The OP MC 5: God of Winning

by Logan Jacobs

  Then my gaze landed on Mahini, and her ice-blue eyes were full of adoration when they pierced into me from across the table. Elissa leaned over to whisper something in the desert goddess’ ear, and her attention was pulled away, so my eyes moved on. Beside the two whispering ladies, Eva sipped her beverage serenely, and her gray eyes were warm as she considered her companions.

  I was the luckiest man in the world.

  I yawned deeply and stretched my arms as the heavy meal began to settle into my stomach, and the full day of travel stiffened my shoulders. I was ready to spread out in the massive, luxurious bed down the hallway, so I pushed myself to a stand and cleared my throat.

  “Our journey to Vallenwood was full of laughter, song, and good conversation, but we had some danger thrown in there as well.” I gave my companions a proud smile. “You all did very well, and I’m proud of you. Whatever luxuries we are afforded during our stay in the palace have been well-earned, so make sure you enjoy every moment. Tomorrow night we will reconvene to attend the banquet and the ball, but you have the rest of the day off. I’m off to bed.”

  “Not without us, you aren’t,” my wife countered with a defiant jut of her chin, and she hopped to her feet. “Goodnight, everyone!”

  “So dramatic,” Mahini murmured as she pushed back her chair.

  “I think she’s cute,” Eva giggled as she followed suit.

  The rest of our companions waved goodnight to us, and then I led the three ladies down the hallway to my massive bed. This was going to be a night of epic cuddles, and I was eager for some solid sleep. After the assassin attack, it had been a struggle to stay asleep all night long while we were traveling, even when I didn’t have a watch shift.

  I could be a little bit less cautious in a palace full of armed guards.

  The four of us crawled into bed and positioned ourselves against the countless pillows, and I nuzzled my nose sleepily into Elissa’s curly locks.

  “Sweet dreams,” I whispered, but it turned into a yawn halfway through.

  “Sleep well, Great One,” Mahini murmured from the other side of Eva, who laid against my left side.

  “I love you, Bash…” Elissa yawned.

  “Me, too…” Eva added in a sleepy voice.

  “I love all three of you,” I insisted before I drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

  I had dreams of dancing with two left feet all night long, and one where Elissa had a baby with curly red hair bundled up in her arms, so I awoke early the next day with a silly smile on my face.

  Would I have a child soon?

  I hadn’t used any form of birth control since I’d been in this medieval fantasy world, and I’d filled all three women with my sperm too many times to count. The logical conclusion was at least one of them would be pregnant soon, but I wasn’t sure if biology followed the same rules in this world as it had in my old world.

  Either way, there was no point in worrying about it. I’d either become a dad soon or not, but I’d cross that bridge when I came to it. For the moment, I had to focus on the situation in Vallenwood. I planned on furthering my own level of prestige, building my army, gathering information about dragon smithing, and scoping out the nobles for signs of treachery.

  I had more than enough on my plate already.

  The day of the banquet would be full since I didn’t want to waste a single moment in Vallenwood, so I quickly dressed in some comfortable clothes, threw on my boots and belt, and then went off in search of two of my companions. I would need their help to accomplish my goals for the day, but they wouldn’t be too hard to find since we were all staying in the same section of the palace.

  The living space was empty save for Kylor when I entered the room, and I peeked inside the kitchen and dining room before I approached the red-haired soldier.

  “Hey, Kylor,” I greeted, and I clapped him on the shoulder before I took a seat on the couch beside him. “Have you seen Jax or Rion today?”

  “They’re probably not awake yet,” Kylor informed me with a sideways smile. “They were up until late last night playing cards and drinking.”

  “Hmm.” I scratched my chin as I thought about what to do. “Alright. Thanks anyway.”

  I could wait for them, or I could go into the city alone, but then I’d just have to explain to them what I’d done anyway, so it would be better if the three of us went together. Once I’d decided, I went off in search of another companion who could help me with another task I needed to accomplish before the banquet. I found Bellona in the library, and she had a large volume spread out across a table.

