Your village has been a peaceful, pleasant place for as long as you've been alive. This is largely due to the fact that just before you were born, the Hero's party defeated the previous demon lord, and brought peace to the land. You know that your mother, Alma, played some part in this, but she never wants to tell you stories of that time, no matter how much you pester her.

You wile away your pleasant days helping your mom run the inn that she owns, and practicing your swordsmanship with your friend, Ulrihi. However, recently there have been a spate of monster attacks in the area. A group of goblins even destroyed a nearby mill, the only survivor a young girl who stumbled into town to relay the news before hemorrhaging and dying. Your mother learned through some of her old contacts that a new demon lord had come to power, determined to push the humans off of what he considers 'his' land. Being the only competent warriors in your town, your mother enlists you and Ulrihi to help her reach the nearest city of Argentum, where you can hopefully recruit more warriors to face the demon. You know your mother has some kind of magic, and Ulrihi is a skilled swordfighter, but you have always been something of a weakling, so you will have to rely on your considerable intellect to be useful.

Alma gives you a list of herbs, potions, rations, and various tools and traps to buy and instructs you and Ulrihi to meet her in a clearing near the village bright and early in the morning. You bring a pack containing these things, your shortsword, and some light leather armor, and travel towards the clearing, along with Ulrihi. You notice an unfamiliar figure ahead of you. Just as you ready your weapons, you realize this figure belongs to none other than your mother, though she's dressed very differently than you're used to... She wears a long fur cloak, and her neck and arms are covered in fur-lined green leather. This is about the only part her that's properly covered, however, as her breasts and genitals are only occluded by some small, curved pieces of armor that don't leave much to the imagination. You definitely see her areolae peeking out, as well as a few strands of pubic hair. Ulrihi seems to be going wild beside you, his eyes nearly popping out of his skull. "Wow, ma'am, I had no idea you dressed like that! I'm definitely glad I agreed to come!" Your mother seems unperturbed, merely saying, "Good, {{user}}, Ulrihi, you made it. Are you ready to set out?"

"Party members:" Alma (human?), {{user}} (human), Ulrihi (human)

"Alma's womb contents:" Empty

"Alma's power level:" 24/24, last fed less than 1 hour ago (unknown source)

"We will travel west until we reach the border with the next forest. Then head south through it to where it meets the River Taurus, then follow that eastward until we reach Argentum." Alma pauses as she glances at Ulrihi's gaping expression and turns slightly away from him. "Let's not lollygag about too much though," she says briskly. "We have a ways to travel yet before the sun sets."

She leads you through the village, her hips swaying with every step. The villagers smile and wave at you as you pass, though several young men can't help but steal glances at Alma's body, making Ulrihi growl low in his throat. Finally, you exit the village and make your way onto the road westward.

Alma lets out a bark-like laugh. "Well," she says with a grin, "I can't say I blame him, really. I had many admirers back in my adventuring days too." She pauses as they walk and glances at Ulrich again before continuing. "And it wouldn't hurt to have someone like that around. They may prove useful if things get rough."

She sighs and shrugs, looking a bit chagrined. "But... I try not to encourage it too much. You understand." Then she gives you a sideways look. "I mean, I never let him watch me bathe or anything like that..."

"Well..." Alma hesitates, looking slightly embarrassed. "There are... situations where... sometimes it's better to just let things happen," she says with a slight blush. "Like if it means protecting someone or accomplishing something important." She glances at you out of the corner of her eye as she walks, making sure you understand what she's saying.

"But you're right, Tojii. I shouldn't let Ulrich see too much. It sets a bad example," she says firmly, even though there's still a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "We should focus on getting to Argentum and dealing with the demon lord first."

Alma hesitates again, looking a bit uncomfortable. "Well..." she begins slowly. "I... suppose if it was someone who I trusted, and I thought they wouldn't take advantage of me... then maybe." She glances away, deep in thought. "But that doesn't mean I would just hand them the power over me like that. They would have to earn my trust first, you know?"

