Demonic Dragon: Harem System

Chapter 241: Returning home

As they walked beside Strax on their way back to Vorah, something suddenly happened. Everything seemed calm, and the spiders had completely vanished, but...

"I think we should hurry back to heal Sylvia," Cristine said, walking ahead of the group.

"Want me to go on ahead?" Yennifer offered.

"No, it's fine, we're close by. And I brought an entire body; it'd be tough for you all to carry it," Strax replied with a smile.

"I'm feeling a bit worn out, so you all go on ahead," Strax added. He was more exhausted than usual, each step weighing heavily on him.

Though his wives were exhilarated by their victory, the laughter and lively conversation faded when he suddenly stopped and raised a hand to his head. The women around him froze, their eyes widening.

"Strax?" Samira called, worry replacing the smile on her face.

Before he could respond, his knees buckled, and Strax collapsed onto the ground. The sight sent a jolt of fear through his wives. Cristine was the first to react, rushing to his side and holding him up, while Beatrice, wide-eyed, tried to assess his condition.

"He's… breathing, but he seems weak," Beatrice murmured, her voice trembling.

"He should be okay; he probably just overexerted himself. Let's get him home and let him rest. It doesn't seem like he's poisoned. He's probably just exhausted," Monica said, examining his body. "Everything seems alright, at least on the surface..."

"Alright, let's lift him," Samira said, helping to support him. On the other side, Cristine steadied his arm.

"But let's still take him to a healer first… we're heading there anyway to make the antidote. He might be poisoned, even though the wound is healed," Monica suggested.

"Alright," Beatrice agreed.

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...

Naturally, the venom issue was resolved quickly, faster than anyone had expected. But as for Strax's diagnosis… well, the doctor didn't quite know what to say.

All he could confirm was that Strax had fallen into a deep coma, brought on by something he'd never seen before. The women could barely believe what they were hearing. With each passing day that Strax remained unconscious, sadness and despair gradually gave way to a reluctant acceptance that his absence might be long-lasting.

And so… the days began to pass…

Despite the heavy hearts and ongoing worry for their husband, the women decided to press forward with their original plans. After all, it was something Strax truly wanted for them. They began to strengthen the guild, training intensely, taking on missions, and raising the name of Osiris, each of them coping with Strax's absence in their own way.

Samira devoted herself to combat and strategy. She spent countless hours in the training grounds, refining her sword and hand-to-hand techniques, imagining that if she'd been stronger, maybe she could have prevented Strax's coma. She took the lead on missions, guiding the guild on expeditions Strax would have approved of, forcing herself to stay busy so she wouldn't dwell on the pain.

Monica, meanwhile, focused on her studies. Magic and mystical knowledge had always been her strength, and now, with Strax incapacitated, she felt the need to become a well of knowledge and guidance. She searched tirelessly for books, ancient scrolls, and relics, trying to uncover anything that might help bring Strax back from the coma. At night, she tried to sleep, but often found herself joining the others, talking about how things were going.

Cristine and Beatrice concentrated on guild operations. Beatrice managed records, finances, contracts, and communications with other guilds, while Cristine took charge of training the younger members, inspiring them with her discipline and showing them that the guild needed to stay strong, even without its leader. The two women became the backbone of the organization, ensuring nothing went astray. .net

Amidst it all was Sylvia, who had been poisoned during the spider attack before Strax defeated the Twelve-Legged Demon Spider. Her condition remained critical, but Monica took responsibility for caring for her. Every night, after long hours of study and training, Monica would go to Sylvia's room to apply the remedies the doctor had prescribed to gradually purge the poison from her veins.

Sylvia, weak and worn, often expressed her gratitude through tearful eyes. She knew that without their tireless effort, her fate might have been different. And, despite her frailty, she held onto the hope that Strax would awaken, so she could thank him personally for saving her in the first place. Luckily, she hadn't needed to amputate her poisoned arm, which gave her a newfound will to keep living.

Months passed. The impact of Strax's absence was felt in every corner of the guild and especially in their home. Though the four women tried to move forward, there was always something missing. At night, in the silence of their rooms, each one felt the pain of their leader and companion's absence. There were days when laughter echoed through the house, but there were also moments when the emptiness felt unbearable.

Then, one spring morning, as the sun shone brightly, something changed. The entire house began to tremble, as if responding to a presence that had returned to life.

Beatrice was the first to notice, interrupting a guild meeting when she felt the vibration through the floor. "It's him…" she whispered, wide-eyed, before rushing toward his room.

Cristine, in the middle of a training session, felt a chill down her spine. She dropped her weapon and ran, nearly knocking down doors on her way. Samira and Monica, equally alert, stopped what they were doing and exchanged a look, saying nothing, but with the same thought in their minds.

Gathering around Strax's bed, they watched as he slowly opened his eyes, as if awakening from a long dream. His face looked peaceful, and an aura of power radiated from him, stronger than any of them had ever felt before.

Monica was the first to speak, tears welling in her eyes. "You… you're back."

He blinked, as if adjusting to the light, then a tired smile spread across his face. "You're all here," he said, his voice rough but filled with affection.

Beatrice stepped forward, unable to hide the relief and emotion on her face. "Of course we are, you idiot. Who else would take care of you?"

Samira tried to keep her strong posture, but she couldn't stop the tears from falling. "You took so long! It's been over three months, you idiot!"

Cristine merely looked at him, smiling to the side, as if trying to hide how much she had waited for him. "I think you enjoyed making us wait, huh?" she joked, but her voice trembled slightly.

Strax chuckled softly, still adjusting to the sensation of being awake. "Sorry... this time, it's really the System's fault." He said, and they exchanged looks. "You... were in a coma, or...?"

"I was fighting against a Succubus Queen in a very strange castle in the middle of nowhere..." He said as he adjusted himself in the bed, resting his back on the pillow.

"Damn... I hate this shit." He muttered, massaging his head.

Monica, still with teary eyes, furrowed her brow upon hearing this. "A Succubus Queen? So, while we were desperate, you were playing with a succubus?"

Strax grimaced and let out a soft laugh, still clearly exhausted. "Believe me, Monica, I'd rather be here with you than in that place. It wasn't exactly... a pleasant visit."

Cristine let out a short, nervous laugh and sat beside him on the bed, still holding his hand as if afraid he might disappear again. "What do you mean by 'not pleasant'?"

He sighed, as if organizing his words in his mind before responding. "It was a kind of... update... I had to face four succubi without any cultivation or abilities."

Samira, trying to keep her composure, crossed her arms and stared at him. "So, you were basically in a nightmare while we were here trying to figure out how to get you out of that state? That explains... a lot."

"Ah... such exhaustion..." He muttered, closing his eyes, then he remembered something. Strax looked at her. "Sylvia... did she recover?"

Monica nodded, with a proud smile. "We managed to cure her. The doctor worked hard to find the cure, and we didn't rest until she was out of danger."

"Ah... that's good." Strax said. "You all are angels." He looked at each one of them, feeling a warmth that wasn't just from the reunion but from the bond they had strengthened even in his absence. "I really... don't know what I did to deserve you all."

Samira let out a short laugh and rolled her eyes. "Well, we're still here, so... you must have done something right."

Strax laughed with her, a deep, relaxed laugh that he hadn't felt in months. "I'll make up for the time I was gone. But I want to hear about everything that happened while I was... in another world."

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However... As Strax calmly returned to his wives...

"Who are you?" The Three Dragons looked at the small Succubus in the midst of so many large women.