Chereads / God Reincarnates To Become Debauched / Chapter 5 - Birthday Party (R-18)

Chapter 5 - Birthday Party (R-18)

5: Birthday Party (R-18)

(Got too into the smut and made a 4700 word chapter… fuck. Hang in tight.

Also, thank you guys for all your support. I honestly don't have words to describe what I'm feeling right now. The moment this novel was approved for voting, you guys went ham on the Power Stones. I'm still flabbergasted while writing this note.

Again, thank you everyone.

You can read your chapter now, you wankers.)

[ Hello! Hello! Arthur, are you there?! ]

'Yeah yeah, now please tone down a bit, Lora.'

If what the description of 'Supreme Physique' said was true, they should only be able to hear what I want them to hear. They can't read me so easily anymore.

[ That's right you tits for brains, calm down a bit. Now, Arthur, tell me what happened? Are you okay? Is everything fine? You were not hurt were you? Why was your mental state so chaotic? Did the system do somethi-]

'You tone down too, Lana.'

[ Hah! You ribs for brains! ]

It seemed like they can't see or access what the system does to me, or at least the internal changes System makes in me.

'You guys and your antics…anyway, I'm totally fine. Yes, the system did do something to me, but it was for the good.'

[ Phew! I knew the system wouldn't harm you! ]

'And why's that?'

[Duh! It's becau-]

[Shut up Lora!]

'*Tsk* You guys really like to hide stuff don't you?'

[ We wish we could tell you…we really do…]

'You guys also care a bit too much about me for mere observers. Who am I even to you? At least don't lie now.'

[Arthur… Please don't make it hard on us…*sniff*]

Unexpectedly Lora started to sniffle.

'Hey! Hey! I'm sorry!... I didn't mean to hurt you. You can tell me when you want to. Now, please stop crying Lora, my big tiddy goddess.'

[*Sniff*Was that a compliment?]

'Ah...yes it was.'

[Huang! Hick! Hick!]

'!...'

The big tiddy goddess started to cry without any stops, all of a sudden. She put her hands in front of her still-obscured face and let it all come out. Needless to say, I was flabbergasted by the turn of events.

[Calm down Lora! You are my fluffy pillow, aren't you? Now, now.] Lana came over and hugged Lora, and swung her side to side. But the Loli Goddess's face only reached Lora's breasts…

'Just what is going on?…Did she just cry because of a compliment?'

I was confused as heck.

[We have our situation… but don't worry… we'll make it…]

I didn't know what to do in this situation. I could only try to appease Lora.

'Okay… Lora please calm down now. Aren't you my good goddess?'

[*Sniff* Alright…*hik* just compliment us more from now on…*Sniff* *Sniff*]

'Yeah, I promise. Now stop crying, I like the Lovely Chirpy Lora better.'

[*Sniff* You're the best! *Sniff* Heh! Lana! Arthur called me Lovely!*Sniff*]

I could see Lana getting out of the hug and shaking her head. Well… at least Lora was normal now…

[*Sigh* Now that everything is settled, let's start with the real talk. You have made a grave mistake.]

'Huh? What mistake?'

[You don't pee! Don't get embarrassed and just pee! Do you really think that your obsessed and powerful mother would give you a normal nappy? That's a nappy with a fricking spatial dimension inside it! It even had auto cleaning magic on it! You can pee in it for centuries but you won't be able to fill it up! Heck! Even your onesie is an artifact with extreme protection arrays engraved on it!]

'What the fuck? So I've been enduring this much for nothing!'

[Exactly!]

'Tsk, you could've given me a heads up at least. Anyway, speaking of pee, why the fuck don't I poop?! It's been three fucking days but I can't poop!'

[Well…you can't… high-humans just don't poop, only when your body really can't digest something do you poop or else all the things you eat are just converted into energy and nutrients for you… high-humans also don't need symbiotic microbes and worms to survive like normal humans, so they are spick and span inside. Your fluids like pee, cum and blood are clean too, more than even elemental spring water.]

'So you're saying that my anus is just redundant?'

[No, you can use it for sex, it's honestly cleaner than your surface body. I'm pretty sure your mother will have a taste of you after you grow up a bit. As a high-human, she's clean too, so you can have a taste of her without ever feeling disgusted. Most high-human couples eat each other's asses quite often, it's pretty sensitive down there.]

