The Neon Moon had become impossible to ignore.
Even from outside, the restaurant buzzed with life.
Music drifted through open windows while laughter rolled into the street alongside the smell of grilled meat, fresh bread, rich sauces, and spiced vegetables.
Inside—
every table was occupied.
Servers moved at near-panic speeds.
And somehow—
Jax still looked calm.
Mostly.
The Vixens arrived together laughing loudly enough that several nearby customers turned toward them automatically.
Bunny inhaled deeply the moment they entered.
"Every time I come here," she declared dramatically, "it smells even better."
Nyxian smirked while sliding into the booth beside Jax.
"That's because Jax bought another restaurant across town this morning."
Three heads snapped toward him instantly.
Jax slowly lifted his mug.
"…Partial ownership."
Llandra blinked.
"You bought another restaurant?"
"It was underperforming."
"That doesn't answer the question."
"It does from a business perspective."
Nyxian laughed into her drink.
The conversation rolled naturally after that.
Questions about:
Brannic
Merriweather
Grathok
the dragon auction
the growing business partnerships
Jax answered everything honestly.
Brannic and Merriweather were interested.
The dragon sale would likely finalize soon.
The restaurants were performing absurdly well.
And somehow—
the girls looked proud of him.
That realization hit harder than expected.
Because they trusted him now.
Actually trusted him.
And suddenly—
Jax realized this was the moment.
His big ask.
His chance.
He mentally prepared himself.
Okay.
Be confident.
You've fought dragons.
You can handle talking to four pretty women.
Probably.
Jax took a breath.
"The last few days," he began carefully, "have honestly been the best days I can remember."
Bunny smiled immediately.
"Oh same!"
Zee nodded enthusiastically.
Nyxian watched him carefully now.
Dangerously carefully.
Jax continued:
"Before I met you all, I didn't really have anyone here. Adventuring can be…" he searched briefly, "…lonely."
The table softened immediately.
"And you four," he continued, "you already built something special together."
Llandra folded her arms lightly but looked pleased.
"We've relied on each other for a long time."
"And it shows," Jax said quickly.
Then he inhaled slowly.
Okay.
Now say it cleanly.
No fumbling.
No weirdness.
No accidental emotional disasters.
"I'd like to propose—"
"Yes," Nyxian said immediately.
The table froze.
Jax blinked.
"…What?"
"I accept."
Bunny's ears shot upright.
"WAIT."
Nyxian calmly took another sip of her drink.
"His proposal."
Bunny gasped violently.
"HE'S PROPOSING?!"
Zee's face turned completely red.
"Oh my goodness."
Llandra blinked once.
Then very calmly:
"…I accept as well."
Jax stared.
"…WHAT is happening right now?"
Nyxian tilted her head innocently.
"You were proposing."
"I was proposing a DEAL."
"Oh."
A pause.
Nyxian realized her mistake.
And in that exact moment—
she chose evil.
Instead of correcting herself—
she leaned deeper into it.
"I see," she said thoughtfully.
"An economic partnership."
Jax exhaled in relief.
"Yes. Exactly."
Then Nyxian smiled slowly.
"…Leading into marriage."
Jax nearly choked to death.
Bunny immediately grabbed the table.
"WAIT WE CAN DO THAT?!"
Llandra looked genuinely thoughtful now.
"I know of no laws preventing it."
Zee nodded nervously.
"Many nobles marry multiple partners…"
Jax looked around wildly.
"No no no no hold on."
Nyxian rested her chin on her hand.
"You're saying you DON'T want to marry us?"
"That's not what I said!"
Bunny pointed dramatically.
"So you DO want to marry us!"
"I mean EVENTUALLY maybe possibly under very specific emotionally stable circumstances!"
The girls stared.
Jax realized he was spiraling.
Badly.
He kept going anyway.
