Arielia had many strange things: women chasing him, butterfly monsters the size of cows, and a guild that paid triple as long as he kept his mouth shut.But nothing—nothing—could prepare Ray for what happened that morning.
Ray opened the inn door… and saw a girl with sky-blue hair, light armor, and an expression that said "I'm lost and trying not to cry."
When she saw him, her eyes sparkled.
"Are you… Ray?" she asked with a mix of excitement and relief.
Ray blinked."Do we… know each other?"
She stepped forward, cheeks turning pink.
"Not exactly, but… the Guild said you're the only new man in this city. And that you're… um… 'a very useful walking disaster.'"
Ray sighed deeply.The guild needed lessons in basic manners.
"I'm Sera," she said, giving an awkward bow. "A knight apprentice. It's an honor to meet you!"
Amelia crossed her arms.
"And why would a knight show up at our doorstep?"
Claire adjusted her bowstring.
"You here for him?"
Sera's entire face went red.
"N-No! I mean—yes! But not like that! I think!"
Ray was about to ask what that "I think!" meant when Lyria opened her grimoire.
"Emotional attraction at 43%. Interesting."
"My WHAT is at how much!?" Ray asked, horrified.
Lyria nodded like a satisfied scientist.
"Your Comedic Attraction Aura. It increases every day. That's why this girl almost combusted when she saw you."
Ellie raised her hand innocently.
"So does that mean more girls will want to join us?"
Amelia frowned.Claire tensed.Sera turned pale.
"'Join'…? At what level are we talking?" she asked nervously.
Ray raised both hands like she had a weapon pointed at him.
"N-No level! There are no levels! We are not joined at ANY level!"
"Liar," Amelia and Claire whispered in sync.
⭐ THE 'IMPOSSIBLE' MISSION (ACCORDING TO SERA)
Sera had come with a request.
"A magical beast is blocking the only road to the city of Melvaria," she said. "They call it The Mist Drake. I couldn't defeat it alone…"
Claire narrowed her eyes.
"And you came looking for the only man in town… why?"
Sera swallowed.
"Because… the Guild said Ray is… um… compatible with magical creatures. His presence makes them… less aggressive."
Ray processed that for a moment.
"So… am I a monster repellent?"
"More like… a natural calming tea," Sera replied.
"I'm a WHAT?""Yes," Lyria answered immediately.
⭐ THE MIST DRAKE
The Mist Forest was wrapped in a cold, bluish fog.
Two glowing eyes opened from within it.
GROOOOAAARRR…
Ray stepped forward with trembling legs.
"H-Hello… mighty creature… I come in p-peace…"
The drake sniffed him.
And then…
It lay down like a giant cat wanting belly rubs.
Ray touched its head carefully.
"…Is this dragon… fluffy?" he whispered.
"You tamed it in ten seconds," Amelia said, stunned.
"I trained three months just to approach it…" Sera muttered. "How did you DO that?"
Lyria checked her notes.
"Aura at 58%. Unstoppable."
⭐ THE MOMENT EVERYTHING CHANGED
When the drake disappeared, it left behind a magic crystal.
Ray handed it to Sera.
"You should take it," he said. "It's your mission."
Sera stared at him, shocked.
"You're… giving it to me?"
"You asked for help. It wouldn't feel right taking the reward."
Sera's cheeks glowed hot.
"Ray… you're kinder than I imagined."
Amelia frowned.Claire tightened her grip on her bow.Ellie whispered:
"Ohhh no… here it comes…"
Sera took a deep breath—looked him straight in the eyes—and exploded.
"RAY! I WANT TO JOIN YOUR PARTY! AND— AND— YOUR HAREM!"
Dead silence.
Ray opened and closed his mouth like a confused goldfish.
"M-My WHAT!?"
Sera turned redder than a tomato.
"I-I didn't mean to say it like that! But I—I LIKE you! I think! And I want to stay with you!"
Amelia sighed.
"Another one down."
Claire shook her head.
"This is spiraling out of control…"
Lyria calmly wrote in her grimoire:
"A new member has entered. The curse proceeds as expected."
Ray grabbed his hair.
"I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS!"
Sera smiled nervously.
"S-So… can I stay with you?"
Ray exhaled, defeated.
"Yes, Sera. Welcome to… whatever this is."
Ellie clapped happily.Amelia smirked.Claire grumbled.Lyria closed her grimoire.
And just like that—
Sera became the first official member of Ray's harem.Practically self-appointed.