'Not gonna lie, if it's really clean there, then it does sound quite kinky. Ah!... By the way, I'm no longer a high-human, the system changed my race to a 'Supreme'.'

[What's that?! Never heard of it before but it does sound stronger!]

[Hush Lora! Arthur, tell us the details. The System gave them to you, right?]

'Well yeah…they are like this…

.

.

.

.

.

[Th-that's way too overpowered!]

'I don't really have an idea about the whole power system in this place, but even to me it does sound quite OP.'

[No shit!]x2

They were too in-sync all of a sudden…

'Anyway, speaking of races, what is the race of my sisters, are they elves?'

[No, they are Half-Fairies]

'Fairies, huh? That sounds cool.'

[It's really not. Fairies are born by this world itself to keep the order of nature and have a power cap on them. Being half-fairy does remove this limiter, but one flaw always sticks with fairies and half-fairies. They can't physically age after a certain period of time, until they are married. In other words they have to have sex to physically age further.]

'What the fuck, isn't it overpowered? They can just become nuns and live forever.'

[They really aren't…Life spans aren't dictated by physical age in most races with mana. Your soul's power does. Getting stronger, strengthens your soul, in-turn increasing your lifespan. ]

'So what's my sisters' age then? Surely it isn't that much right?'

[Hehehe, you'll have to find out in a week! Her birthday is coming soon.]

'You big teases… By the way isn't this connection going on for too long? I'm quite sure it was shorter before.'

[It's probably because of your race upgraded, but your time is really running out now. Maybe just a few minutes are left.]

'Alright, let's make this time worth it. Why are you guys hiding your faces?'

[We are goddesses, Arthur. A mortal can't remain mentally stable seeing our real selves. Even these bodies we have are just avatars of ours with downgraded aesthetics.]

'Can't you downgrade your face too so we can see face to face?'

[No! Just get strong enough to see the real one! Now go! Your time's up! Shooo.]

'Hehehe, I'm liking you guys more and more now.'

[EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!]

My connection cut off while listening to the happy shrieks. I blacked out and went to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I opened my eyes and saw a beautifully embellished ceiling. I was no longer wrapped in a cocoon so I could stretch a bit with my tiny baby body.

Most importantly, now that I know of it…..

*pissssss*

'haahh, this is life at its finest...'

My piss trickled into nothingness and when I was done, I felt something warm covering my crotch until it was gone. I had probably been cleaned up.

'Both Lora and Lana seem to be too attached to me for only meeting twice with me. I don't wanna sound like an incel but I even felt love for me from their demeanor. They are also hungry for compliments. Last time, the Loli goddess was happy about calling her cute and now Lora… One clue at a time, Tob- *ahem* Arthur… I'll solve this side quest. Let's wake up mom now. '

"Waaaa"

"Oh~ My baby gugu woke up~"

.

.

.

.

Like this, a week passed.

That whole week I did the usual.

Drink milk.

Make Mom cum from her sensitive cute nipples.

Sometimes interact with Maria, Rose and my sisters.

And most importantly, talk to the clumsy Goddesses to gather evidence for my little side quest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Vooooom* *Vooooom*

Mom was making inspections on me. Her hand was glowing in creamy light. She was getting quite concerned about my growth speed.

I was as big as a 2 month old, now. I really didn't want to concern my sweet and delicious mom but I also really wanted to grow the hell up a bit.

"*Sigh* Baby, you're growing too fast. I can't even tell how it's happening. And your mana is also way too much for someone who hasn't cultivated yet. The only solace is that you are perfectly fine and your mana pool seems extremely sturdy too… Most importantly, you already looked so cute, but now you're growing cuter to an unworldly level!"

My 'Supreme Physique' was probably making me even more attractive now…

"Waaa!"

I could probably speak now, my facial muscles had developed quite a bit. I was just waiting for the perfect moment to make the scene more memorable for her.

"Yes darling~ I know my Arty is reaaaally strong and CUTE!~"

"Waaahahaha"

"Alright~ today is your sister's birthday. You'll go with me to celebrate it. Are you ready darling~"

"Waaaa"

"Alright~ let's get you dressed up~"

By dress, she meant those overpowered onesies….

