[136] Harem's God Aura

[2400 Words.]

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"Since Captain Ren has decided to kill that Celestial Dragon, he's confident he won't get caught, girls, so there's no need to panic." Nojiko spoke as she noticed the unease among some members, like Zala and Kaya.

She understood their worry—after all, their opponent was a Celestial Dragon... Everyone knew what that title meant: descendants of the creators of this world—or so they claimed, at least.

"Hmph, it's good that my brother killed him. No doubt he was an arrogant fool... as usual," Leila remarked, but she muttered the last part to herself to avoid raising unnecessary questions among the girls.

Leila was the only one who didn't call Ren "Captain"; instead, she referred to him as "brother." This was a habit she'd picked up from her past life, so how could she change it now? It would feel strange to call him "Captain."

Back in the present, the girls nodded in agreement with what Leila had said, though they were still in awe of Ren's actions.

'A Celestial Dragon... When I was with the Marines, I'd heard some legends about them. I never expected one to meet such a fate at Ren's hands,' Bell-mere thought, standing on the deck, her unreadable gaze fixed on Ren.

"Fufu~ let's forget about that pig and enjoy this beautiful scene~" Robin laughed as she gazed at the sea, visible through the barrier of Elsama.

The transparent barrier surrounding Elsama served the same purpose as the coating applied to ships aiming to pass into the New World through Fish-Man Island, though the difference was that this barrier was stronger than a coating bubble and wouldn't easily break.

Hearing Robin's words, the girls—eight in total, including Robin—stopped discussing the previous events and instead turned to admire the stunning view before them.

They were currently in the epipelagic zone, where sunlight abounded, allowing marine life to thrive. Colorful fish swam freely in the water, like neon fish and clownfish, darting among vibrant coral reefs. The varied colors filling the scene made the girls feel as though they were in a dreamlike world.

"Wow..." Kaya murmured, her eyes wide with amazement at the breathtaking sight.

"The ocean is truly full of beauty~" Nami whispered, but her voice was clearly heard by everyone on the ship, thanks to the profound silence.

Hearing Nami's words, both Nojiko and Mikita nodded in agreement, equally captivated by the view. They were just ordinary girls from the four seas, unaccustomed to such splendid sights, so how could they not feel awe and appreciation for this journey?

Even Kalifa, known for her cold and strict demeanor, looked at the beautiful scene before her with eyes that held a subtle admiration. Such sights were not something she would have seen if she'd remained in Water 7, doing that accursed job as a government dog.

Zala, too, seemed lost in her own thoughts. For a moment, everyone fell into absolute silence.

As they ventured deeper into the sea, they entered the Disphotic zone, where the light gradually faded. In this region, marine life became more mysterious and eerie. The previous beauty had vanished.

"Be cautious." Ren, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke, drawing the girls' attention and putting them on alert, unlike their previous awe.

Sea creatures with dark colors and unusual forms, like deep-sea fish, appeared, as though they held secrets from the ocean's depths. Amid the darkness, giant jellyfish glowed with vibrant colors, like stars sparkling in the night.

"From now on, we'll be entering zones devoid of sunlight. Uncharted marine creatures reside here, and we must also be wary of deep-sea currents. It's said that if a ship gets caught in one of these currents, it will be buried so deep it would take 2,000 years to surface again." Ren recalled all his knowledge about the world beneath the sea and shared it with the girls.

"Two thousand years? That's terrifying..." Zala commented, a hint of fear in her voice.

The other girls wore serious expressions on their faces as well; none of them wanted to get trapped in such terrifying currents.

Their journey continued as they encountered some Sea Kings and weaker sea beasts, all of whom were swiftly slain by Mikita. This was her role as the crew's "fighter," after all.

As for how she accomplished this? She simply created sharp blades of white paper, coated them with Armament Haki, and hurled them at the sea beasts swiftly enough that water pressure couldn't weaken her attacks. The blades were strong enough to slice through both the water and the sea beasts.

"This is actually good training." Mikita grinned with excitement as she looked forward to whatever creature would attack her next.

As they descended deeper into the ocean's abyss, they finally reached the "Abyssal Zone," a place utterly devoid of light and teeming with strange creatures adapted to these harsh depths. Peculiar beings appeared, like the deep-sea fish that glided gracefully through the dark waters. Their forms were bizarre, some bearing terrifying fangs sharp enough to instill fear in the bravest of men.

