Eventually, Carl returns with Iris in tow.

Ash grey hair, chocolate skin, long ears. Uh, let me guess... if dwarves aren't small... she's a dryad, right?

Name Iris Status none Age 23 Classes Nun 16, Weaver 15 Race Dark Elf 15 HP 1848/1848 MP 1630/1630 SP 1632/1632 STR 117 DEX 262 VIT 203+65 MAG 330 FTH 352+15 WIL 274+15 CHA 326 Equipment Reinforced Suit, Habit Skills Dagger Training 15, Luck Boost 15, Stealth 15 Weakness Earth

Spoilsport...

Never expected our eventual healer to be from that race. Deteoh has again ruined another fantasy... dark elves are supposed to be savage fighters, not cute priestesses!!

She has a decent MP and MAG, giving her a magic skill would be worthwhile as well.

I wish I wasn't limited in the number of skills I can share with my familiars. Forget Class Cores, just search for enough volunteers with half decent MP, MAG and FTH until I hit the familiars limit, then give all of them [Sleepless], [Enhanced Regeneration], [Mana Regeneration], [Mana Boost], [Ageless], [Cure Magic] and [Affinity Magic]. That would be worth going far into negative exp for Vampire Lord levels, they could pay us back the exp by partying up and then nuking the flood monsters like I do all the time.

Too bad that is just a dream.

"Greetings my lord, I'm Iris. I understand you've called for me?"

"That is indeed the case. Thanks for coming to us on such short notice. Just call me Jared, I'm not too keen on formalities."

"Much appreciated."

Since she already knows Lucia, I quickly introduce everyone else to her.

"So what can I help you with, Jared?"

"Simply put, we need another party member for our planned dungeon visits and eventual travels around the world. After some consideration, Lucia thought that you would fit our needs the best."

"I'm sorry, but I'm not sure how I could help you, I'm just a simple nun. I have no combat ability to speak of. Unless dear Lucia is wasting everyone's time again with one of her pranks?"

Lucia responds, "No, we're serious about this, Iris. This is something I, we, need you for. Please give us a chance to explain at least."

"Alright, I'm listening. What exactly do you want me to do?"

"Specifically I want someone that has some decent healing capabilities."

"I'm sorry, but I do not possess those."

"I know, I'm getting to that. We would add you to our party, once we get our hands on another Class Core, you would use that to take a relevant class. I'm confident that with your current stats you can take a class like Druid, Healer or Priest. It doesn't have to be specifically those, just any class that learns healing magic. Elly should be able to find something suitable for you."

"But... why me?"

"Just as a favor to my wife. We would have to train anyone we take anyway. And you two knowing each other is a plus in my book. Especially after what happened recently."

"I don't know. Just waiting until someone gets hurt doesn't sound like something a comrade should do. What else would I be good for? As I said, I have no fighting skills worth speaking of. And I doubt I could sufficiently impress monsters with my weaving skills."

"Don't worry. That will come with time. We-"

Lucia interrupts me, "Jared, let me take this, please. She is my friend after all."

"Huh? Uh, sure."

"Can you all leave us alone for a moment?"

"Will you be fine?"

"Yes."

"Alright, you heard Lucia. We'll wait outside. Call us when you're done, dear."

"Yes, thank you."

Everyone gets up and leaves the room, only Lucia and Iris stay behind.

"Uh, Jared", Geoffrey asks me, "if we can train healers the way you plan, why hasn't the military done so before?"

"Trust me, the reason is very stupid and you don't really want to hear it but you've literally asked for it. Unless... hey, Chloe, do you have a guess?"

"Uh, not really. It sounds like a decent plan and we desperately need more medical personnel. We were wrong about which classes could profit from having a trainer but that doesn't extend to taking the class untrained. So why Class Cores aren't invested in that fashion, I don't know."

"Simply put, politics. To meet the FTH requirement for a healer class, a regular person would need to be born with a class that already has a high FTH stat, right?"

Geoffrey responds, "Correct."

"Most combat classes don't meet the FTH requirement unless they are also a caster, which you know to be rare. On the production class side, I think high FTH is limited to doctors and nurses, which are already set for healing duty, and nuns. The latter is according to Justo off limits due to some poorly thought out contracts. In short, church and military are not allowed to interfere with each other's duties or staff."

"But what about Therese?", asks Marca, "She just went to the church, that should count as interference."

"If she has done her paperwork already, then Lucia is already enrolled with the military, pushing the whole issue into a grey area since Lucia was effectively 'fired' by the church head before."

"Urgh, damn politics", Chloe isn't happy either.

"Yeah, that is just yet another thing that needs to be changed. No doubt about that."

We wait a while, but Lucia still doesn't signal that they are done. I'm getting impatient.

A bit later, a dreadful message draws my attention.

