Gon's Harem System
Chapter 62: The second round begins

Chapter 62: The second round begins

Gon didn’t take the bait, but he didn’t back down either.

He stepped closer, his voice unwavering.

"I hope they pair me with you today," he said, his tone sharp with confidence. "So I can wipe the ground with you."

Dina’s smirk widened. She leaned in just slightly, lowering her hands and tilting her head.

The air between them crackled with tension, the chatter of the other competitors fading into the background.

Some had turned to watch the exchange, eyes flickering between the two fighters with interest.

Gon exhaled, his grip tightening on his sword.

He hoped they would face each other in the tournament.

He wanted it.

Because if there was one thing he was sure of—it was that he would not lose to Dina.

Dina’s smirk shifted, her expression turning sultry as her gaze softened, her eyes hazy with playful mischief.

She leaned just slightly into his space, her voice dropping to a teasing purr.

"Do you mean in the ring... or in bed?"

Gon stiffened, his breath catching for just a fraction of a second.

His usual sharp retorts abandoned him, leaving his mind blank as warmth crawled up his neck. He wasn’t prepared for that—not at all.

Dina’s smirk deepened, clearly enjoying the effect of her words.

Gon clenched his jaw, forcing himself to look away as heat flared across his face.

He didn’t know what to say, didn’t trust himself to respond without stammering like an idiot, so instead, he did the only thing he could think of.

He turned on his heel and walked away.

Shaking his head, he forced himself to focus, to push past the lingering embarrassment clinging to his skin.

He could still hear Dina chuckling behind him, undoubtedly pleased with herself.

Whatever. Let her have her fun. Soon enough, there would be no room for games.

As Gon walked away, his mind raced with the implications of Dina’s words.

Did she see him as a threat? A dangerous competitor she needed to monitor and keep close?

It wouldn’t be the first time someone would use mind games to throw off their opponent before a fight.

Maybe she thought flirting would distract him, make him second-guess himself when they inevitably faced off.

Or... was it something else entirely?

The way she had looked at him—half-lidded eyes, that teasing smirk, the deliberate lean into his space—wasn’t just about competition.

At least, it didn’t feel like it.

Was she genuinely attracted to him?

The thought sent another surge of heat through him, though this time it wasn’t just embarrassment—it was confusion.

Gon exhaled sharply, shaking his head again as if the motion could clear his thoughts. It doesn’t matter.

Whatever Dina’s reasons were, he couldn’t afford to dwell on them.

The tournament was all that mattered.

And if she was playing a game with him, she’d soon learn that he wasn’t so easily thrown off course.

He clenched his fists, closing his eyes for a moment as he steadied his breathing.

Push them out, Gon. The fight’s the only thing that matters.

Just as he was starting to calm himself, a voice sliced through the tension, cutting into his thoughts like a knife.

"Maybe today I’ll get you."

Gon groaned, rolling his eyes without looking.

The last person he wanted to deal with right now was Milo.

"What do you want from me?" Gon asked, his voice low, irritated.

Milo’s sneer was audible even before the words left his mouth. "I don’t want anything from you," he said, the sarcasm dripping. "I just want to tell you that I strongly feel like you’ll be paired with me in this round and I’ll finally make you pay."

Gon’s eyes narrowed, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.

This guy never knows when to shut up.

"Keep dreaming," Gon muttered, his tone icy. "I beat you once, I’ll beat you again."

Milo’s face twisted with fury, the veins on his neck standing out as he snarled. "You’ll regret ever crossing me, I promise you."

Before Gon could respond, Milo spun on his heel, storming off. But Gon couldn’t let it go.

"I didn’t cross you!" he yelled after him, his voice cutting through the air, sharp and unyielding. "You crossed me!"

As Milo’s back retreated into the distance, Gon felt the tension in his chest tighten again.

Between Dina and Milo, his mind was being pulled in a dozen directions at once. He could feel the anger bubbling up inside him, but he fought to suppress it.

Focus on the tournament. He repeated the mantra in his mind, forcing himself to take slow, calming breaths, focusing on nothing but the fight ahead.

A voice suddenly boomed from the loudspeakers, breaking through his mental fog.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" The announcer’s voice rang out, reverberating across the courtyard, a signal that the tournament was about to begin.

Gon straightened, every muscle in his body snapping to attention.

This was it. The distractions, the drama—none of it mattered anymore. It was time to prove himself again.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SECOND DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT!

The announcer’s voice boomed across the courtyard, ringing with energy and anticipation.

His words echoed off the high stone walls that surrounded the vast, open arena, where the morning sun cast long golden beams across the polished marble floor.

He stood on the raised platform at the edge of the battlefield, gripping a sleek silver microphone in one hand.

His eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the gathered crowd.

The spectators—warriors, nobles, and commoners alike—leaned forward in their seats, their faces alight with excitement.

All around, people were scrambling to take their seats before the tournament began,

The announcer twiddled his mustache in satisfaction, his fingers curling around the meticulously groomed ends as he took in the sight before him.

A slow, knowing smile crept across his face.

Clearing his throat, he lifted the microphone once more, his voice booming across the arena like a crack of thunder.

"YESTERDAY WAS ELECTRIFYING AND ACTION-PACKED! WE JUST HOPE TODAY WILL DELIVER AS MUCH!"