Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnated as a Beast Race-Chapter 162 - Heat and Desire

POV: Ghislaine Dedoldia

Nina charged at me with speed.

Her movements were becoming more and more precise and aggressive, but to my eyes, everything was perfectly clear.

With the Demon Eye activated, I could clearly see the flow of her battle aura, the intentions in her strikes, the exact moment her guard opened.

I used Wild Dash, my swift step, and instantly appeared at the girl's right flank. Before she could react, I delivered a direct strike to her shoulder with the side of the wooden sword.

I heard a dull thud.

"Ugh!"

Her sword flew away, her dominant arm momentarily disabled by the impact.

She fell to the ground seated, panting, her eyes downcast and frustration evident on her face.

I watched her in silence for a few moments. This girl... was improving fast.

Her talent as Gall Farion's daughter was undeniable. Even so, she seemed dissatisfied with something.

I didn't quite understand why—after all, it was an improvement on her part. I decided to ask anyway. Rygar once told me that sometimes people just want to vent their frustrations.

"Is something bothering you, Nina?" I asked, deactivating the Demon Eye.

She shot me a sullen look, her lips curling into a pout. And then, as if complaining to the world, she murmured:

"How can she get so strong so fast?!"

I smiled. It was obvious who she was talking about: Eris.

Today was Eris Greyrat's fifteenth birthday, and I knew she was sparring with Rygar now.

From what he told me, if she defeated him today, he would take her as his wife.

"Rygar once told me," I said, approaching Nina, "that everyone has a predetermined potential—it doesn't change. That potential can be stimulated in two ways: training... and obsession."

She stared at me, her gaze intense. I continued:

"You train a lot, of that I have no doubt. But do you train more than Eris? More intensely? More desperately?"

She seemed to ponder, without answering. So I added:

"Besides... from what I observe, you always train with the intention of surpassing her. You say you want to surpass your father, but your gaze... always falls on Eris. You want to be faster than her. You want to completely outdo her."

She lowered her head, her fists clenched. I sighed.

"I'm not saying that's wrong. Competition is one of the best incentives to improve..."

"Then why?" she interrupted, her voice heavy with frustration.

I looked at the distant horizon. The sun was already high, near midday.

"It's hard to explain... When you witness what true power is, everything changes in perspective."

I turned back to Nina, my gaze serious:

"Eris is training to fight the strongest man in the world. And you... you're training to surpass her."

Nina clenched her teeth, visibly resentful. Then she stood up with effort, her shoulder still aching, and said:

"Let's go see Aisha... to heal my shoulder."

I nodded and followed her in silence. For now, there was nothing more to say. This was a battle she needed to fight within herself.

Nina continued casting furtive glances my way as we walked along the trail between the trees, until at last she seemed unable to hold back any longer and spoke:

"Don't you mind Rygar having a second wife?"

I answered without much thought:

"I don't mind."

She frowned, as if the answer made no sense. I knew she wasn't against the idea itself, but the custom here was different.

Her father, Gall Farion, and most swordsmen either didn't have partners or had only one. It was natural she grew up with that view.

"So you wouldn't mind if he neglected you?" she asked.

I thought about it for a moment.

"I would mind, but Rygar won't do that."

"How can you be sure?"

"I trust him."

She was silent for a moment, but then asked in a different tone:

"So you don't mind if he takes several prostitutes as concubines?"

I looked at her, confused.

"How does that relate to our previous conversation?"

Nina seemed a bit uncomfortable, but replied:

"It's just... you don't seem to care at all who Rygar chooses as his wives..."

I took a deep breath and replied calmly:

"It's not quite like that. It's just that I trust him. Look at his choices so far: Verdia, your master, who by all accounts seems to be a mentor he trusts deeply—though she's not his wife, of course. And now, Eris, who loves him with all she has. I can see that myself."

From the beginning, I noticed Rygar had a high libido. But in all our relationship, he never showed any signs of sleeping with other women besides me.

He might desire them, but he never actually did anything.

Honestly, at first I wouldn't have minded so much if he slept with them, if I couldn't handle his sexual desire.