"Let me light things up a bit," Kaya said, and with a flick of her hand, a blue flame ignited, casting light across the ship's deck and revealing the monsters surrounding them.

"Is that... a Giant Sea King?!" Kaya gasped, her gaze locked onto the colossal creature. No, she couldn't see its entire form—just one of its eyes, which alone dwarfed Elsama by multiple times!

Yet, the creature showed no intent to fight. Instead, it drifted past the ship, almost as if flaunting its power and dominance over these vast waters.

As the journey continued, the crew discovered even more remarkable sea life. From swift sharks to colorful deep-sea creatures, each one was a testament to the mysteries of the deep.

Gradually, the darkness began to fade, as though they were approaching a source of light.

"We're close..." Ren murmured, his words clear to the crew, sparking their excitement for the adventure.

Meanwhile, Ren was deep in conversation with Ms. System.

[So, Master… did you finally remember that you have a system to talk to?] Ms. System didn't sound curious—she sounded more like she was grumbling.

'Sigh… why is she mad again?' Ren thought to himself, then responded to his cranky system.

"Didn't we just talk yesterday?" He wasn't speaking out loud but rather within his mind, yet somehow Ms. System could hear him. She replied, [Hmph, you only asked me about your rewards.]

"But you're just a system with no emotions, right? So why would you need someone to talk to?"

Upon hearing his response, A mysterious girl in an unknown place flinched slightly, then spoke in a captivating voice.

And as she spoke, a new message appeared on his system interface, her voice echoing in his head: [T-that's right! I'm just a system without emotions, who said I wanted you to talk to me? You arrogant master….BLA BLA BLA BLA.…]

Ren felt a headache forming from Ms. System's endless grumbling and contradictions. He let her vent for five minutes before she finally stopped.

"Can I speak now…?"

[Of course, what does the master desire?] Unlike her earlier sulking tone, Ms. System now sounded cheerful for some reason. Ren ignored it and got straight to the point.

"Show me the notifications I held off on earlier." Ren had received two notifications—one last night after he slept with Mikita, and another just now after killing that Celestial Dragon.

[As you wish, Master~!]

Right after her cheerful tone, new notifications appeared before Ren's eyes.

¶ [-Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the main mission, "Having Sex with Mikita," and earning: Passive skill, "Harem's God Aura."]

"Harem's God Aura...? Ms. System, give me a description of this skill."

[Harem's God Aura: This skill grants the user a unique charm that makes women feel an instant attraction. Even upon first meeting, it can create a highly positive impression. It can also improve your image and influence with women who may dislike you or feel resentment. This skill stimulates feelings of admiration and desire, making it easier for the user to build strong relationships quickly.]

"So, it's a skill for attracting women?" Ren smirked, though his lips twitched as he heard Ms. System's response.

[Not like you dislike that, do you, Master?]

"Show me the other notification…" Ren didn't respond and simply asked Ms. System to display the next one, quickly reading it.

¶ [-Ding! Congratulations, Host, for completing the hidden mission "Kill a Celestial Dragon for the first time," and earning: Armament Haki Scroll (Intermediate) X2 + Observation Haki Scroll (Intermediate) X2.]

The reward was indeed impressive. In fact, Ren had killed the Celestial Dragon, suspecting that doing so for the first time might trigger a hidden mission, but he was still surprised by the level of these rewards.

'Looks like it was a successful gamble…' Ren thought to himself, though he now faced a problem.

Who should he give these rewards to? He could give them to two people, but which ones?

All of his crew members had awakened two types of Haki—Armament and Observation—but those with intermediate mastery were only Nojiko, Nami, and Mikita.

'I'll rule out Kaya since she doesn't prefer being on the battlefield anyway… that leaves five persons: Robin, Leila, Zala, Kalifa, and Tashigi.'

'Tashigi might raise suspicion if she displays such powerful Haki. Even with basic Haki, she can't really use it without drawing attention from the Marines... so that leaves four.'

"Robin isn't a fighter, but I prefer her over Zala and the others, except for Kalifa and Leila..." Ren was candid and straightforward; he wouldn't pretend to love all the women in his crew equally—it would be hypocritical.

After much thought, Ren made his decision. Without hesitation, he Said to Ms. System : "Consume the Intermediate Armament and Observation Haki Scrolls on both Robin and Kalifa."

