Hi everyone, I know you've been waiting for this chapter for a while, and I'm sorry I couldn't release it in December. The holiday chaos, especially all the preparations beforehand, kept me from finishing it. I only managed to wrap it up after the holidays, and now it's finally here.
Before December, I also started working on the first chapters of a new story that had been in my mind for a few months already. It wasn't until December that I was able to edit it enough to share it with you. I posted it a few minutes shortly before this chapter, so they should appear around the same time. This new story is also RPG-themed, featuring a protagonist building his harem in another world full of magic and demons.
Thanks to Netrepid for the editing and 7OO Tnega Terces for all the help in creating this story!
Back to what you came here for, I hope you will like this chapter! Enjoy!
Skills reminder Asher (Harem Master)
Building harem - allows adding members to a harem, grants relationship levels, and limits the number of members to 2
Building relationship - grants exp points for sexual activities (kissing, touching, oral)
Stats amplification - Asher doesn't get his own stats, but gains 1% of his partner's stats
Partner enhancement - Asher can boost 1 of his partner's 1 stat for 10 points
Additional protection - members of harem can't get pregnant
Skills reminder Elara (Asher's girlfriend, assassin)
Fast Attack - Elara gains 5 agility for one attack (upgraded by Asher - removed negative effect of reducing strength)
Better eyesight - Elara can slightly better detect traps in dungeon
Nimble movement - Elara can slightly easier dodge attacks
Master essence - when there's Asher's cum in Elara's body, she gets 5 agility
Powerful attack - for a single attack, deal additional 20 damage. Only available if Asher made Elara come in the last 3 hours
Skills reminder Ava (Fire Mage)
Fireball - Shoots fireballs
Fire Shield - Creates a shield from fire
Nature Resistance - Grants resistance to earth and nature magic
Liquid Mana - For swallowing a load of cum grants stacks, which grant additional mana
--- Asher Montgomery ---
Asher sat down in front of Rachel, quickly warding off the disappointment of seeing her white shirt buttoned up to the neck, hiding her generous cleavage.
"If you miss them so much, I can undo some buttons," Rachel said.
Asher quickly lifted his gaze and noticed her amused smile.
"No! I mean--I'm sorry," he murmured, averting his eyes, feeling his cheeks burn.
Rachel giggled, but then the silence fell between them. When he looked at her again, she seemed concerned.
"We have a bit to talk about, don't we?" Rachel asked.
Asher sighed, not even sure where to start.
"Were you going to tell me about Zack?" Rachel asked, leaning forward with her eyes narrowed.
"I was thinking about it..." Asher answered hesitantly, looking to the side.
"Asher," Rachel said, sighing. "I'm here to help you. You must tell me about things like that immediately. Perhaps you wanted to take care of it yourself, but you need to remember that you are not alone. As an explorer, you should remember that. Whether you are in a dungeon or not, you have to learn to rely on other people. Especially as a support."
Asher frowned at the mention of his class, the source of all his problems lately. Everything would be easier if it weren't for it.
Watching him, Rachel sighed, then continued, "I talked with Zack, you will not become friends, but he should back off now. If a situation like yesterday happens again, you must tell me immediately, and I will take care of it once and for all."
Asher turned toward her, smiling softly. "You sounded really menacing."
"I am serious, Asher. I will not let anyone hurt my students."
Asher realized it wasn't just about him but also about her responsibilities as a teacher and their tutor. She was truly serious, and as she stared at him like that, he preferred not to know what she might do to Zack if he got in trouble with her again.
"Thank you. For your help."
Rachel nodded with a weak smile, but it quickly faded from her face. Silence fell between them again, leaving Asher feeling uneasy.
"We need to talk about it eventually," Rachel finally spoke. "Your girlfriend messed up a bit yesterday, didn't she?"
"I apologize for her. Yesterday--"
"Wait," Rachel interrupted him. "Before you tell me anything, I want to explain how it looks from my perspective."
Asher nodded, waiting for her to continue.
"Elara's offer surprised me. I didn't expect it from her, but it makes sense. Having more health will make you much safer in a dungeon. As your teacher, I want to help you no matter what. Above all, I want you to be safe."
"You know that I argued with her yesterday?"
"Because she talked with me without your knowledge?"
Asher grimaced. "At first. Then about my class. And then about you. Elara is worried about your intentions towards me."
