“Where did you get that money?” Shera asked and the busty elf gave me an odd look. “I barely had enough to pay for a basic room.”

Rem gave me an odd look, too. “I can't let you out of my sight, so I'm staying with you.”

“Me, too! I can't let you be alone with just her!” Shera exclaimed.

“No refunds.” Mei said and looked smug.

“WHAT?!?” Both Rem and Shera yelled.

“You paid for your rooms for a week and they're yours for three more days.” Mei said. “It's no bother to me if you don't use them.”

Both girls pouted and crossed their arms. According to their thoughts, they hated wasting what little money they had.

“I'll add a couple of beds to my room for them.” I said and she nodded. The pouts on their faces grew and I had to hold in my laugh at them not getting to share my bed. “Shall we pick up your things from your rooms and go to mine?”

Both of them grumbled about it not being fair and we went up the stairs. They only had small bags, with a change of clothes and a few personal items, which let me know that neither of them had much in the way of worldly possessions. They were either just starting out or they had fallen on difficult times.

We went up to the top floor and the end of the hall. I opened the door to my room and it was about half the size of the upstairs floor. The cat-girl and the elf made appreciative sounds and then the elf squealed like a little girl at the giant four poster bed and leaped onto it. She bounced, as did her large breasts, and she giggled and laughed at how great it felt.

“Get off of there! He said he's adding beds for us.” Rem reminded her.

“No! I'm sleeping here!” Shera said and rolled over and ducked her head under one of the large fluffy pillows. She also stuck her shapely ass up into the air to do it and her thin green dress did little to hide anything.

Rem blushed at that and opened her mouth to complain and berate her for it, only she was interrupted by a knock on the door. “Come in.”

The door opened and it was not who any of us expected. A tall purple haired woman wearing a light blue dress and dark blue cloak stood there an held a grey wooden staff. She also had two guards with her wearing similar cloaks and carrying staffs.

“Pardon me, Rem.” She said and glanced from her to the bed where Shera's butt was still up in the air, then her eyes went to me. They widened slightly at my appearance and possibly my height. “I'm known as Celestine Baudelaire.”

Shera rolled back over and hopped off of the bed to stare at her. “You mean the head of this town's Mage Association? You're that Celestine?”

Celestine smiled. “Just call me Celes.”

I froze momentarily again as more information came to the front of my mind. She was a very important character and the one that maintained the protective barrier around the city. It was her magic that charged the tall lightning rod tower near the center of town and protected everyone with magic.

I really need to work on stopping that from happening every time I see or hear something important. I thought with frustration. I didn't let it show on my face, though.

“I had some business with Rem today...” Celes said and her eyes went to the collar on the cat-girl's neck, then to Shera's collar, then back to me. “...but, I'd love to hear your story as well.”

There was a small rumbling and everyone turned to look at the blonde elf, whom was blushing. “I haven't eaten since yesterday.”

I walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. “Then I think something like this is best discussed after a good meal. I'll pay.”

Shera gave me a look full of thanks.

We left the top floor and went down to the ground floor and into the food serving part of the inn. Mei was delivering drinks and plates of food to several other animal people and regular people. Shera ordered one of everything and Rem slapped a hand over her own face in embarrassment.

I chuckled and held up a gold coin for Mei and she snatched it up and took everyone else's order, then rushed off to get it. She came back only a few minutes later with a huge tray covered in plates of food stacked three high. She handed out our meals and placed the tray with all the remaining food on it in front of Shera.

Surprisingly, Celestine's guards didn't accept any of the food and just stood on either side of her as she ate. Both Rem and I finished as she did and Shera kept gobbling food as if she had an endless stomach. She kept humming the word 'food' between bites and intentionally shook her breasts back and forth, up and down, and squeezed them together as she ate.

It was quite the distracting show for everyone else in the room, including the two guards, because they didn't have the same mental fortitude I did. I had seen many breasts being used as weapons and they affected me just as little now as they did then.

Rem told her friend the story and Celes listened to it. I did as well, since I had only come into it near the end. Getting it from someone else's perspective was a great way to find the faults in the retelling, too.

“A reflection of the Enslavement Ritual? That's quite a serious matter.” Celes said and looked grave as she gave that look to me. “Atlas, are you able to release them, by any chance?”

Yes, I could. However, I'm not sure if releasing them would free them or free me from being bound to them. Were they the only things keeping me anchored to this world? I was sent here for a reason, after all. I thought and didn't let any of those thoughts show. “It wasn't my choice to reverse the enchantment and enslave them. I didn't even know where I was when they performed it.”

Celes sighed. “Then it looks like we have to research this from scratch.”

