Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Offering

"Any... desire?" I repeated the Guild Master's words, feeling the implication and innuendo she suggested quite clearly.

"Hehehe~, indeed..." she confirmed, her arms still spread wide, seemingly preparing herself for me to come into her warm embrace. "Anything you desire, I'll grant it."

Hearing her offer and the way she presented herself almost made me lose my mind. I might have actually jumped into her embrace the instant she beckoned me.

I kept grinding my teeth, frustration welling up inside me. I was holding on to whatever inhibitions remained within me, using every ounce of willpower I could muster...

And I saw how her sly smile grew, amused by my struggle.

"Hehe~, not convinced by my genuine offer, Mr. Isaac?" she asked, that same sly smile still present on her beautiful visage. "Let's see here..."

She lowered her arms for a moment, her sultry expression shifting into a thoughtful one, as if she were trying to remember something buried deep in the back of her mind.

This change in her expression actually helped calm the desire within me that was about to burst, but at the same time, it intensified my anxiety. I was still wary of what she was about to do.

"Ah, now I remember~!" she suddenly exclaimed, surprising me as I was taken aback by yet another one of her sudden changes in vibe.

She held up her right arm to the air... and then, suddenly, a document folder appeared out of thin air on top of her outstretched hand!

The silver-haired woman gracefully opened the document folder in her hand, her eyes scanning the contents with curious intent.

"Hmm... where is it...?" she muttered, flipping through each page slowly. Her gaze suddenly flickered up, meeting mine for a brief moment, a glint of knowing in her silver irises.

"Ah, found it~."

"...!"

My heart skipped a beat from the simple exchange of glances... and she noticed that. Clearing her throat, a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, she began to read aloud.

"Isaac Hunter... 24 years old... single..."

"Hmm...?"

"And... oh my, still a virgin~."

"What the...?!"

I was taken aback by what she had just read out loud, confused and weirded out for a moment... before realizing what she might have been reading...!

"Wait... are you reading my damn personal profile?!" I accused, pointing at the document folder in her hand.

"Yes~," she answered without any shame or guilt, "I am reading your profile, Mr. Isaac, and I have to say, you have lived a rather... 'mundane' life."

"Ugh..." I groaned in frustration, feeling a bit insulted by her essentially calling me boring. "Wait, that's not the problem here, damn it! That's a breach of private information you're reading there, Guild Master!"

"Oh my~, is that so?" She feigned ignorance upon my accusation. "I'm just reading something that has been provided by the government, you know~?"

"God damn it..." I cursed, facepalming in frustration. Not only was I dealing with this vixen of a woman casually avoiding responsibility, but also the damn government that had recorded my private information.

I wasn't naive enough to believe that our "caring" and "trustworthy" government didn't spy on us citizens... but the fact that they did still somewhat irritated me.

"Continue on~," she announced cheerfully as she resumed reading my private information... much to my dismay.

"Aiming to become a famous adventurer... with the ultimate goal of earning the 'Hero' title," she recited, her voice dripping with amusement. The words struck a chord, making my guard rise even further.

"What about it...?" I asked, my tone edged with caution, my eyes narrowing as I tried to read between the lines of her intentions.

The Guild Master's smirk widened, her gaze never leaving mine.

"Oh, Mr. Isaac... If that's truly your desire," she purred, her voice laced with temptation, "then I can personally mentor you... guide you... until you become the greatest adventurer and hero this world has ever seen."

"...!"

Her offer suddenly filled my mind, paralyzing me for a moment. I was silent, deeply contemplating her words...

The actual Guild Master herself teaching me how to become an adventurer? It felt too good to be true, and I was on guard, thinking this was just another honey trap she was setting for me, but...

This offer of hers... it felt genuine. The way she looked at me as she offered this...

It was sincere. It was a rare sincere expression of hers that showed she was willing to teach me everything she knew—passing down all her knowledge to me. She would genuinely teach me how to become a great adventurer... no, a great 'hero.'

It was the most tempting offer I had ever received... and I would have accepted it in an instant...

I would have... if not for this nagging feeling inside of me, something that seemed to prevent me from just accepting her offer.

"Still not convinced yet, Mr. Isaac?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued by my hesitation. "Are you perhaps doubting my words?"

"No... that's not it," I denied her assumption, "it's just that there's something that's been bothering me..."

"Hmm..." She regarded me with the same curious expression. "Perhaps you're worried about the curse granted by your relic?"

"Excuse me?"

"I get it, I get it~," she answered, seemingly misunderstanding my hesitation. "You must be a nervous wreck, thinking someone as beautiful as I am would teach you~."

"What...?" I muttered, dumbfounded, slightly weirded out by her almost narcissistic boasting.

Even Miss 'Snake Eyes' shot her boss the same weirded-out expression as myself, before letting out an exasperated sigh. It seemed this was something that occasionally happened between them as well...

"If that's the case..." She pondered aloud, "I can grant you any woman you desire, Mr. Isaac~."

"...!"

Her new offer suddenly alarmed me, as the implications were deeply unsettling. It conflicted me to no end... but I could feel "something" within me—the curse—was very much approving of this...!

"Any woman you want," she continued, ignoring my conflicted emotions as a sly and malicious smile formed on her visage again, "... and they will gladly serve you and 'mitigate' your curse... whenever you need it the most~."

I stared at her sly expression, still feeling conflicted by her offer even more so. It was the most tempting proposition she had given me... and I could feel that same 'curse' of mine urging me to accept it.

"And if those women do not satisfy you..." she suddenly continued, her voice dripping with a new level of temptation... before she leaned back on her office desk, holding up both of her arms wide...

Beckoning me once more...!

"I can personally offer my assistance to your needs as well~," she offered, her expression transforming into that of a lustful being, her intentions unmistakably clear.

And in that moment, my mind suddenly snapped... as that something within me took control of my body. In just a mere second, my body, acting on its own, rushed toward this seductress of a woman in an instant...

And pinned her down against her office desk.