[Bonus chapter]Chapter 21 - A day at Home (Edited)

Gon lay on his bed, the soft cushions giving him a sense of comfort.

His room was filled with posters of various anime and fantasy novels. There are some action figures on his study desk.

He tries to sleep, but he cannot; his mind is filled with Merlin.

With a sigh, he asked, 'System, how do I get back into the book world?'

[You cannot continuously access the same book. Every entry requires choosing a different one. And entering these worlds has an energy cost.]

'What kind of energy are we talking about? Can I use my mana or something?'

[No, as the Harem King, you require a specific type of energy: lust energy. This energy is accumulated when you reduce your personal lust levels.]

Gon leaned back against his pillows, hands behind his head as he considered the information. 

'So, there's a tier system for these worlds based on difficulty? And each tier costs more energy to enter?'

[Exactly. For instance, Merlin's world was level 1, costing 1000 energy to enter. If you were trying to enter a level 2 world, it would cost 2000 energy, and so forth.]

'And how much is it to go back into a world I've already conquered, like Merlin's?'

[For worlds you've conquered, there's a significant discount. You'd receive a 90% reduction in energy costs.]

Gon feels excited as that means he can return to Merlin's world without paying a lot of energy. 'Nice, it will only cost 100 energy to go back then.'

[Host, I suggest you challenge a higher-level world next. The higher the level, the harder the world is, but it also means a higher reward, and you can become stronger faster.]

It's not the first time System urges him to become stronger; this makes Gon ask if there is any specific reason for this.

[It's important for our survival, Gon!!]

Reading the word 'survival' jolts Gon awake; he sits upright and then asks the system.'What do you mean by 'our survival' System? What aren't you telling me?'

[Basicly what it means, dear host, it means to 'Survive.']

''You can't just drop that on me and not explain. What do you mean by 'survival'?'

[Grow stronger, and I will tell you. Just remember, the moment you make a contract with me, Your life is at risk.]

The system's answer makes Gon feel frustrated. It always ignores the important part of the question.

He then frowned, thinking about the possibility of what danger he would face. But soon, his eyelid became heavy.

The day's events had drained him emotionally and physically. The moon now hand in the sky, and not long after, he fell asleep.

As Gon was in the dream world, seated at the dining table, Gon's mother's slender fingers rhythmically tapped against the polished wood. Lost in her thoughts. 

Tap… Tap… Tap…

'Seem it's already starting. He already contracted with one of the books, and the next war will begin soon.'

She then gracefully stood up and moved closer to the window, her gaze fixed on the star blanketing the night sky. The moonlight illuminated her beautiful face, revealing a mischievous smirk. 

'From all existing ones, he just had to align with lust….'

___

Tangled in sheets, Gon murmured softly, 'Mmm, yes, Merlin... that feels good…' His voice was filled with contentment.

Ringggggggggggg!

Suddenly, the loud sound of the alarm clock blared through the room, jolting him awake.

The ringing startled him so much that he lost his balance and fell out of the bed, landing on the cold wooden floor below.

BAM!

"Ouch!" he exclaimed, rubbing the sore spot on his hip. He slowly muttered, "Merlin…"

He blinked his eyes a few times, then looked around his surroundings.

Gon then saw the familiar posters on the walls and the familiar smell of his room; Gon sighed. "Ah, yeah, I'm already back…".

Still not fully awakened, Gon stood up and moved to the bathroom. The warm water starts pouring, waking up his senses and cleaning the leftover stains from his wet dreams.

After that, he changed into his school uniform.

As he descended the stairs, the aroma of freshly cooked breakfast greeted him. The dining table was set with a spread of delicious meals from his mother's homemade cooking.

A plate of fluffy pancakes drizzled with maple syrup, crispy bacon strips, a bowl of fruit salad, a jug of fresh orange juice, and a pot of steaming coffee.

His mother wore a knee-length skirt, a blouse, and a matching blazer. Her jewelry and makeup enhanced her mature beauty elegantly.

Taking his seat, Gon glanced at her. Usually, her mother never puts such makeup at home, and that only means one thing, so Gon asks for confirmation. 

"You're heading out today, Mom?"

Mom glanced up from her coffee, her hazel eyes meeting Gon's. "Yes. I am going overseas. It should be around a week." 

Hearing this surprised Gon. His mother rarely leaves town, not to mention overseas. "That's quite sudden, isn't it? Did something come up?"

His mother took a sip of her coffee before responding, "You remember how your father left us a considerable amount of money, right? We had invested a good portion of it in a reputable investment company."

"Well, it seems there have been some recent developments, and they've requested some urgent paperwork to be signed in person."

Gon feels weird about the reason. Even though he never had experience with the company, there are many ways to sign the document. His mother also invests large amounts of money; if anything, they should be the ones to visit her.

"Can't they just email you the documents or something?"

Mom leaned back in her chair. "I asked the same thing, but they insisted on my presence. They say it was important for this particular deal." 

"And besides," she added with a wink, "they're covering all the expenses. Think of it as a mini-vacation for me."

Gon smirked, murmuring under his breath, "What vacation? You practically lounge around all day when you're home."

Bam!

Suddenly, a spoon landed on Gon's head with a gentle thwack. He looked up, rubbing the spot where he was hit, to find his mother's stern gaze fixed on him. 

She wagged the spoon playfully, "Young man, my ears are perfectly fine, thank you very much."

"I, Amelia Morerti, deserve my vacation for the diligent effort I put into finding a rich husband." she teased with a dramatic air, her sparkling hazel eyes twinkling. 

"You, Gon, need to focus on your studies and stop daydreaming. Now, off you go!"

This is not the first time his mother has acted like this. He still feels she hides something from him, which makes Gon feel annoyed. 

But he knew he could not win, so with resigned sight, he stood up, "Bye, Mom."

Amelia, now busy sorting through her luxurious leather purse, replied without looking up, "I've left some money for you in the small white ceramic dish atop the fireplace. And for heaven's sake, Gon, don't waste it all ordering takeout every night." 

She paused, looking at him with a more serious look. "Try picking up some fresh ingredients and cook something. Maybe surprise Merlin with a dish you've made." 

With a playful glint in her eyes, she added, "You know, they say the way to a woman's heart is through her stomach."

Knowing her mother wouldn't stop, Gon quickly made his way to the door, but her words lingered in his mind. 

As he stepped outside, he pondered, 'Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? The way to a man's heart...? Ugh, mom's weird way of thinking.'

But Gon knows his mother is rarely wrong, and this makes him consider doing it.

'But maybe it might impress Merlin. Yeah, I could whip up something... modern with a touch of that umami flavor. MSG-loaded dishes always taste so good!' He thought.