Back in his pocket dimension, Nitrian found himself with a new power to master, mana, coursing through his body like blood. He knew it was a new part of him, and it was similar to Dragon Aura.
"It's softer than dragon aura… so much easier to control… so malleable.." He comments as he flares the cool grey energy on his hand. "My dragon aura is now pink with purple hues, and this cool grey… interesting."
He then went on to try out his physical capabilities. He got set, ready, and ran.
He went all the way forward without turning instead of running up the wall, and on the ceiling, he was upside down, making his way through the other wall before starting over and crossing the room in multiple ways the same.
"In the end, I feel stronger, but I'm actually around the same. Wait, will it change if I use them together?" He looked at his hands and then closed his eyes and focused.
Using this focus the more aggressive and erratic dragon aura, came into contact with the more serene and stable mana.
"Urtgh! Blregh…." Immediately he let out blood from his mouth as he felt himself rupture violently, before falling to his knees.
Breathing got heavy, sweat coming all over him for the first time in a long while, as he stopped trying to mix both energies and instead let them rest.
"Ok… Don't mix them. Not yet." He sighed as he looked at the blood on the ground his hands were supporting him on.
From there he pushed himself up and while dizzy and stumbling made his way out of his pocket dimension to rest, it was enough for this day.
Luck would have it his way it seemed as soon as he did so, there was a knock on the door of his room.
Looking weak, though the blood didn't stain him nor did the sweat thanks to time savers, but his expression was not the best, while the internal rupture would heal faster than normal for most people, it was not something simple.
However, he didn't stop and went to open the door.
On the other side, Jinwoo stood there looking at him, with black hair, and a juvenile face that made him look much younger than he was, though his expression was anything but that right now.
"… How is she?" Nitrian asked calmly.
"Better, she's pretty lively and the doctor says she seems fine and it was just an episode due to age, she'll be back in a week," Jinwoo replied matching the energy.
"I'm happy to hear she's fine, come in, we can talk." Nitrian made way for him.
"… How are you? You don't look great right now?" Jinwoo narrowed his eyes, it was clear he hadn't expected to see him of all people like this.
Though some of it was due to his rupture, it was not the only reason.
"It's ok, I'm the one who should be asking you, how are you holding up?" Nitrian shook his head.
Finally going in, Jinwoo had a small smile pop up.
The door was closed and they both sat on his bed, side by side.
It was a room filled with comics, manga, anime blue rays, figures, novels, physical web novels, light novels, manhua, manhwa, movie blue rays, and so on, not to mention the merch and posters.
"Your room is such a crime… I remember just how much of a nerd you are whenever I come here. Hehehe, it's kind of refreshing." Jinwoo commented looking at the room around him.
"I'm a cultured man, ok! You need to appreciate the arts, a good story is the real fuel of life!" Nitrian responded convicted.
"Hahaha! You get so much more responsive about it... You know… my dad, he's a hunter now, it's gotten worse, and your dad too, he's gone more. I think this is what they were talking about when we were younger, the monsters, gates, and whatever else nonsense happens from now on." Jinwoo said to him with a frown.
"I agree, it's coming, and it's odd… I wonder if we'll become hunters too." Nitrian said.
"Me? I don't think I have anything like that in me… I, I just want my mom… I just want her to be ok. It's like Dad didn't even notice she's not ok, he didn't visit once! Not once!" Jinwoo let out his frustration and growing resentment for the first time in years.
"It's getting to a breaking point, I understand you. My mom has been growing through it with her nightmares and visions… I see it in her eyes every day, she's lonely… it's painful to watch. Sometimes, I just want to sock my old man in the face." He put his hand on Jinwoo's shoulder as he spoke.
"Hahaha! I knew you would understand… It pisses me off so much when people try to make excuses for him, he's busy with work, he's out saving lives, and some sacrifices are necessary for a good life, WHERE does the line stop?! When is it too much?! Once my mom dies?! Is that when you'll care?!" Jinwoo yelled clenching fists, before letting out a sigh.
