Chapter 13 - Knight in shining armor.
I was hanging out in Cire's shop. Every few days, I found myself here, intentionally making time to see her. More accurately, my sisters coaxed me into coming here and to the church to see Selen whenever she had a moment to spare—a rarity these days given her escating responsibilities.
I was currently lost in thought, wondering what to do once someone reaches 1000 Affection. Is the expectation to simply move on, never sparing them another thought? Perhaps that's the purpose of Love Land, but then, what's next when they've honed their skills to perfection or when it's time for someone new to take their pce? The current limit I can invite stands at 10, right now.
I've been attempting to view this through a more gamified lens, yet I can't shake off the guilt. Unlike characters in a game who reach their maximum potential and cease to evolve, these girls continue to live, grow, and experience life.
[Name: Cire jewel Level: 20 Affection: 226Just your everyday girl.]
While we sat at the counter, Cire shared with my sisters her frustration. “She was so mean, even when I got knocked down she just kept her ability going until the instructor stepped in saying that if this was a real fight, she wouldn't stop until I was dead.”
“Don't worry Cire, a girl like that will be alone forever, unlike you.” Sakura reassured her, eliciting a quick gnce from Cire in my direction before she shyly looked away, her cheeks tinged with a blush.
“Ya, I guess you are right.” Cire responded, offering Sakura a grateful smile.
Listening to gossip isn't exactly my preferred way to spend an evening, but having been through the wringer with my ex, I've learned a thing or two about navigating these conversations. The strategy is simple: validate their feelings, agree with their statements, and occasionally throw in a comment that'll make them ugh. It's all about making them feel better, even if internally, I'm desperately seeking an escape from the monotony.
I couldn't help but think, perhaps starting a date might break the monotony. I wonder, is there an achievement for dying to boredom?
'Start a date?' A whisper echoed in my mind, startling me. It had been ages since I st heard that voice. My system had fallen silent since the breaking.
‘Welcome back,’ I thought, hoping for a response. Receiving none, I pressed on, ‘Ya sure, just use one point.’
The date wheel materialized, spinning rapidly, and emitting a golden glow. It whirled before finally coming to a stop, nding on a name that belonged to someone not present in the room.
“Date starto!”
[An allie date][Target - ???]
In my defense, the sheer boredom had clouded my judgment, and there was still a fair chance the date wheel could have selected someone right here in the room. Besides, figuring out how to elevate Affection levels beyond 500 was on my agenda, and boosting Cire's affection wasn't a complete wasted effort.
"Don't forget, sisters, Mother Miki mentioned we need to collect selim extract for her to complete today's orders," Yuno interjected, catching everyone off guard. It was unusual for her; she's typically content to sit quietly in my p.
Cire looked over with a mix of surprise and curiosity, murmuring, "So she does speak..."
My sisters didn't miss a beat, pying along. They had been nudging me to confide in Cire, but I hesitated to involve her more than necessary. At the very least, I wanted her to reach adulthood to make an informed decisions on her own.
"Thank you for the reminder, Yuno. Sorry, Cire, we really have to head out," Angelica announced, rising from the counter.
Cire nodded understandingly, "I get it. Just don't forget me and nanny mother are coming over in two days," she said, smiling.
I will apply the same nomencture to others' mothers as my own. Here, I ended up using a literal transtion for her title, given I didn’t know her actual name. She is one of Cleire’s seven mothers, yet I've only met three, as our interactions are primarily confined to her shop. Judging by the nanny title, she's likely tasked with overseeing her younger sister. The opportunity to meet her father has eluded me too, his duties in the military keeping him preoccupied.
As we departed, Alice, all smiles, took flight from her shoulder, bidding her farewell before darting into the distance, leaving behind a trail for me to follow.
“Brother, you should not start a date just to get an excuse to leave,” Angelica gently scolded me.
Defending my decision, I countered, “I honestly thought it would select one of you.”
“That hardly makes it better. You should be using it to level up. Sakura will be an adult any day now and this time we only invited girls you already have over 100 affection with,” Angelica retorted.
“I know, I will get to level 30 as fast as possible.” I acknowledged, contempting the bance between leveling up and avoiding accumuting 'dead cards.' I might need to accept some compromises to achieve that, relying mainly on my family's cards. ‘And Sk?gul I guess, not that I have seen hide or hair since that day. Well, that's a good thing, I really don’t want to get mixed up in politics.’
