Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 144: Peaceful Day

The next morning, Karl woke up feeling utterly drained. His body ached in places he didn’t even know could ache, and there was a distinct hollowness inside him—like he had been completely wrung dry.

Because, well... he had been.

The soft morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the tangled mess of sheets and exhausted bodies beside him. Layla was curled up against his side, breathing softly, her bare leg draped possessively over him. Jane was sprawled out on his other side, her expression smug even in sleep, as if she had won something.

Karl groaned, rubbing his temple. He felt hollowed out.

His energy? Gone.

His stamina? Depleted.

His dignity? Compromised.

Jane stirred first, stretching lazily like a cat before turning to face him with a knowing smirk. "Mmm... Morning, stud. How’s our champion feeling?"

Karl glared at her. "I feel like I got thrown into a raid boss fight with zero potions."

Jane laughed, propping herself up on one elbow. "Aww, poor baby. Guess you shouldn’t have gone so hard, huh?"

Karl shot her a deadpan look. "Don’t act innocent. You were the one whispering depraved things in my ear all night."

Jane grinned. "Well, yeah. And look how well that turned out." She patted his chest with the smug satisfaction of a final boss.

Layla stirred beside him, letting out a sleepy little hum. "Mmm... Karl..." she mumbled, nuzzling closer. "So warm..."

Karl exhaled. Yeah, of course she was still full of energy.

Jane chuckled, stretching her arms above her head. "Man, I haven’t slept that good in ages. We should do that every night."

Karl closed his eyes. "I will die."

Jane smirked. "And what a glorious way to go."

Karl groaned, sitting up slowly—only to immediately regret it. His whole body protested, his muscles aching from the sheer stamina abuse.

Layla blinked up at him, rubbing her eyes. "Karl...? Are you okay?"

Karl collapsed back onto the pillow. "No."

Jane grinned, poking his cheek. "Aww, did we break you?"

Karl turned his head slightly, eyes burning with exhaustion. "You knew what you were doing."

Jane just giggled. "Of course I did."

Layla blushed slightly, glancing away. "S-Sorry... we might’ve... um... been a little too much last night..."

Karl sighed. "No, Layla. You were fine."

Jane cackled. "Translation: I was the problem."

Karl didn’t even try to deny it.

Jane grinned wider. "Damn right I was."

Karl let out a slow breath. He needed food. He needed water.

The morning stretched on, slow and peaceful. Despite Karl’s near-death experience from last night’s endurance challenge, there was something oddly comforting about the quiet warmth in the room.

The soft hum of city life filtered through the windows, the golden light casting a gentle glow over the rumpled sheets. Layla had nestled back into his side, breathing softly, her warmth seeping into him. Jane, ever the troublemaker, had finally settled down, lying on her stomach with one arm lazily draped over him.

For the first time in a long while, Karl felt... at peace.

No immediate dangers. No last-minute supply runs. No looming threats.

Just a lazy morning.

And he wasn’t about to waste it.

Karl closed his eyes, enjoying the rare moment of stillness. The scent of coffee and faint traces of perfume lingered in the air, mixing with the warmth of the two women beside him. It felt... normal. Or at least, as normal as life could get these days.

Eventually, Jane stretched with a lazy groan. "Mmm... I could sleep all day."

Karl snorted. "After what you put me through, I’d be surprised if you had any energy left."

Jane smirked without opening her eyes. "You underestimate me, sweetheart."

Layla giggled, shifting slightly. "Karl’s warm..." she murmured, half-asleep.

Karl sighed, running a hand through her soft hair. "You’re clingy when you’re tired, you know that?"

Layla just hummed in response, refusing to move.

Jane cracked one eye open, watching them with mild amusement. "Man, we’ve corrupted you."

Karl rolled his eyes. "Right. Because I was totally a pure and innocent saint before meeting you two."

Jane grinned. "You said it, not me."

Karl shook his head, finally forcing himself to sit up. His body still ached, but at least he wasn’t completely out of commission.

"Alright," he said, stretching his sore muscles. "I’m making breakfast."

Layla perked up. "Ooh! Can we have pancakes?"

Karl raised an eyebrow. "Do we even have the stuff for that?"

Layla pouted. "I think so..."

Jane yawned, sitting up and running a hand through her messy hair. "If not, we can trade for it later. You know, after you fully recover from last night’s war."

