Building Harem Town 4, page 3
“I think we should purchase some chickens,” I said. “A supply of eggs would be good.
“Good idea,” Nicola agreed. “Maybe we could get some vegetable seeds, too?”
“I’m sure we can find some,” Penelope said with a nod. “We must have a wide variety of nutrients for the baby.”
The naiad stroked her belly and smiled to herself as we passed a grassy field. There were several goats grazing lazily in the sun, and I wondered if we should try and buy one to provide milk.
It wasn’t long until we passed the weathered sign that pointed us toward Evelhelm, and a small, yellow bird chirped as it rested on the wood. My priestesses walked onward and along the familiar stretch of farmhouses, and the sun glistened down on the colorful fields around them.
There were two elven women carrying baskets through one of the bright fields, and they gave my women a cheery wave as they passed. They both had cropped pink hair and wore pale blue tunics along with black boots.
My women responded with friendly waves and smiles, and the elves continued toward the farmhouses.
The journey to Evelhelm took noticeably longer on foot than when I had flown with Aleia, but the walk was pleasant. As the priestesses chatted and admired the view, it was difficult to worry about anything at all. It was a glorious morning, and the sun made the women’s cheeks glow.
Celeste’s wings were illuminated under the light, and it made the feathers look like they were on fire as the scarlet tones sparkled. The harpy kept glancing back at her wings and smiling, and that was all the thanks I needed for the miracle.
“We’re almost there!” Aleia said excitedly as she fluttered upward to get a better view.
We were coming to the top of a small hill, and sure enough, the town of Evelhelm sprawled out before us. The limestone buildings were illuminated with rays of morning sunlight, and there was already a steady bustle of travelers and locals amongst the streets.
I quickly used my God Vision to survey for any lurking gangs or highwaymen on the road leading into town, but it was clear. It just seemed like a casual morning in Evelhelm, and the priestesses hurried down the hill toward the town.
“Something smells good,” Nicola said as she sniffed the air. “It smells sweet, whatever it is.”
“Maybe we can use some of our money for a treat,” Aleia chirped as she clapped her hands. “If our master thinks that’s a wise idea, of course.”
“I think you’ve earned it,” I chuckled. “Let’s have a look to see what’s available in the market today.”
As the girls neared the town, several elf men walked past with sacks slung over their shoulders. They were all slim, with various shades of greenish hair, and a couple of them grunted in greeting as they passed my priestesses. One of the younger-looking ones stared at my women with his mouth open, but he hurried on by and flushed pink.
I couldn’t blame the elven lad, it was hard not to notice four beautiful women striding along with weapons slung over their shoulders and attire that barely concealed their nipples.
The girls strode down the town road toward the square and admired the rosebushes on either side. There were red and purple flowers blooming amongst the leaves, and even a lilac-toned one that matched Aleia’s wings. Another rose was an incredible blue hue that looked like it couldn’t decide whether to be dark or light, and as we passed, the color seemed to shift between the two.
It was small details like this that reminded me how different this world was compared to the one I used to live in. The color arrays were so striking, and I still wasn’t used to seeing hues I’d never even dreamed of back on Earth. I almost drifted off into deep thoughts about my past life, but I knew I needed to be vigilant in the town. Even though I had been here before, I had to make sure my priestesses who hadn’t were safe.
There was no doubt they were badass warriors in their own right, but I was their God.
It was my duty to watch over them.
Two elven women walked by chattering amongst themselves, they had wild purple hair and identical pointed faces. I figured they were twins, and even their yellow skirts and blouses matched. Their eyes fell on Celeste, and their jaws fell open as they stopped in their tracks.
“You’re gorgeous!” one of them called as the priestesses strolled past. “Are you a real harpy?”
“I am,” Celeste laughed. “Thank you, you are both beautiful, too.”
“I guess not many people have seen a harpy,” I said. “I expect you’ll turn a few heads on this trip.”
