My Friend’s Harem Is Obsessed With Me – Chapter 193

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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‘Wow, this is effective.’

The atmosphere was too serious to express my amusement openly, but inwardly, I wanted to whistle at the spectacular sight before me.

Every beast-kin in the vast audience chamber had their heads bowed low.

A few tried to steal glances at Kurika, but each time, their expressions turned ashen, and they quickly lowered their heads again, trembling.

There was no mistaking him for anyone other than Callius, their first king.

And in his hand, he held the Sword of Rest. The legendary blade wielded by King Callius himself. They had no choice but to bow before their returned king.

“Rise, King Lyger. Do not kneel so readily before others.”

“Thank you.”

Lyger sprang to his feet.

He looked at Kurika, his eyes welling up with emotion.

Finally, he spoke, as if unburdening himself of a long-held sorrow. He looked like a naive child witnessing a legend come to life.

“I believed your promise to always be with us. I believed you would return one day!”

“……”

“My King! I will follow you. Please, rule us once more…”

“Enough.”

Kurika sighed, as if experiencing a headache. With an expression that suggested nothing had changed, he rebuked Lyger.

“Why do you so easily relinquish your throne to another?”

“B-But…”

“Do not utter such words. You betray those who serve you.”

“……”

Lyger looked at the nobles and soldiers surrounding him, those who had been working tirelessly to quell the Tiger Clan’s rebellion.

He had been too quick to abandon them, to hand them over to their former king.

Realizing his folly, Lyger clenched his fists. He had believed that for the sake of his people, he should relinquish the crown to a far more capable ruler.

The throne was important to him, but he would willingly surrender it to King Callius.

However, that would be a betrayal of his people. It was an escape from his responsibilities, a cowardly act.

Shame washed over him as this realization dawned.

“My… apologies.”

His tone towards Kurika shifted.

He had addressed him as an absolute hero, a savior of the nation, but now, he spoke to him as an equal, a fellow beast-kin. While respect for his predecessor was necessary, the vast difference in their stature was undeniable.

Lyger decided to assert his authority.

Kurika smiled, nodding in satisfaction, and addressed the matter at hand.

“I hear the Tiger Clan’s rebellion stems from their belief that their daughter’s killers have not been brought to justice.”

Lyger’s eyes immediately turned to me. He understood that I was the one Kurika had spoken to.

Kurika declared calmly,

“I killed her.”

“……What?”

The unexpected confession shattered Lyger’s regained composure.

Unfazed, Kurika slung his greatsword over his shoulder and continued.

“The organization she belonged to, the Tudogs, were conducting experiments, transplanting the abilities of magical beasts and plants from my forest into their own bodies.”

“……!”

He pulled a peculiar object from the small bag at his waist – a device with blades on both sides.

“This is the proof. Their leader used his magical knowledge to create this device.”

Ariadne’s Flower, the Cockatrice, the Doppel-Slime. The Tudogs had transplanted the abilities of many magical beasts from the Demon Realm Forest into themselves.

‘So that’s it.’

The device created by the Tudogs’ leader, the very thing that had allowed them to rise to prominence so rapidly.

Kurika placed the device back in his bag. It was clearly a valuable item, one he always kept close.

“I explain this for one reason. To inform you, the victims, of the truth, and…”

Kurika bared his teeth, radiating a menacing aura. It dwarfed the pressure Lyger had exuded earlier, instantly transforming everyone in the room into helpless prey.

“To take responsibility.”

He turned sharply.

“I will deal with the Tiger Clan’s army. You have only to wait, with faith, as you always have.”

This was what true strength looked like.

A lone figure, armed with a greatsword, marching towards an enemy army, his back straight, his demeanor unwavering.

I had chosen a good friend.

Kurika stopped, turning his head slightly to look at me.

“What are you waiting for?”

“……What?”

“Are you not coming with me?”

What was he talking about?

“I thought you were going alone.”

I had been genuinely impressed by his earlier display of confidence.

“Come now. You bear a responsibility in this as well.”

The gazes of the beast-kin turned towards me. Even Lyger nodded slightly, as if agreeing with Kurika.

“Sigh, I thought I could relax a bit. Once we’ve dealt with them, Eris will be released. And take care of Rin. Just in case.”

“You have my word.”

After receiving Lyger’s assurance, I followed Kurika out of the palace.

“I thought you were going to handle this alone.”

“Hmph.”

We stood outside the city gates, arms crossed. I grumbled at Kurika, complaining that he had ruined his dramatic exit.

“Can’t you handle this by yourself?”

“I can prevent them from breaching the gate, but some might try to scale the walls.”

“So beast-kin have to consider such things as well.”

Some beast-kin might be skilled climbers. In that case, it would be difficult for Kurika to defend the city alone.

