Noah exited his room and made his way down the hallway, his footsteps echoing in the quiet corridors. He didn't know the layout of Mistress Elena's estate; the only paths he could navigate with any certainty were the routes that led to the room where they had first arrived the previous day and the dining room he had found earlier. As he wandered, his eyes darted around, hoping for a sign or clue to guide him in the right direction.
He had barely walked a few minutes when the familiar chime of the system interrupted his thoughts.
Ding!
[You have received a mission!]
[Compliment a woman. Reward: +5 Seduction Points, +20 Satisfaction Points, 1x Low Grade BloodSpite Gem.]
Noah paused, narrowing his eyes at the floating notification. He had to resist the urge to scoff. *Compliment a woman?* The mission seemed trivial, almost absurd. Was the system seriously encouraging him to stop a random woman and start paying her compliments? The suggestion felt like a child's dare rather than a quest deserving of any real merit.
"The system isn't as righteous as it seems," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. It appeared the system was more interested in nudging him toward acts that played into the nature of an Incubus rather than anything noble or valiant. Yet, despite his reservations, Noah couldn't deny the potential rewards. An additional twenty Satisfaction Points could prove useful, and the Seduction Points would undoubtedly help in boosting his natural charms. As for the "Low Grade BloodSpite Gem," he had no idea what it was for, but the name alone intrigued him.
"Well," he sighed, "I suppose I should at least make an attempt." He could always check out the library afterward.
With his new objective in mind, Noah wandered through the hallways, taking turns at random, hoping to come across someone he could use to fulfill the mission requirements. He had no specific target in mind; any female he encountered would do. Eventually, after five minutes of aimless walking, he finally found someone—a maid busy dusting a statue in a side corridor.
Noah approached her, his steps confident but silent. "Excuse me," he said, his voice carrying a gentle authority as he reached out to corner her against the wall. The maid startled slightly, her wide eyes meeting his for just a moment before she quickly looked down. Her hands trembled as she clutched her duster tightly to her chest, and it didn't take long for Noah to realize she was afraid.
She wasn't a Succubus, but she knew enough about their reputation and the Incubi to be wary. Even though Noah hadn't done anything particularly intimidating, his mere presence was enough to make her nervous. The uncertainty in her expression and the way her cheeks reddened suggested a mixture of fear and shyness.
"There's no need to be afraid," Noah said softly, reaching out to tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "You're far too beautiful to be hiding your face like that." He gave her a reassuring smile, his hand lingering under her chin for a moment before he released her.
The maid blinked, her surprise evident. "I… um, thank you, my lord," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Noah took a step back, allowing her some space while still keeping his gaze locked on her. "I must say, your eyes are quite captivating," he continued, his tone smooth and practiced. "They remind me of moonlight—soft, but with a certain brightness that draws you in." As he spoke, he noticed the faint blush deepening across her cheeks, and her hands fidgeting nervously with the hem of her apron.
The maid's expression slowly transitioned from one of anxiety to one of bashful delight. Encouraged by the change, Noah offered her a small grin. "And that hair," he added, brushing a stray lock away from her face, "is a color I could gaze upon for hours." He stepped back slightly and gestured for her to spin. "Turn around, would you? Let me see you properly."
She hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure if she should comply, but then, with a small nod, she did as he asked. Her simple maid's dress twirled lightly with her motion, revealing just a hint of the curves beneath the fabric. When she stopped and faced him again, she was blushing furiously.
Noah's grin widened as he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "You're absolutely lovely. I'm sure you must hear that often," he said, his words laced with a subtle charm. "Though, if you ask me, I doubt they tell you nearly enough."
The maid's breath seemed to catch in her throat, and she quickly averted her eyes again, stammering a quick, "Th-thank you, my lord." Without another word, she hurried away, her face flushed a deep crimson.
As she disappeared around the corner, Noah allowed himself a smirk. He still had a way with words, it seemed—a skill that his former noble upbringing had refined well before he had even become an Incubus.
*Ding!*
[You have successfully completed the mission: Compliment a woman!]
[You have been rewarded with 100 Satisfaction Points!]
[You have been rewarded with 5 Seduction Points!]
[You have been rewarded: 1x Low Grade BloodSpite Gem!]
Noah blinked in surprise. "A hundred Satisfaction Points?" He raised an eyebrow. The initial mission notification had only promised twenty Satisfaction Points, but the final reward was five times greater. It seemed the system might adjust rewards based on performance or certain criteria.
His initial excitement faded as he realized one crucial thing—he had forgotten to ask the maid where the library was located. He groaned and slapped his forehead. "Of course," he muttered, shaking his head in exasperation. "Too focused on the mission to actually get what I needed."
Noah took a moment to collect his thoughts before calling forth the system once more. "Show me the details on the Low Grade BloodSpite Gem," he said aloud.
*Ding!*
[Low Grade BloodSpite Gem: A demonic gem used primarily in enchantment rituals. It is capable of amplifying one's mana output by a small margin for a limited time. Also acts as a minor catalyst in certain demonic forging techniques.]
Noah rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he dismissed the panel. *So, it's an item with multiple uses.* The gem could potentially aid him in boosting his abilities, but he'd have to find the right opportunity to utilize it. For now, though, he had more pressing matters to attend to—like finding that library.
"Well," he sighed, "back to wandering, I suppose." He started down the hallway again, determined not to let his little oversight dampen his mood. With his newfound rewards, he was making steady progress. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that the system's seemingly innocent tasks might be guiding him down a path where his actions would not always be righteous.
There was something unsettling about it, and as he continued his search, he couldn't help but wonder just how much control the system had over his choices—or how much influence it had on shaping him into something darker.