Thankfully, Naiad was also able to nudge Awilix’s temperance, making it rival her carnality and somewhat quelling her current lust.

After that...

Awilix began her tour of "Fort Tranquility."

The area hidden behind the stone wall. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Not that Vale knew this place had a name until now... or whether it was unnamed until now. But...

Awilix happily pointed at the three beds lined up under the canopy of trees.

"Here are the sleeping quarters!"

The excited cat pointed toward a bed with four multicolored quilts woven together to create one fabric-like, messy mass.

"That one’s mine!"

’She’s a little riled up.’

It seemed Naiad’s healing, other than the prodding of her essence, had truly filled Awilix with vitality. She was bounding around as if she’d gotten the best sleep she had in years.

"That’s Toy’s. Don’t make a comment about the dirt sack! Also, that one’s Vale’s! He said he put it on the other side of that tree because I snore, but I’m pretty sure he simply has a hard time resisting my allure!"

To that one, Vale smiled.

’Can’t it be a bit of both?’

Naiad followed along with a look of genuine interest.

The cat began darting up one of the massive trees while shouting:

"Ask the lustful man for a bed of your own!"

Naiad chuckled, then said:

"I don’t need such a thing. I don’t sleep."

Awilix bounded onto the bough, then looked down and said:

"Ah. You’re like the ice bitch and shockshit."

"Oh...?"

Vale sighed, then clarified.

"Ximena and Mias. I told you about them back in the Dungeon Core."

"Ah."

Naiad nodded along.

Awilix peeked over from her elevated position, then said:

"This is my second favorite napping spot!" She pointed to a small clearing within the wooded area. "And that’s where Toy and I spar!"

The sea nymph let out pattering claps.

"How neat."

Then, after a slight pause, she asked:

"Are there any bodies of water?"

Awilix shook her head.

"Not that we’ve discovered. But there is one outside... not that the headless lecher would... I mean Vale would let you go."

’Headless lecher?!’

Since when was that his name?

"What does that mean?!"

"Does what?"

"Headless lecher?"

Awilix tilted her head, then asked:

"What’s that?"

Vale closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

’Is she insinuating I’m dumb?’

While Vale cared not for a nickname, even a derogatory one, something about the idiocy of said name was peeving him.

’At least make it make sense!’

Vale muttered softly, then said:

"Actually, once Naiad becomes more acclimated to the dungeon, she may be brought up from time to time."

’Her healing ability was a life-changer.’

It was one that didn’t cost anything except Aether.

"Huh?! The hell, lecherous head?! And Toy and I are still confined here?!"

’At least remember your insult and say it correctly!’

And...

’I never officially ordered you to stay here...’

Maybe he implied it. But never stated it.

"Toy is here as overseer of the imps and de facto boss of this floor. You’re here because you’d attack any whom you suspected of being a Warrior of Envy. Or maybe even our human tenants."

Upon the word "human," Naiad grew a sour look.

Toy broke her silence, perhaps having sensed Naiad’s displeasure, and asked:

"You don’t like humans?"

With a honeyed tone, Naiad asked:

"Do you?"

"I mean..." Toy scratched her cheek. "I don’t have a reason to dislike them; however, I’ve yet to meet a nice one."

"A nice one... those don’t exist. How can they among those heartless destroyers?"

Awilix hissed:

"They exist... but you’d only find them under piles and piles of shit."

Vale looked up, curiosity filling his expression.

’She defended humans?’

How odd.

That wasn’t something Vale expected...

Though it wasn’t as if she defended all humans, but she’d acknowledged some good ones did exist. A notion Vale very much agreed with.

After all, he’d been a human who’d met that occasional good human...

Not that he was one of them.

He wouldn’t be here if he was, would he?

"Hmm..." Naiad pursed her lips. "Perhaps. It’s not as though I’ve met one; or rather... talked to one."

’Ah...’

Vale slightly frowned upon the reminder.

’The person who can identify people through essence just denied my humanity.’

Though that was something Vale had repeatedly been informed of and long since accepted.

Vale quickly readopted his smile.

"Speaking of them..."

The crowd of three looked at Vale.

"I’ve just learned the first battle has taken place. Soon, many more will follow. Though I’m doubtful that will extend to this frontier."

’Yet... at least.’

The cat began hanging off the branch as curiosity filled her eyes:

"Oh? Who won?"

"I was told it was a tie, though I’m half certain that may be propaganda. I believe Celestia won — but it was not a skirmish. The battle took place at sea, and I believe it was an attack by Sigil Masters who’d left explosive inscriptions within the waters."

The cat’s eye twitched.

"Uhh... okay."

Then, she swung herself back onto the top of the branch and ’quietly’ muttered:

"I only asked who won, dipshit. Not what happened or what you think..."

Vale sighed.

"You know I can hear you?"

"Good!"

Toy palmed her forehead, then said:

"She gets annoyed by your technical and rationalist mindset."

Naiad herself giggled.

"Are all your Champions like her, Master Vale?"

Vale shook his head.

"Disrespectful and profane? I’d like to say no... but sadly, the only one who treats me with true respect is Ximena."

Sivian still went after his blood. Salome, who’d once seen him as lesser, now saw him as an equal. And Mias...

Vale needn’t give a reason after what he’d pulled.

Sadly...

As respectful as Naiad was, that respect and reverence was born from her sexual desires.

Or at least that’s how Vale interpreted her actions.

’But she’s a nice addition...’

One who possessed both maturity and a frivolous relationship with lust.

She’d most definitely be good company for Toy and Awilix.