Harem Stealer: Reborn with the God-Tier Sharing System Chapter 8 8: A Month of Growth

One Month Later

A full month had elapsed since the day of the awakening.

By now, news of the rising prodigies had spread across the entire human domain. Stories circulated about those gifted with SS-rank talents, including the successors of the Four Great Families, the Empire’s princess, and the newly appointed Saintess of the Church.

However, two figures stood at the pinnacle, eclipsing even these exceptional monsters.

Noah Weaverheart and Elijah Stoneheart.

They were the world's only SSS-rank talent holders.

Between the two, Elijah’s reputation resonated more powerfully.

In addition to his SSS-rank status, he was hailed as The Blessed One and the Goddess's Champion. His renown spread like a wildfire across the continent. Currently, he resided under the Church of Light’s protection, subjected to grueling training meant to refine his divine potential.

⸻

The Royal Palace

A high-stakes discussion was taking place deep within the Imperial Palace, the center of Castria.

Emperor Rome Castria sat upon his golden throne, his brow furrowed in concentration. He tapped his fingers against the gilded armrest while staring intensely at a document on the table—the formal engagement contract linking his daughter to Noah Weaverheart.

With a heavy sigh, he asked, "How should we handle this?"

Empress Emily Castria stood nearby, arms crossed firmly. "Why is there any doubt? The path forward is plain to see. Elijah is clearly the superior choice."

She stepped toward him, her tone turning sharp. "He is the Blessed One, personally selected by the Goddess. His potential far exceeds Noah's. For heaven's sake, the boy possesses three talents. One is SSS-rank, and the others are rare elements like light and space. Why is this even a debate?"

The Emperor’s face darkened with a scowl. "It is because Selene outmaneuvered me."

Emily arched an eyebrow in question.

Exasperated, Rome explained, "That woman manipulated me into signing a binding, ironclad engagement between Sophie and Noah. Years ago, she provided assistance with a... particular issue, and she demanded this betrothal as her price."

Emily’s eyes grew cold. "Then simply annul it."

"It isn't that easy," Rome grumbled. "Selene isn't just a common noble. She is an SS-rank powerhouse and ranks among the most formidable humans alive. Her mastery over the ice concept is a genuine nightmare."

A look of disgust crossed Emily’s face. "That cursed witch..."

A heavy silence filled the throne room.

Massage his temples, Rome continued, "Direct confrontation is out of the question. It would only trigger a conflict we don't need."

Emily’s eyes glinted with a sudden idea. "Then we shall take a different route. We will arrange for Sophie to meet Noah personally. We’ll have her inform him directly that she has no interest in this union."

"As an SSS-rank talent holder and a mere youth, his pride will surely be wounded, causing him to withdraw of his own volition."

Rome gave a slow, approving nod. "If Noah is the one to back out, Selene will have no grounds to retaliate."

A smirk played on Emily’s lips. "Excellent. I will escort Sophie myself."

"Very well. But stay cautious of Selene. She is entirely unpredictable."

Emily offered only a knowing smile in response.

…

Weaverheart Training Grounds

BOOM!

A jagged pillar of ice erupted from the earth, barely missing Noah’s ribs. As he leaped and twisted in mid-air to avoid another spike, it became clear his mother was showing no mercy.

Standing a short distance away, Selene’s violet eyes shimmered with mirth. "Not bad, my darling. Your instincts for battle are sharpening."

Noah didn't even have a moment to breathe before a new volley of ice shards whistled toward him.

"Shit—"

With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a defensive ice wall.

CRASH!

The impact obliterated his shield instantly, throwing him backward across the frost-covered ground.

Selene clicked her tongue in disappointment. "Your ice remains far too fragile."

Noah let out a pained groan. "I—I’m aware of that..."

Selene smiled brightly. "Then make it better."

Damn it! I’m only at E-rank, for crying out loud.

With a simple snap of her fingers, the terrain beneath Noah shifted. Frozen chains surged from the ground, binding his legs. Before he could attempt an escape—

BOOM!

He was slammed into the dirt with enough violence to make the ground vibrate.

His vision blurred and the world began to spin.

Gasping for air, he lay amidst a cloud of frost and dust.

Selene knelt beside him, a mischievous grin on her face. "Oops. Was that a bit too much?"

Noah winced as he coughed. "No... it’s on me. I told you to be ruthless."

He was starting to deeply regret that request.

Selene let out a giggle. "That’s my boy." She affectionately ruffled his hair before standing up. "You’ve earned a rest for today. We’ll resume tomorrow. I have matters to attend to."

In a swirl of snowflakes, she vanished from the spot.

Noah remained on his back, staring up at the sky while his entire body throbbed with pain.

One month. He had endured four weeks of absolute hell.

His regimen was nothing short of brutal.

Mornings were dedicated to physical conditioning—running ten laps around a massive training arena, followed by hauling a boulder ten times his weight through deep sand.

Midday was reserved for mana control—learning to harvest mana from the atmosphere, minimizing waste, and molding ice into intricate shapes to maximize technique efficiency.

Afternoons were for combat practice. Or, as Noah preferred to call it, "the daily beating from my mother."

The most frustrating part?

He had asked for this.

When he had told Selene, "I want to become strong enough to protect you," her response had caught him off guard.

Her eyes had filled with tears of pure happiness, touched that her son was already thinking of her safety.

But then, her personality shifted completely. She dedicated herself to pushing him to his absolute limits.

Her training methods became heartless.

Noah sighed heavily. "Damn... I really should have kept my mouth shut."

Regardless, the progress was real; he was on the verge of a rank-up.

…

Suddenly, his shadow stretched and a presence manifested.

A dark silhouette stepped out from the gloom.

Noah looked over, unperturbed by her arrival. "Ester."

The woman clad in black stood before him, offering a small glass bottle. "Young Master, please consume this healing potion."

Without a second thought, Noah took the vial and swallowed the green liquid. The ache in his body began to fade immediately.

"Where is Neko?" he inquired, stretching out his stiff limbs.

Ester’s crimson eyes shimmered. "Lady Neko is focusing on her rank-up. She is determined to reach B-rank as quickly as possible."

Noah smiled. "Good. I’m eager to see her in her human form."

Upon reaching B-rank, Neko would finally gain the ability to speak and take on a human appearance.

He observed Ester, his personal shadow guard. His mother had assigned her to him following his awakening, having trained her specifically to be his silent protector. Thanks to her rare Shadow Affinity, she could merge with the darkness and travel unseen. She now remained in his shadow twenty-four hours a day, appearing only when needed.

Initially, having her there felt strange. Now, it was second nature.

"Is there something on my face, Young Master?" Ester asked, tilting her head slightly.

Noah smirked confidently. "You’re simply too beautiful, Ester. Especially that mole near your lips. It gives you a... very irresistible charm."

He closed the distance between them, stopping only inches away. His silver eyes locked onto her crimson gaze.

Ester became paralyzed.

Her heart hammered against her ribs. A flush of heat crept up her neck, and she instinctively recoiled a step.

Noah let out a soft chuckle as he walked past her. "I’m heading to my room to rest, Ester."

Ester stood frozen, watching him leave with a reddened face.

"...The Young Master truly enjoys teasing me."

She exhaled, placing a hand over her heart to try and settle the racing rhythm.

It was a futile effort.

Noah was becoming dangerously handsome.

She found it impossible to resist him; in truth, no one in the household could anymore. Everything had shifted since his awakening.

Reflecting on the fact that she was by his side every single day, a faint smile touched her lips.

"The others might desire him... but I am his shadow."

With those words, she dissolved into the darkness, merging once more with Noah’s shadow.

—End of chapter 8—