Primordial Villain with a Slave Harem

Chapter 1951: Leaving Iskaris

She gave him an emphatic nod while she chewed, already extending her plate for more.

The request spread down the benches. Even Maelstrom raised his plate when Ayame offered another helping, and Gorruk rumbled at Quinlan while presenting an entirely empty one.

"The cooked meat is better."

"Then you’ve come to the right cook."

Quinlan sent the bearkin a portion worthy of his size before returning to his place among the girls. Black Fang was eating beside Ayame, her blade put away, while Aurora sampled the results of their work with obvious satisfaction.

Between the chilled slices and the roast passing from plate to plate, they made a respectable start on the enormous catch.

Quinlan ate his fill, then leaned back on the bench to look out to sea.

"How about we get ready to leave? I’m eager to see what else is out there."

Every one of his wives had an abrupt change of expression, going from amicable women having fun to little demonesses ready to wreak havoc.

...

After the meal, Quinlan released the submerged curtains around the beach and opened a Domain Gate back to Miri Town for their preparations.

His wives went through, discussing clothes and supplies, the afternoon’s play turning to excitement about where they might sleep tonight.

"Somewhere with a bed, preferably," Aurora said.

"I’ll see what I can do," Quinlan smiled as he followed her through.

They had fought their way across Iskaris, won wars, married, and broken the wall that had imprisoned an entire continent.

He could finally take them beyond its shores.

He wanted unfamiliar monsters, new magic, people who could make him work for a victory. His own home contained precious little left that could help him grow.

And after that serpent, he was very eager to find out how the wider world rewarded a proper hunt.

"Quin?"

Jasmine caught his hand as the others headed off to change. She was still in her wedding dress, loose curls drying around her cheeks.

"Could we settle the soul army’s arrangements before you go? I’ll need help keeping the roads safe while we bring the new territories together."

"Of course. They’re staying here."

He called Scar over. The soul general came through the gate with the Lilies, Void hanging from her back now.

"Master."

"You’re welcome to travel with your old team, if you want to. Can your officers handle things here with Jasmine?"

Scar faced the governor.

"They can. I’ll bring you the ones responsible for the patrols and garrisons. You can tell them where you need more soldiers."

"Thank you."

Quinlan wanted to make a more careful approach than letting his Elite Souls into the wide world. For now, he believed they were best used for defense and helping Jasmine establish proper internal order.

Void seemed to outright shine as the news registered. "Scar is coming with us..." She hugged her spectral friend tighter, nestling into her hair. "I’m glad..."

Quinlan then looked at Lilith. "Would you join us for the crossing?"

"...Yes. At least until we land on foreign land. Is that a problem?"

She asked, suspicious. Despite them being on friendly terms now, she knew him as someone who’d happily charge her for such a premium transportation service.

"Problem? No, not at all. It’s my honor." Quinlan gave the woman his most charismatic of grins, making the Spellblade form a fist. This guy was truly shameless. But she released her fist within moments.

"I’m grateful. We’ll be ready."

Lilith went to join her company, leaving Jasmine beside him. His governor watched the adventurers leave with a wistful smile.

Quinlan drew her against him.

"I will still come home with [Warp Gate], Jas. Once we find a place worth visiting, I’d like to bring you too."

"You’ll have to. I refuse to let my entire honeymoon consist of one afternoon at the beach getting drenched."

She smiled up at him, then rose to kiss him. "Though it was a lot of fun..." Quinlan held her close, reluctant to let go even when she drew back to speak.

"I’ll get things moving here. You can find me somewhere wonderful to visit. Deal?"

"Deal."

Jasmine squeezed his fingers before heading after Scar.

There was pride in her stride as she went to meet the officers and arrange their assignments. Quinlan watched her go, grateful all over again that he had her.

...

By the time Quinlan opened their gate back to the southern beach, the wedding dresses had been put away and his companions were armed for the journey.

Aurora had restocked their medicines, while the others filled their storage with food, fresh water, and their belongings. Familiar equipment hung at their sides, checked for the journey.

Quinlan then used [Slave Monitor] to restore Aurora’s combat class, Essenceweaver.

Vex stepped through the gate with a little mirror in her hand, then stopped beside him to finish touching up her lips.

"One moment, Hubby~"

They were about to fly into an unknown world full of creatures that might try to eat them, and his Hexwitch was checking her makeup.

How couldn’t she?