“More importantly, who is our new sister?" Sakura interjected, her curiosity piqued.
"Her name appeared as question marks on the screen; I have no idea who she is," I replied, equally puzzled.
Eagerly, Sakura proposed, “Come on, let's go meet her.”
“Wait, Sakura, it would be better if it's just him and Alice. We will step in if we need to.” Angelica cautioned, grabbing her before she could go anywhere.
“Ow, may the Goddess of Fortune favor you brother,” Sakura said, her disappointment evident, yet she offered her blessings all the same.
[+12 ??? Affection points]
“Well I guess she met alice.” I murmured under my breath, noting Alice's resolve to never miss another introduction to any new girls.
As I ventured off, following the trail Alice had left, I heard Angelica's reassuring voice fade off, "Don't be down, she will be with us the rest of our lives."
It seemed likely they would keep close by. Despite understanding my capabilities, they all shared a reluctance to let me venture off on my own. Miki, however, allowed us three to explore the town while she attended to the twins.
The trail led me down to an alleyway, a block away from Cire’s shop.
"Wow, a love fairy. Our library has scarcely any information on them. How about I—" The girl's voice halted abruptly, her attention shifting directly to me after a brief pause.
The girl was dressed in a clean, predominantly transparent blue cloak with its hood raised. Underneath, she wore a translucent blue dress that allowed her nipples to be clearly visible through it; however, due to some unknown magic, I couldn’t make out her facial features clearly. Despite this, I could discern some blue hair spelling out words and see her light blue eyes intently observing me.
[Name: ??? Level: ??? Affection: 12Is a huge fan of Romance novels, has read more than a thousand]
She pulled down the hood of her cloak completely to conceal her face as she inquired, "Hello, might this fairy be yours?"
Yep, we have been together most of my life.Let me guess you went ‘so cute’ too.Why are you hiding in an ally? I should call a patrol.I was tempted to go with the st option, but better judgment prevailed, leading me to select the second. “Let me guess you went so cute,” I said, offering her a smile.
[-4 ??? Affection points]
“H-how did you know? Do you have a blessing of sight?” She took a step back, a hint of wariness in her voice.
Her reaction caught me off guard, prompting me to try to smooth over the conversation. "No, I've just seen simir reactions countless times before."
“O-oh,” she exhaled, visibly relieved. Meanwhile, Alice's ughter fluttered through the air, as the girl's breath tickled her.
“Her name is Alice, I'm Liev,” I introduced us, pondering whether my choice was bad or neutral.
“Right, introductions. My name is, uh, Jeane,” she decred. Even with my Observe dispying nothing but question marks, something told me this wasn't her real name. The way her eyes darted around while she introduced herself was a dead giveaway.
She bore a striking resembnce to my younger sister back on Earth, a girl whose honesty was unwavering. Her transparency was such that even my father once had to sit down and expin to her that there were moments when sharing the entire truth wasn't necessarily the wisest course of action.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Jeane," I said, maintaining a warm smile in her direction.
[Social has triggered, upgrading a choice]
So, were you looking for something back here?You looked lost, would you like us to show you around.Did you need help finding your guardian?The option in the middle was green. 'What was the original choice? Ah, this is going to bother me.' I realized I would be pondering this long after its relevance had faded.
'The choice was the same, but before it would have been a bad choice.' a faint voice whispered in my mind.
“Oh, thanks. Um, so what does green mean?” This time, silence was the only reply. I had grown accustomed to the notion that my system was coming to life, yet the cause remained a mystery. I had suspected it was reted to my level until the voice fell silent for so long.
Giving up, I proceeded with my decision. “You looked lost, would you like us to show you around?”
"I'm not sure." Her gaze darted around once more.
“Safe with us,” Alice encouraged her.
[-2 ??? Affection points]
The bck hearts weren't emanating from Jeane but from a point beyond her. 'Is there someone behind her?'
[+50 ??? Affection points]
This time, red hearts emerged from behind her. Turning my gaze back to Jeane, I noticed her shifty expression morph into one of surprise, only for it to quickly settle back into neutrality.
[+10 “Jeane” Affection points]
‘Thanks, that makes things easier,' I express my gratitude towards my system.
[Date location has change to - A Date on the Town]
"I would be most delighted if sir would escort me," she articuted in a distinctly formal tone, her speech shifting from curt to elongated phrases. It took me a moment longer to comprehend her words, unaccustomed as I was to the formal dialect. The title she used for me roughly transted to a man of considerable promise, yet it carried the same respectful connotation as 'sir.'
