I Own a Brothel in Another World

Chapter 242 – A Step Closer to Divinity

I let my gaze wander for a while, assimilating the current situation. Thankfully, the depiction of true divinity that has appeared before me is covered in the usual white toga that gives her a regal look. Yet, at the same time, the softest possible robe does nothing to hide the divine curves of her heavenly figure. Her long legs, enticing hips, and delicate shoulders still attract as much attention as always. No matter how much I grow, this goddess remains an ethereal beauty of the highly unattainable kind. You feel deep adoration, yet understand deep in your soul that this is something that transcends your mortal level.

But, the situation is a little different for a half-mortal.

Picking myself up from my fancy throne, I catch Lumina’s gaze travelling south over my form, a gentle smile blooming on her mesmerising lips. Following it, I realise that while she is clothed, I just had to show up for the audience in my birthday suit, dragged right out of bed from the clutches of two lovely Dwarf ladies, Alastair Junior respectfully hailing the almighty creator and overseer.

Clearing my throat, I wish to cover myself up and materialise a simple set of a light violet button-up shirt and black suit pants. It does nothing to hide my appreciation of her form, but I don’t intend to act like it’s a mistake or any other social blunder. Ultimately, I’m supposed to be the Demigod of Lust or something like that. You ought to expect certain themes when visiting unannounced.

Speaking of themes…

“Every so often I come here, it appears that things around are getting more… defined and detailed,” I comment as my eyes scan the lustful paintings on the side walls. “Almost like someone is tending to this place.”

A musical chuckle echoes through the throne hall as the Goddess moves closer.

“You do have a very devoted servant, not to say apostle since she hasn’t yet been graced with such a position,” Lumina answers knowingly, and the face plus extremely desirable assets of a certain purplish-skinned humanoid enter my mind. “But, the changes that you observe do not come from her efforts.”

“Now that you mention it, I’m surprised she isn’t here to greet me with proper respect from the second I descended onto that throne over there.” I shoot my thumb over my shoulder, pointing at the royal chair that has witnessed an unbelievable number of sceptre polishing. “Where’s Ailish?”

“Your dutiful attendant is carrying out the tasks you have assigned to her and the other females,” she replies. “Working hard for your sake, as always. Especially so when we consider how important to you the currently investigated matter is.”

“She isn’t pushing herself too far, is she?” I raise a curious brow at the picture-perfect feminine divinity by my side, thinking of a number of people who tend to overwork themselves to the bone.

“That’s subjective.” Lumina hums thoughtfully. “But she isn’t putting herself in too much danger, aware of how you would feel to learn about her injury, or worse, untimely demise. I have to admit, for as long as I have observed her kin, it’s almost a first to see an individual from her circles grow this attached to another. You are already far above her life’s mission, and that says a lot.”

Damn. I knew Ailish was starting to change since the day we found out about Lilith, but to reach a stage where she would completely abandon the fate of her kind for a mere male? Though, I shouldn’t complain in any way or form. If it made her take better care of her well-being for the sake of not making me sad, I’m going to take all of it more than willingly. She is truly living for herself. Even if it kind of looks like she is doing it for me.

“Should I check up on her?” I wonder out loud.

The Goddess’ expression shifts a tad, but she continues to grace me with a cordial smile. “In my humble opinion, there is no need. I can tell you what her response would be. One of lustful desire at first, then loving reassurance, and loyal oath she’s doing everything she can to reunite you with your long lost family. Then, she would withdraw quickly to return to her machinations, aiming to please you as soon as possible.”

“That last part I don’t doubt.” I snort amusedly. “But you might be right. Plus, I came here for a reason. It’s time to investigate the changes in me, isn’t it? I’m sure you are just as busy with the matters of the world.”

Without waiting for an answer, I move to the nearest window arch and peer outside. Before I call up my full status, though, I pause briefly as Lumina joins me. We observe the charming realm with its bright pink sky and a landscape of darker shades of similar nature. I swear there are mountains I don’t remember and forests further than they have spread back during my last visit.

Then, there is life.

Birds and other avian creatures glide through the air while sharing their pleasant songs with the realm. I catch a rabbit or two in the grass far ahead, and a timid doe trots by the edge of the trees. Plenty of fish populate the sea or ocean that graced us with its presence to my right. The last thing we lack is insects and such, but deep down, I have hope these little guys miss the invitation to the new gathering.