After getting dressed up she took me outside the room. It was my first time seeing the house properly. I had only visited my room and the bathroom before.

I could only say one thing about it…. It was exquisite.

The floors were made of black and white marbles and were thinly gilded with gold in their seams.

The walls had all kinds of intricate art pieces hanging on them. Paintings, antique looking mirrors, beautiful ornamental weapons, you name it.

The ceiling had the same type of decorations as my room, just more embellished with chandeliers.

None of it seemed gaudy at all. It just felt right. Like everything belonged where it should.

We reached a moderate sized hall and I saw all the people who visited us 10 days ago.

They were Rose the black haired and red eyed guard. Maria the purple haired and pink eyed hot and pregnant milf. My sisters: Elora, the silver haired and orange eyed girl, and Fina, the blue haired and green eyed girl.

Fina was looking quite special today as she had a tiara on her head and her navy blue dress was more lavish than anyone here. She was most definitely the birthday girl today.

When they saw me, I made the most brilliant smile I could and laughed.

"Waaahahahaa!"

"Give him to me!"

Maria didn't even consider listening to mom's reply and snatched me away from her. It was the staple for whenever she visited my room…

I had asked the Goddesses about her and Rose in that week. It turns out, both of them were high-humans too. Maria was even got pregnant the same way as mom did… through their magic… The lovely but mischievous goddesses didn't give me their personal details though, telling me to discover it myself.

"Humph! I'll beat you up if my baby cries even a bit."

I saw mom harrumph, it was really cute. Even as a baby, I wanted to gobble her up.

I saw mom going towards Luna, picking her up in a hug and swinging her around.

"Happy Birthday my baby!"

"Hahahaha, Mama stop! Hahahaha"

" I want to gobble you up and you're just talking about letting you down! Fina honey~ you're underestimating my love for you!"

"Hahaha I love you too, Mama!"

She really was a good mother.

*smooch* *slurp* *slurp*

Can I backtrack that statement…

What was I even seeing…

Mom and Fina had started to french kiss on the fly…

I could see their tongues dancing around each other, their saliva mixing together and making wet noises.

"Mama~"

Fina hugged mom's head and deepened the kiss by sealing her lips with mom's. Their tongues were probably exploring each other's mouths now.

*Slurp* *Slurp* *Slurp**Slurp* *Slurp*

Mom didn't back down and slid her hands down one after the other until they both were resting on Fina's supple-looking ass. She then grabbed onto Fina's ass cheeks, fondling them in circles.

hnng~ hnnng~ hnnnng~

I heard Fina make nasal moans at mom's touch….this was so fucking hot…

Thankfully my dick was temporarily unresponsive or else I would've leaked out some precum by now.

*Slurp* Ummh~ *Slurp* Ummh~ *Slurp* Ummhh~

Their hot kiss went on, with Fina moaning in between the kisses.

*SLAP*

Mom separated her wet lips from Fina as she spanked Fina's rump hard with both her hands and clawed her fingers into her supple ass cheeks.

"Haah~ Alright honey~ Let's celebrate your birthday right now~"

They ended their kiss, there were still strings of saliva connecting their mouths while they were speaking.

"Mama you big tease!~"

"Mommy already took you and Elora's mouth first~ We need to save the other mouth for Arthur don't we~"

"Arty!~ Grow up quickly!~ I can barely wait now!~"

The girl was clearly expressing her intent to fuck me…

'Was she really an old lady inside? Just didn't physically age much… Well, it didn't matter to me in the first place, I'm Arthur 'the baby' now, not Toby 'the middle-aged man'. I have all the passes I need, hehehe~'

"I swear, you and your whole family… Forget it… I'll probably be part of the same family too… Right Arty?~ Will you love your sexy aunt?~"

"Waaaahahaha"

'Yes, I'll love and devour you whole, my sexy milf.'

I extended my hands and pressed her big milky tiddies.

"Hnng, not now Arthur~ I'll give you a lot of milk after the party~ You can suck as hard as you want~"

'You want to call my family crazy… but you are no better!'

She carried me near the table and I saw an impossibly decorated cake there.

The cake had all kinds of cute creatures made of cream waltzing about. On top of the cake was a lit up sign made of magic. I had proficiency in the language here so I could read it…it said…

[Happy 29th Birthday, Luna!]