"I get it, I do. It's frustrating to see these people talk so casually like you don't see how it affects Aunty every day. There's working a lot, and there's abandonment, and I think our fathers are halfway to the latter, at this point, they don't even come home most days. It's unbelievably cruel, especially when they don't so much as explain… to them… the real reason." Nitrian sighed deeply and paid his shoulder, there was a tune of real anger and frustration behind his voice.
(I know shouldn't be mad, unlike Jinwoo, I don't have the right to be, I know why, I understand what happening it's in part my fault, I chose this…
(But then, I didn't know it would do this, I didn't know how much it would do to everyone. I'm truly sorry… I would not change it though, I'm too selfish for that, but I will make up for it. Definitely.) He thought to himself unknowingly gripping Jinwoo's shoulder as he did.
"… I know, whatever they are working on… It's definitely to protect us… all of us from monsters, I'm not stupid, I figured that much, but I just can't accept that they would rather leave our mothers! Their wives! In the shadows! They told us! So why not them?! Why?!… I think of it and I can't understand it. I just can't. I don't want to imagine what could have happened if our mothers didn't have each other…" Jinwoo laid back on the bed, looking at the ceiling letting his words rest.
"I don't think the old men see the world as we do. They probably think it's best if we the men take care of it. Some burdens are for us to carry, and I kind of agree… Some great burdens aren't supposed to be shared." Nitrian replied.
There was a long pause of silence before Jinwoo responded.
"I guess so, in the end, if it was me, I would probably take it all on solo, I can't deny that. Yet, I would at least find some time for everyone else." Jinwoo was still quieter charged with emotion as he spoke.
"I'm going to tell me what you told me when I was a kid, you can't choose both, you have the pick one," Nitrian said.
"Hahaha! Good one, I see now why you were mad at me for saying that bad then. I'll, in turn, tell you what you told me back then, it doesn't matter, I'm greedy, and I'll find a way to have them both." Jinwoo laughed as he remembered the past in his answer.
"I guess we are both very greedy. It matched with us being brothers, hahaha." Nitrian laughed it off.
"It does… But you're a terrible brother, I found out." Jinwoo said putting his arm on Nitrianʼs shoulder.
"I am? How so?" He asked with a weak smile.
"I heard you like Jinah." Jinwoo's face completely changed and so did his posture.
"Ah… You did. Hahaha." Nitrian forced his smile even further.
"Not very brotherly of you." Jinwoo pointed out.
"Love is a very complicated thing, and the flesh is weak. I'm only human after all." Nitrian responded, avoiding eye contact.
"Oh! Don't say so?! You know rabid animals who can't control their instincts should be put down." Jinwoo threatened.
"Hahaha… I think that's maybe extreme in some cases." Nitrian shook his head.
Then there was a big sigh before Jinwoo pushed him to the bed with his fist held up, ready to wail at him.
"I want to punch you, I believe I should… I think it's the right thing to punch you… Yet, I can't, not because you don't deserve it, you do. I just can't beat you, even if I try…
"You're stronger than me, I can't stop you. That's why, I want to ask you, and hope you are the Nitrian I know." Jinwoo's fist trembled before he stopped and laid back on the bed, next to him with tired eyes.
"You can punch me, I'm not fighting you as you are. I agree greedy, perverted, disgusting, lustful bastards like me are the worst." Nitrian responded.
"Are you at least serious about her?" Jinwoo asked.
"Yes, but I'm not a monogenous guy, I'm going to have a harem at some point." Nitrian dropped the bomb on him.
Not wasting a second or hesitating anymore, Jinwoo got on him and started pummeling him, punch after punch with no mercy whatsoever.
Doing his best, Nitrain focused his efforts on weakening himself as much as possible so he would not harm himself by hitting him.
"ARE out of your DAMN MIND?!" Jinwoo inquired yelling at his face like never before.
It seemed Normalcy as expected had its limits.
It went on for a while and Jinwoo was bleeding from his hands long before he stopped punching then he pulled Nitrian's face covered in his blood closer by the collar.
