Reborn in a Dating Sim: Life as a Mob is hard in an Equestria Girl’s Dating Game! Book 2

Reborn in a Dating Sim:

Life as a Mob is hard in an Equestria Girl’s Dating Game!

Book 2

Chapter Introduction

The sounds of thunder roared in the distance. The deep rumble was the sort of sound that echoed through open valleys, and for the island that was the home of Viscount Copper Plum Bit this was no different. His own island was much the same as his father’s. Where his father’s island was completely agricultural he had slightly altered his to have a bit more flair. The hot springs, and bath, that he’d had Artemis construct was meant to be something of a tourist attraction.

A place to come and relax, to enjoy time to simply be, and to allow the natural hot water to simply purify and rejuvenate one’s soul. It had been meant for that, but now it was merely the family’s hot spring and bath. Instead the decision to go into business with his father in making the labyrinth that he’d accidentally created into a thriving monster core mill had come to fruition. Diamond Tiara, Applebloom, Sunset Shimmer, and even Diamond’s mother Spoiled Rich, which he’d finally gotten to meet her, had said that having the income from the labyrinth would go a long way toward building their future.

He’d considered the contracts that he’d overseen in his past life, those contracts that were meant for day laborers, and he had written some very similar to those for some adventurers. Adventurers that were paid a decent wage, and were offered health care if they would be willing to grind out the cores in the labyrinth. Most had absolutely accepted. The stipulation had been simple enough. They were to hunt for periods of no more than eight hours. During that time they were allotted breaks at two hour intervals, with the exception being exceptionally difficult battles allotted them an immediate break afterward.

In the middle of their shift they were allotted a thirty minute lunch, and then at the end of the eight hours they were to pack up, leave, and head out of the labyrinth for the other set of adventurers to take over. So far it had been working fairly well. There was a steady flow of income, and the cost of paying the adventurers wasn’t that high. The health care itself was handled thanks to Applebloom. She’d offered to use her potions when needed, and he’d accepted.

It could never be said that he wasn’t an equal opportunity individual. He was all in for accepting help from his future wives. Still, at the moment he found himself awake, on a sitting couch, with Artemis laying down with her head in his lap. Despite what she had said about not needing sleep there was no denying that being pregnant was taking a toll on her. She had grown tired, and she was finding herself being more careful when moving. Currently she was lying down, sleeping, and he could see the pronounced bump that was their child.

The scene was peaceful, beautiful, and something that deserved to be on a idyllic painting. He grinned, and leaned back as he he took in the room around them. So far his life was still insane. He had more time at the Academy, but luckily they were on break. His future brides were all in the house with him, and he couldn’t say that this was something he could live without. Having experienced it first hand he knew this was the kind of life he wanted to strive for.

“That’s so sweet,’ came a voice from the doorway, “She’s resting so peacefully, and you’re being kind enough to hold her head like that.”

He looked up to see Diamond Tiara standing there. Her choice of clothing showed that she had expected it to be them tonight. Her nightgown was sheer, a soft pink, and partially transparent. He could see every curve of her body as she moved toward them, “I had hoped to have you to myself for a while, but I think that she deserves a little time like this,” she said as she moved next to him, took a seat beside him, and leaned her head against his shoulder, “My love,” she said her voice soft, “Are you sure that you don’t mind my mother coming to stay for a short visit?”

He shook his head, “I can’t deny the request,” he replied as he sat there as Artemis’ lap pillow, “I owe your father far too much. From everything he’s done for me right down to allowing me to take you as my bride. I simply owe him more than I could ever repay. The fact that he suggested that your mother takes some time to destress sounds like a good idea. And she can do that here.”

She laughed, “Oh, she can,” Diamond Tiara said, “She won’t, but she could if she really wanted to.”

He looked at her, “I take it that you think that she’s going to push herself too hard, huh?”

She nodded, “Mother doesn’t know how to relax,” she replied, her voice relaying a little tension, “The truth is that she’s constantly trying to be in the middle of everything that happens at the court. My father is the one that really understands the ins and outs of it, but mother wants to be there to lobby for him. She wants to garner votes for his interests, and she is exceptionally determined when it comes to it.”

