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The Gamer Chapter 1482 – The Great Harem Palace
🕑 Added 2023-07-18 15:03:51 +0000 UTC“Ya done?” Rave asked, jumping from one leg to the other.
“No,” John told her, his finger outlining the bird’s eye view of his Palace, including the base. “Of all the things that aren’t automated… you would think that I could just do these selections with my mind. I can press yes or no with brainpower if I concentrate enough. I can even close Achievements by just thinking about it. But this? No, I just have to do this by hand.”
Finally, the last line connected to the first. The lines suddenly and automatically snapped to the outline of the star fort perfectly. John growled at the inaudible laughter of the supreme deity that he could definitely hear.
And see.
After dismissing the joke window, John turned his eye to the Great Harem in his Buildings catalogue. It was listed under the ‘Specials’ tab, to no surprise. The description alone made it quite the interesting addition to John’s life.
Great Harem (Harem Gamer 10 Building) – A significantly upgraded version of the Central Hall, designed to fully accommodate the lifestyle of the Harem Gamer. The Great Harem Building houses extensive facilities that meet the wishes of any haremettes that bear the Lover’s Will mark, in addition to guest facilities. As with the Central Hall, the space inside is folded, allowing both for larger than expected facilities and shortened travel times between them. Patron Goddesses may connect their Sanctums to the Great Harem Building to empower it further.
All of that was more than a little interesting and John couldn’t wait to see it in action. He didn’t have to wait either.
A press of the confirmation button and the entirety of the Palace shimmered. Triangles in a myriad of colours carpeted the surface. A cover of gently moving polygons that spread from the walls of the central building up the surface of Lady Liberty and down the walls of Fort Wood. Then, as quickly as they had appeared, they were gone, leaving everything outwardly the same. After Inkaryl’s update, John had recently been reminded how little it meant when things remained visually unchanged.
John opened the door expecting a great hall to greet him. His additional senses caught the intense magic shifting around up until the moment the two halves actually flew open.
Where a simple corridor had been, connecting one of the four primary entrances to the spiral staircase that went up to the second floor where they actually lived, now was a hall that could only be described as ‘imperial’ – in the best sense of that word.
A massive open space of champagne-coloured stone made up the bulk of the room, flanked by two platforms that were elevated by two shallow steps. Two fountains in the corners of those platforms, basins from whose centre chalices of six-petaled white and black flowers sprouted, overflowing constantly with water that filled the pool below.
Further, the water overflowed, cascading over the rim of the pools into a surrounding gutter, from where the water made its way through pathways hidden in the floor. Veins of glass, impossibly blended with the rock, let one follow the liquid as it made its way to various smaller fountains across the room, offering refreshment to anyone who would need it in the Rave-dictated climate. In the centre of the room was an extensive mosaic of the Fusion symbol, surrounded by rings of water circling around it under the glass.
As impressive as all of that was, it was only the front end of the hall. Opposite of the entrance, immediately drawing the eye of any who would enter, was an unnecessarily impressive staircase. It spanned from wall to wall, describing a flowing M-shape. The middle point was a platform, six shallow, long steps up from the main space, the Throne placed upon it.
John immediately knew that this was the Throne the Astrian Administration choice had granted him. It was a glorious seat of white, silver and gold, the cushions a rich purple, and of a shape that was clearly changed for his lifestyle. The back and seat had been broadened and given a gentle curve, suggesting with its shape alone that it was meant for more than one person.
The two upper points of the stairs’ M-shape extended into a set of further upwards stairs. They, like the platform the rest of the stairs led up to, ultimately led to a set of 22 alcoves and balconies that were set into the curving back wall, like the viewing lounges of a large opera hall. Each had individual, soft colours that were easily and instantly identified to belong to one of the haremettes and one for himself.
The ceiling was a dome, mirroring the Fusion mosaic on the ground in paint. There were further decorations, painted in the six elemental colours of the flag and the deep blue that was Fusion’s more generalized colour. The architectural style of it all was a blend of several historical trends. The general overarching vibe was reminiscent of the European renaissance era, the fountains and the mosaic were more Roman, the painting on the wall inspired by Art Deco, and the sheer expansive decadence of it all had something Ottoman about it.
“Finally,” Nathalia was the first to speak up, “a proper house.”
John could only laugh at that statement. He was busy measuring out the sheer size of the room. From the door to the back was easily fifty metres, from side to side approximately thirty, and the ceiling looked like it was at least fifteen up. The sheer splendour of the entire thing was… worthy of the ruler of a superpower, simply put.
“It’s a bit too kingly,” the Gamer decided. His eyes lingered on the throne for just a moment, then it was gone. Moved by invisible forces into storage. The emptiness left by its disappearance was swiftly taken care of by the central advance of the platform at the back lowering into the ground, until the stairs only led up to the two rows of alcoves. “There we go… Nifty...” John’s mumble was half-hearted. Even with the elements rearranged, he felt like the Throne was missing.