Y̴͒͜ó̵̦ṵ̵̇ ̵̻̓h̶̞̑ȁ̸͕v̸͉̈́e̴̲̓ ̶̼̀t̴̉͜a̶̟̒k̵̹̃e̴͍̿n̶̛̤ ̵̹̾I̸͕͂r̸͙͆i̸̬̅s̵͖̄ ̵̎ͅa̸̟̒s̸͓̑ ̵̺̾y̵͙͠ö̷̺u̶͈̅r̸̢̀ ̷͓̆f̶͔́a̶̫̋m̴̥̕ĩ̷̘l̴͈̑ï̷̝a̵͕͝r̶͎͂.̶̢̕

̸̤̐Y̵̮͌ò̸̞u̸͇͑ ̷̤͑ć̴̻ů̵͍r̸̢̔r̵͛ͅe̴̘̿n̶͎̏t̵̙̚l̷̦͝y̴͇͊ ̸̭̅h̶͉͠á̴͍v̵̛̻e̸̯͛ ̸̧̌4̵̩̈́/̷̥͗3̴̮̈́ ̸̺́f̵̑ͅä̴͇ḿ̸̻i̴̙͠l̷̝̒i̶̤̍a̴̮͝r̷̪̈(̷̣͐ŝ̷͔)̸̞́.̵̙̄

What the hell happened now? Lucia? What is going on in there?

Hastily, I open the door.

POV: Lucia (a few minutes earlier)

The rest of the group has left and Marca closes the door behind her.

"That was the one you were pining over, Lucia?"

"Yes."

"Tell me, now that you got together with the man you fancied, are you happy?"

"Yeah, very much so."

"So at least that hasn't changed about you. You never gave up until you got what you wanted, even to the detriment of others..."

"Hey, I'm not that bad! Sometimes I make concessions."

"But only small ones."

"M-maybe..."

"So what you told me back then was true? About what you've seen in him?"

"Yeah, he was the first guy that didn't see me as just the Holy Maiden. Well, also as the Lost Child he should at least date someone as fine as me."

"Still just as full of yourself as ever, I see."

"Do you have to put it like that?"

"I can be just as blunt as you are when I need to be. You should know me that much", Iris sighs, "So... can you show me the 'real' Lucia? I know that you are... different now but from what I see you are still the old you."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't really look any different. But I know that he has done something to you. Can you... undo your disguise?"

"If it makes you happy..."

I cancel the [Disguise] skill just like she wanted.

"So just the eye color?"

"And slightly longer fangs. Honestly, it is hard to get used to those, I sometimes bite myself while they are out."

"Hmm... yeah, I can see."

"Can I change back now?"

"Sure."

"Thank you, Iris."

"Is that really all that has changed, Lucia? I don't really buy it."

"It is. At least I still feel like I'm the same."

"I have a hard time accepting that. From what I know becoming a vampire, messes you up a lot but... you still feel like the old Lucia. I don't know, it is weird."

Am I different? I don't think so. At least not outside of the need to... drink blood. Hmm... I'm kinda looking forward to that experience. Yeah, that'll be fun!

"Say, Iris, do you think you can consider joining us? I'd love to have you at my side."

"I'm not sure about that, Lucia. I know that you plan to support me but... I still had never much contact with monsters."

"Not even through the guy you date? That was Darren, right?"

"Please don't remind me. He... is no longer with us."

"Oh, ah, sorry... what happened to him?"

"Just that what was bound to happen when you date a guy who becomes blind because of love and has an imbecile like Jack as the group leader..."

"So same as Luke before... Sorry, I... didn't know..."

"Don't sweat it. You know it wasn't the first time and it probably won't be the last. That's just the world we live in. Maybe I should just stay single..."

...maybe Iris would make a good spouse for us? I... don't know. Jared should be mine and mine alone but... in this situation... can I afford to stick to that?

I want to help her in some way but is it the right one?

"Can I ask what you honestly think of Jared, Iris?"

"No idea, I've just seen him from afar during his speech and then the ten minutes earlier. I mean, despite being a vampire he seems to be a decent guy. At least he didn't stare at my chest like that Geoffrey guy."

"Well, you are pretty."

"That I won't deny. But we should get back to the topic, shouldn't we?"

"Yeah..."

Iris seems a bit irritated, "So, to summarize the situation, aside from one minor detail you achieved your goals, and for that one thing I'm now here?"

"I mean, it wasn't exactly our choice that undead can't use Cure Magic. But... even if, I'd still like to have a good friend like you at my side. I don't know the others much and I fear I may feel lonely at times."

"Lucia, abandoning the church to aid the Lost Child is not a problem for me, but a vampire? I.. don't know how to feel about that."

"Well, technically you'd follow TWO vampires, not one."

"Not helping your case."

I just... want to get this over with...

If it has to be someone I'd rather it be someone I know and get along with, like Iris.

But...

