Paladin of Shadows Chapter 17 (Patreon)

Alpha, Beta, Delta, Eta, Epsilon, Gamma, Zeta. Those were seven shadows and each were very much their own person with their own personalities and opinions.

Alpha and Zeta were both very ruthless and cunning. But Zeta had a lot more patience in her cunning and plans that could span years to take place, which may also play into her nature as a cat beastkin.

Eta and Gamma were both genius plain and simple. But Eta was a genius of the material world and invented things by exploring both material science as well as magical. While Gamma was a genius of social engineering and could make a fortune five hundred company in a couple of years.

Although some of the girls shared traits they definitely were all very different even if I hadn't had as much time to spend time with them individually besides having dinner with them or in Delta and Zeta's case... When they break into my room to snuggle up with me inside my bed.

 But regardless after almost a week with these girls I was getting used to them. I wasn't nervous of Alpha's casual touches as she non-verbally assured me of her presence as she liked to hover over me behind a seat. I was getting used to Eta collapsing on the couch beside me and using me as a pillow as she sounded off intervention idea.

So when one of the trio of elves that were whispering about Epsilon and myself cuddling in the park came over I raised an eyebrow and then as she spoke my raised eyebrow became a frown.

"Uhm hello I was just wondering... Like why are you with a human?" The elvish younger looking teenager asked Epsilon ignoring me as she did so. Which made my eye twitch at the fucking casual racism.

I could feel Epsilon give the girl a look that all but stated. 'Are you fucking stupid?' But the teenage elf didn't seem to get it so Epsilion in an uncharacteristic manner for herself snapped out. "Because he makes me happy? Now go away please." 

But the elf looked back at her two 'friends' who waved her hands at her as though to cheer her own and just as she opened her mouth Epsilon went still and I felt a weight fill my chest as she spoke quietly but her voice carried to the other girl. "No... Close that mouth, nothing good will come out of it. Turn around or I will show why you a civilian girl asking something so stupid to an adventurer is the height of ignorance."

And the girl flushed with anger entering her face as she retorted. "My dad is a level two in the Apollo Familia! You can't talk to me like that!"

I couldn't help it. I blurted out. "Wait? I thought Apollo's male members of his Familia was his harem?"

And her eyes welled up in tears as she cried out. "Screw you, my daddy isn't... Ahhh!" She turned with her arms going to cover her eyes as she ran off with myself feeling very fucking awkward now as our interracial little snuggle was eyebrow-raising... But now we had made a girl run to her friends crying who were now glaring at us.

"Come on Epsilon let's go home." I said with a wry smile as I let go of Epsilon with her actually whining at my arms leaving her form with her visibly pouting as she took my arms between her breasts as we quickly made our way out of the park. As it seemed that the three girls even with a numerical advantage didn't dare to chance another verbal lashing and let us leave unmolested.

We made our way home with our moods settling down with Epsilon just humming a nice light tune as we walked together slowly home hand in hand without any further interruption.

However, once we got home I was welcomed inside by Beta as Epsilon let go of my arm so she could go wash away the sweat and stink of bloodshed of the day. "Jake, how did it go in the dungeon? Delta said you all got a Jack Bird and has been shouting all day about how she is getting 'ALL' the steak tonight." She finished with an eye roll.

I let out a small chuckle hearing that and said. "Went rather well. I am certainly looking forward to a Falna update as I got to use my healing spell to heal up the knicks and bruises." 

To that Beta smiled and nodded with her coming closer and saying. "Oh thats good, I don't think we will be gaining much Excellia with how strong we are even with our mana sealed until like the tenth floor or deeper so we haven't been doing too much dungeon diving. Mostly just been working to help Gamma and Eta get a stronger passive income flow going."

'That's fair.' I thought as the Falna's excellia gain did scale a good bit on the how good of a story the person's journey was... Imagine being the 'god or reader' that was reading the story about this once OP warrior who with their great training and precise mana control could walk through the story without issue. Sure for a laugh it was decent, but it wasn't an inspiring story of them breaking through their limits or anything.

"Well I need to go take a quick shower before dinner. Is there anything I need to know of?" I asked curiously and Beta sniffed making a slight face before she smiled and danced backwards with a spin and said mischievously.

"Oh, just Hestia and Freya need to spend some time with their Familia's 'Captain' for now. But that can be after our early dinner. Now go on ahead and shower, I am going back to help Hestia with cooking dinner." She finished while waving me off and I grunted in agreement heading upstairs to go wash up as our house was a more western design thankfully and had separate bathroom and showers despite there being a main bathhouse room that was more open.

But I hadn't used it yet and left that for the girls to have their private times to talk and such as I had my own little claim. 

'Ok! Quick wash up. Then go eat with the girls, see what my goddesses want... Probably to think about another god or goddess I can wrangle into a contract. But I do want to spend some time with Eta and Gamma as I have plans to spend tomorrow with Alpha and Beta.' I thought mentally reviewing my list as I stripped down and got quickly cleaned up.