The dragon's harem

Arad was sitting on a large chair especially made for him by Mira. She was now back at her home in Alina, spending a few days with her mother to care for her father. For now, Arad has more things to deal with now that he is back, the political side of the newly growing kingdom. But he’ll be lying if he says that he is good at those things. Isdis is doing most of the work, and he is just nodding after her.

“Great Emperor, what about the food sources? With how rapidly the population around Alina is growing, we don’t have enough manpower to feed everyone.” One of the nobles, a large man who oversaw the fields, asked with a worried face. The graineries have been running dry in the late months.

Arad closed his eyes and then took a deep breath. He thought for a few moments and then called a specialist. A tiny fairy with a happy grin on her face appeared out of nowhere and looked at everyone.

“Plum, it is like this…” He explained what the noble had just said, and she nodded with a smile, “Leave it to me. We’ve got enough land, so I’ll just clear the trees and bushes. For manpower, you’ll have to find a solution.”

Arad looked at the window, “There should be a horde of monsters approaching. Don’t attack them. They’ll help everyone work the fields.” He smiled, “They should be stronger than cows or horses.”

“The first kingdom to use monsters to farm…” Cerilla, the elvish queen, was sitting across the table from Arad with a faint smile on her face. She was here since it’ll also concern her people who can’t eat meat. The farming situation would hit the elves the most.

“Can’t we just eat the monsters?” Jasmine, the dark elf queen, looked a them with a large grin. Unlike elves, who were herbivores, dark elves are carnivores. Feeding them is going to be an even bigger problem.

“You’ve got a coastal capital, go fishing.” Cerilla glared at her, and Jasmine laughed.

Arad looked at them for a moment and then looked at the large map, “With Ruris’s kingdom and all of the elvish land, we’ve got enough space to farm and sustain ourselves. The problem is like Sir Alion said, manpower. We don’t have enough working hands.” He smiled, “So I was thinking of hiring some help. The monsters are the first, and then some… convinced volunteers.”

Arad sent several orders to the knights and soldiers to start hunting bandits and capturing them alive to work the fields. Usually, those bandits would either be killed on the spot or imprisoned for years. The problem now is that the kingdom doesn’t have food to waste on prisoners, and if Arad wanted to avoid famine, he’ll need to make sure that every mouth pays for its food.

****

Leaving Isdis to deal with the small details, Arad headed deep into the castle, where he had a bigger problem to deal with. Everyone he brought from around the world was sitting in that room. Facing them was a terrified titan, her face ashen and pale as they all stared at her. Tyal found herself standing in front of the most powerful people of the world, and she was about to answer for what her father did.

Strangely enough, Zeus was the one to speak up for her. He claimed that while she knew it would be impossible to expect her to change anything. The situation of the storm titans is more complicated than what can be solved with fists.

Arad walked into the corner with Kali sitting on his lap, watching the discussion as he brushed her pink hair. “How far has that name been carried?” She smiled, and Arad looked at her.

“Tyal?”

“No, Zeus. It was the name of the previous god of storm and lightning. He was also the god of the storm titans.” She looked at Arad, “While Selune and Amaterasu raised me like two mothers, he was like a grandpa.”

After a short pause, she added.

“Talos killed my father when he was weakened and then tried to kill me in the god’s war. Zeus tried to protect me and died as well. It was then that Kayden finally arrived and put an end to Talos’s life.” She giggled, “Kayden is technically the god of the storm titans now, the divine portfolio is still with him.”

Arad’s eyes opened wide, “Wait, what?”

“He is the same like you. Aren’t you just carrying the portfolio of the four seasons without using it?” She looked at her hair. Arad wasn’t the best hairdresser, but his moves were quite gentle and precise for his size. She then jumped down and looked at the door.

The door opened, and Kayden walked in wearing his flower shirt and shorts. He looked like he was relaxing on vacation at the beach before being called here. Everyone looked at him with puzzled faces. Some recognized him and some didn’t; none of them expected to see the god slayer wearing sandals in their life.

Kayden’s eyes shifted back to Kali, “You wanted me to return… I hope it is important.” He looked a bit annoyed, and why wouldn’t he? He was indeed on vacation with his wife Lily, far away.

“It is important and quick. Can you give Arad the tempest? We might need it soon, and I won’t want to… forget it.” She knew more about her father’s affairs than she cared to admit. Their vacation had just started, so she called him before things heated up. She wouldn’t want to call at a bad moment and spoil the moments of peace he has with her mother.

Kayden approached Arad and shook his hand. Soon, Arad felt a jolt of lightning, and the divine portfolio rested inside his soul, slumbering until used. And just as Arad got the portfolio, Kayden disappeared like a ghost.

Zeus cleared his throat and started explaining his side of the story, the storm titan traditions and the rebelion of his son, Tyal’s father. And the explanation started grim. All of the storm titans now think that Zeus is dead. If he returned, the people would demand justice. Either Zeus would die or His son would perish alongside his children.

That meant that by the end of it all, either Zeus or Tyal would end up dead.