Overpowered Wizard-Chapter B4 Ch32: I’m Okay With That

The conversation between them fell into a lull, the tension ripening as Zarian watched her. Naomi’s confidence dipped, and she nervously dug her toe behind her heel. He was fidgeting with the big floppy brim of his new hat.

There was no Para to keep in mind anymore. There was no little sister ghost. He was just himself, uncovered to the world now.

“Well, I want to forgive you, but maybe that’s too soon. How about we find a new groove?” He waved his big hat around. “First off, let’s get away from these freaks.”

“KISS!” an onlooking drider male yelled.

“Please, we can always use more scandalous gossip!” shouted another onlooking female.

“Your civilization is ending,” Zarian shot back.

“We still want the gossip!” another drider female replied.

Zarian frowned, noting how they didn’t care about the ones he’d crushed by accident. Ruvaria had plenty of reasons to destroy this place, and whatever concerns Zarian had about preserving Carrowmore were fading.

Naomi waved for Zarian to lead the way, and he had to stop himself from hooking his tail around her waist. He had a real-ass girlfriend whom he loved dearly now. And he wasn’t married anymore. He was his own man, and that came with responsibility.

Paying strict attention to his own actions, Zarian carefully used gravity sorcery and aura magic to make a faux-teleportation array. The myriad runes flashed around him and Naomi before depositing them in an underground pocket where he’d left Reiki beneath the city.

He was expecting a legion of dungeon spiders preparing to storm Carrowmore. He couldn’t sense the Hell Gate anymore. She must’ve defeated it.

Instead of a dungeon monster army, Zarian and Naomi found a staircase that led into a dungeon doorway framed with charred wood and beset with rubies and gold filigree. There were no wards or concealing arrays, and Zarian could sense that trespassers had explored this area already. He also sensed that their fates had already been sealed and done with.

Leading the way, Zarian stepped down the staircase and entered an alternate dimension, far greater than before, now mythical and fat off her victory against the Carrowmore Hell Gate. Zarian would’ve taken pleasure in that if it weren’t for Lovewar’s death and Sinfeast’s involvement.

He’s not mine to seek retribution against anymore.

A bitter pill to swallow. Very bitter. Zarian accepted it as he looked around at the new Sinner Library Dungeon, a cross between a gothic speakeasy with a few medieval influences mixed with more modern designs. It was a weird interior, but at the front of the actual library was a magnificent cafe that gave off the vibe of a dark and quiet bar. Large, self-indulgent art pieces stood with mostly Reiki herself as the subject, chiseled into well-defined dancer’s poses like Greek art.

Reiki was behind the cafe counter, and surprisingly, she was looking a few inches shorter than Zarian, mostly around Naomi’s height. Reiki was wearing a simple white shirt and black tie, her six arms folded behind her, her pale lips spread into a welcoming smile.

“You look happy,” Zarian said upon his approach. “Congrats on becoming mythical.”

“Of course, I’m happy. My dearest master has returned. And I hope to serve you in all capacities.” Reiki waved a hand about to gesture at her dungeon. “There is much that can be done for your pleasure or your curiosity now. Whatever it is, I’m certain I’ll have it.”

The snort that came out of Naomi was so loud, it cracked the air barrier. “I don’t think we can leave Reiki with the kiddos anymore.”

“They’re growing up to be fine young men and women, in my opinion. But yeah, this is much. Hell, I dare say I might be a little too tame in comparison.” Zarian looked up at the blackboard hovering over Reiki’s head.

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He went for the French Press, a silly choice. France was from their old universe. That was totally Reiki’s way of flexing her range of options.

After Naomi made her order, they took a seat at a heavy, dark table that had emeralds embedded in the circular edge. Highly detailed carvings depicted draconic and arachnid women in an endless orgy circling around the rim. Each one was slightly different, too, and the further he looked, the more little details he caught onto.

Naomi was far more tense than usual. Zarian prodded once Reiki arrived with their orders. “You good?”

“I think there’s a freak in me that’s been wanting to come out in far healthier ways than how I usually operated. And this place is really triggering that.” Naomi squirmed in her seat as she lifted a mocha-heavy drink in a wide-brim mug to her lips. She looked over the steamy froth while keeping eye-contact with Zarian. “Also, forgive me for being a little flirty still.”

