Gon's Harem System
Chapter 29: Gon and his gift

Chapter 29: Gon and his gift

Now back to Gon, he stood by his bed, his figure illuminated by the soft golden light of the morning sun streaming through the thin curtains.

He was dressed in his freshly laundered tunic and trousers, the fabric smelling faintly of lavender and soap.

His dark boots, polished to a mirror shine, reflected the light as if they were crafted from obsidian.

In his hands, he held his new sword, a gift bestowed upon him by the Duke the previous night.

The blade was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, its polished steel glimmering with a silvery sheen that seemed to hold a life of its own.

Faint, intricate engravings ran along its length, their patterns swirling like whispers of wind captured in metal.

The hilt was wrapped in rich, dark leather, supple and smooth to the touch, providing a firm grip.

At the pommel, a small sapphire was embedded, its deep blue hue sparkling faintly, as though it contained a fragment of the evening sky.

Gon’s fingers traced the edge of the blade with reverence, marveling at its balance and weight.

He could feel the craftsmanship in every inch of it, a weapon not just forged for battle but for honor, its very existence a testament to the skill of its maker and the esteem of the one who had given it to him.

He stood there for a moment longer, lost in thought.

The sword was more than a weapon—it was a symbol of trust, of responsibility, of the path he had chosen to walk.

The Duke’s gift had come not just as a tool but as a statement, one that carried unspoken expectations.

Gon inhaled deeply, the faint scent of steel and leather mingling with the cool morning air, and exhaled with a quiet resolve.

Of course, the Duke hadn’t delivered it to Gon personally.

Instead, the sword had just a few minutes ago, borne by a servant clad in the Duke’s livery.

The servant had been a middle-aged man with graying hair at his temples and a demeanor that spoke of years of obedience. He carried the weapon wrapped in a fine velvet cloth, the deep crimson fabric edged with gold thread that shimmered faintly in the dim light of the hallway.

When the man had handed it over, he had bowed deeply, his voice low and formal. "From His Grace, the Duke," he had said, his tone devoid of warmth but heavy with the weight of the message.

The servant had not lingered after delivering the blade. With a respectful nod and no further words, he had turned on his heel and disappeared down the shadowy corridor, his steps light and efficient, as though he’d been trained to move without disturbing the day.

Gon had stood there for a moment, staring at the velvet-wrapped object in his hands, his heart pounding with anticipation.

Still, Gon would take a win wherever he could find one. The Duke hadn’t delivered the sword himself, but that hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things.

A gift was a gift, and from a man like the Duke, it was no small thing. He decided to be grateful, to focus on what the gesture represented rather than dwell on the lack of ceremony.

After all, the Duke’s acknowledgment, even through the hands of a servant, was more than he had gotten before.

The sword felt cold and foreign in his hand, Yet, despite its unfamiliarity, Gon was sure he would wield it well.

The uncertainty in his grasp was overshadowed by the quiet confidence rooted deep within him—a confidence granted by the system.

He could feel it, the knowledge and skills it had bestowed on him, lying dormant but ready to spring to life when needed.

Every movement, every technique, was etched into his mind, waiting for the moment he would call upon them.

He tightened his grip, letting the cold steel settle into his palm, and exhaled slowly.

The system had never failed him before, and he had no reason to believe it would now.

Whether the sword felt like an extension of his body or an alien object didn’t matter.

The system would guide him, sharpening his instincts, perfecting his movements, ensuring he wielded the blade with precision and mastery when the time came.

But how would his basic sword handling hold up against the others?

The thought lingered, heavy and insistent, as if testing his resolve.

Gon knew the other mages were not just skilled in the arcane; many of them had trained tirelessly with their weapons, honing their techniques to a razor’s edge.

Compared to them, his experience felt shallow, like the surface of a calm pond hiding uncertain depths.

The system might provide him with knowledge and ability, but would that be enough when faced with those who had spent years mastering their craft?

The question gnawed at him, feeding a quiet doubt that he couldn’t entirely shake.

Gon let out a shaky breath, the cold morning air burning faintly in his lungs.

There was no time for hesitation, no room for second-guessing.

He had made it this far by trusting in himself and the system—trusting that when the moment came, he would rise to meet it.

He clenched his jaw, steeling his heart, and forced the creeping uncertainty to the back of his mind.

With a firm push, he opened the door.

The creak of the hinges seemed louder than it should have been, breaking the fragile silence of his thoughts.

The crisp air outside hit him immediately, bracing and alive with the faint stirrings of the day.

Gon stepped out, the sword in hand feeling heavier now—not because of its weight, but because of what it represented.

He wasn’t just stepping out of his room; he was stepping into the unknown, into a world that would test him in ways he couldn’t yet imagine.

At the front door of the castle, his mother stood waiting, her figure framed by the grand stone archway.

Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her, and her brow was furrowed, the lines on her face deepened by the weight of her thoughts.