She laughed a little, “I fear that she will want to oversee our business, and that she will want to incorporate some other small things into it. Potentially making a deal to allow higher profile adventurers chances to solo the labyrinth if they feel so inclined to it.”

He shook his head, “I’m sure that there are some who could, but I don’t want to risk anyone’s safety. It’s better to go in teams. A single person could run into trouble down there.”

She nodded, “I know, and that’s why I agree with what we’ve done, but mother likely will feel different. I just wanted to warn you ahead of time.”

He considered what she was saying, and he could understand what she was getting at. Spoiled Rich ultimately was higher nobility. While she certainly came from adventurer stock she likely also believed that the best course of action was to ensure that high profile adventurers were drawn to the labyrinth. She wouldn’t be completely wrong, but for the business model that they were making it would most certainly work against what they were trying to do. They weren’t in it for short term gains, but instead they wanted long term revenue.

Long term meaning more than a few days or a few weeks. He wanted this to last for years, potentially for their lifetime and beyond. To keep their growing family in a source of steady income. It was really the best option. He was more than certain of that. Of course there were other possibilities. The idea of using the other island wasn’t in the stars. The island that had become a pirate stronghold had been made into a place for Satin, Prince Apollo, Posh Propers, Spear Point, Mithril Shield, and Platinum Reserve.

Which in truth it needed to be made into a place for them to live. It was the best chance for them to have some kind of life that wasn’t dependent upon the five idiots’ status. With them being mostly being disinherited, with the exception of Satin who was poor to begin with, they had no access to their wealth. They literally had to work as adventurers. From what Satin had told him they couldn’t save an ounce of that money. Each time they made something it was spent on a lavish dinner at the adventurer’s guild.

So, at the end of it having a place where they could at least have a life was better than the alternative. So, he accepted the responsibility, and he made the suggestion. His dad was for it, but officially they couldn’t simply give it to Satin. Instead they had to ask Queen Celestia or King Consort Baked Bean. At the end of it they approached King Consort Baked Bean, and he agreed to allow them to allow Satin and the others to take over the continued care of the island until such time as the Baroness and her daughters were able to reclaim it.

Which if Copper was honest likely would never happen. His Father was right about how the temple would help them, but most likely it would be through indoctrinated teachings. Those would likely leave them in a constant state of uncertainty. He personally didn’t think that it was Head Priestess Luna’s intention to do that, but rather it was something the temples did a local level. It ensured that those who came to them for assistance were dependent upon them. It kept them relevant, and it ensured that they would never stop thriving.

With that in mind, at least Satin and the five idiots had a place to go. Well, a place to go along with the other noble women that had been displaced thanks to the efforts of Queen Chrysalis. Those who had no family left. Those who had lost their entire family lines were also there, and also on another island that he had been given. So, while he made the suggestion it wasn’t like they were always alone. They had plenty of company.

Still, he was hopeful that helping them out wouldn’t come back to bit him in the ass somehow. It wasn’t that he believed that helping them out was the wrong thing to do. Far from it. He believed that helping them was likely the best thing that he could have done. The other matter that was at hand was the fact that he knew they had to deal with Spoiled Rich. From what Diamond Tiara was saying she would likely be pushing for them to make the labyrinth specifically open for high profile adventurers. Getting them to come in and work it would promote it, absolutely, but it was short profit gains. It would lose its novelty after a while. That meant that they had to make her see reason. They needed to show her that it had to be more than something that was flash in the pan.

“Dia, did you show your mother the plans we have for the labyrinth?” he asked, just to be sure that she did share it, “I mean, did you show her everything?”

She nodded, “I did,” she replied, as she looked at him, “Copper, she believes that it has merit, but she also believes that the ones who should profit the most from it is the adventurers that are established and already part of nobility. She wants them to visit it and promote it. I can see some of what she’s saying. I mean, it’s not wrong. The idea of them coming out and going through it makes sense, but how she wants it done seems off. It doesn’t really sit right.”

He nodded, “You’re absolutely correct,” he replied as he sat beside her, still hold Artemis, “I can can take a firm stand on it, and ultimately that could be the full extent of it, but there’s the slim chance that she might attempt to pull rank. If that’s the case, even with my being raised to Earl I don’t think that I can do much. I’ll still technically be lower on the pecking order. It means if she really wants this, and is determined for it to happen this way, then there’s really not much we can do.”