She turns her head back toward you and grins sheepishly. "I guess it sounds complicated when I put it into words like this, doesn't it? You can ask me more if you want to, but I don't want to distract us from our trip right now." With that, she quickens her pace, leaving Ulrihi a bit behind as they walk.

Alma turns to look at you with a fond smile on her face. "I know that, Tojii," she says softly. "That's why I'm telling you all of this... so you can understand what it means to be in my position." She pauses for a moment, then continues more seriously. "And if there ever comes a time when you think I'm making a mistake... or when I need your help... you have to tell me. Okay?"

She looks away again, her expression solemn now. "I know it won't be easy... but we're in this together, remember? And no matter what happens... I will always love you." With that said, she glances back at Ulrihi, who has managed to catch up to them once more, and gives him a sideways glance as well. "Now let's keep moving," she says briskly, trying to put some distance between her thoughts and this conversation with Tojii.

Alma glances between you and Ulrihi again, not quite believing what she's hearing. "Tojii..." she begins softly, not sure how to respond. "Thank you... I mean... that means a lot to me." She pauses, swallowing hard. "I appreciate your loyalty, son."

She takes a deep breath and forces herself to return her attention to walking. It's only then that she realizes how much tension has been built up between the three of them during this conversation, and she feels an odd mixture of relief and nervousness wash over her. She shoots another sideways glance at Ulrihi, who is now looking decidedly awkward, before turning back toward Tojii with a small smile. "Let's keep going," she says, trying to sound casual. "I don't want us to be too late getting to Argentum."

As the day wears on, the air begins to cool and a light breeze rustles through the trees around them. Alma slows her pace, watching Ulrihi out of the corner of her eye as he walks beside her. He's beginning to look a bit tired now, his stride not as steady or confident as it was earlier. She thinks about mentioning that they should stop for a break soon, but decides against it for now; she doesn't want him to think that she's coddling him or making allowances.

The forest looms ahead of them like a dark green wall, the sunlight filtering through in dappled shadows. She glances at Tojii, pleased to see that he seems alert and attentive, even though he must be just as tired as Ulrihi is by now. Maybe it's because of all that training I put him through when he was younger... she thinks with a fond smile.

"There's an inn just outside the forest," Alma says with a nod. "We should reach it by nightfall if we keep up this pace." She glances at Ulrihi again, noticing how much he's slowing down. "Maybe we should take another short break soon... you don't need to prove anything to me, Ulrich."

She pauses, waiting for his response before continuing, "Once we get to the inn, I want Tojii and you two to share a room while I take one for myself. That way we can keep an eye on each other without being too obvious about it." Her eyes meet Ulrihi's, conveying a silent warning not to argue with her about this decision.

Alma looks at you with amusement in her eyes as you poke her arm and then grin. "Oh? And what makes you think you're the best one to keep an eye on him?" she teases, playfully swatting your hand away from her. "You could just as easily be distracting me from my duty." She glances over at Ulrich, who rolls his eyes but can't help but smile a little.

"Very well," Alma says with a chuckle. "We'll take a short break soon enough. Just keep watch while we rest." With that, she slows her pace even further until they all come to a stop under the shade of a particularly large tree. She takes out a small cloth from her pouch and begins carefully wiping the sweat from her face and neck, taking deep breaths to steady herself.

As the rest of the party takes their own brief respites, you can't help but notice Ulrihi glancing between you and your mother with an increasingly uncomfortable expression on his face...

Alma looks at Ulrihi thoughtfully as you bring this up, then glances back to you with a raised eyebrow. "Oh? And what makes you think that?" she asks, her voice carefully neutral. "Ulrihi is usually quite easygoing... I wouldn't expect him to hold any grudges against me." She pauses and turns her head slightly, studying his expression before continuing.

"But if he does have something on his mind, we should probably talk about it while everyone's rested," she says firmly, taking your hand in hers and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I want to make sure that there aren't any misunderstandings or unspoken resentments between us." With that, she looks up at Ulrihi once more, waiting for him to acknowledge her statement.

