Paladin of Shadows Chapter 19 (Patreon)

After some thinking through dinner as I considered my options of a god/goddesses to make another contract with in order to gain a hopefully offensive spell or skill. I came up with two options.

Of which the following day we could literally just go to their Familia homes and try to get an audience with them. First was Astraea, she had an open door policy for people to come share criminal grievances to said goddess in which the Familia would then go after said criminals with enough proof of the crimes. 

So Astraea would be more than easy enough to get some time to speak with, especially with how she and Hestia were friends. 

The second one... Was kinda my own bias honestly. Best girl Ereshkigal.

Even though the Mesopotamia divines were suppressed under Ishtar and her large Familia of unfortunately strong whores, Ereshkigal kept her workaholic nature as she helped prepare the dead of Orario that managed to get pulled out of the dungeon.

And the Familia's of Orario paid Ereshkigal's Familia a pretty penny as her funeral rites helped ease things over for the soul when they got sent to Tenkai.

The other gods and goddesses had some issues, like Isis was a bit of a drama queen apparently and her divine animal as the peacock did earn its name. Artemis was outside of Orario, Morrigan was actually dangerous to even speak with, and Thoth would treat me as just an experiment to see what would happen should he share his blessing.

The issue with Innana was that she and Ishtar had beef, and Ishtar was keeping Innana pressed under her thumb which was trouble that I didn't want any part of until I could handle Ishtar if needed.

So after a lovely dinner in which Delta ate two entire chickens and probably like five pounds of rice... I went to bed early as I knew I was going to be running around Orario a good bit.

-

On the other side of the townhouse, within a room with no windows or any other sources of bar a single candle... Seven hooded shadows sat in a circle around the single glowing candle.

"How is Jake's progress in the dungeon?" Alpha asked Epsilon.

"He is doing well enough. He hasn't quite found the fighting style he excels at, but he has good instincts and he doesn't shy away from killing monsters at least." Epsilon reported calmly and without bias.

Alpha nodded before she looked over at Beta and Gamma with Gamma speaking up. "Our plans to rebuild Shadow Garden are well underway at this point. Using the funds Zeta, and I liberated through various means we already bought out eight out of Orario's thirty orphanages." 

With Beta muttering with some exasperation. "There are too many damned orphanages honestly."

But Delta had some surprisingly wise words as she piped up. "Ehhh, it makes sense with how many people die in the dungeon after all! Let alone an adventurer killing another one or some civilians while being drunk or crazy."

The commentary did not phase Alpha as she spoke coldly. "Good work then, take some of the funds from the Jack Bird Egg that was acquired today and reach an even ten. Then separate the boys and girls into separate orphanages so we can begin indoctrination and training new Numbers for the female orphans who will prove worthy." 

Solemn nods were shared as they knew that for all their power... They weren't by far the biggest fish on the block. Even with their full power, they fell very short of the powerful levels nine and eight within the Amaterasu Familia. 

So they needed to build a force that would loyal to their Familia. A force that could strike above their level and be loyal unto death itself.

"I have already recreated the test chambers from home... While putting people through the tests, they will be Pavlovian-style trained, along with a healthy helping of drugs to get them in the right mindset for mental reconditioning." Eta announced.

Alpha made a hum of thought before she nodded and said. "Good, as per usual, focus on beastkin and elves. They still seem to respond far better to such drugs and mental conditioning, with beastkin falling in line to strength and positive reinforcement."

There was a pause before Beta with a slight flush across her pale face muttered. "And elves are too weak to pleasure indoctrination and mind break... We know all too well. Anyway, moving on... Delta, Zeta, you can't keep sneaking into Jakes's bed! It's not fair at all!"

The rooms tension ratcheted up as the elves of the Shadow Garden all but glared or pouted at the unrepentant Delta and Zeta. With Zeta retorting with zero shame. "Ehh you are all just cowards, we are just keeping our Alpha warm as we sleep. Plus our scent keeps other beastkin away from him."

Delta on the other hand had a much more... Pure view of the world as she just tilted her head to the side with her wolf ears twitching as she asked in confusion. "Alpha, why don't you and the rest just come sleep with us as well!? It would be like a huge sleepover and be so much fun!"

The elves flushed at the thought as although they had some feelings for their leader... Jumping straight into bed with him was too much!

"I mean... We need to go out on a date first before we can sleep beside him, let alone do anything else!" Beta almost shouted out of embarrassment at the thought of doing 'something else'

But then Epsilon giggled as she laid a hand on her flushed cheek as she said dreamily. "Ahhh, but I have actually gone out on a date with Jake to the park. And he even said he would love any interracial children we have as his own."

The room went dead silent... Six pairs of glinting eyes stared with deadly intent at Epsilon who was stuck in her fantasy land.

"Dangerous," Eta muttered half asleep.

And Alpha nodded with her glowing blue eyes giving Epsilon a long thoughtful look before she spoke firmly. "It seems that propriety will have to be shed aside... Jake's bed is now considered communal property to be shared, I suggest with us having seven members we stick to a seven-day rotating sleeping schedule."

Delta and Zeta shared a look before they shrugged and Zeta said bluntly. "I hate the smell of dog, but I will be sleeping with Jake every night regardless of whatever schedule you have. Speaking of which... Jake is already in bed and I am ready to get out of my clothes so you can enjoy setting up a schedule for me and Delta to ignore. I am going to bed."

"Oooh! I am ready for sleep too! I killed a lot of baddies today and I had to have three baths so I should smell just fine hehe!" Delta spoke excitedly as she ran to follow the scoffing blond cat beastkin.

Leaving just the elves to sit in the room and awkwardly look at one another.

With Beta broke the silence with horror clear in her voice as she spoke. "Wait... If we watch Delta and Zeta sleeping with Jake naked as Beastkin always strip down when they can. Does that make us cuckolds???"