But he told me that I should care.

That he considered sincerity and loyalty the most important things in a relationship. He wanted me to be only his, but told me even before we married that he would have more than one wife.

I said, "You can say I completely trust his judgment in whom he chooses as his wives."

Nina seemed even more confused by my thoughts. But to me, it was simple.

"I really don't understand..." she said, frowning.

I thought for a moment and replied:

"Rygar told me not to say this, but... my thoughts are that no woman can hold a man of his caliber on her own. I already thought that before I married him, and over the past years it's become even clearer. I believe he will have at least five or six wives in the end."

Nina was thoughtful for a few seconds and then said:

"That makes sense, from a certain point of view..."

I took the opportunity to provoke:

"If you let Jino surpass you too much, you might not be able to hold him alone either. So it's better to push yourself."

She immediately turned red and responded in a loud, clumsy tone:

"W-what?! Jino? You think he would do that?!"

I smiled at the girl's exaggerated reaction.

Finally, we arrived at Aisha's. It was already noon. Rygar and Eris had been out since early morning, and as we approached the house, we saw the two of them finally appearing, returning together.

---

POV: Rygar Adoldia

What can I say about this morning...? I think Eris would be even wilder than Ghislaine in the future.

As we returned to the Sanctuary and talked, my mind reviewed the earlier events.

Right after asking Eris to marry me as my second wife, she became extremely shy. In a way I had never seen before—it was very cute.

She blushed all over and answered quickly, as if she were afraid I might withdraw the proposal if she took too long.

It was adorable to see that blend of joy and nervousness, a strange smile she tried to contain, even though she was visibly overflowing with happiness.

I started leading her back to the Sanctuary, but she surprised me with an intense kiss. It was direct, like an explosion of emotion.

And before I knew it, things began to heat up. You could say I did my best to resist... but Eris was well... eager.

She took the initiative with an intensity that caught me off guard.

After confirming there was no one nearby... we ended up doing it right then and there.

At first, she was a bit reserved, of course—it was her first time. But it didn't take long for her to relax and start enjoying it.

She had a lot of energy... a lot indeed. The entire morning was taken by it.

I wondered how she would be when she got a little older. If she already had so much desire and vigor now, how would she be later...?

In any case, it was consummated. Confirmed. Eris was now, officially and completely, my second wife.

I had already talked to Ghislaine about it. In fact, she even seemed to expect me to take multiple wives over time. She said it so directly, as if it were an inevitable reality.

I still didn't know exactly what to think about it... Honestly, I didn't plan to have five or six wives as she suggested.

That could potentially make my relationships become superficial, and that kind of shallow connection was not what I wanted. Not at all.

Hand in hand, Eris walked by my side with a radiant smile, practically skipping with joy, her face still a bit flushed.

When we passed the Sanctuary, we spotted Nina and Ghislaine together.

Nigav was nearby as well, training with Jino, and Aisha, a little further ahead, was practicing with her sword in Water God Style. When she saw us, she ran to us, excited.

"Master!" she said, her eyes sparkling. "Eris's party is already ready!"

I smiled at her excitement, and decided not to waste time. I looked at everyone around me and declared in a clear voice:

"Everyone, from today... Eris is my second wife."

Eris was completely surprised by the unexpected announcement, and her expression changed instantly: shock, embarrassment, happiness—all at once.

Her face turned as red as a tomato, especially when all eyes fell on her.

Ghislaine raised an eyebrow but nodded slightly with a smile, as if it were no surprise. Nina glanced to the side, looked shocked, but tried not to show it.

It was then that, for just an instant, a triumphant smile appeared on Eris's lips when her eyes met Nina's. That girl really is competitive...

I sighed, finding amusement in the situation, and then said:

"Now let's go to the party..."

Without much delay, we headed to Eris's celebration.

The party was arranged simply, but filled with joy and energy. Eris was visibly excited, with that sparkle in her eyes that only appeared when she was genuinely happy.

From her overflowing excitement, one could easily think that this was the best day of her life.

