[★! Huge Success! ★]
[Han (★) has created: Harmonious Shortbow (B)]
[★! Huge Success! ★]
[Han (★) has created: Great Long Spear (B-)]
[★! Huge Success! ★]
[Han (★) has created: Ephemeral Dagger (B-)]
He finally straightened with a long exhale and rolled his shoulders.
"Ah…" he muttered, arms stretching above his head. "They're all B-rank. Should be good enough for a few floors."
Iselle, hovering nearby, looked mildly disappointed. "You're not gonna make more?"
Han shook his head. "Any more than this, and Anytng might start getting suspicious."
He wiped the sweat off his brow, picked up the freshly crafted weapons, and headed back to the training ground.
...
Shay and Jenna were still going at it, the soft rhythm of blade against dagger echoing through the space. Jenna's footing was better now—there was finally some technique in her movements. She wasn't moving like a clueless archer anymore.
[Jenna (☆)'s Basic Dagger Handling has risen to level 3!]
Just as Jenna dashed forward, dagger poised for a strike, Han's voice rang out.
"Hey, girls—"
Shay smoothly sidestepped, and Jenna once again crashed face-first into the ground.
"Fuck! First Han, now Shay?! Are these two trying to kill me or something…?" she grumbled internally.
She pushed herself up, groaning, only for something to be tossed her way. She caught it on instinct—a dagger.
It was light in her hand, perfectly balanced, sharp enough to whisper through air. Its blade shimmered with black and red patterns, elegant yet dangerous.
Han then tossed her another item. A shortbow.
Jenna's eyes widened as she caught it. The bow's body was a smooth, refined darkwood. She tested the string—it pulled back with a satisfying tension, just strong enough to hold power, just soft enough to allow rapid fire.
"Where the hell did you get these?" Shay asked, arms crossed—half-impressed, half… expectant.
Han gave a shrug. "Oh, just found them lying around in the storage room."
Both girls stared at him like he'd grown a second head.
"Seriously?" Jenna asked.
"Mhm." Han nodded, deadpan.
There was no way in hell they were going to believe that.
Han shifted the long spear on his shoulder, the last of the four weapons he had crafted. "Is Tess still resting in her room?"
"Yeah…" Shay replied, tone suddenly tight. It was subtle, but Jenna noticed. Shay was frustrated. No… not frustrated. Jealous?
Han nodded. "Alright. I'll leave this by her door."
He started walking away, but Shay's voice rang out behind him.
"Wait. Aren't you forgetting someone?"
Han paused and turned, confused. "Huh?"
Then realization dawned on his face.
"Oh… Right." He scratched his cheek. "Sorry, but there's nothing for you."
"What?" Shay said, clearly offended.
"Yeah. Your rapier and armor are better than anything here. No point giving you something worse, right?"
"Ah…" Shay's mood visibly dropped, her shoulders sagging slightly.
Han started walking again, but he called over his shoulder, voice smooth as silk.
"But if you want, I can give you something better tonight."
Shay's eyes widened.
Her face turned crimson.
Even Jenna turned away, hiding a sudden blush on her cheeks.
Han just smirked and stepped into the lodging halls, the long spear still resting easily on his shoulder.
...
The wooden floor creaked lightly beneath Han's boots as he stepped through the lodging halls. He approached Tess's room in silence, the long spear resting against his shoulder. The soft rise and fall of breath could be heard from within—Tess was still asleep.
Not wanting to disturb her, Han gently lowered the weapon, careful to rest it upright against the wall by her door. But as he stepped back, the tip of his boot nudged the shaft ever so slightly.
Clatter!
The spear fell with a loud crash, the sound bouncing through the quiet hallway.
Han winced. "Shit…"
Before he could set it up again, the door creaked open.
Tess stood there, her hair a little messy, eyes still heavy with sleep, lips slightly parted. There were no red marks glowing on her skin—just her normal self. But the moment was oddly intimate, even in its simplicity.
"What are you doing…?" she asked groggily, rubbing her eyes.
