Harem Master Rpg Story Ch 017

Hey all! Another chapter, and finally they delve into the dungeon. As a quick note, when I sat down to write this chapter, specifically the loot they'll get from the monsters, I came up with a way to make it fair. To avoid giving them too much or too less, I decided to make it random. So, after every monster they killed, I randomized

what they'd get. The result is... well, you'll have to find out by reading!

Thanks to Netrepid for the editing and 7OO Tnega Terces for all the help in creating this story!

Skills reminder Asher (Harem Master)

Building harem - allows adding members to a harem, grants relationship levels, and limits the number of members to 3

Building relationship - grants exp points for sexual activities (kissing, touching, oral)

Stats amplification - Asher doesn't get his own stats, but gains 5% 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 10 agility

Powerful attack - for a single attack, deal additional 30 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 ---

---

Dungeon Entered:

Forest, Level 1

---

Asher opened his eyes, and the world around him changed completely. They weren't in the starting room anymore. Its white walls had been replaced by the green forest surrounding them. The trees were enormous, but their branches hung low, and the bushes stood tall from the ground. Visibility was very low, and mobility was limited, but at least there were spots with plant-free ground, which would allow them to fight without risking tripping all the time.

Forest dungeons could vary in vegetation, and this one was not the easiest--monsters could easily lurk and launch surprise attacks--but it certainly wasn't the worst possible option. They could have spawned in a forest so dense that it was like a tropical jungle, where mobility was a nightmare and every step could lead to disaster during a fight.

"The Forest? Seriously?" Sebastian said. "I hoped for something more exciting," he added with a grin.

"Wait until we meet our first monsters," Elara replied. "Then you'll have plenty of excitement."

"We need to be careful, most of the monsters in the Forest travel in groups," Asher said, recalling what they had been taught during lectures.

"Yeah, yeah, nature magic, smaller monsters but in packs. I had lectures at the Academy--I didn't come here to listen to this stuff. Where are we going?" Mark asked.

Asher knew the monsters on the first level of the Forest didn't use magic attacks, but he chose not to correct Mark. If he didn't want to listen, there was no point in wasting time on him.

"Here are some tracks," Sebastian said.

Sebastian was kneeling a few steps away, staring at the ground. The whole group stepped closer and watched as he pointed out tracks on the ground, which were supposed to indicate that something had passed through recently.

Asher would have never noticed them, especially since, even when they were pointed out to him, he wasn't sure they were actually a trail.

"Do you know what it is?" Ava asked.

"Something small, it moves on four legs. I would guess a wolf," Sebastian said, but from the tone of his voice and his expression, it was clear he wasn't sure about it. "And not just one," he added, pointing to the ground a few steps to the right. Asher looked there but still couldn't see anything.

Sebastian stood up and looked around. "At least four of them walked this way," he said, pointing ahead. "Recently," he added.

"We can follow them," Elara suggested.

"We'll need to coordinate well during the fight," Ava said. "Do you have any AOE skills?" she asked.

Mark snorted. "So, your skills are a secret, but I'm supposed to tell you about mine?"

"Mine aren't a secret," Ava replied. "I don't have anything to hit everything at once, but I can use my fireballs one after another, so I can deal a lot of damage to multiple targets in a short time."

"I don't have any AOE skills," Asher said, eager to end the discussion about his abilities before it even started.

Mark glanced at him with a frown.

"I can only deal damage to one target, but I can shoot quickly," Sebastian added, while Tiffany only shook her head.

"That doesn't matter, we should follow them anyway," Elara said. "Here, we'll have a hard time finding a lone monster anyway, and if there are four wolves, they're probably low-level. Tiffany and Mark can distract two of them, Ava and Sebastian can hold one at a distance, and I'll quickly take care of the last one. Once I kill it, I'll help the others. You'll only need to hold out for a short moment."

"And what's your boyfriend going to do? Stand and watch?" Mark asked.

"How do you think I'm going to kill the monster faster than any of you? He'll boost me, and I'll do the killing."

Mark stared at Elara with a frown.

"I'm all for it," Ava said.

"Let's take them on!" Sebastian exclaimed loudly.

