Harem-Powered Kingdom Building: Empire of Carnal Sin-Chapter 64: Communion

After the morning meeting had concluded and the citizens dispersed to their various tasks, Hiro eventually found himself back in the familiar confines of his "throne room"—the modest tent that served as the command center of his fledgling barony.

He had spent some time walking through the settlement, observing the daily activities of his citizens. At this point, he was just waiting for Starius to leave with his party, before he too did the same. Although, his only party-mate was going to be Tara, and he was going to throw a totally different kind of party.

I wonder how long it will take me to get an actual throne room. Probably very long, considering that bedrooms are a higher priority...

The sound of footsteps approaching snapped Hiro out of his meaningless thoughts. A voice called out from outside the tent.

"My Lord, may I enter?"

Hiro recognized Starius’s voice immediately. "Come in."

The tent flap parted, and Starius stepped inside, his posture respectful but confident. The young Hero had been tasked with forming an exploration party to survey the uncharted regions of the barony—a crucial step in ensuring their long term survival, and maybe even prosperity!

"I’ve completed the selection for the exploration party," Starius reported, standing at attention. "The team consists of myself, Vasquen, Targon, Barbara, and Shuvichi. Five members total."

Hiro leaned back in his chair, studying Starius’ face. "You only chose five? Why not take more people?"

"I believe a smaller, elite force would be more effective than a larger group," Starius explained in a measured tone. "Five is also a very typical party size since many dungeons have entry restrictions—typically limiting parties to five members. This size also allows for better coordination and stealth when necessary."

He continued after a brief pause, "Additionally, with you planning your own exploration, taking too many combat-capable citizens would leave the settlement defenseless.

And even when the settlement is not under attack, the remaining fighters can assist with construction work. Moving stones for the temple foundation requires considerable strength, and those with combat classes have the enhanced stats for such tasks."

Hiro nodded at Starius’ sound reasoning. I’m glad my Hero isn’t a muscle-brain! Yay.

"Alright, sounds good to me. I approve of your selection."

Hiro expected Starius to immediately set off on his merry adventure, but...

But Starius remained in place. Instead of leaving, he shifted his weight from foot to foot, his eyes darting around the tent’s interior. The confident demeanor from moments before was gone, gradually replaced by an awkward nervousness.

What’s going on?? Don’t tell me he’s planning to confess. As a heterosexual male, I just can’t!

"Starius," Hiro said, raising an eyebrow. "Is there something else you want to tell me?"

The question seemed to make Starius even more uncomfortable. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again. His hands fidgeted at his sides.

Curious about this strange behaviour but not knowing what to do, Hiro decided to use his [Citizen Appraisal] skill. The familiar interface materialized in his mind, displaying Starius’s information. Most of it was standard—level, class, basic stats—but one detail caught his attention immediately.

Status: In Communion

This was an additional "tag" that he was seeing for the first time on Starius. It was similar to the "sexually frustrated" tag that Furina came with.

Communion? Hiro’s mental gears began turning. He decided to consult the sexy expert that was currently residing in his mind.

’Carnalia, what does "In Communion" mean in this context?’

Carnalia’s voice, which Hiro could never grow tired of hearing, sounded out after a brief pause. ’All Heroes possess an ability called [Commune]. It allows direct communication with their deity. The skill’s duration varies based on the user’s rank and relationship with their deity.’

’So... Starius is talking to Selune right now?’

’Maybe. By the way, Selune can see and hear everything Starius can. That’s how [Commune] works. Meaning... she’s currently looking at you, Hiro.’

The way Carnalia spoke the last sentence sent micro-shivers through Hiro’s body.

Hiro took a deep breath and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. This was valuable information indeed. He made a mental note to use [Citizen Appraisal] more frequently. The skill cost nothing to use, and as this situation proved, it could reveal fascinating details he might otherwise miss.

So Goddess Selune wants to observe me through Starius’s eyes, does she?

It wasn’t difficult to piece together the likely scenario. Selune had sent Starius to aid with and report on the barony’s situation, and now she wanted him to interact with Hiro more closely. The problem was, Starius clearly had no idea how to make casual conversation.

