Monster Hunting with Alice

After waking up the next evening, Leon found Alice still deep in slumber. A soft smile touched his lips as he watched her. Her long, golden blonde hair cascaded across the pillow, framing her delicate features. She looks so peaceful, he thought, his heart warming. 'I should let her sleep. It's partly my fault she's so tired. Yesterday… well, yesterday was her first time, and I might have been a bit enthusiastic.' A blush crept up his cheeks as he recalled their passionate night. Twice… poor thing. He knew the reason for her lingering sleep. A nagging worry tugged at him, though. 'She's human. Her lifespan is so short compared to mine… an ant's life compared to a dragon's.' The thought of losing her filled him with a pang of dread. 'I need to find a way to extend her life.'

As he pondered this, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.

[Host! You can purchase evolution items for her and evolve her into a higher species, which will extend her lifespan.]

"Is that even possible?" he murmured, careful not to disturb Alice. "Does the system shop actually have something like that?"

[Yes! The system has a wide selection of such items. For Alice, I recommend evolving her into a High Human. However, she's currently too weak to endure the process.]

"So, how do I make her strong enough? Are there any training items or something in the shop?"

[Host! Monster hunting is the most reliable method. It's time-consuming, but the most straightforward solution.]

"Monster hunting", Leon mused." Right". He was determined to help Alice become strong enough for the evolution. "Sel, what's her level right now?"

[Host, you can access your harem members' statuses at any time.]

Status:-

Leon's eyes widened. "Her stats are so low… how can she be so weak?"

[Host, your unique race, bloodline, and physique provide significant boosts to your stats.]

Of course, he realized. I'm comparing her human stats to my dragon stats. He decided he'd take Alice monster hunting as soon as she woke. While she was still asleep, he browsed the system shop, curious about what other treasures it held.

Half an hour later, Alice stirred. Her emerald green eyes fluttered open, and she saw Leon watching her. A soft smile touched her lips.

Leon, seeing she was awake, leaned down and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Good morning, sleepyhead," he murmured, his voice soft and warm. "Did you sleep well?"

Alice returned his smile, her heart fluttering at his gentle touch. "Good morning, my love," she whispered, her voice still thick with sleep. "Yes, I slept wonderfully."

A delicate blush rose on Alice's cheeks as she remembered the passionate night they had shared. She snuggled closer to him, burying her face in his chest and inhaling his familiar scent.

Leon chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. He held her for a moment, enjoying the comfortable silence and the feeling of her in his arms. Then, with a gentle nudge, he said, "Come on, sleepyhead. We have a big day ahead of us."

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, they finally rose and dressed. Leon explained his plan to go hunting, careful not to reveal his intention to evolve her. He wanted it to be a surprise.

Alice readily agreed. She remembered their conversation about his plans for a harem. She wasn't saddened by the thought of other women; instead, a fierce determination burned within her. I want to be his first, and I want to be strong enough to stand by his side, to help him, she thought.

Down in the common hall, they ate a hearty breakfast before heading to the guild. The hall buzzed with activity, but they ignored the clamor and went straight to the quest board. They quickly found several monster hunting quests and accepted them. After a brief confirmation at the counter, they set off into the nearby forest.

An hour later, they reached the designated hunting area. As if on cue, ten forest wolves emerged from the surrounding bushes. Leon's expression turned serious. "Alice, create a Holy Barrier around yourself and stay inside. This could get messy."

Alice nodded, her eyes reflecting her resolve. She quickly cast the spell, a shimmering barrier of light enveloping her. Leon drew his sword from his inventory, the gleaming blade reflecting the dappled sunlight. With a swift, powerful leap, he launched himself into the pack of wolves. He fought with a controlled ferocity, each strike precise and deadly. Within minutes, all the wolves were down, whimpering and injured but alive.

"Alice, come here," Leon called.

Alice deactivated her barrier and hurried towards him, her brow furrowed with concern. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.

Leon smiled reassuringly. "I'm fine. But you're not going to gain much experience just standing back and watching." He offered her his sword. "Use this. Finish them off. You'll get much more experience this way."

Alice hesitated for a moment, then took the sword. She knew Leon was right. Just being in the party wasn't enough. With a deep breath, she approached the injured wolves and dispatched them one by one. As she landed the final blow, a notification chimed in her mind.

Level Up!

A surge of exhilaration coursed through her. She felt stronger, more capable. A wide grin spread across her face. She looked at Leon, her eyes sparkling with joy. "I did it!"

Leon beamed at her. "You did great," he said, his voice filled with pride. He knew this was just the beginning of her journey to becoming strong enough for the evolution, but he was happy to see her progress.