  “Good morning.” I flashed her a bright smile. “I was wondering if you had time to help me pick out my outfit for tonight. I’d like to get it out of the way early so I can focus on other things until the banquet starts.”

  “I was just waiting for you to wake up,” Bellona said as she returned my broad smile with one of her own. “I came in here to keep myself from pacing outside your chamber door.”

  “You’re even more excited than I am,” I laughed.

  “Like I said,” the seamstress replied with a coy smile. “This has been my dream my entire life. Thank you, Great One, for making it a reality.”

  “You are most welcome.” I inclined my head. “Thank you for all the hard work you do. You’re irreplaceable, my dear.”

  “It’s nothing…” Bellona blushed, and she pushed a stray tendril of hair behind her ear in a self-conscious manner. “I’d be doing it anyway.”

  “Oh, one other thing!” An idea suddenly crossed my mind, and I latched onto it immediately as I gave the seamstress a mischievous smile and rubbed my hands together. “I want Jax to be dressed up in something covered in lace.”

  “Ohh…” Bellona’s eyes lit up with understanding. “Maybe something bright pink?”

  “Polka dotted?” I countered with a lifted eyebrow.

  “Definitely frilly,” the seamstress insisted with a serious nod.

  “You, my dear,” I laughed. “Are an evil genius.”

  “It takes one to know one, apparently,” she shot back with a wink. “Don’t worry about a thing, Bash. I’ll have us all in outfits unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.”

  “There’s not much time to prepare.” I scratched my chin. “Are you sure you can manage before the end of the day?”

  “I’ve already started working on fancy dinner wear for you and your three women,” the seamstress informed me. “I would just need a couple of hours to prepare Jax’s outfit, as well as to make some last-minute adjustments to the rest of the uniforms.”

  “Jax will wonder why he isn’t allowed to wear the uniform like everyone else,” I mused out loud. “We’ll have to come up with a reason.”

  “I’ll think of something,” she assured me. “Now, let’s go take your measurements again. If I’m not mistaken, your muscle mass has increased significantly since you first came to Bastianville.”

  “Alright,” I chuckled.

  The seamstress was right, of course, but I wouldn’t expect anything else from her skilled eyes. I’d been straining into the sleeves of my shirts for a while, and it wouldn’t be long before the fabric around my biceps ripped just because I flexed or something. I was long overdue for a new fitting, and it was the perfect time to do just that.

  The two of us walked back through the west wing toward the bedroom Bellona had claimed as her own, but the room resembled her workshop back in Bastianville more than it did a sleeping space.

  I spent the next hour or so frozen in one place while Bellona took a measuring string around my person. The string was knotted at even segments, and the seamstress wrapped it around every inch of my body while muttering under her breath. I didn’t dare to even breath until she instructed me to relax my gut so she could get an accurate reading, but then her fingers tickled against my sides, and I squirmed.

  “Hold still,” she huffed, but then her voice softened. “Please.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” I chuckled, and I did
my best to follow her commands.

  It felt like an eternity had passed before she released me from the stance I’d been holding, and then we took some time to discuss fabric choices. Bellona showed me the outfit she’d already started for me, and she’d chosen a solid black doublet to etch my crest onto. I’d pair the vest with a dark green under shirt with billowy sleeves.

  “I’d recommend slicking your hair back with oil as well,” Bellona suggested as she folded the strips of fabric back up into neat little stacks. “The other nobles will be wearing fancy wigs, but I don’t think that suits you. No, you’re better off maintaining your youthful appearance.”

  “It confuses more people when they find out I’m a god,” I agreed with a nod. “Wigs aren’t my thing, anyway.”

  “I didn’t think so.” Bellona smiled. “I brought some oil my husband used to use when he was younger if you would like to try it.”

  “Thank you.” I grinned. “You’ve been a tremendous help already.”

  “That’s what I’m here for,” Bellona laughed. “And the food.”

