My Dungeon Life: Rise of the Slave Harem

{Harem Master has increased to level 65.}

{You have unlocked the skill, Gift Strength}

As I stepped out of the portal, I noticed that Harem Master had seemingly gone up. Did that mean that this world still considered her part of my harem, or was it more a reflection of me as a so-called Harem Master? This job was ultimately the similarity that bound me to King Roth, although where I was a level 65, he was likely level 100, and that was assuming there wasn’t some higher job beyond Harem Master.

It was nice to think that somewhere deep in Lydia, she still loved me. However, after fighting her, I knew that this wasn’t the same girl that I knew. After all, I had directly touched her soul and worked with it. I had seen first hand that the parts that connected us were all gone. She was not my Lydia, and I could only accept that truth rather than desperately cling to what was essentially a different person now. In that respect, I assumed the Harem Master had more to do with me and my lore than Lydia.

I had always thought the close the girls got to me, the more experience I’d get. That wasn’t true. The thing that earned experience was my greater understanding of what it meant to be a Harem Master and my slow and gradual development as a person who would have a harem of women to call upon. Of course, a romantic gesture like cutting out your soul and giving it to another was the kind of gesture that made harems, but it wouldn’t affect a woman who didn’t even remember it happening.

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I would be lying if I didn’t admit to a small hope that this piece that gave up on would somehow lead Lydia to return to me someday, but I had no clue when that time would be. It would be assuredly a long time from this day.

“What happened? Did he hurt you?” Bernice’s hands were on her guns, and for a moment a dark aura seemed to emanate from her. “Did that bastard forget whose city this is?”

“No…” I lifted my hand. “No… he didn’t hurt me. This is… well, it is what it is.”

She frowned, looking me up and down. I had left the underground to met with Bernice one last time before returning to Chalm. Of course, I couldn’t hide the paleness in my face or the weakness in my body from Bernice, even though I had tried. I pulled out and drank some water of life. In time, it would heal all of the damage, so as romantic a gesture that it was, I hadn’t done much.

However, in the next few days, Roth would attack, and if I couldn’t throw him back, I’d lose access to this medicine. More than likely, I’d lose my life too. Now, I was in a weakened state, and this was the time when I should be strongest. I didn’t know if my decision was foolish, but I would make it again if I had the chance. Besides, this wasn’t a personal battle between him and me. This was a war. If a single person could change the tides of war, then there would be no point in the war.

Ultimately, when our armies combined, my strength didn’t matter. It would be the strength of my girls and the strength of my people. That was ultimately what would win the day.

“Master, you’re going back to Chalm… aren’t you?” Bernice sounded slightly reluctant.

“I will be.” I nodded. “After my display in that last fight, I think I lost all of the cred I had. I think I blew my chance to recruit my fighters too.”

Bernice shook her head. “It’s not true… the Kingpin still promised to advertise. Also, I want to fight by your side.”

“Really?” I looked up at her, and her face turned red once again.

“Don’t get the wrong idea! You’re just… my liege… yes… and so, I wish to support you. So, I will recruit as many as I can. Send for me in two days, and I’ll have more soldiers for you.”

I reached out and touched her cheek. “Thank you, Bernice.”

She pulled away, turning her back to me. “N-now… go away! Get out of here before you cause me any more trouble. I’ll continue to take care of Alerith. Just you watch.”

I nodded and opened a portal home. “Thank you.”

I left Alerith for the last time. Now, I had to focus on the upcoming battle.