“Ya had to outline it all, but it reacts immediately to your intent?” Rave asked.
“I assume it’s more forgiving right now, because it just got set up, so a lot of the internals are in formation limbo, like stem cells.” John stepped further into the prestigious, if quite empty, hall. “Whatever you always wanted in your apartments, it’s probably putting together right now – although it can only give you facilities, not anything you would want within those facilities.”
“Urgh,” Delicia grunted, “I just got set up in the Alchemy Lab too.”
John just shrugged, whether she stayed there or took her work home was entirely up to her. Any safety concern had gone out of the window, now that their Palace had almost fully become the kind of absurd magical dwelling that only legendary sorcerers in high fantasy fiction were typically afforded. The only thing they were still missing were unseen servants.
Which did not pop up with a plate of snacks when he thought that.
“I feel doubly obligated to build that library now,” Momo mumbled, looking around the entrance hall.
John knew exactly what she meant. If this was the first sight that greeted them, what else would lay further in – whatever further in even was now? By the description of the Building, the facilities were connected by dimensionally folded paths. That made it more difficult than ever to put a certain position next to each individual thing. A positive thing, since the Great Harem Palace only reacted to their wishes. Another layer of defences for the Guild Heart.
“You may have to replan that supply entrance,” John reminded Aclysia.
The weaponized maid went rigid for a moment. “It will be taken care of,” she responded, her words a bit too hurried for the usually so measured woman.
John didn’t even try to analyse; he had gotten all the clues he had needed on the matter. One of his theories would be proven right eventually. “Before we assure ourselves that we aren’t just being dazzled by an impressive foyer – Gale, Nathy, you want to…?”
“This seems like a suitable place to tether my Sanctum too,” the dragoness agreed immediately. The harpy nodded. A concentrated look hushed over their elegant features. It cleared off Nathalia’s face near instantly, while Nightingale needed several seconds.
The veins of glass north-east of the Fusion symbol turned a bright orange, creeping from the mosaic outwards. The effect was mirrored in deep purple on the north-western quarter of the hall. When the colours touched the walls, more profound changes manifested in short order. Obsidian joined the materials, trimming the stairs and inlaying itself into the walls in jagged patterns. Drapes of woven midnight were artfully hung from the ceiling, the alcoves, and strands of silver string that stretched across the room, separating the room into cushion-filled tents that added a Bedouin feeling to the already manifold inspired hall. Parts of the walls opened up, then were resealed with black glass, flowing lava glowing behind it. The room grew dimmer, any other kind of magical illumination replaced with the muted glow of the volcano goddess’ might. Fields of ash-enriched soil appeared at manifold places, filling out the room a little further with pots of lavender.
Nathalia nodded to herself, showing a rare, fully pleased smile. “Yes, this is a proper dwelling,” she stated, before simply rolling her wrist.
Orange energies swirled upwards from the ground, soon manifesting into a crudely shaped construct of black rock and glowing magma. A golem, the kind Nathalia could create effortlessly in her Sanctum, and proof that at least one of them would get servants wherever she wanted. Nathalia dismissed it with a wave of her hand, causing it to dissolve again into energies that were absorbed into the ground.
“You should put the throne back up,” she told John.
“No,” he responded, more firmly than he felt about it. Certainly there was a charm in the idea of greeting people in this room, sitting in the Throne, arms around Rave and Aclysia, while the rest of the harem watched from the alcoves behind them. It was an intoxicating fantasy, which was exactly why he paid close attention to the eye of Stirwin on his mind. “It’s important that it’s gone.”
Nathalia didn’t press him further, nor did any other of the haremettes. They didn’t have to, either, because John was the last person to miss the implication of the Throne having been right there in the first place.
Explorations began from there. There were gates at either side of the room, which John went for first. He was wondering where the old base floor of the Palace had gone. It may not have squared up to this, but he had been rather pleased with the functionality of the guest and private rooms there. Again, he felt the magic move behind the door before he opened it, and he was met immediately with the familiar corridors – just with the staircase at the end removed. The old structures were, at least in essence, still inside the Great Harem Palace.
After he had confirmed that, the harem turned to the alcoves. Each was a half-open room, doubling down on the image of a private opera seat for the extra wealthy. Each also had a door in the back that led to the individual haremette’s area.
All of them had been expanded in ways that made them individually incredible and altogether impossible to fit into the Palace alone. Including the entirety of the star fort below, it was perhaps possible that, in pure cubic feet, the facilities could have fit, but certainly not in the way they had to have been arranged. Just physically, the areas made no sense. When one further considered the demands each individual segment had on the structure as a whole, the full magical might of the Building became clear.