Rem dropped her head slightly. “Please, do so.”

Celes nodded and looked at me. “You have a question for me?”

I thought I had kept my face blank; but, I guess I didn't. “I was wondering what business the head of the Mage's Association had with a low ranked adventurer like Rem with barely any magic to speak of.”

“How dare you speak to Lady Baudelaire so casually!” The guard on the left shouted. “I'll have no mercy on you if you don't show her some respect!”

I immediately thought this asshole was like those smug entitled bastards from cultivation novels that took offence over nothing, just so they could attack someone later. Since I didn't want to suffer that stupidity from anyone, let alone a guard that thought he could speak to anyone like that, I wasn't going to let that stand.

I unleashed my restrained magical aura and everyone in the room gasped and were pushed down onto their tables and chairs as the sheer weight of it tried to crush them. I slowly stood and increased the local gravity to make it even more difficult for everyone else to move. The look of fear on everyone's faces made me feel a little bad about doing this.

“Who gave you, a simple guard, permission to speak?” I asked and made everyone but him an exception to my power. They all gasped again and sighed with relief as all that power was focused on the guard. He dropped to his knees and they actually splintered the wooden floor. “Do not force me to make an example of you for stepping beyond your authority.”

“Atlas.” Rem said as her hand took mine. “We need their help.”

I sighed and restrained my power once more as I sat down again, making the guard sigh with relief as well. He didn't try to stand up right away, though. He had expended a lot of magic trying to fight against being crushed.

“That was scary.” Shera said and popped a sausage into her mouth to start eating again. “My summon is awesome.”

That eased some of the tension in the room and Celes gave her a nod of agreement.

“Galluk, you are being rude.” Celes said and looked down at him. “But, I believe you've been punished appropriately, so I will speak of it no more.”

“Y-yes, my Lady.” Galluk said, pried his knees out of the wood, and stood on shaky legs.

“Celes, I don't want to go to the Mage's Association Headquarters and I don't want bodyguards assigned to me.” Rem said, her head ducked once more.

“Rem, I'm only trying to help you.” Celes said. “You are very important to the world.”

“I'm very grateful for your consideration.” Rem said, softly. “But, I can protect myself.”

I knew that was a lie, since she had to summon me for help and asked to borrow my strength.

“I see.” Celes said and sighed, then she stood. “I will excuse myself for tonight and I will look into the matter to release you from your enchanted collars.”

“Thank you.” Rem said and lifted her head to look at her.

“Goodnight.” Celes said and her two guards followed her, with one helping Galluk walk.

When they were gone, I looked back at Rem and she had ducked her head again and looked like she had an immense weight on her shoulders. I knew she must be hiding a huge secret for her to be considered important to the world and not just to the Mage's Association or to the city she lived in.

I reached over and slid an arm over her shoulders. She stiffened slightly at first, them almost melted into my side as I pulled her close and gave her a one arm hug. Of course, now that I was touching her and could use my powers without her noticing, I did several diagnostic spells on her and also used Panacea's power to check her over.

The results were both odd and oddly familiar. It took me several moments before I realized she was just like I was when I had been Naruto all those years ago. She had a entity bound inside of her at her birth, making her a living jail cell for whomever or whatever it was. If she was ever killed, it would be released onto the world and that was never a good thing.

I also suspected it was more involved than that, just like it had been back then when I was a jinchuriki. The Kyuubi was needed for an evil plan to bring back an epic demon creature and I had stopped it by ensuring the thing no longer existed.

“We should head back to the room and get some sleep. Tomorrow's going to arrive before we know it.” I said.

“I'm going...” Shera swallowed a piece of bread. “...to stay here with the food.”

Mei walked over and dropped another loaded tray down with more plates of food on it. “I'll watch her and send her up when she's done.”

I nodded and stood, then I scooped Rem up into my arms and she squeaked is surprise before she blushed. I carried her out of the dining area, past the reception desk, and up the stairs. She didn't say anything until we were inside the room.

“What...” Rem paused and swallowed audibly. “What are you going to do to me?”

I almost laughed at her thoughts imagining me ravaging her and making her howl, especially since she wasn't actually against it, just at the suddenness. “Fear not, dear maiden. For I will only ravage you with your permission, even when you are crazed with lust during your heat cycle.”

Rem's face went fully red and her thoughts went right to her suffering the last time with no one to help her. She had masterbated so much for a whole week that she was raw and sore for several weeks afterwards. It was a very awkward time for her and she never wanted to experience it again.

“You...” Rem paused and swallowed audibly again. “...you have my permission.”

