I was lying in Nyx's chest and she was completely naked, arms gently wrapped around me like a child's favorite possession. Her breathing was deep, but even her resting face had that mischievous smile. I was frozen and terrified how did I even fall asleep
And then—KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
Before I could move, the door creaked open.
"Cain?"
It was Syr this isn't good. I didn't even have time to cover myself or Nyx like that would matter at this point . Syr stepped in, it took one look at me tangled up in Nyx's embrace, and made a sound halfway between a shocked gasp and the kind of giggle a woman makes before destroying something beautiful.
Her smile stayed sweet but her eyes darkened. "Well," she said, stepping into the room fully, voice dangerously light, "looks like someone's quite popular." I tried to sit up, only to find Nyx gripping me tighter.
"W-What do you think you're doing?" Syr asked, trying to peel Nyx arms off gently.
Nyx stirred. Her lips parted slowly as her body shifted with the lazy grace of royalty awakening from centuries of slumber. She mumbled sleepily, "Who's so loud…? I'm up, I'm up…" Then her silver eyes opened, saw me, and sparkled like stars. " There's my baby's awake!" she chirped, launching herself into a sitting position—and pressing her entire naked form against me.
Her face rubbed against mine with feline delight. Syr stood perfectly still, her smile twitching as she watched Nyx snuggle me like a treasured doll.
I could feel the storm behind her composed facade. "Uh, Syr?" I said nervously. "Is something wrong?" She blinked. "Oh. Nothing at all." Then with venomous sweetness: "But you were supposed to help Mia prep the kitchen."
My eyes widened. "OH NO—!"
I tried to untangle myself as Nyx clung like a barnacle, giggling at my panic. "You're so cute when you're flustered~." "I need to get dressed. Can you you two please leave?"
They both smiled like what I said made no sense but it was cute anyway. 'Cain your my child you don't' need to be shy with me."
Nxy said with her casual smile. Syr smiled and said "Oh Cain you don't need to be shy with me I could help you get ready if you want."I was for the first since coming to this world about to lose it but I had bigger things to deal with like a angry Dwarf who could smash me through a wall if I didn't hurry up. "GET OUT!" I yelled, red-faced. "BOTH OF YOU! I NEED TO CHANGE!"
They stared at me like I'd just told them the world was ending. Then, giggling but they listened this time Nyx whispering something about "breakfast in bed next time." Syr smiled and said "No." I threw on my shirt in record time and bolted downstairs to the kitchen. Mia was already at work, flipping pans with one hand while balancing a bottle in the other.
"About time," she grunted. "Thought I'd have to come drag you out myself." I bowed deeply. "I'm really sorry I didn't mean to sleep in."
She waved it off. "Relax. Last night was a mess anyway How are you feeling?" "I feel fine." I said. She pointed a ladle at me. "Now that you're in a Familia, I'll be giving you more errands ingredient runs, delivery tasks, and the like. And you'll start getting days off here and there for adventurer business."
I blinked. "So that's what Nyx did while I was asleep?" Mia Nodded. "Yep. Inked your back, signed you away, and dropped a small fortune in monster crystals. Guess that makes her your sugar mama now."
I groaned. "Don't say it like that…" Mia laughed and nudged me with her elbow. "Anyway. You'll need real training so don't' slack off."
Then Ryu walked in just then, expression as calm as ever. "I will continue training you," she said, "but you are not to enter the Dungeon for at least four months if I do so."
"Four months?" I repeated.
She nodded. "Training, literacy lessons, classes with the Guild everything including the basics. You need a proper foundation. Only when both your Guild advisor and I agree you're ready will you step into the Dungeon."
I opened my mouth, hesitated, then asked, "What if I say no?" Ryu's face didn't change. "Then I won't train you." She said simply.
Mia glanced at me from behind the counter, not saying anything, but her eyes clearly suggested: Don't be dumb. Take the offer. I sighed, then smiled. "Okay. I'll do it." Ryu gave me a single nod and gently ruffled my hair. "Good."
Mia stretched, then shoved a fresh towel at me. "Good thing it's your day off. Now get your butt out front. The Guild sent people for you."
"Wait what?" She waved me off. "Don't worry about your freeloader goddess. Worry about yourself. Get strong, and maybe she'll start freeloading less."