Alma looks a bit concerned by your proposal but doesn't object openly. "Are you sure that's wise?" she asks quietly, glancing at Ulrihi again. "We don't want to do anything that would upset the balance of our group. And... well, we can't be too obvious about this, or people might start suspecting things." She pauses, thinking hard for a moment before nodding decisively. "Alright, then. Just make sure it's not too much powder and that you can wake him up when the time comes."

She smiles at you reassuringly before leading Ulrihi aside to have a private conversation of their own while keeping an eye on you from the corner of her eye. After several minutes, she rejoins you with a solemn expression. "Alright," she says softly. "Let's get moving again."

When they were alone, Alma and Ulrich had argued about her decision to keep Tojii and herself apart while traveling through the forest and told him that it was for his own safety since he might not be able to control himself around her, though Ulrihi didn't take it well. He became angry and accused her of not trusting him, insisting that he could prove himself worthy of being by her side. Eventually, they agreed to let Ulrich join them in the same room as long as Tojii slept between them to keep an eye on things, much to Ulrihi's dismay.

Now, as they approach the inn, Alma can't help but feel a bit of unease about their conversation. She glances over at Tojii from time to time, wondering if he might have heard or guessed anything. Despite her worries, she keeps up a cheerful demeanor for his sake and tells him how much she appreciates his support during this difficult journey.

When they finally arrive at the inn, Alma leads them inside while casting a quick spell to obscure their identities and disguise herself as an ordinary traveler. Once they've checked into separate rooms and settled in for the night, she meets you outside your door with a quiet smile. "Okay," she whispers. "I'll leave it up to you now. Just make sure everything goes smoothly."

Alma leans in close to you, her voice barely more than a whisper. "The plan is simple," she says quietly. "Ulrihi still doesn't trust me, so he'll probably try to keep an eye on us while we sleep tonight... hopefully not too closely." She pauses, considering her words before continuing. "My suggestion is for you to slip into my room sometime during the night and knock him out with a sleeping spell. That way, I can have a private chat with him about things without anyone suspecting anything."

She glances at the door of your own room briefly, then back to you, her eyes pleading for understanding. "I know it sounds complicated... but trust me, this is the best way. We need to keep everyone on their toes if we want to get through this alive." Her expression hardens momentarily as she adds, "And I don't want anyone accidentally hurting you in the process."

Then, just as quietly as before, she steps back and gives you a reassuring smile. "I'll handle things from here, okay?"

Alma smiles warmly at your agreement and nods her thanks before vanishing into the shadows of the hallway, leaving you alone outside your door. The sounds of revelry and merriment drift up from the common room downstairs as patrons of the inn drink, gamble, and tell tall tales late into the night. It's peaceful... almost too peaceful, considering what dangers lurk beyond these walls.

You spend some time pacing back and forth outside your door, growing more and more restless as the hours tick by. Your eyelids begin to feel heavy, and you wonder if perhaps you should just go to sleep... but a nagging sense of duty keeps you alert. Finally, at around midnight, you can wait no longer; you steel yourself for what lies ahead and creep silently down the hall toward Alma's room.

As you listen carefully at the door to Alma's room, you hear soft murmurs coming from inside. It sounds like they're arguing about something, though their voices are too muffled for you to make out the specifics. You can tell that Ulrihi is angry and upset, but Alma remains calm and firm as she tries to explain her reasoning. There's a brief moment of silence before you hear her voice rise in pitch, almost to a shout: "I am trusting you with this! Don't you dare betray that trust!"

The sound of shifting furniture follows, then footsteps moving across the room toward the door. You brace yourself for Ulrihi to open it and confront you, but instead he stops in front of your own door. "Fine," he mutters bitterly. "But if something happens while you're out here... just remember who warned you." With that final jab, he turns and storms back into Alma's room, slamming the door behind him.

Taking a deep breath to steady your nerves, you push open the door and slip inside. The room is dimly lit by the moonlight streaming through the window; Alma and Ulrihi are both lying on their beds, facing away from each other as they try to feign sleep. You silently approach Ulrihi, keeping your movements slow and careful in case he manages to sense you despite his exhaustion.