"Did you hit your head?! Do you think you can just go and make Jinah? Our Jinah! Into some secondhand trophy! In a damn harem?!" Jinwoo asked fury clear on his face.
"Trophy?! Of course not! I intend to love and treasure every single one of my future wives! Everyone single one. Honestly, the more I think about it, I might be sin incarnate, but I will make it work! For my happiness and all of their happiness!" Nitrian responded.
Another barrage of punches found its way to his face.
"Are you stupid?! People can barely make it work one on one! Do you think you can go and have a harem, and it will be all sunshine and rainbows?! You're either unbearably naive, completely malicious, or utterly stupid. None of those make you look good!" Jinwoo said to him.
"Happiness is first personal then joint. Of course, it won't be easy, simple, calm, or anything like that. It will be a mess, and headache a lot of the time, I am sure of it, but I will do it, and I will help them all find happiness for themselves and with me." Nitrian didn't budge.
"You are insane…Hahaha, and here I thought you were the most sensible guy I know… What is your end goal here? How many as you said, wives?!" Jinwoo asked him.
"I don't know, there is no limit," Nitrian said without shame.
That just pushed Jinwoo as he would attack him for minutes on end, hitting him with what was available not just his hands.
After a while, he stopped to look at him.
"Why?! Why even do something like that?!" Jinwoo asked.
"I… I'm… I guess it's a dream of mine, not just because of my lust or greed… I think as you said I'm insane, but there's this flame that burns telling me to consume everything and leave nothing, and that's how I choose to channel this feeling at my very core. I might just be a monster." Nitrian admitted something he didn't like to think about.
"You… For that?! You want to put an unknown number of women through whatever bullshit for that?! And worse of all, you want to include Jinah in it?! You might just deserve to die." Jinwoo rubbed his forehead having a headache
"Not, I want to be a good partner to every one of them, and I don't intend on forcing them to join me, it will be up to them. Don't act as if a relationship between only two people was some perfect combo, it works, but not because of the number, it works because of the people involved." Nitrian argued.
"That… That's true, but something like a harem is more likely to fail and mess it up for everyone because of the same reason, more people just means it's more likely things will go wrong with some or everyone." Jinwoo responded.
"It's a risk I'm willing to take, and I'll have with any woman willing to take it with me." Nitrian continued.
"Really? Let's say they love you, and accept this bullshit! You're putting them into a shitty situation they would never have to face under normal circumstances. Sharing, whatever jealousy will come up, allocating proper time and care to everyone! That's not feasible! You won't have a meaningful relationship with any of them. Actually, what about them? Are you letting them have other partners?!" Jinwoo questioned drilling into it.
"That would be true if I didn't have plans, I do. I'll take things slow with it, and I won't bite more than I can chew. Love is not a problem, I have plenty, but it's not perfect, and I will give them everything I can, yes it's not a perfectly balanced relationship, and I will always be clear and direct about it." Nitrian sighed and responded.
There was silence for minutes on end, and Jinwoo didn't try to hit him again, he just sat down with no words.
For around half an hour, no words were exchanged, they just existed next to each other.
"I will be honest with you. I think this is a terrible idea and a very poor way to conduct your relationships." Jinwoo finally said.
"I disagree. For me, it's the perfect way." Nitrian replied.
"Of course you do, but are you serious about Jinah? Do you think you love her?" Jinwoo asked him.
"I don't know about love yet, that's hard to pinpoint. I do like her, and care for her deeply. Let me guess, you'll fight me until the bitter end?" Nitrian questioned.
"I hate it, this harem idea of yours, and no doubt I'll stand by Jinah until the very end, but I can't decide for her. I'll let her make her choice… I want to trust you, Nitrian, even if I don't like it. Whatever happens, just make sure she's happy. Otherwise…" Jinwoo turned to him, and even though his intimating look from later on in the series was nowhere to be seen, there was a spark of danger in his words and expression.
"No need to worry about it. I'm a man of my word." Nitrian answered him.
After that, not much else was said, they just relaxed in silence taking in the moment with a lot of thoughts in each of their minds.