I chuckled nervously and left the kitchen. Outside the Hostess of Fertility two women waited in the cool early morning light. One had soft features, warm brown hair, and emerald eyes—Eina Tulle, the kind-hearted half-elf with the reputation for being overprotective of new adventurers.
Beside her stood a woman nearly a head taller, arms crossed, expression unreadable her red tail flicked slightly behind her. Rose Fannett, the werewolf her face was calm and cold. Just like Ryu's.
The two women stood before me, dressed in the sharp, formal uniforms of the Guild. Eina Tulle offered a warm, courteous smile, while Rose Fannett remained cool and composed beside her, arms crossed beneath the trim of her jacket.
" Hello, I'm Eina Tulle," the half-elf said gently. "And this is Rose Fannett. We've been assigned to you by the Guild." I bowed slightly, returning the gesture with a soft, " Hello I'm Cain. Cain Dawnstar. It's a pleasure to meet you both."
Rose's amber eyes didn't waver, but she gave the faintest of nods. "We were told to escort you to the Guild headquarters directly," Eina continued. That made me pause. "Really? That's seems unusual, right? Doesn't the Guild usually make people come on their own?"
Eina gave a small shrug. "Usually, yes normally but you seem to be a special case." I raised a brow, silently thinking, What did Nyx do last night? As if summoned by thought, a familiar, velvet voice whispered behind me. "Oh, it's time already?"
Nyx appeared without sound, walking out from the tavern's doorway, her long black hair flowing behind her like liquid night. Her bare feet made no sound against the stone.
Eina startled, nearly dropping her folder, while Rose subtly shifted her stance. Her red tail stiffened, her nostrils flaring for just a moment before she masked the reaction behind a professional expression. "Let's not keep them waiting, child," Nyx said softly, gliding to my side like the world belonged to her.
I followed behind Eina and Rose, Nyx walking just a step behind me, her presence impossible to ignore. As we made our way through the streets of Orario, Eina pointed out landmarks and thoroughfares, giving quick but clear explanations.
"This is West Main, leading toward the Coliseum. That over there is the Tower Market District. You'll want to remember this back route from the Hostess to the Guild it'll save you time during quests or emergencies."
Rose took the lead, quiet and vigilant. Her stride was swift and direct, her sharp eyes scanning the crowds ahead. Nyx, in contrast, paid no mind to anything or anyone. Her gaze remained forward, expression unreadable.
As we passed through the final arch into Guild Square, the reaction was immediate.
Whispers. Gawking. Wide eyes all focused on Nyx of course. She didn't flinch beneath the attention. If anything, the attention recoiled from her, like darkness brushing away moths. Rose led us inside. The Guild's grand marble lobby gleamed in the morning sun, busy with adventurers and staff shuffling between counters and stairwells.
She gestured to a quieter corner table, near the side wall. "Here." We sat down and a minute later, Eina returned with a heavy stack of papers and forms. "These are for registration," she said. "Familia name, your current level and stats, any special skills you possess, and of course confirmation of your goddess."
Nyx tilted her head, uninterested. She plucked a pen from the table and took a few sheets. Without even looking at the forms, she passed one to me.
"Leave it to me my child, give this to them" she said. I blinked. She had already traced the Falna data last night I handed it over to Rose, who reviewed it without emotion at first.
"Level One… stats look—wait." Her eyes froze on the skill list. "How is this possible?" Eina leaned over her shoulder. "Let me see." They both stared between the paper and me multiple times I could feel their surprise.
Eina adjusted her glasses, rereading the words twice. "These these aren't normal. These are incredibly rare even among veteran adventurers. All three are unique I don't believe I ever seen these skills before."
I scratched my cheek awkwardly. "Is that good or bad?" "I'm filing this directly to the Guild Master," Eina said quickly, sliding the form into a folder and rising from her seat.
Rose remained seated, her gaze now locked on me with something closer to seriousness than before. Nyx continued filling her own forms as if she were signing wedding invitations—absentmindedly, lazily, like a queen humoring paperwork.
Rose eventually leaned forward, folding her hands on the table. "I'll be your primary Guild advisor," she said calmly.
