Harem of Moms and Milkers

It was three months after the beginning of Asdel and Severine's banishment.

The two of them waited for Viola in front of the Skylander estate, reading borrowed books from Magdalena’s library.

“I’m back.” Viola shook a bulging coin purse. “But I feel like Charles is ripping us off.”

Asdel sighed. “It can’t be helped, there’s no other retailers in town willing to buy from a nameless workshop.”

The Lucky Slime shop lacked the manpower to tackle the shipping or retail sectors. If Asdel sought maximum profit, he could send someone to transport his goods to the northern frontline where desperate adventurers bought any medicine regardless of the brand.

However, Asdel focused on the manufacturing sector. That was the natural course to take since game knowledge of recipes gave him automatic monopoly, while other sectors challenged his real business skills (which sucked). In addition, it unlocked special potions, like the experience-boost for Severine or the genderbending medicine for pranks.

He compared the size of the coin purse from the Skylanders with a bag of money received from an auction house. “Maybe we should just stop bothering with the Skylanders. Seems like we earn more from the special potions sold as luxuries at the auctions.”

In Severine’s opinion, contributing to the family wealth was a good thing. But Asdel's subconscious stance as an outsider made him focus on his meager personal pay. She wanted him to renew his sense of belonging using his adoptive mom. “More importantly, there is still no news from Loreley?”

“They don’t want her to be affected on the battlefield, so your family problems will not reach her ears until she returns.” Viola shook her head.

Asdel kicked the estate’s fence. “These bastards!”

Severine sighed. “It’s understandable but…”

Asdel decided to ditch the Skylanders. He had his own income source thanks to the indentured hag. The only reason to stick with this hostile family was Loreley, who was absent. He cautiously nudged Severine. “Uh… Do you mind if we break our engagement? If Elma kicks us, we don’t have to listen to her commands.”

“What? I mean we don’t have to…” The flustered girl couldn’t finish her words.

“To be honest, I never treated this engagement seriously. We never spoke to each other prior to this, and I only chose you because you were the oldest among the children that Elma wanted to sell out. Actually, I accepted the engagement to take a look at the family library, haha.” Asdel dropped the truth bombs without gloves.

“The library?! I-I see” Severine was reeling from the sudden information, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. ’I’m only worth a bunch of books, huh?! Why did he even bother when he can go to Magdalena’s library?’

The answer to her question was that Asdel had a dire need to update his knowledge of history and geography. Monster habitats shifted over the course of the century since the setting of Heroes of Wars and Wonders.

“Don’t worry, you can stick with us even if you don’t marry me, even after the one-year exile. I promise to make you reach rank D. If you don’t want, I can talk to Elma to take you back,” Asdel said.

Severine stood at a crossroad. Her family offered no opportunity for growth, and her only future there was to be sold off as a squire to take care of annoying griffins. On the other hand, she tasted the joy of getting stronger in her smooth journey with Asdel.

She glanced at the bouncy money bags in Asdel’s hands. ‘Heck, he even earns more than my parents…’

Her fingers imitated the round shape of a coin. “I’m an employee of the Lucky Slime shop, I can’t leave you two airheads alone.”

“Pffft, what do you mean ‘airheads’? Viola and I are more than reliable.” Both of them nodded with an air of confidence.

…

A few minutes later, at the black market…

“It will be 30 vars, thanks!” A merchant smiled at the party, handing out a bag containing apples.

Asdel obediently fished the coins in his pouch to hand it over.

“Stop iiiiit, you idiots!” Severine snatched the coins from Asdel’s hands. “What is wrong with you two?! Can’t you guys see that you keep getting ripped off? You have to haggle!”

Asdel gave her a tired face. “Haggling is such a pain in the ass though. I don’t mind paying a little more if I can avoid speaking with people.”

“Hm. Agreed.” Viola nodded.

The two lazy introverts rapidly withered in the everflowing crowd.

“No wonder Charles ripped you off!” Severine rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I understand, so leave it to me…”

“I know a haggling method from a psychology book. It’s about…” Asdel gave Severine a classic three-step negotiation tactic: anchoring by demanding a ludicrous price, giving ground, then making-up a final price that is not a round number as if to convey to the other party that you are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Severine stared at the boy in dismay. ’What the hell? So he really knew how to haggle but he was too lazy?’