"How do I know you'll actually handle it?" Mark asked. "If you mess up, we're screwed."

"Don't pretend you haven't seen recordings of my fights," Elara hissed.

Mark pressed his lips into a thin line, staring at her in silence before finally grunting.

"Fine, but don't scream for help like a little girl later."

Elara tightened her grip on her dagger, but Asher placed his hand on her arm to calm her down. She looked at him as he shook his head, and she relaxed slightly, though anger still lingered in her eyes. At least, Asher thought, she'd soon have something to vent her frustration on.

"Tiffany, are you okay with this plan?" Asher asked, as she had been silent the whole time.

"Uh... yeah."

"Can you handle one monster alone for a moment?" Elara asked.

"Umm... how long?"

"If it's a first-level monster, less than a minute," Elara replied immediately.

Everyone except Ava and Asher looked at her in surprise. A moment of silence followed, broken by Mark's snort.

"Great! Now we're basing our plan on your inflated ego. Do you even understand the situation we're in? Maybe it really would have been better to stay at the Academy," Mark said, throwing a glance at Ava.

"You don't need to believe me, you only need to occupy a monster for a minute. Or is that too much for you? Can't you handle fighting a first-level monster?"

Mark grunted. "That's not the problem. The problem will be when you die, and your monster attacks us."

"That won't happen," Elara hissed.

Mark turned toward Ava.

"Ava, be reasonable. She's going to get us killed," Mark accused, pointing at Elara.

"Elara can handle a monster," Ava replied. "Haven't you heard? She had already fought against one and won."

"And you believe that?" Mark asked, snorting in disbelief.

"I know it's true," Ava answered. "Let's stop wasting time. Can you track those monsters?" Ava asked Sebastian.

"Sure thing, boss."

"So, it's settled, lead the way," Elara said.

Sebastian headed in the direction where the monsters had gone, and the group followed after him.

"And what?" Mark asked in disbelief. "I don't have anything to say?"

Elara glanced at him over her arm. "Looks like it," she replied before turning her back on him again.

Mark hesitated but finally followed after them, and they walked through the forest toward their first fight.

Asher tried to spot the tracks they were following, but to him, it seemed like Sebastian was leading them randomly through the dungeon. However, it turned out that he knew what he was doing because it wasn't even five minutes before he stopped in place.

"Fuck," he gasped. "These are not wolves."

Suddenly, from the bushes to their right and left, green monsters leapt out, targeting Mark, who was walking at the back of the group. He reacted just in time, raising his shield to block the one on his right, shoving it aside. However, the one on the left managed to jump on his back and latch onto him, trying to bite him.

It wasn't a wolf. It was a smaller version of a tiger, about the size of a big dog, but it had green and black stripes, which made it blend with the surrounding forest.

---

Small Forest Tiger

Level: 1

Health: 35/35

---

Mark jerked his whole body, simultaneously swinging his shield toward the monster, managing to hit it and throw it off himself.

Elara immediately headed toward the monster that Mark had pushed with his shield. Asher activated his Partner Enhancement on her, adding points to her strength so she could deal more damage.

Elara jumped at the beast quickly, before it even had a chance to get up from the ground, she stabbed its head with both her daggers. She ripped them from the monster, and its body fell to the ground lifeless.

"In front of us!" Tiffany screamed.

Asher turned toward the way they were walking, the third monster jumped from the bushes and, in big leaps, was closing in on them. Tiffany stepped forward to stop it, but a fireball exploded on the monster's head, making it trip and stop a few steps from the warrior girl.

Sebastian drew his bow and shot at the monster Tiffany had spotted, hitting its body.

Meanwhile, Mark tried to attack the tiger that had jumped on him, with his sword. It dodged to the side, but Elara was already there and cut through its body with both of her daggers.

The monster hissed, trying to bite her, but she had already jumped back out of its reach.

On the other side, Ava hit the tiger again, and it took a few steps back, not as eager to attack them as before, as it was met with ranged attacks in response.

"Elara, watch out!" Asher yelled when, from the bushes behind her, a fourth tiger jumped, flying at her back. She spun in place, causing the beast to miss her, and she wounded it in the belly.

