Harem System In A fantasy World

Aeron pointed at the blade. “Your sword has an attitude.”

“You have an attitude too, and yet people tolerate you.”

“I’m lovable.”

“No.”

Maya, despite the tension, let out a soft laugh. Zenovia’s lips curved faintly, but her eyes remained on the weapon.

“What exactly does it do, apart from slicing people up, of course?” she asked.

Elion thought about the enchantments and sighed. “Too much to name.”

Alexander crossed his arms. “That is the most accurate explanation.”

Tristan’s gaze was grave. “A weapon like that changes the operation.”

“Not really,” Alexander said after a moment. “It improves his chances, but the plan remains the same. We cannot build a new strategy around unknown effects just because we feel like it.”

Elion sheathed the blade slowly. The moment Kurogoroshi disappeared into its scabbard, the air in the tent loosened again. Several people seemed to breathe easier without realising it.

Aeron rubbed his chin. “So while we were all here getting harassed by demons, you were in the capital seducing princesses and collecting mythical swords?”

Elion smiled. “It was a very productive week, if I do say so myself.”

Maya gave him a helpless look. “Only you would say that.”

Zenovia crossed her arms. “And the princess?”

Alexander looked like he wanted to leave the tent.

Elion glanced at him, then answered anyway. “Princess Isla, haven’t you met?”

Maya’s brows rose. “Princess Isla? No, she was absent when we visited the capital, but we heard about her.”

Alexander groaned. “Must we discuss this now?”

“Yes,” Aeron said instantly.

“No,” Alexander replied.

Zenovia looked amused. “So that explains the perfume.”

Elion clicked his tongue. “There is no perfume.”

Alexander leaned closer and sniffed once.

Elion’s gaze snapped to him.

Alexander stepped back immediately. “That is definitely my sister’s perfume.”

Elion sniffed at his tunic and grimaced, “It’s been three days, how the heck is it still there?”

Maya covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Alexander pointed toward the map, desperate to regain control. “We have an operation to execute, a war to fight, and a demon King to slay, and perhaps the possibility of traitors. Can we focus?”

Aeron nodded solemnly. “Yes. After we confirm whether Elion has become royalty by association.”

“I will kill you,” Alexander said calmly.

Aeron blinked. “Me?”

“Yes.”

Elion laughed.

For a moment, the tension in the tent loosened. Not enough to erase what awaited them, not enough to make anyone forget the uncertain future that awaited them all, but enough for everyone to breathe.

Even Tristan’s expression softened slightly, and Yakuza, though still silent, looked less like a man standing at the edge of a grave.

The tent flap opened, and a messenger hurried inside.

“Commander Tristan. Your Highness.”

Alexander turned. “Report.”

The messenger bowed quickly. “A scout team just returned from the western fringe. They found another marked route.”

The humour vanished as Alexander’s face went cold. “Human marks?”

The messenger hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, Your Highness.”

Aeron’s expression darkened. Maya looked from one face to another, understanding at once that this was not new information. Zenovia’s eyes narrowed into slits.

Tristan’s voice became low. “Where?”

The messenger stepped toward the table and pointed to a narrow section of the forest path west of the camp. “Here. Not close enough to threaten the camp directly, but close enough to guide a force around two patrol lines.”

Yakuza finally spoke, his voice rough. “Someone is opening paths for them.”

No one contradicted him. Alexander stared at the map for several seconds, then looked toward Elion.

Elion understood the look.

The operation had not even begun properly yet, and already the board was cracking beneath their feet.

He exhaled softly.

“Well,” he said, “that’s troublesome.”

For once, no one offered a joke in response.

The messenger stood beside the table with his head lowered, clearly aware that he had just brought news no one wanted to hear.

Alexander’s eyes remained fixed on the marked section of the map, while Tristan leaned forward with both hands planted on the table, his jaw tightening as if he was physically restraining himself from saying something reckless.

Aeron crossed his arms slowly.

“So that makes two marked routes?”

“Two confirmed,” Alexander said. “Which means there may be more.”

Maya’s face paled slightly. “So the demons are not just making random guesses to test out our routes and supply lines…”

“No, their movements seem far too informed,” Zenovia said quietly, her golden eyes narrowing. Like someone is guiding them.”

