As I stepped away from the group, the atmosphere thickened with each passing second, like a heavy fog creeping into my lungs. My footsteps echoed ominously through the deserted hallways, amplifying the eerie silence that hung in the air. I took a steadying breath, clenching my fists instinctively, my body taut with the anticipation of whatever awaited me.
I wasn't one to feel uneasy—fear wasn't an emotion I ever truly experienced. But this? This was different. The air felt alive, almost suffocating, pressing against my chest as if the building itself were a predator, lurking and watching. Every step intensified the sense of wrongness curling in my gut, a primal warning I couldn't ignore. My instincts screamed at me, a low hum of adrenaline coursing through my veins, urging me to be vigilant.
As I neared the storage room, the shadows along the walls seemed to come alive, dancing just out of my line of sight. The rhythmic scraping sound reverberated through the hall, growing louder, sending a chill down my spine. I halted outside the door, my hand hovering over the cold metal handle, taking a moment to collect myself.
"Alright," I muttered under my breath, gripping the handle tightly. "Let's see what's behind door number one."
The hinges groaned as I pushed the door open, the sound unnervingly loud in the oppressive silence. The room was dimly lit, the flickering bulb overhead casting erratic shadows that twisted and contorted across the walls. A metallic tang hung in the air, sharper now, making my teeth clench. I scanned the room—a chaotic jumble of old supplies, broken equipment, and dust-covered boxes piled haphazardly.
But before I could locate the source of the noise, a voice broke the stillness, low and playful.
"Yuta-kun~"
I froze, my body tensing further as I turned slowly toward the voice. Standing in the doorway was someone I hadn't expected—or wanted—to see here. Keiko.
"Keiko," I said, my voice flat, betraying none of the turmoil brewing inside me. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Her lips curled into a sly smirk, her eyes glinting with amusement, a predator's delight. "Oh? Am I not allowed to visit my favorite little plaything?"
I exhaled sharply, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. "Cut the crap. Why are you here, of all places?"
Her laughter was soft, yet it carried a dangerous edge, like a blade glimmering in the dark. "Does it matter? I thought you'd be happy to see me. First time I've seen you look so serious, though. It's kind of… exciting."
Her presence only deepened the growing unease gnawing at my gut. Keiko, the so-called goddess of lust, wasn't someone who showed up without a purpose. And it was never a benign one.
"You're dressed this time," I said dryly, trying to keep my guard up. "That's new."
She chuckled, the sound low and seductive. "I don't mind changing that if it'll make you more comfortable."
I narrowed my eyes, sensing the dangerous game she was playing. "Anyways, why are you here? I know you're responsible for whatever is happening."
"Oh, and what makes you say this?" Her tone dripped with feigned innocence, a mockery of my suspicions.
"Let's see—The goddess of lust is miraculously present when I'm feeling something's off. Coincidence? I think not."
Keiko's smirk deepened, and she leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, the picture of mock innocence. "Well, well, Yuta-kun, I'm impressed. You've pieced it together quicker than I expected. Usually, I have to spell it out for mortals."
I remained silent, my gaze unwavering.
"Well, you see, I'm bored and wanted to play with you," she continued, her tone laced with mischief.
"I don't understand you."
"Well, you see, you're becoming too much of a nice guy."
"I still don't understand."
In an instant, she pinned me to the floor, straddling me with a predatory grace.
"You know I can check your progress through the system I gave you," she purred, leaning in closer, her breath hot against my ear. "Starting a relationship with a girl instead of corrupting her? The sex system is meant for you to corrupt women to please me. The more women you corrupt for your pleasure, the better it is for me."
"I know," I replied, trying to keep my composure, but the weight of her gaze was suffocating.
"Then why are you not turning any of them into desperate whores seeking your dick like the desperate sluts they are?"
"I'm not doing it though? I already slept with three women, so what are you talking about?"
"You're acting as if you don't know how a desperate slut looks. Come on, Yuta. You've been in so many different universes, claimed so many women, and yet here? No one has reached that level yet."
"...to be honest, it's kinda hard in this universe."
"Hard? Don't joke with me. You're not taking it seriously." Her voice turned sultry as she pressed her lips to mine, her hands roaming my body, brushing against my skin with an intimate familiarity.