Mosquitoes suck.

And not as delightfully as Succubi.

“Since when do we have guests here?” I ask, turning to the dazzling Goddess.

“Since the depths of your soul have been growing stronger and more vast,” she replies softly. “Each Tier brings you closer to the peak of mortality. Your understanding of life and its essence shows through the complexity of this sanctum you are subconsciously creating within yourself.”

I blink at her absentmindedly, then direct my attention to the shocking theory of evolution. “Are they… real?”

That exquisite chuckle tickles my ears once more, like the most sensual lover whispering sweet nothings full of tender care.

“Yes and no,” Lumina answers cryptically. “Everything here is real. Are you fake? Am I fake? No, we might be just a spiritual projection, but isn’t the entire world outside too? So, yes, they are real, but they aren’t alive in the sense to which you are alluding. You aren’t growing a small universe inside your soul, where lesser souls are born. That’s not how souls work.”

“Thank gods.” I sigh in pure relief, placing a hand against my chest. “I always found the trope of a developing world inside one’s dantian from the cultivation stories super awkward. The idea that everyone walks around with a seed of a world where they become a deity to sentient and sapient humanoid creatures is scary. Because who will assure you that you aren’t just one of those cultivated entities inside someone else’s soul?”

“Human creativity knows no bounds.” The Goddess shows a flattering smirk. “Your Earth has come up with some outlandish theories. Both in fiction and science. Although, it’s not like they were the only ones.”

“So, I’m not going to suddenly wake up with people inside me one day, am I?” I snicker while shaking my head.

“No, you won’t. The creatures that you can currently see are still part of you. In the past, all your mind could process was that simple plain with a cliff. The more you grow, the better understanding it gains, filling the space with more sophisticated imitations created from your very soul. To put it simply, this is a fancier version of a progress bar related to the development of your spirit,” she explains.

“Great. I don’t have to worry about playing god over some overly religious dimension.” I nod to myself.

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Lumina offers me a slightly more teasing grin.

Ah, right. I’m on a quite rocky path towards godhood. Halfway there, even. More or less.

“Listen, if you need help to watch over one or two of your divine aspects, I’m more than eager to help. But, I’m not taking the world away from you.” I stare at her firmly to convey my honesty properly.

“You wouldn’t need to usurp Naharren. Not when there are other options for new gods,” she replies cryptically. “You remember my mentions of the rules of the universe and the being making sure we don’t mess up with the fabric of reality too much, right?”

“Yes. Part of the reason why you can’t exactly intervene directly. It’s not like you can shape every single aspect of Naharren to your whims.” I rub my chin thoughtfully. 

“Contrary to you, I have come to be a goddess from the birth of my existence, alongside my sister. But, the same as us, you shall receive the privilege to accept a seed of a new world to cultivate on your own when achieving true divinity. And no, it doesn’t mean you will need to stay out of reach as we do. It would all depend on the additional rules you set with the overseer. You could still possibly walk your world amongst mortals and interact with them. Recall Zeus and his pantheon?” Lumina tilts her head adorably.

I let out a quiet laugh. “I know I’m going around plenty, but I don’t think I’m that bad.”

She joins me in her ladylike way, patting me on the shoulder. “You know that’s not what I meant. No one faults you for your conquests. You have a Primordial body, yet you haven’t sired any new… species yet.”

And most likely won’t. No offence to the old Primordials, but I prefer more humanoid monster girls. I wouldn’t throw myself onto a literal spider the size of a car. But an Arachne is a different topic.

“I don’t think your relatively peaceful Naharren needs a bunch of mythical Half-Primordial beasts running around and being a nuisance. I’ll leave your denizens to their own machinations,” I say in response. “But, I’m not sure if I would prefer the other option you introduced either. I would rather… stay a secretary. You could use someone to double-check your stuff to catch those pesky mistakes that seem to weasel their way into your work.”

Her pale cheeks gain a rosy tint at the wink I send along with my comment. She would be the first one to admit how clumsy of a goddess she is, even though one of those small oversights turned me into something incredible. Some could argue that it was perhaps fate. But, I know better. Men or gods, none of us are perfect. There is no such word in the universe’s dictionary.

