Arthur stepped through the gate of his house, letting out a long, tired sigh.
(Lately I've been sighing way too much… I really need to fix this habit.)
The moment he entered, he barely had time to breathe before two very beautiful figures appeared in his path.
Jean stood with her arms crossed, a stern expression on her face, while Gwen, at her side, tapped her foot on the floor in a pure tick of impatience.
"Arthur…" Jean began in a low tone.
"Did you go out to buy the missing ingredients or… manufacture them?"
"And considering how long you took to come back, I'm almost sure it was the second option," Gwen added, raising an eyebrow.
Arthur gave a dry laugh, raising his hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay… you're right. The reason I took so long wasn't the ingredients..."
He paused dramatically before scratching the back of his neck.
"Let's just say I now have… a task to fulfill. In another universe."
Jean immediately frowned.
"…You're joking, right?"
"I wish I were." Arthur replied, walking over to the sofa and dropping onto it lazily.
He then rubbed his face before continuing:
"Look, I'll make this as simple as possible, because even I don't want to go over all the details again.
Two entities that basically rule over humanity—Gaia and Alaya—asked me for help with a problem. They want me to support a Ruler in a war between magi and their summoned servants."
"And why does it have to be you?" Gwen shot back, pointing at him as if accusing him of a crime.
At that moment, a golden portal opened in front of Arthur.
Arthur sighed again and, stretching out his hand, pulled an unbearably pompous-looking sword from the Gate of Babylon.
"I've already explained how my powers work, haven't I?"
"Yes, but I still can't get over the whole interdimensional magic closet thing," Gwen mocked as she settled down beside him.
Arthur ignored her and went on:
"I just never told you where that power came from."
Jean narrowed her eyes, already guessing to some extent what he was about to say.
"Arthur… don't tell me—"
"My power came from a place called the Throne of Heroes," he explained calmly, resting a hand on Gwen's head.
"A place outside of the world and outside of time, where the souls of humanity's legendary heroes rest."
He raised the sword, staring at his reflection in the blade.
"I'm one of the heroes classified under the 'Heaven' category—heroes directly tied to the gods. Divine spirits, children of deities, or incarnations of legends about divinity."
Jean blinked several times, completely stunned.
"So… you're saying you're some sort of intruder in this world?"
Arthur almost laughed.
"That's a weird way of putting it, but… you're not wrong."
He tossed the sword back into the Gate of Babylon, leaned against the sofa again, and continued:
"Anyway, none of this exists in our universe. This power came from a completely different multiverse. For example, in some of the worlds within that multiverse, every sixty years a battle takes place over the Holy Grail—an artifact capable of granting any wish—in the Japanese city of Fuyuki. To fight for it, Heroic Spirits from the past, present, and future are summoned as familiars by powerful magi to compete."
Jean crossed her arms, her brows twitching slightly.
"…So basically you signed a contract with two capricious goddesses to take part in this absurd war?"
Arthur gave a tired smile, tilting his head.
"Perfect summary. See? It wasn't so hard to explain."
Gwen covered her face with her hands.
"Arthur, you can't just drop that kind of thing like you went out to buy milk and ran into an old classmate on the way."
"Exactly," Jean sighed deeply, massaging her temple.
"At least tell me you're getting something in return for this," Jean said.
"Well, I already did." Arthur chuckled.
"What is it?" Gwen asked curiously, enjoying the way his hand lingered on her head.
(Why is he so good at this?) she wondered silently.
"SE-CRET." Arthur wagged a finger playfully.
"…" Gwen stared at him, then huffed and turned her head away.
"I don't know if I should scold you, slap you… or make you coffee," Jean muttered, still massaging her temple.
Arthur looked at her with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.
"I'll take the coffee. The scolding and the slap can wait until after the Multiversal FBI knocks on our door."
Both women turned to him in perfect sync.
"…What?"
Arthur just grinned, leaning back against the sofa and folding his arms behind his head.
"That's a long story. Best not to ask."
Jean and Gwen exchanged glances.
"I'll make the coffee," Jean murmured, already turning away.
"Damn it, Arthur, you just got back and you're already leaving again…" Gwen grumbled, sinking into the couch.
