SSS-Class Overlord: My Harem Rules the Realms (18+)-Chapter 71: Here, Have Some Food.

Daniel stared at the small ration pack in Ethan’s outstretched hand, his eyes flickering between

the food and Ethan’s face. His lips pressed into a thin, stubborn line.

"I don’t need it," he said, voice rougher than before. "Keep your food. I’m fine."

Ethan tilted his head slightly, an amused spark lighting his silver eyes. He let out a quiet chuckle

that curled around the edges of his words.

"Eat it, bro. We’re not hunting you or trying to put you in our debt or some shit." His voice was

soft, yet there was an undertone of firm command. "Just... eat it up."

Daniel hesitated, his throat working as he swallowed nothing. His gaze shifted away, following the

shadows where the kids had disappeared.

His stomach betrayed him again, rumbling so loudly that Reyna snorted beside Ethan.

After another long moment, Daniel snatched the ration pack from Ethan’s hand.

"...Fine."

He tore into it, his fingers trembling faintly as he unwrapped the paper. Crumbs fell to the dirt as

he bit into the bread, devouring it as if it might vanish if he took too long.

His jaw worked fast and desperate, and the sound of chewing echoed in the quiet clearing.

Reyna crossed her arms, her lips curling in a half-smirk. "Told ya he was hungry, don’t ya?"

Ethan simply kept watching, his expression gentle, not mocking. When Daniel finished, Ethan

silently pulled a canteen from his belt and held it out.

Daniel blinked at it, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and then grabbed it. He drank

deep, tilting his head back, water spilling a little down his throat and soaking into the ragged collar

of his shirt.

When the canteen came away empty, Daniel exhaled and let it drop into Ethan’s waiting hand. For

the first time, some color returned to his cheeks.

Reyna tilted her head, looking him over like a hawk. "Ya know," she said slowly, "all those

bastards back there... they’re just usin’ ya, Daniel. Those kids? They’re takin’ food right to the

adults who beat the shit outta them and steal it."

Daniel stiffened immediately. His eyes snapped up to hers, flashing stormy grey.

"Shut up," he snapped. "Why the hell are you spouting nonsense? No one’s using me. I’m doin’

this because I want to."

Reyna bristled, opening her mouth again, but Ethan laid a hand on her arm, a silent warning

passing between them.

He stepped forward, lowering himself slightly so he was closer to Daniel’s eye level. His voice came out calm and light, but his gaze was locked on Daniel’s like a vice.

"I get it," Ethan said. "I know what it’s like. You think you’re helping. You think you’re making a

difference. And hell—maybe sometimes you are. But sometimes..." His fingers drummed lightly

on Daniel’s shoulder. "People take advantage of good men like you."

Daniel scowled, shrugging Ethan’s hand off. "Don’t touch me. You can’t prove shit. You’re talkin’ fгeewebnovёl.com

about something that’s not real."

Ethan only smiled. It was a soft smile, full of warmth, but there was iron underneath it. He

squeezed Daniel’s shoulder once before letting go completely.

"I’ll prove it to you," he said. "One way or another."

Daniel glared, his chest heaving. "You can’t prove something that ain’t true."

Ethan’s smile only widened, though his eyes glimmered with something sharper, almost predatory.

"Guess we’ll see."

Without another word, Ethan turned and started walking away, his cloak swirling around his boots.

Reyna hesitated, looking back at Daniel one last time, her mouth twitching as though she wanted

to say more. But then she sighed and fell into step beside Ethan, her boots crunching on broken

stones.

They left Daniel sitting alone in the lantern-lit clearing, the shadows slowly swallowing him up

again.

They slipped out of the slums, the sounds of distant arguments and crying babies fading behind

them. The streets grew quieter as they walked, lit only by moonlight silvering the cracked

cobblestones.

Reyna broke the silence first, swinging her sword across her shoulder with a faint metallic thunk.

"Why’d we leave without him? Didn’t ya say he’s worth a hundred slum rats?"

Ethan kept his eyes forward, his voice low and even.

"It’s not the right time yet."

Reyna huffed. "Ya know I hate waitin’, don’t ya?"

"I do." Ethan’s mouth twisted into a faint grin. "But trust me, Reyna. If I dragged him out of there

now, he’d fight me every step of the way. He’s the type that needs to see it himself."

"Bah," Reyna grumbled. "Humans and yer pride."

They reached the inn, pushing through the heavy wooden door into the warm, slightly musty air.

The innkeeper glanced up blearily from behind the counter but didn’t say a word.

Upstairs, the corridor creaked under their weight as they made their way to their room. Ethan

opened the door and stepped inside, lanternlight throwing their shadows large across the walls.

Reyna yawned, rolling her shoulders until joints cracked. "Aight, I’m sleepin’. Wake me if we’re

raidin’ the slums tomorrow, don’t ya?"

"Yeah, yeah." Ethan waved a dismissive hand as she dropped onto the bed, cloak and all, and

was snoring within minutes.

Ethan moved to his own bed across the room, sitting on the edge for a moment as he stared at

Reyna’s sleeping form. A faint smile played across his lips.

Then he exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders as though to shake off invisible chains. He focused,

and a golden interface flickered into existence before his eyes.

[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE]

[Quest Title: Prove Daniel is Being Used]

[Objective: Go back. Do not force Daniel to believe you. Prove it to him another way.]

[Reward: A method to convince Daniel he’s being used.]

Ethan let out a groan, dragging a hand through his hair.

"You mf system," he muttered under his breath. "Why the hell you gotta drop this quest on me

right at that moment? You love holdin’ me back, right?"

Another notification popped up immediately, as if the system were laughing at him.

[System Message:]

["We only exist to help you grow stronger, Host."]

"Yeah, right," Ethan muttered, rolling his eyes. "Bastard."

He stared at the quest for another long moment, then smirked, determination flickering in his eyes

like steel catching sunlight.

"Of course I’ll prove it to him," he said under his breath. "One way or another... I always do."

And with that, he leaned back on the bed, eyes still open, mind already spinning with plans for

tomorrow.

Follow current novℯls on f(r)eewebnov𝒆l