Harem Multiverse Challenge

Ch 5. Zhenarian Politics

Wrenn has a small sleeping space in a tiny alcove in the back of the smithy. The place is barely big enough for him to lie down on his side and curl up a bit, or otherwise, his head hits the wall. 

To the right of his sleeping mat, shelves and storage bins of various sizes and shapes are piled high with tools and materials. Wrenn has to duck his head beneath other instruments hanging from the ceiling to get to his sleeping spot.

Beneath the last shelf near his mat, there’s a small nook in the wall where once a mouse resided. That mouse has since long gone, eaten by a neighbor’s cat. Now, the nook is a storage space for the few things Wrenn has, including the letter I’m searching for. 

After plunging my hand into the hiding place up to near my elbow, I dig out the letter and set it on the sleeping mat. 

Even though the sigil is torn, I recognize the family crest in the wax seal as that of the Averys. This noble family is of the highest rank in the country of Zhenaria, and they have a lot of influence in the political sphere. 

With their backing, Wrenn can have a clear path to the throne after overthrowing the current heir, of course. 

I have to reread this letter and grasp all the details before making a decision on how to approach the Averys. 

***

To Wrenn Dorn,

It came to my attention that you are of royal blood. 

You may have a great future ahead of you, and I would be honored to be your advisor. I have many things I wish to share with you, and I hope you are ready to listen to what I have to say.

If you are interested in my offer, please contact me at your earliest convenience. It’s enough to drop by the Avery manor once to get acquainted. Show the letter to the butler, and he will let you in. 

I’ll be waiting,

Grand Duke William Avery, 

Lord of the Avery County, 

Member of the Zhenarian Council 

***

The real Wrenn Dorn would never go to visit Lord Avery, not even to get acquainted. He hates all the noble houses because of how they trashed his mother through a public scandal.

Even though his mother was a Zhenarian noble, she was stripped of her title and died a few years later of anemia. All because of him. 

The queen and her followers couldn’t have a royal bastard like him. Coming from a noble family on his mother's side would have increased his status and the power of his claims. 

Oh, politics! What a mess. Maybe it’s for the better that our innocent Wrenn Dorn had no interest in it. He could have been stuck in a web of intrigue and power games. 

But he’s not here anymore. And I, David McConnell, as opposed to him, know quite well how to fuck people from behind. 

[Daddy, can you stop fluffing up your feathers and take a look over the rewards from the side task?]

Maybe I deserve a moment to sit down and get some rest. 

I lean with my back against the wall. 

I’m listening.

[The rewards are: +1 life, 1 charge of woman-enslaving essence, and 1-inch penis enlargement. You must choose one of these 3]

The widow looked very pleased last night, so the last reward seems the least appealing. So explain more about the first two.

[If you die, the main task is marked as failed, and you are out of the Harem Multiverse Challenge. Your soul will be erased from existence in all realms. No heaven or hell, no afterlife, nothing. If you gather more lives, you will use one of them to revive you without failing the main task]

[The woman-enslaving essence will be available for use on any woman of your choice when you wish so. She will have to do anything you order her to do for the next 24 hours]

Then the extra life sounds great, for sure. That's if you wanna play it safe. Hmm… I’ll consider it a bit more.

[You still have one ongoing side task: making a woman love you. If you achieve this one—though I highly doubt it—your previous rewards will become unavailable and will be replaced by new ones]

Hah! Women love me! They fall for me faster than you can say 'I love you' and then they forget all about other men. 

[I should call you Peacock instead of Daddy]

Leaning back on the sleeping mat, I begin to wonder if the widow would soon fall for me or not. 

As I take a well-deserved break, I remember my dad telling me that love is like a web with you in the center. You weave it and trap people in it. You will be the only one who can freely walk inside the maze, roaming from one prisoner to another, or completely walk away and spread your web in another place, not allowing enough time to fall into the web of another. 

But I found another way, my way, of doing things. 

Oh, I haven’t yet seen my updated stats, now with my new record of over an hour for the highest time lasted. 

System, show me my current stats.

[Of course, daddy. Enjoy!]

Overall gameplay stats for user David McConnell:

Women fucked: 1

Women satisfied: 1

Blowjobs received: 1

Blowjobs given: 0

Threesome with 2 women: 0

Banging more than 2 women at once: 0

Highest time lasted: 61 minutes and 27 seconds

What? This is not right! What happened with my stats? Everything is gone!

[The Goddess had a change of heart and removed the stats from before starting the Harem Multiverse Challenge. They were adding up to give you an unfair advantage. Now, only your achievements after accepting the challenge will be shown]

It’s like everything I did before was a waste of time, a pointless life—sixty years going on the drain. 

[You had your fun. Now stop being a crybaby and work on the main task]

Maybe you’re right. I jump on my feet, taking care not to bump into the tools hanging above from the ceiling. I should head for the Avery manor.

[Wait! Did you just take up on my advice?] 

No. We just happened to be on the same page for once. I’ll get my stats back one way or another.