"That's not how this works," he rambled. "You date someone first, then eventually somebody leaves a toothbrush at your place, then suddenly they're there four nights a week somehow and then you're sharing groceries and arguing about blankets and then eventually somebody gets a key and THEN maybe after several emotionally healthy years—"
The girls stared at him in complete silence.
Jax continued muttering anyway.
"—and then maybe you get engaged unless somebody gets pregnant and accelerates the timeline and WHY am I explaining modern relationship pacing to fantasy women—"
Nyxian physically buried her face into the table laughing.
Bunny looked emotionally invested now.
Zee looked fascinated.
Llandra looked like she was trying very hard not to smile.
Then quietly—
very quietly—
Llandra asked:
"…Are you saying you don't want this?"
That stopped him instantly.
The table went silent.
Jax looked at them.
Really looked at them.
Four women who:
trusted him
accepted him
believed in him
chose him willingly
And suddenly—
his panic softened.
"…It's not that I don't want to," he admitted quietly.
"Then what?"
Jax rubbed the back of his neck.
"…I just honestly didn't think any of you would want me."
The girls froze slightly.
Nyxian's teasing softened immediately.
"You really don't understand how attractive you are, do you?"
Jax blinked.
Llandra spoke next.
Calm.
Certain.
"I would be honored to be your wife someday."
Zee nodded shyly.
"So would I."
Bunny immediately grabbed his hand.
"Me too."
Nyxian leaned comfortably back against the booth.
"And honestly," she said casually, "we've already seen you naked."
The table exploded again.
Jax covered his face instantly.
"WHY does everyone keep bringing that up?!"
"Because it was memorable."
"Traumatizing."
"For YOU maybe."
Jax laughed helplessly despite himself.
Slowly—
he straightened.
Then looked at all four of them again.
"If you'll accept me into your party," he said sincerely, "then I'd be honored to stand beside you."
Bunny immediately squeezed his hand tighter.
"Of course we accept you."
Llandra nodded once.
"You're already one of us."
And right then—
the restaurant doors burst open.
Brannic marched inside beside Merriweather looking unusually energized.
"There ye are!"
Merriweather spotted the table immediately.
"Oh wonderful! Everyone's here!"
Brannic walked directly toward Jax before grabbing both his shoulders firmly.
"Well hells, Jax."
The dwarf grinned broadly.
"Merriweather and I are accepting your proposal."
The entire table froze again.
Nyxian immediately lost control laughing.
Brannic continued proudly:
"We're merging operations. Ye get twenty percent partnership, we use the dragon materials together, and we'll reinvest ten percent into rebuilding Solmere."
Merriweather clapped excitedly.
"Oh! And the Vixens are getting married too apparently!" Bunny exclaimed.
Brannic blinked.
"…They're WHAT?"
Bunny proudly pointed toward Jax.
"We're marrying him!"
The dwarf looked at:
Jax
the four women
then back to Jax
"…All four?"
They all nodded.
Brannic burst out laughing loud enough to shake nearby tables.
"Well damn, lad."
He slammed Jax on the shoulder hard enough to nearly dislocate him.
"Ye move FAST."
Jax looked deeply overwhelmed.
"…I don't fully understand my own life anymore."
Nyxian smirked smugly.
"You proposed to four women and two business partners in the same week."
"I DIDN'T MEAN TO."
"Still counts."
Then—
five translucent blue screens suddenly appeared before the entire table simultaneously.
Everyone froze.
Jax blinked.
"…Uh oh."
The screens flashed.
YOU HAVE UNLOCKED A NEW SYSTEM FEATURE
HAREM STAT & SKILL INCREASES
NEW FEATURE UNLOCKED:
iPoints
• iPoints are gained through intimacy, trust, and shared experiences
• iPoints are granted to ALL bonded members
• iPoints stack — they are not divided
• Unique bonds unlock unique skills
NOTICE:
Future growth paths have permanently diverged.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then Jax slowly lowered his head into his hands.
"…What," he whispered weakly, "did I choose during character creation?"