We’re finally going home today. The three of us and a slime is leaving Mellian city today on foot. We thought about using carriage, but the girls said they want to fight more freely so we choose to go on foot. If we use carriage, we might end up bothering other passengers if we encounter monsters.

We’re walking together but there’s one thing that bothering me. It’s about Angela who keeps glancing my way. And every time I look back at her, she would avoid my gaze. So I ask her directly what’s bothering her.

“So, what’s bothering you, Angela?”

“Huh?! No- it’s nothing!”

Then Kayla spoke.

“Then I will ask Roy in your place, Angela. We’re curious about your relationship with girls in your previous life. Do you have a lover back then?”

“Is that what you two and Victoria talked about yesterday? Unfortunately, I died single. I’ve never had any girlfriend at all in both previous timeline and this one. Why so curious?”

“Victoria said that if we have any interest in romance, we should get away from you since we might ended up comparing other men with you.”

“Hah! What’s there to compare? Everyone is brave compared to me who thought of escaping as first priority!”

“But for me, I’m fine to have someone like you as my lover.”

“…you have a weird taste in men.”

“No. my taste in men is really good. Rather than choosing men who’s after my body, I rather choose someone who can protect me. How about it? Wanna be my boyfriend? I allow you to have a harem if you do.”

“Nice! Then we’re lover from today!”

I answered instantly without hesitation. I never have a girlfriend before and to think I will have one now. And she allowed me to have a harem! Why would I refuse that?

Angela who was surprised by our interaction confused with what happened.

“Wait! Is that how it goes? How are you two so casual about this?!”

“Well, I mean there’s nothing wrong about being casual, right? And we can just continue our lives as it is. It’s not like I have to be romantic now that I suddenly got a girlfriend.”

“He’s right. Casual is the best. And it’s not like we have to change how we interact just because we’re lover now. And you don’t need to worry about being a third-wheel.”

“Am I the weird one here?”

“Yes you are. You are too normal to be surrounded by weird people. That’s why when you’re with us, you will be the weird one among us. And if we meet other people, they will think that all of us is weird.”

“You… sigh… whatever. Just… congratulation on being lover you two.”

“Thank you.”

Angela seems to have given up with the matter of our relationship. While Kayla and I still act the same as usual. Our status now has become that of a lover, but we still act as we were before we became lovers. I wonder what the girls at the brothel will say if I told them that I have a girlfriend who allowed polygamy. Will they change their impression on me? Or maybe they will ask me to be their boyfriend? I’ll think of it later when I return later.

We camped for the night that day. Our pace is faster than it was before when we’re going to Mellian from Melk although the numbers of monsters encounter we had is almost the same. This must mean that we have grown stronger since we left Melk.

I would use Divine Vision to see where the enemies are, then we take turns of who will fight. It was Angela first, then Kayla, then me, and after my turn, its Angela’s turn again.

We left the next day after we finished our morning exercise. Angela with her meditation, Kayla with her fencing practice, and I would have a sparring session with Victoria’s human form.

She now can stay conscious as Victoria for about two hours. So the first hour is for me to spar with her, and the next hour is for chatting. When my sparring is over, we would continue our journey while chatting with Victoria.

And this time sparring session is about unarmed combat. How to fight without using weapon. I’m surprised to know that fighting unarmed is not just about punching and kicking. There’s also throws and locks.

When she used what she called ‘Armbar’ on me she dislocated my shoulder. And I have to ask Kayla to heal me. Fighting unarmed is really useful if I want to subdue a human enemy without killing them.

Victoria said that unarmed combat is really well developed in her previous world. And it even become some sort of entertainment. The fighter can become rich even if they fight just once every few months. Even if they just fight once or twice in a year, they can gain money even if they don’t win. What an amazing world.

And after she used armbar on me, I already know why she loves to watch it. I mean two men, getting that close where their bodies touched each other’s bodies must be a wonderful sight for her.

But still… a world where a fight can be an entertainment. That world must be amazing to think of that. And the strongest of them all can be crowned as the world champion. Even in this world, there are many people who would like to have that title.

Maybe I can put such idea in this world?

Everyone having to compete for the title of the strongest. Then maybe everyone will end up wanting to get stronger willingly. That way they have better chance for survival and more people will fight them. Let’s just think about it in the future since I don’t have any resource to do all that yet.

After taking a break for a few minutes after sparring session, we continued our journey home with Victoria still in human form. When we found a monster, Victoria would volunteer to fight it herself. That mean I can watch and learn how she fight, and I can increase my summoning magic proficiency because she’s still my summon after all. Which also mean that her time will grow longer as well. I hope it will be soon for her to be able to stay consciousness for the whole day. Then maybe forever if possible.

I like Blobby because she doesn’t talk much. Not that she can speak or anything. But having Victoria is much more useful because I can learn a lot from her.

And there’s another thing I just thought of.

“Victoria. Before I summoned you, where were you? I think it’s a question most summoner are curious about. Although it’s been a while since I summoned you for the first time.”

“Yeah. It’s been a while since you summoned me but you just ask me now?”

“Important things first. I never thought it was that important before. But now, I have the chance to summon more monsters, I thought of asking you first. But from your experience as monster, and the ancient knowledge of the past if you know any.”

“If I have to call it, I was in the monster world before you summoned me. And if you unsummon me right now, I think I will return back to that world. There are many monsters over there than here. Some of them even have intellect and understand human language. I think it’s a good time to tell you this. Summoning magic is actually connecting this world with that world. When you use summoning magic, you made a portal in both world. Then the monster closest to the portal will enter it. The portal has some kind of contract magic which allow you to make contract with the monster. It was lucky of you to summon me.”

“Now that you mention it… doesn’t it mean I’m extremely lucky? I mean you were my summon in my previous timeline and now you are my summon again.”

“You are right. You’re just lucky to have me again in your second life. Back in my time as Aura user, I learnt something about summoning magic from my teacher. My teacher said that most of summoner choose to grow stronger first, then he use summoning magic to open a portal to monster world and enter themselves. They will then find a monster to their liking to make a contract with. Usually through the means of battle. That’s why they choose to get stronger first before they summon a monster. Some time it would take them years before they make a contract and return to this world. It’s not rare to see human’s corpses in that world, so I guess there are many who died in that world. That’s why summoner are rare.”

“Doesn’t that mean I can make a portal to that world right now?”

“I don’t know. But for your next monster, I suggest you to do that if you want a strong monster. That’s all I know about summoning magic. The rest is for you to find out.”

If I could go to that world whenever I want that would be great. I can built a safe place over there. One which no one from this world will never know except the people I choose. But it might be filled with monster so I have to check the place first.