  “It is to die for, isn’t it?” My stomach growled to accentuate my point. “I skipped breakfast, though, so I should probably go find something to eat before I starve to death.”

  “That did sound dire.” Bellona smiled. “Enjoy your meal, Great One.”

  I waved goodbye to the seamstress before I returned to the main living space of the west wing. There were some remnants of breakfast strewn across the kitchen counter, and I grabbed a pastry as I passed by. I shoved the food in my mouth and swallowed it after only chewing it a couple of times, and then I scrutinized the rest of the spread.

  I grabbed a plate, and I filled it with eggs, bacon, and potatoes. The food was still warm, so I knew it had only been delivered a short while before, but none of my companions were eating in the kitchen or the dining room. I chomped down on my meal in solitude, but I didn’t mind having a few moments alone with my thoughts.

  I ran over my goals for the day in my head while I ate. I wanted to find some recruits to join my army, discuss dragon armor with Jax’s contact in the city, and then be back in time to get ready for the banquet that night. By the time I’d finished my food, I heard movement in the adjoining room

  I was confident I could accomplish everything I wanted to with Jax and Riondale’s help, so when I was done eating, I dropped my dirty dishes off in the kitchen before going to find the two men I considered my best friends.

  I found Jax lounging in the living room on what was quickly becoming his favorite chair, and I jerked my chin upward in greeting.

  “Mornin’,” Jax growled.

  “How’d you sleep?” I asked with a mischievous grin.

  “Like a babe,” the blacksmith responded. “I don’t know what they put in them beds, but we gotta get some for Bastianville.”

  “I agree,” I laughed. “Hey, have you seen Riondale this morning?”

  “Aye.” Jax nodded. “He grabbed some food and then muttered something about cleaning his armor. Kid won’t relax for a single second, I tell ya.”

  “We’ll teach him some balance soon enough.” I smirked. “Don’t you worry. We’re all going to learn a few things on this trip.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Jax narrowed his eyes with suspicion.

  “You’ll see,” I chuckled. “Don’t go anywhere. I’m going to go grab Ri-guy, and then the three of us are going into town.”

  “Aye, I figured as much.” Jax nodded. “I’ll be right here til you need me, Bash.”

  I found Riondale in one of the rooms down the long corridor of the west wing, and the young lieutenant was bent over his armor with a cleaning rag in hand. The door was standing open, so I knocked on the frame as I cleared my throat to get his attention. Riondale’s head swiveled around, but then he flashed me a broad smile.

  “Good morning, sir.” The young lieutenant wiped his hands on the rag, and then he tossed it to the side and pushed himself to his feet. “What can I do for you?”

  “Come with me.” I grinned. “You, me, and Jax are going into the city.”

  “Yes, sir.” Riondale nodded curtly. “I need to put on my armor, but I’ll be ready to head out shortly.”

  “Then meet me in the living room when you’re ready.” I turned to leave. “And bring some paper and a quill.”

  “Yes, sir.” Riondale saluted before he busied himself with his armor once more.

  I returned to the living space, and I got comfortable on one of the sofas while I waited for the lieutenant. Jax had his eyes closed and one arm slung across his face when Riondale trotted into the room, so I nudged the blacksmith on the leg to signal it was time to leave. Jaxtom lumbered to his feet and nodded in greeting to Riondale, and then the three of us headed out of the west wing to the main entrance of the palace.

  Our conversation was kept to a minimum as we traversed the maze-like corridors, and we walked at a brisk pace until we came to the humongous double doors. The guards standing on either side of the portal quickly moved to pull them open for us, and they eyed us with obvious fear. I pictured our trio from an outside perspective, and I decided the three of us made for an intimidating presence.

  That was fine with me.

  The morning sun was warm on my skin when we strode out into the courtyard, but a short while later, we were beneath the shadows of the tall structures in the city, so my skin grew chilled once more. It was still early in the day despite how much time I’d spent with the seamstress, but we had a lot to accomplish before the sun set that night.