'She's just slightly younger than when I died! If she's 29 then what about my mother? No no, don't go into this rabbit-hole! For now I should just celebrate Fina's birthday.'

"Waaaa"

"Aunt Maria! You can't hoard him! Give him to his sisters!"

"Tsk."

Fina came over and took me in her arms. I could see a lot of love and a bit of nervousness in her eyes. I knew what I had to do.

"Waahahahaha!"

"Look! Look! Arty likes me! Come here!~ *SMOOCH* *SMOOCH*"

She covered me in kisses, her lips still wet from the hot session she had with mom. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get a wet french kiss, but eh, the time would probably come soon.

"Hey! Give him to me too!"

Elora came in and took me in her arms as well. I wasn't one to discriminate so…

"Waahahahaha!"

"EEEEEE! He likes me too!"

*bonk* *bonk*

"Ouch!" X2

"You guys… My darling is still a baby! Don't treat him like a doll!"

"But Mom! He's so cute!"

"*Sigh* I know honey, but you need to tone it down a bit. Give Arty to Rose, let's celebrate my Fina's birthday now."

Rose came over and took me from Elora.

Now that she was holding me tightly, I could feel her big honkers against my body. Like Maria, I stretched my hands out and squeezed her boob. She was wearing a bra but I could still feel how supple her teat was. Completely contrasting her hard and strict persona.

It was such a delight that I continued to mold and massage her tit with vigor. Although I couldn't reach her other tit with a 2-months-old baby's body, I could at least cope a good feel of the tit in question with more strength than a week back.

*!...*

Rose's body flinched at my perverted touches. She looked over at me and I gave her the brightest smile I could give.

"Waaaa!"

I could see her mouth twitching, threatening to turn into a smile. But that couldn't hide the fact that her body was shuddering a bit.

"Alright, let's cut the cake and celebrate Fina's birthday!"

I heard Mom's voice and all attention was shifted to her and Fina. Our little play sadly ended with her announcement…

Fina came over with a knife and cut the cake while everyone sang the Ravia version of a birthday song.

After that, some maids, with french maid dresses on, came into the hall, carrying assortments of food. The food smelled so great that my mouth started watering, unfortunately I couldn't eat. I didn't even have teeth to begin with…

Mom then started to spoil Fina while I was with Rose. She was hand-feeding Fina whatever got in her hands while having her sit on her lap. If some food got on Luna's face, she licked it off with her own wet tongue… It was hot alright.

"Rose, let me hold Arthur. Go eat some food too, I've already eaten."

"....."

Rose looked down at me. She seemed a little reluctant to give me up but in the end sighed and gave me to Maria.

Maria then sneakily took me to a corner of the room and sat on a chair. I had a gut feeling that Mom knew exactly what Maria was doing. Perhaps she didn't approach me exactly because she wanted this to happen.

Maria first casually started to play with me, but her eyes were roaming around occasionally, as if she was waiting for something to happen.

"A birthday can't be concluded without some games! All of you come over here! Maid Aunties, you guys too!" Elora shouted and started to gather everyone.

"Little Elora, you guys play. I'm too late into my pregnancy to play games right now. I'll just take care of Baby Arthur."

"Hmmm, alright…" Elora seemed a bit sullen but still accepted the excuse. Yep, I knew it was an excuse. The evidence was the predatory glint Maria's eyes had when she returned gaze to me…

"Arty~ You must be hungry, right?~"

I could see love and a bit of lust in this pregnant milf's eyes. She was waiting for this exact moment to commence her debauchery…

"Waaaaa!" Hehehe, who would ever deny her sweet milkers?

"Alright sweetie~ wait up~ I wore a special dress just for you~"

She poked her finger inside an almost unnoticeable seam on her side and I heard two clicks. She pulled the dress and the whole chest section of the dress opened up like a cabinet. The opening was small enough for her tits to squeeze out. I could see those glorious tits and those already hardened cute nipples again.

From her collar, to her sides, to her swollen belly, everything else was covered in cloth. Something about the fact that only her tits were out and the rest of her body was covered turned me on so much.

She came really prepared… as if she was anticipating for this to happen… what a closet pervert…

I didn't spoil my sexy milf's anticipation. I directly latched onto her nipple and sucked hard. Her milk squirted in me and it had a fruity, berry taste. I loved it.