Please say no...

"Iris, if it wasn't for the human-to-vampire differences... would you... consider marrying Jared?"

"Wha, what's gotten into you!? You're not even together with him for three days and you're already trying to throw him away? Not that am I over the loss of Darren either..."

She's trying to process what I just asked, "Seriously, who are you!? The real Lucia would never let others have what belongs to her!"

"You misunderstand. I don't plan to abandon him."

"Then what?"

"If I could I would keep him all to myself but... it seems like this situation may not allow that."

"What do you want to say?"

"Look at this skill I gained."

Unholy Matrimony

Passive

Spouses you're properly married to become linked and count as one for certain mechanics.

Polygamy is only acceptable if all involved parties consent.

All spouses are always in the same party and only take up one party slot total.

For exp gain adjustments, all spouses beyond the first count as half.

Titles are shared, including otherwise unique titles, but still obey the 20 title limit.

Class, race and title levels are now the same between spouses, matched by position in each category,

e.g. if one spouse has their first class at level 10 and another at level 12, they now both have level 12 in their first class.

The exp debt for level syncing will be deducted from future exp income.

For fulfilling class requirements it now suffices if any spouse either meets the requirements or already has the class.

If one spouse has fewer classes than another, they may add a class without using a Class Core.

Summoned spirits are shared between spouses. If multiple spouses possess summon skills, only the higher leveled skill counts.

Any spouse can summon the shared spirits at their cost, even if they lack the necessary skill.

She carefully reads through the skill description.

She looks confused, "What has that to do with anything, Lucia?"

"When Jared asked who I'd be willing to take along I chose you because you are good at keeping secrets, not like Sena or Nea. And this skill is a big one."

"That I can see..."

"If you're willing I would let you join our family. If you accept, this skill would give you similar power to us."

Please decline. I want to keep Jared to myself, I do not wish to share him...

"That's a lot to ask, Lucia. You're asking me to make a life-altering decision without knowing anything or anyone really."

"I know."

"Sorry, but for now I have to decline. I'm still not over Darren and I know nothing about you two."

"That's fine. I knew or at least hoped you'd decline."

"So your jealousy still works as ever?"

"Yeah, you got me there. We're pretty familiar with each other, aren't we?"

"That... yes, I would say we are."

Y̴͒͜ó̵̦ṵ̵̇ ̵̻̓h̶̞̑ȁ̸͕v̸͉̈́e̴̲̓ ̶̼̀t̴̉͜a̶̟̒k̵̹̃e̴͍̿n̶̛̤ ̵̹̾I̸͕͂r̸͙͆i̸̬̅s̵͖̄ ̵̎ͅa̸̟̒s̸͓̑ ̵̺̾y̵͙͠ö̷̺u̶͈̅r̸̢̀ ̷͓̆f̶͔́a̶̫̋m̴̥̕ĩ̷̘l̴͈̑ï̷̝a̵͕͝r̶͎͂.̶̢̕

̸̤̐Y̵̮͌ò̸̞u̸͇͑ ̷̤͑ć̴̻ů̵͍r̸̢̔r̵͛ͅe̴̘̿n̶͎̏t̵̙̚l̷̦͝y̴͇͊ ̸̭̅h̶͉͠á̴͍v̵̛̻e̸̯͛ ̸̧̌4̵̩̈́/̷̥͗3̴̮̈́ ̸̺́f̵̑ͅä̴͇ḿ̸̻i̴̙͠l̷̝̒i̶̤̍a̴̮͝r̷̪̈(̷̣͐ŝ̷͔)̸̞́.̵̙̄

That doesn't look right...

"Seems like I fell for another trick from you, Lucia. I hope you're happy now... *sigh* And here I hoped at least that part of you would've changed. Can you at least explain to me what just happened? What even is a 'familiar'? I don't understand..."

"Eh, sure. Long story short, you belong to us now. You basically can never get to dislike us. Emm, sorry about that. In exchange, you get a few extra skills from us. Wait, which one did Jared assign again... Let me quickly check."

Limit 0/1 Shared Skills Sleepless Active Familiars Chloe, Geoffrey, Iris, Marca

Uh, why does it say zero out of one? There is already a skill assigned. I should ask Jared later, I might misunderstand what the limit is for. I thought it was how many skills we can grant our familiars.

"I gained the [Sleepless] skill."

"Yeah, that's the one. You will get a few more bonuses once we raise our [Familiar] skill to a higher level."

"And why did you go to these lengths? Don't you trust your friends that you have to force them to like you?"

"Ah, no, it is just about the skills you gain from us. Jared planned to later grant all of you the [Ageless] skill so we can stay together forever, isn't he nice?"

"I don't know, Lucia. I've known you for a few years now. I know you often tried to trick people into doing something that you think is better for them. But this? I don't like this."

"Trust me, it is for the better."

