Chương 76: Apologies

Two days later, Joe awoke lying in an unfamiliar bed in a strange room that smelled faintly of overripe oranges and tangerines. He stared up at a plain ceiling. As he tried to sit up, he felt something heavy resting on him. Looking down, he saw Corel's sleeping face.

"I must be dreaming," he said. When Rose's face appeared above his, he seriously questioned his sanity.

"You're awake," she said with a smile.

"Do you ever not do stupid things, my pet?" Joe laughed. He wasn't dreaming, he could tell now. The women in his dreams were a lot nicer. He reached down and gently patted Corel's head. Then, after a pause, he realized he had an opportunity of a lifetime. Slowly, he reached for one of her horns… She stirred awake, eyes fluttering open as her hair stuck up in all directions.

"Hey, sleepy head," he said with a grin. She glared at him and sat up without a word. Joe stretched and looked around the small room.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"The Eludian palace," Rose replied.

"We are in the maid's wing. This was the only place my mother would let us bring you." Joe felt a slight pressure on his mind; someone was watching him. The sensation vanished as quickly as it came, leaving him cold. He shrugged it off and pulled the sheet aside, carefully rising from the bed. As he stood and stretched again, both Corel and Rose kept their eyes on him. That was when Daisy walked in and froze. She gave Joe a slow up-and-down look and nodded with a sly smile.

Only then did Joe notice that he was completely naked. With a quick thought, he made his gear appear. Corel pouted. Rose blushed and turned away. He sighed as he shook his head, women.

"Now you're dressed. You should take a seat," Daisy said, handing him a cup of tea. He sipped it with genuine pleasure, glancing around at the others. They had all changed out of their dresses from the Tides of Movement Event. Rose and Daisy now wore sleek black and gold suits, their hair tied in matching ponytails. Corel wore a dark green version of the same suit. Their attire was oddly formal. Joe nearly dropped his cup.

The tight-fitting bodices of their outfits did nothing to hide the fact that all three of them had larger-than-average… Bosoms. He'd always known Daisy was on the larger side; no one could miss those. But apparently, Rose and Corel weren't far behind. Corel caught him gawking and gave him a perplexed stare. He choked slightly on his tea as she sat down, arms crossed, staring at him.

"Are you ready to explain?" Rose asked, drawing Joe's gaze. She had one hand pressed against her breast, right where he knew her bond of fate lay. Joe gulped as both his bonds heated slightly. Corel suddenly looked very uncomfortable.

"Corel and I have gotten to know each other very well these past days," Rose continued smoothly.

"She's explained to me what she wants, and I have… hinted at what I want." Joe was confused for a moment, but couldn't help raising his eyebrows at that last statement. Rose ignored the reaction and pressed on.

"So, now that we are in alignment for what we expect of you, it's time for you to explain why you accepted two bonds so easily. Are you trying to trap two beautiful… ladies into your grasp? Is that what you think these bonds are?" Her smile widened, dazzling and dangerous, as she leaned back and waited. Joe was a bit surprised by the immediate ambush upon waking, but decided, for once, to think before he spoke. He glanced at Corel, hoping for a sign, some guidance to help him navigate this minefield.

But her face was a blank mask, unreadable. If anything, she looked eager to hear his answer. He didn't need long to clear his mind. He'd been expecting this conversation ever since seeing that both women were present at the event. It was time to clear the air.

"I'm no fool. I know the bonds do not represent any kind of romantic interest from either of you. So, no. I have no such aspirations of entrapping you both into some kind of harem."

"Good. Because that will never happen," Rose said with a serene smile that, for some reason, made Joe question the honesty of her statement.

"Though," he continued.

"I don't think it's fair to put the blame for these bonds on me. The first was done while I was unconscious or dead. I don't quite understand that one. While, if I remember correctly… You helped form the second." He paused, scanning their expressions before pushing on.

"I know we don't know each other very well, but I don't see any reason for there to be tension between us. I'll admit, at first, the main reason I wanted to maintain the bond was so your mother wouldn't kill me. But now that that's… hopefully off the table…" As if summoned by the very mention of her, a familiar pressure descended on Joe. He felt Catalina's gaze lock onto him, her amusement echoing with a faint laugh as the sensation faded again. He shuddered. That damn God was really enjoying this.

He did his best to ignore her all-seeing presence.

"I just want us to get along. Maybe get to know each other better and build a friendship," he said, giving Rose his best puppy-dog eyes. She stared at him blankly. He shrugged.

"Well, Corel and I are friends," he added, turning to her hopefully. But Corel was doing her best Rose impression, expressionless and unreadable. Joe sighed; he'd get no help at all. He jumped to his feet in slight exasperation.