The tiger landed on the ground, and an arrow struck its body.

Tiffany was protecting the group from the single tiger, but it wasn't even able to come close to her, as Ava shot her fireballs at it every time it moved forward.

Mark continued to fight the monster Elara had already wounded twice. He blocked its paw with his shield, pushing it to the side, and cut through its body.

Elara focused on the monster that had tried to attack her, she easily dodged its maw and stabbed it in the neck. The tiger fell to the ground dead, but Elara didn't look back. She jumped to the monster that was focused on Mark. When he made an attack and the tiger dodged back, Elara rushed at it and stabbed her daggers into its body, which was already slowed by its previous wounds.

Sebastian released another arrow at the tiger standing in front of Tiffany, hitting the target again. It roared and leaped forward, clearly no longer caring about ranged attacks. This time, Ava didn't use her fireball, only watching while standing next to Asher as the monster attacked.

Tiffany blocked the attack with her shield and made a cut through the beast's stomach. It landed on the ground, and despite its wounds, it looked ready to attack again. However, it was certainly not ready for Elara, who jumped on it and, with quick cuts, finished the monster, which fell to the ground unmoving.

Asher quickly looked around. All the monsters were dead--four in total--and if Sebastian was right, that should be the entire pack. A tense silence followed, during which they could only hear their quickened breaths, but it seemed like it was the end of their first fight.

"What the fuck was that?" Mark asked, looking at Elara. "How did you do that?"

Elara smirked. "I told you. Less than a minute."

"No! You talked about one monster, not four of them. You practically killed them yourself."

"You're welcome," Elara replied.

"You are a badass!" Sebastian exclaimed, looking at her with a wide grin. He had his bow lowered but still held an arrow ready.

Asher smiled, agreeing with him. Elara had completely demolished the monsters in this fight, it looked like they weren't any challenge to her, as she dodged their attacks with ease and killed them with just a few hits.

"Let's look at the loot," Elara said.

"How did you do that?" Mark asked, clearly not ready to give up. "How did you kill the monster in one hit? That's not possible."

"Thanks to Asher's boost, idiot," Elara snapped. "So say one more bad word about him, and next time, I'll use it against you," she added, raising her dagger in his direction.

"El!" Asher exclaimed. They were not supposed to tell anyone about his class, and now she had revealed that she was so strong thanks to him. Rachel had warned that might get Elara excluded from the rankings if people at the Academy found out that she was boosted by Asher's class.

Sebastian and Tiffany looked at him curiously, while Mark stared at him with a frown.

"Items," Asher said, stepping toward the tiger. Its body started to change into black smoke, which materialized into a wooden chest without any ornaments. It was the size of his fist but really thin--it looked like a jewelry box.

Asher opened it, and inside he found their reward for killing the monster.

"A bronze coin," he said, pulling it out and lifting it as the chest started to dissolve into black smoke in his hand.

"And what? Are we going to totally ignore the fact that she killed the monster with one blow?" Mark asked, looking from Ava to Sebastian.

"I'm not going to tell you anything," Elara said.

"Elara's the best," Sebastian said, holding out his hand for a high five. Elara smacked his hand with a grin and walked over to the next tiger. In place of its body, a slightly larger chest had appeared. Elara opened it and pulled out a purple potion.

"Mana potion," she said. "Do you want it, Ava?"

"It will be useful later. For now, I'm fine. I was saving mana."

"And why were you saving it?" Mark asked.

Ava glanced at Elara, then at him. "I saw that Elara is managing well, and I don't need to waste it on them."

"Dude, let it go. Can't you see that they don't want to tell you? You should be happy you're with them in a team, and that Elara and Asher won the fight for you," Sebastian said.

"Is your back fine?" Asher asked Mark, trying to change the topic. It seemed like his armor had blocked the tiger, but he could still have been wounded.

"Why? Do you have some healing skill you forgot to mention?"

Asher shook his head, not particularly interested in healing him. Besides, Mark wouldn't be interested in his healing methods anyway. "But we have a healing potion," he offered. It was the same one they had gotten from the goblin, and he had brought it with him.

