Jax opened the door—
—and immediately stopped walking.
The scent hit him first.
Warm food.
Melted butter.
Fresh herbs.
Candles.
A faint trace of incense drifting lazily through the room.
The lights were low.
The table was set beautifully.
And standing around it—
were four women who had very clearly coordinated this attack in advance.
Black-and-white maid outfits.
Short skirts.
Lace trim.
Stockings.
Ribbons.
Aprons tied carefully around waists that absolutely should have been illegal somewhere.
And smiles.
Dangerous smiles.
Jax blinked once.
Then again.
"…Well."
Nyxian curtsied dramatically.
Smooth.
Elegant.
Completely shameless.
"Welcome home, Master."
Jax slowly looked toward the ceiling.
"…This world is trying to kill me."
Bunny giggled immediately.
Zee covered her mouth trying not to laugh.
Even Llandra's composure cracked slightly.
Jax looked at them one by one.
Aurabelle stood proudly despite visibly blushing.
Zee looked adorable and deeply nervous.
Llandra somehow carried herself with regal dignity despite wearing an outfit that objectively lacked dignity.
And Nyxian—
Nyxian looked like she'd been planning this moment since birth.
Jax exhaled slowly before setting down his coat.
"…Okay."
The girls straightened slightly.
He pointed carefully around the room.
"So just to clarify…"
Another gesture.
"…this is happening."
Nyxian smirked.
"Yes."
"You all planned this together."
"Yes."
"You spent actual money on these."
Bunny raised one hand proudly.
"Some of us spent MORE money than others."
Nyxian looked offended.
"Quality matters."
Jax rubbed the bridge of his nose slowly.
"…I leave for ONE business meeting."
That finally broke the tension.
The girls laughed softly.
And honestly?
Jax liked seeing them like this.
Relaxed.
Excited.
Happy.
His eyes drifted across the outfits again despite himself.
He was only human.
Unfortunately for his self-control.
Bunny shifted slightly under his gaze.
"We wanted to surprise you."
Zee nodded quickly.
"And maybe try something new."
Nyxian folded her arms proudly.
"I heard men enjoy it when women wear costumes for them."
Llandra sighed softly.
"He called it… cosplay."
Jax blinked.
Then slowly looked around the room again.
The maid outfits.
The bunny girl.
The succubus.
The elf.
The glowing healer.
And finally—
himself.
Jax rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"…I am engaged to a bunny girl, a succubus, an elf, and a healer mage."
The girls blinked.
Jax gestured vaguely around the room.
"I already live in a cosplay universe."
Silence.
Then Bunny gasped dramatically.
"Oh my gods."
Nyxian immediately burst out laughing.
Zee covered her mouth trying not to.
Even Llandra's composure cracked.
Jax pointed toward Bunny's ears.
"You literally have bunny ears."
Bunny grabbed them protectively.
"They're real!"
"I KNOW."
Nyxian folded her arms proudly.
"We're embracing innovation."
Llandra sighed softly.
"I regret allowing her to lead the planning."
"You loved the planning," Nyxian corrected instantly.
"That is not the point."
Jax laughed quietly under his breath.
Then slowly shook his head.
"You know," he admitted, "I genuinely never expected my life to become this absurd."
Nyxian tilted her head.
"In a bad way?"
Jax looked around the room again.
The candles.
The food.
The girls.
The ridiculous outfits.
Then smiled.
"No."
The answer came immediately.
"Honestly?"
He leaned casually against the chair behind him.
"I think this is the happiest I've ever been."
That softened the room instantly.
Because there was no hesitation in his voice.
No uncertainty.
Just honesty.
Nyxian's expression shifted slightly.
Zee smiled warmly.
Bunny's ears perked proudly.
Even Llandra looked quietly relieved hearing it.
Jax gestured toward the maid outfits again.
"So what exactly inspired this?"
The girls exchanged looks.
Then Nyxian answered first.
"The iPoints."
Jax blinked.
"…The maid outfits are a tactical decision?"
"Absolutely."
Llandra stepped in before Nyxian could escalate further.
"We noticed diminishing returns."
"Fewer bonuses," Zee added softly.
"Smaller gains," Nyxian confirmed.
"The system clearly rewards novelty and emotional milestones."
Bunny nodded seriously.
"So we weaponized creativity."
Jax stared at them for several seconds.
Then slowly sat down.
"…That is both terrifying and incredibly attractive."
Nyxian grinned triumphantly.
"Excellent."
Jax leaned back slightly studying them again.
"So this entire thing is basically:
romance
psychological warfare
and power leveling?"
Nyxian pointed proudly.
"He understands us."
Llandra sighed.
"Unfortunately."
Jax laughed quietly again.
Then his expression softened slightly.
"You really want to become stronger that badly?"
That changed the mood.
Not negatively.
Just honestly.
Llandra answered first.
"We want to keep up with you."
Zee nodded quietly.
"You move forward without hesitation."
Bunny smiled softly.
"And we don't want to become your weakness."
Nyxian crossed her arms.
"You terrify us sometimes, Jax."
That surprised him slightly.
"Me?"
"Yes," Nyxian replied immediately.
"You walk toward danger like you've already decided you'll survive it."
The room grew quieter.
Llandra met his eyes steadily.
"You're preparing us for something."
Not a question.
An observation.
Jax was quiet for a moment.
Then finally smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
Nyxian narrowed her eyes immediately.
"Hate that answer."
Jax shrugged lightly.
"I just know one thing."
The girls listened carefully.
"If something dangerous comes…"
His gaze moved across all four of them calmly.
"…I want the people beside me strong enough to survive it."
No insecurity.
No fear.
Just certainty.
That difference mattered.
Because Jax wasn't doubting himself.
He was planning ahead.
Always.
The girls understood that now.
And somehow—
that confidence made them want to stand beside him even more.
Nyxian eventually recovered first.
Naturally.
She stepped closer slowly until she stood directly in front of him.
Then placed both hands lightly against his chest.
"Well then, fearless leader…"
Her smile turned wicked again.
"…allow us to assist with morale."
Bunny immediately hurried over too.
"We practiced lines!"
Jax blinked.
"…You WHAT?"
Zee turned violently red.
Llandra covered her face immediately.
Nyxian looked deeply pleased.
"Oh yes."
Bunny straightened proudly.
"Welcome home, Master! We're here to satisfy all your dining and emotional support needs!"
Silence.
Then Zee whispered weakly:
"…Why would you say it like that…"
Bunny looked devastated.
"I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD."
Jax laughed hard enough he nearly doubled over.
Real laughter.
Warm.
Genuine.
Unrestrained.
The girls relaxed instantly hearing it.
Nyxian pointed dramatically toward the table.
"Sit down before the food gets cold."
Jax finally obeyed.
Still smiling.
Still shaking his head slightly.
"…I cannot believe this is my life now."
Nyxian leaned beside him smugly.
"And yet…"
Her fingers traced lightly across his shoulder.
"…you look very happy about it."
Jax looked at the four women surrounding him.
At the effort they put into this.
At the ridiculousness of the situation.
At how strangely comfortable it all felt.
Then smiled again.
"…Yeah," he admitted.
"I really am."