Seeing that Lumina is getting a tad shy over her very real insecurity, I spin around to rest my back against the window ledge and bring up my status screen. As my eyes wander over the data, I let out an impressed whistle, holding the pinkish window between the two of us.

“These numbers are getting ridiculous,” I share my thoughts. “At this pace, they will break four digits before I jump to another Tier.”

“You have been busy.” Lumina smiles pleasedly. “Not holding back anymore has been beneficial for you and your growth.”

“How big did the ancient ones get?” I turn to her with an intrigued glance.

“You aren’t that far. There are still entities who beat your numbers in terms of pure values, but you can consider your current might a legend-worthy achievement,” she replies proudly.

“What’s the point of these past a certain point, then? I mean, there has to be a soft limit of power past which anything more is just so minuscule that it’s almost unnoticeable. I don’t believe you can grow your Strength stat to the point where accidentally tripping splits the planet in half.” I smack my fist at the nearby wall, a spider web of cracks originating from the point of impact.

“You are right.” The Goddess nods serenely. “Since you aren’t a full god yet, there are limits. Diminishing returns past a certain point, yes. One’s soul and body can hold only so much energy.”

“What would your numbers show then?” I stroke my chin while trying to imagine her status.

“Nothing.” She shrugs.

“Nothing?” I frown lightly.

“Or perhaps question marks if I didn’t want the screen to stretch to the size of infinity,” Lumina adds. “Don’t forget that I’m the one who introduced this system. It just shows things that I recognise in relation to the average level of the world. Every displayed skill and ability exists within the person that manifests it, my creation simply offering a way to recognize its presence. Technically speaking, I’m above its scope of work. But, I could always fill my status with all the other useful information.”

“That’s understandable. And explains why it managed to catch you off-guard a few times. You are aware of all the possibilities, like a spreadsheet of options the random generator can pick from, but the specific combination and the moment they appear are unknown to you. You are like a programmer watching a simulation running on a piece of code you have initially prepared.” I nod to myself a few times.

“As much as it’s a viable analogy, I personally find it a rather… soulless comparison. Naharren is much more than a coded simulation to me.” She glances down with a pensive expression.

Reaching out, I gently take her hand, entwining our fingers together with warm support. “I apologise. I witnessed first-hand how much you care. You brought a lot of trouble upon yourself to save the world from your sister and all the other dangers. I bet not many deities would show so much compassion.”

We gaze into each other’s eyes for a brief moment with silent understanding. The melancholic mood disperses quickly, replaced with something more cordial. I return to the screen, scanning it in search for any changes.

I do find one.

“Am I tripping or did Rejuvenate disappear?” I squint heavily, reading through the list multiple times.

Lumina takes a peek too and cocks her head to the back after reaching the bottom. “Now, this is interesting. Must have been partially influenced by your divinity. Take a look at the new passive you have.”

Following her advice, I bring up the ability called Heavenly Passion Physician.

We take a while to fully read the description multiple times. It’s a long one with many twists and turns. As Lumina said, the change was brought by my divinity, which isn’t that surprising. Since her descent into me, things have been getting quite hectic. Not that I blame her for anything. She’s saved my life and potentially made it into something much greater than I would have ever brought it to on my own.

But, this is still a lot to process.

“So, if I’m understanding it correctly, my Rejuvenate is gone, replaced by this thing?” I scratch my head awkwardly.

“Not exactly. The power it wields is still within you. It has just switched how it displays in your status. And, judging from how this sounds, you can consider it another Level Max ability in your repertoire.” She smiles at me from the side. “But, the second part is what you should focus on more.”

“Right. I think I’ve seen enough previous skill descriptions to decipher this one. We had that bit with my scent and other fluids acting like an aphrodisiac before. Now I assume my spit and seed became true healing potions. And I bet it works only with direct application. Nothing like a quick blowjob to get back your blown-out leg.” I sigh heavily, rubbing my eyes.

