The door to my room clicked shut, the sound a final, definitive end to a day that had stretched my mind and spirit to their absolute limits. I didn't even bother to change. The exhaustion was a physical weight, a heavy cloak that settled over my shoulders the moment I was alone. For two straight days, I'd been running on pure adrenaline and caffeine, my brain a chaotic whirlwind of strategic planning, emotional turmoil, and the constant, low-level hum of the System.
I collapsed onto my bed, the soft mattress a welcome relief. Staring up at the familiar cracks in my ceiling, I let out a long, slow breath. Before I let the darkness claim me, I had to check. It had become a ritual, a way to quantify the insane progress of my new life.
"System, open my status," I murmured to the empty room.
The familiar, translucent white screen flickered into existence. My stats were climbing at a terrifying rate, the numbers a testament to the constant battles I was fighting, both inside and out. My gaze drifted to the [King's Elite] tab. A quiet pride swelled in my chest. Jack, Padro, Ken… they were all pushing themselves, their own numbers ticking upward. But Kenji's profile was on another level. His stats were exploding, a clear return on the massive investment I had made in him. He was becoming the mountain I needed him to be.
Then, my eyes landed on the [King's Harem] tab. I opened it, and my breath caught in my throat. There were four names now. Four women who, according to the System, were now intrinsically linked to me. Isabel's progress was steady, her stats reflecting the intense training she was putting herself and the others through. But it was the other three names that made my head spin. Lily. Maya. And Chloe.
'System,' I thought, my mind racing, 'How is this possible? Maya and Chloe… I just met them.'
'Host, you have kissed the girls,' the System replied, its tone as flat and matter-of-fact as ever. 'They already desired physical contact with you, fueled by your sister's stories. Your unexpected, aggressive kiss crashed their mental software. Thus, their Soul Ledgers have changed.'
The new ledgers appeared on the screen, and I stared at them, completely amazed.
Maya Danvers: [Claimed by the King] & [His Devoted Viper]
Chloe Stephen: [Addicted to His Aura] & [The King's Shadow]
'Now they have both fallen for you,' the System continued. 'Like a maiden's first love. They are now yours.'
Claimed by the King. Addicted to His Aura. The words were so possessive, so absolute. "It means I have more responsibility to handle," I muttered, the weight of their devotion settling on my shoulders. "Okay… let's talk about Isabel's Soul Ledger."
Isabel Wilson: [Fierce, Possessive Love] & [His Woman]
'It looks like she has accepted me totally,' I thought.
'Host, your observation is good,' the System replied. 'Your deeds have evolved her feelings for you. Now, they are more absolute.'
Finally, I clicked on Lily's profile. The numbers that filled the screen made my jaw drop.
Status:
Name: Lily Harrison
Strength: 184
Agility: 173
Endurance: 207
Mentality: 724
Intelligence: 810
Mana: 80
Potential: SS+
Skills: [Living Canvas], [Master Linguist], [Scientific Acumen], [Vital Point Strike], [Precise Instruction], [Historical Analysis], [Lecture]
Passive Skills: [Precognitive Dodge], [Computational Genius], [Universal Academic], [Inner Maiden], [Demon Queen]
Superpower: [None]
Soul Ledger: [Unwavering Faith in Him] & [The King's Hand]
I was in awe. "System," I asked, my voice a hoarse whisper, "don't you think her Mentality and Intelligence are… literally too high?"
'It is because of the Harem privilege,' the System explained. 'The 80% boost to her base stats has amplified her strongest attributes exponentially.'
"I'm really amazed," I said, shaking my head in disbelief. "How can Lily say she's 'just' a history teacher when she has a whole set of knowledge like this? A Master Linguist? A Computational Genius?"
'I think she was trying to be humble, Host.'
I looked at her Soul Ledger again. [Unwavering Faith in Him] & [The King's Hand]. "She doesn't even think of me as her student anymore," I thought. "She sees me as a king. As a man."
'Your proposal to make her a partner in your business was the reason,' the System confirmed.
"I'm really happy that everything is going fine," I said, a genuine smile touching my lips. "But there are still so many problems on the way." I needed more resources. More power. "System, I want to ask… is there a skill that can help me earn more coins?"
