Netori Harem: New life as a hunter and gatherer-Chapter 101: Confront

The next morning, Luke yawned as his eyes slowly opened.

Surprisingly, the space beside him wasn’t empty. Monica still lay there, bare and relaxed.

He took a few moments to watch her peaceful sleeping face before inching closer and gently pecking her lips.

She smiled in her sleep, her eyes still closed and breathing calm.

Seriously, even in her sleep she seemed like an angel

Not wanting to disturb her, he decided to get up quietly and leave.

It was still early, almost sunrise. Usually, Monica woke up around this time to clean the house and cook breakfast. But after how long and intensely they had mated last night, she clearly hadn’t recovered yet.

He felt a little guilty for exhausting her to the point she had fainted during her twelfth climax. Yet when she acted so docile and called him her mate, he simply couldn’t stop himself.

After putting on his clothes, Luke stepped out of the room.

The house was mostly silent, except for the soft sound of sweeping coming from the front.

He walked toward the sound and found Ginna already up and working. She was cleaning the front yard.

"Quite early, aren’t you?" she said with a smile as she noticed him watching her from the doorway.

An early morning view of her swaying, generous backside was the perfect sight to start the day.

"Yeah, I went to bed early last night," he replied.

Ginna hummed. "What about Monica? Has she not woken up yet?"

Luke stretched his arms and said, "She’s a little tired... she might wake up a bit later. In her place, tell me what I can do to help."

Ginna turned around and quickly shook her head. "I don’t need any help, trust me. This much work is nothing for me. If anything, I’m glad Monica hasn’t woken up early today. There isn’t enough work around the house for two people anyway."

Luke nodded. "If you say so." He checked his current savings and noticed the amount had dropped from four digits.

He didn’t frown; he already knew exactly where all those coins had gone.

Without thinking much, he took out a small pouch and handed it to her. "Here, Ginna."

The woman blinked in surprise as she accepted it.

"W-What? But you already gave me my payment," Ginna protested, sensing at least twenty toras inside the pouch.

Luke shrugged. "That was for the rotation fees and the small things you bought for your room. This is for maintenance. Don’t worry, starting next month the payment will be one-time. I was thinking... how about a hundred toras? Would that be fine?"

Ginna’s heart nearly stopped. "A h-hundred? Luke... I don’t work nearly enough to deserve such a high amount."

Luke sighed. "More than anything, your presence has brought a smile to my mother’s face. And that matters a lot to me."

The other two women in the house weren’t much help in that regard. Laila was always busy with her own affairs—either visiting friends or venting about her mate. Dalia, despite being part of the family for so many years, still felt somewhat detached. Her personality often came across as cold and formal.

But things with Ginna were different. Maybe because of their ages and the kind of village they had both come from, they got along quite well.

Since Luke couldn’t always be around the house, Ginna was exactly the blessing he needed. With her around, he could see his mother being more than just a working machine. The two women gossiped like friends, shared chores like sisters, and treated each other with genuine respect.

So paying her this much didn’t sting him at all.

Ginna looked down at the pouch, then muttered, "Truly, Luke... you have changed my life in the best way." She glanced up at him and added, "If you need any help from me, just ask, okay?"

Luke almost said, ’Give me that ass then...’ but held himself back. Shaking his head, he replied, "Just keep being friends with my mother."

With those words, he went back inside, took a quick bath, and decided to leave early for work.

While going through the list of clothes he could purchase, he asked the system, ’How many hours until the dungeons?’

[Time remaining: 12 hours 32 minutes]

There was still half a day left. He would go hunting in the meantime. After all, his funds were running low, and he would soon need to prepare for his trip to the head tribe.

Just as he was about to select some clothes, he heard a voice.

"Luke."

He turned and saw Gustav standing there.

"Hmm?" Luke asked, raising his brows.

The way the man had called him showed no trace of drowsiness. That meant Gustav had been awake for some time now... or maybe he hadn’t slept at all.

In a low voice, Gustav said, "Can we talk?"

Luke knew this was serious. He nodded without hesitation. "Alright."

"Not here. Let’s go outside. I don’t want your mother to hear this," Gustav added, making it clear what the conversation was about.

Luke didn’t hesitate. "Alright. Lead the way."

He had been thinking about this for some time now—telling Gustav that Monica was his woman now.

He knew most men didn’t have much interest in women beyond breeding them, but the thought of anyone still regarding Monica as someone else’s made anger rise in his chest.

He wanted her all for himself, and he was ready to say it out loud.

Gustav seemed to have reached the same conclusion, so the two men now walked down the silent trail with no one else in sight.

After a while, Gustav finally asked what had been weighing on his mind.

"Luke... how do you see your mother?"

Luke didn’t beat around the bush. "I see her as a woman... someone I desire. Not just as a guardian, but as my mate. I love her."

Gustav had been expecting this. Not just because of what Caleb had told him yesterday, but because he had been sensing the changes between them for some time now.

The shift in Monica’s behavior, the way Luke spent most of his time inside the house with her—it had become more and more obvious. And now, Luke wasn’t even trying to hide it.

Taking a deep breath, Gustav suddenly turned to face him.

Luke also paused in his track and turned to face the older one, ready to hear whatever he had to say.

Despite how things have turned out, it was undeniable that Luke had stolen his mate from him. He has betrayed his father. So, whatever he has to say, Luke would listen to it silently.

However, his decision regarding his relationship with Monica wouldn’t change. That woman was his love and he was not going to let her go at any cost.

"Luke..." Gustav finally spoke, breaking the silence. However, what followed was not a complaint but a demand,

"Fight me."

"....huh?"

••••••••••

A/N:- Monica is now an official harem member. On a side note, we have breached the hundred Chapters mark

It is all thanks to your love and support that I could continue writing this story for so long.