Cliche Chapter 595-596: A Cheerful Day (Patreon)

Asahi had meticulously planned out his day — meeting Hephaestus and Natsumi. After giving Freya a good lovemaking, it was downright sinful to neglect the lovable blacksmith and the hardworking adventurer.

Wanting to surprise Hephaestus, Asahi snuck into her workshop, utilizing his stealth skill. However, the scene that unveiled before him took the wind out of his sails. There, with Hephaestus, was a young redhead seated comfortably on her lap. The duo seemed engrossed in a tale, their soft chuckles echoing — they effortlessly painted an idyllic, heartwarming scene of mother-daughter affection.

What astonished him was the young girl’s aura — it was the same as Chiaki, the fairy he had crafted with his own Life Creation skill.

‘When did she evolve?’

He missed another major development in his daughter’s life. Nothing new considering his past.

(Ahem, don’t beat yourself up, my love. I could’ve told you but Chiaki urged me to stay quiet.)

‘Did she want to surprise me?’

(You... should ask her.)

Casting off his invisibility shifted the air in the room. The pair’s happy atmosphere immediately vanished. Hephaestus set the book to the table and smiled. All the hiding from Asahi had made her terribly guilty. Now she could go back to how things were before Chiaki learned her transformation skill.

‘I can also make him take care of her. He is her father, after all.’

The sight of her father caused Chiaki’s delicate features to wash with a paleness of shock. “D-D-D-Dad. How?!”

“I can’t come to meet you and Fei Fei?”

Chiaki vigorously shook her head at his question. “You can. You absolutely can! But...”

Hephaestus let out a sigh and ruffled Chiaki’s hair. “Cat is out of the bag, sweetheart. You can stop pretending.”

“I know.” Chiaki hopped down Hephaestus’s lap and walked over to him. Her small hand tugged at his shirt as she revealed a pleading look. “I just... I’m sorry, Pa.”

He kneeled to her level and held her shoulders. “Why hide it from me?”

“I didn’t want to.” She bit her lips, avoiding his gaze. “I fear you’ll start to treat me differently… I thought I’ll stay as a dumb little girl in your eyes...”

His calm response to her transformation gave her the confidence to confess her true feelings. She didn’t want to be treated any differently than before, especially not by her creator and her father. She enjoyed receiving his care in her smaller, much more compact form.

“So, you played the wolf in sheep’s clothing. Where’s the honesty, girl?”

“Hehe,” she giggled and hugged him. “Pa, I’ll be honest from now on.”

He couldn’t be mad at her when she began acting so cute. With an affectionate sigh, he rubbed her back. “I’ll let it go on one condition.”

Chiaki stepped back, a facade of feigned terror on her face. She guarded herself with trembling hands. “D-Don’t ask me to be your wife. I’m still developing!”

“...”

“Hahahaha!” Hephaestus clutched her chest in amusement as she erupted into peals of laughter, her eyes dancing with mischief. The sight of his flabbergasted expression was just too much for her composure. “You wanted her to be honest. This is her. A little imp, who likes teasing people like you.”

Chiaki stifled her giggles with a delicate hand. “Perverted father. Perverted daughter.”

“Makes sense... I guess.” He shrugged before taking her hands and dragging her to Hephaestus. “About my condition. You’ll not hide anything from me.”

Eyes sparkling with earnestness, Chiaki gave a mock salute. "Your trust won't be misplaced, Papa!"

He affectionately tousled her hair, patting her head. “Good lass. Fei Fei, it’ll be on us to educate her properly.”

“I’m doing my best,” Hephaestus said, glancing at the pile of books stacked on her table. “Chiaki, go play outside.”

Chiaki shot him a sly grin. “Don’t overdo it, Pa~.”

She transformed into her fairy form that lit up the entire room in a red glow. In an instant, she darted through the gap under the door.

He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Fei Fei, even she acknowledges our bond. When do I put a ring on you?”

“I don’t need a ring.” She interlaced her fingers with his, pulling him close with a glint of mischief. “Come with me.”