“You are a Demigod of Love and Passion. It’s only natural that your divinity is conveyed through aspects connected to that domain. You shouldn’t start feeling bad about it again, just when you were making good progress in accepting it as part of yourself. Having the power to do something doesn’t mean you are obliged to carry it out at every given opportunity. It’s not wrong to select who receives its benefits, be it chosen outsiders or only those you consider your family. This is just an enhancement of your preexisting affinities. You can’t become omnipotent and take care of every field.” The wise Goddess steps closer and pulls my arm into the embrace of her heavenly figure, looking at me comfortingly.

“Sure. That’s true. But having a synopsis that sounds like I could eliminate cancer from the world if only I was willing to do what it takes to is rather heavy.” I groan softly.

“Aiding the suffering population with such an affliction can be viewed as heroically benevolent and earn you the recognition of a selfless miracle worker, but it still is impossible for one person to save everyone. To save the entire world. That’s why I aimed for a small group when trying to summon you guys here,” Lumina admits honestly. “Which can’t be said about offering a helping hand to someone you care for and returning the lost hope and happiness to them.”

My forehead creases as she clearly makes a reference to something.

Then, my brows shoot up into my hairline.

She didn’t deny my claim that I could heal cancer with these body-altering capabilities now.

Which means there are other physical disorders that I can cure.

Ones that have been plaguing their victims from the day of their birth.

Ones that aren’t considered an injury by Healing Magic.

“Marcia…” I whisper in realisation.

Lumina’s smile grows even more lovely as she watches my face light up. Again, she doesn’t jump right in to regretfully inform me that such treatment might still be too much for me and that I have misunderstood. She knows I got it right and is as pleased about it as I am. This matter might have been partially shelved, but it’s not like I haven’t been thinking about it alongside my friends and wives.

Now, we finally have a solution.

Pushing myself off the windowsill, I turn to face her and step closer, surprising the beautiful Goddess a little. She follows me with her golden gaze as I enter her personal space and slide a palm up her graceful cheek. There is no response, save for the tingling sensation that accompanies the touch, buzzing against my skin.

Her eyes widen slightly as I lean. She draws back a little to escape, but I don’t let her run away.

My lips press delicately into Lumina’s as my other hand rests on her hip, holding her still in front of me. Sure, she can go poof at any point if she wishes to, but that small gesture seemingly prevents her from doing so. My mouth begins to buzz as I affectionately brush against hers, offering the enchanting lady a few dainty pecks.

She stiffens when my tongue gently makes itself known, and while she stubbornly keeps it at bay for a moment, staring back into my eyes with a hint of concern, my resolute gaze convinces her to surrender, and I finally deepen the kiss.

We close our eyes at the same time and lovingly make out, slow and hesitant at first, but quickly turning passionate. I’m not instantly stricken down with a lightning of pain through my nerves and Lumina seems to lunge at the opportunity of an undefined timeframe. She kisses me back, a soft sigh escaping our interlocked lips as she relishes the comfortable sensation. For a good while, nothing but quiet noises of our loving exchange fill the air in the throne hall.

When I draw back, she actually follows me a bit before catching herself, the faintest flush adorning her heavenly cheeks. My lips and tongue are totally numb, but their sacrifice will be forever remembered. With their courageous service, I was able to show my appreciation and sincerity to this kind woman previously thought unapproachable.

This has been the most we touched so intimately and I would have been able to keep going for a long time had I not withdrawn.

“Alasta—”

I raise a hand to stop Lumina for a second, something weird going on with my body. She watches as I exhale heavily and start fanning myself a bit, getting quite warm inside, like a wave of heat is rolling into every corner of my existence. Her tender expression drops in an instant, replaced by worry and regret.

“Damn me! I should have stopped—”

I shake my head and place both palms on her shoulders, meeting her divine gaze firmly. I peer into her pretty eyes as she peers into mine, whatever is going on slowly making changes to my soul. Or something. It’s not like I’m an expert in these matters.

The weird experience finishes sooner than I have expected and the heated energy disperses. I’m back to normal fairly quickly. Lumina notices that fact, a bit less troubled now but with her brows still pinched in worry. I press myself into her one more time before she locks her heart once more, stealing her plump lips for a final kiss.

Shocked, she pushes onto my chest lightly until I release her. I smile fondly as she watches me, licking my lips. They aren’t numb anymore, just a tad pricklish. I walked around with much worse during cold winter days. Save for that detail, I feel great actually. A second wind, one could say.