This suggested she might be a noble on a venture into town, or possibly a knight. 'Did I just screw myself?' My smile wavered momentarily. 'No, I'm going to have to deal with them at some point. With the Valkyrie card I should be able to escape, barring that, I don't have to worry about them killing me, but I have no desire to get kidnapped.'
"Is something amiss?" she inquired, noting the change in my expression.
[Charm has triggered]
I was just charmed by you.I don't want to deal with you nobles!Nothing.The first option glowed with a soft pink hue...
I so badly wanted to select three, but picking pink almost guaranteed I'd reach the next level…
…
“I was just charmed by you,” I blurted out, immediately wishing I could take the words back as they hung awkwardly in the air.
“You looked lost, would you like us to show you around?” I hurried to steer the conversation elsewhere, yet her expression remained one of shock from my earlier remark.
“O-oh,” her gaze drifted, and she murmured something under her breath about a scene.
[+69 “Jeane” Affection points]
“Noice.” echoed in the honey tone of the goddess.
‘Fuck you!’ I nearly snapped, flicked off the sky, but I restrained myself just in time.
Jeane remained adrift in her thoughts, so I took her hand and guided her out, heading towards the shops.
[+10 “Jeane” Affection points]
…
[+3 “Jeane” Affection points]
…
[+1 “Jeane” Affection points]
…
[+4 “Jeane” Affection points]
'Is she harboring some peculiar delusions about me, or is this the effect of Charm?' I found myself specuting, caught between her murmurs and the pop ups.
Determined to bring her back to reality, especially since I had already accumuted enough points for her card and didn't pn on further involvement after today, I began, "This is Main Street, home to nearly every kind of shop you might imagine, though they're not necessarily the best. If you want something special, you have to venture into the backstreets."
The dense crowd of girls moving through the city seemed to snap her out of her daze. "It's quite a different experience seeing it down here. There are so many people."
The street was crowded like a bustling fair, with the pedestrian flow dictating our pace.
She observed the moving crowd silently for a while until I asked, “We're do you want to go first?”
“I shall leave it to your discretion.” She replied, and I couldn't help but observe that her manner of speaking was notably more time-consuming, taking roughly triple the time to convey her message.
The marketpce essentially served as intermediaries. They purchased homemade items to resell. However, these items had to be crafted using a skill, or the shops wouldn't accept them.
The difference between items crafted with a Blessing's skill and those made by hand is stark. A skill could produce a bronze knife capable of slicing through a steel shield crafted by an ordinary person. The catch is that crafting such items could become exceedingly time-consuming. Miki has been working on a tier 6 poison since before I was even born.
Go to a clothing storeGot to a restaurantGo to a performance“Hmmm.” I mused, considering her status. ‘If she is a noble she must eat multiple times a day. Something made by a lower tier probably tastes bad.’
Her interest seemed more piqued by the people around us than the variety of clothing on dispy. Plus, I wasn't sure if she'd be keen on trying on clothes. The attire she wore was probably some form of armor, and she seemed intent on concealing her identity. Reflecting on the numerous clothing stores I had been dragged to, Most of them made Victoria's Secret look like a conservative store.
"Let's check out the performance," I suggested, tightening my grip on her hand to prevent her from getting lost in the throng.
“Performance?” she echoed, following obediently behind me.
“Ya, different people get together on the street and reenact books or py music.” I expined, recalling how my family and I used to visit these performances as a diversion during shopping trips.
“I did not know that house Goldweave even dabbled in performance,” she remarked, clearly impressed.
I believe they own everything on Main Street. Considering that drafting an unfair contract is essentially a death sentence, their monopoly is less concerning. To my knowledge, there has never been a case where they overstepped their bounds.
“It is not so much sanctioned, as it is a rest area that people use.” Seeing her puzzled expression, I decided it would be more efficient to simply show her.
I guided her through the bustling crowd, veering right just before a major intersection. We slipped between some buildings and emerged into a spacious open area, encircled by tall buildings that effectively shaded us from the sun without casting the space into darkness. A few vendors were scattered about, peddling stamina potions and pills. The most sought-after item was essentially a fvored ice cube that not only tasted delicious but also offered a quick way to cool down, especially for children who had been out in the sun for too long. These Tier 0 potions were capable of being produced in bulk.