From that day on, his routine continued, and Nitrian loved one day at a time, still taking the nighttime to train his dragon aura, psychic powers, elemental powers, and even mana.
Not to mention the immense growth of his Tolality Arts, which were now halfway to completion.
Norma was experiencing more and more episodes of visions, while Kyung-Hye was slowly experiencing a decline in health.
Meanwhile, Jinah started practicing martial arts at the recommendation of Nitrian to help her get her mind off things.
Song-Yi and him went to the robotics competition and ended up in second place, only losing cause the robot was not large enough something related to the changes made to the sake of looks.
Il-Hwan and Min-Jae both stayed more distant than ever
Finally, Jinwoo had been taking on whatever jobs he could to help even after Nitrian offered to help multiple times, his help was only accepted when it came to medical biils.
Time continued to pass, and life moved on.
Hunters became more and more common with time, the understanding of gates, frequency of gates, danger of gates, and many other factors about them.
Around 60% of all hunters were E ranks, followed by 20% D ranks, 10% C ranks, 5% in the B ranks, 1% in the A ranks, and 0.01% S Rank, and much less than that when it came to the pinnacle of hunters, National ranks.
Day after day, gates incidents with monsters, and many other things start taking place as the supernatural becomes normal for everyone.
Since the monsters, known as magical beasts, are immune to non-mana-infused damage, modern technology had to take a seat back to more medieval equipment.
The things that did work, were made from materials acquired in these same dungeons and reused to make all equipment used by hunters.
Due to the various uses these materials could have, and the lack of ability to mass produce or extract them, modern weapons such as guns were not available to hunters, as they were not cost-effective at all, and didn't have enough power to justify their existence.
If a gun was made with the materials of a low-ranking dungeon like E or D, it would produce only a weapon barely strong enough to kill a normal monster from a higher rank, and that added to the fact normal unawakened people could not operate them made mana or magic guns redundant.
In time, however, Nitrian became 18 years old.
At that point, something happened, as he was going about his day just sitting on his chair in school, something popped up right in front of him.
[Initializing the system! Welcome to the Harem Leveling System, Contractor. This system will help you grow beyond your current capabilities by growing a harem. There will be routes similar to a dating sim, and you are required to select a route.] A feminine voice could be heard in his mind at the same time as a purple floating screen appeared before him.
(… Oh! The system the patrons mentioned! I forgot this thing… I thought I would never get it. Though I'm not sure what the point is anymore… I thought I might need it, But I got strong all on my own.) Nitrian thought to himself looking at it.
[Contractor, the system enables various benefits. The growth of your harem influences yours, you can gain all the capabilities of the women in your harem, and I can assist in managing you, and your harem. Finally, the system has a special perk that allows you to heal through intimate acts with members of your harem.] The system responded.
(Managing me? So even my defenses, talents... Maybe even I don't know memories?) Nitrian questioned with an internal chuckle.
[Correct. I am capable of managing all that and more. While I can't change it, I could, for example, falsify a memory. Anyhow, Contactor, would you like to see the selection of routes currently unlocked?] The system asked him.
(Yes, show me.) He nodded.
Then a list of the girls he currently had established relationships with, appeared.
[Rizz Leveling Routes:
•Forbidden route-(Norma Selner)
Route comment: From whence you came, back to you shall return.To Keep the Royal blood pure!
•Hagmaxxing route-(Park Kyung-Hye)
Route comment: Jinwoo, I am your father. Don't worry, your mom calls me Daddy too.
•Childhood best friend route-(Sung Jinah)
Route comment: The harem is the only way for her to win. Those are the anime rules.
•Prickly E-Rank route-(Han Song-Yi)
Route comment: Just like a sour candy, the sweetness will come if you keep eating.
•Locked
…..
…
.]
(Look at that... So, I have to choose?) Nitrian asked as a smile appeared on his face.
It was obvious he was not paying any attention to the class going on around him, and if anyone noticed, it wouldn't make a difference, the teachers had given up, and the students wouldn't dare wake up the hidden dragon.