...
Stretching out both hands, he touched both boxes simultaneously.
[Ding! You have received Kage Bunshin no Jutsu - Multiple Shadow Clones]
He knew the name of that Jutsu, and how could he not? It was a very famous ability where he came from, a specific technique from a well-known universe.
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, the Multiple Shadow Clones Jutsu, from the iconic work Naruto, a work known worldwide in his world.
This Jutsu was a forbidden technique, created by the brilliant Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, brother of Lord Wood, but which became the trademark of the blond-haired boy, Naruto Uzumaki, throughout the story...
Unlike the basic Clone Jutsu, which created mere illusions, Kage Bunshin created solid clones with their own chakra and consciousness. They could fight, think, and, most importantly, all the experience and knowledge they acquired was transferred back to the original user when they were destroyed.
It was a skill with god-level training and espionage capabilities. Or so it should be, if it were someone else who obtained it. However, for Theo, who had knowledge of thousands of spells, one of which was capable of doing the same thing as this Jutsu, this technique became almost obsolete in his hands.
"Anyway, it's better than nothing."
He thought, not disparaging the gift in any way, even though it was of no use to him, it was better to have it than not to have it. Who knows what kind of enemies he would face when he went to other worlds? If he were to face an army, for example, this jutsu would be of enormous help...
Theo then focused on the second notification.
[Ding! You have received 7x Peaches of Immortality]
Theo blinked, now with genuine surprise taking over his face.
[Peach of Immortality]
Type: Consumable Item (Divine)
Description: A heavenly fruit harvested from the Garden of the Queen Mother of the West. It is said that a single peach can grant eternal longevity and purify the body and soul of all impurities.
Effect: Upon consumption, dramatically increases life expectancy to an immeasurable level; strengthens the physical body; purifies the mana circuit and grants a significant amplification of all magical power. Grants permanent immunity to all known diseases and resistance to certain negative status effects (poisons, curses, etc.). The effect is not cumulative.
Theo remained silent, already thinking about what to do next.
His gaze turned to the hallway, then fixed on the door to his room, where Nayun and Yeonha were standing.
'Two already have their own owners.'
The idea of immortality, of living forever, was something he had never seriously considered for his girls, not until now.
'Even if I have the ability to make them stay with me for a long time, with these peaches, it will be even easier.'
Yes, with his magic, he could make them reincarnate as Demons, but there would still be risk. Unlike him, who possessed a special existence because of his Source, they, on the other hand, did not possess one, but rather a soul.
And the difference was abysmal.
The Source was the fundamental concept of his existence and defined all its aspects. It existed much more deeply than the body, soul, mind, and spirit and was therefore something far superior to the existential system of this world.
A soul, even that of a powerful demon in this world, was still fragile compared to his existence.
Their existence, no matter how much he reincarnated them, would always be at lower and more vulnerable levels than his.
Peaches would not give them a Source, but they were the closest he could get. They would strengthen their souls and bodies to a level where the risks of reincarnation or attacks targeting the soul would be drastically reduced.
It was a divine insurance policy, a way to bring their existence closer to his, ensuring that time or mortal frailty would not tear them away from his side. It was the only way to build a truly long future with them.
Could he grant them a Source or strengthen their souls? Yes, he could, but that would be left for the future. After all, if such a good gift had fallen into his lap, why not use it properly?
"Theo..."
Cappie's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. She, wearing a pink towel covering her body in a sensual way, was approaching him while watching him with curiosity, her face still flushed from earlier.
"Did you get anything good?"
Theo turned to her and, with a soft smile, left the seasoning on the counter and approached her gently, pulling her into his arms. The towel barely concealed the curves he had explored moments ago.
"As far as I'm concerned, no. Neither of them, not even the peach."
He replied, giving her a light kiss on her forehead.
"But for the girls. You already know what, right?"
Cappie, nestled in his embrace, hid her surprise at his sudden action and looked up as she murmured yes.
"Mm!"
As his "system," she had an inherent connection to what was happening in her host's "status" window.
After a few seconds, she got to the real reason she had come to the kitchen.
"Hey..."
She looked away, searching for the right words.
"Do you need me to help you bathe? If so, I'll be happy to."
Theo whispered, clearly wanting to tease her.
But oblivious to this, she quickly felt her ears heat up as she began to imagine such a scene.
"No, it's not that. It's me... me and you? Our relationship, what is it now?"
She struggled to say what she wanted to say.
When she was getting ready to take a shower, that question stayed in her mind to the point that she immediately wanted to ask him.
"Ahahaha! Is that why you haven't gone to the bathroom yet?"
Theo smiled, finding her cute and completely adorable too.
"I-I..."
Squeezing her cheeks with both hands, Theo gave her the answer she wanted with a serious look.
"From the moment you stole that kiss from me, I already considered you one of my girlfriends, now all that's left is for you to give me an answer."
"Uh!? Y-your... g-girlfriend...?"
That phrase hit her hard, catching her heart completely off guard. Her black eyes trembled and her voice stuttered with slight tremors. The word "girlfriend" was already a shock, but the way he said it, as if it were a fait accompli, left her speechless.
"Um! Yes."
He confirmed, releasing her cheeks but keeping his hands on her face, his thumb caressing the spot where the inverted tear was.
"And if you want, you can carry my surname in the future too."
If the word "girlfriend" was lightning, the mention of his surname was thunder that shook her entire being.
Mita/Cappie Sagan.
The idea blossomed in her mind, so sudden and so powerful that it left her breathless. It wasn't just an invitation to be his lover; it was an invitation to be his family, his wife. It was a promise of a future she never, even in her wildest dreams, dared to imagine.
She closed her eyes as she felt the touch of his hand.
No words were necessary. The slight tremor of her eyelids, the almost inaudible sigh that escaped her lips, and the way she leaned into his touch, seeking more contact, were the clearest answer he could have hoped for.
At that moment, he understood. Theo smiled, a smile full of warmth. He pulled her into a gentle embrace, enveloping her completely, as he leaned in and took her lips once more.
"Mm!"
After a few minutes, he released her, the sound of their lips parting echoing softly in the kitchen. With a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, he gave her a light slap on the butt.
"Go on."
He said, his voice a mixture of affection and playful teasing.
"I have to finish our dinner. If you stay here too long, I'll end up leaving the girls hungry."
Cappie, still dazed from the kiss and blushing from the unexpected slap, just nodded, unable to form a coherent sentence. She turned around and, with her heart pounding wildly and a silly smile on her face, finally headed for the bathroom.
...