Karl glared. "You’re never letting this go, are you?"

Jane smirked. "Not a chance."

Karl sighed, but there was no real annoyance in it. Despite her teasing, there was something comforting about Jane’s presence—her relentless confidence, her way of making things feel normal, even when the world had long since stopped being normal.

And Layla? Layla was the opposite. Soft, sweet, and full of warmth. The kind of warmth Karl hadn’t realized he’d needed until she’d come into his life.

Between the two of them, life felt... manageable.

Maybe even good.

Karl stood up, rolling out his shoulders. "Fine. Pancakes it is."

Layla cheered.

Jane smirked. "Look at you, Karl. A true househusband in the making."

Karl scoffed. "In your dreams."

Jane stretched, standing up beside him. "Oh, don’t worry. You were already in my dreams last night."

Karl exhaled sharply. "Nope. I’m done. Conversation over."

Layla giggled as she followed him to the kitchen. "Jane, stop teasing him!"

Jane just grinned. "Never."

And just like that, the morning continued—peaceful, warm, and for once, just a little bit normal.

Karl stepped out of the apartment, stretching his sore muscles as he made his way down the familiar hallway. The air was crisp, the remnants of last night’s exhaustion still weighing on him, but at least he was walking. That was a start.

His destination? Curtis.

After everything that had happened, Karl needed a distraction. Maybe some dumb conversation, maybe just some peace away from the two forces of nature waiting for him back in his apartment.

He reached Curtis’s door and knocked.

It swung open immediately.

And Curtis—**the moment he saw Karl—**paused.

His eyes narrowed.

Then, a slow, knowing grin spread across his face.

"Ohhh, you got drained."

Karl sighed. "Curtis—"

"Nah, nah, nah." Curtis leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms, looking him up and down like he had just uncovered a scandal. "Don’t even try to deny it."

Karl exhaled sharply. "I’m not—"

"Bro." Curtis gestured at him. "You’re walking like a guy who just finished a ten-hour dungeon raid with no potions left. You’re empty."

Karl pinched the bridge of his nose. "Can I come in or—"

"Of course! Of course!" Curtis stepped aside, still grinning. "Come in, sit down. Not like you can stand for much longer, huh?"

Karl ignored him.

He stepped inside, dropping onto the worn-out couch with a groan. Curtis followed, grabbing a nearby energy drink from his stash and tossing it over.

"Here," Curtis said. "You look like you need recovery items."

Karl caught it but didn’t open it immediately. He just let his head rest against the back of the couch, staring at the ceiling.

Curtis sat down across from him, watching him like a scientist studying a rare species.

Then, with pure amusement, he said:

"So. Who won?"

Karl sighed. "What?"

Curtis leaned forward. "Was it Jane? Layla? Or did they both tag-team your soul out of existence?"

Karl rubbed his face. "I hate you."

Curtis cackled. "That’s not a denial!"

Karl cracked open the energy drink and took a long sip, pretending Curtis didn’t exist.

Curtis, of course, refused to be ignored.

"Man, this is great. You finally get a peaceful day, and the first thing you do is show up at my place looking like a retired war hero." freewёbnoνel.com

Karl sighed. "I just needed some space."

Curtis smirked. "Right. Because if you stayed any longer, they would’ve eaten you alive."

Karl didn’t confirm or deny. He just kept drinking, hoping Curtis would get bored.

He didn’t.

Curtis leaned back, grinning. "So, how bad was it?"

Karl groaned. "I’m not talking about this."

Curtis laughed. "Come on! I gotta know what took you out! Was it Jane’s dominance? Layla’s innocence? Did they make you—"

Karl threw the empty can at him.

Curtis dodged, still laughing. "Ohhh, you’re actually mad! This is amazing."

Karl sighed, rubbing his temple. "I should’ve just stayed home."

Curtis grinned. "And risk another round? Smart choice coming here."

Karl slumped further into the couch.

Curtis chuckled, leaning forward. "Alright, alright. I’ll stop."

Karl raised an eyebrow. "Will you?"

Curtis smirked. "Probably not."

Karl groaned.

But... as much as Curtis was insufferable, Karl couldn’t deny that being here was exactly what he needed.

Somewhere outside, the world was still chaotic, still unpredictable. But in this room, with Curtis being his usual dumbass self, it almost felt...

Normal.

And Karl figured, for today, that was good enough.