Her husband would be looking at her on the way there. She refused to give him anything less than her best.

Quinlan leaned over her shoulder until he appeared beside her in the mirror. Vex immediately tilted it to fit them both, her smile ruining her attempt to finish the corner of her mouth.

"Hubby! You’re making this difficult!"

Quinlan merely kissed her cheeks, then said that she’s already perfect.

"You wouldn’t understand!" Vex insisted, though the woman’s heart visibly brightened after the exchange.

Beside them, Blossom stood with her eyes shut, sniffing the breeze. She turned her head between the lingering smell of their roast and the salt coming off the waves, concentrating hard enough that Quinlan grew curious.

"What are you doing?"

"Preparing, Master! There might be a million new smells out there! Blossom has to prepare herself mentally so she isn’t overwhelmed!"

Serika grinned and stepped upwind of her, opening a pouch of blended spices and dried herbs they’d used for lunch.

"Let me help."

Blossom’s nose twitched, but she kept her eyes closed and took another careful sniff.

"Yes! Serika can come closer!"

His former teacher obliged, bringing the pouch nearer while Blossom tried to separate its contents by scent alone. Considering the blonde girl’s turbo talented nature when it came to her sense of smell, she almost instantly solved the puzzle.

"Black pepper, garlic, cumin, crushed chili, dried rosemary, thyme, and sage!" Blossom announced. "There’s barely any of the last one!"

"Hah! You even caught the sage!" Serika laughed.

Vex snapped her mirror shut beside Quinlan, satisfied at last, and leaned against his shoulder.

Iris emerged with her sword at her hip, glancing toward the ocean while Ayame tied back her hair beside him.

Feng remained on the other side of the gate with Felicity. The young queen and Alexios had a few last tasks to finish before they could set out, so Feng was staying behind to travel with them.

Rosie had come to see them off with Jasmine. His daughter caught his leg before he could turn toward the water.

"Daddy has to bring Rosie presents. It’s his sacred mission."

Quinlan bent to pick her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on with a fierceness that made him hug her closer.

"What would you like?"

"Rosie doesn’t know what’s out there!"

"Neither do I. I’ll look for something you’ll love."

"Lots of things," she corrected against his shoulder.

"Lots of things," he agreed, kissing the top of her head.

Rosie stayed tucked beneath his chin while Scar came through the gate with the Lilies.

The general had finished introducing her officers to Jasmine, and the soldiers were already returning to their posts.

With the soul army helping the regular army protect the land and Jasmine overseeing the work, Iskaris could keep growing while he was away. Rosie would remain here with her Tree and the mirror concealing their home.

Quinlan lowered his daughter into Jasmine’s waiting arms. Rosie caught his hand for one last squeeze before allowing him to step away.

With everyone through, Quinlan closed the gate.

Seraphiel moved beside him, gazing beyond the waves breaking near the shore.

"Do we have any idea where we’re going?"

"Out there."

"That’s what I thought," the gorgeous elf giggled, visibly excited for this journey into the unknown.

Quinlan called on [Masked Seat], concealing his sovereign presence and extending that protection to those who carried his mark. His crown would be hidden from foreign domains, but introductions were still his responsibility.

"Once we meet people, let’s keep my name between us," he told the family. "I’d like to hear about their lives before they start asking about mine."

Lilith gave him an amused look.

"A man travelling with this many armed women will attract questions anyway."

"Those questions I can live with."

"If you tell them that you have a big spear down there and conquered us all, I won’t be happy," the Spellblade decreed with a flat face.

"I’ll think of something."

Smirking, Quinlan reached out with his wind magic and lifted the party from the sand. Air supported each of them beneath their feet and around their bodies, holding them upright as they rose above the beach.

He gathered a broad current behind them to carry the group forward, curving the oncoming air around their faces as they picked up speed.

"Papa!"

Quinlan looked back at his daughter’s shout. Rosie was waving from Jasmine’s embrace, and his governor was smiling at him from ear to ear.

This was not a tearful farewell but a quest to further the family’s interests.

He waved to them, his wives calling their goodbyes on either side of him.

Then Ayame took his hand, and Quinlan turned toward the open water with his beautiful samurai beside him.

The wind carried them farther out to sea, past the waves breaking near shore. Black Fang flew on his other side, watching the depths, while Lilith laughed aloud as the beach began to recede behind them.

"Fucking finally!"