Starius grew up as a poor commoner, with Tara pretty much being his only real friend for most of his life. Although there were several adults who treated him kindly, they didn’t really help cultivate his conversational skills.

And as for his teacher...? Let’s not even go there.

Poor guy. All that training to be a Hero, but nobody taught him small talk, Hiro thought.

Hiro’s expression softened. He could work with this. In fact, it presented an excellent opportunity to improve his standing with the goddess—something he wouldn’t mind after their... memorable first encounter.

"Why don’t you drag that chair to the front and take a seat?" Hiro gestured to one of the chairs positioned to the side of the tent. "Considering that you’re probably the most important person in my Realm right now, it wouldn’t hurt for us to get to know each other a bit better."

Relief flooded Starius’s features. "Yes, My Lord, that’s exactly what I was thinking!"

As Starius moved to grab the chair, Hiro began the conversation casually. "While we’re at it, would you mind clarifying something for me? You mentioned this morning that you didn’t tell anyone about your destination before using the refugee system to come here. But last night, you spoke highly of your teacher. If you respect him so much, why keep this quest a secret from him as well?"

Starius settled into the chair, some of his nervousness fading now that he had a concrete topic to discuss. "Regarding that, my teacher can be... overprotective. The Desolate Lands have a fearsome reputation after all. No one who has entered has ever returned to tell the tale."

He paused, his expression growing thoughtful. "I’m still relatively new to being a Hero. My class awakening was only a few months ago. If my teacher knew I was planning to come here, he would have forbidden it. He might have even convinced me to reject the quest entirely."

"Quests can be rejected?" Hiro asked, genuinely curious.

"Yes, even divine quests. We’re champions of our deities, but we still retain free will. However, there must be sound reasoning for rejection." Starius’s voice carried a hint of sadness. "My teacher would have had sound reasoning. The Desolate Lands are far too dangerous for someone of my level."

"But you came anyway."

"I did." Starius’s jaw tightened with determination. "I couldn’t remain under his protection forever. How could I grow stronger, how could I truly serve the goddess, if I never faced real challenges? Sometimes, growth requires taking risks."

Wow, spoken like a true Hero! Hiro thought, half-impressed and half-flabbergasted. Surely, his teacher had a proper future planned out for Starius but... oh well.

As the conversation progressed, Starius’s curiosity began to show. "My Lord, if you don’t mind me asking... you’re quite mysterious. What exactly is your origin? Where did you come from? How did you end up becoming a Ruler in the Desolate Lands?"

Hiro’s expression grew amused. Can’t exactly tell him I’m from another world, can I?

"As a Hero, you have that special ability called [Commune], right? You can talk to the goddess directly?"

Starius nodded, looking puzzled by the unexpected question. "Yes, that’s true..."

"Then the next time you use [Commune] and talk to Goddess Selune, you can ask her where I came from, and why I’m here." Hiro’s smile turned mysterious. "I don’t want to tell you, but perhaps the Goddess will."

Starius’s eyes widened in surprise. Ask the goddess directly? But then he remembered—he was currently in communion with her. He could ask right away, and satisfy his curiosity!

’Goddess, what is Lord Hiro’s origin? Where did he come from?’

There was a long pause. A few seconds of silence stretched on before Selune finally responded.

’You shouldn’t worry about these things right now. When you grow strong enough, you will find out the answer to this question. For now, forget about Hiro’s origin. Do not inquire about it. Do not discuss it.’

Starius’s mind reeled. What kind of origin could be so profound that even the goddess herself won’t speak of it? His respect for the mysterious ruler sitting across from him increased further.

"Okay... I won’t press you if you don’t want to say, My Lord."

"Good!" Hiro casually responded, but internally, he was thinking.

I wonder if she told him. Judging from his expression... probably not.

They resumed talking, the conversation flowing more naturally now. Starius shared stories of his childhood in the Vigne earldom, his friendship with Tara, and the hardships they’d endured under corrupt officials. Despite all the bad things he’d been through, despite all the evil he’d been exposed to, Hiro realized that Starius had maintained his idealism and fundamental goodness.

A model Hero, Hiro thought. His respect for Starius increased, even if he felt that he was a tad too naïve.

