[Nightmare]

Helix blinked twice, and his eyebrow started twitching when he opened his eyes.

"I don't know whether to laugh because they followed my strategy or cry because they gave me this thing."

After a moment of staring at it without progress, he sighed.

"Well, at least I know that the rumors weren't baseless." He muttered.

In front of his eyes was a 3x2-foot card with bold letters.

[Women and men that apply to join Helix's Honorary Harem]

When he saw what was written on the bottom, Helix sighed again.

"It's official. It's definitely under the cry category." He muttered bitterly.

"Good morning! Seems your present has already greeted you!" Elsa called out with a bright smile.

Helix sighed.

"I'm sorry, Elsa. I have no excuse for holding a harem party in the hospital room." He replied.

Elsa laughed and narrowed her eyes at him.

"You're fast on the uptake." She said with a grin.

"This was my way of scolding you.

So consider your impending punishment paid."

Helix chuckled.

"I appreciate your leniency." He said with depleted eyes.

"You've done a number on those three, kid.

Even Charlotte claimed responsibility for what happened.

Though I'm certain, she was being honest." Elsa commented with a sly smile.

"Hah… those women. What am I going to do with them?" Helix chuckled.

"Love them back and don't accept new applicants, idiot." She replied in a serious voice.

Helix chuckled and shook his head.

"Don't worry about that. I'm not going to be thinking about women anytime soon." He affirmed in a melancholy tone.

Elsa frowned, and her eyes filled with sadness.

"I'm not sure where to begin, so I'll just start.

It's been 31 days since you've left Alzeria.

You're now in the Kozan Peninsula." She announced to change the subject.

Helix's eyes went wide with shock.

"T-Thirty-one days!?"

Elsa chuckled.

"Yes, thirty-one days. That means there are thirty-one fewer days until Marie, Charlotte, and Riley join you." She affirmed with a warm gaze.

Helix smiled and looked at the magic circle he was sitting on.

Before long, his eyes started trailing the lines and trying to decipher their purposes.

"Hmmm? Are you interested in the magic circle?" Elsa asked.

"Yes…. This pattern is made from two Level 5 magic circles that have been blended." Helix replied in a daze.

"Whoever did this created a lower-end legendary magic circle.

However, the techniques used to do so aren't used for medicinal magic.

It's strange and extraordinary."

Elsa smiled at him and studied him with interest.

"You can meet the man if you wish.

He traveled from Alzeria to meet you." She announced with a mysterious smile.

"There's… over a thousand miles between Alzeria and Kozen." He replied with wide eyes.

"Have you explained to him that I was charmed and thus couldn't greet him earlier?"

Elsa greeted Helix's panicked expression with shock on her own.

"Wait…. How do you know that you were charmed!?" She asked with equal levels of panic.

Helix's iris' trembled, and he put his hands up.

"I don't know [who] charmed me.

But I was charmed if I was asleep for thirty-one days and woke up completely healed from a near-mortal wound." He replied hurriedly.

Elsa was frozen with shock in her eyes.

However, she gradually relaxed her facial expressions.

"Considering you're going to use that crazy library to look it up later, it's called the Charm of Blissful Healing.

Don't try to figure out [who] gave you that charm. It'd be bad for your health."

Helix gave her a wry smile.

"Thanks for the heads up. I'll gratefully accept any insight that keeps me away from trouble."

Elsa chuckled.

"Anyway, there's no need to apologize to Tilo.

He traveled with the caravan, hoping you'd accept an invitation to be his apprentice." She explained.

Studying Helix's expressions had become a pastime for her, so she enjoyed the show.

"Why—"

"Why? Hah. You created a mythical-grade shit storm with that pretty little mirror of yours." Elsa laughed.

"Don't pretend like you don't know just how advanced your handy work was."

Helix looked back at the magic circle, and his eyes became cold and murderous for a second.

However, he snapped out of his daze a second later.

Elsa breathed a sigh of relief when his bloodlust dissipated.

She was grateful she didn't trigger the emotions he was masterfully suppressing.

"I'll do it." He replied with resolve in his eyes.

"Usually, I'd sigh, ask why I was chosen, and think, [what a pain in the ass].

However, I'll take any opportunity I can get right now to grow even a little stronger.

I'm not interested in being a fighter, but there are three beautiful women I'd like to protect when it's my turn to step up."

Elsa stared at Helix's resolve with awe and wonder.

After a stunned silence, she coughed to get back on track.

"You should reserve judgment if that's the case.

Three grandmasters and another three teachers are traveling on this caravan hoping to take you on as their apprentice." Elsa announced.

"Wait… what did you just say?" Helix asked.

He shook his head in amazement.

"Please don't explain why they want to take me on.

I'm confused why I have to turn down any of them?"

Elsa gave Helix a mysterious smile.

"Starting with the important questions first…. I can see why so many people are interested in you." She replied with interest in her eyes.

After her statement, she took a deep breath.

"Being an apprentice isn't as simple as going to school.

An apprentice lives with their master, and you're expected to work for them and perform household tasks, shopping, and other duties." Elsa explained.

Helix's eyes clouded for a moment.

He wasn't lamenting the requirement to do work again after Emelia died—he was reminded that Emelia died.

"Ahem. Normally you would only be able to learn from one person as an apprentice, but you have a unique situation." She continued.

Helix's eyes filled with life again.

"Why's that?" He asked.

"It's because three grandmasters traveled one-thousand miles to come here.

You can negotiate the best deal because no one wants to leave empty-handed." Elsa explained.

Helix nodded in understanding.

"Moreover, all three grandmasters are required by the kingdom's authority to let you learn from the other instructors if you wish." She clarified.

"I see." Helix replied.

After a moment of silence, he sighed.

"Are the teachers here in hopes that I'll return to Alzeria?

Moreover, were the teachers sent with the specific purpose of spying on me?" Helix asked with a melancholy voice.

Elsa chuckled and narrowed her eyes.

"You're as sharp as you are forward, kid."

Helix gave her a wry smile.

"To answer your question, the answer is yes and maybe.

However, no one expects you to return to Alzeria, and it's natural for employees of the Alzeria Kingdom to keep tabs on those they're teaching." She confirmed.

"However, to answer the deeper question you're asking, their purpose is primarily benign."

Helix gave Elsa a quizzical glance.

"The Kingdom views you as a benefactor they feel indebted to." Elsa announced.

She chuckled at her bewildered expression.

"Have you already forgotten? You helped them survive the [otakupocalypse]."

After processing Elsa's statement, Helix burst into laughter.

"The moment I saw that embarrassing card and heard their circle, I knew they succeeded.

Since I took it for granted that they would, I didn't consider that anyone would thank me for it." He chuckled in amazement.

Elsa gave him a gentle smile.

"Not only that, you improved the lives of all the Knights, and they're growing into more competent humans and fighters.

So it's only natural that the Kingdom is grateful for you.

They sent three teachers to help you get stronger as a token of appreciation.

The three grandmasters are here of their own accord.

However, they were permitted to journey here temporarily as a token of gratitude.

The Kingdom is grateful to you and hopes you'll become strong and be an ally." She continued.

"However, they've been informed that you'll likely take on a low-wage job and die in a monster attack.

So their expectations ride on the three competent women accompanying you."

Helix's eyes widened, and then they both erupted into laughter.

"Okay, let's go meet Tilo to the circle master."

—

Power stones and grammatical errors = more content. :)