She guided him to a tucked-away chamber in her workshop. As a blacksmith deeply devoted to her craft, her workshop was more home than any other dwelling. Thus, a bedroom within made perfect sense.

“Fei Fei is aggressive today. Well, I’m ready to take you.”

“Can you not be perverted for one minute?” She rolled her eyes, exasperated at his playfulness. “Strip to your waist and lie on the bed, on your belly.”

Curious, he removed his shirt and followed her instructions. It took her a few seconds to take her eyes off his back, which was carved with Astraea’s crest.

‘Woah.’

Getting him to lie down was just the first step in her plan to demonstrate her skills — the skills she had been honing for the past week. Moving on to the second step, she straddled his back, her butt resting close to his lower back. A scene reminiscent of the time he fixed her eye, albeit with reversed roles.

“Fei Fei, what are you doing to me?”

“Relieving your stress with massage. Hush now.”

Gently placing her hands on his sculpted back, Hephaestus mentally revisited the wealth of knowledge acquired from the mystical tome gifted by Klyscha. The book taught her about the complex intricacies of 'High Human' anatomy, such as the workings of various acupoints and pressure points. The realization that he wasn’t of divine origin had left her pondering for hours when she opened the book for the first time.

“I have been learning things out of my comfort zone. I can’t be a one-trick blacksmith forever.”

She was evolving, not just as a blacksmith, but also as a mother and a lover. A smile crept onto her face as she thought about their budding relationship. With pinpoint precision, she applied pressure on the nerve clusters that induced relaxation. The skills she had cultivated as a blacksmith – unparalleled dexterity, resilience, and meticulous control – easily translated into the art of massage, making her touch both therapeutic and comforting.

Although Asahi could bring his muscles to a calm state and steady his breathing, he typically reserved the skill for sleeping. He never thought Hephaestus would develop her masseur skills to the level of deeply affecting his body. “Hmm, is it because of me?”

“I’m not sure myself, but you started the change,” she confessed in a calm voice. “People are finally forgetting about my face and treating me normally.”

Occasionally, she’d found people of every gender and race in a daze, admiring her. It was happening less often these days as people became used to her change.

He suppressed the urge to yawn as a sleepy feeling came over him. “That’s a wonderful thing.”

“This is my thanks for everything.”

“We don’t usually do sorry and thanks in the Marikawa family but I’ll make an exception today.”

Instead of a verbal acknowledgment, she beamed a radiant smile, silently communicating her elation at being considered family. Soon, the rhythmic dance of her fingers lulled him into a peaceful slumber. Yet, she persisted, intent on kneading away any lingering stress from his muscles.

(It paid off, didn’t it?)

“It’ll allow him to relax.”

(Why don’t you take a nap by his side?)

Klyscha's suggestion resonated deeply with Hephaestus, especially considering she had sacrificed sleep the previous night, engrossed in her reading books on different topics. She acquiesced, settling beside Asahi and admiring his serene countenance.

‘So many people rely on him. He should look after himself.’

(He doesn’t need to. We’re here for that.)

‘Very true. Klyscha, wake me up if anything happens.’

(Umu.)

With a promise from Klyscha, Hephaestus succumbed to the sweet allure of sleep.

…

Asahi stirred from his deep slumber after a rejuvenating three hours, noticing the warmth of Hephaestus nestled comfortably against him.

‘Anything wrong over there?’

His current world was most unpredictable. Monsters could pop up any second and destroy cities with ease.

(Nothing so far.)

‘Psykos has been strangely quiet this whole time. Is she hunting for information?’

A positive nudge came from his instincts, confirming his doubt. Psykos was waiting for the perfect opportunity to take him alive and put him through her twisted experiments. Unfortunately for her, he'd be the one taking her away and freeing her from the mad prophecies ‘God’ whispered in her mind.

Hephaestus’s eyes fluttered open. She placed a soft against his face. “Did that make you feel better?”

“A lot better,” he said, drawing closer and pecking her cheeks. “Why don’t you and Tsubaki join me in the other world? We can use the expertise of two blacksmiths.”

The adventurers from Orario, Sonic and many heroes could grow significantly stronger from an upgrade in equipment. Moreover, Astraea would undoubtedly welcome the companionship of Hephaestus.