"Ah…" Han scratched the back of his head, a tinge of guilt in his voice. "Nothing. I just wanted to leave this by your door."
He handed her the spear.
Tess blinked, the haze lifting from her eyes as she looked at the weapon. "Oh… this is amazing," she said softly, awe creeping into her voice as her fingers traced the shaft. Her tired expression gave way to something warmer—grateful, even fond.
She gently placed the spear aside… and then, to Han's complete surprise, wrapped her arms around him.
"W-What are you doing?" he asked, eyes wide.
"Thanking you," she replied.
And then she kissed him.
Her lips pressed against his—slow, deep, sensual. There was no hesitation in it.
Han, stunned at first, pushed her back after a few seconds, even though his heart was racing and his body was very much enjoying it.
He was a pervert, no doubt, but… he loved Shay. Deeply. Truly. Yes, it wasn't because of his own memories, but because of the ones that belonged to the original Han Islat, but they had become his now. That love was real.
Tess licked her lips slowly, almost savoring him. Her gaze turned sharp, confident, a little wild.
Han stared. That look... she seems just like...
His mind clicked. "The Warrior's Mark! Isn't that only supposed to affect her while it's in use?"
He immediately called up her status.
[Tess Elzaine (☆) Lv.3 (Exp 18/30)]
[Class: Novice]
[Strength: 18/18, Intelligence: 7/7, Stamina: 17/17, Dexterity: 16/16]
[Skills: Basic Spearsmanship (Lv.4), Spear Throw (Lv.3), Spear Vortex (Lv.3), Warrior's Mark (Lv.3)]
Han's eyes narrowed.
"Level 3? When did that happen?! It was level 1 just an hour ago—" His thoughts spun, possibilities rushing through him.
And then it hit him.
Did she undergo… a Skill Resonance?
It was a rare phenomenon where a hero's soul fully aligned with a personality-shifting skill, greatly strengthening it. But once complete, the altered persona no longer needed to be "activated"—it became the hero's new baseline self.
It was rare. Dangerous. And completely unpredictable.
"Fuck…" Han whispered.
But Tess stepped closer again, eyes gleaming. She pressed herself against him, her chest brushing against his. Her hand lightly slid over his collar.
"Why are you resisting?" she whispered. "That stoic Shay doesn't deserve a handsome stud like you…"
Han stepped back, holding her at arm's length. "Stop it, Tess."
Her pout was almost playful. "Oh, come on… just a little thank you. I know you were liking it—"
But before she could lean in again, a voice cut through the hallway like a dagger.
"Han, you bastard!"
Both of them turned.
At the far end of the hall stood Shay, her eyes wide and shimmering with tears. Her voice trembled with rage, disbelief, and heartbreak all at once.
"Shay!" Han took a step forward, panic rising in his chest. "I swear it's not what it seems!"
But as he moved, Tess's arms suddenly snaked around his neck, pulling him back in—and then, without warning, she kissed him again.
Han's eyes widened in horror. "No—!"
But it was too late.
Shay stood frozen, watching it happen. The second kiss. The way Tess clung to him. Her fingers clenched tightly by her sides, her lips quivering.
And then something inside her shattered.
She turned.
"Shay, wait!" Han finally wrenched himself free, stumbling forward.
But she was already running.
Her figure blurred as she bolted down the corridor, one hand wiping fiercely at her face.
"Shay!" Han called out again, his voice raw, but it didn't stop her.
She vanished around the corner.
Han stood there, breathing hard, his heart aching like someone had stabbed through it.
"...Shit," he muttered under his breath.
Behind him, Tess licked her lips again with a quiet hum. "Mm… I liked that more than the first time."
Han turned to her, eyes dark.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
Tess blinked, clearly not understanding the weight of what just happened. Her smile didn't fade.
Han clenched his fists.
He had to fix this.
Somehow.
He turned and ran after Shay, not wasting another second.
To be continued...
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How was this chapter?
Was the romance too heavy? I'm trying my best, and this is necessary for the harem path to open.