  “Jax,” I said as I signaled for the two men to halt. “Let’s go talk to your contact about the dragon armor first.”

  “Aye,” the blacksmith growled. “I was hopin’ you’d say that. It’s been a long time, and I’d like to lay my eyes on the old man sooner rather than later.”

  “Lead the way,” I said, and I gestured to the street ahead of us.

  “I ain’t been to his house before,” Jax admitted with a sheepish expression. “But I know he lives in the tradesman district above his forge.”

  “Well, let’s go find him, then.” I nodded in understanding.

  Finding the guy was going to be an adventure in itself.

  We marched down the street at a rapid pace, but I had to consult my mental map of the city multiple times to prevent us from getting turned around. I hadn’t explored Vallenwood very much during my last visit, but I’d studied the map closely enough to know where the tradesmen district laid, so I took the lead. When we heard the clamoring of metal on metal, I knew we were close, so my speed increased even more.

  Riondale and Jax stayed hot on my tail, and they didn’t ask how I knew where I was going. I supposed they would just assume it was all part of my godly powers, and I didn’t mind letting them think so.

  I smelled the stench of freshly cured leather, felt the radiant heat of multiple forges, and heard the sounds of heavy labor ahead. Then we turned a corner, and the tradesmen district laid before us.

  “Let’s split up,” I suggested. “We’ll make better time that way. Jax, what’s the guy’s name we’re looking for?”

  “Aryon,” Jax growled with an eager look in his eyes. “Aryon Dunn. He’d be an old man by now. I ain’t seen him in years.”

  “Got it.” I nodded.

  “He’s a smith?” Riondale questioned, and Jax and I both nodded. “Understood.”

  I made a new save point in case I needed to save time by resetting to an earlier point in the day. Then the three of us split up, and we began to comb the entire district for any information about the blacksmith named Aryon Dunn. I watched the sun inch across the sky with growing trepidation, but I knew I would take as much time as I could. It was important we figure out how to work the materials I’d harvested from the dragon into a suit of armor, and it didn’t matter how long it took, I was determined to see it through.

  We spent several more hours searching, and I talked to more people than I cared to remembe
r, but then the three of us met back up on the other end of the street.

  “I found someone who thinks they know his old lady,” Jax reported, and he tapped his toe against the paving stones with obvious impatience. “They showed me where she lives, and it’s above a forge that’s run cold.”

  “Good work.” I grinned.

  I didn’t even need to reset to my save point since it seemed as though luck was on our side so far.

  “Follow me,” Jax grunted, and then he headed back up the street.

  The blacksmith veered down a side road, took another right, and then stopped in front of a boarded-up smithy. The forge looked like it hadn’t burned in years, and the windows of the shop were covered in planks. A small doorway on the side of the shop led to a stairwell, and Jax headed up them without hesitation.

  Riondale and I exchanged a glance before we followed the eager blacksmith up the steps, and then we all paused outside the door at the very top. Jax knocked firmly, and he pressed an ear against the portal.

  “Anyone there?” he hollered through the wood barrier. “It’s Jax.”

  We waited with bated breath for what seemed like an eternity before Jax turned to give me a disappointed look.

  “Looks like a bust after all,” he grumbled, but then the door opened the smallest amount.

  “Who’s there?” The voice sounded ancient, and female.

  “It’s Jax,” the blacksmith practically shouted, and his face lit up with excitement.

  I wondered who this old man was that we were looking for, and why he was such an important person to the blacksmith, but I supposed I’d get my answers soon enough. In the meantime, I would just enjoy seeing the blacksmith so happy and excited while it lasted.

  “Young Jaxtom?” The old woman threw open the door and stared out at us with large blue eyes. She scanned the blacksmith up and down for a long moment, and then recognition bloomed in her gaze. “Jaxy! It is you! Please, come in, come in…”

  The three of us squeezed inside the tiny door frame and entered the small apartment. The entryway opened into a quaint living room with a loveseat and a single chair, but another doorway on the far wall boasted at least one more room in the space.