It was a party just for our group, but that didn't make it any less significant.

Everyone was present—my companions, disciples, and allies—and each brought a gift or a word for the new wife, congratulating her both on the marriage and on her birthday.

Among all the gifts, the one worth mentioning was what Aisha gave: a magical hairpin decorated with intricate floral details in fine silver.

The enchanted effect of the hairpin was to keep the wearer's hair always scented, as if they had just stepped out of a bath.

Eris loved it. She gave Aisha a tight hug and then placed the hairpin on right there, with a little grin. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

I, as I had already done with Ghislaine, gave Eris a ring. It wasn't a custom in this world, but for me it carried an important meaning.

It was a way to represent union, commitment. I didn't care if it was something exclusive to my previous world—it was my personal gesture.

Moreover... well, I gave her a dragon egg.

A dragon egg as a wedding gift?

Yes, I gave it. They were mine anyway.

If I wanted to give it as a gift, I could. And, in fact, it seemed appropriate. A symbol of strength, rarity... and also a type of promise.

Eris seemed happy, so that was enough.

The party continued energetically, with music, good food, and even some exhibition fights organized by Jino and Nigav.

Nina was a bit more distant than usual, her mood oscillating between neutral and thoughtful. But, in the end, she enjoyed the party too.

From time to time, I caught her gaze crossing with Eris's, and I couldn't help but notice a certain discomfort there... a spark of competitiveness that still seemed alive.

Meanwhile, Badigadi and Gall Farion were talking; they seemed to have become great friends.

Unusual, considering the contrast between the two.

Even so, whenever I looked, the two were drinking together, debating ideas, or discussing fighting styles.

I ended up being pulled into those conversations often, and I learned much more than I expected.

Badigadi was a true living encyclopedia. He carried millennia of stories, battles, defeats, and victories, although his memory was quite poor.

Not even my master Verdia knew some of the things he spoke of so naturally.

In one of those moments, he casually mentioned that he planned to leave the Sanctuary soon.

When the party finally ended and we were heading home, Badi pulled me aside. Still a bit dizzy from the alcohol, he faced me with unexpected seriousness.

"About Hitogami!" he said, pausing for a moment as if something unpleasant had surfaced from his memories. "So consider this advice!"

He spoke with that voice still somewhat affected by the alcohol.

"Don't trust the Man-God too much." He leaned forward, his eyes half-closed.

"If you trust him completely, one day he will destroy with his own hands what is most precious to you. Always keep one foot back!"

Before I could ask what he meant, or what his story with Hitogami was, he turned around and left.

The following days passed with a calm that almost seemed artificial. It was the last month in the Sword Sanctuary.

Gall Farion taught me everything he knew. Every technique he was aware of.

And he also told me what he knew about how to confront—and kill—Orsted.

Now, all that remained... was to challenge him for his position among the Seven Powers.

Everyone continued training diligently. They already knew what awaited us when we reached Milis: a total war against the Holy Country.

And no one wanted to be unprepared. Eris, Ghislaine, even Aisha trained diligently... although, in Aisha's case, I had already decided.

Aisha would not participate in the war. She was only seven years old. Still a child. A talented child, yes, but not ready for the burden of war.

The nights, however, changed considerably.

Now, Eris slept with Ghislaine and me. The three together, one on each side, warming the bed with their bodies.

And sometimes... we experimented with some different things. At first, I thought the fact that they were master and disciple would make things a bit awkward, but... neither of them seemed to mind.

On the contrary—the "synergy" between them was so natural that I almost doubted they hadn't arranged it beforehand. Ghislaine, always intense and wild. Eris, vibrant and impetuous.

And I, in the middle of it all, keeping pace with both of them.

The last days of relative tranquility in the Sword Sanctuary flew by.

Almost as if time itself were moving faster than usual. Everyone knew this was the end of a cycle. And then... the day arrived.

The day of the challenge.

The tension was palpable. It was in the air, on the ground, in the glances. The very atmosphere seemed too silent. As if the Sanctuary were holding its breath.

And I... was too.

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