Ethan spoke up, and Lihara stopped targeting Cerys, though she didn't bother putting her clothes back on. Cerys, who had been dazed throughout the encounter, finally breathed a sigh of relief. She stepped back a few paces, giving Ethan and Lihara space to conduct their research.
Surrounded by two blonde bombshells in such provocative states, even a man with Ethan's iron will found his research focus slipping. The session was considerably shorter than usual. He had suggested they dress properly, but Cerys insisted she couldn't leave his side to change—she had to "monitor" him 24/7—and Lihara refused to cover up if the other woman was going to remain in such a titillating state.
Cerys was wearing one of Ravel's outfits. Because Ravel was smaller, the fabric strained against Cerys's mature curves, the hem of the skirt barely covering her groin and the blouse threatening to burst at the buttons. It was a sight that would make any "righteous Brave" die of shame in public, but here, under Ethan's heavy gaze, it only fueled the mounting tension.
By the time they progressed the communication magic by a mere 5%, Ethan gave up on research and began "cultivation." His partner, as planned, was Lihara. Cerys, still digesting the life essence from her morning session, watched from the sidelines, though she eventually got her turn once Lihara was thoroughly spent.
Because they skipped lunch to continue their "practice," Sophia—who had just started to soften her stance—was left fuming again. However, thanks to Ethan's direct "confession" earlier, she didn't think about leaving this time.
Women are complex creatures. Often, even when they have a burning desire, they need a proper excuse to act on it so they don't feel "cheap" or "easy." Unless a woman has been completely broken or is naturally shameless, she will seek a justification for her lust. This is especially true for virgins or reserved women; they might crave intimacy until they go mad, but they will never ask for it directly. They prefer to drop hints or seduce the man into taking the lead.
Ethan understood this perfectly. Many men fail with women because they are too arrogant about their money or looks, or they make crude sexual jokes too early. A high-class, beautiful woman cares about her "face." She won't say, "I'm horny, fuck me." Instead, she'll say she's looking for "security" (money), "chemistry" (looks), or "health and happiness" (sexual prowess). They lie to the world and even to themselves to maintain their dignity.
Sophia needed a hero to solve the problem of her son, Basara, and someone strong enough to help her rescue her friend, Raphaeline, from Heaven. Raphaeline had sacrificed everything to help Sophia with the surrogate birth of Basara, only to be imprisoned and tortured by the Ten Master Gods. Sophia felt immense guilt, often masking it by calling Raphaeline "stubborn" and "brainless."
Ethan was the only one who could fulfill all her needs. He was powerful, brilliant, and perfect—except for his massive harem. The fact that he was sleeping with her sister Lihara, her nieces Mio and Maria, and even her old friend Sheera made her hesitate. But Ethan's proposal—to be her "cultivation battery" with no strings attached—had given her the perfect excuse. She could tell herself she was just "using" him for power.
The wait didn't last long. A few days later, Basara Toujou and his father, Jin Toujou, returned. Ethan received the news immediately as they lived right next door. But when he tried to bring Sophia to meet them, the fierce Valkyrie suddenly got cold feet.
"It's... it's too sudden. I'm not ready," she stammered.
"You've been preparing for twenty years! How are you not ready?" Ethan countered. No matter what he said, she wouldn't budge. "Fine. Women are such a pain. I'll go talk to Basara first and have him come see you tomorrow. Is that okay?"
"Tomorrow? Isn't that too fast?"
"I don't know about you, but I'm in a hurry," Ethan said bluntly. "You can refuse to see him, but I'm not going to keep grinding my gears on this forever."
In Ethan's eyes, it was simple: explain the truth. Sophia and Raphaeline were victims of a celestial conspiracy, not mothers who abandoned their child by choice. But Sophia, despite being a legendary warrior, was more terrified of a teenage boy's judgment than a god's blade.
Ethan walked across the yard to the Toujou residence. He saw the father and son cleaning the entrance.
"Afternoon, Uncle Jin. Basara," Ethan greeted.
Jin Toujou, the "God of War," smirked and lit a cigarette. "Afternoon, Ethan. You're here for Basara, I assume? I'll leave you kids to it." He strolled into the yard to slack off, leaving the boys alone.
Ethan looked at Basara. The boy looked sturdier, his gaze more determined after his training. "How was the special training, Basara? Want to spar and test your progress?"
"Forget it," Basara sighed. "No matter how much I improve, I can't catch up to you. My dad told me you wiped out the Chaos Spawn like it was nothing."
"So Jin told you?" Ethan was surprised. He thought they were cut off from the world during training.
"Yeah. I was aiming for Demon King class to help you guys in the Demon Realm, but by the time I sensed the 'Second Gate,' the war was already over. It only took you three days." Basara felt a bit dejected. He had worked his ass off only to find the boss was already dead.
They chatted for a bit. Basara mentioned he wanted to focus on school and the upcoming final exams. He craved a normal life, despite his bloodline. Ethan didn't judge; he just waited for the right moment to bring up the main topic.
"Basara... there's something you need to know about Sophia and Raphaeline."
Ethan laid out the truth. He explained that Sophia was currently staying at his house. Basara was stunned. He had dreamed of meeting his mothers, but finding out one was right across the street was overwhelming. Unlike Sophia, however, he adjusted quickly and agreed to meet her the next day.