A few days later...

Now living in her master's new Estate with Valerie, Tama had finally regained enough strength to stand on her own. Her body was still sluggish compared to its prime—before she'd been wounded by that monstrous blackcat beast she thought was her mother, but at least she could move, train, and breathe freely again. Each day she sparred and stretched under the sun, her movements sharp and confident while sweat traced the contours of her toned form.

And every day, Rin lounged under the same tree, doing absolutely nothing, her mouth constantly full.

"Urgh... Rin misses Master!!" she grumbled, cramming a handful of buttery popcorn into her cheeks like a squirrel.

Tama didn't glance her way. She rolled her wooden staff across the nape of her neck, down over her shoulders, then under her armpit with practiced ease like a true martial artist warming up for the next set. One foot forward, the other planted firm behind her.

"The Master's busy, and you know it," she said with a breathless but composed tone. "He's rebuilding our home. To make it a better home for all of us."

Rin huffed, puffing out her cheeks. "Urgh... it's boring! Rin is bored!!"

"I know..." Tama admitted, straightening her stance and letting her staff rest at her side. "I hate it here too. The humans still think I bring misfortune just for being born a blackcat. They glare like I'm a walking curse."

Then her lips twisted into a smirk. "Wanna kill some of that boredom?"

The moment those words were spoken, Rin sprang to her feet. Her popcorn paper cup hit the ground, already forgotten.

"YES!! Rin is in!!"

"Good," Tama whispered with a mischievous gleam in her eye. "But keep this between us. The Master must never find out."

Rin nodded solemnly, her excitement barely contained. "Promise!"

Tama motioned with a tilt of her chin. Together, the two slipped out of the estate's busy courtyard, out of view of the patrolling guards and idle maids until they reached a more private section by the outer courtyard.

"Track my scent. And keep up," Tama said quietly, then vanished into a patch of shadow before appearing to the shadows of the trees that were outside the Estate!

Rin's grin widened. "Tracing this kitty? Too easy."

Two red, bat-like wings erupted from her back. Her body shimmered out of sight as she took to the skies, then activated her invisibily spell, her senses locked on Tama's fleeting presence as she leapt from shadow to shadow.

To Rin, being as clueless as ever, this was just a game. A fun chase. But Tama's mind was far from play.

She was on a mission. One she wouldn't dare drag her master into. And if she were to get Rin on her side, tell her this was just a game, then she wouldn't worry about Rin telling the master where she was about to go now!

**

Meanwhile...

Outside the mansion of Asher in his realm, right beneath a giant oak tree, the breeze swept over freshly laid rugs, and the gold-trimmed furniture that was laid there outside gleamed under the artificial sun in the sky. The scent of new wood and polished upholstery filled the air.

Asher sat heavily on one of the brand-new couches, catching his breath after a long day of moving and renovating. He was surrounded by his crew: Derrick, Adrian, Kira, and Brian—his closest friends. Each of them had dirt on their clothes, sweat on their brows, and satisfaction in their bones.

Asher wasn't the kind of man to hoard success. He wanted to build something great, and be a man of high status, but he wanted his friends to rise with him. However, he also wasn't a fool. He'd give them opportunity, not charity. So, he assigned them works to do, gave them piece jobs, paid well, and expected effort in return.

In just a few days, his slime dildo business had exploded—literally and figuratively. He'd been selling them in his own shop, but now he'd expanded to Valerie's estate. The cosmetic room where Valerie's late twin sister used to sell make-ups and beauty cosmetics for the nobles was cleared out, all the stuff given off freely to the commoners before it was replaced with an art gallery of Valerie and a discrete corner for adult merchandise. It was shameless. It was genius.

To keep up with demand, he'd transported live slimes into his private realm and tasked Adrian and Brian with managing their breeding and buddings. The two seemed to do well after taking a one day lesson from Asher's mother on how to keep the slimes. With an endless supply of them now, the business boomed.

He'd recently traveled to the Kingdom of Zephandria to exchange his wealth, chests full of gold coins for more Platinum coins, the currency of nobles and kings. And he'd made more than five hundred Platinum. A fortune too heavy for the hands of a teenager, yet here he was.

Now, he wanted to furnish all the houses in his realm, but starting off with his own first. His mansion's furnishing was underway. He'd brought the most lavish goods: couches worth more than a commoner's lifetime earnings, silk curtains, crystal dishware, and exotic beds. Derrick and Kira had hauled most of it through the portal, item by item. Still, the mansion's construction remained incomplete. The walls which he'd created with the help of Rin using geomancy were bare, the floors were unpolished, and no one in their circle knew the first thing about professional tiling.

Which led to the current conversation.

"So... should we really trust Adrian on this?" Asher asked, reclining but sharp-eyed.

"I don't get why you guys keep doubting me," Adrian huffed, arms folded.

"Not to offend," Derrick chimed in, "but I vote we hire a woman."

Everyone looked at him.

"Seriously! Its no secret that women just get stuff done better. They are superior to us in both power and talent anyway. If Adrian says his dads can install tiles, maybe they can. But it won't have that refined touch Asher wants."

Adrian scowled. "You know what else doesn't have a refined touch? Your receding hairline."

Brian chuckled, munching on a crisp red apple. "Adrian's just trying to get the job and the money for his family."

"Whatever," Adrian growled, standing. "If you don't want my help, I'm out!"

"Wait." Asher sat up. "Your mom. Doesn't she tile too?"

Adrian froze. "M-my... mom?"

"Yes."

"No. No way. We are NOT bringing that witch here!" His voice rose an octave. "If she finds out about this place, your Realm, she'll use it to judge every failure I've ever made!"

So she really is the skilled one, Asher thought. His hunch was spot-on. The polished pavements and gleaming floors back at Adrian's home didn't scream 'two dads with a chisel.' They screamed her.

"What do you mean 'judge your failures'?" Derrick asked, raising a brow.

Adrian collapsed back onto the couch and ran his hands through his purple hair. "You guys don't get it. My whole life, it's been: 'Why can't you be like Asher?'—'Asher did this, why haven't you?' Even after he forgot our childhood, even after everything... I still live in his shadow."

There was a brief silence.

"Your mom compares you to me?" Asher asked, more surprised than proud.

Adrian nodded. "Back then, we were inseparable. People thought we were brothers. But she always wanted me to beat you... not be with you. If she sees all this? Your realm, your achievements? She'll drag me through the mud all over again."

"That sucks," Kira muttered. "My master always does the same to me. He's always comparing me to Banji. 'Look at your sister—she brings in food, makes cash, works at Stick & Lick!' I just hate it."

"It's normal," Asher said, his voice low and thoughtful. "Mothers want the best for their children. But don't let her—or me—dictate your worth. All five fingers are different... but all useful to the hand. You're not meant to walk my path. You're meant to find your own—and own it."

He coughed a little after that, surprised at the wisdom slipping from his lips. The weight of his past life, his pain, his perseverance, all shaping his words.

Adrian was quiet, absorbing every syllable. Then, finally, he stood up, hands on hips, a crooked grin forming.

"Hah! Whatever! I don't do emotional. 'Bros before hoes,' right? I'll help... even if it means dragging that devil of a woman here to tile your floor!"

Kira blinked. "Did he just call his mom a—?"

"Yup," Derrick answered. "Clear as daylight."

Adrian opened a dimensional door with flair, his face cocky—but his heart stirred by Asher's words. He glanced at the faintly glowing symbol of Realm Moderator on the back of his hand and smiled.

Asher had trusted him with this world.

Now it was time to return the favor.

Even if it meant facing the one person who scared him more than death itself—his mother.

To be continued...