[A/N: I don't know how, but I forgot to post three chapters. If you're reading this and you haven't seen Leon go apeshit ballistic over pudding, please go back to Sacrificial Brat. I forgot the best chapters! So the equivalent of 7 chapters today. Accidental mass release. Surprise!]
Reina confessed that she was bisexual, exploited female social identities for personal gain, and was sexually interested in Caitlyn Mira.
However, Leon didn't look moved. He silently sat back in the corner of the couch and reaccepted Caitlyn back into his arms.
Then he patted the cushion to his left to signal Lindy over.
The brunette's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly snapped out of her daze and scampered over.
When she snuggled close to his left, Leon cringed. He imagined people would perceive his action as treating Lindy like a pet. However, her smile as she cuddled up eased his mind.
He looked up at Reina for the first time since she became a member of his harem.
"I'm glad you're still alive and that my cultured power has helped you accept your sexuality and toxic personality." Leon said with a lifeless expression.
Reina gave Leon a predatory smile with a dangerous glint in her eyes. She used two fingers to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear with a seductive expression.
"As for lying, so long as you don't lie to me about party-related matters, you can social engineer a tragic backstory if you wish." Leon said.
"Your past is irrelevant. I don't care if you killed someone's dog by accident and then developed a thrill and addiction to it.
Your life choices don't matter. Call yourself Clarise, take hormones and become Clarence. I don't care.
There are only three things that matter. First, I'll rip your throat out if you lie about an official party operation or slander my women.
Second, your throat is in your body, which means Caitlyn's danger sense skill hasn't gone off, and Lindy doesn't need to take another shower. Let's keep it that way.
Third, Caitlyn's my woman.
Now can you please sit down, so we move on? We still haven't procured supplies and haven't learned how to sleep without threat of attacks."
Leon didn't attach his third statement to a threat and didn't show any emotion on his face.
The mystery of the punishment made Caitlyn blush, Lindy heat up, and Reina narrow her eyes in interest.
"Don't worry, I have a new interest." Reina announced casually, "On the subject, do I get to cuddle up with you since I'm now a haremite?"
Caitlyn growled. Literally. She [literally] growled at the woman's words.
"You heard that woman." Leon said in a relaxed voice.
Lindy shot Reina a smug expression. Of all of the fakers and thieves of the group, [Sarah] was the worst. So she was happy Caitlyn bared her teeth.
Reina smiled, shrugged her shoulders, and sat in her original seat.
Once everyone was situated, he started the discussion.
"It's the apocalypse." Leon began, "The fact that a game caused it doesn't change that."
Caitlyn, Lindy, and Reina sent him wry smiles.
"I've checked the rules of this [game] we're playing." Leon announced.
"There are two conditions to win. The candidate with powers must live a life that espouses the virtues of their patron god and die of old age or disease.
That's it. There are only a few exceptions. In other words—"
"We should prioritize setting up to live for the long term." Caitlyn completed.
Leon nodded in assent.
"Yeah… about that… that's a tall order, chief." Lindy remarked with a skeptical expression.
"It's hard to espouse the virtues of a harem god with three people stuck in an apocalypse shelter.
That's like the desperate sex scene from horror movies if it lasted for… the rest of your life.
Don't get me wrong; I'm all about it. So sign me up. I'm only commenting on this trial's rules being stacked against you."
"Yeah, the rules aren't in your favor." Caitlyn agreed.
"But I agree. If we spend a little time, we can make a great shelter to live in.
Then we'd only need some opium and an excuse to make you the new Heavenly King." (1)
"Sounds dull… but don't knock it till you try it. So I guess it's only rational—"
"Without Tina." Caitlyn added.
"Tina?" Leon asked in confusion.
"Yeah, Willow." Lindy explained while pointing to Reina.
"Ohhhhhhh, Patricia. I see." He chuckled.
"Yeah, we can do without Silvia." Lindy agreed while nodding at Cailyn.
