Harem: The Wrath of Mjolnir

Chapter 16 - New Partner

Ethan was embarrassed by how he had acted and was overwhelmed by the rewards he had received. He quickly put on the t-shirt and shorts Olivia had prepared as his clothes had disappeared.

The clothes were a bit too big for him, but he had no other choice since all the items he had stored in his Inventory had disappeared. It was likely that his items had been pushed out when he had acquired rewards from killing monsters.

After Ethan had changed, the girl left the room and asked Ethan to follow her.

Ethan stepped out of the room and made his way to the stairs leading to a large room that could fit dozens of people. He noticed the couch and the girl he had met previously on one side. He walked over and sat on the same couch after the girl nodded in approval.

"Hi, my name is Olivia," she said, standing up and offering her hand for a handshake.

Ethan stood up and shook her hand.

"My name's Ethan," he said briefly, then smiled.

They returned to their seats.

Olivia had a cheerful expression on her face as she explained, "This is my house. I live here alone. I'm the one who saved you, too."

Ethan thanked her and said, "I owe you a lot."

"Of course! I had to open your clothes that night because you were covered in blood. I did it with my eyes closed, don't worry!" She replied.

Olivia's face changed from cheerful to stern, and Ethan was relieved, knowing it was the same person who had saved him.

She threw him a water bottle and said, "Here's a drink. You can get food from the kitchen; there's no one to serve you here."

Ethan nodded in agreement and thanked her.

Olivia was silent for a moment, looking at Ethan's body, now completely healed. His chest wounds and crushed left hand had been restored. She then recalled the expensive Full Healing Potions sold at the Shop.

“Are you saying you used one of those?”

He nodded, probably confirming that the potion was the reason he had been able to heal.

Olivia gasped in surprise, "Wow, those Potions sure are expensive! You must have gotten a lot of Crystals from that attack, huh?"

He nodded to her questions.

Ethan was reminded of the last attack and, glancing at the sun streaming in from the window, realized it was around noon.

Olivia clapped her hands several times in response to the facts, exclaiming, "Wow, interesting!" As one of the chosen, her power was not suitable for battle, so she did not contribute much to the initial attack. She knew that in order to protect herself, she had to find a partner or someone who could help her develop her abilities.

When Olivia helped Ethan, she saw what he was up to. Even though she had good intentions, she couldn't deny that she hoped for a better connection with him.

"What's your next move, Ethan?" she asked.

"We have no choice but to partake in this challenge, no matter what. I don't want humanity to become extinct, so we must act fast." He responded.

Olivia was surprised by Ethan's response to why he was chosen for such great power and couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth.

"What happened yesterday really made me crazy," he continued.

Olivia couldn't believe it and exclaimed, "Ha ha ha. Who isn't going crazy over yesterday's events? I still can't accept it."

Olivia fell silent, her smile and laughter going. She looked back at Ethan, her fist clenched, and began speaking again. "We have no other option; we must fight and endure. I'd like to ask for a token of appreciation. No, no, I'm helping you sincerely. Please let me be your partner. I promise I won't be a burden. I'm a player too and I have considerable power, so I'm sure I can be of help." She closed her proposal with a big smile.

Ethan's mind was filled with despair as he recalled his last experience. The mere thought of it made him feel sick.

"Power?" he asked.

“Yes power! Imagine if we could monitor every Monster's location, numbers and strength in an attack. This would allow us to accurately gauge which challenges we can face and which we must avoid.”

"Is your power the same as the App provided by the military?" He asked.

"No way! Mine is superior. My power gives me the ability to use a radar to detect the location and strength of our enemies. This is a highly advantageous power." Olivia answered.

"Yeah, if there are a lot of powerful monsters nearby, that should work." Ethan replied.

Olivia was pleased that she had found a reliable partner. Since they had just met, she was eager to build a trusting relationship with Ethan. "It'll have to do. But how have you become so strong? Are you familiar with how the system operates?"

Ethan shrugged, not wanting to go into details. "I've got no clue," he laughed. "I remember fighting and killing several Monsters and getting a new skill from one of them, but it doesn't seem like anything more than luck."

Olivia didn't answer but continued to watch him carefully. She was relieved to know that he was someone who worked alone like her, yet disappointed that he wouldn't tell her everything. She decided not to press any further and instead stood up, saying, "Let's eat!"

Ethan nodded in agreement and followed Olivia to the kitchen near the room where he had been resting.

"I can cook here, too!" Olivia declared, striding ahead of Ethan to the cooking area.

"Thanks, you've done so much for me, let me help," he replied quietly, standing next to her.

Olivia began explaining what she planned to make as she began mixing ingredients and throwing them in a pot.

The smell of fresh herbs and spices filled the air as soon as she threw the items into the pan and turned up the flame underneath. She took out a dish towel and wiped away the sweat on her brow while peering into the pot with joy.

She added some vegetables and seasoning and then finally placed the food on plates. When she turned around, Ethan was already at his seat, ready to dig in.

Olivia chuckled at Ethan. "We actually managed to create this dish together - amazing!"

Ethan smiled and said, "I didn't want to bother you."

"You're not."

They were both then enjoying their meal which consisted of freshly cooked fish soup seasoned with garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Olivia knew how to mix a wide variety of foods well; the combination of flavors brought a refreshing sensation that made eating easy and enjoyable.

After the first few bites, Olivia could see that there was a change in Ethan's face. His expression became more serious, and the corners of his mouth rose. She saw him grinning, and she couldn't help but smile back.

Olivia felt an unexplainable connection growing between her and Ethan. It wasn't because they had spent time together, nor because of any special circumstances. There had to be something else driving it: The sense of purpose that came from fighting for survival.

"Ethan," Olivia said quietly, "Please think about my offer."

Ethan looked at Olivia and nodded in agreement.