Undine had a ‘waterpark’ that stretched several biomes both in aesthetics and in actuality, containing both a miniaturized glacier and a blotch of tropical forest. Sylph had herself a flying island, hovering in the middle of a storm-enveloped sphere more than 200 metres across.
Momo nearly passed out when she found herself in a library that was illuminated by magical trees and filled with blocks of shelves that flaunted gravity twice over. Once by the fact that they were flying in the first place and twice for having the books settled properly no matter which side they were put in. That the fae maid did not yet have the collection to fill even a twentieth of the space she had available only motivated her.
On the completely opposite side of the spectrum, Rave found a complete disco and bar manifest. It was unlikely to see as much use as the club she owned, just because it was located in the depths of their house, but it was still nice to have – especially because of the assortment of stripping poles.
Nightingale found herself a variety of tea rooms. Lydia’s desires manifested a large chamber for her to put a piano in. Lorelei got herself an indoor chapel for quiet veneration of the lady. Hailey got a big, practical hall that could be dirtied with work with, on, and of creating heavy machinery. Claire had an indoor greenhouse. Delicia got all the space she could ever need to recreate her laboratory and more.
Those were just select highlights. Every haremette had specialized facilities for their wants and needs and all those facilities existed in addition to their upgraded apartments. Then there were the generalized areas: guest rooms, dining halls, meeting rooms, servant’s quarters, all of them upgraded and made subject to the interplay of desires, John’s most of all, the powers of the Patron Goddesses, and specified themes.
After all of the exploration, they went down to the Gamer’s alcove. It was in the middle of the bottom row and about twice as wide as all the others. The surrounding pillars were purple and gold, colours that Lorelei had told him his psyche embodied especially strongly and that he had since made his own in one way or another.
John expected many things when he opened the door at the back there. A glorious golden expanse and monument to his pride, perhaps? Maybe an amalgam of all the other segments? Something hideous, reflecting what was truly at the bottom of his soul?
Well, what he found, on immediate reflection, did show what was on the bottom of his soul.
The harem poured into an unchanged apartment. The Couch was where they had left it, as was the kitchen, as were the walls. The doors led to the same bedroom, the same gaming and cleaning areas, and there was not a single speck of dust that had gone changed.
‘Because why would I change a place that makes my harem happy?’ he thought to himself, a deeply satisfied warmth in his stomach. ‘In the end, why make an apartment that is any bigger? This is all we need to be happy together. Only if the harem grows any larger, will I need to widen the walls.’
Everyone accepted what they saw just as readily as him, pleased smiles were present on all faces. They must have come to the same conclusion as him: that this place had been perfect as it was for them to live. John’s apartment was not a place of prestige, it was a place of comfort, cuddles, and shared bedtimes.
Lydia and John were the only two who did not immediately head to the Couch. The door fell closed behind them, only to be opened again immediately. Rather than the enormous opening hall, they were greeted by the familiar corridor that had connected rooms in the old Palace, a structure that was still swimming inside the impossible sea of spaces that was now contained within the walls.
Right opposite of them, where Rave’s apartment had been before, was now the door to the teleportation hub. John just chuckled at the absurdity of it all. “I suppose I have the residence worthy of a rival of the Apex.”
“You do indeed have the residence, albeit you do not rival the emperor in other regards.” Lydia gave it a moment’s pause, before adding a poignant, “Yet.”
“Yet,” John fully agreed and silenced further conversation on the matter with a quick conquest of her ruby lips. Queenly, the auburn-haired woman leaned into the embrace, but never reciprocated the way his arms were slung around her waist. John took the signal and backed off without escalating the kiss too far. Already, he yearned for her again and he hadn’t even asked the question yet. “I won’t see you again until the meeting, will I?”
“There is much to do, my love,” Lydia whispered. “It will only be six days.”
“Six days,” John let out a deep sigh, before nodding. “I’ll carefully sort the first words I say to you.”
“You should…”
“I will not send them to you for proofreading,” John countered her immediately. “Allow me a little romance, my Mithril Lady.”
“Mithril Lady?” Lydia hummed, her tone pleased in a way that John made note of. Like so often, Lydia took the ambiguity out of the situation within a second. “Perhaps bind such a title into your proposal.”
“I’ll do what I want, now go before I reconsider if bondage isn’t required learning for all of you after all!” John threatened with a joke. Lydia’s lips quivered with a hint of a smile. One wink, and she was out the door.
The Gamer closed it quickly behind her, before his heart could sink any further. ‘Six days,’ his mind lamented. Then he turned to the rest of the harem. As was custom, most of them had already stripped out of their clothes and were as naked as was customary in their private rooms. That did not lift his mood back to the levels it would have been at if all of his women were there.
It did help a lot, though.
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