At that moment, watching Reina puffing up her cheeks and his women conspiring against her, he realized something important—
Having two fiery women at one's side was far easier when they had something to bond over.
"Let's give Martha a shot, you two." Leon chuckled with a cunning glint in his eyes.
None of the three could place their finger on what game Leon was playing. It could be anything, from acquiring a new rag doll to a future use case for Reina.
However, all three were invigorated by that manipulative look in his eyes and nodded mindlessly. In short, everyone in that room had serious mental health issues.
"Moving on. I don't want to live in a shelter for the rest of time." Leon sighed, "So I have another idea I thought of during our trial."
"What's on your mind?" Lindy asked hesitantly. She knew he wouldn't ask official permission unless it was moderately controversial.
"I propose we save women and build a new city." Leon replied in a relaxed tone.
"Yeah, I like that. It has a nice flare—wait! What did you say!?" Lindy cried in response.
Caitlyn stared at Leon with a confused expression.
"Putting aside the fact that you're proposing to create an energy grid…." Reina laughed in bewilderment.
"Beast and demon candidates, which may represent their gods by killing humans, will level up over time.
So even if we find women to build a [city], the group will be an inflexible liability that will quickly die off."
"Curious. How many times have you leveled up for acting like a human in the last fifteen minutes?" Caitlyn asked Reina with a brutal mocking smile.
Reina's eyes trembled in shock when she processed what had happened.
"As you can see, Leon's power doesn't require him to pimp out his body in exchange for power." Caitlyn continued with a caustic tone.
"Correct. It's better to say that my power rewards me for improving my members' lives or helping them to improve their own." Leon sighed while raising his hand to stop the bickering.
Everyone quieted down to listen.
"The essence of harem culture is communal relationships, not sexual activities." He continued.
"The plan would be to save as many women as possible, and build a city. The most loyal of women would build contracts and protect the city. In essence—"
"We'd be creating an army…." Lindy whispered in amazement.
"That is what I'm hearing, right!? Please say we're going to build an army of op women.
That would be legendary! Historians will forever be confused whether to call the city a demonstration of female superiority or the virtues of hyper-masculine, borderline misogyny!"
The brunette burst into laughter and fell onto Leon's lap before rolling around. He watched her face with a strange smile, and Caitlyn had a similar expression.
She watched the scene with a lukewarm, conflicted gaze. She was curious whether their bond had gotten stronger or if they—who had been friends for a year—were just close.
"Yes. That's correct." Leon replied, "We'll build an army of overpowered women that will shake the heavens!"
Caitlyn, Lindy, and Reina were drawn in by his words. He wasn't making a powerful declaration but showed genuine passion.
"We'll rebuild society to a degree where we can feel human again." He continued, "I will provide those who lend me their power the comfort they deserve. Are you three with me in this plan?"
"This… room will get crowded with a hundred members…." Lindy noted tactfully, summing up Caitlyn's point of conflict.
Leon chuckled twice in confusion before bursting into laughter.
"No, no. There will be [my] harem consisting of [my women]." He said while pulling Caitlyn close and ruffling Lindy's hair.
The latter turned bright red and melted into her lap. She had never had such an amazing lap pillow in her life.
"Then there will be the 95% of women who are uncontracted. We'll need as many people as possible to restart civilization, and naturally, I won't juggle hundreds of contracts." Leon chuckled, "People will get disgruntled and then plot to kill me."
A wave of understanding washed over them. Leon's power wasn't designed for casual neglect.
"Lastly, there will be those contracted and holding different roles." Leon continued.
"For example, if I take part in a raid team, having members in the raid team gives me ample time to build the women up without requiring them to follow me everywhere.
Therefore, my members will mainly consist of individuals in military or governmental posts. In short, leadership positions. We'll level up when I'm around naturally."
"That's a brilliant idea, but what about the men? Are we going to save them?" Reina asked.
Leon looked at Caitlyn and Lindy to see if they were as equally confused as he was. Seeing their confusion, he looked up to meet Reina's gaze.
"I'm afraid I don't understand. Why would we do that?"