Emperor's harem: Transmigrated with SSS mana talent
Chapter 74: [New Primary Mission]

Chapter 74: [New Primary Mission]

"So... why are we partying? Shouldn’t we at least skip eating for one day — for them?"

The meatball slipped from Kael’s fingers, landing with a soft plop on the plate.

Silence

A brief silence hung between them.

Kael’s eyes glowed red—with fake tears—and he stomped the floor dramatically.

"You don’t know, Nyra, how much I loved them. How much I enjoyed their company."

He grabbed a meatball and shoved it into his mouth like it was the only thing holding him together.

"But now they’re gone... I can’t forget them.

...That’s why I’m distracting myself by eating."

Nyra blinked, a single tear escaping as she shook her head in disbelief.

Selene’s deadpan stare barely flickered — she was getting used to these dramatic displays.

The Divine General, too, lounged comfortably, clearly amused and unbothered by Kael’s antics.

Both of them exchanged a knowing glance, silently agreeing: this was just another one of Kael’s performances.

Kael waved a hand dismissively.

"Let’s not talk about them anymore—"

BOOM!

A sudden noise made him jolt.

"Haah! You nearly gave me a heart attack, Yue!" he barked, clutching his chest.

Yue only laughed, clearly enjoying herself.

Trying to steer the conversation, Kael cleared his throat.

"Anyway... the real question. How are we going to restore the Duke’s house?"

The Divine General leaned back, arms crossed.

"Actually, all of your father’s relics and properties were stored in the underground vault. If we sell those off, we could rebuild everything from scratch."

He paused.

"But we’d be broke for a while."

Kael nodded with surprising calm.

"Then we’ll recover slowly. For now, we’ll stay here."

There was a long silence.

Nyra, who’d just refilled the tea, flinched slightly.

Her hand trembled for a moment.

She opened her mouth as if to say something — perhaps to suggest they ask her if she was alright with them staying indefinitely — but the words never left her lips.

Selene noticed, her gaze sharp.

The General chuckled under his breath, pretending not to.

Kael, oblivious or ignoring it, just sighed and leaned back.

"It’ll be fine. What could possibly go wrong?"

Kael turned to Selene, his voice quiet but firm.

"Bring Riven and Lira here too."

Selene paused, studying him for a beat before nodding.

"You care for them more than you let on. It’s... unnatural, even for you."

Kael let out a long sigh, eyes drifting to the flickering candlelight on the table.

"I know. But it’s my gut.

Feels like something important—something I can’t name—is tied to them.

Like a thread I’m supposed to follow."

Nyra looked up from her seat, her tone gentle.

"Maybe the goddess is guiding your steps."

Kael gave a small nod, masking the flicker of something sharper behind his eyes.

Maybe, he thought.

Or maybe I’ll just harvest whatever benefit they bring when the time is right.

The room fell into quiet again, the air thick with unanswered questions.

###

After some time, Kael lay stretched out on a modest bed, the wooden frame creaking slightly beneath him.

From the narrow window above, the moonlight streamed in—cold and silver, washing the room in a pale glow.

He stared up at it, arms folded behind his head.

"Haa... finally, I became Duke," he muttered, a weary smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Didn’t think it’d come with this much blood."

He raised a hand lazily, and with a silent thought, the familiar flicker of blue light shimmered into view—his System panel appearing above him like a ghostly scroll.

***

[Conqueror’s System]

[Name: Kaelion Drenlor.]

[Rank: 2]

[Title: Certified Treacherous Bastard, Veiled Serpent Member]

[Race: Human]

[Affiliation: House Drenlor (Kingdom of Velmora)]

[Rank: Noble – Duke of the Western Province (Kingdom of Velmora)]

[Talents : Horse Riding: (D), Swimming: (E), Swordsmanship: (C) Mana Control: (SSS)]

[Spells(3/7) : Moon Blade ( Rank 1), Arcanum Vortex (Rank 2),

Mana Dome( Rank 2)]

[Relics: Dreamweaver(Soul-Bound ), Nortic Mask (Rank 8)]

[Familiar Spirit: Yue]

[Familiar Beast: #### {Venom} ( Rank 2)]

[Curse: Godbreaker’s Mark]

***

Kael’s eyes flickered as the system notification echoed clearly in his mind:

[Congratulations, Host! Primary mission complete]

[Reward granted: Rank 4 Spell – ’Crimson Veil"]

In his palm, a spell scroll shimmered into existence, glowing faintly with a deep crimson aura.

He stared at it for a moment, a rare smile breaking across his tired face.

Finally, he thought. I’ve got it.

"Haa, but I can’t learn this, of course — not until I officially reach Rank 4."

He frowned as he scanned the scroll, but no description appeared, leaving him clueless.

A hollow silence followed, stretching longer than it should have.

Then, a soft chime echoed in his mind, cold and mechanical, breaking the stillness like a drop of water in a crypt.

<Ding!>

[New Primary Mission Assigned]

[Conquer the Kingdom of Velmora]

[Reward: Talent Upgrade Card]

He just sat there for a while, unmoving, the silence pressing in around him like mist.

"haha...HAHAHAHAHA"

Then he laughed.

Soft at first—dry, almost weary. But there was something in it, a thread of understanding that only now began to unspool.

"So that’s how it is," he murmured, voice low. "It’ll always be like this... one step, one kingdom, then the next. Always another ladder to climb."

His fingers twitched.

"Next time... what then? An empire?"

A chill swept over him, subtle but undeniable, crawling along his spine and raising the fine hairs on his skin.

Goosebumps.

His gaze shifted toward the notification still hovering at the edge of his vision. Slowly, his eyes locked on the reward.

Talent Upgrade Card

"No spell this time, huh?" he said, almost to himself.

A flicker of thought. A glint behind his eyes.

"What would happen," he whispered, "if I used that card... on my SSS-rank skill?"

His heart thudded once, heavy in his chest.

"Would I become invincible under heaven?"

The question lingered—not a boast, not a fantasy. Just a quiet possibility.

With a grunt, he laid back on the bed, arms behind his head, eyes staring at the cracked ceiling.

Minutes passed. Then hour.

Sleep didn’t come.

His mind was a hive—buzzing with possibilities, questions.

With a groan, he sat up. "Screw it."

Maybe I’ll check on Selene. Just for a moment. Nothing weird. Just... peace.

He slipped quietly out of his room, the corridor cloaked in darkness.