I couldn't resist teasing her and gave her a very smug and sexy look. “Do you mean now or later?”

Rem blushed hard and made a soft mew sound.

I let out a soft laugh as I sat her on the edge of the large bed and I knelt in front of her. “Now that I have your permission to keep you safe and happy when you are at your most vulnerable, please tell me what secret you're guarding.”

Rem looked away from me and stayed quiet.

“I know it must be huge for someone so important to ask you how you're doing and to offer protection. That tells me they also know what the secret is, and neither of you want the secret to get out.”

Rem nodded and looked back at me. “I... I'm afraid that... that you'll be just like everyone else. As soon as you find out...” Tears came to her eyes. “You'll leave me, too.”

“Rem, I promise that I won't judge you or leave you, no matter what you say.” I said and pulled her off of the bed and hugged her to my chest.

Apparently, that was the right thing to do, because she broke down crying and clutched onto me as if she never wanted to let go. We stayed there for several minutes as she let it all out and tears streamed down her face. I handed her several tissues and she used them, soaked them through, and accepted more.

When there was a small pile of discarded tissues on the floor, Rem finally lifted her head from my chest and looked into my eyes. “I... I have... the soul of the Demon Lord Krebskulm sealed inside of me.”

I blinked my eyes at her for a moment as information was brought to the front of my mind again. That was the top ranked Demon Lord to ever exist in the game Cross Reverie and when they were alive, they destroyed entire countries when they refused to bend the knee or surrender.

“Is that all?” I asked.

Rem's mouth dropped open and she stared at me like I was crazy. “Wh-wh-what?”

“I've known a few people that had similar things sealed inside of them, myself included.” I told her and she kept staring at me. “I took care of them and I can take care of this one, without hurting you or killing you to release them.”

“N-n-no, you... there's no way...” Rem whispered the denial.

“You brought me here to help you, didn't you?” I asked and she nodded. “Then borrow my strength like you wanted and let me do this.”

Rem's trembling hand reached up and touched the cheek of my face. “You're not just saying that to get under my skirt, are you?”

“Would that work?” I teased and she blushed.

“M-maybe.” Rem answered.

“Then allow me to fulfill your fondest wish.” I said and she nodded.

Now that I had her permission, I paused the world and added her as a party member and saw the affliction she had with a sealed demon soul inside of her. I sold it to the system for 200,000 Karma Points and paid the penalties for taking it from her in a unnatural way. I also removed the bloodline curse that tied Rem and her family to always be a valid receptacle for sealing souls.

As an afterthought, I gave her the magical girl power boost for 30,000 points and quadrupled her magic capacity, then I installed the basic body upgrade package to make her stronger, faster, and perfectly healthy. As a cat-person, her agility should skyrocket, too.

I unpaused the world and Rem jerked as if she had been slapped, then she purred as the other changes I made took place. Her body grew several inches, her breasts went from a small A cup to a medium C, and her thin frame grew some nice muscles. Her tail thickened up as well and would work like a monkey's tail, too.

“I really should have put you to bed before doing that.” I said and she gave me a half-lidded stare. “I meant fixing your problem. Your body needs a little time to get used to the changes that removing the demon lord's corruption caused.”

Rem gave me a nod and I was glad she accepted the lie. It would have been difficult for me to explain the changes, otherwise. I stood up with her in my arms and brought her over to the bed. She didn't protest as I laid her down and her eyes went down my body to my crotch and then back up to my face.

“There's plenty of time for that later.” I said and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Go to sleep and you'll be fully adapted to the changes in the morning.”

Rem didn't have time to respond as she was covered in a green glow and went right to sleep. Was it cheating to use the slave collar to speed things up? Nope. It was there and would help her a lot more than if I was the one enslaved and not allowed to act.

The door of the room opened and Shera walked in, her belly a little distended, and she had a happy smile on her face. She walked around the bed and gave me an odd look, then she reached up and popped off her bow from around her shoulders and unclasped the top of her dress.

That bared her huge breasts and gave me a full view of them, then she unhooked her belt and let the whole pile drop to the floor and left herself wearing only small panties. She stepped out of the ring of items it made on the floor and climbed into bed. A few deft movements of her hands had Rem's much smaller outfit off and she dropped it on the other side of the bed and used a sheet to cover them up.

“Goodnight, Atlas.” Shera said and immediately fell asleep.

I had to assume a food coma finally caught up to her and she didn't realize she had just kicked me out of my own bed before I was even in it. Or she did and wanted to know what I would do about it. I mentally shrugged and took a bed out of inventory that was enchanted and switched my outfit with the air at the foot of the bed. I climbed in and went right to sleep.