Arthur laughed softly, pulling the sulking girl closer to him.
Not long after, Jean returned with three cups of coffee, handing one to Gwen and the other to Arthur before sitting down beside him. She watched him in silence for a few moments, before finally asking the question stuck in her throat.
"Arthur… how long are you going to be gone this time?"
Gwen straightened up on the sofa, staring at him with the same worry.
"Arthur, please don't tell me you plan on disappearing for weeks again."
Arthur took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair before answering.
"That's the tricky part…
I honestly have no idea. The time flow between the two universes could be the same… or completely different. For you, it might feel like I was gone only a few seconds… or it could end up feeling like months."
Jean pressed her lips together, worried.
"So there are no guarantees."
"Not the kind you'd like," Arthur admitted.
He then opened his arms and pulled both women into a tight hug, wrapping them in warmth and security.
"But I can guarantee one thing: I'll come back as soon as I possibly can."
He tilted his head, kissing Jean's forehead gently, then Gwen's.
"Nothing will stop me from coming back to you."
Gwen muttered, trying to hide her flushed face:
"You really need to stop saying cheesy stuff like that."
Jean laughed at Gwen's embarrassment.
Arthur only chuckled softly, keeping them close.
Jean stayed quiet for a few seconds, studying Arthur closely as he held them. There was something subtle, almost imperceptible, that bothered her.
"Arthur…" she began slowly. "You seem… different."
Gwen lifted her head, nodding in agreement.
"She's right. I can't explain it, but you feel… I don't know, more serious? Like you're giving off this intellectual vibe..."
"And your hair changed color again," Jean added, running her hand through his hair.
Arthur looked at them and, instead of denying it immediately, simply let out a quiet laugh. Then he released them, stood up from the sofa, and faced them.
"It's fine. You don't need to worry about me. If I've changed at all? I'm just… how should I put it… complete."
He snapped his fingers, instantly donning his Caster robes.
The two women exchanged glances—half confused, half intrigued—before looking back at Arthur.
"What about those red tattoos you had on your torso?" Gwen asked as she stood up and ran her hand across his chest.
"They're here, Gwen…" Jean said as she also stood, moving behind Arthur and resting her hands on his shoulders.
"…" Arthur stared blankly at the two girls clearly taking advantage of him.
"You know… if that's what you want, you could just say so…" he murmured as he wrapped his arms around them both.
Arthur let out a low chuckle as his hands slid slowly down their waists, pulling them even closer. The warmth of their bodies, Jean's delicate scent, and Gwen's impatient touch wrapped around him like an intoxicating haze.
He didn't speak immediately, only tilted his head, kissing Gwen first. She gasped in surprise but quickly melted into it, clutching his chest with both hands as if to claim him. Arthur kissed her deeply, lingering, stealing every breath.
When he pulled away, Jean was already staring at him, her eyes burning with a mix of desire and disapproval.
Arthur smirked predatorily before capturing her lips as well. The kiss was different from the one he gave Gwen—still fiery, but full of tenderness. Jean cupped his face in both hands, as if afraid he might vanish again, while Arthur deepened the kiss, his hand trailing along her waist before sliding lower to squeeze her ass, drawing a soft moan from her.
Gwen, biting her lip and slightly flushed, took the chance to run her hands over his abs, feeling the taut muscles beneath her palms.
"You don't play fair, Arthur…" she whispered breathlessly as she felt his hand slipping inside her pants and panties.
"I never play fair, darling." He answered against Jean's lips, pulling a soft laugh from the redhead before kissing her again.
Their breaths mixed, hot and heavy, as Arthur set the mood. Soon, both women broke free from his embrace, each grabbing one of his wrists and dragging him toward the hallway.
Stopping in front of the bedroom door, they turned at the same time, still holding his wrists.
Almost like a perfect chorus, both spoke in unison, their eyes sparkling with mischief:
"You should keep those clothes on…"
Arthur raised an eyebrow, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"I promise you'll feel like queens tonight."
He immediately grabbed both their waists and stepped into the room.
Unbeknownst to them, a certain artificial intelligence was watching everything unfold.
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."