Demonic Dragon: Harem System

While Strax was... enjoying himself during training, the soft sound of wooden wheels rolling over cobblestone echoed inside the luxurious carriage. Beatrice, Cristine, Monica, and Samira were seated on plush red velvet armchairs, each lost in her own thoughts as time passed.

"At least we managed to rent a new carriage. After killing so many bandits, we looted enough to cover the costs," Beatrice said, glancing at a bag overflowing with gold coins.

"Don't remind me... who knew bandits had so much money lying around during a hunt? Are they stupid or something?" Monica questioned, prompting Samira to laugh out loud.

"It's adorable seeing you make assumptions," Samira chuckled. Being the guild master, she was well-versed in the real reason behind their wealth.

"Then explain it!" Beatrice demanded.

"It's no great secret," Cristine said, turning to look out the window as she picked up the explanation. "Most bandits are nomads. They don't stay in one place and travel with all they own. That's why they carry valuable goods—they accumulate wealth as they go, robbing others along the way. Over time, they end up hoarding riches. Many of them stick to banditry because they feel like they don't belong in regular society."

"Yes, humans are driven by money," Samira added. Monica and Beatrice exchanged a glance and shared a small smile, as though understanding something new together.

The tranquility of the ride was suddenly interrupted by a sound they all knew too well.

Ding!

A floating message appeared before them, shimmering in the air with golden letters.

[You've conquered Cassandra Vermillion]

Silence filled the space for a moment before Monica, the eldest and usually the most composed of the group, let out a deep sigh. She carefully set the book she had been reading onto her lap and gave the others a pointed look.

"Another one," she said, her tone resigned but tinged with amusement.

Samira, seated across from her, rolled her eyes dramatically and leaned back in her seat. "Seriously, another one? Does that man have some kind of spell, or does he just trip over women and they decide to marry him?"

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Beatrice, adjusting her teardrop-shaped earrings, chuckled softly. "It's Strax. I think the answer is 'both.'" She crossed her legs and swung her foot idly as she gazed at the message still floating in the air. "Cassandra Vermillion... That's a new one. Do you think she'll be a problem? I mean, he's going after sisters now."

With her last comment, Beatrice cast a teasing glance at Cristine, who, well... had a sister that had grown quite close to Strax.

Cristine, ever the pragmatic one, shrugged as she gazed out the carriage window. "Whether she's problematic or not, that's for him to deal with. The real question here is: where does he find the energy to manage so many of us? He must be more resilient than he looks."

Beatrice laughed softly. "You say that as if he hasn't proven it multiple times already."

Samira, clearly the most irritated, huffed. "Cassandra Vermillion... Isn't she that dangerous vampire with a reputation for ripping off the heads of suitors who don't please her? Great. That's just what we needed—more excitement in our lives, as if things weren't chaotic enough already."

"She's also incredibly beautiful," Monica added, adjusting the necklace around her neck. "Redhead, right? It seems Strax has a soft spot for red hair. I'd bet anything Daniela had a hand in this."

Beatrice sighed again, this time longer and more meaningful. "Well, at least he has good taste. We can't fault him for that. After looking into Scarlet and her connections through the Merchant Guild in the last city, at least we know what we're dealing with now. Daniela, Cassandra, and Bela..."

"I think he has a special talent for attracting women who are... how should I put it... intense?" Monica quipped, turning to the others with a sly smile. "I mean, look at us. Each one of us has our own peculiarities, and now he's adding bloodthirsty vampires to the collection."

"Collection?" Cristine asked with a sarcastic smile. "Thanks for making me feel like part of a harem."

Monica laughed, crossing her arms. "Well, we're not too far from that, if we're being honest. The difference is, he didn't do this on his own. We chose to stay with him."

Beatrice nodded. "That's true. Each of us picked him for different reasons. And somehow, he manages to handle all our personalities and needs... most of the time."

Samira let out a low chuckle. "Honestly, I'm more curious to see how he's going to make this work. Anyone want to bet how long it'll take for them to realize what they've gotten themselves into?"

Cristine glanced at her with an amused smile. "I give it a week before she tries to rip his head off."

"I give it three days," Monica replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Beatrice shook her head, stifling a laugh. "You're all cruel. He's got his heart in the right place. That said, those two sisters are probably at each other's throats already, while the third one is probably dying of laughter over the whole situation."

