Chapter 121: (18+ Content) Business Deals are Part and Parcel

- Arachne Hidden Village, Riyuegu Xiamen Holy Manor Private Room, Several Hours Later - Rose's POV -

Long story short? It didn't work.

After attempting to do the same pledge that Argent had done, Karen, Veronica, Shade and even Malaise had spent the next hour trying everything they could think of to repeat the SOTS (Sudden Onset Tattoo Syndrome) that Argent had somehow come down with. Malaise had been the first to throw in the towel. Literally as she'd felt dizzy from spending so much time in the hot springs that she'd actually left to cool off, followed closely by Veronica as she convinced herself that she could just get a matching tattoo from a local. After her had been Urz as she finally worked up the nerve to try at least one time before fleeing for her own room after it too failed. After them had been the trio of women I'd leas- okay only two of them were unexpected to be honest. The third was completely within the realms of possibility if I were being honest. Who am I speaking of you ask? Yeah, it's Annabelle, Karen and Shade.

Karen had been the one I'd not really been surprised about. Her excitement at the possibility of magic tattoo's obvious in every way possible. I imagine it also had a bit to do with some "other reasons" as well but regardless the two that had most shocked me with their tenacity were Shade and Annabelle. Annabelle, seemingly filled with jealousy? from Argent's role as my knight, had thrown herself into every possible iteration of pledging her life to me that she could think of. The increasingly smug look on Argent's face as she watched from the side only seeming to fuel her ardor as she pressed onwards. I was only able to calm her down by reminding her that she was my personal maid, technically a higher position than a knight. The look of betrayal on Argent's face was a bit funny actually and the fact that I used a hand to hold back a giggle would be my little secret.

Next to give in had been Shade. Her focus on becoming connected to me a bit surprising considering her general taciturn persona. Honestly, I'd kind of wondered at several points if she even enjoyed hanging out with all of us. The only thing that told me that she liked us at all being the barely noticed gleam when she was around us and the few words, she did share that illustrated how she saw us. That and how fervently she fought to protect us when we were in the many dangerous situations we had been caught up in the last few weeks. Although I'd always suspected that she was hiding something under the surface to be honest as well. Kare Kare had said something offhand about the silent ones always being closet perverts, but I wasn't sure if that was entirely it. Regardless I finally convinced both her and Karen to stop when it became clear we were just repeating earlier methods with no success. I couldn't help but notice the slightly deflated Shade as she put off an air of depression.

[...] - Karen

[Cheer up, I'm sure we'll figure out how to get you one too if it's possible. And if it's not it's not like it makes us any less connected.] - Rose

And so, I found myself lounging on a luxury bed that, for once, was actually large enough for my extra-long body. Maybe the difference was that we were in a village filled entirely with a large-bodied race. Well other than the absolutely tiny males anyway. Although I wasn't sure if that was universal, or this house just happened to employ legal-shota's in particular.

Noticing the pout on Kare Kare's face though I immediately scooted towards her to comfort my longtime friend that had collapsed into a ball-like shape at the edge of my mattress, her face and a small amount of her upper body the only things visible outside of the blob of slime that made up her body.

[Yeah... I know. I just thought it'd be cool! Like the 4 Demon Generals that serve the Demon King or something like that!] - Karen

[So that's why? By the way don't you have your own room?] - Rose

Her response was the most game-heavy one that could have come out of her mouth however as distant memories of playing games together floated through my mind at her reference. Memories of my previous existence had been getting more and more blurry over the years and after almost 13 years (in Earth time) I'd lost all but the most important to the ether. That thought though made another one come to the forefront, why was Karen even in my room anyway?

[Noooo?] - Karen

[Haha, such lies she speaks; you should probably head back there so we can both get some sleep. I don't know about you but I'm exhausted and we need to wake up fairly early tomorrow so we can head back on some sort of reasonable timeframe. Ugh, they're probably already worried about us actually...] - Rose

[...] - Karen

[Karen? Bed? Sleep? Any of this ringing a bell?] - Rose

Spouting out an obvious lie I giggled into my palm as I leaned back to make good on my promise to sleep only to freeze partway when my purple blob refused to move or even say anything else.

<nom> - Karen

[Ahn! S-Stop! W-Why are you biting me?] - Rose

[Heheh, fear me my pretty as I feast on your supple flesh. <nom>] - Karen

[W-Wait! N-Not there!] - Rose

Suddenly lunging towards me I let out an embarrassing moan as the tickle of Karen's slimy mouth closed around the base of my neck around my collarbone. Blushing as I attempted to back away, I nearly moaned again when the predatory pervert moved what I quickly realized was a kiss down my collarbone as she left multiple marks that I was sure would become hickeys later.