"My toy," she murmured, her breath warm against my ear. She began to rub against me, the friction igniting a conflict within me. My mind screamed to push her away, to resist the pull of her allure, while my body reacted instinctively, betraying my resolve.
"Why resist, Yuta-kun?" she teased, her voice dripping with seduction, each word laced with a hypnotic allure. "You know you want this. You're just afraid to admit it."
I narrowed my eyes, trying to maintain some semblance of control. "Last time, you licked my feet to get an upgrade in the system because you hated it."
"Yeah, I remember," she replied, a playful glint in her eyes, as if the memory amused her.
"Don't you like the upgrade?" I pressed, my voice steady.
"I did, why?"
"Then why are you not doing your job?"
It was the first time I'd heard Keiko speak like this, her words oozing confidence and desire, and I wondered if this had always been her true nature, lurking just beneath the surface.
"Is it becoming boring fucking so many women?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
"Yes... it is becoming boring," I admitted, my voice laced with sincerity, the truth spilling out before I could hold it back.
Her expression shifted, a mask of emotionless intent cloaking her features, before she lowered herself fully onto me. The weight of her body pressing down served as a tantalizing reminder of the power she wielded, and I felt an intoxicating mix of desire and trepidation.
"Maybe I need to motivate you," she whispered seductively into my ear, her breath warm and inviting.
"W-what?" I stammered, my heart racing.
"Your lust is decreasing, and you are losing your own self," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "Let me make sure I fix this once and for all."
"W—" Before I could finish my sentence, I felt her teeth graze my neck, and a shiver of anticipation raced down my spine. She sank her fangs into my skin, the sharpness igniting a thrill of pain and pleasure.
"Ahh, fuck," I gasped, the sensation overwhelming. It felt too good, a rush of warmth flooding my body, and I couldn't help but lean into her, lost in the moment.
"You don't have to worry about moaning," she continued, her lips still pressed against my neck as she drank from me. "I stopped time."
The world around us faded, leaving only the intoxicating reality of her touch. She continued sucking on my neck, her rhythm steady, and I felt the line between pleasure and pain blur into a dizzying haze. The sensation wrapped around me like a drug, heightening every nerve ending, drawing me deeper into her seductive grasp.
Eventually, she pulled away, her lips glistening with my blood, a wicked smirk dancing on her face. "How did it feel?" she asked, her voice playful yet predatory.
"Fuck..." I managed, still reeling from the intensity of it all, my senses heightened.
"You don't have to answer," she said, her tone teasing. "Now it's your turn. Bite me, suck my blood, and swallow it."
I hesitated, the weight of her request sinking in. She leaned closer, offering her neck, the invitation clear in her smoldering gaze.
"Go on," she urged, her voice a sultry whisper. "I promise it will feel just as good."
With a surge of desire, I closed the distance, my heart racing. I sunk my teeth into her flesh, a mix of hesitation and eagerness coursing through me. The taste of her blood filled my mouth, warm and intoxicating, sending waves of ecstasy through my body.
She gasped, a sound of pure delight that urged me on. I drank deeper, the rush of her essence igniting something dark and insatiable within me.
As I pulled away, her eyes glinted with satisfaction, a knowing smile spreading across her lips.
As I pulled away, her eyes glinted with satisfaction, a knowing smile spreading across her lips. "My power now flows inside your veins. It's just a matter of days before the system gets a new update. I also adjusted a few things you did so that you don't have much difficulty."
"..."
"For example, your relationship with Kushida Kikyo has been deleted. She is no longer your girlfriend. Your relationships with the three other women remain the same; you just have to conquer them completely. With my power, you'll see that boredom won't be a problem anymore."
She continued, her voice low and hypnotic. "Also, be more ruthless. Trust me on this, Yuta. You have the potential to be a king."
Keiko leaned closer, her lips brushing against mine, I could taste the remnants of my own blood on her lips.
"Now Yuta, go do your job. I'll leave you here. We will meet once again."
"Wait, does that mean there is no A-rank monster here? It was just a distraction from you, right?" I asked.
She smirked, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Oh, the A-Rank?" With a flick of her wrist, she tossed a small, glowing stone—a Maga stone—back at me.
"Here, I already sealed it away. Now, Yuta, don't disappoint me."
This was the last thing she said before she teleported away.