After wandering the halls for a while, Noah happened to stumble upon a beautiful demonic maid who guided him to the dining hall. Her demeanor was polite but distant, as if she had already come to understand her role in relation to him.
Noah followed her without hesitation, knowing that Mistress Elena would be expecting him. He pushed open the double doors to the dining room with confidence and walked right in.
The moment he stepped through the doorway, he felt his mistress's presence. Her aura was impossible to ignore, an intoxicating blend of allure and authority.
Noah knew she could sense him as well. Hesitating now would only betray his uncertainty. He had to maintain the façade that he was Zeph, the loyal Incubus who attended to her needs.
He was no common servant; rather, he was her personal representative, often sent to handle trivial matters on her behalf.
Mistress Elena's lips curved into a satisfied smile as she watched him enter the room with no delay. "There you are, Zeph," she said, her voice laced with familiarity.
"Greetings, Mistress." Noah bowed deeply to show his respect before moving to take a seat at the grand dining table.
The room itself was a revelation to Mistress Elena's taste—lavish but not excessive. The decor was elegant, with dark, rich colors and soft lighting that spoke of refined luxury. It wasn't showy, yet it was far from modest.
Two maidservants stood by the wall, their eyes cast downward in the manner of well-trained staff. As he glanced around, Noah wondered just how many maids worked for Elena and what rank she must possess to command such a household.
The table was set with a variety of dishes, some familiar and others more exotic. As a former noble, he could identify most of the delicacies.
Noah chose a seat a few chairs away from his mistress to show his deference, signaling that he knew his place. However, this gesture did not go unnoticed.
Elena raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. "Why are you sitting so far away, Zeph? You've always sat just a seat away from me before."
Noah stiffened slightly, but quickly masked his surprise with a composed smile. 'I didn't get that detail from Zeph's memories,' he thought.
Noah glanced at the dish in front of him and replied, "The delicacy at this seat caught my eye, Mistress. I thought it looked particularly appetizing."
Elena's smile widened as she snapped her fingers. One of the maids immediately stepped forward, picked up the dish, and placed it beside Elena, at the head of the table. "Well then," she said, her voice teasing, "if you're so set on that dish, it's right here now. You'll have to change seats, won't you?"
With a forced smile, Noah rose from his seat and moved next to her, taking his place just beside her at the head of the table.
The breakfast began with small, casual conversations, punctuated by Elena's occasional questions about his experiences.
"Did you enjoy the company of the two maids I sent to you yesterday?" she asked, her tone light but her gaze watchful. "I had hoped they would… satisfy you."
Noah met her eyes and replied smoothly, "I appreciated the gesture, Mistress. However, I was quite fatigued after the day's events and went straight to bed."
Elena laughed softly, a sound that seemed to reverberate with hidden meaning. "Poor Zeph. Too tired for even a little indulgence?" She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "Well, I hope you managed to get a good night's sleep, at least."
"I did, Mistress," he nodded and then added. "Did you?"
She smiled at the question that slightly surprised her. "Yes, Zeph. I did too."
As the breakfast drew to a close, Elena dabbed her mouth with a napkin and placed it delicately on the table. "I have a task for you, Zeph," she said, her voice suddenly taking on a more serious tone. "Meet me in my chamber in three hours. Until then, you're free to do as you please."
Noah bowed his head respectfully. "As you wish, Mistress." He remained seated as she left the room, finishing his meal in silence before rising to his feet. He made his way back to his room, his mind already racing with thoughts of how best to utilize the time he had.
Once in his quarters, Noah called forth the system interface and spoke aloud, "So, how do Satisfaction Points work?"
Ding!
[Satisfaction Points are multifunctional. They can be used to increase the points of your attributes and can also be used to purchase items from the (Shop) category. One attribute point equals five Satisfaction Points.]
Noah's gaze shifted to the status window that appeared before him. Seeing that he had 60.5 Satisfaction Points, he quickly did the math. It translated to a total of twelve attribute points. He considered his options, knowing that increasing his stats was essential if he was to grow stronger in this new life.
"Convert half of my Satisfaction Points into stamina," he instructed. "Split the remaining half between agility and strength."
Ding!
[30 Satisfaction Points converted to Stamina. New Stamina: 41.]
[15 Satisfaction Points converted to Agility. New Agility: 28.]
[15 Satisfaction Points converted to Strength. New Strength: 33.]
A sense of satisfaction settled over Noah as he felt a surge of vitality coursing through his body. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened slightly, and his overall endurance seemed to increase.
'That should make a difference,' he thought, clenching and unclenching his fists as he adjusted to the slight changes.
With three hours at his disposal, Noah decided to make good use of the time. If Mistress Elena's building was as expansive as it appeared, then it was likely to have a library.
There was much he needed to learn—about demons, Succubi, Incubi, and the world he now found himself in. He needed more knowledge if he was going to navigate this dangerous new life with any measure of success.
But first, he needed to clean up and change his clothes. He glanced at the simple black shirt and trousers he had worn earlier and decided it was time for something more fitting.
In the wardrobe, he found a dark crimson outfit that seemed appropriate for both comfort and mobility. As he dressed, his mind lingered on the subtle games of power and manipulation he had witnessed with Mistress Elena. She had a way of toying with him, testing his reactions. For now, he played along. But soon, he would find ways to turn the game to his favor.
After tidying himself up, Noah stepped out of his room and set off down the hallway in search of the library. He would prepare himself for whatever task awaited him in three hours' time.