Chapter 138 - Productive Day (2/2)

”Ara~ Are you going back home? Nik-chan? Why don't you try our dishes before going back?”

Even with sincere enthusiasm clear in her voice, Nik couldn't help but frown. It was already late and he simply wanted to return home and have a warm dinner with everyone. Although he enjoyed himself a lot and even started taking interest in the plot of some of the fictions, that did not entail that he didn't wish to return.

With a calm voice Nik shook his head and his body leaked a very thin trail of his Pheromones to activate his [Pheromone Illusion]. This was one of the benefits he earned today. Even though he was far from becoming truly proficient in [Mind Control— 2] and [Illusion— 2], that did not mean that he hadn't discovered a few applications of his skill that would only expose a tiny amount of his prized pheromones.

Immediately, Ayumi Shindou fell into a stunted state where her thoughts fell into a spiral of the unconscious mess that brought back many of her subconscious thoughts that she had suppressed while being busy throughout the day. Nik did not actively control her mind neither did he make Ayumi go through an illusion where he calmly and logically rejected her.

He simply brought up suppressed thoughts and messed up her consciousness for just the slightest moment that he took to walk away from Ayumi. This was the most logical and time-efficient method he could think off at the moment.

He did not have the heart to go through a conversation where he had to explain his love for his home and his need to return. After all, Ayumi and Nik weren't close. Although he scammed her, but that was it. Aside from their relationship of scammer and 'scammee', Nik did not think it was appropriate to personalize their relationship.

As he continued walking towards the bus stop, he came across a white-furred, black-spotted cat, attracting his attention as he knelt near the telephone pole and looked at the cat for a moment and then placed his hand over the cat's soft furry head. There was no resistance of any sorts and the cat gently purred, lazily lying on the ground while making an effort to nuzzle its own head against Nik's warm palms.

”Sadly, I cannot take you away, little guy. Stay well.”

Nik softly whispered as the Cat mewled once again before looking at Nik's receding back with its sad, feline pupils. Mewling once again, it simply jumped up the concrete wall beside the telephone pole and made its own way into one of the houses.

Aside from the surprise halt due to the cat petting session, Nik's remaining journey to his home remained uneventful as he heaved a deep sigh when he finally stood in front of the door and softly knocked the door twice before a loud voice shot out of the apartment.

”I'll get it!”

It was Kurumi. Her footsteps grew a bit lighter when she arrived at the door, probably looking through the peephole to ascertain that no stranger is out there before opening the door in a hurry and jumping towards Nik with an excited expression. Somehow, in Nik's vision, Kurumi did not look different from a feline counterpart of the one Nik petted as he accommodated Kurumi's jump with a warm embrace.

”You look excited?”

Nik nuzzled his nose against Kurumi playfully while asking warmly. His body was simply energised as Kurumi's tight hold seemed to tap into his reserves unconsciously.

”Of course, I am. It was so boring without you!”

Kurumi smiled and the side of her face rest snugly over his neck, right below his jaws as he carried Kurumi back inside while using his leg to close the door on the way in... although, he had to ask for Sayako's helo to lock the door for Kurumi wouldn't budge. After washing his hands and face, Nik felt a bit refreshed and then finally made his way to the dinner table where Kyouko and Mitsuko had already arranged everything alongside Sayako's help. Meanwhile, Souko was already chugging on beer cans as if there was no tomorrow.

Seeing her, Nik sighed and added another task— Purchasing a detoxifying potion from the system.

Although he could not share the items from the system to unknown living beings for it would expose the existence of the system, Nik did have a few advantages after joining the universally chased Affiliation.

He could share a limited category of the items in the system with his partners until they were partially contracted to the system with Nik as the base guarantor after they enter into a partnership.

Although, offensive and defensive type equipments and the similar types of items were still prohibited to be shared amongst his harem, Nik could still share cheap potions that would work well with their current status.

Taking his seat, he was immediately questioned by a curious and intoxicated Souko.

”So? How was the day?”

”Good, I guess. Although, I have a few plans that may increase the sales further.”

As the girls sat around him, Nik described his own day, no matter how scammish it was before proceeding to ask about their day. Just like usual, after Nik and others left, Mitsuko and Kyouko went to the gym for their daily workout before returning and continuing their chores. Although, Mitsuko simply took it easy in the gym. She was already pregnant for a week and was already considering dropping out since her health wouldn't allow any straining exercise.

Even until now, she had been going only to keep Kyouko a company since they both have known each other for a long time and their friendship only grew closer after sharing the unifying rod of happiness.

Hearing them, Nik nodded naturally and sighed softly internally. Finally, Mitsuko concluded that she may not even go tomorrow for she was already feeling a bit tired, to which, Kyouko could only nod meekly before she looked at Nik and felt like proclaiming— Get me pregnant, too, as a price for taking away my gym buddy.

But she knew it was too early and didn't dare make such a proclamation.

Meanwhile, Nik had already decided to try and get up early so that he could exercise his stretching exercise and actually replace Mitsuko's role in the early morning to help Sayako, Souko and Kurumi get ready so that she could continue sleeping for a longer period.

At this stage, even though she had gone through multiple pregnancies, she still needed to rest and eat and drink healthy while committing her body to soft, non-straining exercises instead of doing harsh chores.

Although, to cheer Kyouko up, Nik did promise that he will try and ask Kaya to accompany ger because Kaya's daughter, Sakura had also joined the gym during the evening hours. But deep down, he could actually witness Kaya's rejection. Just like Mitsuko, Kaya was also a lazy creature known to only move when required and yet retaining her god gifted figure.

(A/N: To clarify a confusion— Sakura Asaji aka Kaya's daughter is in fact, Sakura Hibiki from dumbell anime. Only the last names are swapped but the characters are the same.)

With the dinner concluded, the first thing Nik did was to personally carry Mitsuko and tucking her in after she had refreshed herself before helping Kyouko with the dishes.

Souko was out cold and Sayako was dead tired due to committing her entire day to her project, leaving only Kurumi and Kyouko to look at him with an expectant expression which Nik had a little heart to refuse to. Although, he himself felt tired strangely, which should not be possible due to his enhanced stats, Nik still entered into the remaining room with Kyouko and Kurumi before their illicit moans shook the room, making Mitsuko sigh.

God knew how much she wished to join, but at the early stages, she did indeed, require a lot of rest. Sighing once again, Mitsuko touched her stomach while whispering softly.

”You better not be as roguish as your father...”