Ahh~

I didn't stop. My hands grabbed onto her supple juicy breast and massaged it in a sensual rhythm.

"Aahnng! Aaaah! That's right Arthur, just like that. Aahhnhh! Slather your slimy tongue on my tits~ Make your slutty aunt cum again!~ Make your future wife cum!~ Hmmm~"

She whispered very naughty things in my ears. She was really horny right now, and had no misgivings about my age. Seeing her enthusiasm, I decided to give her something that I hadn't even given Mom yet, as an advance bridal gift.

The roundabout lick.

My mouth had grown enough for my tongue to move around while having a nipple in it.

I gathered some of my saliva and didn't swallow it. With the extra lubed environment ready, I started to do my work. My tongue first started to caress the underside of her nipple. That alone gave her a lot of pleasure as her moans were threatening to be more than just whispers now.

Ahh~ Hnnnng~ Mmmmh~ haangh~

Her moans were so sweet… but I wanted her to make some wild moans right now.

My tongue brushed the side of her nipple and then came to the top. Maria jolted at the new sensation but I didn't stop. My tongue brushed the other side and went back to the bottom of the nipple again. I started to swirl my tongue on her nipple again and again.

"Hhiik!~ Haaa!~"

I saw her quickly raise her hand in the air and snap, as she snapped, some green light particles surrounded us. After that…

"HNNNNGGHH!~ Haaaaa!~ Yes baby!~ Do it!~ Make this slutty aunt cum!~ Haaaaaah!~ My Arty's tongue is so perverted~ Hnnnng~"

She had probably used some sort of silencing barrier. She didn't hold back her moans at all after that. Her language was also extremely slutty and depraved.

*Chu* *Slurp* *Chu* *Slurp* *Chu* *Slurp*

Ahhn~ Ahhn~Ahhn~ Ahhn~ Ahhn~ Ahhn~

I was mentally cumming, hearing her whorish sultry moans. Her body was shuddering and spasming. Her hands were holding me tightly, pressing my mouth further into her small cute areola and sweet hardened nipple.

AAAAAHNNG~ AAAAAHNNG~

Her moans grew louder and louder. Her breaths erratic.

She was close to cumming.

*Chu* *Slurp* *Chu* *Slurp* *Chu* *Slurp*

I started to move my hands at full force, massaging the soft, malleable breast. I sucked hard while swirling my tongue around her nipple at the highest speed I could muster. My tongue not only slathering her nipple but her areola as well.

She started to jolt. She hips bucked and started to grind on the chair.

*Creek**Creek**Creek**Creek**Creek*

AAAAHHN~AAAAHHN~AAAAHHN~

She moved a bit to the side and started to grind her pussy on the corner of the chair.

She was preparing for her eventual climax.

I also timed it just right. When I felt her climax was just a few seconds away, I bit on her nipple with my gums and slathered my slimy tongue on the tip of her nipple.

AAAAHHHHHHNNNGGHH!~ MMMMMMHHH!~ HNNNNNGHH!~

That did the trick.

She was coming.

Her moans, roar-like, and her body violently spasming. I continued to do what I was doing to maximize her pleasure.

Ahh~ aahh~ mmmh~ mmmh~

She started to cool down slowly and I also stopped.

"Oh~ What do we have here?~"

Mom came from behind sneakily and surprised Maria.

"Hiik! Sonia, I knew you were observing us since the start! Don't act!"

"Wait."

Mom made some gestures in the air with her hand that was lit up in rainbow lights. The light covered the radius we were in.

"Now that I've set up an illusion, you can treat my son for his hard work too."

"What treat?"

"*Sniff* The fruity juices you are leaking right now princess~"

"W-What! You want me to feed him essence?!"

"Yep, you wanna do it yourself or should I do it for you?~"

"I-I'll do it on my own…"

Mom lifted Maria's dress from the bottom and Maria inserted her hand inside.

*squelch* *squelch*

Ah~ ah~ ah~

She moaned as she rubbed her pussy to gather her juices. After some time she got her wet glistening hand out and held it in front of me.

I took a whiff and smelled berries galore from it. I quickly unlatched from her nipple and devoured one of her fingers.

'ahhh~ so gooood~'

She tasted like berry pies. It had subtle sweetness to it, not at all overwhelming.