"Primary?" I echoed. "Does that mean…?" "I'll be your point of contact for Dungeon updates, quest approvals, skill evaluations, and—most importantly—keeping you alive."
I nodded slowly, but as I did, I realized how beautiful she really was up close. Her crimson hair shimmered under the ceiling light, tied up behind her ears in a way that highlighted the natural elegance of her face. Her uniform jacket couldn't fully hide the strong curve of her chest, nor the scent—apples and cinnamon—that lingered softly between us.
I blinked, shaking my head slightly. "Understood," I said quickly. She gave no sign of noticing my internal panic. But Nyx's smile twitched ever so slightly. And from the corner of my eye… I swore I saw her silver eyes glint like twin stars.
Rose took the final paper from Nyx, flipping through the contents quickly before tapping her pen against the signature line. " Familia Name: Nyx Familia. Current members: Cain Dawnstar, sole member."
She scribbled a note on her clipboard, then looked directly at me.
"Next, Cain. About Guild summons: they are typically optional unless tied to emergency requests. But if you repeatedly ignore them—say, miss too many without good reason—your Familia's recognition by the Guild can be revoked. Do you understand?"
"Yes," I nodded, firm and focused. Nyx smiled idly beside me, offering no acknowledgment.
Rose continued, flipping to a thick section of documents. "Now, the rules of the Dungeon. Listen carefully. You are expected to respect other adventurers' hunts—no interfering or stealing kills. If you're targeted or your hunt is stolen, report it. Same goes for being attacked. But under no circumstances is killing another adventurer permitted. Self-defense may be considered, but we need a full report."
As I nodded slowly, memories stirred—moments from the show and novels where these rules meant little when powerful Familias decided to break them. Apollo's tyranny. Freya's silent manipulations. The Guild's hands tied by politics and strength.
My thoughts were interrupted as Nyx, true to form, voiced what I was thinking aloud.
"And how," she asked softly, "will the Guild handle brazen attempts on my child's life? Especially from large, politically untouchable Familias like Apollo or Freya?"
Rose stiffened. "We… would serve them with fines."
Nyx's silver eyes dimmed. The smile faded.
"And what after that when they have no problems paying the fines? What power do you truly have to enforce such punishments when you have no actual adventures under your control?" she asked again, her voice now low, chilling, and layered with an a pressure, almost tangible, washed over the table like dark fog. I felt it in my bones like the world was smaller for just a moment.
Rose's hand subtly moved toward her hip—likely out of instinct, though there was no weapon. Her red tail was frozen behind her.
"Nyx," I said firmly. "That's enough." As if a switch was flipped, the pressure evaporated in an instant. Nyx blinked down at me, her smile returning like a soft moonbeam. "My sweet child. If you say so," she said, almost teasing.
Rose exhaled subtly and returned to business. "As I was saying other illegal acts include 'passing parades' the act of dragging a train of monsters into unsuspecting adventurers. A dangerous and reckless act is highly punishable." She reached under the table and brought out a thick book and a map.
"Here's a Dungeon guide, first through fourth floors. You'll face goblins and kobolds on the first floor. Basic variants but also potential rares." She flipped pages showing sketched diagrams—brute goblins, swift kobolds with sharper claws, and color-shifted hides.
"The second to fourth floors introduce Dungeon Lizards and Jack Birds. The Lizards have scales that deflect physical damage unless targeted at joints or underbelly. Jack Birds are evasive and known for fleeing—if you catch one, their feathers are valuable."
There were pictures of rare types too—Dungeon Lizards with red crystal ridges and Jack Birds with shimmering silver plumage. She also explained drop items: magic stones, claws, lizard scale fragments, and feather-based reagents.
I absorbed it all, asking questions here and there. For the next two hours, I felt like I was back in school again—if school had monsters and divine politics. When we finally finished, I left with Nyx, both of us thanked politely by Rose and Eina. We walked back under the warming afternoon sun toward the Hostess of Fertility.
Upon arrival, Mia was waiting at the counter, arms crossed. " Finally back, huh? Good get changed tables need cleaning and I've got a sink full of dishes."
"Yes ma'am," I said, rushing to obey. Nyx gave me a light kiss on the forehead, saying, "I'm going for a walk. I'll return later, little star." Then, like shadows slipping into twilight, she was gone.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of cleaning tables, carrying trays, and scrubbing stubborn pans. My body ached, but my mind stayed sharp. Mia told me I'd be handling errands on off days now that I was officially in a Familia.
