Dungeon Overlord: Monster Girl Harem!

'They just wouldn't shut up... constantly spilling secrets and annoying things.'

Leonhardt sat up from the bed, rubbing the back of his head, still throbbing from the pain. Yet he couldn't help but find the women looking at him with teary eyes amusing.

"Morning, ladies."

He ignored Enzo completely before stretching his body.

Even though he had just awoken, his expression was clear, like crystal, and his eyes were sharp. "So, you're Erina's father..." Leonhardt gazed at the handsome man, and nodded.

"You do carry a resemblance."

Despite losing his fight, Leonhardt didn't seem angry or upset and instead quite calm, though there was still an underlying sense of tension between them.

Enzo sighed, his eyes narrowing into slits. "You're a strange one, aren't you?"

"Me? Well, it's not like I have to pretend to be human when you know I'm not."

Leonhardt's eyes narrowed, the black slit inside opening wider, a clear indication of his mood change.

"If you wish to fight me, I'll oblige." Enzo bowed, almost teasingly.

"I'll fight you when I also reach the same level as you; for now, I just wish to know... are you an ally or enemy."

Enzo scoffed before answering. "To you?"

However, to everyone's surprise, Leonhardt shook his head.

"To my employees."

"I won't attack you if she stays with you... and will even support her." Enzo smiled, a rare sight, which was almost out of character for such a cold man. "Damn, kid, why are you so crafty."

"Eh?! When did I become your employee?" Erina snapped back, stepping closer to Leonhardt, but as she pointed at him with a *fierce* expression, he just leaned on his palm, and grinned back.

"So, you like me? Human saintess?" Leonhardt's grin only became more devilish.

Erina froze, the words stuck in her throat. She turned around, looking at both Asuka and Sylvie, who both had warm yet mocking expressions, which made her become red from the neck up.

"W-What are you saying... You're so full of yourself!" She stuttered. "You heard nothing..."

"I'm glad..."

"W-What?" Erina's eyes shifted as she gazed at him, unable to face those pure ruby eyes staring into her soul.

"I'm glad I can stay with you three for longer... it's fun."

He smiled, but there was an obvious sense of relief behind his words and more than that... Erina's lips trembled as she touched her chest.

Yes, she couldn't deny that this arrogant and beautiful monster had managed to stir up feelings inside of her.

"I can't leave the church, not now... I need to go back."

One last resistance.

"Don't return... If you need a church, I will build you one, if you seek a god. I will find you one." Leonhardt spoke, not with an ounce of fear. A cold and calculated confidence... "I am that capable."

Erina froze.

Her eyes widened before her mind became overwhelmed with such bizarre yet sweet words.

"This little bastard is showing off too much..." Enzo snorted.

But he now understood more about Leonhardt... who, or maybe *what* Leonhardt was, thanks to their extensive investigation.

He tapped his stubble and showed a sly grin. "A dungeon master who isn't hell-bent on humanity's destruction... maybe there is a chance."

'This damn old bastard wants to use me for something...' Leonhardt's eyes narrowed, becoming like a sharp blade.

"Become my Crimson Hawks, and I will return your favour a thousandfold."

Erina gulped. "You said before about the promise, that you'd give us everything... what do you mean?"

Asuka stepped forward first and knelt before Leonhardt, different from her usual flirting self or the playful way she interacted with Erina and Sylvie.

"I... Asuka of the Dragonoid clan swears upon my scarlet scales. I shall be the sword and shield of the mighty master before me." She spoke with an unwavering voice.

"Wait! Asuka!" Erina knew of this oath, and gasped... but Sylvie was already following her lead.

"As the mere daughter of the fair folk... I can only offer you my word, and meagre magic, Leonhardt."

"Even Sylvie?!"

Leonhardt was taken aback, not expecting them to go so far as to swear oaths so easily.

'Well... I'll get the best out of these two...'

[Heh... that Dragonoid isn't so bad after all]

Ifrit poked fun, but the strange thing that Leonhardt noticed was the small figure of Ifrit sitting on his shoulder... in reality.

[Well, since she wants a goddess. How about me? Will you also revere me, Leon?]

His lips twitched, before he noticed the look of confusion on Erina's face as she seemed to be lost in thought.

'No, I will not revere you, I will seduce you.'

[!!!]

"Erina, I won't force you to choose now; our deal was by the time we returned to Arlet. Right?"

A soft and kind tone, sweet and sickly enough to make Enzo scoff and gag... but he didn't disrupt because seeing his daughter's serious face changed something in the cold, jaded man's chest.

'She begged me on her knees to save this kid... well, he's definitely unique.'

Enzo's figure silently vanished as he gazed over his shoulder one last time and nodded.

"She's in excellent hands."

'So he wants me to deal with this?'

Leonhardt noticed her father leaving, but didn't move his eyes. Instead, he focused on Erina, who seemed to be trapped in her thoughts.

"Asuka, Sylvie... can you give us some time to speak alone?"

"Guys, can you leave for a moment while I talk to Erina?"

Two voices echoed simultaneously, causing both to turn around, facing one another.

Asuka and Sylvie both gazed at each other before slowly looking at Erina and then back to Leonhardt before nodding and shuffling out.

'I'll have to reward them for their oaths later... but first.'

"Do you love the church?"

"I... I hate it, but I owe it to them." Erina responded. She understood what he was doing and felt grateful to him for taking the time to help her deal with the walls blocking her path.

"Right... what do you owe them?"

"When mother... Mom died, they took me in because of my holy powers." She spoke, her voice shaking a little bit as the memories came back.

'Her father was absent, and probably had no idea until it was too late... he clearly seemed to care for the pair.'

Thanks to his vast amount of human knowledge, he could identify the difficult emotions and thoughts of humans with ease and cruelly pick them apart.

"Did the church benefit from your powers?" A sharp red light shone from Leonhardt's narrow gaze.

She stopped for a moment with a gasp, at first wanting to say no, but Leonhardt's eyes didn't allow her to lie or hold back... she knew that the priests gained money for her healing... and earned money when she helped adventurers.

"Y-Yes."

"Do you not think that the help you've given is more than enough to buy your freedom and repay them?"

A cold, logical but inhuman tone... and line of thinking.

One without mercy or human hesitation.

"I am not sure..." Her heart began to beat faster as she felt something in the deepest depths of her mind snap.

*Snap*

"Focus," Leonhardt snapped his fingertips, stopping her from confusing or complicating things.

"You have paid your debts, if you hold lingering regrets... how about I allow you to continue healing the poor and weak while serving as my priestess?"

Erina's heart skipped a beat at those sweet yet dangerous words.

'I'm not sure if I can accept him completely yet, he's a monster... but...'

"What would you have us do?"

A sincere question as her shoulders trembled.

"Of course... you would become the faces of my Crimson Hawks, and complete missions to help humanity."

'Lies! How could it be so simple and kind!' Erina's heart thundered in her chest.

And yet...

"Will you be there?" She spoke her mind without a hint of hesitation or shame.

"I will."

'Well, sometimes...'

Erina stepped forward, her arms trembling as she approached the handsome young man sitting on the bed. "I can choose when to leave you?"

However, Leonhardt gripped her wrists, lifting the light blonde priestess off the ground as he stood from the bed, transforming his gaze from the handsome Leon...

To a ferocious and terrifying beast.

"Never."

He gazed into her eyes as if able to understand her greatest weakness and trauma.

"Saintess candidate, Erina.

... Do you accept or reject my offer?"