"I think that I let you know what I want pretty clearly," Rachel said with a soft smile, her eyes shifting suggestively over his arms and chest. Asher felt a little uncomfortable with her direct ogling, but their current talk was too important to get distracted.
"So, what do you actually want, Rachel? Be direct. No hints, no guessing--because right now, Elara is afraid you're trying to replace her."
Rachel parted her alluring lips as if she wanted to say something but then furrowed her brow and closed her mouth, clearly thoughtful. She sat there with her head tilted, and it took her a brief moment to collect her thoughts.
"I do not intend to replace Elara. No offense, Asher, but I'm not interested in being your girlfriend. Sleep with you? Yes. Help you in the Academy as your teacher? Yes. Relationship with you? No," Rachel finished firmly.
Asher nodded, but he couldn't help wondering why. Was it the age difference? Or perhaps the fact that she was his teacher? Even though her attitude worked in their favor in this situation--and he already had a girlfriend--he still felt the sting of rejection.
"Do you have any idea why Elara has concerns like that?"
The first thing that came to Asher's mind was Rachel's flirting and teasing, but he felt that it was about more than that.
Asher sighed heavily, realizing just how complicated the situation had become.
"We talked this morning. Elara... I think she's scared that I might replace her with someone. You flirted with me, you are the biggest unknown to her, she doesn't know your intentions, and you are more experienced."
Rachel smiled softly, but Asher just rolled his eyes, ignoring her. "You have become the central point of her worries," he concluded.
"Do you think I should talk to her and try to explain everything?"
Asher frowned. "Maybe? It could help," he replied, unsure. Elara was always temperamental, but from the moment he had gotten his class, it had only gotten worse.
"Fine, I'll talk to her. But what about helping you with my stats? Is Elara's offer still on the table?"
"We talked, and...now I decide who will join my harem."
"You don't seem happy about that," Rachel noticed.
Asher sighed. "I should be. But what if my choices end up ruining our relationship?" He stopped himself from voicing the thought that her lack of trust might destroy it even sooner.
"Then you'll have to choose wisely."
"I feel terribly overwhelmed. Everything changed so suddenly--it all came crashing down on me out of nowhere..."
"You are entering adulthood, Asher. You want to become an explorer. It's true that your class makes some things harder, but dungeons are not a video game. It's a real fight, without rules, without mercy. Just arriving at the Academy means you have to grow up. And do it quickly."
Asher preferred when Rachel flirted with him rather than when she was so serious, but he knew that she was right. He wondered if he should just get used to the fact that everything would not be easy anymore. If only that was so simple.
"Asher, I believe that you can do it. Your class might bring some problems, but it also gives you amazing opportunities. And don't forget--you are not alone in this. You have Elara. You have me. Soon, you will have your team--your harem. It will need a leader, but that doesn't mean you have to make all the choices by yourself or handle everything alone. There are people around you who want to help you."
"What if I don't want to be a leader?" Asher asked without thinking.
"I don't think you have a choice."
Asher knew that Rachel was right--his class had made the choice for him. He hadn't asked for that, but becoming the leader of his team made the most sense. Still, he couldn't help but worry if he could handle it.
Rachel clapped her hands once. "Enough of this sorrowful mood. You shouldn't worry so much about everything right now. You need to focus just on the next step. And if the choice is now in your hands, then it's time to make your first decision," Rachel said and looked at Asher eagerly, awaiting with a soft smile.
Asher asked himself if he wanted to add her to his harem.
If not for Elara, that would be the easiest choice of his life. Adding a sexy, young teacher to his harem and opening doors for himself to have sex with her. Only concerns about his relationship made him hesitate.
Still, he wanted to add Rachel, and even if he didn't, sooner or later, he would have to add someone else. Elara would need to come to terms with it, but he wouldn't leave her to face it alone. He was determined to do whatever he could to make their relationship work.
"Do you want to join my harem?" Asher asked Rachel, as he had made a decision. His concerns didn't vanish, but just as she had said, he needed to choose, and this was what he wanted.
"The question is if you want me to join your harem?" Rachel asked with a smile. Asher noticed those little sparks of excitement in her eyes and felt relief, preferring her flirtatious teasing over the seriousness of their current talk.
"Yes," he answered without hesitation.
"For my stats?" Rachel asked, grinning.
Asher felt his cheeks warm. "Not only," he answered.
"I will gladly join your harem, Asher," Rachel replied, seeming happy, but it quickly faded. "However, you need to know that you will not get a lot of points from me."