The group struggled to hold back their laughter at that comment.

Samira raised an eyebrow, looking defiant. "At least they're strong women... We can't let ourselves fall behind."

Monica chuckled again. "I just hope they're less... let's say, intrusive than some others we've encountered."

Cristine adjusted herself in her seat, gazing out the carriage window with a mischievous grin. "Well, if nothing else, this is going to be interesting. I hope she knows what she's getting into because we're a unique group."

"And he," Beatrice added, glancing at the message before it faded away, "is the only man capable of putting up with all of us."

"Well, let's let him sort things out on his end. Knowing him, he's probably going to go after the third sister too, and we're still only halfway there," Monica remarked, gazing out the window at the road ahead.

"Yeah, probably," Cristine agreed.

"My real concern is... Scarlet," Samira said as she looked up at the sky. "I just hope he doesn't end up dead... We still need to rescue Xenovia in a few months," she added.

"It'll all work out," Beatrice replied, though there was a slight uncertainty in her tone. "...I think."

~~~~

The clearing in the forest was bathed in the glow of the full moon, casting a silvery sheen over the tall trees surrounding the area. The sound of wooden swords clashing echoed among the trunks, accompanied by the quick rhythm of footsteps and heavy breathing.

Cassandra was on the offensive, her movements swift and graceful, like a dancer in perfect performance. Her fiery red hair gleamed in the moonlight, swaying as she unleashed a flurry of precise strikes. Strax, on the other hand, was on the defensive, blocking as best as he could, sweat dripping down his brow. He didn't just look exhausted; there was something else in his expression—something between amusement and a challenge.

"You're distracted, Strax," Cassandra teased, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she spun into another attack. "Are you admiring my technique, or something else?"

He blocked the strike with effort, the impact nearly knocking him off balance. "If I said I was admiring you, would that earn me a break?" he shot back, his tone laced with mischief.

"No." She struck again, this time with more force. "In fact, it would only make things harder for you."

"So, there's no way I can win either way?" He leapt backward, narrowly avoiding a thrust that nearly grazed his shoulder. Discover more stories at empire

"Fair point. But honestly, I don't mind. The view from here is excellent." His eyes sparkled with a teasing glint as he readied himself for the next move.

Cassandra paused momentarily, her smile widening. "You're so irritating," she said, but the melodic laugh that followed betrayed that she wasn't as annoyed as she pretended to be.

"Just trying to survive, my trainer," he replied, bowing slightly as if in jest. "And maybe, just maybe, impress my wife in the process."

"Impress, huh?" She lunged forward, spinning her wooden sword with frightening skill. "Well, then you'll have to do better. So far, all I'm seeing is a man trying not to fall flat on his face."

He barely managed to block the strike, his arms already feeling the weight of the grueling training. "You're underestimating my charm, Cassandra. It's my most dangerous weapon."

She laughed loudly, the sound ringing melodiously through the clearing. "Charm? Against me? How adorable, Strax." Before he could respond, she landed a quick strike to his side, making him stumble.

"Okay, that hurt, what do you mean 'against me?' Yesterday you were committed to grinding on my lap while we had sex in the hot springs." He joked.

Cassandra froze mid-movement, her expression instantly shifting to one of utter embarrassment. For a moment, the pristine composure she always displayed faltered. Her face flushed a deep red as her eyes narrowed dangerously. She took a step forward, pointing her wooden sword directly at his chest.

"What did you just say?" her voice came out low, but the threat in her tone was unmistakable.

Strax instinctively took a small step back, a mischievous grin forming on his lips. "Oh, I was just reminiscing about how... determined you were last night. No need to get so defensive."

Cassandra clenched her teeth, clearly teetering between killing him on the spot or dying of embarrassment. "Do you have any idea how that sounds, you... pervert?" She lunged again, delivering a swift strike that he barely managed to block.

"Hey, hey!" Strax raised his hands in surrender, still gripping his wooden sword. "You're the one who started seducing me. I'm just... reminiscing, with fondness, of course."

She surged forward once more, her sword striking the tree trunk just beside his head, causing him to leap to the side.

The tree... exploded.

"I'll train you very well, then... so you'll remember, with great fondness, exactly who I am," Cassandra said, her crimson eyes glowing ominously in the dark of the night.

"Holy shit..."