[Fufufu, saying that with that look on your face just makes me even more motivated. <nom>] - Karen

[N-No, w-w-w-w-wait not. Ahh!!!] - Rose

Suffice to say that I slept really REALLY well that night.

- Arachne Hidden Village, Riyuegu Xiamen Holy Manor, Next Morning - Rose's POV -

[<Hwaaaaah!> Couldn't you have at least waited till we got back to do... that?] - Rose

[Oh oh oh?!? What's that?!? What did you do? Lewd stuff? You did lewd stuff di- OW! Dammit why?!?] - Veronica

[You know why! 1Reference to a scene from a movie that I can't remember the name of, sorry. Ahem, so I take it you didn't get much sleep. Nerves?] - Malaise

[Y-Yeah, nerves. Haha-hahaha.] - Rose

[They fucked they definitely fu- OW! But I- Ow!] - Veronica

Yawning as I coiled my tail around the large chair that actually did a great job supporting my much larger weight I winced as I resisted the urge to itch the highly visible red marks that had been left on my neck and upper chest by a certain lewd slime. While I'd initially expected her to push for actual sex she seemed to at least be respecting my earlier request to take it a bit slow and get to know our new selves. Did she cross the line of normally acceptable behavior for people not dating or otherwise? Oh hell yeah she did. But for some reason I found myself unable to actually tell her off for doing so even if I knew it was a close thing. Hell if she'd opted to go for the final push I highly doubt I would've had the right mind to keep her from doing so. Damn lewd lesbian and her skills.

Swearing internally at how good the slime had made me feel with only the small amount she'd done I quickly realized my mistake at voicing my complaint as another certain lewd individual's eyes lit up at my words. The pity from the pure foxgirl made it all the worse as I knew EXACTLY what we'd done last night.

[Ah, good morning, Lady Rose... and friends, I assume you'll be heading back to the Dwarven city today? If so I'd be happy to send a detachment of our soldiers to safeguard your trip. I also assume you'll wish to send a negotiator from your family to parse out the actual terms behind our reparations and the trade deal between our peoples?] - Undine

[Actually I-] - Rose

[Don't try and worm your way out of personally accounting for your mistake by having someone you can push around take over negotiations' weakling. You think I'll allow you to ask for any detriment towards my Master's descendent?] - Love

Flushing from the embarrassing situation that only brought a proud smirk to a "certain someone's" face our meal was interrupted by a sentient puddle that emerged suddenly from the door facing the hot springs. Caught off guard by the amount of information suddenly dumped on me by the newcomer I was about to respond only to be interrupted once more as an irritated looking demon cut me off.

[N-No of course not Lord Love! I was only a-attempting to allow someone more skilled to-] - Undine

[Guys?] - Rose

[Are you saying my Master's descendent doesn't have the skills to-] - Love

[SHUT UP!!!] - Rose

[...?!?] - Both

Seemingly still utterly terrified of the much more powerful being Undine instantly capitulated only for her to be cornered even more in response.

Utterly exhausted from my later night than I'd planned and the increasing volume of the argument taking place between the two superpowered being in front of me I completely lost it.

[You! Back in my inner world now! And you! I was trying to say that I would actually be fine doing at least the first round of negotiations now!] - Rose

[...!] - Undine

[Haha! Hahahahahahaha! By the Void how could I have been so wrong?!? Little one- no Lady Rose, I see now what my Master saw in you. If you think you can handle this, I'll leave it to you. Weakling God, if you so much as touch a single strand of hair on this girl's head I'll make you suffer an eternity at the edge of the Universe staring into the Abyss. You got it?] - Love

[H-Hiiii! Y-Yes!] - Undine

[Well then, take her for all she's worth Lady Rose. Trash don't deserve any less afterall.] - Love

Afraid that I'd gone too far at first, I was shocked when the silence was broken by a strong laugh that was filled with mirth and more than a bit of surprise as the literal God stared at the Demon that I'd told off with fear at his reaction. Eyes watering as the incarnation of violence that I'd brought to bear actually did the last thing that would be expected. He backed off.

Seemingly impressed by my outburst I actually saw a bit of pride swelling in Love's expression as he addressed me with a tone of respect that was completely opposite of how he'd been interacting with me initially. The look of abject terror on Undine's face at his threat made me curious but something told me I was better off not knowing so with one more smirk at the cowering God Love vanished completely. I could vaguely feel him as he entered my inner world before even there he faded into nothingness.

[O-Okay now that that's over with why don't we get this over with so we can all go home?] - Rose

[Y-Yes?] - Undine

The look of fear on Undine's slightly see-through face as if she were looking at an incomprehensible monster made me wonder just how much I'd changed from my previous self. And how much I'd change in the future as I got more and more used to dealing with literal Demons and Gods. It was slightly scary.