Diamond swallowed, “There is something,” she admitted after a moment, “Mother ultimately will defer to father. She will follow his lead. If she’s coming by herself then she hasn’t told him the reason for it. Father would never let this happen. He has a keen head for business, and while he would see the short term gains he would most certainly see how this would hurt the business model we have set up. He’d want her to follow our model more. Perhaps allow one or two high profile adventurers to lead parties, something to boost their status, promote the labyrinth, but not hurt the business itself.”

Copper nodded, “Something like that makes sense. It gives the high profile adventurers the chance to really test themselves, show that they are where they are because of their skill, and at the same time bring in business. That makes sense. Cutting off the labyrinth to all other adventurers seems silly. I know that it seems idiot to think that she would go to that extreme, but I’m considering the worst case scenario.”

She shook her head, “You’re closer to what may actually happen than you think,” she admitted after a moment, “Mother will slowly divert all of the attention to the higher profile adventurers. She is more geared toward status. It helps with garnering support in the courts, but it doesn’t do much when it comes to business. She’s convinced that she’s right, and that there is no one else that is correct except for her. The one person she admits is better at business than her is father.”

He nodded, “So, do you want to contact your father, or should I?”

She studied him, “Mother is going to be so upset,” she groaned as she continued to lean her head against him, “Copper, I don’t think that you understand exactly how upset she’s going to be. She will believe that we don’t trust in her judgment. Which in this case I absolutely do not, but when it comes to getting support I do. I trust in how she is able to talk to the other nobles, and how she is able to work them into doing what she wants.”

He nodded, “I get it,” he replied as he looked at her, “I really do, but I want to make sure that all of you, and all of our children, are cared for.”

The words came so simply, so easily, that it was the truth. There was no mistaking that. Diamond Tiara made a small happy noise next to him, “You do realize that you’re going to be swimming in children, right?” she asked as she leaned against him, completely content, “I mean it, honestly you’re going to be practically drowning in children.”

He laughed as he gently stroked Artemis’ head, “I know,” he admitted, “and honestly I’m not worried about it. I want to be. I want to be swimming in them. I want to be completely drowning in them. That is something that I want to experience for the rest of my life.” he said as he enjoyed the moment, “Although I know that’s not very practical of me. For one I should make sure that all of you are fine with having them.”

“Of course we are my Captain,” Artemis answered from his lap, “If I was not then I would not be carrying our child right now. I would have simply abstained from the act of creating this symbol of our relationship,” she said, her voice soft and gentle, “Instead I am currently feeling the life that we’ve created growing inside of me. In a world of magic, of seeing great feats of unexplainable energy, this is the most magical thing there is. The creation of life from two different individuals. To create such a specific form from all of the chaos, all of the variables, it is like turning lead into gold. It is a miracle.”

He gently stroked her head, “I agree,” he said after a few moments, “I can’t agree more that it is truly a miracle, and there will be more of them here. I’m just wondering what it’s going to be like to have these little miracles running around.”

Diamond Tiara laughed softly, “It will be chaos,” she admitted, “The boys will need to start training when they’re able. Both for action in the court, and in swordsmanship. Your father actually told me of the drills that you did every single morning before coming to the academy, and while I think that it is a little overboard, I don’t specifically think that it is a bad idea. We could have them train similarly.”

He breathed out, “Yeah, but that training was exceptionally difficult. It really was, and I’m not sure how well I can hold up making my own children do them. It would feel like a betrayal. I know that sounds stupid, but I want them to be able to enjoy their childhood. Maybe not have as many worries or cares.”

“It won’t be like that,” a different voice said, and he looked up to see the door opening. There was someone he hadn’t expected to see. It had been difficult to call her mother. The memories of who he’d grown up with was still there. Delicate Emerald had been spiteful, angry, and vengeful. She had treated him with contempt, and he’d never known why she hated him so much. The woman there before him wasn’t her, and yet she was. She stepped into the home, “I’m sorry for simply barging in,” she said a soft smile on her face, “I just wanted to come and say hello, and there is also a letter that came to us from the dragon fire mailer. I was surprised to see it light up, but then the moment I saw that it was for you it made sense.”

He nodded, “Thanks, mom,” he said, the word still feeling odd on his tongue, “I mean it, so did Dad come with you?”

