Ch 114

  It took just under a week for Matt’s party to return to the level 9 area where they had first arrived. By that time, they all felt confident enough to move freely through the zone. Even though they hadn't gained a single level along the way, the journey had been invaluable for honing their new skills. Matt’s favorite aspect was witnessing how his body could endure hits, instinctively hardening into bone at the point of impact without any conscious effort. Although altering his facial structure was still beyond his current abilities, he felt confident that nearly any other transformation was possible, as long as his body's cells could adapt to that form.

  Matt's transformation was the most drastic of all the changes experienced by the group, and he wasn't sure if they believed it was solely due to his regeneration ability. He vaguely recalled mentioning a bloodline ability at some point, and some of his companions seemed to be piecing things together. This made it difficult to adhere to Tempormr's advice to remain silent about it. However, with Sadao’s group accompanying them, Matt resolved that after parting ways with them would be the appropriate time to reveal the truth. Yet, as the safe room where they had all begun came into view, Matt’s plans were unexpectedly disrupted. Waiting there was an irate goblin woman, Kal, her expression suggesting trouble was imminent.

  Initially, the entire group shifted into a battle stance upon seeing the tiny goblin woman, who they last knew to be stuck inside the fort back on her home world. However, as she began to hurl insults and complaints at Matt, realization dawned on them. It was then that Matt remembered how Tempormr had promised to allow all those who had been with him in the caves while tracking down the goblin king to follow him at level 9. Interrupting the stream of insults and complaints, Matt raised his hand and spoke.

  “I don’t know why you’re yelling at me; I never told you to enter that fort.”

  “You’re still the one who owned it,” retorted Kal sharply. “Now feed me, since it’s been weeks since I’ve eaten, and it’s your fault.”

  “Are you trying to get yourself killed?” asked Emily, sighing heavily as she rubbed her temples in exasperation. “Well, this complicates things.”

  “How so? We can just have her join Sadao’s group,” replied Matt with a shrug. “It’s not like she can keep up with us.”

  “Do you really think it’s a coincidence that all of Sadao’s group is male?” Emily warned, raising an eyebrow. “And we know what Kal is like in that regard. If we’re not careful, we might end up dealing with a goblin outbreak here.”

  “Oh, yeah, I can see what you mean,” Matt replied, frowning thoughtfully. “Then, is our only option to kill her?”

  “I can hear you talking,” Kal interrupted, her tone dripping with irritation. “Besides, why do you care if I breed an army of goblins and conquer this world?”

  “Experience says that ends badly,” Matt retorted. “So, what solution would you suggest to save your neck?”

  Kal frowned as she surveyed Matt’s group, her expression shifting to one of delight when her gaze settled on Greg. With a wide smile, she pointed at him and spoke eagerly.

  “I shall be the first member of his harem. He's always talking about wanting to have many women of various types—”

  “Absolutely not!” Greg shouted, his voice firm. “I am not having—”

  “I think that’s a fantastic idea,” Emily interjected, her smile radiant with pure joy. “Come on, Greg, you can’t deny that she’s not entirely unattractive.”

  “She looks like she should be in elementary school,” Greg retorted, glancing at Kal. “Even with the oversized bust she has.”

  “See, everyone will just think you’re into boobs,” Emily countered, her tone excessively sweet. “Besides, if you refuse her, we are going to kill her.”

  “No!” Greg exclaimed, his voice tinged with worry as he turned to Matt, only to find him looking contemplative. “Matt, you can’t be considering this.”

  “I think I just came up with the perfect solution,” Matt responded. “Kal, no sex unless Greg agrees, but anytime he starts talking about having a harem, you have my permission to get all lovey-dovey with him.”

  “You’re a monster,” Greg replied, dropping to his knees in despair—a movement he instantly regretted as Kal rushed forward and planted a kiss right on his lips.

  “Hello, husband, make sure to take good care of me. Boss said no sex, but fingers and mouth should still be fine, right?”

  Greg simply toppled over, curling into a ball, while Emily collapsed in a fit of laughter at the sight before her. Most of the other women let out a few chuckles as well. Matt, feeling a twinge of pity for Greg, decided it was time to regain control of the situation.

  "Kal, none of us want to see you and Greg doing anything more than kissing and snuggling—and that's only when he talks about wanting a harem. Beyond that, if you come with us, you'll end up alone in here when we leave. Are you fine with that?" Matt asked, his tone serious.

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  "I'll worry about that later," Kal dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Can I ride the cat?"

  Matt was just about to say no when Greg unexpectedly spoke up.

  "I think that is a great solution to the issue of how she is going to keep up with us, unless one of you wants to carry her, as I am one of the physically weakest members of the party," he suggested, glancing around at the group.

  "Bob, do you have any objections?" Matt asked aloud, feeling apprehensive about the idea of having to carry Kal himself.

  "As long as she doesn’t do anything weird while riding me," replied Bob, his caution echoing through their mental link.

  "Alright, Bob says he’ll tolerate you, but only if you behave yourself and just ride him. The first time you do anything weird to him, we're leaving you behind to fend for yourself, and Bob decides what's weird," Matt warned, his eyes narrowing slightly.

  Kal appeared as though she was about to pout, but she seemed to reconsider and simply nodded before speaking. “Now, can you feed me? The monsters here are too strong for me to fight alone.”