[Intermediate Armament and Observation Haki Scrolls have been consumed on crew members Robin and Kalifa.]

"!!!"

Kalifa felt the tattoo Ren had marked on her body the night before, especially on the back of her hand, radiating warmth that made her feel flushed.

"It seems the captain has given Kalifa something special!" Mikita exclaimed with excitement. Having built a good relationship with her crewmate over the past few days, she was genuinely thrilled for her.

The other girls turned their attention to Kalifa, who appeared stunned as if she were processing something profound.

But they quickly noticed that Robin had her eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought. Excited murmurs erupted among the girls as they bombarded her with questions.

Ren observed the lively scene with a faint smile before vanishing from his spot and reappearing right in front of them.

"Congratulations, Robin, Kalifa! You're on the path to mastering The peak of Haki," Ren said, a small smile gracing his face. "As for the rest of you, no need to worry... there will be plenty of rewards in the future."

"...."

The girls fell silent, gazing at Ren with awestruck expressions, their cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Even Bell-mere couldn't help but stare at Ren, a look of wonder on her face. His presence captivated her, and she felt a sense of comfort and joy, as if he brought warmth to her heart.

Not just her—every girl shared the same expression.

'Ms. System, is this the effect Harem's God Aura?

[Yes, Master. Aren't you pleased with the admiration of these women? Fufufu~]

Ren ignored Ms. System's teasing but mentally noted her playful "Fufu~" laugh, reminiscent of the charming oni-san types.

"Hey... were you listening to me?" He redirected his gaze to the girls and spoke in a slightly sheepish tone.

"Oh... y-yes, we were listening, Captain!" Robin stammered, her usual calm demeanor slipping away, her cheeks even redder.

'Why am I feeling this way about the captain...?' Kalifa wondered, flustered.

'My dear seems even more handsome... I mean, he's always been handsome, but this is on another level... or is it just my imagination?' Nami really wanted to find a private moment with Ren to indulge in their passion for hours.

Nojiko and Mikita harbored similar thoughts as well.

'My brother is just so easy on the eyes... ah~ brother~ brother~ brother~' If Ren heard Leila's crazed musings, he might be terrified of this intense girl—just kidding.

'What the hell am I thinking... He's your Daughters man, Bell-mere!' the woman, more beautiful than her former self, screamed internally.

'The captain might be the most handsome man in the world...' Zala thought, her expression slightly vacant.

Watching the expressions on the girls' faces, Ren could only think, 'Isn't this skill a bit too powerful...'

....

Meanwhile, far from all this.

In the Holy Land, also known as Mary Geoise.

Specifically, within the Holy Castle, Pangaea.

The scene in this magnificent castle was as usual: five men with cold expressions sat on luxurious couches, immobile as if they were stone statues.

Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi, which had been silent on the wooden table, began to ring.

*Purururu*

*Purururu*

*Purururu*

One of the five elders, specifically the one named Shepherd Ju Peter, picked up the Den Den Mushi and opened the line.

"I hope you have a good reason for interrupting my leisure time, Kong," Ju Peter spoke in a deep voice that seemed to penetrate the heart of the person on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.

"S-Sir... there's an emergency. The Vivre Card of Saint Leonious Suprema, who descended to the Sabaody Archipelago... it has burned... completely."

St. Topman Warcury: "...."

St. Shepherd Ju Peter: "...."

St. Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro: "...."

St. Jaygarcia Saturn: "...."

St. Marcus Mars: "...."

"And what are you waiting for, you fool?! Send the admiral immediately to the Sabaody Archipelago, seal off the area, and prevent any ship from leaving! Execute anyone who resists!!" Ju Peter shouted in fury, under the serious gazes of the other four elders. Such an event, where a Celestial Dragon was killed, hadn't occurred in decades!

Immediately after the Marineford War ended, they believed the pirates would be significantly weakened. Instead, the opposite happened, and now such a monumental event occurred?

This was utterly unacceptable!

The world of the seas was descending into chaos once again... but this chaos would be greater... greater than the five elders could ever imagine.

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To be continued...

-The chapters from 1 to 10 have been Edited; you can read them if you're interested. In chapters 1 and 2, I changed some things, but all the essential elements remain the same. I have corrected most of the spelling errors in these ten chapters, and another batch of chapters will be revised and I will notify you later.