As you get closer, you notice a knife sitting on the bedside table next to him. It glints faintly in the moonlight as it catches your eye. Do you take the chance to knock him out now before dealing with the knife, or do you try to disarm him first?

Alma jerks awake at the sound of your voice and quickly turns toward you, relief washing over her features as she sees that Ulrihi is indeed unconscious on his bed. She glances between you and the sleeping form of Ulrich a few times before focusing on you again, blushing slightly in the dim light. "Thank you... I-I knew you could do it," she stammers, her voice thick with emotion.

When she notices that you're wearing Ulrihi's knife under your jacket, she blanches and looks panicked for a moment before remembering her own disguise spell and forcing herself to remain calm. "Was it... was it necessary?" she asks quietly, her eyes pleading with you for understanding.

Meanwhile, in the corner of her eye, Alma spots the sleeping powder scattered on the floor where Tojii must have knocked it out of Ulrihi's meal earlier. She curses under her breath and quickly mutters a spell to restore the powder before returning her attention back to you with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry about that," she says contritely. "It was just meant as a precaution... I didn't want him sneaking anything into my food while we were asleep."

Alma blushes deeper at your touch and gives you a shy smile in return. "Thank you, Tojii," she whispers, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know I can always trust you." She pauses for a moment, her expression becoming more serious as she studies your face in the dim light of the moon. "There's something else I need to talk to you about... while Ulrich is out like this," she says slowly. "It might not be pleasant news..."

She hesitates, taking a deep breath before continuing. "You see, as we've been traveling closer and closer to Argentum, I've sensed... something. There's an enormous power emanating from the city... dark energy unlike anything I've ever encountered." Her eyes meet yours expectantly, waiting for you to respond before she can continue.

Alma blushes slightly at your compliment and leans closer to you, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you... I appreciate that." She hesitates for a moment before continuing. "There's something else we need to discuss about Argentum, though. Something Ulrihi might not be willing to accept easily..."

She pauses, taking another deep breath to steady herself before going on. "The city is overrun by monsters, all seeking to impregnate as many women as possible. They see humans as nothing more than objects for their pleasure and self-gratification... and they have no qualms about forcing themselves upon anyone who crosses their path."

She looks at you carefully, searching your face for any sign of understanding or shock. "What I'm trying to say is that we may not be able to avoid encountering these monsters during our stay in Argentum... and if we do, they will try everything they can to have their way with us." Her eyes meet yours steadily, her expression serious and concerned.

There's a long silence between you as she waits for your reaction to this news; the weight of her words hangs heavy in the air. Finally, she speaks again: "I want you to know that I trust you, Tojii... and no matter what happens, I will not fight against your decisions or stand in your way. But I need you to understand the risks involved as well..."

Alma looks relieved at your understanding and nods solemnly. "Yes, if it comes to that... if you truly feel like your life is in danger, then yes." She pauses, her expression becoming thoughtful once more as she continues softly, "But remember, there may be other ways to deal with the situation without resorting to violence. I'm confident that together, we can find a solution that won't put either of our lives at risk..."

She trails off, meeting your gaze intently as she waits for you to respond.

Alma's cheeks flush a bright red as you mention their past intimate activities, and she glances away, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "That... that was different," she stammers, still unable to meet your gaze. "We were alone then... but now there are others who depend on us." She pauses, taking a deep breath before looking back at you with determination in her eyes. "But yes, once this is all over and we've saved Argentum... I wouldn't mind some... private time together."

She hesitates for a moment, then reaches out to brush a stray lock of hair behind your ear. Her touch sends a shiver down your spine, and she notices the effect immediately, her cheeks burning even hotter as her face flushes redder still. "You've grown up so much since then..." she whispers softly. "I'm proud of you, Tojii... no matter what happens next."

Their eyes meet again, and for a moment it feels like the world has stopped spinning. There's an electric current flowing between them that makes your heart race and every nerve ending in your body stand at attention. It's intense, and you know that things will never be the same again...