“See? I knew I just needed to build up my tolerance.” I grin at the confused Goddess. “I’m getting closer.”

“You certainly are getting bolder,” she replies, still eyeing me for any more signs of discomfort.

“More like, not holding back, as per your own words.” I wink at her, evoking the briefest hint of a smile. “It’s been working wonders. Just a little more and I’ll be able to explore my divine domain fully, helping at least one troubled soul with its curse of solitude.”

That earns me a tiny roll of those golden gems but a small blush of appreciation betrays the true thoughts of Naharren’s deity.

“I don’t think it’s thanks to your advancement or rigorous training,” Lumina states, pursing her lips.

“What?” I blink at her, a bit lost.

“The moment you kissed me so deeply, your divinity reached another level,” she explains with an impressed tone. “As soon as you check it, you will see that the number of available Apostles has tripled while the number of assignable Devotees has doubled. And much more.”

“How?” I look myself all over, dismissing my attire just in case.

It’s not like she hasn’t seen everything so there’s no point being overly shy.

“It must have been the essence you absorbed from exchanging saliva with me,” Lumina points out.

My gaze snaps up to her face. “Wait. I took your divinity? That’s not what I was afte—”

She shushes me down and presses her elegant finger to my lips. “I know. And you didn’t hurt me. The faint trace of my energy seems to have jumpstarted your advancement. You have been almost ready for a while now. Your following is growing. People are offering you their honest prayers. Your servants are gracing them with blessings and miracles. And your own input isn’t nonexistent. The number of people you directly helped in that Beastkin village in the jungle wasn’t insignificant.”

A small chuckle escapes me as she withdraws. “I never thought I would be making rounds through houses and wishing random people that their creampies turn into multi-layered cakes.”

“One’s calling can often manifest in a previously unexpected way,” Lumina comments sagely. “Regardless, I’m alright. Honestly, I wouldn’t have thought of raising your divinity like this. Through your constant quest to touch me, you stimulated your vessel. I doubt anyone would attempt that after the initial experience of even casting a glance at my soul. Yet, here you are, not just looking but even… interacting with it.”

“Humans have a tendency to try the stupidest things to achieve their goals.” I grin at her warmly. “Anyway, I’m glad I didn’t achieve this at your cost. That wouldn’t sit well with me. So, did anything change? Anything possibly close to as important as the fact that I can now do this?”

She does nothing to stop me, having the exact idea of what I have to have in mind. With both palms caressing Lumina’s cheeks, I offer her a passionate kiss again. This time, after making sure she doesn’t spot any signs of me forcing myself through pain or agony, she places her slender palms at the small of my back and rests her chest against mine. The faint prickling exists, but it gets drowned in the divine taste of a gorgeous deity’s most delicious lips.

Not wanting to abuse this newly gained territory, I politely withdraw with an excited smile. It’s the right decision as she watches me move away with rosy cheeks and eyes full of gratitude. This is something new for her. And I know damn well how overwhelming new things can be. Especially when you haven’t tried them in ages. Or ever.

I doubt she saw a lot of action with the other goddess before imprisoning her.

“As much as I… enjoy your attempts to share something new with me, you should keep in mind not to overdo it. And not just for my sake,” Lumina comments wisely, guessing my thoughts with perfect accuracy. “Even medicine can be poison if consumed in too big of a dose. Build your tolerance slowly and we’ll see where it gets you. Your new perks should help with that.”

“Perks?” I perk up at the mention of free goodies.

The sly Goddess summons my status for me. At first, I don’t notice any difference. There’s an additional title called Divine Doctor, but that should be related to what we discussed earlier. Lumina sees my confusion and swipes her hand over the window, bringing the descriptions of a bunch of skills before us. My eyes hop from one to another for quite a few seconds before my brows disappear into the sky once again.

“Wait. The cooldowns and refreshes are gone? What the hell?” I browse through things like Heart Swap or What’s Mine is Yours to make sure she isn’t playing a prank on me, but true to what she is showing, these details are gone. “What does that mean?”

“What do you think that means?” She raises one adorable brow at me.

