The supporting character's harem is very normal

Lumiana watched Lathel fall asleep, reaching out as if to touch his face.

"You can try to take him, but the consequences… will be terrifying."

A cold voice suddenly rang out.

Lumiana didn't need to turn around to know who it was. She sighed and said, "Rakka, it seems… I have underestimated you."

Rakka stood in simple clothing, his expression calm as he looked at Lumiana and Lathel. However, his eyes carried an overwhelming killing intent.

Should Lumiana try to take Lathel away, it was as if she would have to pay an unimaginably high price.

Rakka did not respond.

He stepped forward, his hand tightening around the wooden sword at his waist, ready to strike any moment.

"Hahaha…"

Lumiana suddenly laughed, her clear voice ringing like a silver bell.

"Rakka, do you really think… you can take him from me?"

Rakka frowned.

A strange sensation crept into his heart as an invisible hand gripped him tightly.

—

Even though his level was still relatively low, he had already touched upon the fundamental truths of this world—he was just one step away from becoming a god.

But now—

Facing Lumiana, an inexplicable fear rose in his chest.

It was as if he were nothing more than an ant.

'This is strange…!'

Rakka thought to himself.

'Could this be an illusion? I have grasped the truth of the world—why am I being affected by the mere presence of a woman?'

Despite his confusion, Rakka remained on high alert.

In his previous life, his arrogance had cost him dearly.

This time—

He would not repeat the same mistake.

"Holy Pope!"

Rakka finally spoke.

"My friend has done nothing to harm you. In fact, he helped you through your difficulties—so why do you want to harm him?"

He decided to try persuasion first.

Lumiana didn't turn around.

Her gaze remained fixed on Lathel as she said,

"I am not harming him. I am helping him."

"Sometimes… words alone are not enough to express what I truly mean."

"Trying to explain things to him will only make him doubt me further."

"That is why… I have no choice but to do this."

She slowly turned to Rakka, her silver eyes gleaming.

"Rakka, do you want to stop him from ascending to the throne of God?"

Rakka's frown deepened.

His expression shifted—confusion mixed with a hint of curiosity.

"God? Are you saying…?"

Before he could finish his sentence, Lumiana raised her hand.

A brilliant light appeared before him—

Carrying with it an overwhelming power.

Standing before that overwhelming power, Rakka felt an uncontrollable urge to kneel, to lower his head, and to revere it as 'God.'

"This is…"

Rakka's face showed confusion and hesitation for the first time—an expression he had never displayed before.

Lumiana glanced at him and spoke softly:

"Rakka, you are one of the very few in this world who has the potential to become a God."

"I hope… that you can break free from this cage, step beyond its boundaries, and ascend as a true deity."

Rakka's eyes widened in fear as he looked at Lumiana.

"Who… are you, really?"

"Does that matter?"

Hearing her response, Rakka felt a surge of conflicting emotions within him.

But after a moment, he shook his head and firmly declared:

"Lathel is my friend. I don't know what you plan to do with him, but even if this is an opportunity to become a God, I do not need it."

"Even without this, I can still achieve godhood alone."

Lumiana glanced at Rakka, her gaze filled with amusement and a hint of disbelief.

"Do you really think… you can stop me?"

"Let's find out."

Rakka tightened his grip around his wooden sword.

However, a few drops of cold sweat slid down his forehead.

Just yesterday—

Lumiana had looked like someone on the verge of death.

Against the four Level 100 powerhouses, she had been pushed to the brink, nearly slain.

But now—

She was completely different.

This—

This was the true Holy Pope.

The true monster that stood at the peak of the continent.

Rakka took a deep breath.

His heart pounded wildly as if it were about to burst out of his chest.

A creeping sense of unease grew stronger—so intense that his instincts screamed at him to throw away his sword and run.

But—

He was not that kind of person.

His resolve and courage were not something ordinary men could understand.

Lumiana still did not turn to face him.

Instead, she raised her slender finger and lightly tapped the air before her.

Rakka's pupils shrank.

His instincts screamed—

Without hesitation, he swung his sword.

KENG!

A sound like the tolling of a divine bell rang out.

Rakka's mind wavered, his thoughts thrown into chaos.

And then—

His very soul began to tremble.

A wave of terror, anxiety, and despair surged through him.

Countless negative emotions flooded his heart.

In the end—

Rakka could no longer resist.

Just like Lathel, he collapsed into unconsciousness.

But—

His condition was far worse than Lathel's.

Though unconscious, Lathel's face was calm, even carrying a slight smile as if he were having a pleasant dream.

