Retired: Nice Guy. HAREM SYSTEM UNLOCKED

Chapter 29: 29. Fuck this lover boy

ᕙ Potions, bitch! ᕗ

⟨ Crimson Vigor: The draught floods the veins with heat, driving blood hard and fast through muscle and limb until every strike lands heavier than it should. Strength, speed, and raw endurance surge well past the body’s natural ceiling, bones and sinew straining to keep pace with a pulse gone feral. The effect holds for twenty minutes, and when it fades, it fades all at once: the body left heavy, drained, and aching from the demand it was forced to meet. ⟩

⟨ Cost without ingredients: 500 Casllay. ⟩

Dang it. Why is everything so expensive? I don’t want to waste Casllay. Then my mind clicked, and I remembered I had a combat section as well.

I’m a bit slow, I should probably invest in something permanent rather than something temporary. I clicked the combat section, but–

ᕙ Combat! ᕗ

⟨ ERROR! ⟩

⟨ ERROR! ⟩

⟨ ERROR! ⟩

The combat section didn’t show anything but errors. My mind went blank for a second. Is this also because I’m close to death? Or is the system broken?

Ever since Lilathea left, everything feels weird. She said she was horny, I honestly have no idea what she’s doing.

”For this mission, I’m the potion master. I’ll heavily rely on potions.”

I took a breath, scanning through the potions section again. Bought one Crimson Vigor. Adding it to the cost of the potions I’d already bought, I’d spent 600 Casllay on just potions.

⟨ Casllay mana points: 8930. ⟩

I couldn’t talk myself into buying more. Combining potions should be more than enough. I hope I’m right.

Come to think of it, what’s my role here? Nor do I know the roles of the others.

Seraphine is great at combat, close or ranged. I did hear that she’s actually quite weak for a valkyrie, but surely still stronger than humans.

I know nothing about Dr. Rhiannon. She could be a healer, in which case buying more instant healing potions might be a waste. Keeping a few is fine, if I end up alone it will be useful.

No, I should be trying to end up with Dr. Rhiannon alone. I can seduce her. I was thinking of upgrading Kinky Scent, but 2000 Casllay is too much.

While I was ranting about the price, the potion bottle took its form. A rich red-colored fluid inside a spherical bottle, the stopper with a metal ring attached to it.

Looked pretty potion-like. There was one more potion I wanted to buy.

I plucked the potion bottles from the calla lily vines like fruit and put them in my belt pouch.

And I was ready, potions stacked and clothes set.

Moving out of the bathroom, I saw Rue cleaning the bed. She didn’t notice me at first, so I snuck up behind her, hugging her from behind.

From the touch, she recognized me and leaned back against my chest.

”I’ll be gone for a while, take some real rest, alright.”

I kissed her, not a make-out, just a normal, warm kiss. She fell into it, in the moment. Then I heard a knock on the door.

Knock. Knock.

”Hey, drop the lovey-dovey couple act. We have somewhere to be!”

Seraphine was at the door, one hand resting on the frame, tired of waiting. Yeah, she just had to come in. Not like it mattered now, she knew we had sex.

But she had some decency, after saying her piece, she walked outside, didn’t close the door, which meant she wanted me to come right away.

I was about to follow, but then I remembered something.

”I need to give you this, Rue.”

Reaching into my belt pouch, I took out a plain cylindrical potion bottle, a needle piercing the bottle at an 80-degree angle, without spilling the colorless contents inside.

I handed the potion to Rue. She held it with both hands, looking confused, mouth open.

”This is to prevent pregnancy. Drink it after resting.”

Rue’s eyes shifted to me, making the seconds feel longer.

”I knew you were in heat. You don’t have to worry about that.”

”But master–”

”I have to go now. Bye!”

With a wave goodbye, I ran after Seraphine to catch up, leaving Rue without hearing her out. Because I had some idea what she was about to say.

I need to seriously discuss this. Later.

In front of me, in the corridor, Seraphine was already way ahead, walking without even checking how much distance was between us.

Like she was saying, ”fuck this lover boy, I’m going alone.”

In a few seconds I caught up to her.

”Look, kid. I’m really trying hard to keep my anger in check, and you are making things harder for me. Keep this up and you will see the worst of me.”

Seraphine said, straight-faced, somehow, keeping her slow, quiet rhythm. Her polearm sheathed on her back, the lower part making a tengent at her ass, hips moving left and right, shifting the angle.

I don’t think I can get angry. She finds things to get angry at.

”The reason I’m trying is because of the bitch you’re about to meet. She loves making people angry, and I refuse to be her plaything.”

”Dr. Rhiannon? Is she a funny person?”

As soon as I said those words, her eyes went cold, looking down at me like I’m some peasant. But surprisingly, she kept her cool.

”You seem quite interested. You could call her funny. But she’s a slut. Don’t you dare try your luck with her. Maren said you might, and I have no business in your love life, but since Maren said so, I have to keep an eye on you.”

Help me. Just how far has Sister Maren seen? It’s getting scary. Just ruined all my plans. And did she really mean what she said, ”slut”?

It’s not like they can stop me. I’m the selfish asshole. I’ll find a workaround.

”Ah, we have to get her lazy ass out of her lab first. Walk faster, kid.”

”After you!”

At a quick pace, the rate of tengent shifting increased–Dancing. I was doing a great job following. I don’t get patriarchal men, there’s nothing wrong with walking behind women.

The potion might have drained my balls, but not my mind. Not even a goddess of lust would stand a chance.