“How would I know? It can’t be that they are suddenly of unlimited use, can it? Right?” I stare at the Goddess and she just keeps smiling smugly. “Oh fuck me…”

The softest chuckle leaves her graceful lips as she pats me on the back. “Not yet, my hero. Not yet.”

Her actually making a joke about us going to pound town catches me off guard and I follow that lithe depiction of otherworldly beauty as she strolls towards the throne with her sinful ass swaying sensually.

Oh, someone is in good spirits.

Lumina takes a peek over her shoulder, and her golden gaze pans south, reminding me about the fact that I’m still buck-naked since the minute I exposed myself to check my body. And it seems that my usually good and very cooperative friend down there is putting up a show by getting harder than it has ever gotten in the past, definitely affected by the mischievously worded promise to enter through the gates of heaven.

Thankfully, the target of its display simply sports a slightly more visible blush at the honest praise and returns her attention forward. Covering myself for now, I catch up to the somewhat flirty Goddess and we regroup by the throne, running our fingers over its masterful design.

“To answer your question, no they aren’t exactly of unlimited use,” Lumina begins, finding my eyes once more. “But that’s because of what I explained earlier regarding your increasing might.”

“That means my body and soul are what limits them,” I recall out loud, catching the hint right away. “That’s my mana and actual energy. As long as I’m not completely exhausted and possess the required spiritual power to cast a spell or an ability, I can do it as much as I want without the enforced wait times. Why now?”

“Because you are closer to a true god, and therefore capable of withstanding the flow of essence that accompanies even the mightiest spiritual feats. Once again, the system only shows what is there in everyone. Using Heart Swap a second time in less than a week or a few days won’t cause your internal organs to explode anymore,” she lays it down straight, no analogies or obscure hints. “For the same reason why the restriction lessened each time you levelled an ability or rose into the next Tier. There is no point in showing you something that isn’t there, right?”

“Of course.” I nod, still a bit stunned. “Doesn’t change the fact how insane that sounds. Suddenly jumping from barely being able to share skills between my Partners to becoming an intercontinental ability manager just waiting for someone to call and ask to lend them the thing another of my lovers has is unthinkable.”

“It’s been a while since your last advancement, isn’t it? And the day you gained the Divine Spark,” Lumina points out calmly. “This has been building up inside you all that time. It’s the fruit of your hard labour. Plus a tiny bit of incentive from another divinity’s own essence.”

I smirk at that, her gaze skipping to my lips. “And I have you to thank for that. So, I’m extremely grateful, Lumi. You didn’t have to play along with my silly game of trying to make a move on you. Thanks for not getting offended and smiting me down like some horny, disrespectful mortal.”

She rewards me with one of those sweet chuckles. “I can’t deny starting to look forward to your efforts and the result of your tenacity. Since that one fateful day that changed everything, you kept shattering my expectations and breaking the norms. It’s an intriguing spectacle to follow.”

“Glad to provide you with some entertainment.” I snicker good-naturedly. “Hope I don’t break anything while floundering around as a new man-made-god.”

“I’m sure your wives will keep your ego in check.” Lumina shoots me a knowing look and I laugh out loud, knowing she’s right.

Gesturing with her hand, she instructs me to sit down and I do exactly that. She stops before me sitting on the throne and makes a respectful bow.

“Let me officially congratulate you on this success. It won’t be long before you take a spot amongst the divinities of this realm, currently numbered one. Two under specific circumstances.” The Goddess straightens up politely. “Now, you should better return to your previous arrangements. We can celebrate later. Your soul is already oversaturated due to your irresponsible actions. I’ll be watching. One of my most-anticipated acts in your story is underway and I can’t wait for you to reach its conclusion. Almost all the actors are in place for the grand finale. It’s going to be big.”

Before I get a chance to ask what’s that about, Lumina fades into a white fog with an amused smile. There are too many variables, but perhaps it’s the situation with Stockhawkers. It’s one big mess that will definitely leave a mark on the city if not the entire Dwarf lands. At the very least with the female half of the population.

Without anything else to do, I sigh to myself and focus my mind on returning to my bed and the two short but lovely ladies sleeping soundly under its cosy sheets.

We have a lot to do.

And I have just gained access to quite the advanced tools.

It’s showtime.