If you thought that Wolfy wouldn't immediately launch into theorizing, then you still don't understand enough about humanoid personalities."

"Indeed, we don't…" The little blonde doll replies, sounding faintly melancholic.

 

After our meal, we join the Verners on the balcony to watch the men train. And before we even get to our seats, my eyes are drawn to a blue-haired giant fighting off two Lordsguard on her own.

Kyora, Ciel's Templar friend, is like a knight on steroids, and I feel like she could even rival a lower Lord with her strength, which is exactly what half of her job is all about: dealing with naughty nobles and Lords. It's curious how she doesn't have a "high-level aura," or at least, she and her harem don't let it out.

"It's a Templar tactic, yes," Ciel explains through [Bind].

Neat.

Talking about Templars, Hana feels a bit sad that our favorite Punisher still hasn't come back from whatever business she had to attend to.

"I'm a big girl. I can deal with it," the big red girl reassures herself.

Allura greets us with a charming smile, but I can sense a subtle tension in her posture, and she even sighs softly in frustration when she looks away from me. It seems like the thirsty girl has been dealt with, for now.

And the moment we sit, Léonne turns to me with a very foxy grin and begins, "Say, Wolf. We have quite the 'interesting' ensemble of men gathered here, so how about some friendly matches?"

I glance at her curiously. Her tone makes it clear that there's mischief about, so I tread carefully, "If that's what the men want. I'm not one to force them to compete for our amusement."

She leans back in her chair and glances at her husband, who's watching the current match quite intensely. "Now that's a bit surprising. I thought a dragon would be more competitive."

Aoi and I share a wry glance. "We might not be 'normal' dragons."

"Understatement of the era," Yunia dryly remarks.

The milfy fox raises one orange eyebrow at me. "Do you at least frequent the coliseum in Escanso?"

While my one visit to the coliseum in Rabanara was nice, I clearly have a certain taste. "I prefer the theater."

Both of Léonne's pointy ears turn towards me in surprise. "Consider me shocked. Do you have a reason for why you don't enjoy blood sports?"

I enjoy the teamwork aspect more than the idea of winning. Lily was the inverse, and our attitudes actually complemented each other, with me ensuring that we always had a good time, and her making sure that we could actually enjoy victories regularly.

"I do enjoy an occasional duel myself, but not competing. I prefer to not have my pride challenged," I honestly admit.

And that seems to sate her curiosity as she turns her mischievous smirk towards the elven Queen. "How peculiar. But how about you, Yulania? Would you care for a wager?"

And Yunia's ears flick in sudden interest. "Oh? What do you have in mind?"

"My Hunters versus your knights," Léonne replies soberly, and my elf can't detect even a hint of hidden intentions in her tone.

But she still cautiously replies, "Knights have more roles than just combat, so my men would be at a disadvantage."

"Your best versus my best?" The fox Queen rephrases.

"Sounds acceptable. Three duels to decide," the elven Queen promptly suggests.

And now Léonne reveals her true intentions, "If I win, I want a free shipment of your bath products."

Yunia chuckles softly and nods. "Fair, though you can't give me what I truly want from you-…"

"Is that so? I really wish to know your true desire," the matriarch interrupts.

And the luscious elf takes a moment to rein in her desire. Last night is still fresh and raw in her mind. "You… and your maid," Yunia sultrily answers.

Jacques silently rolls his eyes as the conversation suddenly takes a lewd turn, but Léonne seems to revel in it.

"That's right, you can't have them," the red beast grunts to make sure they know where the line is, though he doesn't turn to look at them as he's still paying attention to the fighting below.

"What a lascivious woman you are, Lord Yulania," Lord Léonne remarks, her voice almost a purr, and the deep sensuality in her tone shows how much more experienced she is in the art of seduction.

"Of course I am; all Ryders are like this," Yunia proudly states matter-of-factly.

"I-I'm not…" Ciel tries to deny it, but a snobbish elven snort is all that's needed for the corrupted angel to sigh in resignation.

"Wolfy prefers 'slut,' but 'lascivious' is also fine," Roxanne chimes in with a grin.

The two stern rulers share a heated look as a grin slowly creeps onto their faces, but Léonne snaps out of it first and sighs wistfully. "It's a shame we can't fuck. I'll think of you the next time I make love to my maid."

Ofilia does her best to keep her face turned away from us so that we can't see the reddening of her skin.

And Yunia nonchalantly replies, "I've already done the same. But anyway, I wish for a free shipment of your best embroidered textiles. Even I can see how tasty Alissa looks in her native attire."

And the tail of our foxy slut slowly wags in mild excitement.

Léonne nods soberly in agreement. "Very well. We should start preparing our men."

But Yunia has one last statement to make, "Make sure that your white giant knows that he'll be fighting against my giant for the third fight."

And the two grin excitedly. "Yes, the best for last."

 

The first duel is between two mature men: a Misty werefox with graying, orange hair, and a beardless golden elf who still has a full golden shine in his hair but also has the experienced air of a daddy. They have no armor but a helmet to protect the brain, a neck brace to protect against decapitation, and a sheet of metal over the heart, all standard dueling attire.

It's instantly obvious why the female side enjoys duels so much as they're both shirtless and only wearing a pair of tight, elastic pants that form a bulge. I even see the adventurer trio and Lolo join the Companions down in the courtyard, and the group of women start to quietly, but excitedly, whisper among themselves.

I glance at Allura, but, curiously, she doesn't seem that excited. The two men are both daddies who look closer to her father than to me in body type, so I guess they just aren't her type. But they certainly are Ofilia's…

Anyway, they both favor the longsword over any other weapon, which perfectly fits their lean bodies as swords and other slashing weapons favor "Dexterity" over "Strength," unlike the halberd, maces, and other striking weapons, which are favored by dwarves.

As a Sworn Hunter's primary job is… hunting monsters, the longsword is definitely the most useful weapon in general for them, even more so than the spear. But in the case of the elves, their love for the longsword is more cultural than practical as they deem the spear to be a "peasant's weapon," which is an opinion that's shared by the Chimeras, but also because their two races have more enchanters who are able to create [Searing Blade] weapons, allowing the higher classes to ditch spears and pikes entirely.

Imperials favor the sword and shield combo as it matches perfectly with their spear cavalry, and they're credited for creating the famous heater shield in Rupegia as other shields aren't compact enough to be carried on horseback. The rest of the world mostly favors the spear as it's the simplest weapon to make, and it's extremely effective in large formations, but there's a global tendency for the higher classes to ditch spears whenever they can get their hands on enchanted equipment.

Lina nods in approval along with my internal monologue, but she doesn't feel like adding anything as even she starts to get a bit distracted by the view.

The duelists stretch and warm up with flourishing movements, which tells us that they're very much enjoying all the attention. I was concerned about them feeling intimidated since their Lords are betting on their victory, but they seem more excited than tense.

Then the two Queens return to our balcony, but to me, it feels like two imps have joined us. I almost instinctively probe Yunia's mind, but I decide to play fair and let them spring their trap or whatever other mischief they have in mind.

Léonne takes her seat and promptly unleashes it at me, "Say, Wolf. Would you like to have a duel with my husband?"

"Not interested," Jacques and I answer in unison, making both Queens giggle heartily.

"Are they making fun of us?" The big red man quietly asks and gives me a concerned glance.

"Yes, yes they are," I answer with a sigh, and we share another look. It seems that we've found something in common to bond over.