Maybe not anymore, once Jared considers the more hidden options of that skill. The menu for that skill is quite misplaced but by now he must certainly have found it, right?

Turning a familiar into a special creature like a Thrall, a Blood Doll or an Abomination addicted to vampire blood... there are quite a few extreme options there...

At least, I don't feel a draw to any of those. But if I have to... I can use them...

"Promise me you won't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you, Iris."

"What are you on about now?"

"Normally, a familiar keeps its free will. Well, mostly. But if necessary Jared or I as your masters could issue absolute orders that you can't go against. ...please don't ever let me use that. I trust Jared to be respectful with that option but not myself..."

"Lucia...", a worried look crosses Iris' face, "I'll... keep that in mind..."

"Although if you don't want to be a familiar, marrying us both is still on the table. Just for you though. There may be a few side effects but look at me, I've turned out fine, right?"

"And who says that I'm okay with that?", an angry Jared slams the door shut.

Oh, damn, when did Jared enter? I didn't notice him.

Though, I'm not sure if this is good or bad. Finally getting clarity should put my mind at ease.

I want to keep Jared to myself, but... I will probably have to endure another spouse or two sooner or later if we're serious about destroying the demon artifact...

And if I have to share him for all eternity... I want to get it over with. The longer I'm used to having Jared just for me, the more it will hurt when another takes some of his attention away from me.

I couldn't bear that...

Why can't life ever be simple?

"Uh, hi, dear. Why not? Do you have anything against her?"

"Nothing. I just don't know her yet. There's no chemistry to go off of. No offense, Iris."

"None taken, I... feel the same."

"So... would you consider her, Jared?"

Jared sighs, "Lucia, what are you plotting?"

"Huh?"

"If I may", Iris voices her opinion, "I think she is just worried about me. I've... recently lost my boyfriend of two years. He died to some monsters. I suspect she wants me to get over it by distracting me with a new relationship."

"I'm not sure this is a good base for the consequences our... special type of marriage would carry."

So he isn't strictly against her? That... doesn't make me happy...

"No, that's not all I had in mind there."

"Go on", Jared seems impatient.

"I... don't want to share you with another girl, if I can avoid it. But my [Unholy Matrimony] tells me that we should drag more people into it. It... is a confusing sensation."

"Wait, your skill talks to you?"

"No. It is more like a feeling, a desire to make use of it."

Jared scratches his head, "What did I expect, we're talking about a Demon Lord class skill here. Of course, it would work based on such temptations..."

Iris gets wide-eyed, "Demon Lord?"

"Ah, sorry, Iris... I haven't told you everything yet. When I 'lost' the Holy Maiden class it was replaced with the Cursed Queen class which is apparently a Demon Lord."

"You don't mean-"

"Sadly, she is serious. But so far it didn't cause any trouble."

"That's... reassuring. A bit at least."

Jared thinks for a while.

"Ok, so executive decision, until we know what is going on with your skill, Lucia, we will not use it. And don't even think about issuing weird orders, I heard that part earlier."

"Wha- how long did you eavesdrop?"

"Maybe not long enough. Iris, did she say anything else I should worry about?"

"Eh, no, apart from making me a familiar out of nowhere, everything is fine."

"Right, that."

I'm relieved that Jared made that decision but... something about this still feels wrong...

I should be happy about it. I really should. Then why am I not?

Jared thinks for a moment, then continues, "Can I assume you'll work with us then?"

"I don't really know how useful I'll be", I glare at Iris, "but I'll give it a shot."

I go over to her and hug her, "Thanks, Iris. You don't know how much it means to me to keep you as my friend."

I whisper into her ear, "Just don't go against me. You understand the consequences?"

She nods.

"Iris, do we have to take care of anything for you to leave the church? Where will you even stay then?"

"Don't worry about that. Since I will be serving under our holy figure that is just a small issue I can take care of myself. As for where I stay... I have no place yet."

"Good, then tell Maria that she should prepare one of the rooms as your permanent residence. We have enough unused space. She will also take care of your meals."

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

"I think that is enough for today. Or do you two have anything else you want to clear up first?"

"No, I'm good, dear."

"Likewise, I will take care of the aforementioned matters now."

With that Iris leaves us alone.

Jared gets up as well, "I guess we shouldn't let the others wait any longer."

We go outside the room where everyone is waiting. Iris is talking to Maria as ordered. Geoffrey stands in the corner tending to a black eye.

"Okay, listen up, everyone. Iris will be joining us. That leaves one open party member spot. I assume no one has a suggestion right now, so I'd like to postpone that for a day or two. How about meeting again in two days and everyone thinks about who or what we need?"

"Sounds like a plan", says Marca.

Geoffrey agrees, "Yeah, fine by me. You, Chloe?"

She sounds a bit down, "Yeah, sure. See you in two days."

With that, today's meeting has ended.