Investing in My Harem in the Apocalypse Makes Me Stronger

Evelyne turned toward the alley entrance, but after taking several steps, she glanced at her hand again and allowed a small amount of pale-green Healing Mana to gather around her fingers.

The energy responded immediately.

Her eyes brightened as she watched the soft glow dance across her fingertips. Sacred Life Body had only been awakened moments ago, yet the difference was already obvious enough that Evelyne could barely contain her excitement.

A smile returned to her face.

By the time she reached the end of the alley, the young woman who had been pouting at Cain moments earlier was quietly humming beneath her breath.

There was an unusual lightness in her steps, and she even hopped over a broken section of pavement before disappearing around the corner.

Cain watched her leave with an amused expression.

”...She really is happy.”

He chuckled softly.

Almost as if the System had been waiting for Evelyne to move far enough away, the familiar sound Cain had been expecting finally rang inside his mind.

[Ding! You have invested an Orange Scroll in Evelyne.]

[Ding! Evelyne has obtained Sacred Life Body, an SSS-rank Talent.]

[Ding! Sacred Life Body has resonated with Evelyne’s existing Healing abilities and awakened Life Overflow.]

[Ding! Investment Return obtained: Orange Scroll.]

Cain’s eyes immediately lit up.

An Orange Scroll had returned directly to him.

But before he could inspect it, another series of notifications followed.

[Ding! You have invested an Orange Orb in Evelyne.]

[Ding! Evelyne has obtained the Crown of the Frozen Saint, a Mythical-rank item.]

[Ding! Investment Return obtained: Orange Orb.]

[Ding! Evelyne is experiencing overwhelming joy after obtaining Sacred Life Body and undergoing a tremendous improvement to her healing potential.]

[Ding! Exceptional Investment Evaluation achieved.]

[Ding! One Reward Ascension Authority has been obtained.]

[Choose one reward obtained from this investment and increase its rank.]

Cain barely needed to think about it.

The Orange Orb could already produce Mythical-rank equipment, which was extremely valuable.

However, equipment was ultimately something external. No matter how powerful an item was, it could still be lost, stolen, or become the target of other people’s greed, one of the most dangerous aspects of human nature.

Scrolls were different.

His Undying War Body had originally come from an Orange Scroll, and Evelyne had just obtained Sacred Life Body from one.

Abilities like these became part of the user themselves, fundamentally strengthening their foundation rather than simply increasing their power through external equipment.

Because of that, Cain was far more curious about what a Scroll above Orange-rank could provide.

Based on how his Undying War Body had eventually evolved into the Divine-rank Undying God Body, he suspected that a Red Scroll might grant something at a similar level.

And that possibility alone was enough to make his choice obvious.

”Upgrade the Orange Scroll.”

[Ding! Orange Scroll has been selected.]

[Ding! Reward Ascension Authority activated.]

The Orange Scroll inside his Inventory began changing.

Its bright orange surface gradually darkened until a deep crimson color replaced it completely.

[Ding! Orange Scroll has evolved into Red Scroll.]

Cain’s smile widened.

”Another one.”

He now possessed two Red Scrolls.

One had come directly from the Universal Announcement after becoming the first Unranked Awakener in the Universe to kill a 2nd Echelon being.

The other had just been created through his Investment System.

Cain was extremely curious about what kind of Talent or Skill something above an Orange Scroll could provide.

His consciousness had already entered the Inventory when footsteps approached from outside the alley.

Cain reluctantly stopped when he noticed a familiar silver-haired figure appeared at the entrance.

Elara walked toward him alone.

Cain raised an eyebrow as his gaze immediately moved toward her head and then toward her empty hands.

Elara was still empty handed.

He had assumed Evelyne would simply hand it over when she found Elara.

Apparently, she truly meant later.

Cain shook his head with a quiet chuckle.

Elara noticed immediately.

”What?”

”It’s nothing.”

She gave him a suspicious look.

”Evelyne said you wanted to see me.”

”I do.”

Cain pushed himself away from the wall.

There was no reason to waste time.

An Orange Scroll and Orange Orb appeared in his hands.

Elara’s steps stopped.

Cain extended them toward her.

”These are for you.”

Her eyes widened slightly when she recognized their color.

However, instead of reaching for them, Elara immediately shook her head.

”I don’t want them.”

Cain blinked.

”You don’t?”

”You already gave me enough.”

”Elara—”

”You should keep them.”

Her response sounded normal enough, but Cain noticed something strange about her expression.

She had crossed her arms and turned her face slightly away from him.

There was a faint pout on her lips.

More importantly, the way she looked at him carried an irritation that had absolutely nothing to do with the items in his hands.

Cain frowned.

”What’s wrong with you?”

Elara looked back at him.

”Did you forget something about this evening?”

Cain raised an eyebrow.

”Forget what?”

The moment those words left his mouth, Elara’s expression worsened.

Cain quickly searched through his memory, but could not immediately think of anything involving Elara.

That hesitation was apparently the worst possible answer.

Elara stepped forward and stomped on his foot.

”OW!”

Cain pulled his leg back.

”You big dummy!”

Elara turned around.

Cain stared at her back for half a second, then something finally clicked inside his head.

His expression froze.

”Oh, shit.”

He suddenly remembered why he had been wasting so much time looking through food on his phone while sitting in the bathroom before the apocalypse descended.

Yesterday, he had finally asked Elara out.

Not as childhood friends hanging around, but as an actual date.

Their first one was supposed to happen this evening.

Cain immediately reached forward.

”Wait!”

He caught Elara’s hand.

She slapped his fingers away without even turning around.

Cain felt cold sweat forming near his temple.

”I did forget, but that’s not entirely my fault, okay?”

Elara finally turned toward him.

”That’s your excuse?”

”Look around us!”

Cain spread one hand toward the ruined city beyond the alley.