The city's temperature typically ranges from 30 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. At least, that's how it seems to me. Here, they measure temperature in Kelvin, and I must admit, I'm not as confident in my conversions with this system as I am with the metric system. Despite years of living here, I often revert to using the imperial system.
At the heart of the space, a group of performers enacted a py on a slightly elevated stage, captivating the surrounding audience. Jeane was immediately entranced by the spectacle.
After a short while, she spoke up, "This is a py about Sir Sly, isn't it?" she inquired.
Sly was a goblin who had purportedly ascended to tier 50. Known for his crass and greedy nature, he held the belief that all wealth and women were his by right, never accepting refusal. He established his own city, taking a million wives, and it was rumored he fathered a child with each. Sly's reign might have continued had he not challenged a dragon for its treasure.
His legacy supposedly lives on through his numerous offspring, governing the city he built. There is even a common saying to watch your daughter or a goblin might steal her, though it's often avoided in polite goblin company.
"Intruders, be gone! They are mine!" decred the actress portraying Sly. The scene unfolding depicted his involvement in a unique tradition of the E, an all female beast race. They initiated a hunt, inviting males to pursue them through the forest, with marriage as the prize for capture.
Sly disrupted this tradition, expelling his rivals after plundering them, and succeeded in capturing all the beast women.
“The production value is cking. But this is rather charming,” Jeane remarked, clearly enchanted by the performance.
[+5 “Jeane” Affection points]
We secured a spot on the bleachers to the side, allowing us to enjoy the py in peace, away from the hustle of the main crowd.
[Luck has triggered giving you a great opportunity.]
Time stands still. "What?" I excimed, startled. Gncing around, I noticed nothing unusual at first. Elevating my perception, I employed Observe over the entire area. That's when I spotted it—a knife, hurtling directly towards Jeane. ‘Where had that come from?’
Intercept attackDo nothingMove her awayWatching the knife frozen in the air, I found myself contempting, "Should I block it?" Shifting to Angelica's card, I immediately realized blocking wasn't an option.
‘What the hell?’ Confusion turned to determination. ‘No, wait. I can track the knife.’ Utilizing Angelica's card brought not only the ability to gauge the projectile but also an insight into its trajectory. "It looks like it'll miss us if it continues straight. Is this a test? Or since luck triggered maybe something happened."
Switching to Miki's card only confirmed that it would not pierce clean through me. This left me with a singur option, unless I opted for inaction.
I hesitated, pondering, 'Do I really want to use Sk?gul's card? What if there's another breaking? I only have a few goddess points left.'
The memory of the system's warning about the tier 35 monster lingered. 'No, what if I face a greater threat and her card isn't sufficient? If I'm going to do this I might as well go all out.'
Within the beginner's area of the store, I used up a hundred thousand points on both the enhanced action ticket and the date ticket.
I utilized the date ticket on her enigmatic follower, reasoning, "If I'm to py my ace, I'll need a substitute." Upon deploying the card, her name materialized, filled by question marks beside 'Jeane's' name in the date section.
When I activated the enhanced action ticket, a prompt appeared inquiring which option I wished to augment. I selected the first option, and it transformed accordingly.
Show off.It had a bright golden color.
Last I deployed my Luck skill, acquired at level ten, "A Date to Remember." The title transitioned from "A Date on the Town" to "A Knightly Escort." While uncertain of the precise improvement, I anticipated some form of enhancement.
Sk?gul's card nestled alongside Miki's in the bck space.
The influence of all 10 Blessings enveloped me, expanding my awareness as if the world unveiled a spectrum of previously unseen colors.
As time snapped back into motion, I felt lightning pulsate within me, guiding my movements. With a single, seamless action, my fingers, sheathed in lightning, seized the knife from midair, while with my other hand, I swiftly gathered Jeane into my embrace.
[+65 ??? Affection points]
[Charm has triggered words flow smoothly and mainly]
"Are you alright, my dy?" My voice was unrecognizable to my own ears, imbued with a newfound smoothness.
[Charm has triggered granting you a halo-like aura]
[Charm has triggered causing your smile to sparkle radiantly]
It took her a moment to comprehend what had transpired, or rather, she had to be informed. Now, I could discern a faint voice where previously there had been silence. Though still invisible to me, I could pinpoint her location by sensing the electricity coursing through her body. All the while, Jeane's gaze remained locked with mine.
[+332 “Jeane” Affection points]
"Yes, I'm—" She began, her cheeks coloring with a blush. She was settled comfortably into one of my arms, pressing her body close against mine.