"Look, I'm not good at this. I have no idea what I'm supposed to say. But I swear my intentions are pure and I will do everything I can to make sure you both enjoy my company and are…" He was about to say protected, but thought that that might sound feeble in front of a princess much, much stronger than he was.

"... treated as a gentleman should treat anyone important to him." The room was quiet for a very long time as his words hung in the air. But he was stubborn, so he waited in silence for a response. Rose mouthed the word gentleman as she tapped at her chin.

"I like that word.

'Gentleman' So will you be treating me gently, my pet?"

"Always," Joe replied with a bow. Rose let out a soft giggle.

"Ha!" Joe exclaimed.

"See, I knew you liked me." Rose cocked an eyebrow, and Joe couldn't help but flinch. Holy balls, she was kinda scary. She was also a whole grade above him and could probably pop him like a pimple.

"Like' is a strong word. But you're not wrong," she said with a smile.

"I do like you, my pet. Even if you constantly bother me with random emotional pulses." Joe grinned, counting that as a victory. Anything that didn't result in immediate death by a God was a win in his book.

"I was just trying to show you how fun this bond can be. Who else is gonna bother you with mundane daily pulses?" he said with a theatrical flourish. Rose laughed at that, and, to his delight, so did Corel. Naturally, Joe sent them both a pulse of happiness, which only made the laughter grow. Maybe he was good at this.

"Okay, you win," Rose said, still smiling.

"The bonds stay, for now. But so does Corel. She hasn't completed her quest yet. So you'll have to do without her for a while. Don't worry. I plan to train her while she's here. What level are you currently?"

"I'm 93 in my profession and 120 in my class," Corel replied. Rose nodded.

"Then I will bring you as close to level 150 for both as I can, and we will get started on your second profession. We can't have you falling behind now, can we?" Joe suddenly felt sorry for Corel. Not enough to speak up, of course. He'd pray for her later… in private. To her credit, Corel looked determined. She smiled and gave a firm nod. Rose turned back to Joe.

"When did you evolve your race?" she asked.

"About five minutes before I arrived for the dance competition," Joe replied with a laugh.

"Was that why you arrived covered in blood?"

"Kinda, that was because of a mean Dwarf God who beat me up for a month." Rose looked at him flatly, clearly not believing a word. She shook her head in disbelief.

"Does he always say crazy things like that?"

"All the time," Corel said with a nod.

"I think I'm starting to regret this whole bond of fate," Rose said with a playful giggle.

"Nope, you're stuck with me. No leaving this runaway train," Joe said in a lofty tone. Rose flashed her teeth at him in amusement.

"Now, both of you," she said, sitting straighter, "catch me up on everything that has happened during your time together in the integration." So they did. The three of them sat together in that small room, recounting everything. Joe and Corel took turns filling her in on the events that had brought them here, from the early days of Integration to the trials they'd faced together.

Rose listened, enraptured by their tales of adventure and capture, and escape and freedom, only interrupting when Joe reached the part about the past month and his breakthrough to level 100. She raised a hand and rubbed her temples.

"Let me get this straight," she said slowly.

"You reached level 100 while… training with Aliosandros. And then you immediately entered the hidden grade?" Joe scratched his head, unsure of what the correct answer was. So that Dwarf was named Aliosandros? huh…

"Errrr, yes?"

"Remove the crown. I want to identify you," Rose demanded. Joe did as instructed, setting the crown down beside him. He felt a tingle creep up his spine as Rose identified him, her eyes narrowing. A moment passed. Then she cursed in a language his translation skill failed to register, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Put that back on, and never, ever take it off again," she ordered sharply. Joe obeyed, then ventured the question that was lingering on his mind.

"I think I'm starting to suspect I did something crazy? Is it not normal to enter the hidden grade as soon as you hit level 100?"

"No, it is not," Rose replied with a huff.

"It is very much so, not normal at all. In fact, it was thought to be flat-out impossible. If word spreads that you know how to enter the hidden grade at 100, every Empire in the Multiverse will want to capture you and torture the method out of you!"

"Oh," Joe said sheepishly.

"Well, good thing you're the first person I told," He wiggled his eyebrows in an attempt to lighten the mood. It worked. Rose turned to Corel, who simply shrugged at Joe's antics, clearly used to them by now.

"I'm going to talk with you later about keeping control of him," Rose said, nodding toward Joe.