“You’re a more talented smith than me. You don’t need me there—is what I’d have said before,” she laughed and poked his nose. “I can’t have you manage Heaven, Underworld, Astraea’s Order and do smithing all by yourself. I’ll take a month’s vacation to aid you. Happy?”

Before he could even muster a convincing argument, she had willingly volunteered to stand by his side, as if she had considered the possibility from the start.

He tilted her chin up and landed a soft kiss on her lips. “You’re so sweet.”

The gesture made her smile shyly. “Don’t kiss me so suddenly.”

“I’ll do what I want, for I’m the Devil Emperor. You’re a mere blacksmith serving me.”

“Tyrant…”

…

After spending some more time with Hephaestus and Chiaki, he left to meet Natsumi. Going by her past, she would either be grinding the monsters in the dungeon or lounging around in Apollo’s mansion. His instincts guided him towards the latter.

“Ho, it’s the Demon King,” The lady guard teased him, unafraid of his reputation. “Captain Natsumi is inside. Come to think of it, she hasn’t left the mansion for quite a while. Is she doing okay?”

“I’ll check up on her.”

“Thanks!”

…

Asahi sensed a couple of red flags as he stood before Natsumi’s room. First, the door was a dimensional door, leading to who knows where. Second, wherever it led, he could sense almost a dozen presences, surrounded by an abundance of life element.

‘Klyscha, did you—’

(A little. Just go and see for yourself, my love.)

He nodded and touched the door, letting himself get swept into the spatial currents. An ethereal realm where nature reigned supreme. The fragrant aroma of blossoms enveloped him.

He spotted wyverns, silver wolves, formidable lions, and even a chimera possessing the head of a lion, dragon, and goat — every fantasy creature was comparable or stronger than a Level 7 adventurer, yet every one of them was sitting obediently in an organized line.

Because of their master.

Sitting upon a small desk was a woman with otherworldly grace. Her brown hair flowed like an animated cascade, framing her face and tumbling down her back as though it had a life of its own. Her attire, a black frilled dress highlighted by blue roses and matching stockings adorned by white roses, emphasized her mysterious aura. The crowning touch was her headdress, woven by nature and garnished with two rich violet roses.

The moment their eyes met, a soft smile graced her face.

She rose from her seat, taking measured steps towards him and gracefully bowing, “Master, your devoted servant has long awaited your presence.”

The once-formidable endgame boss had embraced her new role with fervor.

“Nice makeover,” he said, glancing at the monsters. “Your summons have evolved considerably.”

“All for helping you, Master,” she said and bowed her head again. “Master, this dimension was carved with the help of your goddess and a special summoned beast. You can carry this dimension anywhere. Please, take it with you. Use my strength against your enemies.”

“I’ll use you until you regret being my slave.”

She raised her head with a grin. “Nothing will make me happier than dying in your service.” She turned around, haughtily looking at her monsters. “Did you hear that? We’ll finally be used to purge our Master’s enemies. Show him your gratitude.”

Obeying her order, every beast rose, letting out an earth-shattering roar, shaking the very foundation of the dimension. Then they all lowered their heads in unison, showing complete submission.

“Interesting. The Order of Themis will find plenty of use for you and your summons. I’m a little curious. Which monster was strong enough to carve a dimension?”

Natsumi lowered her head. “I’d like to introduce you to him, but he is currently sleeping. Using all of his mana exhausted him.”

“No worries.”

“Master, would you mind sticking around for some snacks? We have the juiciest fruits you’ll find in the multiverse!”

“Eh sure. Don’t mix human meat in it.”

“Mou~, I was desperate back then. I have learned my lesson since. In fact, I have forsaken the consumption of meat in its entirety.”

“That’s… something. You mentioned being desperate back then? What caused it? Zombies or people?”

She averted her gaze, showing unwillingness to share her past and the motives that led her to consume mana-rich human hearts. “My sob story will only bore you. Let’s just eat and have fun. I’ll pour you our special wine.”

He didn’t press her to open her heart, opting to take things at her pace.