“It helps that she’s stunning,” Nicola muttered through a smirk. “Maybe people will pay us to see the rare, gorgeous bird-woman.”
“She’s not a traveling freak,” Penelope scolded, but Celeste snorted with laughter.
“I don’t mind,” the harpy laughed. “If it got us more coins for weapons, I would do that any day.”
“No you won’t,” I cut in.
“That’s right,” my naiad huffed. “No follower of Jack’s will ever--”
“I was joking,” Celeste sighed, and then she sent a blushy glance toward the sky. “You’re right, Jack. I would never do something like that.”
“Good,” I chuckled.
“So, after we buy weapons,” Penelope piped up, “perhaps we could visit that clothing shop? The one you visited with Aleia and found us those beautiful dresses?”
“Windra’s!” The fairy said. “Oh, yes, please! Just for a little peek!”
“Oh, really?” I laughed. “Just for a browse?”
“Of course.” The naiad smiled. “I know how our lord likes to see us in new dresses.”
“We could try on some new things for you, Jack.” Nicola grinned. “Give you a bit of a show.”
The brunette wiggled her hips as she spoke, and I saw another passing elf man almost walk into a wall as he looked her way.
“It’s dangerous having you ladies out in public,” I snickered.
The girls shrieked with laughter and skipped along toward the town square. They rushed past the elven-owned clothing shop and toward some food stands that had a colorful array of wares.
The stalls were different to the ones Aleia and I had seen before, and there were fruits and cakes piled high everywhere.
A middle-aged elven woman stood behind the first stand, and she smiled at the priestesses as they crowded around her offerings. She had light-purple hair tucked into a plait, and she wore a pale green dress with a brown belt.
She certainly had the most variety of stock, and there were intricately decorated baked goods in packed rows. There were small, soft magenta buns with white frosting and thick slices of some sort of pink bread.
Her eyes fell on Celeste, and I saw her eyebrows lift as she studied the red wings. She didn’t say anything, but by her facial expression, I figured it was her first time seeing a harpy.
“Oooooh!” Aleia cooed as she sniffed the stall. “What a delicious smell!”
“Good morning.” The elven woman smiled. “Can I interest you in lavender cakes or sweet bread? All my very own family recipes.”
The girls hesitated for a second, and Aleia clutched onto her coin purse.
“Go ahead,” I said. “You can afford a few cakes.”
“I’ll have a lavender cake!” Celeste immediately said, and I couldn’t help laughing at her eagerness.
“Me, too!” Nicola nodded.
“I’ll have a sweet bread, please,” Penelope said as she licked her lips.
“As will I!” Aleia added.
The elven woman smiled as she placed each food item into a soft, clean handkerchief.
The women eagerly accepted their treats, and Aleia took out a golden coin for the elf woman.
“Oh!” the elven woman exclaimed. “Miss, this is far too much for just a few cakes! I don’t have enough spare change to give back to you, please take more for your trip!”
“Don’t worry.” The fairy smiled. “Maybe we can pick up some more food on our way out of town?”
“Of course!” the elf gasped as she quickly pocketed the coin. “Anything you like, I'll have some meats delivered shortly as well.”
“Wonderful.” Nicola grinned as she bit into her cake. “We’ll be back!”
The girls waved at the stall owner and slowly wandered past the other stalls as they picked away at their treats.
“This is amazing,” Penelope sighed as she wiped sugar from her chin. “I think the baby was craving something sweet.”
“Oh, really?” Nicola laughed. “Are you just going to use that whenever you feel like a cake?”
“Of course not!” the naiad protested, but she smirked slightly as she nibbled the pink bread.
The priestesses finished up their food just as they reached the armorer’s shop with the sword etched into the sign, and a goblin slinked out of the doorway.
Then he shot the girls a sneering glance as he strolled out into the square. His slimy, bald head glistened under the sun, and the girls wrinkled their noses as he hobbled by.