Rakka, however—

His expression was twisted in fear and distress, his face filled with anger and unwillingness as if he were reliving the torment of his past life.

Lumiana lowered herself and gently lifted Lathel into her arms, carrying him like a princess.

She took a single step forward—

And in the blink of an eye—

She vanished without a trace.

Leaving only Rakka behind.

…

At the same time, in a hidden chamber, the walls were covered with images of Lathel. Carefully placed inside crystal spheres were various objects he had once used, preserved with meticulous care.

Amleth sat inside, clad in a thin nightgown that revealed her long legs and a body overflowing with allure.

A wine glass rested in her delicate fingers, her cheeks flushed red from intoxication, making her resemble a beautiful yet thorned rose—exquisite but dangerous.

Lately, she had been unable to sink her claws into Lathel.

Catheryne had nearly severed her entire financial network, restricting all economic routes that Amleth had once dominated.

Of course, this wasn't just a disadvantage for Amleth—

The Karol Empire's economy itself was suffering.

Catheryne's goal was clear—

To completely cut off Amleth's influence.

However, Amleth's control over the economy had run too deep.

Even if Catheryne severed all her networks, it would only bring disaster to the Karol Empire and its surrounding kingdoms.

Some of those kingdoms were entirely dependent on these trade routes—

If their financial lifeline was severed, they would inevitably collapse.

Yet, Amleth cared little for the political turmoil.

She only cared about Lathel.

But—

With the Royal Guards stationed everywhere, she could not act freely.

Even her elite assassin force, the Night Butterflies, struggled to break through the surveillance.

Some had even been killed by the Royal Guards.

At this moment—

Amleth was like a caged beast.

She could only wait.

Either—

The Empire would reach the brink of collapse, forcing Catheryne to negotiate and grant her freedom.

Or—

The Empire would completely fall, allowing her to rebuild her influence and strike back at Catheryne.

Amleth had no fear that Catheryne could restore the broken economy.

After all—

Almost every merchant was under her control.

Without her approval, they would not send their profits or taxes to the Empire.

Furthermore—

Even the economy of the Enchanter Tower was built through Amleth's management.

Without her, the financial structure of the Enchanter Tower would inevitably crumble.

She had no concern for the Empire's state or the merchants' lives.

Even if countless people died, it meant nothing to her.

To Amleth,

Outside of Lathel, every other life was like that of an insect.

Even if they perished, they weren't even worth her gaze.

She lifted her glass, eyes burning with obsession and longing.

Her lips parted, whispering a name—

"Lathel…"

Chang!

Amleth suddenly let out a low growl, then crushed the wine glass in her hand.

Blood and wine mingled together, the sting of the wound searing through her skin.

Yet—

She didn't care.

Her fingers tightened around the shards, and her face twisted into an expression of pure madness.

"AAA!! How many days has it been since I last saw him?!"

CRASH!

Amleth flung the broken shards away, then violently shoved a crystal sphere off the shelf, shattering it into countless fragments.

"Lathel! Lathel! Lathel!"

Her voice grew more unhinged, repeating his name like a chant of obsession.

But she didn't stop.

She continued to destroy everything in the room, the sound of glass breaking, echoing relentlessly.

A few moments later—

The door suddenly opened.

Meryl stepped inside.

She was unfazed by the chaotic scene before her.

Shattered glass littered the floor, and Amleth's body was covered in countless wounds, blood soaking through her thin nightgown.

But this wasn't unusual.

Ever since Amleth had been caged like a wild beast, she had been smashing things every day, leaving her body severely injured.

Luckily, this was a world of magic—

Healing potions could instantly restore her body, leaving behind no scars.

But that only made things worse.

Knowing she could heal without consequence, Amleth had begun harming herself recklessly, pushing her body to the edge of death.

Meryl stepped forward, carefully lifting a crystal sphere with both hands.

She lowered her head respectfully and said,

"Master, Catheryne wishes to see you."

Amleth's brows furrowed deeply.

Her bloodied hands clenched tighter, causing fresh blood to flow even more freely.

"That bitch—what does she want from me?!"

Amleth roared, her voice filled with madness and fury as if she wanted to tear Catheryne into a thousand pieces.

Then—

A voice suddenly resonated from within the crystal sphere.

A voice overflowing with power and authority.

"It seems… that after being locked away for so long, you've lost control of yourself, Amleth."

"You…!"

Amleth's rage exploded.

She lunged at Meryl, her bloodstained hands grabbing the crystal sphere and lifting it high.

Her fingers tensed, ready to crush it with all her strength—

But then—

Catheryne's voice echoed once more.

"I want to cooperate with you."