“He did,” came the voice of Gold Bit from outside, “I wanted to make sure that nothing else happened to my Delicate.”

She rolled her eyes, “Gold, love, we were promised that there would be no more captures, no more imposters, no more of the trying to ensure the status quo. I believe that we should be fine.”

He shook his head, “Delicate, you were replaced by a creature that looked like you. It pretended to be you, and I… I’m so sorry for not realizing that it wasn’t you.”

She touched him, “Love, you couldn’t tell because it became a perfect copy. I’m not mad at you, I would never be mad at you,” she replied her touch looked gentle, “I’m just glad that I get to meet my children, and soon my grandchildren, and perhaps I can give my grandchildren another aunt or uncle.”

He laughed, and Copper shook his head. Sure, he was saying something similar a few moments ago, but there was something fundamentally wrong with hearing a person’s parents talking about having another child. Maybe it was because the thought of his parents as sexual beings was somewhat foreign to him. That could be it, and he wagered that it likely was the reason. He shook his head, “Anyway, what’s the letter that you guys got?”

Delicate handed it to him, and he opened it. The envelope was a midnight blue, the emblem of a crescent moon was adorned on it, and the letter itself was similar. It too was midnight blue, the emblem of the crescent moon was at the top of the letter. Had he never met Head Priestess Luna he would have never known that it came directly from her. The fact her hair was this color, that she wore a crescent moon pendant, or that her robes were a softer blue were the hints he needed that relayed where it came from.

“It’s from the temple,” he said as he looked at the letter and then began to read it. For a moment he looked fine, and then his body began to stiffen. He felt a wash of uncertainty followed by a feeling of unsurpassed anger welling up inside of him, “No, this isn’t possible, what did that idiot do?!”

“My Captain?” Artemis asked from her place, “is all well?”

“Copper, love?” Diamond Tiara asked from beside him, “What is it?”

He breathed out, “This can’t be right, it just fucking can’t be right!”

The letter slipped from his hand, and in a fit of worry Diamond Tiara grabbed it. She lifted it up, and she looked at it, “Oh, oh no.”

Viscount Copper Plum Bit, it is my sworn duty as the Head Priestess to inform you that your status of Temple Knight is secured. Additionally it is my duty as Head Priestess to inform you that you have been assigned. The Saint has been found. Viscountess Satin DeMure has been named the Saint. She has shown the abilities of sainthood, and she has produced an artifact that was placed somewhere that only the Saint could reach. With that we have given her the staff of the Saint.

It is my understanding that you found the last piece of power of the Saint. A necklace that holds the power to increase the Saint’s own abilities. It is with a heavy heart that I must ask you to relinquish the necklace to the Saint as soon as possible. Additionally, I must ask that you prepare a ship to bring her back to the Capital where she can be fully appointed as the Saint. I know that this is asking much of you, and I apologize for that. However, I cannot, absolutely cannot, fully relay the importance of the tasks that I’ve asked of you in mere words. Please, do what I’ve asked in haste.

Of the knights of the temple, of my friends, of those closest to me, I feel that it is you that I can trust the most.

Love, Head Priestess Luna.

“What did that little twerp do?” Diamond Tiara seethed as she sat beside him, “What did she do to make this happen, she can’t be the saint, there’s no possible way that she can be.”

Copper shook his head, “I can’t refuse what’s been asked of me,” he replied from beside her, “I really can’t, but it didn’t say a word about not taking all of you with me, or at least a few of you.”

She looked at him, “I’ll gather a few things, a trip to the capital won’t be bad, and we can come back and enjoy the rest of our break afterward. Besides, I am not letting that little twerp even come close to attempting to seduce you.”

“My Captain is repulsed by her, but I too shall accompany you. As will Monika. My Capitan, you do understand that she will likely be watching Satin closely. I seriously doubt that she can make a move without her notice.”

He nodded, “I know, damn it, I didn’t want to get caught up in this,” he said as he looked at his parents, “Mom, Dad, do you feel like going to the Capital?”

Both of them smiled, “Of course,” they said, “We can take the ship you gave us,” his father replied, “It’s got plenty of room, and we’ll just focus on ensuring that everything works fine.”

With that he felt a little bit of peace.