"Hey, I'm right here, you know," Joe said with mock indignation, placing a hand over his chest. As if responding to his dramatics, both bond marks flared with a pulse of annoyance. He yelped at the sudden heat and then laughed, unable to help himself. The conversation drifted into more light-hearted topics for a while, the kind that made time slip by easily. Eventually, though, Joe shifted back to something that had been weighing on his mind. This novel is published on a different platform.

Support the original author by finding the official source.

"What happened to Tevenny?" he asked.

"Mother sent her back to her world once she was healed up. You saved her life," Rose said calmly. Joe let out a small breath of relief. He was thankful it had all worked out in the end. Just then, Daisy entered the room, returning from her errands, and Joe suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed. The space wasn't that small, but with three beautiful women around him, it was definitely starting to feel cramped. A man could only handle so much in such close quarters.

"Is there a garden nearby? I'd like to grow a flower," he suggested quickly. Rose beamed at the idea and led them toward one of her many palace gardens. Joe found a soft patch of grass and sat down, closing his eyes as he reached out to nature. This time, he decided on different blooms for each of them. He first grew a vibrant orange lily and offered it to Rose. Then came a rare blue amaryllis for Daisy, and finally, a white Egret Orchid for Corel.

Each of them smiled as they inhaled the delicate fragrances, clearly pleased by the gesture.

"What Martial skill are you using?" Daisy asked, turning toward him with a curious expression.

"I don't have one. I only have a staff skill," Joe admitted.

"I did read a book once on magical martial arts movements, but it didn't come with a skill."

"I thought so. Your punches during your duels were awful," Daisy said bluntly.

"I've seen children with better fighting skills than you." Joe looked at his hands in dejection.

"I thought I did okay."

"You were embarrassingly bad. Here," Daisy handed Joe a small orb.

"What is this?" he asked, examining it curiously. The orb was made of a strange, cold metal he couldn't identify, smooth to the touch, almost unnaturally cold.

"It's a skill orb," Daisy explained.

"It contains the basics of my personal Martial skill. It's the basic version, but it'll be a solid foundation for you to build on. Sit down and follow my lead." Daisy lowered herself into a meditative pose, legs crossed and posture relaxed. Joe mirrored her, sitting opposite with his arms resting on his lap.

"If you rotate your internal mana, it will help you absorb the skill orbs' knowledge more smoothly," she instructed.

"Watch the flow of my mana and copy it." Joe activated Mana Sight and focused on Daisy. What he saw stunned him; her internal mana flow resembled a vascular system, but instead of blood, threads of mana coursed through her. The network pulsed with life as mana rotated clockwise throughout her body. He studied the flow intently, but before attempting it himself, he knew he had to bring up an issue.

"I can't copy that mana flow," he said.

"My left arm is manaless. And before you ask, I have no idea what it is. But I'm pretty sure it's not a bad thing." Daisy and Rose exchanged a knowing glance.

"While you were unconscious… I touched your arm," Rose said, as she fidgeted slightly.

"You did? Are you okay?" Joe asked, concern flickering across his face.

"I'm fine. It was just… surprising. The mana in my arm vanished for a moment; it just disappeared the second I touched yours," she said. Joe looked down at his arm. He really needed to find a better way to prevent people from accidentally making contact with it. So far, gloves and gear have only done so much. Fortunately, Rose and Daisy seemed a step ahead.

"Daisy, did you find the item?" Rose asked. Daisy nodded and pulled out what looked like a rolled-up bandage. She handed it to Joe, who took it and identified it. MC Gauze - This roll of Mana Controlling gauze is to help those with mana sickness regain control of their mana. It blocks external contact and mana leakage, allowing the body to focus on healing. Joe began to pull out a piece of the gauze to inspect it when, with a sudden rush, a large section unspooled and latched onto his arm.

It wrapped slowly around his left wrist, phasing straight through his gear to rest against his skin. Eyes wide, he watched as the entire length of his arm was quickly wrapped in gauze. The rest of the roll detached itself and dropped to the floor. Now, his left arm was bandaged entirely, giving him the look of a semi-mummified warrior.

"Whoa. That was kinda cool. So… can you touch this?" he asked. Corel walked over and gently pressed her fingers against his arm. She exhaled in relief as the mana in her own arm remained unaffected.

"It worked," she said with a smile.

"You owe me for that," Rose added. Joe gave her a seated bow.

"Anything, milady," he said, then turned back to Daisy. Rose sat beside him, and Corel settled on his other side. For the briefest moment, Joe imagined a silhouette of someone unfamiliar sitting just behind, but the image flickered and faded before it fully formed.