'Yes,' the System replied instantly. 'There is a passive skill called [Sovereign's Tithe]. This skill will allow you to get a share of the Prayer and Fear Coins generated by the actions of your Harem, Elites, and Army.'
"What's the catch?" I asked. There was always a catch.
'There is a distribution ratio,' the System explained. 'For any given deed, you will receive the full coin amount. However, your Harem members will receive 75% of the base value, your Elites will receive 35%, and your Army members will receive 10%. All the coins will be accumulated for your use. It's like if you do work you will 100 coin, but for the same work your harem will get 75 coin, elites gets 35 coin and army get 10. And they will work you in your place. '
"I had guessed something like that," I said. "What's the price?"
'It costs 400 Fear Coins.'
It was a huge amount, but it was necessary. The meager coins I was earning on my own would never be enough to build an empire. "Okay," I said, my voice firm. "Buy it."
A wave of energy washed over me as the new passive skill integrated itself into my being. With that done, a few lingering questions surfaced in my mind.
'System, I have a doubt.'
'What is your doubt, Host?'
"Louis Blossom," I said. "She can't really be a demon, but she has that passive skill, [Succubus]. I have the active skill [Incubus]. Can you create some relation between them?"
'Yeah, you are right. Having the passive skill [Succubus] does not mean she is a demon, obviously,' the System clarified. 'Incubus and Succubus are essentially the same concept, just opposite genders. In simple terms, your [Incubus] skill is something you activate when you want to use its abilities, like seduction. In your case, it is intentional. But in Louis's case, it is unintentional. She possesses the natural, passive allure of a succubus. A few things are still common between you: an insatiable desire and a powerful sex drive.'
After listening to the explanation, I got some idea of what was going on with her. My mind then shifted to my aunt. "Do you remember Aunt Chris's Soul Ledger? Can you explain it to me?"
'Okay, listen,' the System said. 'Christine has [Unwavering Love for Adam] & [The Man I Can't Have]. In simple words, she loves you so much that she would do anything for you. But the societal norms, the taboo of your relationship, are standing in front of her. Thus, she sees you as the man she can't have.'
I felt a pang of sadness. But I would make her realize her true feelings. I had to.
"Okay," I said, a new resolve hardening in my chest. "Can I use my superpower, [Eternal Vow], on the women in my King's Harem?"
'Yes, you can,' the System confirmed. 'You just need to remember them, to focus on them, while using this ability.'
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. It was time. I focused my will, my energy, and activated the superpower. I pictured them, one by one, forging a new, unbreakable bond in the very fabric of my soul.
First, Isabel.
The moment I focused on her, a wave of raw, powerful emotion slammed into me. It was a fierce, protective fire, a love that was so deeply intertwined with a sense of ownership that it was almost overwhelming. It was a love that said, You are mine, and I will tear down the world to keep you. It was a Fierce, Possessive Love.
Then, Lily.
Her love was completely different. It was a calm, steady, and profound belief. It wasn't the fiery passion of a new romance, but the deep, unwavering faith of a devotee in her chosen path. It was a love that said, I trust you completely. I believe in your vision, and I will dedicate my life to helping you achieve it. It was a pure, Devotional Love.
Next, Maya.
Her feelings were a thrilling, dangerous game. It was a love born from the intoxicating thrill of being conquered, of being claimed by a power greater than her own. It was a love that screamed, You are the strongest, and I belong to the strongest. Use me. I am your most cunning weapon. It was a sharp, exciting, Competitive Love.
And finally, Chloe.
Her love was an addiction. It was the pure, unadulterated awe of a fan who had been pulled onto the stage. She was captivated by my power, by the danger and excitement that surrounded me. Her love was a breathless whisper that said, You are the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Let me be a part of your world. Let me watch you burn it all down. It was a star-struck, Admirational Love.
'What is this?' I asked the System, my own heart pounding from the emotional overload.
'This is the sync,' the System explained. 'You can now understand their love for you more clearly. Because it is your duty to love, care, and respect every woman equally. At any cost.'
The System's words were a statement, a command. But for me, lying there in the dark, feeling the distinct, powerful currents of their love flowing into me, it was a pleasant, humbling experience. For the first time, I didn't just know they were on my side. I could feel it. I could feel how much they cared for me. And in that moment, the weight of my responsibilities felt a little less like a burden, and a little more like a blessing.