I should've known someone would walk in.
I mean, this was a dungeon-linked grove, not a five-star hotel. It had vines for curtains and a glowing rune circle that probably screamed "active sex magic here."
But after that mind-melting ritual with Aria?
My brain had shut down. My body was jello. I was still buried inside her, legs tangled, skin soaked in sweat and mana.
She was breathing heavy, cheeks flushed, her tits rising and falling on my chest, lips parted in a lazy, satisfied smile.
"That was... wow," she mumbled.
I smiled like an idiot. "Yeah. You're welcome."
Then we both froze.
Because we heard footsteps.
And not soft ones.
"—Hiro?" Raven's voice, sharp and furious. "Where the hell—"
The vines parted.
And there she was.
Raven.
Eyes wide.
Guns holstered. Hands twitching.
Behind her were Iris, Mei, and Lira — all staring in various degrees of shock, amusement, and judgment.
And there I was.
Still inside Aria.
Chaos
"Oh," Aria purred, still on top of me, grinding just a little. "Looks like we have company."
I nearly died.
"I can explain!" I blurted, grabbing for a blanket of moss.
Raven took one look at my very obvious erection — still inside a glowing, sticky, moaning woman — and her eye twitched.
Iris tilted her head.
"...Damn. I didn't think you had that in you."
"I was RITUAL BOUND," I shouted. "It was a—she—there was a SPELL—!"
"Uh-huh," Mei smirked. "And did the spell require you to finish twice?"
"Three times," Aria corrected, voice husky. "And he came deep every time."
Lira coughed. Blushed. Then promptly turned away — but not before I saw her sneak a peek.
Raven just walked forward.
Silent.
Cold.
Deadly.
"Hey, listen," I said, raising both hands. "It's not what it looks like—"
"You're still inside her," she said flatly.
I looked down.
I was.
Aria clenched on purpose. I groaned.
"Still very inside her," Raven added.
"…It was a bonding skill."
Raven crouched next to us, her face unreadable.
Then she reached out.
Touched my cheek.
"Does she mean something to you?" she asked softly.
I blinked.
"…She just dropped in yesterday!"
Aria smirked. "But I do have talent."
"She's using you," Raven said, eyes sharp.
Aria raised a brow. "We used each other. And we're stronger for it. Why are you so upset?"
Raven stared her down. "Because I was supposed to be his first."
Oh.
Shit.
The air went heavy.
Even Iris stopped smirking.
Lira whispered something I couldn't hear.
"I didn't know it would happen like that," I said, heart thudding. "She dropped the ritual on me, and I—I thought it was a class thing."
Raven stood.
Turned her back.
"Get dressed," she said coldly. "We're leaving."
Aftermath
Later that night, I found Raven sitting near a half-dead campfire. Gun in her lap. Eyes on the flames.
I sat beside her.
Silence.
Then I said, "I didn't mean to hurt you."
She didn't look at me.
"Do you know how long I've waited to find someone worth risking it for?"
I looked at her.
Raven — tough, smart, deadly. Never showed weakness.
Now? She looked tired.
"Since the apocalypse started," she said. "Everyone's fake. Or broken. Or horny. You… felt real. Stupid, but real."
I touched her hand.
"I still am."
She stared at me.
Then whispered:
"Do you like her more than me?"
I laughed, a little bitter. "I like you different."
She turned.
And kissed me.
No heat.
Just soft, slow, honest.
Her hand gripped mine.
Then slid it up her thigh.
"Show me I still matter," she whispered.
"I will."
Not tonight. But soon.
Status Window Update
[Name: Hiro – Lv. 13]
Class: Harem Master (X-Rank)
New Skills:
– Body Heat Link (Lv. 1)
– Lustweave Pulse (Lv. 1)
New Bond Status:
– Aria: 60% (Linked)
– Raven: 54% (Emotion Surge – "Wounded Heart")
– Iris: 46%
– Lira: 31% (Rising Interest)
Libido Buff: Active
Harem Perk Unlocked: Emotional Link Strain – Higher emotional volatility increases power gains but risks destabilizing the bond.
New Trait: "Mark of the Hex" – +10% INT when fighting corrupted enemies. Passive bonus from Aria's bond.
That night, I lay awake, Raven's head resting quietly against my chest.
She hadn't cried. Not really.
But I knew I'd hurt her.
I also knew this class I had? It wasn't fair. To anyone.
Still… I wasn't giving up.
Not on her.
Not on any of them.
I was going to build something real.
Even if it meant f*cking my way through hell to do it.
End of Chapter 18