AN: Hello, your lazy author presents you with chapter 50 :D. Enjoy!

It's been a little while, been a bit busy, and my side projects were easier to work on :P .

PR by Bboybrian

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3 weeks after giving Eliane the samples, she told me that her parents were very satisfied with the products, and that they would like to meet me to discuss an agreement. So it was decided that the girls and I would accompany Eliane back to her house at the start of the mid-year break and stay there for a few days. I had originally planned to focus on crafting and homework during that break, but business comes first.

As for Muriem and Kerrina, aside from studying, they would share their time between taking requests at the adventurer guild and improving their own crafting. They wished to reach disciple rank in tailoring and leatherworking before graduating from the academy. They knew they weren't as good as me, and considering the school work, they gave themselves more time to reach that stage.

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It was a Qotrus afternoon, and I was taking a stroll in the forest with Kerrina, Muriem and Komodo. It was mostly for the sake of the nature lovers that were Kerrina and Komodo, it would always raise their mood. Each time, Komodo would try to venture to new places, and we would follow him. There were no dangerous beasts or monsters in the area, at least not for us. We took a break at a small stream, and the girls took of their boots and went in the water to refresh their feet.

Kerrina: “You really are something.” she said while looking at me with a slightly anxious expression on her face.

Aenthar: “What do you mean by that?”

Kerrina: “You're incredible. Ever since we were kids, you've always been. Me, the other children of Argot, my brother. We all had dreams and ideas about our future, but they were still just children's fantasies. But not you.”

Muriem: “That's right. You're always looking ahead, always looking into the future. You've always been making plans for what you wanted to do and what you would need to do it.”

Kerrina: “From what I heard since coming here, it isn't that rare to see young children seriously planning for their future. What is incredible is the things you planned and made. Using alchemy, you made entirely new products or greatly improved existing ones. Using blacksmithing, you created a new system of suspension. Those things happen to be really usefull for us, and will be for our travel.”

Kerrina: “I always wonder, where do you get the inspiration, the ideas for the things you make? You're doing things only a great mind could do. What you're doing will definitly have an influence on many fields, not just a single one or two like it was the case for the people of the past hailed as geniuses. And next to you, sometimes I feel so... small...”

Muriem: “... Yeah, I get that feeling too. Sometimes I feel useless. We wouldn't be here without you, and even with that there are still plenty of people better than us. At least Kerrina has some serious skill with the bow, but I on the other hand... I was praised for my use of unusual martial arts, but even this came from Aenthar. Sometimes I feel like the only good thing I have is my ass...”

With that last senstence Kerrina and I couldn't help but smile, albeit wryly. It didn't lighten the mood though.

Kerrina: “Are we really worthy to be by your side? Won't you lose your interest in us for women more capable than us? We've been putting a lot of efforts in our betterment, but it feels like we're still so far away. You do seem to get along well with that noble girl from the student council, with whom you got an agreement for your new product. And many more girls have got their eyes on you, you know?"

Muriem: “You're not the only one having to deal with jealous people. There are many girls in our classes who are jealous of our closeness to you. Some in the martial arts department have started to be more active, seeing us as their rivals and dead set on surpassing us to prove their worth to you, to take our places."

Kerrina: "Some of better birth like to point out our lower social status compared to themselves. Im sure they would be more useful than us for your plans to travel around and sell your products. They already have money and connections after all.”

Aenthar: “...”

Right. They feel overshadowed by me. Besides, it is no longer Argot, where they were the best among the girls, the strongest and the smartest. They are now in the capital of a kingdom, in an acdemy that nutures only the most skilled people.

I've read and watched stories about people that feel overshadowed by a friend or a sibling. It can be really painful for them, they feel left behind, slowly losing their self confidence, lowering their self esteem. It can slowly but surely lead to ressentment or worse, despair. I can cheer them up, but it would only be a temporary solution at best.

They need to achieve something significant to regain their self confidence. In the novels I've read with a genius main character, the harem members tend to just think “He is so good”, “as expected of him”, “I just have to support him to the best of my abilities”, or the rivalry/jealousy is just between the girls, one feeling left out compared to the others.

It's different when the girl feels like that towards her lover. What to do when you shine too much in front of your girls? They knowing that you will shine even brighter in the future? They may be happy for me, but not enough for themselves. I'll have to think about it seriously and resolve it before leaving to explore the world.

I went into the stream and slowly embraced them.

Aenthar: “Girls, you think you are lacking? We are all lacking, even me. That's why we came to the academy. To get better! 4 months ago I would whip your asses in close combat, now you are keeping up with me. Do not look at what you can do now, as this is just the beginning of your improvement."

Aenthar: "Imagine how much better you would be when we leave the academy, how much you would have learned. Besides, even if I can do many things, I'm just one man, even I need help and support. And for me, you are the best support I could have, more than any other girl, if you leave me I would be lost.”

After a precious moment of heartwarming embrace...

Muriem: “Since you would need a lot of support in the future, I've been wondering. How many lovers do you intend to have in the end?”

Aenthar: “... That's quite the difficult question you're asking there...”

Kerrina: “I'm curious as well. Tell us!”

Aenthar: “Zanitras, Kliavren, Drywumbi, Lazecqath. We're bond to meet a very high number of people while traveling around the world. I hope to settle down with no more than 5 lovers in the end.”

Muriem: “Oh. And here I thought you wanted to get a girl from each race when you started to list the continents.”

Aenthar: “Nah! With 5 lovers I've got 1 for each night of the week!”

Though Muriem got amused by my joke, Kerrina did not and squeezed my dick in retaliation. But it didn't have the expected result.

Kerrina: “... What's with that reaction?”

Aenthar: “... You girls are just that special to me. A simple touch from you can do wonders.” 'No, seriously, if one of you touch me down there I can't help myself!'

Muriem: “We've never done it outdoors before, let's run wild!!”

Kerrina: “You, really...”

With that said, Muriem and I started to take off our clothes, followed a little later by Kerrina. For the first time since we've been together, we had sex outdoors. I usually am the one in control, but this time they were the huntresses and I was the prey. A very willing prey.

I guess it was also a way for them to reassure themselves of their importance to me, especially after that depressing conversation. I would never have known how much Kerrina loved sex in the wilderness if not for our outdoors shag. 'Truly a child of nature', I sighed inwardly, thinking about how much more feisty and enjoyable our travels together would be.

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AN: Trying to give more depth to the girls, hoping I'm not doing badly

I wanted to put a pun at the end of the chapter with "relieved" and "fulfilled" and asked Bboy's opinion, he shot the idea down... ha ha ha hi hou haa, I though my jokes were bad, but not that much... (T_T)

I screwed my driving license test on the 21, and the next opportunity to pass the test was supposed to be in december... My instructor called me today, a place opened up for this Thursday. Luck is with me!!!