"Hohoho~ my son likes the dowry he received~ Now change your finger, that one is spent~"

"A-Alright…"

She let me suck on all her four fingers and I devoured them all in pleasure.

"Maria~ you can't leave out your future mother-in-law either~"

"S-Sonia…"

Mom didn't give a hoot about the stuttering Maria. She crouched down and latched onto Maria's other tit.

*Chu* *Slurp* *Chu* *Slurp* *Chu* *Slurp*

*Gulp**Gulp* *Gulp* *Gulp**Gulp* *Gulp*

Mmmmmh~

Obscene noises sounded as mom sucked hard on Maria's nipple and drank her milk. The suction was so hard that Maria's jello-like giant tit deformed from a teardrop shape to a torpedo shape.

'Fuck! This is better than even porn! Just wait a bit! I'll ram both of you to oblivion when I grow up! '

I didn't interfere in their play and just enjoyed the scene of two sexy milfs hooking up.

*Slurp* Ummh~ *Slurp* Ummh~ *Slurp* Ummhh~

Mom, oblivious to my thoughts, moved her gaze up and locked it on Maria's eyes. She then bit on Maria's nipple (which had turned red from all the suctioning) and pulled it.

Hnnnnnghh~

Maria started to shudder and spasmed. She was already sensitive from her last massive orgasm and was now having successive small orgasms.

'Maria has some 'M' tendencies, good to know…'

"Oh M-Maria~" Mom called out and directly pounced on Maria's face, smashing her lips together with her.

*Slurp* *Slurp* *Slurp**Slurp* *Slurp*

Their slimy slick tongues wound with each other like mating snakes. Saliva covering both of their luscious full lips and even dropping down to Maria's tits.

This all would've been really hot for me if not for the fact that tears started to flow down from both of their closed eyes. It was too spontaneous for me to wrap my head around it.

"Haah! Haah! Haah! Haah! Haah!"x2

They separated their lips and breathed heavily. Their reddened eyes staring at each other, never leaving.

"*Sniff* I-It has been such a long time since we last kissed…*Sniff*" Mom spoke up in a low, cry-like voice.

"Yeah…" Maria's voice was the same…

"I… I have been stalling this for too long… *Sniff* I am sorry for everything I've done. I shouldn't hav-"

"Stop it! I know what you have been through… I don't blame you…*Sniff* I'm just glad that you're starting to get your bearings back… that's all that matters to me…"

"Maria…*Smooch*"

It wasn't a perverted kiss this time. They locked their lips tight without moving them in a kiss full of passion and overflowing feeling.

'Tsk, another mystery for me to solve… But I feel like solving this will tell me how my mother became the way she is…'

"Hehehehe~" They separated their lips and started to giggle while rubbing their noses with each other.

"Hehe~ Unfortunately for you Maria, we can't be lovers now~ I've already given my heart to Arty~ If you want to kiss me again then you have come over to me as my daughter-in-law~"

"Hah!~ Don't kid me!~ I know you plan to elope with your own son~ We will be fellow wives, not in-laws~"

"Was I that obvious?"

Maria just stared dead-pan at mom.

"*Ahem* We should get cleaned up and leave now, their games are gonna end soon." Mom was visibly embarrassed, well at least both of their moods were a lot better now.

*snap*

Luminescent water came out of nowhere as mom snapped her fingers. The water cleaned us all up from inside out.

Mom and Maria then quickly straighten their clothes. In Maria's case, she also buttoned up her sexy breast flaps to my dismay.

"Let's go out now. Come here my baby~"

Mom took me in her arms and deactivated her illusion magic with another snap. Then we continued to party with others.

The number of guests was small but there was a warm atmosphere in the hall.

In the end Fina received gift boxes from the adults, that includes Elora too… She was probably similar in age to Fina. I didn't really care about the legality of things here but these sisters of mine were legitimate legal lolis!

I couldn't see what was inside, but if there's anything I've learned from my nappy and onesie, all the gifts must be heckin overpowered.

The party ended and Mom gave smooches to both her daughters before taking me back to my room.

It was a very eventful and horny day. Much like every other day ever since I was born here.

---------------------------------------

Are you gonna give me the Power Stones nicely or…

*Shiik*

*Pulls out a balisong*