“Besides, you possess the power to stop time. You can handle any unforeseen circumstances.”

“That’s true.”

Honestly, I had intended to help him anyway. Knowing that the enemy army was approaching because of my actions, I felt obligated to assist.

I just regretted that Kurika’s grand gesture had been somewhat undermined.

I had been concerned that Lyger might not trust us completely and send some of his forces to assist, but a glance at the walls revealed no one.

He had fought me once, but his faith in his former king was absolute.

‘This is why Kurika left.’

Lyger had immediately offered his throne upon learning of Kurika’s true identity, and his advisors had silently agreed.

King Callius was a revered figure, a wise and benevolent ruler, but he was also a formidable wall, hindering their growth.

He abandoned the name Callius, becoming Kurika, and retreated to the Demon Realm Forest.

In the distance, a cloud of dust rose, spreading across the land like a shadow cast by a massive army.

“Have you ever fought an army before?”

“Once, in my past life. I fought the Army of Death.”

“Ah.”

Kurika nodded, as if remembering something he had forgotten.

He pondered for a moment, then grinned.

“I entrust my back to you.”

“Don’t worry, I doubt you’ll need my help.”

When Kurika fought Sharcal…

I had experienced my limits. I realized there were things I couldn’t achieve with a human body, as Daniel McLean.

Both Kurika and Sharcal were incredibly strong.

But not anymore.

With the power granted by the Goddess of Time, there was no one on the continent who could defeat me in a one-on-one fight.

I was confident in my victory, no matter who the opponent.

Even Kurika.

I had faced my limitations, gained new power, and grown stronger.

But what about Kurika?

Seeing me, a human, fight him on equal footing must have been unsettling. And he had been utterly defeated by Sharcal.

Like me, Kurika couldn’t bear the weight of his limitations.

He radiated an intense fighting spirit, his gaze fixed on the approaching Tiger Clan army.

“Hmm.”

Aware of his own state, Kurika let out a low groan. He scanned the enemy forces, then turned to me.

“You might not get your turn.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Who else on the continent could utter such confident words against an army of elite beast-kin warriors and not sound arrogant?

Only Kurika.

I slung my greatsword over my shoulder, watching as he stepped forward, arms crossed.

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In the private room provided by King Lyger within the palace…

Adriana, who had been tending to Rin, rose from her chair and walked to the window. From the palace, she could see the battlefield outside. Despite the ongoing conflict, she felt strangely at ease.

‘With Kurika and Daniel… is there anyone who can defeat them?’

She had an unshakeable belief that no matter how large the enemy army, those two working together could easily overcome them.

Knock, knock.

A knock came from the door.

Sen, who had been standing guard, cautiously opened it.

Servants entered, carrying trays of fruit and other food, gifts from the king. They had even prepared warm porridge for Rin.

Adriana couldn’t help but think of the saying,

‘If you fight, you become friends.’

“We have also brought the royal physician. You can trust him.”

A turtle-like physician bowed his head slightly.

Adriana couldn’t rely on her magic alone to heal Rin, so she welcomed his arrival more than anything else.

“……Huh?”

Despite it being midday, the room suddenly darkened. It felt as though a cloud had passed over the sun, but this darkness was far deeper.

Adriana and Sen simultaneously turned their gaze towards the bed.

Rin, who had been lying unconscious due to a high fever, was now sitting up.

In her hand, she held a sword they had never seen before.

The sword radiated a terrifying aura, as if even a slight graze would be fatal.

The mark on Rin’s chest, the symbol of the apocalypse, began to emanate darkness, expanding like a growing territory.

The darkness bared its fangs.

“Get down!”

The darkness surged towards everyone in the room. Sen quickly pushed Adriana aside, shielding her with her body. They managed to avoid the attack, but the physician and servants weren’t so lucky.

“H-Help…!”

“Mmm! Mmmmph!”

They were swallowed by the darkness, absorbed alive.

Sen and Adriana watched in horror.

“That’s not Rin.”

Adriana scrambled towards her staff, preparing to cast a spell. This wasn’t the kind and gentle Rin they knew.

The apocalypse.

Yes, this was it.

But why now? Why had Rin awakened as the apocalypse so suddenly?

Countless questions raced through her mind, but seeing her magic being effortlessly consumed by the darkness, Adriana gritted her teeth.

This was dangerous.

Even defensive magic was useless. The darkness pressed in on them from all sides, as if there were no barriers.

“This way!”

Sen, thinking quickly, grabbed Adriana’s hand and pulled her towards the window. The door was already blocked, so escape was impossible.

Fortunately, the window had been broken earlier, so they didn’t have to worry about the glass.

Sen leaped through the window, pulling Adriana with her.

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