[+2 “Jeane” Affection points]
“I,” she attempted once more, only to falter to the same silent pause.
[+2 “Jeane” Affection points]
“I need to go,” she finally articuted. Gradually, she disengaged from my arm, her gaze never wavering from mine for even a moment.
[+2 “Jeane” Affection points]
With an elegant curtsy, she at st turned away.
[+2 “Jeane” Affection points]
The plus two’s just kept coming. Jeane wasn't the only source; members of the crowd who had witnessed my actions contributed to the tally as well. I paused for a moment to relish the heightened sensitivity, enabling me to perceive so much more around me. My sisters were easily identifiable, seated across the crowd, and with a bit of focus, I could sense Miki and the twins' presence. However, despite this enhanced awareness, I quickly lost track of Jeane after she departed.
My contemptions were abruptly interrupted by a burp, followed by the sensation of a now sated Alice colpsing onto my head.
[Date end]
[Map Function Unlocked]
[Achievement Unlocked - knight in shining armor - Save a princess and make her fall in love with you in one fell swoop. +1 charm]
[Achievement Unlocked - A true blind date - Gain a card without managing to see the girl. +20% to shy girls Affection gains]
[Treat unlocked - Princess]
[+5000 Goddess points]
‘Wait, she was the princess, as in the next queen? Let's just not think about this and go home.’
[Cards]
She was no longer wearing the see-through cloak from earlier; instead, she was dressed solely in an open-fronted, transparent blue dress that did a poor job of hiding anything. Her outfit was complemented by a tiara and delicate sapphire neckces around her neck.
Spoiler
[colpse]
[Name: Grace HighnceLevel: 34Affection: 604Trait: PrincessGoddess: Goddess of MajestyPrimary Blessing: Grace Subjects tier 3Lesser blessings: Photographic Memory tier 4, Read Others tier 2, Rally tier 1, Heavenly Skin tier 2, Damsel tier 1]
[Grace Subjects - Empower any who have deemed themselves below you.]
[Photographic Memory - Remember anything you have read before.]
[Read Others - Allows you to get a read on people.]
[Rally - Increase all stats of targets based on how long they have been fighting.]
[Heavenly Skin - Your skin is as soft as silk.]
[Damsel - Massively heightens the chance a knight will save you.]
Finally, I had the chance to put a face to the mysterious girl. She was an orange-haired rge breasted ninja dressed in skin-tight stockings and a form fitting leotard that resembled a thong. Her long hair was tied up neatly, revealing piercing orange eyes that seemed both icy cold yet caring at once.
Spoiler
[colpse]
[Name: Shadow 13Level: 357Affection: 113Trait: Goddess: Goddess of Deceit.Primary Blessing: Deceive tier 13Lesser Blessings: Knife Throwing tier 9, Enhance Speed tier 11, Slow Down Time tier 9, Shadow Hop tier 8, Caretaker tier 11]
[Deceive - Miss lead target]
[Knife Throwing - Throw knives with pinpoint precision.]
[Enhance Speed - Enhance speed in bursts.]
[Slow Down Time - Make time move slower in an area.]
[Shadow Hop - Move between shadows at will.]
[Caretaker - Skilled at taking care of and protecting.]
BTW I was still getting Affection from her the next day. She was quickly approaching the limit.
[Love nd - tier 1Buildings - Monster Ranch 1, Training Area 1, Arena 1Building queue - empty]
[Arena 2 Unlocked - 550k points - Crowd shares 10% of exp. Add a gdiator section.][Tower 1 Unlocked - 122k points - Trap a girl here to get Affection over time.][Traps 1 Unlocked - 10k points each - Lay traps]
[Liev Ekker - Level 15 Goddess points: 6,265Love points: 726,131Debt 1,000,000Stat points: 0
Luck: 11 Charm: 4 Social: 1 Observe: 5
Skills - Date a lottery 2/10, A date to remember [x], Show hidden secrets [x]
Achievements - 23Achievements_Alice - 1
Cards: 1_Yuno - 1866, 2_Sakura - 500, 3_Angelica - 500, 4_Alice 500, 5_Cire - 226, 6_Selen - 247, 7_Miki - 378, 8_Amelia - 380, 9_Anna - 221 10_Emma - 221 11_Sk?gul - 500, 12_Ellie - 128, 13_Lucy - 113, 14_Grace - 714, 15_Shadow_13 - 113]
