Starting a harem was a curious thing. How could one person get tens of girlfriends and have them all be at peace with each other? A normal person would think this impossible, right?
Wrong.
It was quite simple, actually. According to the system's tutorial, which I'd skimmed while walking over. The individual would only have to farm enough "aura," making them look as cool, rich, and suave as possible. That way, the red flags of having multiple girlfriends would be completely overshadowed by good looks and riches and awesomeness. It was like a cheat code for charisma. This was the thought on my mind as I trudged towards the all-night coffee shop, the sum of my old life in the duffel bag on my shoulder.
The system's blue interface was still glowing faintly in the corner of my vision, a constant, impossible reminder that the Leo Landon who got kicked around was gone.
My mind was a whirlwind, already spending the promised $50,000 from the quest. It was a dizzying sum, a number that felt more tangible and real than the ground beneath my feet.
Fifty thousand dollars!! I could already feel the phantom weight of a new suit on my shoulders and the smell of a new car's interior. I could have walked into my old job tomorrow not as the guy who was about to be fired, but as the guy who could buy the company. I'd walk right past Regina's office, not as a desperate employee, but as a potential investor. They would all be scrambling; just the thought made me chuckle, ha!
I arrived at the shop, my sanctuary.
The "Open 24/7" sign was a beacon, but the main lights inside were dimmed for the night. I cupped my hands against the cool glass of the door, peering into the gloom. The chairs were upended on the tables, and the floor gleamed, smelling faintly of lemon-scented cleaner. It looked closed. My heart, which had begun to hope, plummeted. This was my only plan, the only place I could crash.
Then, I saw movement near the back. The storeroom door swung open, and Maya emerged, stretching her arms above her head with a deep, tired yawn that made her whole body arch.
And then my brain short-circuited.
She wasn't in her usual work apron and polo shirt. She was wearing a thin, lavender-colored camisole made of a silky material that clung to her frame. A pair of very short cotton shorts completed her outfit. The thin fabric of her top did very little to hide the generous curve of her breasts, and I realized with a jolt that she wasn't wearing a bra.
The soft, warm light from the storeroom backlit her, and for a breathtaking moment, the outline of her body was visible through the delicate silk. My planned speech, my carefully concocted story, evaporated from my mind, replaced by a single, primal, and utterly unhelpful thought: "Wow. Oh, wow."
She turned, and her eyes, large and a soft shade of brown, widened in surprise when she saw my face pressed against the glass like a stranded ghost.
She hurried over, her bare feet silent on the clean floor, and unlocked the door. "Leo? What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice hushed and soft with sleep. Her gaze then dropped to the duffel bag at my feet. Understanding dawned on her face, followed by a wave of sympathy.
"Hey, Maya. Sorry to bother you," I said, my voice rough. I gestured vaguely with my thumb. "Elise, she... uh... we had a fight. A big one, and she kicked me out." I tried for a casual shrug, but it came out as a stiff, jerky movement.
Her face fell. "Oh my god, Leo. Are you serious?" she whispered, as if saying it too loud would make it worse for me.
"Afraid so," I said, forcing my eyes to meet hers and not wander south. "I just need a place to... just not be on the street for a few hours. I can just sit in a booth. I swear I won't be weird or anything."
She looked me over, taking in my rumpled clothes and the desperate look in my eyes that I couldn't hide. "You can't stay out there," she said firmly, her mind made up. She pulled the door open wider. "Come in. I was just about to make some tea."
"Thank you," I said, the words feeling like they were not enough to express my gratitude. I stepped inside, the familiar scent of coffee grounds and sugar wrapping around me. It felt safer in here than my own home ever had.
I followed her to a plush corner booth in the back, the one farthest from the windows and shrouded in the most shadow. "I sleep here sometimes when I have the closing-to-opening shift," she explained, gesturing for me to sit. "The couch in the back isn't half bad."
I slid into the booth, the vinyl seat cool against my legs. The system screen pulsed gently.
[Quest: A Roof Over Your Head—In Progress]
I dropped my duffel bag on the floor with a heavy thud. It sounded like a full stop on my entire past life...
She was being so kind, standing very close in the intimate dim light of of the shop.
The system's tutorial had mentioned that "Aura" was key. It wasn't just about money; it was about presence and confidence. The kind I'd never had.
As she turned to walk to the counter, the soft curve of her hip brushed against the table's edge. The thin fabric of her top did little to hide her form as she moved, the silhouette a tantalizing secret in the low light. It was a very powerful, very pleasant distraction from the fact that my life was in ruins. Or maybe it was the beginning of something interesting.
"Make yourself comfortable," Maya said, her voice a gentle murmur. "I'll get the tea."
As she turned, a soft, golden light seemed to glow around her for a second, a shimmer in the air.
[+5 Affection Points from Maya!]
[Affection Points: 5/100 to Next Tier]
It was working. The "aura" was already having an effect, even though I had done nothing. The plan, as insane as it was, was actually working. The Harem System wasn't a fantasy; it was a manual.
The golden glow intensified for a moment, and a new, thrilling message appeared.
[Passive Ability Unlocked: Aura of Intrigue (Level 1)]
[Your presence is subtly amplified, making you more memorable and attractive to potential harem members.]
A wild, giddy laugh almost escaped me. I was sitting in a dark coffee shop, homeless and jobless, and yet I felt a surge of power. Elise thought she had thrown away a useless man. She had no idea she'd kicked a sleeping dragon.
"Yeah," I said to myself, a real, genuine smile finally touching my lips. It felt strange on my face, like using a forgotten, old, strained muscle. I would go see Regina tomorrow. But it wouldn't be to beg for my job. It would be to watch her squirm as I resigned. Revenge wasn't just a dish best served cold; it was a five-course meal, and I was just reading the menu.
My mind began to drift, painting a picture of tomorrow. I wouldn't be wearing this same old shirt. I'd be in something sharp, something that screamed, 'I don't need you.' I would resign and watch the shock on her face, as I was the only person in the whole company who was overworked. For what, you ask? Well, that question can be answered with one word, Elise.
"Here you go," Maya's voice cut through my daydream. She placed a steaming mug of chamomile tea in front of me.
"Thanks," I said, wrapping my hands around the warm ceramic. "I really appreciate this, Maya. You have no idea."
"I have some idea," she said softly, sliding into the booth opposite me. "I've seen the way she looks at you when she comes in here. It's... not good."
"You noticed, huh?"
"It's hard not to. She watches you like she's trying to find something wrong."
"Yeah, well. She found it." I gestured to the duffel bag. "This is it. This and... a sudden change in my financial situation." I couldn't help the smirk that played on my lips.
Maya looked at me, a curious glint in her eye. "You seem... different tonight, Leo. I don't know, something's off."
"Maybe I am, maybe something is," I said, meeting her gaze. The golden light around her seemed to pulse in time with my heartbeat.
Suddenly, a loud "CRASH" interrupted our intense staring competition.
We both jumped. Maya gasped, her hand flying to her chest.
Someone had thrown a brick through the glass door. Now, a figure, face hidden by a hoodie, was already stepping through the jagged hole, their boots crunching on the broken glass. In their hand was a small, black pistol, pointed shakily at the floor.
The system chimed.
[ALERT: Host is in immediate danger!]
[Urgent Quest: Aura farming moment detected, neutralize the Threat!]
[Objective: Ensure the safety of yourself and Maya.]
[Reward: 100 Affection Points, and $100,000
Unlock: First skill~randomly.]
The figure took another step inside, the gun swinging up. My blood ran cold. This wasn't part of the plan.