"Try rotating the mana you have. Just avoid your arm; it should still help with absorbing the skill orb," Daisy instructed. Joe closed his eyes and slowly began to move the mana through his body. He tried to mimic the flow he had seen within Daisy, but his own mana rotated sluggishly in comparison. Daisy's mana had rushed through her network at impressive speed, highlighting just how far he had to go. After about ten minutes, sweat began to bead on his brow. The effort was far more demanding than he'd expected.

"That's good. Keep that going, and pour a small amount of mana into the orb. Don't let the rotation stop," she instructed. Joe obeyed, maintaining the slow rotation while sending a thin trickle of mana into the orb. Instantly, information flooded into his mind. Images of Daisy appeared, graceful, lethal, precise. She moved through the forms of her martial skills: punches, kicks, knees, elbows, thrusts, chops, swipes, and dashes.

Each movement seared itself into his memory with incredible clarity, settling deep within him. Joe lost all sense of time, fully immersed. Eventually, the flow of information ceased. He opened his eyes, letting the mana rotation fade, his body aching from the strain.

"Drink this," Rose poured a warm, blue-tinged liquid into his mouth before he could even ask what it was. He had a flashback of Corel stuffing leaves into his mouth without warning… He swallowed it and instantly felt his mind sharpen, his muscles pulse. A moment later, he was compelled to stand.

"Follow my lead," Daisy said, taking what he now recognised as the stance, Falconic Rush. She began moving through the sequence he had seen in the vision of her. Flowing through the martial skill's forms with practiced grace, she guided him through each motion until a notification appeared. Skill Flying Falcon Basic Form(Rare) Obtained.

"Thanks," Joe said gratefully. He noticed a marked difference in the fluidity of his punches when using the martial skill. He threw a few more practice strikes and smiled… until he looked up, and to his horror, saw Daisy, Rose, and Corel standing opposite him in ready stances. That was when he saw that he had been set up.

"My pet," Rose said sweetly, cocking her head slightly, the most malevolent grin he'd ever seen spreading across her face. Shit.

"Daisy, Corel. Don't hold back. It's time my little pet here fully understands who is in charge."

"I never hold back," Daisy said, dashing forward and slamming her fist into Joe's arm as he raised it in a panicked defence. Shit, she was fast. The force hurled him backwards, and as he tried to recover, he caught a final, horrifying glimpse of two pairs of slippered feet flying straight toward his face. An hour later, two Vries Mortifi and a Voldura sat smiling and laughing, while a thoroughly bruised High Human lay unconscious between them, breathing deeply. Ding!

Class Absolute Space Farmer has reached level 101 - stat points distributed. Ding! Class Absolute Farmer has reached level 101 - stat points distributed. __"Aurora. It is time." The Patriarch of Clan Verdante bowed and knelt before her. Aurora stepped out into the amphitheatre at the heart of her hamlet. Today marked the final day of the Karcara Shooo festival.

As the highest-level member of the new generation and the only one with an entry token into the Tower of Past Lives, Aurora stood as Clan Verdante's representative in the final battle of ascension. She would face her counterpart from Clan Wakawaka for the title of Karcara, an honour that would remain until the next festival. This was the first time in millennia her clan had reached the final fight. It was also Clan Wakawaka's first appearance in over twenty Multiversal years.

Tensions were high, and the reputation of both clans hung in the balance. Aurora walked through a crowd of her clanmates, their cheers and chants rising around her like a storm. She smiled and waved as she made her way with confidence toward the arena's centre. Waiting there stood her opponent… Sofantia. She was an imposing figure. Nearly seven feet tall, powerfully muscled, with dark brown hair that spilt down to her feet and a tail that arched high behind her, almost two metres in length.

A truly intimidating silhouette. But Aurora showed no fear as she stepped into position. She met Sofantia's scowl with a smile. Sofantia had been the undisputed genius of their generation… until one year ago, when Aurora revealed her skills and began outshining everyone. Since then, Sofantia's resentment had only grown. She loathed Aurora, and today was her chance to reclaim her place at the top. Aurora bowed her head. Sofantia did not return it.

Instead, she gestured in the private hand language shared by the women of all clans.

'I will bury your tail and carve your heart on the moon.' Aurora's smile widened. Her fingers flicked a reply.

'Your mother would be so proud of her tailless whore of a daughter.' Rage erupted in Sofantia's Aura as she unveiled her full power. Aurora responded in kind, her own peak E-grade Aura clashing violently against Sofantia's in a storm of pressure and heat. The representative of Clan Clayto, caught between them, jumped off the stage in alarm, barely escaping the blast of power. He raised a hand from the sidelines, signalling the start of the fight. Aurora didn't hesitate. She pounced at blinding speed.