“Why do they always smell so bad?” Nicola muttered as she grabbed the door.
“I don’t know which is worse,” Celeste snorted. “The smell or the sight of them.”
“Now, be careful in here,” I warned as the women stepped into the armory. “Remember, the guy is a patronizing asshole.”
As my priestesses piled inside, I was surprised to see a young human woman behind the counter. She leaned against the wall with a book clutched in her hands, and she glanced up as the priestesses closed the door.
“Morning,” she grunted and begrudgingly closed her book as she stepped forward.
The woman had a strong, square jawline and was almost as tall as the guy who had worked in the shop last time. Her dark brown hair was tied into a ponytail, and she had biceps bulging out of her brown tunic sleeves.
“Hello.” Aleia offered her friendliest smile. “You weren’t here last time we visited.”
“My brother usually works here.” The woman shrugged. “But I know as much about these weapons as he does.”
“And won’t try to look up your skirts,” I muttered. “That’s my job.”
Nicola snorted, and the store worker gave her a curious glance.
“So!” Celeste said as she looked around at the packed shelves of weapons. “What exactly are we looking for?”
“There are so many options,” Penelope said as she examined a nearby display of daggers.
Her lips were puckered in an “O” shape, and her eyes were wide with wonder.
Nicola looked up above the door with a calculating look on her face, and her gaze fell on the weapon I had pictured her with before. A large flail with a deadly, spiked ball hanging off the end. It looked well-made and sturdy, and the brunette would be able to do serious damage with that in hand.
“Can someone get that down for me?” Nicola asked as she gaped up at the weapon, and her fairy friend hovered up to grab the flail.
“Ooooh,” Aleia cooed. “I can picture you bashing in some gargoyle heads with this.”
“So can I,” I said approvingly as the fairy handed the weapon to Nicola.
The brunette stood confidently with the flail as if she had been using one all her life. She posed with the handle held high, and I could just imagine the destruction that spiked ball could cause.
“Do I look good?” she asked as she tossed her long brown hair back a bit.
“You know you do,” I replied. “In fact, just picturing you fighting with that is making me excited for my next dream visit.”
“That settles it.” The brunette smirked. “I’ll take it.”
“Uh,” the shopkeeper replied, and she glanced around at my silent women. “That’s great, but… who were you talking to?”
I realized that nobody else had answered Nicola’s question, and it must have looked like she was just talking to herself. The brunette didn’t seem to care, though, and she placed the flail down on the counter with a smile and absolutely no explanation.
Penelope skipped over to a new stand that I hadn’t noticed before. It was packed full with large, glistening swords with various colored handles. The metal of the weapons glistened so much, it almost looked like it was moving in waves, and the naiad whistled as she admired them.
“Wow,” Aleia said as she hurried over. “What are those?”
“Ah.” The shopkeeper nodded. “Those are brand new from the blacksmith next door. Elven blades combined with the strongest steel in the land. Each one is unique, and I have reason to believe they’re enchanted.”
“Enchanted?” Aleia gasped. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t say anything for sure.” The worker smirked as she raised her hands. “But there was a rumor going around that the blacksmith elf was having it off with some traveling woman. She always had a dark hood, and she’s the one that dropped off those swords.”
“They do look incredible,” I said as I zoomed in on the display. “Take one out to have a look.”
Penelope reached down and grabbed the one with the blue handle, and she pulled it out into the light of the shop floor. The naiad looked more like a warrior queen than ever before, and she brandished the blade with her slender blue arms.
“It’s so light,” she gasped. “I can’t believe it. Oh, master, it’s wonderful!”
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow but remained silent, and I silently chuckled at how strange the priestesses must have sounded.
Celeste reached into the sword display next and pulled out one with a golden handle, and she grinned widely as she examined the blade.
“I wonder what kind of enchantment is on it,” the harpy muttered. “Maybe something to make it indestructible?”
“We might just have to test them to find out,” Penelope whispered, and Celeste chuckled at the sweet naiad’s mischievous smile.