It was surprising for Severine, but it made sense for Asdel. Unlike her, he had no idea of the real market price of the goods. In addition, prices shot up because of the recent northern campaign. The town saw a tremendous increase of mobilized soldiers, who brought freshly minted coins that inflated the economy.

Severine grew up as a squire, helping with menial tasks all her childhood. She had accompanied Skylanders at the market on a regular basis. She effortlessly managed the purchase in Asdel’s stead.

“I take back what I said. You’re so reliable, Severine! Thank you for saving us airheads.” Asdel was too glad for her help.

Her frustrated face faded into a radiant smile as she swaggered around.

In the end, the ‘gifts’ for Magdalena consisted of fruits and pastries.

Amaranth poked Asdel and jumped into his bag. There, the slime spat a ludicrous amount of snacks. The volume was bigger than the size of the slime itself. The implication was huge because it meant that Amaranth had its own inventory. Asdel had never seen a monster use an inventory.

“Where the hell did you get this?!” He lowered his voice. “Did you steal it?... Good girl!”

Somewhere in the market, a poor food seller who handcrafted his delicacies with his blood and tears experienced the unfortunate fate of encountering a kleptomaniac blob.

The food seller begged the guards to find the culprit, but his talk was interrupted by the sound of bells. “Fuck, wait!”

The guards straight up ignored him and rushed through the market to converge at the southern rift.

“The Bleeding Grove broke out!” Rumors spread among the crowds. Monsters seemed to have trespassed into Hekal from a nearby rift.

Hearing this, many people rushed to subjugate the monster outbreak.

A rift outbreak was a disaster for most parts of the world but a festival for the Congregation. There were stringent penalties to cross a rift: Hekalians had to pay soul gems, while monsters had to pay experience points. Since most citizens of the Congregation were strong enough to defeat a monster one-on-one, it was like a home delivery of money.

“The passing adventurers joining the northern campaign aren’t taking risks in raiding unfamiliar rifts. It’s so bizarre that there are so many fighters here, but there’s still an outbreak.” If Asdel had a class, he would have rushed to the scene to snag some soul gems.

The food seller fell on his knees and cried out in desperation as no one was willing to help him catch the thief.

Asdel noticed him and, like a merciful god, tossed a small pouch of coins that didn’t cover all the seller’s loss. “I hear your predicament. A good man shouldn’t have to experience such injustice.”

“Thank you, young man! Thank god, I have enough to pay the taxes…” The food seller bowed to Asdel’s back.

Asdel walked away and rubbed his nose in satisfaction. ’I could be a politician.’

…

They went to the shady parts of the black market. There, brothels offered prisoners of war and luxury shops sold rare loots.

“Holy molly!” Asdel exclaimed when he saw a naked elf slave walking by.

The Congregation advocated the absolute supremacy of mankind. Every other species were inferior animals. As such, non-human slaves were treated accordingly. Since animals did not need clothes, why would the slaves going in and out of the market wear clothes?

A group of ruffians cackled at the excited kid. “This is no place for kids. Go home before you get caught by a slave dealer!”

Severine only frowned at the sight of human slaves. It was a natural reaction to feel pity for the people who fell into such predicament.

Before the party reached the slave market, something yanked Asdel’s bag from behind.

“Fuck! Someone stole my bag!” Asdel screamed.

They turned around to beat the thief, but they only saw swirling fluttering leaves.

Asdel raised his hand and performed Magdalena’s arcane ‘Light of Truth’, using the sunlight he received from the sunny day acted as a catalyst. His thoughts became subtly muddled, as if his clarity of mind had been robbed.

Circular walls of light spread from Asdel’s feet, like ripples on traveling on a tranquil lake. It burnt the illusory fluttering leaves upon contact, and revealed the fleeing thief.

"Got her!" Viola swung her arm, throwing a ball of ice.

A disheveled foxfolk holding the bag stumbled on the ground after slipping on a sheet of ice. She trembled in fear as the party loomed over her.

Her body was covered in bruises. But, her worn-out clothes hinted at a prestigious background.

Asdel crouched and put his hand on her shoulder. “Hippity, hoppity, you’re now my property.”