Her clawed hands slammed into Sofantia's guard, instantly forcing the towering mass of hair onto one knee. From there, the fight became a one-sided beatdown. Sofantia, despite all her rage and bravado, couldn't land a single blow. Aurora danced around every attack, countered every move, and punished every mistake. In the end, for the final humiliation, Aurora seized Sofantia by the tip of her tail and hurled her bodily from the centre stage. The arena exploded with cheers. Members of every clan roared her name.

Aurora, newly crowned Karcara, stood proud in the centre of the amphitheatre, the future of her people shining bright. Aurora, the new Karcara, sat beneath the two moons, staring up at the night sky. The final day of the festival had been more than satisfying, and now she rested with her younger brother tucked in the crook of her arm, idly fluffing his hair.

"Aaahh. Stop it! You are messing up my mane."

"Wolves don't have manes," she chided, releasing the squirming brat. He grinned mischievously and dashed off into the shadows. She watched him go with a fond smile before turning back to the sky, savouring the quiet moment, though she knew it wouldn't last. A line of males would soon be forming to dance with her. Duty demanded it, Karcara tradition. She shook her head but didn't complain. She would do what was expected, though anyone who overstepped would face her wrath.

Rising, she stretched and loosed a long howl into the night, her voice shaking the trees around her. She turned toward the heart of the festival… then paused as a soft wind swept past her. A shimmer flickered on the lake's surface. Instinctively, she braced for an attack. But none came. Her danger sense remained silent. Relaxing slightly, she turned toward the shimmer. A fine mist began to curl across the water, drifting upward and swirling around her.

Cautiously, she raised a hand, watching as the mist coiled between her fingers. Slowly, a scene began to form. It was him… the male from the convergence. This time, he was fighting three females in a small garden and losing badly. A smile touched Aurora's lips, though she wasn't sure why. She studied the misty figures, two full-figured, one more slender. Something about two of them felt… familiar. But she couldn't place it. A soft sound behind her made her turn.

The vision faded, though not before the man's eyes met hers, his expression one of startled recognition.

"Aurora. Shall we go?" She turned to Clara, her closest friend and fellow clanswoman.

"Coming," she said, setting the strange vision aside and returning to the festival. __ Joe woke with a start, wincing at how sore his body still was. In the haze of sleep, he recalled a wolf girl sitting by a lake that he had glimpsed during his spar. He shook his head, trying to bring the image back, but it was already fading. A warm hand touched his forehead. Corel smiled down at him.

"You didn't hit him hard enough, Daisy. He has already recovered."

"Corel!" Joe groaned.

"I thought you were on my side!" Corel laughed and settled beside him.

"I noticed you reaching for my horn earlier. If you wanted to touch them," she gestured with a finger.

"Corel… Have I told you how much I love you?" Joe grinned and gently touched one of her horns. It was smoother and warmer than he'd expected. Corel's cheeks reddened, but she didn't pull away. After a few moments, Joe stopped. Things were getting a little too intimate for his liking. She was Corel, after all; he wasn't about to take advantage of her good mood.

"Thanks," he said with a little bow.

"We are bonded," she replied simply.

"I am your Seeker. I will make sure you don't overstep." Joe couldn't help but wonder if Corel was spending a bit too much time around Rose. The princess's habits seemed to be rubbing off. As Joe pushed himself to his feet, a voice echoed in his mind.

"Say your goodbyes; the system is teleporting you back now," Catalina said. Joe looked around reflexively, but of course, the God was nowhere to be seen.

"Thank you, Your Highness," he said with a bow. A momentary chill of impending doom swept over him, but it quickly faded. Corel touched his shoulder briefly… then leaned in and gave him a quick sniff before moving back to Rose's side. That's the second time one of them has done that… Joe thought. Curious, he raised an arm and sniffed his own armpit. He nodded, satisfied at the earthy aroma. All three women burst out laughing.

"Well," Joe said, straightening, "you all seemed to appreciate my scent. I was just trying to see what the fuss was about." Rose had the decency to look slightly embarrassed. Corel? Not at all. And Daisy… alarmingly, Daisy stepped forward, leaned in close, and gave him a deliberate sniff before stepping back.

"You… do smell nice," she said grudgingly. Another victory, Joe thought, grinning.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye for now. Ladies, don't be too hard on Corel. And I'll see you when I see you." He gave a deep bow, then vanished in a flash as the system teleported him away. Not long after Joe had disappeared, Daisy turned to Rose, lips pursed thoughtfully.

"So… we all saw… his thing. It was quite big, wasn't it?" Corel burst out laughing. Rose groaned, rubbing her forehead, her face turning scarlet.