Nathan stepped into the cave. The atmosphere was dim and calm. In the right corner, Domina and Livia were already asleep. Their breaths were slow, barely audible.
He didn’t take off his cloak.
He just laid down in the left corner of the cave, his head resting on a bed of straw.
"Heh..." he chuckled softly. "Back then... I acted all tough."
"If only I’d been more honest... maybe things would’ve turned out different."
He inhaled deeply, then let it out. "But whatever. That’s the past."
His eyes half-closed as he turned to the right, turning his back to the caramel mommy.
"I still have a chance... to meet her," he whispered.
Then a faint smile appeared.
"And the Monster Girls... meeting my mom?"
He turned his body to the right, resting his right hand as a pillow.
But suddenly, a face flashed in his mind.
Ah. Why... am I thinking of that strict senior?
A woman with neatly tied hair and sharp eyes that always looked at him like he was beneath her.
Nathan let out a breath.
He felt calmer now. Clearer.
And... finally realized.
"All that time I was working..." he whispered. "She... was always helping me."
He gently squeezed the straw beneath his left hand.
"Damn," he murmured. "I really was an idiot."
"Feeling guilty... weirdly, it feels kinda good."
He stared at the cave wall.
’When i don’t tun from this feeling, i start thinking about how to make the discomfort go away. Not now. But someday."
His eyes slowly closed, and finally—he fell asleep.
Light filtered in through the cracks of the cave. But it was quiet. Domina and Livia were gone.
"Maybe they’re doing stretches?" Nathan mumbled.
He got up, took off his cloak, held it, and stepped outside.
Didn’t see any sign of the caramel tits.
"Hm? Hunting? I thought they were preparing for meat day!?"
He walked toward the river. Thirsty.
Beside the river, a small garden.
The ten Prunus Vitalis trees he planted were still standing tall.
Five crystal bana fruit sprouts were still small.
Where were the Monster Girls?
Gathered in the garden. Sitting beneath those trees. Nathan didn’t approach them right away.
He drank first. One gulp, two gulps—
Something jumped onto his back.
When he turned around—
Livia. Grinning wide. Eyes sparkling.
"Where is it? Where’s the cloth?! Where?!" Her ears twitching with happiness.
’Impatient Rabbit...’
He and Livia walked to the garden. Domina, Velmora, Morvessa, and Validia were already lounging casually.
Nathan opened his panel.
Selected Hunter Trade Center.
The Monster Girls were immediately amazed.
"Whoa... your panel shows weird thing!"
"You can pick one too?!"
Nathan sat in the middle of them and opened the clothing category.
"Pick whatever you like," he said casually.
"I... I’ll just get the same as Domina," she whispered.
Heh... the kind of little sister who copies her big sis, huh?
Domina pointed at one of the images.
"Hoodie?" Nathan asked.
Domina nodded. "Like the one you used to wear."
He bought it. Only cost half a Tower Point. Bought two. One for Livia.
The moment the hoodies appeared from the panel, Livia snatched hers.
Velmora’s tail was already wagging.
"Go ahead, pick one."
Velmora chose a white crop top. Cost? Quarter TP.
Morvessa stayed silent. Calm. Didn’t choose anything.
Nathan glanced at Validia.
She looked... unsure.
Hmm... what now? Nathan thought.
But Validia smiled instead.
"Don’t worry about me," she said.
Her voice was soft, mature—like a big sister not wanting to spoil her little sisters’ happiness.
"I’ll head to that place again, i still have thing to do." He said.
The Monster Girls all answered in unison, "We’re go with you!"
But none of them wore the clothes right away.
"If we wear them now, they’ll get dirty..." Domina said.
Nathan murmured, "Oh..."
He walked to the forest area that have unfinish farm.
Ultimate Architect activated again.
He began placing wooden planks.
He kept going, laying down pieces. He glanced back—Domina, Livia, and Velmora were admiring the modern clothes with wonder.
While Validia’s gaze still carried a quiet envy.
Nathan exhaled and kept working.
I’m sorry, Validia, he said in his heart.
The longer he worked, the more something felt off.
He looked back again.
Weird... why aren’t they helping me today?
The Monster Girls were just sitting. Even Morvessa stayed quiet.
Validia just stared at Nathan. The rest sniffed at the clothes, marveling.
Finally, he reached the last plank.
"Finally fin—" he paused.
"Shit. I forgot to buy clothes for myself again," he muttered while placing the last piece.
[Structure Completed]
Nathan smiled— until he saw the pile of Kralven tree logs still stacked.
"Ah, yeah... That goddamn shit cleaner," he grumbled.
[Would you like to activate optional project?]
Nathan instantly tapped.
"HELL YEAH! I’m not cleaning shit by hand!"
Imagery Axe dropped from thin air.
And for some reason— Domina, Livia, and Velmora appeared again.
Their eyes locked on the axe.
Like they were mesmerized.
Even though just minutes ago they said nothing when he was working.
Nathan shook his head.
’They’re really obsessed with this axe.’
Handed the copies to all three of them.
The process began. The panel showed how to cut the Kralven logs:
Slice them lengthwise like pipes.
Trim the sides, smooth the surfaces.
There was even a cute little monster animation giving instructions— complete with pop sounds on every click.
Nathan gave a crooked smile.
This is super easy to understand.
The Monster Girls stood, watching.
Where’d they put their new clothes?
Nathan squinted— looked again at Validia.
Hmm... I feel sorry for her. He exhaled slowly.
He noticed Validia’s right index finger was being used to hold the new clothes of the three axe-wielding Monster Girls.
Meanwhile, Morvessa remained quietly perched on Validia’s shoulder.