CHAPTER 154: TIME OFF 1

Aegis sat at her desk, surrounded by ledgers, maps, and hastily scribbled notes. She was calculating profit margins on monster drops when the door opened.

Lune walked in, closed it behind her, and immediately went to her easel like nothing had happened.

Aegis looked up.

Lune’s hair was slightly mussed. There was a faint mark on her neck that definitely hadn’t been there this morning.

Aegis grinned.

"So, uh... had fun?"

Lune picked up her brush without missing a beat.

"I don’t know what you’re referring to."

"Really? Cause I was pretty sure I saw you making out with my sister in the courtyard."

Lune’s ears turned pink, but her expression stayed neutral.

"It was... educational."

"Educational."

"Yes."

"Right. Is that what we’re calling it now?"

Lune dipped her brush in paint.

"Sophie suggested I needed practical experience with interpersonal physical contact. I agreed. The experiment was successful."

Aegis bit back a laugh.

"Successful, huh?"

"... Very."

"Cool. Just... maybe next time, find a room? I’m pretty sure you traumatized at least three first-years."

Lune finally glanced over, her eyes meeting Aegis’s.

There was the faintest hint of a smile on her lips.

"You’re one to talk."

[OH? Rare Lune banter???]

Aegis shook her head, still grinning, and went back to her calculations.

---

Two days later, Aegis stood in the main hall of Starcaller Manor, watching workers hammer the final planks into place.

The transformation was incredible.

What had been a half-collapsed ruin was now... well, still a work in progress, but a functional one. The walls were solid. The windows had glass. The floors didn’t creak ominously when you walked on them.

Evelyn appeared at her elbow, clipboard in hand.

"Final report, my lady. The refurbishment is complete as of this morning. All structural repairs finished, plumbing functional, basic furnishings installed in the main rooms."

Aegis nodded, scanning the hall.

"Good. What’s the damage?"

"Total cost came to twelve hundred gold. Slightly under budget, actually."

"Nice. And the workshop?"

"Fully stocked per Miss Black’s specifications. She’s already moved in and started brewing."

As if summoned, Rosalie came bounding down the stairs, her green hair bouncing. She had a leather pouch in one hand and was grinning like she’d just discovered the secret to immortality.

"Lady Starcaller! Perfect timing."

She thrust the pouch at Aegis, who caught it and felt the weight of coins inside.

"What’s this?"

"Your cut from yesterday’s sales. Three hundred and forty gold. I told you business was booming!"

Aegis opened the pouch, counted quickly, then turned and handed the entire thing to Evelyn.

Evelyn blinked.

"My lady?"

"Operating funds. We’re gonna need it for the next phase."

"The next phase?"

"Yeah. This—" Aegis gestured at the manor around them. "—is just the beginning. I’ve got plans. Big ones."

Evelyn took the pouch, still looking slightly stunned.

"You said we’d be earning a lot. I didn’t believe you."

"I know. That’s why I’m showing you instead of telling you."

Rosalie bounced on her heels.

"Does this mean I can order those rare reagents I wanted?"

"Within reason. Run it by Evelyn first."

"Yes!" Rosalie pumped her fist and ran back toward her workshop.

Aegis turned to Evelyn.

"Speaking of which, I need you to start scouting locations for—"

The front door banged open.

Scarlett strode in, sword strapped to her back, looking dusty and tired but satisfied. Behind her came Kanna, silent as always. Then Liora, her lute case slung over one shoulder. And finally Talia, who somehow managed to look regal even covered in road dust.

"We’re back!" Scarlett announced. "And we didn’t die!"

"Congratulations on the bare minimum," Aegis said.

Scarlett grinned and unslung a large pack from her shoulders. She dropped it on the floor with a heavy thunk.

"Got your stuff. I mean, this is why you sent us there, right?"

Kanna set down her own pack more carefully. Talia did the same.

Liora just collapsed onto the nearest chair.

"I’m never fighting an umbral creature again. Never."

[Oh, you don’t know how wrong you are on that one.]

Aegis crouched down and opened the first pack.

The black sword lay inside, wrapped in cloth. Even through the fabric, she could feel the cold radiating from it. She pulled it out carefully, examining the blade.

[Shadowfang. Legendary-tier weapon. Bonus damage against corrupted enemies, self-sharpening, basically indestructible.]

Perfect.

She unwrapped the armor next. Lightweight, flexible, enchanted to resist both physical and magical damage. The kind of gear that would’ve taken months to obtain in the game.

[Voidplate Armor. Also legendary. More endgame shit.]

