It started out like any other quest: gear packed, weapons sharp, and a simple extermination request from the guild—clear out a monster den in the lowlands before it got too close to the nearby village. Routine work for us. Or so I thought.
The moment we stepped out of the village gate, something felt… off.
Not with the mission itself. No, that part was straightforward. It was the girls. Specifically, how clingy they were acting.
"I'll walk beside you today," Iris said sweetly, slipping her hand into mine before I could even respond. "For support."
I glanced at her, confused. "Support?"
She nodded, eyes wide and innocent. "Emotional support. You do so much for us, after all."
"…Right."
That alone was strange enough, but Zion was next. Every time I stopped to cast a spell—checking ley lines, sensing magical signatures—she positioned herself directly behind me. Not beside. Not diagonally. Directly behind me.
Her chest brushed against my back every time I moved.
The first time it happened, I thought it was a coincidence. The second time, I glanced over my shoulder—and she immediately looked away. The third time, I was pretty sure she was doing it on purpose. But she never said a word about it.
Then came Frye. When I paused to adjust my cloak, she stepped behind me with a hum and tugged it straight for me—while pressing her entire front against my back.
"There," she said. "Nice and snug. Wouldn't want a breeze sneaking in."
Her breath tickled my ear.
I was starting to sweat, and it wasn't from the midday sun.
I tried to focus. Monsters. Kill monsters. Easy.
But the odd energy never let up. Everyone was just a little too smiley. A little too touchy. A little too... flirty.
By the time we reached the forest clearing near the monster den, I was on edge. My magic was stable, sword ready, and I was prepared for an ambush.
What I wasn't prepared for was getting tackled from the side by a burly fangbeast with claws like axes.
I rolled with it, slamming a burst of flame into its belly and knocking it back, but the force sent me flying—straight into Frye.
We crashed hard.
I landed on top of her, hands out to catch myself—and instead, found two massive, soft mounds cupped in my palms.
Frye blinked up at me, lips slightly parted in surprise.
I froze. My brain completely blanked.
"I—I didn't mean—" I stammered.
Before I could pull back, she reached up and grabbed my wrists.
"Why move?" she said with a smirk. "I'm pretty comfy like this."
Her back arched slightly beneath me, pushing her chest further into my hands.
I heard a growl.
Not the monster.
Mochi.
Her eyes narrowed from a few feet away, tail lashing aggressively. "What. Are. You. Doing."
"I-It was an accident!" I yelped, trying to sit up—only for Frye to lock her legs around my waist.
"You're making it worse," Iris said softly, hands over her mouth, blushing furiously. "M-Master… really?"
Zion's voice came next. Low. Flat.
"Shameless behavior."
I looked at her—only to find her staring at my hands. She didn't look angry. Just… quiet. And maybe a little flushed.
"I swear," I said quickly, trying again to move. "This wasn't on purpose."
Frye didn't let go.
"It's okay," she said, voice teasing. "I don't mind. Honestly, I've been wondering when you were going to grope me. I was starting to think I wasn't your type."
My mouth opened and closed like a fish. "Frye—"
She grinned wider. "You want to get off me, you can. Or you can stay there a little longer."
The worst part?
No one stopped us.
Mochi growled but didn't interfere. Iris looked embarrassed, but didn't scold me. Zion just turned and walked off, muttering something about "lack of discipline."
And me?
I didn't know whether to run or just surrender and accept my fate.
Eventually, I pried myself off Frye—awkwardly, carefully—and got back to my feet. She stood with a stretch and a wink, acting like nothing had happened.
We took out the monsters easily after that. Teamwork was crisp, movements smooth. Almost too smooth.
But the tension didn't go away.
Mochi stayed just a little closer to my side, her body brushing mine whenever she walked past. Iris stuck to my arm like she was afraid I'd vanish. Zion barely looked at me… but every so often, I caught her sneaking a glance when she thought I wasn't watching.
And Frye? She just kept grinning.
By the time we returned to the village, I was mentally and emotionally drained.
Physically? I wasn't sure how much longer I could take it.
Something had definitely shifted between us.
The teasing was more pointed. The touches more deliberate.
The lines between friendship, rivalry, and something deeper were starting to blur—and I wasn't sure how to handle it.
Not yet.
But one thing was certain:
The harem energy?
It was rising.
Fast.