"I'm fine," Mark grunted. "The tiger hooked onto my armor but didn't hurt me," he added.

"There must be something better in this one," Sebastian said as he jumped to the spot where the next tiger's body had changed into a chest.

"Oh, it's going to be something good. It's bigger--it must be an item," Sebastian exclaimed, looking at the group, then focusing back on the chest.

Sebastian opened it, and the smile disappeared from his face. He pulled out some green fur and a coin.

"Neutral common item, The skin of the forest tiger," he said, looking at them. "Do you think it's worth much?" he asked, hope clear in his voice.

"Three bronze coins on a good day," Tiffany replied.

Asher glanced at her, surprised that she knew its price, but she only shrugged.

"There's one left. Who wants to open it?" Sebastian asked, but no one stepped forward. "Do the honors, beauty," Sebastian said, pointing at Tiffany. She blushed and dropped her gaze but approached the last tiger.

Asher sighed, hearing what he had called her, but refrained from commenting. Tiffany didn't seem to mind, though she was shy and flustered as he addressed her like that in front of everyone. And she was still not part of Asher's harem, so he shouldn't feel protective over her. He realized that he should have talked to her sooner instead of putting it off for so long.

"A coin," Tiffany said, pulling it out of the chest. "And a necklace," she added, retrieving a regular silver necklace. The whole group came closer to check its status and closely examined their first item drop from the dungeon.

---

Silver Necklace (Common)

Type: Necklace

Required Level: 1

Required Class: Mage

+1 Intellect

A regular silver necklace.

---

It didn't offer much, but that was typical of almost every item on the first level, so it wasn't really surprising.

"Do you want to put it on?" Tiffany asked, handing it to Ava.

"No, I have better," Ava replied, not taking the item.

Asher glanced at her, he hadn't seen any jewelry on her before, and he had a few good occasions. This time too, he couldn't spot her necklace but noticed a bracelet with small gemstones that looked expensive, and he doubted it was just decorative.

He couldn't check its status, as it was impossible to view the status of items someone was wearing while they were active. Similarly, it wasn't possible to stack bonuses by wearing multiple necklaces of different types. Only the first equipped necklace would be active and provide bonuses, while the others remained inactive.

"Here, let me put it on you," Sebastian said, walking up to Tiffany and taking the necklace from her hand.

"Agh," Tiffany gasped. "It won't work on me."

"But it'll highlight your beauty," Sebastian replied, stepping behind her. He brushed her hair aside to fasten the necklace around her neck.

"Sebastian," Asher snapped without thinking.

Sebastian fastened the necklace and turned to look at him questioningly.

"Umm... don't you think you're taking it too far?" Asher asked, glancing between Sebastian and Tiffany, whose face was bright red as she stared at the ground.

Sebastian chuckled softly and shrugged. "Relax, man. It's just friendly. Right, Tiff? You don't mind, do you?" he asked, turning to her with a confident smile.

Tiffany didn't respond, only shaking her head slightly while still avoiding his gaze.

"Let's focus on exploring," Asher said firmly. When he glanced at Elara, he noticed her watching him with a faint smile. He quickly looked away, pretending not to have seen it.

"Dude, we just killed four monsters. Or rather, your girlfriend did. You're really a badass," Sebastian said, holding out his hand for a high five again. Elara rolled her eyes with a smile and smacked his hand.

"How do we split the loot?" Mark asked.

"I can sell the skin and the necklace and split the money," Tiffany said. "We should get three bronze coins for the necklace."

"You already want to sell a gift from me?" Sebastian asked but immediately raised his hands. "I'm kidding, guys," he added, laughing.

"We'll split it back at the Academy, there's no reason to do it now," Elara said.

"So, where to now?" Ava asked, looking at Sebastian.

"Are we going to trust him again?" Mark asked.

"He tracked the monsters," Ava replied.

"Leading us straight into a trap."

"And you're going to cry like a little girl now?" Elara asked.

"Fuck off," Mark spat.

Sebastian scratched the back of his head. "Sorry, man. I'm not an expert--a wolf or a tiger, they both run on four legs."