Yakuza’s expression darkened further. His fingers tightened around the edge of the table so hard that the wood creaked faintly beneath his grip.

“Who found it?” Alexander asked.

The messenger straightened quickly. “A western patrol unit, Your Highness. Four scouts. Two elves, one human, and one beastman. They returned less than ten minutes ago.”

“Were they followed?”

“No sign of pursuit, Your Highness.”

“Have they told anyone else?”

“Only the patrol captain, who sent me directly here.”

Alexander nodded once, his expression unreadable. “Good. Bring the patrol captain and the four scouts here quietly.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The messenger bowed and hurried out.

The moment the tent flap fell shut behind him, Aeron clicked his tongue. “This is getting uglier by the second.”

“It was already ugly,” Elion muttered. “Now it’s just showing its face.”

Tristan glanced toward him. “You think there are traitors inside the coalition?”

“I think someone human, or at least someone who understands human route markings, is making things easier for demons,” Elion replied. “Whether that person is a traitor, a coward, a spy, or someone being controlled, I don’t know.”

Maya looked up sharply. “Controlled?”

Elion shrugged. “Mind magic, curse marks, blood contracts, hostages, blackmail, fear. Take your pick.”

“That is a wide range of unpleasant possibilities,” Aeron said.

“War is generous like that.”

Alexander looked toward Zenovia. “Could you identify whether the markings were made by someone trained?”

Zenovia nodded slowly. “If I see them myself, maybe. Marking hidden routes is common in infiltration work, but different groups use different habits. The depth of the cut, the angle, whether it is made with a knife, claw, or spell, where it is placed on the tree… all of that can say something.”

Aeron glanced at her. “That was suspiciously detailed.”

She looked at him flatly. “I was raised by assassins.”

“Right. Forgot.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“I was hoping you would forget that I remembered.”

Elion smirked faintly despite himself.

Alexander turned toward Tristan. “Until we know more, tighten internal movement. No one leaves camp alone. Patrols move in mixed groups of at least six, with at least one person from a different unit assigned to each. Rotate night watches, but quietly. I don’t want the camp realising we suspect infiltration.”

Tristan nodded. “Understood.”

Yakuza finally spoke again, his voice low and rough. “And if we find the one responsible?”

Alexander’s gaze shifted to him. The question was simple, but the meaning behind it was not.

“If we find proof,” Alexander said carefully, “they will be taken alive if possible.”

Yakuza’s eyes darkened.

“If possible,” he repeated.

“Yes,” Alexander said, his voice firm. “That means we can get answers out of them.”

Yakuza looked away, but he did not argue.

Elion watched him quietly. The man had lost too much too recently. If he found the traitor before anyone else did, there was a very real chance there would be no prisoner left to interrogate. Tristan seemed to realise the same thing because he placed a hand briefly on Yakuza’s shoulder, not restraining him, but grounding him.

“Answers first,” Tristan said quietly.

Yakuza closed his eyes for a moment and nodded once.

Alexander exhaled softly before turning back to the map. “The operation cannot be delayed unless the council itself recalls the order, so we have no choice but to move as planned unless my father orders a change of plans. If we stop now, the demons may realise we are aware of the leak and change their approach completely.”

Maya frowned. “But if we continue while information is leaking…”

“Then we might walk into a trap,” Aeron finished.

Elion stared at the map. “Or we let them think their trap is working.” He said simply.

Everyone looked at him.

Alexander’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Explain.”

Elion scratched his cheek lightly. “If someone is guiding demons through hidden routes, they likely expect us to panic once we notice, maybe even delaying the operation.”

Zenovia’s eyes sharpened. “Which would confirm that we discovered something.”

“Exactly.”

Elion tapped the map near the western route. “So we don’t act like we found anything important. We make small adjustments that look routine. Maybe we even leave one of these marked routes looking usable.”

Aeron slowly smiled. “And wait for whoever comes to use it.”

Alexander studied the map silently.

Tristan’s expression turned thoughtful. “A counter-ambush.”

“And a quiet one,” Elion said with a smile.

Zenovia nodded calmly as her fluffy ears twitched excitedly. “I can do that.”

“That’s fine,” Alexander said immediately in response to her volunteering. “But not alone.”

Zenovia’s brow rose. “I work better alone.”