Chapter 37 Thirty Days Of Tempering

The women of Hiro grew frustrated at the words of the female adventurers around them. Each of them already had insecurities and those being brought to light were never pleasant. Yet a voice no one expected defended them.

"SHUT THE HELL UP YOU BITCH! You are too loud, I wanted to sleep you piece of shit! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW BEAUTIFUL MY GIRLS ARE! I'm just a hopeless failure. I AM NOT EVEN WORTH THEIR LOVE! Why would anyone want me? Girls go home and stop bothering with me. I'm off to die tomorrow anyway… I'll just wait for death right here…"

Everyone in attendance heard the words of the transmigrator rolling on the ground. They couldn't understand what the man wanted to convey. Slapping words together in a sentence does not make one intelligent. Even more so when the person alternates between mindsets.

Raylene, Vanessa, and Jade ignored the five girls and walked straight toward Hiro. They came knowing their man would push himself too far. In the past thirty days, the transmigrator drove himself to the point of death in his quest to become powerful.

Overdrive was a limit skill he got when he felt powerless to stop people from being murdered in front of him. Hiro who came from a peaceful world had his spirit broken and cried for days while blaming his weakness.

Only his girls knew the determination of the man on the floor. His strength came not from handouts but through hardship, sacrifice, and perseverance.

Like silent watchers, Hiro's harem saw the transmigrator get up day by day with only one purpose; To get stronger.

The 12th day of the month of Virgins became taboo in their house. As none of them chose to run, their choice drove Hiro to the brink of desperation.

In response to his will, they changed as well, with only one goal the transmigrator's harem worked to ensure his survival.

Hiro, who brought all his earnings from quests to his harem, wanted them to spend it. But they choose to value Hiro more than money. If they could increase his odds of returning home even a single bit, all three were willing to forgo pleasure and support him instead.

Raylene brought pig iron using her share and slaved for weeks without rest. All to forge better equipment for him made from steel.

Vanessa combined Hiro's earnings with her own to buy expensive items. An expensive [Tracking] skill scroll and materials to engrave a [Rune of Silent Steps], both gave Hiro safer ways to hunt, she use the leftovers to prepare the best tonics and potions possible.

Jade on the other hand used hers to trade for the [Mana Armor] and [Spirit Sense] skill books. The remainder was paid for in healing magic requests of research. She also learned the enchantment [Cat's Eyes] which allowed one to see in the dark.

All three sold what little they had to be used for bare minimum expenses. Everything else was funneled into the transmigrator.

Hiro felt like a gigolo who had a harem of sugar mamas all younger than him. The man who saw the lengths his harem went to for him had his pride crumble from guilt.

In his heart, despite their appearances, Hiro knew he would never let them go. Not killing the manticore was no longer an option.

This newfound resolve allowed him to surpass all the adversities he faced. Every death reminded him he could not fail. Every level up allowed him to see the dream of returning home a little more clearer.

Others would say he got everything due to being a transmigrator. But nothing could be further from the truth. Unlike Starfall transmigrators, no one helped him aside from his harem. He was dirt poor, ill-equipped, and had no one to rely on.

Due to their weakness, his harem could not accompany him in battle outside of the city. He was alone and had to fend for himself.

Due to his reputation as a rapist, most facilities and services forbade him from even entering. His harem became his representatives and did errands for him. All while they endured the scorn of associating with public enemy number 1.

However, no matter how bleak the outcome, they all fought in their own way. All to allow Hiroyuki Mitsurugi to return to their embrace. His status and strength were built upon his harem's love and sacrifice.

Back to the present, his girls all came to him and checked for injuries. When they determined nothing was wrong, Raylene and Vanessa started working on salvaging the goblins and hobs.

Jade stayed behind and started to use magic to check the transmigrator's calibers. Hiro forcefully curbed his instinctual outbursts and became silent while being diagnosed.

"Husband. Went overboard. Again. Baka. Drink."

The short mummy in the hood pulled out a small vial of golden liquid. She popped open the cork and gave it to her declared husband. Hiro obediently took the liquid despite his impulses to lash out.

Ever since learning the word from Vanessa, his harem now affectionately called him Baka nonstop. Vanessa explained that it meant lovable idiot, thus the girls used it without restraint.

Seeing that Hiro accepted the three, but roared in anger at them, the adventurers decided to cease hostilities for today. If a person cannot be pulled into your harem, joining that person's harem was the next best thing.

Thus showing your worth for the promise of affection was normal sub behavior in the Valorious continent. When they saw that the Mitsurugi household completely ignore them, they became desperate to win brownie points.

"We are sorry for insulting you." "I can help! Let me do something!" "What should we do? Please instruct us sisters!" "I don't have any money on me but my father is a noble, he will reward you well!" "I can use healing spells, does hero-sama have any injuries?"

The entire group then apologized to the Mitsurugi harem. Raylene who heard them smiled as she spoke for the household.

"It's fine we know you bear no ill will. Do you guys know how to salvage goblin corpses? Help us remove the ears and magic stones so darling can get paid for the quest."

"Husband. no injury. Low caliber. Do something else." Added Jade.

Vanessa then instructed. "For those that cannot salvage, please gather the weapons and armor from the goblins. They could still be sold for some money."

Renewed that their earlier transgressions were forgotten, the five immediately got to work. Those who had decent strength took the goblin knives and started to salvage them. The ones that did not, then started to gather the rusted weapons of the monsters.

Hiro who recovered his calibers drifted in and out of consciousness. The tonic he just drank was concocted by Vanessa. The maid dreamt of being an alchemist and studied unofficially when time allowed.

While it gave the benefit of recovering calibers quickly, it hit one's body like truck-Kun. Despite its faults as the transmigrator knew the maid concocted the tonic specifically for overdrive or him specifically he treasured every drop.

Jade who saw the transmigrator drowsy yet trying to stay awake laughed in happiness. The mage then placed his head on her lap as she gently stroked his hair while speaking in a small voice. "Husband. Good work. Thank you for staying alive. Rest now. You are no longer alone. "