  “Sure,” agreed Matt, his voice carrying an undertone of reassurance. “I think we can enjoy a meal before turning around. It will give you some time to reconsider coming with us.”

  “I'll cum with you anytime,” replied Kal with a playful grin, before realizing she might be overstepping. “Sorry, habits are hard to break, especially when you make it so easy.”

  “There is more to life than just sex,” Eleanor commented, her tone both firm and gentle.

  “Yes, there's food and booze too,” agreed Kal with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Then comes dealing with everything else that makes us miserable.”

  “Matt, please no,” pleaded Greg, his voice tinged with desperation. “I thought we were friends, yet you're willing to do this to me?”

  “Just don’t talk about having a harem and you’ll make it through this,” Zara advised, rolling her eyes in exasperation. “Besides, sometimes doing what your friend doesn’t want, for their own good, is what being a friend means.”

  “Not like this. I'm terrified of developing something like Stockholm syndrome for her.”

  “That would actually be perfect,” Emily commented with a hint of teasing. “After all, that would mean you fell in love with her, wouldn’t it?”

  “Emily, don’t kick him while he’s down,” Matt chimed in, his voice steady. “Otherwise, I might take pity on him.”

  “No, please don’t,” Rose requested, a smirk playing on her lips. “His constant talking mixed with your hardline refusal only makes the rest of us— well, you get the idea.”

  "Which is why I am letting this play out," agreed Matt, annoyance in his voice. "I just don’t feel like watching all of you treat it as if it's just for your entertainment."

  "That’s going to happen regardless of what you do," Sadao remarked with a frown, crossing his arms. "It’s well known that those who struggle in the dungeons to reach higher ranks often develop rather warped personalities. It is said that all those who survive through killing, even if they only kill the monsters of the dungeon, are changed by it."

  "More likely, they are changed from losing friends or being forced into terrible situations," Rose interjected, her expression thoughtful. "Though being forced into the situations we are currently in probably doesn’t do us any favors."

  "I’m simply saying that as long as it isn’t causing undue strain on the group, finding fun where you can should be embraced," Sadao replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I certainly wouldn’t mind pairing with the tiny female to blow off some steam—"

  "You’ll get her pregnant, and no, I don’t think her species has the same limitations on cross-breeding as most. They also have very short pregnancies and give birth to male goblins most of the time. I am not completely sure what is normal to you, but I find that a rather problematic outcome within a dungeon," Matt interrupted, his tone serious.

  "Or an opportunity," Sadao countered with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "If the six of us simply focus on securing food and breeding, while getting the goblins ready to fight—"

  "The answer is no," Matt replied firmly, leaving no room for argument. "I will not be the one to cause a goblin outbreak anywhere. I don’t know how I am going to solve the issue that Kal presents, but she is my headache for the time being."

  Sadao seemed to give up with that, and Matt entered the safe room where they quickly built a fire and cooked some of the monster meat he had in storage. Dinner was quiet, as they hadn’t even played their usual storytelling game since reaching level 17 due to the presence of their guests. Still, once dinner was finished, it was time for another phone call. This time, it was finally Apricity's turn to call her mother, Cassie. Matt braced himself for the potentially awkward questions as the two of them slipped away from the main group and initiated the call.

  “So, you can reach out more directly,” commented Cassie, after answering the call. “You’d better have a good reason for waiting this long to call me.”

  “It’s good to know you’re alive, at least,” retorted Matt. “As for the delay, I can only make one call every other day currently. Consider that my nephew and brother came before you, and everyone has family they want to talk with. Well, this is just how things worked out. So, is there anything you want to say to Apricity or—”

  “Have you touched her in any way that I’d kill you for?”

  “Your mother just asked if I have touched you in any way that she would kill me for,” Matt relayed to Apricity.

  “Maybe the snuggles,” replied Apricity with a playful grin. “But I don’t think so, and I would like to see her try when you do.”

  “She just complained about the fact that I haven’t,” stated Matt with a hint of amusement.

  “You’re skating on thin—”

  “No, I am not. This is a courtesy,” warned Matt. “I get that you’re stressed because Apricity is your life, but honestly, I have better things to do than try and find a date. Getting yelled at by a mother isn’t high on my list either.”

  “Right,” huffed Cassie. “Ask Apricity if she wants my input.”

  “Your mom wants to know if you want her input,” Matt relayed again.

  “Not from her, just her approval if I succeed,” Apricity replied teasingly.

  Matt sighed heavily before relaying the message and dealing with the escalating argument between the two, neither of whom seemed to care that the subject of the fight was the very person acting as the middleman. Once they got going, it was as if Matt ceased to exist in their world. When the call finally ended, Apricity was smiling, feeling as though a giant weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

  "What has you so happy?" asked a mentally exhausted Matt, rubbing his temples in an attempt to ward off a headache.

  "It's simple," Apricity replied with a teasing smile, "if she has the energy to argue like that, she can't be in too much danger." She paused, her voice softening, "I'm serious about you caving to me being a 'when,' not an 'if' thing. Even if I don't think I can hold onto you in the long run, I still want to try."

  Matt let out a weary chuckle. "Yeah, well, I don’t see myself as the type to go into such things halfheartedly—"

  "I know," Apricity interrupted gently, "and that’s why, even if it crumbles to pieces, I know it won’t be because you didn’t want me from the start."

  Matt just shook his head, too tired to argue with her logic, as he called it a night, the weight of their conversation lingering in the air.