I did get two of my Troll steaks after all the little snakes seemed full, and it was nice just to have a moment to relax. Mary was licking her fingers, and she had let me slide my arm around her waist.

I was petting her snakes when Mary asked me something that surprised me. ​​

“Whysss did you comesss here?” Mary hissed softly as I watched her stone-covered eyes close with content from my strokes.

“I didn’t plan on coming here, but I had made some mistakes in my life, and I tried to cheat my way to the top. I thought that I could just take the easy way and no one would care, but I was wrong. I ended up losing everything and embarrassing myself, so I had decided to join a group of individuals that valued hard work and determination,” I said, thinking about what I had been about to do.

There was a lot of merit in joining the army, but I don’t think it was for the right reason. What I had wanted was something that I could do to prove to myself that I was more than just some cheater that could only rise up by taking the easy way.

“Instead, I got home last night, which is still here today, and saw a red glow coming from behind my house and decided to check it out. From there, I found a hole in the ground, and now I am here with you girls,” I said, finishing my explanation.

“Do you likesss itsss here?” Mary asked, opening her eyes and turning to look at me with them.

I stared into her eyes, but I was sure that Mary’s sightless eyes looked into mine, and that made me feel warm and calm inside. It has been one hell of a ride so far, but I can say that this is much better than I could have ever hoped for with the army.

“So far, the place has been pretty wild, but after meeting you, things have been much better. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for making you feel that way, Mary, and I promise that I won’t do anything like that to you again. I like you, and I don’t want to do anything that will make you angry or sad,” I explained to her, and Mary rubbed her head into my chest.

“It’sss okay, I forgive you this time. You fed my Loveliesss too, and they likesss you now, ssso I kind of likesss you too,” Mary hissed with a smile as I stood with her.

Mary curled around me and wrapped her arms around me this time, and rested her head on my shoulder. This girl was too cute, and now she was back to being that way and getting closer to me.

That meant that my earlier assumptions about her being all over me because she liked me were off. I guess these girls probably just saw me as food or some kind of help until they could eat me.

I walked back to the other two…four, yup, four. There was no meat left, and the girls looked bloated but satisfied.

“Did we work out all our problems, my little snake?” Jilly asked as she lifted herself up off her red armor shell she had been resting on.

“Yesss, Kazzzzz…”

Mary tried to say my name, but the z sound made her stick out her tongue and make a buzzing/farting noise. It was all I could do to keep my laughter in, but Jilly didn’t hold herself back as she laughed, but I guess they knew each other.

“Don’t try to repeat his name; you might bite your tongue off. I can see your sleepy snakes, so you don’t need to tell me how it went. I know he has found your weakness, and now you’re just going to be his pet,” Jilly said with a smile, but I stepped in, feeling Mary heat up on my back.

“None of you are my pets or anything besides my now friends. I am not your master, you do not need to listen to me, but I appreciate it if you would for some things. This is new for all of us, but I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot, so to speak,” I said while looking between Jilly and the Cerberus girls.

They had stayed quiet and were rubbing their protruded belly. Three stomachs or not, that was a lot of meat for those girls, but they looked happy, so that was what mattered.

“So, then what are you going to do now?” Jilly asked as she moved closer to me, slowly lowering herself down to my level suggestively.

I turned from Jilly’s advances and walked over to Cera, Bera, and Riez, putting my arms under them to pick them up. The girls didn’t struggle, and they let me pick them up, but Cera got to rest on my chest this time, or there might have been some complaints.

“I would like you to show me where it is that we can start earning some MP. Is the whole world like this? Rocks and canyons? Or is this just one place?” I asked as I turned back to Jilly.

“No, but this is a tiny part of the massive world, or so I am told, but I have never been off this island,” Jilly said to me.

“Island? So, is there a village or something where we can go and get you, girls, some quests?” I asked hopefully, but I was not reassured by the devilish smile I got back.

“Yes, this will be a great chance for you to have your first meeting with the demon kind, since you hid from the last one, ha ha ha!” Jilly said with a scoffing laugh.

“I didn’t want to interrupt your little meeting,” I said with an innocent smile.

“Well, don’t expect any warm welcomes from the demons. They only tolerate us other monsters and have been known to turn on us in the middle of the town. I advise you to watch how you act; some are a lot tougher than they look, especially the little old lady demons! DO NOT MESS WITH THEM!” Jilly warned me before turning to the south.

Don’t fuck with little old ladies, got it.