As night settled, I dried my hands and turned to see Ryu waiting. "How was your first day learning?" she asked softly. I told her everything I'd learned—about the floors, the monsters, their weaknesses and drop items. She nodded in quiet approval, then handed me something wrapped in cloth.
A wooden sword. "Out back. It's time." Syr peeked from behind the counter, curious as always, and followed us outside. For the next hour, Ryu drilled me in basic forms. How to stand. How to swing. The rhythm of balance and breath. Block. Step. Parry.
My arms grew heavy fast. The sword, light at first, felt like a lead pipe by the end. Then, with a stoic expression, Ryu said, "Now spar me."
I barely lasted a minute. Not a single clean hit. Every swing was met with a deft counter or a swift strike to my shoulder, thigh, or side. I grunted, took the blows, and got up each time. Syr clapped softly when it ended.
Ryu handed me a cold towel. Syr came over with a tray. "You earned it," she said sweetly, placing a steaming meal before me. It smelled incredible—seasoned meat, rice, and roasted vegetables.
I dug in, and it tasted even better than it smelled. Ryu sat next to me, watching me eat. "After dinner… bathhouse. Then, you'll stay in my room tonight." I blinked. "Wait, really? Is that… okay?"
"It's fine," she said, calm as ever. "Unless you'd rather sleep on the floor?" "No, no," I laughed softly. "Sharing's fine. If it's with you." She nodded, a faint smile playing at her lips. Elsewhere, in a bar far from the Hostess, two women sat at the counter. One, a vision of velvet darkness with starlit eyes—Nyx. The other, the very goddess of beauty—Freya.
Neither spoke then, finally, Freya broke it. "You should just hand him over to me," she said, swirling her crimson wine. "You don't understand how precious a boy he is." Nyx sipped her drink, her smile faint. "You mean his soul," she said knowingly, not even glancing Freya's way.
Freya's lips curled upward. "They are one and the same. His soul and who he is there will never be another like him."
Nyx's silver eyes shimmered, but her tone remained soft. "It's Cain's choice, Freya. You can't force his hand. If he wants you, he may have you. If he wants me, I will remain by his side. If he wants both" her smile widened just slightly, "then I'll allow it. A harem, a kingdom, a quiet life… I want him to be truly happy."
Freya looked over sharply, eyes narrowing but Nyx's gaze did not waver. "Even," she continued, "if that happiness means I play no part in his life. Can you say the same? Are you truly so selfless that you would love Cain unconditionally?"
A moment of silence passed like a chime suspended in air and Freya said nothing. Her lips didn't move. Her fingers just grazed the edge of her glass. Then a soft, almost breezy she replied, "He will be mine. All mine. And if he wants children, I will allow him to have his little pets."
Nyx chuckled a low, velvety sound. "Unlike you children," she said slowly, "I can give him a child with my own body." Freya froze mid-sip. Her eyes widened just slightly. "How?" she asked, her voice too calm.
Nyx leaned back, lazy elegance wrapped in starlight. "Because I created my body, Freya. From pure divine essence. Not like you sky-born gods who descended in forms prepared for you." There was no boast in her tone. Just fact. Truth wrapped in velvet.
"You've never learned to mold your vessels. Had you tried, there would be monstrous children crawling across Gekai by now living disasters you couldn't hope to contain." Freya placed her glass down slowly. Her expression was unreadable. "It doesn't matter. He will become more than mortal. I believe Cain has the ability to ascend even to godhood."
Nyx's eyes gleamed. "I agree." For the first time, they were aligned. If only for a moment. "But until that day," Nyx continued, voice like night wind, "we guide him. Not control or bind. His choices will be his own."
Freya raised her glass, her smile returning. "Of course," she said with deceptive grace. The wine swirled like blood and dreams between them.
In the quiet bedroom above the Hostess of Fertility, Cain stirred softly beneath linen sheets. His arms ached faintly from training, but he was warm resting beside Ryu, her back to him, her hair faintly glowing under moonlight through the window.
*(Image of Nyx Here)
*(Image of Cain here)