Harem Stealing System
Chapter 48 : Recalling problems

Chapter 48: Chapter 48 : Recalling problems

As Eiden stood watching Sasha’s back slowly disappear into the distance, her sprinting figure shrinking until it was nothing more than a memory on the pavement, he didn’t chase after her.

He didn’t call out, didn’t shout her name like in those cliché dramas where the guy suddenly realizes what she means to him. No. He just walked forward at his usual pace. Not because he didn’t care.

But because something inside him whispered it wouldn’t help not right now and also he didn’t knew what to do or why was she reacting like that .

With his hands casually in his pockets, he inhaled deeply and spoke mentally. "Hey, System-chan... Ding! Show me my status."

Status

Name: Eiden Mores

Level: 3

Exp: 30

Strength: 15

Speed: 17

Intelligence: 25

Height: 6 ft

Charm: 7

Harem Count: 1

Skills: Soothing Voice, Face Master

Skill Points: 3

Quest Progress

Mika Holes – 57%

Lyra Elwin – 100% (Completed)

Arin Valcrest – 61%

Airie Balerr – 1%

Maya Fernandez – 10%

Eiden narrowed his eyes, analyzing the numbers as if they were stock graphs on a bad trading day. "Hmm... I think I see some changes in the progress," he muttered to himself while walking. "I really should hurry up with Airie’s friendship quest. I really want to know what this ’Equal Exchange’ thing is about. It sounds too vague I can’t guess the skill at all. Could be anything."

The name was deceivingly simple, like one of those game titles that turned out to be deep psychological horror instead of what it advertised. "Oh well, if I don’t want anything like today happening again, I should start checking my status more often," he sighed. His footsteps slowed for a moment. "I feel bad for Sasha... she must have been too scared. Her trauma from losing her sister must’ve resurfaced again."

He rubbed his nose out of anxious habit. "I thought she was over it... or at least had it under control. But I guess she was just pretending to be strong on the outside. Damn..." He looked up at the sky, eyes hollow for a second. "I should apologize to her again. A real one this time."

Then, almost abruptly, his tone shifted. "Well, now that I’m 6ft, I can see everything from a different angle." He chuckled to himself, light and slightly smug. "I thought two inches wouldn’t make a difference, but turns out it’s enough to notice quite a bit. And I feel more confident... like my posture is better automatically. Weird, right?"

He tilted his head. "John, who I used to look up to literally I always felt like he was towering over me when he talked. Now? I think I just have to glance up a little. He might still be taller, though. I think he said he was 6.2 or something... Man, how the hell did he acquire that height?"

He scratched his chin, mildly curious. "I don’t think his parents were that tall... maybe some mutated ancestor genes? The guy’s built like a Viking, no joke." He laughed quietly. "But still, kinda strange how Sasha noticed my height change right away, but Mom didn’t react at all. She didn’t even blink."

His steps slowed. "She always notices things like my face changing slowly. So... she definitely noticed the height too. But she acted like I was normal, like nothing had happened."

Eiden paused in the middle of the walkway and slapped his forehead. "Oh, wait of course." He groaned. "She saw the height-increasing insole before when it got delivered to me through online, didn’t she? She probably thought I was using it ."

His memory scrambled through the events.

"When she saw me this morning, I already had my shoes on. At breakfast, I was seated before she laid the food, and when I finished, she was already at the sink doing dishes. She didn’t have a full-body view of me until I was already geared up to go. Makes sense now."

A weird smile tugged at his lips. "She probably thinks I’m trying to impress some girl or something by appearing taller. That insole was a gift for Harry’s birthday anyway I already gave it to him last week."

He shook his head and resumed walking. "Well, I guess that’s one less headache for now. But she’s bound to find out eventually. Maybe even today when I get back home..."

His eyes suddenly widened as a thought hit him like a brick. "Wait a minute Hey, System-chan! Ding! How did my height increase overnight?"

He waved his hands in the air. "My face is taking weeks to slowly change, right? There’s a cooldown three months and seven days for the charm upgrades to fully assimilate. But height? That just jumped like that without any warning or cooldown ."

There was a pause. Then the system finally responded. "It’s an error." Eiden froze. "A what now?" "An error," System-chan repeated matter-of-factly. Eiden’s voice rose in disbelief. "But you said you were a very advanced system! Shouldn’t you be, like... flawless or something? I don’t want to wake up tomorrow with twelve arms or no eyebrows!"

System-chan’s voice remained calm and unnervingly cheerful. "It’s true. I am an advanced system. However, errors can still occur when my installation into the host isn’t through viable means."

"Viable... means?" Eiden blinked. "Yes. I was supposed to be transplanted directly into your brain, or absorbed through your neural network. Instead, you swallowed me. I ended up in your intestines, which would have resulted in your death." "...What." Eiden came to a dead stop, blinking rapidly.

"DEATH?!! I COULD’VE DIED?!"

"Yes," System-chan continued, casually ignoring his outburst. "The capsule that holds the system is harmless when inserted correctly. However, if threatened, it will destroy the source of threat." "And my stomach acid was considered a threat."

"Precisely."

Eiden’s skin turned pale. "So you’re telling me... I was this close to being poisoned by your murder capsule?!" He mimicked a centimeter gap between his fingers. "You’ve got to be kidding me..." he muttered, shaking.

"Do not worry," System-chan added in a comforting tone. "I broke some rules to reroute myself manually to your brain. That’s why your installation succeeded, albeit with a few bugs."

Eiden felt like sitting down. "So that means... what? More of these random errors might happen?"

"Correct. But they will be minimal. And may occasionally benefit you."

"...What kind of ’advanced system’ is this?"

He kept walking in a daze, now re-evaluating his life decisions especially the ones involving glowing ass of cats . Still processing the possible near-death experience, he walked the next stretch of the sidewalk in silence, brain echoing with the word "error" like a cursed mantra.

Then, as if fate wanted to toss another emotional curveball, a voice called out to him.

"Eiden!" He turned his head. His breath hitched slightly. Walking towards him her posture confident, her gaze locked onto him was Linda. Her skirt swayed slightly in the breeze. Her lips curved in a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes, but was still unmistakably there.

Before he could say anything, she reached him and without hesitation grabbed his arm.

"Let’s go together," she said.Eiden froze on the spot. His eyes widened. His head filled with questions . He was puzzled and confused.

"What is going on?"