CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER : 43 : THE BEST DAY OF HIS LIFE!

For a few seconds, nobody moved.

Just the sound of ragged breathing, the faint hiss of black mist dissolving into nothing, and the distant crackle of lightning still crawling across the fake sky overhead.

Aiden was bent over, hands on his knees, sucking in air like it was the sweetest thing he’d ever tasted. His daggers hung loose in his grip, the blades still wet with the dark ichor of monsters that didn’t even exist anymore.

"...Finally..." he muttered, his voice low and hoarse.

Then—

"Sir Aiden!"

He barely had time to look up before Lysandra came running full sprint, her crystalline armor clinking with each step. She didn’t slow down. She jumped—and slammed into him hard enough that he staggered back, catching her on instinct.

"Ly—!"

Her arms locked around his neck, squeezing him so tight it was like she was trying to crush the air out of him after he’d just fought to get it back.

"Don’t you ever—" Her voice was trembling, her forehead pressing into his shoulder, "—ever do something that reckless again!"

Aiden blinked, trying to speak, but she wasn’t letting go.

"You think I enjoy watching you run into things that could kill you in one hit?!" she continued, her voice getting sharper. "Because I don’t! Not even a little!"

Her hug stayed fierce, but her hands finally loosened enough for him to breathe. He smiled tiredly and rubbed her back. "We made it, Ly. All of us. I’m not going anywhere."

That was when he noticed Ivy.

The little girl had woken up somewhere during the chaos, still wrapped in the faint shimmer of Lysandra’s now-fading barrier. She was sitting cross-legged on the dungeon floor, clutching Fluffynugget against her chest like he was a giant living plushie, and watching them with big, curious eyes.

"Mii~," the cat chimed, perfectly content in Ivy’s arms.

Aiden was about to say something when—

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[SYSTEM NOTICE]

FINAL WAVE CLEARED.

VICTORY ACHIEVED.

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REWARD: DUNGEON BOSS CHAMBER KEY

OBJECTIVE: Defeat the Last Monster (Dungeon Boss) to Advance to Next Level.

Note: This mission may be initiated at any time by the player.

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Then the words changed.

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Would you like to start the mission now?

[YES] — [NO]

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Aiden stared at the prompt for a second. He could feel his heart still hammering in his chest, his muscles aching in ways that told him they all needed a break before taking on anything else.

"...No," he thought clearly.

The panel blinked once and then displayed:

Mission postponed.

The moment the words faded, warmth and exhaustion started to replace the adrenaline in his veins. He sheathed his daggers, disappearing into his inventory, letting out a long breath.

That’s when Luna did her thing.

One second she was looking them, and the next she’d grabbed his wrist and yanked him toward her with a predator’s grin.

Before he could ask what she was doing, she stuffed his face straight into her chest.

His muffled "—huh?!" was swallowed by the warm, soft press of her breasts on either side of his head.

"Mmm, my brave Master~," she purred, her voice dripping with playful heat, "you fought so hard... I should reward you, shouldn’t I?" She started stroking his hair like he was some well-behaved pet instead of the guy who’d just saved all their lives.

"L-Luna—" His words were smothered against her cleavage.

"Shhh," she cooed, "just relax. You deserve this. You deserve me." Her smile turned wicked as she tilted her head just enough to make eye contact with Lysandra over Aiden’s shoulder. "Unless someone thinks they can give you better."

That did it.

Lysandra’s eyes narrowed, and in two quick steps she was right there, her hands seizing Aiden’s shoulders. "Oh no, you don’t get him all to yourself," she said sharply—and then yanked him out of Luna’s grasp only to immediately shove his head down into her own chest.

Her cleavage was deeper, the soft press firmer, her scent clean and sweet. "Sir Aiden belongs here," she declared, holding his face tight enough that he could hear her heartbeat thudding in his ear.

Luna crossed her arms, smirking but clearly not backing down. "Oh, please, Ly. You’re smothering him."

"I’m comforting him."

"You’re hogging him."

"You started it."

Aiden didn’t even try to pull away. Not because he couldn’t—but because he wasn’t stupid. This was... well... the best kind of problem to have.

They started bickering over him, literally pulling his head back and forth between them like some kind of treasured plush toy. Every time Luna got him, she’d tease in a whisper, "See, Master? I’m softer. Warmer. You like it here, don’t you?" And every time Lysandra reclaimed him, she’d murmur, "Ignore her. You’re safe here. I’ll always protect you."

In the background, Ivy and Fluffynugget had moved on to their own game—throwing little crystal shards back and forth like glittery snowballs, laughing without a care in the world.

Somewhere between the tug-of-war, Luna guided one of his hands down to cup her breast through the fabric of her oufit, her grin daring Lysandra to comment. Lysandra did—by grabbing his other hand and pressing it to hers.

"Sir Aiden should know the difference," Lysandra said with an arch tilt of her head.

His brain had pretty much checked out of rational thought by that point. His fingers moved on instinct, the warmth and softness under each palm entirely different but equally dangerous.

Luna leaned in closer, her lips brushing his ear. "See? He likes mine better."

"In your dreams," Lysandra countered, pulling him back toward her.

The banter went on until Aiden—half-drunk on the absurd, incredible attention—finally decided to do something before they actually started a fight.

He grabbed both their chins at once, turning their faces toward him, and pulled them in for a kiss.

On both.

It wasn’t neat, wasn’t practiced—just a messy, greedy three-way kiss that had all three of them leaning in, breathing each other’s air. Luna’s taste was sweet and wild, Lysandra’s was cool and intoxicating, and together they left him dizzy in the best way possible.

When they broke apart, Luna’s lips curled into a smug little smile. "Told you he likes sharing."

Lysandra didn’t answer—cheeks flushed, and tightened her arm around Aiden’s waist.

Somewhere behind them, Ivy giggled. "They’re silly," she whispered to Fluffynugget.

"Mii~," the cat agreed.

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END OF Chapter : 43 : THE BEST DAY OF HIS LIFE!

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