As the two women examined their swords, Aleia browsed the other offerings as she fluttered around the store.
“What do you think, Jack?” she murmured. “Any suggestions?”
As she rose higher off the floor, I noticed something that looked like a shield, and it was a deep-purple and carved into a triangular shape with a wide handle on the back. The thing that set it apart from other shields, though, were the three deadly spikes that protruded from the front. They were silver and gleaming, and on closer inspection, I saw they had multiple sharp ridges along the edges.
“Now, that could come in useful,” I said as the fairy picked it up by the handle. “With your strength, you could bash--”
“Wow!” she squeaked. “This is so pretty! So shiny!”
I chuckled at her glowing, freckled cheeks, but at that moment, the shop door opened, and the burly man we had met before came in. He glanced around at the women, and his eyes fell on the fairy pretty quickly. I expected a sarcastic remark about her size, or how she wouldn’t be able to carry the shield, but he gave her a nod and gruff greeting.
“That one’s good,” he grunted. “I guess you liked the other weapons, then?”
“Indeed,” the fairy sniffed in a haughty tone. “Surprised someone so small didn’t die from the weight of the mace?”
The man sighed and plodded behind the counter to join his sister.
“You a harpy?” he bluntly asked as he stared at Celeste.
“Yes,” she replied flatly. “Is that an issue?”
“Nope.” He shrugged. “Just never seen one before. Didn’t know they were pretty.”
Celeste smirked and rolled her eyes, and the shopkeeper’s eyes hovered on her scarlet and ivory arms. He quickly looked away when Nicola cleared her throat, but to be fair to the guy, there wasn’t much of the shop that wasn’t taken up by gorgeous women.
“Give them a discount,” the man grunted. “Repeat customers, bought shit-loads of stuff. Might keep spending if we’re nice.”
“We certainly will,” Celeste replied as she grabbed the scabbard for her chosen sword.
“Everyone happy with their purchases?” I asked.
“Super happy!” Penelope smiled.
“Aleia?” I checked.
“Very much!” the pretty fairy chirped.
“Uh, okay,” the male shopkeeper said. “That’s good.”
Celeste and Nicola smirked, and I knew it was killing them not to burst out laughing at the unheard conversation.
“Let’s make it six hundred gold pieces,” the lady shopkeeper said. “That’s fifty off.”
“What about five-fifty?” Celeste asked with a firm, but friendly tone. “Since we plan on coming back if the price is right.”
“Fine,” the male shopkeeper grumbled. “But that’s as low as I’ll go.”
The harpy grinned and nodded in agreement, and I couldn’t help admiring her bargaining skills.
Aleia pulled out her purse and counted the coins onto the table. Then the priestesses called their goodbyes to the staff, and they headed back into the sunny morning with their new collection of weapons.
Penelope and Celeste had their new scabbards hanging from their waists, and the hilts of their enchanted swords glistened in the sun. Nicola had her flail slung over her shoulder, and I couldn’t take my eyes off the golden-skinned beauty or her confident stride. Aleia sang happily as she slid her new shield over her strong arm, and it hung perfectly beside her lilac wings and made her look like the last fairy in the world I wanted to mess with.
“Now, some new dresses?” the fairy asked as she fluttered her eyelashes.
“It depends,” I said. “How sexy are we talking?”
“Well, the weather is glorious,” Nicola observed. “So… I’m thinking of something super light and short.”
The brunette clearly knew how good she looked with her flail slung over her shoulder, and she smirked as she strutted back toward the clothing store with her long tan legs glistening in the sun.
“Hmmm, how short?” I asked, and the girls all giggled.
“Jack, we can’t talk about dirty things here,” Aleia whispered. “Someone will hear us.”
“It just sounds like girl talk,” I snickered. “Nobody will think you’re talking to me.”
Aleia blushed bright pink, and the other women nudged her playfully while she pursed her lips shut.