“You apologizing so much is still throwing me off.” Zarian took a sip from his French Press, and even with all of his power and stats, the mythical drink hit damn well. How much better Reiki would get if they pushed her dungeon above Level 200 and into Celestial Quality?

There’s not enough time for that, is there?

Naomi sank sullenly into her seat. “I felt that. I didn’t mean to, but I’m more sensitive to the mood waves now.”

“I don’t know how much time we have. Lucy’s the one who’s holding back Ariana secretly.”

“When did Lucy change her name, by the way? Bianca was saying ‘Lucy’ all of a sudden, and it took me a minute to catch on that Bianca was doing her whole Cuban Miss Cleo impression.”

Zarian snorted while taking another sip, his coffee entering his nose. He snorted it down ungracefully. He was too damn powerful for that sting, but it was still a little embarrassing.

“Man, there’s a lot to catch up on, isn’t there?” Zarian figured he would have to repeat whatever needed to be said with the others, especially with his girlfriend, but he didn’t mind starting with Naomi. “Hey, so, before we get into this, can we confirm that we’re just friends, right?”

“Yeah, sure, we’re just friends.” She licked the mocha off her lips and looked him dead in the eye. “You have a loving girlfriend. And I recognize that it isn’t me. And I’m not going to go trifling or anything. So yes, we’re just friends.”

“You’re still going to flirt with me, aren’t you?”

“I can acknowledge that I lost and I might not fit in anymore with your choices. But I’m also having a hard time imagining better options.”

This wasn’t exactly where Zarian had figured the conversation would go, but it was happening anyway. He rolled with it.

“Well, first, I have to come out and say that if you do find a better option for you, I support it.” He looked away from her and watched Reiki take a baking pan out of the oven. His heart was hammering. “I think the fault for a lot of troubles comes from me making that claim over you a while back. Hence why I can’t really resent you fully. A lot of this is centered on me, and I feel responsible for that.”

Naomi slowly nodded. “Huh, yeah, that’s kind of true. So, is this part of your growth now? Just letting all these wild ass women off the leash.”

“Crap, that sounds horrible. I’m really living the harem thing, huh?” Zarian sighed. “Maybe it would’ve worked out if I weren’t a complex mess of cosmic genocide and a wellspring for many people with issues. But I think I like the idea of focusing on just as few as I can in the romantic department.”

“Not just one, right?”

Zarian winced. “I’ll have to have that talk with Ruvaria.”

“So,” Naomi drawled, her lips pressed lightly to the rim of her mug. “There’s a chance for the third angle of the triangle.”

“Wait, are you bi?”

“And Bianca’s in the asexual sphere.”

“Gilbert’s God, what? Also no, you will not throw me off like that! I saw what you did there, and no matter how psychic you are, I’m rocking too much free evil to get tricked like that. So, are you willing to answer if you’re bi or not, or is this getting too uncomfortable?”

Naomi let out an exasperated huff and kicked her feet up onto the table. Leaning back, she looked up at the gothic ceiling above them. “I don’t think I was bi or anything back in regular life. Maybe I was curious and stuff in the Marines. Yeah, I’ve kissed a girl here and there, but stuff happens when you’re drunk. But now I’m drawn to power and new possibilities.”

Naomi rubbed at her face. “Now I’m starting to see how Rhea can pine after Hannah for so long. I’m the same, aren’t I? But whatever. I lost my shot at being your number one. I’ll take that loss with grace and ride off into the sunset once it’s final. No leash, right? So you can’t get mad at me if I end up with another man.”

“Yeah, sure, let’s agree on that. I won’t get too mad. Maybe slightly possessive, but I’ll keep that to myself. Fair is fair.”

“Yup! But here’s the thing. I don’t see a ring on your finger. And there’s a small, small, small chance that Lucy might like being her own woman for once. And Ruvaria doesn’t come across as traditional.” Naomi opened her legs slightly and pointed her toes at him. “There’s a chance. A shot in the dark. A dream that can become a reality. I can make it as number three. And you know what the best part is?”

“What?” Zarian’s mouth was dry.

“I’m okay with that.” Naomi suddenly burst out in laughter. “That’s the best part! I’m okay with not being number one or being the best always! I’m okay with giving it another go whether I deserve it! And if Lucy comes in and kicks me to the curb, I’m okay with that, too!”

“But why would you be okay with that?” Zarian asked, completely thrown off his game.