In Lisa's office...

It took Lisa a few minutes for Lisa to calm herself down after Muku made her horny but refused to go all the way or even make her cum with his hand.

"Sigh. Couldn't he at least finish with his hand? And what does he mean by he will make me mine next time after doing so much already? In my book, what he did was enough. Whether he wants to or not, he has to take responsibility. Hmph! Thinking he can just do that to me and leave!" Lisa complained to her as she dressed herself.

Then she cleared the air of her sweet scent with her mana before someone came in and found out what had happened...

"Fortunately it worked out... I really wish to have a talk with the people who wrote those OP returner novels. Like, shouldn't I have somehow climbed to the top of the world by now despite my less-than-ideal class level? After two years of hard work, I could barely reach slightly above average strength and almost got killed off too. At least I managed to gather a decent force which was instrumental in today's deal... But still, am I the problem or is this world not like those novel worlds where there are big opportunities everywhere? I mean, even now... I haven't come across any opportunities I could take advantage of and climb to the top. Or is it the only opportunity in this world to know him? It's kinda understandable if it is. Well, whatever, let me try this weird apple he brought me. I need energy if I'm going to blackmail him into taking responsibility. And I haven't had fruits for a rather long time..." Lisa spoke to herself as she recalled how she got to that point.

Then she took a bite of the fruit and... Perfect bliss attacked her tongue.

Yes, the fruit was so good that it might as well have been eating solidified happiness!

And like with the people who ate it before her. It ended before she could probably enjoy it...

Just when she was about to chase Muku down and ask for more... She felt a tingling feeling in her body then... Pain

"Ahhhhhh!" Without restraint, she let out a pained shriek which was heard by everyone in the fortress.

Even Muku who had just arrived at the mansion heard it and he disappeared.

In less than a second, he was budging into Lisa's office.

He arrived before even a single person from the base could make it.

And what he saw perplexed him greatly.

The fruit he left for Lisa was gone. Her reddened skin suggested that she had taken it and it was doing its job. However, that wasn't all that was happening.

Black earth mana was running wild around her and was obviously in pain as she squirmed on the ground with tears coming out of her eyes.

It looked like she wanted to continue screaming but was holding herself back by biting down on her chair's wooden leg. It was a miracle the leg wasn't broken... It was created by something with a wood element or something...

Muku was about to jump in and subdue her power when the phone in his pocket vibrated.

Of course, he was about to ignore it... But it answered itself before they could move. And his mother's voice was heard.

"Hmph! Such a terrible son. You were totally planning on ignoring your mother when she finally got a chance to talk to you live. Anyway, don't interrupt that little girl. What's happening is actually a good thing. She's quite lucky actually. In fact, give her one more fruit and leave the room. Tell her to hang in there and she won't be disappointed by the result. Do it now, I'll wait..." Mrs C complained then gave Muku orders.

He did as he was told without a second thought... She was probably the only person he'd listen to without thinking at all... Maybe Audrey could make him do the same. But not as strongly as Mrs C.

Anyway, he gave Lisa another fruit after telling her to hang in there for something amazing to happen.

Normally, a person who didn't know Muku well enough would tell him to fuck off in such a situation.

After all, they'd be in pain caused by the fruit. Then the bastard comes and offers another and says to hang in there? That was absurd to say the very least.

But Lisa was different. As a returner, thrown into a different timeline. She trusted Muku just as much as she trusted herself.

Plus she read a few novels where things like this led to great benefits. She wasn't about to pass up on such a thing. Especially not after Muku literally stated that that was the case.

So, she accepted the fruit and the pain increased. But she didn't scream like before since she was expecting it unlike last time.

Muku looked at her worriedly for a moment but then got up and left. His opinion of Lisa actually improved due to the trust she showed him.

Sure, she had shown that she trusted him with many of her actions up to that point. These included seeking him out for protection and offering herself to him.

But it was only now when the situation was out of her control and painful but she still chose to trust him that he was moved.

He even promised himself to make sure to take care of her more from then on no matter what happens.

Sure, he might get a beating from the girls for it, but oh well. Such was the life he chose...

.....

Outside the office...

Everyone had crowded outside but couldn't get in since Muku had put up a Force Field.

And so, they could only helplessly wait and see what would happen after they failed to break through.

If something bad had happened to Lisa, they were ready to fight it out with Muku even if it meant death.

As they thought such belligerent things. Muku came out of the office.

They glared at him waiting to see if he would explain on his own or they had to make him... At the very least, they would try...

"Don't look at me like that. I didn't do anything bad to her. I just gave her an opportunity which is a bit painful. However, the results will be worth it. I won't say anything more. Wait for her to explain later when she's done and comes out. For now, don't disturb her..." Muku calmly explained, even though he himself wasn't sure what was going on with Lisa.

"Why should we believe you?" One woman hissed back.

"You know. Before, I thought that Lisa was being too harsh with you all. But now I see that she might not have been harsh enough. Has her care made you all too comfortable? If yes, should we sort that out right now?" Muku spoke as the nightmare armour covered his body again.

And for the first time ever since he got it. He didn't subconsciously reject it... And the result?

Black smoke exploded out of it and enveloped everyone present...

The black smoke disappeared as quickly as it appeared but the eyes of the women all turned pitch black then...

"Ahhhhhh!" More than two hundred screams rang out at the same time.

Fortunately, Muku had isolated the area or the screams would have disturbed Lisa.

The women all started screaming while waving their hands in front of them as if they were looking at their deepest fears.

Muku who didn't expect the result looked at the eyes of one woman and the next second... He found himself in a black creepy-looking forest.

The woman he was looking at before was also in the forest and behind her were countless insects chasing after her.

And soon, they caught up and she was completely enveloped by them. Then they began eating her alive.

Some entering her body through her mouth, ears, nose and yes... There too.

The scene was nightmarish for even the bravest of men. Yet, Muku was unmoved as he looked on.

Soon enough the woman was killed...

Then Muku was kicked out of the weird forest and came back to reality.

He looked at the woman again and she was on the ground, unconscious. Form was coming out of her mouth. She had clearly been scared into fainting since her body was completely fine and she was still alive.

Many other women were in the same situation. But some were still screaming while standing still.

He looked into the eyes of one of those still standing and he was pulled into the forest again.

The new woman was there as well. However, she wasn't getting chased by insects. Hell, she wasn't getting chased at all. She had already been caught.

And countless naked men surrounded her as they took turns with her without giving her any breaks. Just like the last one, she soon died as well.

".... Well, that one might have been too much. But then again, from my analysis, what they are experiencing are their worst fears. So I can't be blamed. I didn't even know it was possible after all..." Muku justified himself to no one in particular.

He honestly hoped they wouldn't be traumatised after this experience otherwise he wouldn't know what to say to Lisa.

But it really wasn't his fault. They were just too entitled that it pissed him off. If it were the first time something like this had happened, he wouldn't have been bothered since they were just showing their care for their leader.

But he had basically given them their lives and recently saved them. Lisa had also warned them many times. And yet they still dared question him?

He might be easygoing with his group. But when outsiders were involved... They'd better know where to stop or suffering was guaranteed.

Even if he only wanted to crash them with his aura while scaring them with his look. This nightmare thing worked too. In fact, it might be the most effective method.

"So this is its power? Truly worthy of being called Nightmare" Muku spoke to himself as he recalled the armour.

Black smoke retreated from the women and entered the armour as he did so.