HeroI made it to the inn, walked by the lego girl who was still bouncing up and down and entered the room with my rge key. I appeared in the room and instantly noticed three things. The chair was empty, the room was messed up, and a knife was at my throat. A sharp pain, and I appeared in the town square.

  I turned, and began walking back to the inn. I pulled out my dagger as I did and stormed past the still bouncing innkeeper. I pushed my key against the door and went in swinging.. only to find Alissa and Amanda having tea on the bed. Which was immacute.

  I put the knife away as Amanda tried to jump up, but she winced and sat back down as the knife, fully embedded in her rib twisted courtesy of Alissa who was still casually drinking her tea. “Like I was saying Amanda the Strategist. You are very important to our harem.”“You mean team..” I said weakly.

  She looked at me, looked at Alissa, then shrugged. “Same thing really”

  I sigh and say “I don’t know how I am expected to get her on our side though Alissa. Truth is, my skill still has a four day cool down.”

  I pulled it up to double check. Because sometimes these skills change on me. Where mind control was, the skill was now called The Power of Friendship. The description made me want to delete it from my skill list.. if I could.

  ‘The Power of Friendship is eversting! You may use this on anybody at any time and they will instantly become your friend and party member! Note: This skill only affects harem members.’

  If it worked on anyone, why did it only work on harem members? What even was considered a harem member? Why did it look like Alissa rewrote my skill herself?

  “I stand corrected..” I said to myself.

  “Wow, that is just like a hero! Of course your skills simply improve over time!” The Princess said as she entered the room. Her dress was back to normal. The reload probably fixed it.

  I looked at Amanda, ignoring the Princess. “So, I am gonna use this skill on you now since you're part of the harem?” I wasn’t sure if I was asking or telling. Didn’t seem to matter.

  “Make sure to use it full on me then. No half measures. If I am going to join this team, I demand full friendship.” She said casually as she took another sip of tea.

  I nodded and brought my hand up. Too uncaring of the casual statement to respond. “I can’t wait until Princess Melody of the beast kin tribe gives birth to your child hero!” The Princess said suddenly. I once again ignored her, making note of the person we would be talking to.

  After a moment, a popup notification dinged and I read it.

  You cannot use this skill on someone already in your party.

  I looked at Amanda, who looked back at me, bored and drinking the st of her tea. “Apparently you're already part of the team.” I said and turned to leave.

  “Wow, not even going to christen our new team member. For shame, Hero!” Alissa said, sounding disappointing.

  “It’s okay Alissa, he clearly has to save the world. Don’t mind me.” Amanda said in a sad tone.

  “Do not worry! The hero is not leaving for no reason! He is clearly getting items to make the moment more enjoyable like he did for me!” The Princess chimed in. “Of course, the st time he did that, he was gone a whole week and came back with a harem!”

  I turned to them with a smile and said the only thing I could think of. “Of course I am leaving. The two of you need to.. christen?” I asked Alissa, who nodded. “Our newest member, teach her the ways of.. ship freeing?”

  I then turned and went to push my key up to the door, but not before I heard words that would haunt me forever. “The Hero is right! Remove your clothes everyone, I brought the chains!” The door made the unlocking sound and I appeared on the other side.

  To be clear, it wasn’t that I wasn’t interested. But I wasn’t in the mood. The memory of the princess glitching up into a standing position was making my stomach curl. That was not forepy no matter what fantasy world you lived in.

  My only joy was the fact that I couldn’t hear them there. I left the inn and walked back towards the castle. The gate was now closed and the guard stood on either side seriously. The cut scene and everything had reset. I checked the massive clock guy that wandered the street. He always had the correct time for some reason. 8 PM huh? Turning back to the gate I felt my exhaustion hit me.

  I considered going back, then remembered the chain comment. Instead, I opened my skills and looked at ‘transform.’ I instantly closed it and decided trying to convince the idiot guards might be easier.

  Walking up to the one on the right, I opened my mouth and a notification popped up. “Charm skill failed.” My eye twitched.. My charm wasn’t even on! I sigh and try to push on the gate. Obviously it did nothing.

  The truth? I was trying to get to the Princess’s room. She was clearly not there. So there was an empty free bed. I looked back at the inn again before sighing and opening the skill menu. “Please just this once don’t make this hurt” I pleaded with the skill menu. I tapped transform and watched as a list appeared of a dozen characters. They had a compatibility percentage next to their names.

  My face went red when I realized all the cute girls were 80% and all my ‘harem’ members were 100%. All male’s, of any type, were under 20%. Seriously, fuck this world. I shook my head and chose “The Princess”

  Since she was a harem member, it was at 100%. I tensed and closed my eyes while waiting for the pain. It didn’t come. I slowly opened my eyes and wondered why it didn’t work, when I realized the guard looked a lot taller than I remembered. My eyes wide and I looked down. Cleavage is what I would like to say I saw. Instead, I saw the full breasts, which were big enough to block my view of what was under. But it was enough.. Since the transformation was not painful, it didn’t count clothes. I looked back at the guard. He hadn’t moved an inch or even looked at me. That was a good sign right? I stepped forward and said “I, Princess Ruby, wish to enter!” I had a feeling that wasn’t quite right, but whatever.

  “Of course Princess!” The guard directly in front of me said with no hesitation. He turned and walked over to the front of the gate, tapped it, and the doors snapped open instantly. I smiled at him in the way the Princess loved to smile and walked past him into the castle grounds. This was going great!

  I made it to the door and put my hand on it. It activated and I appeared inside the castle. Turning, I immediately went left and down the first hallway. Passing a dozen royal guards to reach a rge set of double doors.

  I giggled, then frowned. Why did I just giggle? I shook my head and pushed on the door. I appeared in the Princess room a moment ter. As expected, the room was empty except for a rge luxurious bed. My smile widened and I blushed.

  I quickly shook my head and frowned. What was wrong with me?! I know! I could fix this, I just had to find the hero and..

  I pulled my skill menu and hit transform, canceling the transformation. For a moment, nothing happened and I wondered if I would have to ask the hero to help me figure out why it wasn’t working. Then there was a sharp pain and my body began to contort.

  I cried out and fell to my knees. Where was the Hero I needed.. The pain ended sharply and I sat there in my own body. Fully clothed, because of course I was. The only rule this world follows is that there are no damn rules.

  After calming down, I slowly got to my feet and walked to the bed. All things considered. That wasn’t that bad. A knock came from the door and I whirled to face the door. “Princess Ruby, are you okay. I heard you scream!”

  I paled. Princess Sapphire heard me scream. “Princess Ruby, are you there? Do you need to go get the guards?”

  Horror filled me and I called out without thinking “No! Everything is fine!”

  Silence from the other side for a long moment before “Hero? What are you doing in there with Princess Ruby? Why didn’t she answer?!”

  I started to panic until an idea hit me. “Actually, I am turning the Princess into one of my friends and team members. It’s painful, but don’t worry she will be fine!”

  “Can I join!” Sapphire cried from the other side of the door. I heard a click and she appeared in the room looking around. Her eyes nded on me and she opened her mouth.