Adrian ran a hand through his hair, trying to make sense of the whirlwind he found himself in. Mira Blackthorn, the composed and sophisticated countess, had just revealed her true personality—a fiery, irreverent, and shockingly candid version of herself.
Not only that, but she'd gone as far as asking him for lessons in building a harem of beautiful women.
To make matters worse, the mission his mysterious system had just assigned him was even more baffling.
This mission was unlike anything he'd encountered before. Up until now, the system had tasked him with seduction and he had worked hard in his missions, making women fall for him, building genuine connections, even if the circumstances were unconventional.
But this? This was something else entirely. The ambiguity of the reward only added to his frustration.
He cleared his throat, forcing himself to appear calm in front of Mira. "Can you give me some time to process this?"
Mira chuckled, leaning back with an amused grin. "Take all the time you need, Adrian. Deep breaths, in and out. Don't worry; I'm not going anywhere."
Adrian nodded, retreating a few steps to collect his thoughts. In reality, he was reaching out to the system for answers.
"What the fuck is up with this mission?" Adrian asked inwardly, his tone sharp and impatient.
The system responded in its usual cold, mechanical voice. "Language, Host."
Adrian rolled his eyes." Seriously? That's your concern right now?"
The system continued, its tone taking on an almost mocking edge. "Host should learn how to read. Perhaps that would aid in comprehension."
Adrian's jaw tightened as he exhaled sharply through his nose." What's that supposed to mean?"
"The mission parameters are clear, Host. Is it not obvious to you?"
Exasperated, Adrian pressed further." Why are you giving me a mission to fuck Mira and not to seduce her? Isn't the whole point of these missions about seduction, building connections, and—"
The system cut him off with a scathing tone. "Host is truly lacking in intelligence, is he not?"
Adrian's eye twitched. "Explain yourself before I find a way to dismantle you."
The system ignored his threat entirely. "Did Mira Blackthorn not explicitly state that she is attracted to women? Or were you too distracted by her brash demeanor to process that information?"
Adrian frowned, recalling Mira's words. She had openly admitted her preference for women.
"The system has deemed the seduction of Mira Blackthorn to be impossible for Host," the system continued, its tone indifferent.
"As such, the mission parameters have been adjusted to the only feasible outcome: having sex with her. While the odds of success are still slim, they are considerably higher than convincing her to fall in love with you."
The bluntness of the explanation left Adrian dumbfounded. He stared blankly into the distance, processing the system's cold logic. Finally, he spoke aloud in his mind, his tone challenging.
"You think I'm incapable of seducing Mira?"
"That is correct, Host."
Adrian's fists clenched." Me? The man bold enough to wager with the Goddess of Fate herself? You doubt my abilities? And I bet since you were involved in that bet, it's probably related to seducing her and making her fall for me. While I don't know the specifics of the situation at that time, that should be the gist of situation."
The system's reply came without hesitation. "This situation and the wager with the Goddess of Fate are entirely different."
How so? Adrian demanded, his frustration mounting.
"The Goddess of Fate is a millions-of-years-old virgin, desperate and thirsty for affection. When presented with an opportunity—however unconventional—you were the first viable candidate to catch her interest. It was hardly a challenge for you to secure her favor. Mira Blackthorn, on the other hand, is a grounded, intelligent individual who has explicitly expressed her romantic preferences. Her attraction to women makes your typical methods ineffective."
Adrian's jaw dropped." Did you just call the Goddess of Fate thirsty? And wait...Did you just confirmed that seducing Goddess of Fate was indeed the content of our bet."
"This system speaks only the truth, Host."
The sheer audacity of the system's statement made Adrian laugh incredulously. And what about the bet? Can you now tell me in detail.
The system became silent after he asked the question. Few seconds passed by but it didn't reply at all.
He shook his head, realizing system won't provide answers related to Goddess of Fate.
He ran a hand through his hair again and changed the topic back to Mira.
"You really don't think I can seduce Mira, do you?"
"Correct. Host's success rate in this scenario is approximately 0.001%."
Adrian smirked, a fiery determination sparking in his chest.
"You're underestimating me, system. You always seem to forget who you're dealing with. I don't back down from a challenge—especially not one that calls my abilities into question."
The system's tone remained unchanged. "Host is free to attempt seduction. However, system parameters remain unchanged. The current mission stands."
Adrian exhaled, a mixture of annoyance and amusement swirling in his mind. The system's cold dismissal of his capabilities only fueled his resolve.
"Fine", Adrian thought." If you're so confident that I can't seduce Mira, I'll prove you wrong. Not just because I can—but because now I want to."
Satisfied with his internal vow, Adrian straightened and turned back to Mira, who was still lounging against the table, watching him with a curious smile.
"Done with your existential crisis?" she teased.
Adrian chuckled, the spark of determination still burning in his chest. "You could say that."
"Good," Mira said, her grin widening. "Because I still need you to teach me how to seduce women."
Adrian then became silent as thoughts kept playing in his mind. While he indeed challenged the system, he knew, system's words were not without merits.
He then quickly made up his mind. First he will try to complete the mission and make it starting point for his conquest of Mira.
Adrian then looked at Mira and asked her, "This whole teaching-you-how-to-seduce-women thing," he began, his tone light yet laced with curiosity, "it's not part of the deal for our alliance, right?"
Mira chuckled, crossing her arms as she leaned against the table. "You're absolutely right. It's not. And you're free to decline if it doesn't sit well with you."
He nodded thoughtfully, then raised an eyebrow. "If I am to teach you, though, I'll need some sort of incentive. You said we could be friends, right?"
Mira's expression softened slightly, and she nodded. "That's right."
"But here's the thing," Adrian continued smoothly, his voice steady and calculated.
"We don't know each other that well yet. Friendship, real friendship, can't just be built on words. Before we truly begin this dynamic, as we work on getting to know one another, I'll need something to hook onto."
Mira tilted her head, intrigued. "Go on."
Adrian shrugged, keeping his demeanor casual. "It's only logical, don't you think? Friendship isn't magic—it needs time, effort, and... tangible steps to get started. It's not about being transactional; it's about creating trust and understanding."
Mira rubbed her chin, her sharp eyes narrowing as she considered his words. "You make a good point. Friendship can't just be declared out of thin air. So, what do you have in mind for this... incentive?"
"Good," Adrian thought to himself, sensing her interest. He allowed the hint of a smirk to cross his face as he decisively said," As a reward for teaching you, have sex with me."