A lot of the experiences Starius shared weren’t very pleasant, so Hiro decided to lighten the mood with some teasing. "Speaking of Tara, what do you think of her? Do you like her? Perhaps even... love her?"

THUMP!

The question hit Starius like a physical blow, and a faint redness coloured his cheeks.

"Haha, look at you. So there is indeed something!" Hiro said, thoroughly enjoying himself. "You must have been veeery happy to see her again in my Realm."

"I... that is..." Starius stammered before eventually gathering his courage. "I believe our reunion was arranged by Goddess Selune herself. It’s a work of fate, and I’m deeply grateful for her wisdom in making it possible."

He’s thanking Selune for something she most likely had nothing to do with, Hiro thought, fighting back a chuckle. But I doubt she’ll correct him.

"And? Leave the diplomacy to the diplomats, mister Hero." Hiro pressed with a grin. "How do you feel about Tara personally?"

Starius’s blush deepened. Upon realizing that he couldn’t evade the question, he decided to be honest. "I... yes, I do like her. Very much. It is to the point that I find myself imagining a future with her, but..." He looked down at his hands. "Do you have any advice? About matters of the heart?"

Hiro stared at Starius with an unreadable expression, his fingers gently tapping the table before him. Within his mind, Carnalia’s maniacal laughter echoed.

"Well, I’m the type who’s pretty direct about his feelings," Hiro said carefully, aware of his divine audience. "If I like someone, I make it clear quickly rather than waiting around. But..." He allowed a wry smile to cross his face. "The last time I tried that strategy, it didn’t end well. I confessed to someone I really liked, and I got sent to the Desolate Lands as punishment."

Starius’s eyes widened in shock. Although he was a man, he wasn’t blind to Hiro’s handsomeness. Not to mention, Hiro’s strength was also profound.

"You were rejected? Even though you’re so—" He abruptly stopped speaking, and then his confused expression was replaced by an even more confused expression. "Wait, you were sent to the Desolate Lands because you confessed to a girl? What kind of girl has that much power!?"

Hiro simply nodded with a pitiful expression, offering no further explanation. His words weren’t meant for Starius in the first place.

In her Divine Realm, Selune’s lips curved upward as she easily recognized the incident Hiro was talking about. She had no idea that Hiro was already aware of her spying. Doesn’t look like he holds a grudge. Interesting. And he’s being surprisingly well-behaved.

Meanwhile...

"I think I’ll wait a little longer before confessing to Tara," Starius said after a moment. "We shared many years of friendship as kids, but we’ve been separated for the past few years. I want to rekindle that connection first."

"Do whatever feels right to you," Hiro replied. Take all the time you need, my friend. No rush at all.

As if on cue, Hiro’s [Perception Field] picked up the presence of several people gathering outside the tent. The exploration party members had assembled and were waiting for their leader.

"I think your party members are ready," Hiro said, gesturing toward the tent entrance. "They’re waiting for you outside."

Starius blinked in surprise. "Has so much time passed already?" He stood up quickly, then paused. "Thank you, My Lord. This was... a very pleasant discussion. I enjoyed our talk."

There was genuine warmth in his voice, and Hiro could sense Starius’ surprise at finding him so approachable. Probably expected me to be more like some arrogant noble.

Hiro’s guess was spot on.

"Same here," Hiro replied with a casual wave. "You’re good company, Starius. Try not to get yourself killed out there."

"I’ll do my best, My Lord."

With a respectful bow, Starius departed to join his waiting party members.

As the tent flap closed behind him, Hiro leaned back in his chair, a satisfied expression on his face.

When he first transmigrated, his state of mind had been quite muddled for a while. But could you really blame Hiro for that? Transmigration wasn’t an everyday occurrence, after all.

The way he approached Selune had been quite rash. But now...

I don’t mind playing the long game, Dear Goddess.

But for now, he had other matters to attend to. Like going out with a certain someone who would be joining him once Starius’s exploration party left. His thoughts drifted to Tara, and he felt a familiar stirring of anticipation.

Speaking of Tara... There’s someone else I should pay a quick visit to, before we set out.