Finally, the staff. Dark wood, topped with a pulsing crystal that thrummed with power.

[Staff of Eclipse. Magic amplification, mana regeneration, secondary effect of shadow manipulation.]

Aegis stood, holding all three items, and turned to her crew.

Scarlett raised an eyebrow.

"So? What do you think?"

"I think you all did great." Aegis walked over and handed the sword to Kanna. "Here. This is yours now."

Kanna took it, her expression unreadable. She drew the blade partially from its sheath, examining the edge.

"This is... exceptional quality."

"Yep. Consider it a signing bonus."

Aegis turned to Scarlett next and held out the armor.

"And this is for you."

Scarlett’s eyes went wide.

"Wait, seriously?"

"Seriously. You’re my combat specialist. You need the best gear."

Scarlett took the armor reverently, running her fingers over the black metal.

"Holy shit. This is—I don’t even—"

"You’re welcome."

Finally, Aegis turned to Talia and offered her the staff.

Talia stared at it.

"Aegis, I can’t—"

"You can. And you will. You’re the strongest mage I know. This thing will make you even more dangerous."

Talia took the staff slowly, her fingers wrapping around the wood. The crystal pulsed brighter in response to her magic.

"This is too much."

"It’s really not. You risked your life to get these. The least I can do is make sure you benefit from it."

Talia looked like she wanted to argue, but Liora spoke up first.

"What about me? Do I get a legendary lute or something?"

Aegis grinned.

"Your payment is the satisfaction of a job well done."

"That’s bullshit."

"Fine. I’ll buy you dinner."

"Deal."

Evelyn cleared her throat.

"My lady, if you’re done distributing priceless artifacts, we have budget meetings scheduled for this afternoon."

Aegis groaned.

"Right. Capitalism waits for no one."

She turned back to her crew.

"You all should rest. Get cleaned up. We’ll debrief later."

They filed out, Scarlett still examining her new armor with awe, Kanna testing the sword’s weight, Talia holding the staff like it might explode.

Aegis watched them go, then turned to Evelyn.

"Alright. Let’s talk numbers."

---

By the time Aegis made it back to her dorm room that evening, she was exhausted.

Manor management was hard work. Who knew?

She pushed the door open and found Sophie sprawled across her bed, face-down, making pathetic whining noises.

Aegis kicked off her boots.

"You good?"

Sophie lifted her head just enough to look at Aegis with big, pleading eyes.

"No. I’m dying."

"Of what?"

"Boredom. Loneliness. Lack of big sis attention."

Aegis walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Sophie immediately crawled over and pressed her face between Aegis’s tits, rubbing her nose against the fabric of her shirt.

"Can we go home?" Sophie’s voice was muffled. "Please? Just for a few days?"

Aegis considered.

Her income was automated now—Rosalie would keep selling potions, Evelyn would manage the manor, her retainers were resting.

The group had returned successfully from their mission.

She wasn’t particularly busy.

And honestly? She kind of wanted to see the farm again. Her parents. The life she’d written into existence but had barely experienced.

[Fuck it. Why not?]

"Yeah. Alright. We can go."

Sophie’s head shot up, her eyes bright.

"Wait, really?"

"Really. Pack your stuff. We’ll leave tomorrow morning."

Sophie squealed and tackled Aegis backward onto the bed, peppering her face with kisses.

"Thank you thank you thank you—"

"Okay, okay, get off—"

"—you’re the best big sis ever—"

"Sophie, I can’t breathe—"

The door opened.

Lune walked in, took one look at Sophie straddling Aegis and kissing her face repeatedly, and just sighed.

"Should I come back later?"

"No, please, save me," Aegis said.

Lune set down her art supplies.

"You’re on your own."

Sophie finally pulled back, still grinning.

"We’re going home, Lune! To the farm!"

"Congratulations."

"You should come too!"

Lune paused.

"Why?"

"Because it’ll be fun. And you never go anywhere."

"... I go places."

"The library and this room don’t count."

Lune looked at Aegis, who shrugged.

"I mean, you’re welcome to come. Might be good for you to get out of the city."

Lune considered this for a long moment.

Then:

"Fine. But only because I want to paint rural landscapes."

Sophie cheered and launched herself at Lune, who stood perfectly still as Sophie hugged her.

"This is going to be great!"

Aegis lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

[A farm visit. With my fictional family. And my sister who I accidentally made too horny. And my roommate who just started making out with said sister two days ago.]

This was either going to be the most wholesome trip ever or an absolute disaster.

Probably both.