One week after Wan and Hoe's meeting

While Wan was broke and struggling in Pandia—specifically in Daïnmonn—for his mission to assassinate Count Tsuhre and avoid Beelzebub, Mia, Ama-ne, and Shin-hee were at the 'Prestige' shopping mall located in present-day Busan. They arrived here via portal; since the emergence, humans have managed to create portals connecting two fixed locations.

Mia: Are you sure a book is a good gift?

Ama-ne: Y-yes! To be honest, Wan is the biggest reader I've ever seen.

Shin-hee: Once, he showed me his personal library, and I was shocked to see that my slave owned more than 528,532 (528,548) books, and he's probably acquired more since then.

Mia looked shocked, which was understandable since a normal person never owned more than 10 books, and here we were talking about half a million.

Shin-hee: But that aside, know that it's presumptuous to say you want to give him a gift when you're just trying to bribe him.

Mia: .... You really sound like Wan...

Shin-hee: Don't change the subject, tell me why you want to bribe him.

Mia: I-I'm not trying to bribe him...

Shin-hee: Why do you want to bribe him? (firmly)

Ama-ne: °She wants to bribe Wan?°

Mia: .... (turns her head a bit embarrassed and fiddles with her fingers) ...I want him to teach me the move he used at the beginning of his fight against Anna...

Shin-hee: .... (calms down and relaxes) Hmm, what do you want to know? (takes out a small notebook)

Mia: You took notes?... of his fight...?

Shin-hee: Yes.

Ama-ne: °Haa, I should have watched his fight...!°

Mia: Actually... I wanted to know how he controlled his magic power...

Shin-hee: He didn't use any (writes something in his notebook).

Mia: Huh...?

To Mia, it was incomprehensible that such an impact could occur between two people without both of them using magic power in parallel.

Shin-hee: He didn't use any. He can't even use his magic power.

Mia: But—... And the shock!?

Shin-hee: It was his own strength against Anna's magic power (continues writing without bothering to look up).

Mia: ....

Mia was stunned. How could she believe that mere physical strength had produced such an impact and held for over 7 seconds? It was impossible to believe, but as she searched for possibilities to explain it, she finally found an answer.

Mia: It's because of his gift, isn't it?

Ama-ne: °His gift?!° (leans in to listen)

Shin-hee: No, I don't know what his gift is, but it wasn't his gift that allowed him to do that.

Ama-ne: Well, it's true that Wan has always been very strong (doesn't seem too shocked by what they've said).

Mia: No, Ama-ne, not you too... don't tell me you've gone crazy as well...

Mia didn't actually think it was impossible for Wan to do that. She had already seen Heroes defeat enormous monsters without using magic power, but this was a student from Prism, and more importantly, a student who had only attended classes for two days before temporarily withdrawing for an indefinite period. A student who had been lucky enough to obtain a gift just one day before the admissions deadline, a student who had an average rating so far because he couldn't use his magic power but excelled in combat. So no, it wasn't impossible, but it was like obtaining a legendary-rank title by snapping your fingers—there's only a one in a Duocillion chance of getting one by accident.

——————————

Hoe: (running with a wide, happy smile on her face) Mr. Hypnos! (waves her hand in the air)

Wan: Oh, Hoe, is there a problem?

Hoe: No, I was just happy to see you!

Aside from her slightly crazy tendencies, Hoe was loving and cheerful, and after I showed her the truth behind the demons and demonesses she had been feeding, she started crying and feeling sorry for herself, coincidentally on a rainy day.

FLASHBACK

Hoe: Even after all that... — I still couldn't... pu-puri-...fy my re- sniff regrets (cries silently, crouched with her head in her arms and knees).

Wan: Yes (dry and monotone).

Hoe: ! (lifts her head toward Wan, then her face tightens with regret, and she buries her head back between her legs and arms).

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Wan: °Did she really think I was going to comfort her?°

[Current number of tokens: 42]

As if it were a reminder from the system, it showed me the tokens.

Wan: °Of course, I'm going to comfort her; I'm not a monster!° Ma'am... you were wrong all along.

Hoe: (in a trembling voice) I-I'm s-...

Wan: But as my father always said, "What we did in the past only matters if it affects our future." And I'd like to add something.

Hoe: (slowly lifts her head, her mouth slightly open).

Wan: We always have the right to multiple chances, both you and I. To be honest, I sympathize with you because I've had regrets too, but... I didn't let them take over, and so they got lost in my abyss.

So far, it was a flawless performance. At that moment, I could have told her I was a demon king, and she would have believed me. Now I was going all in—if what I was about to say failed or was rejected, it would be over for me, my request, and my tokens. And suddenly, as if by luck, the sun returned and shone behind me and in front of Hoe, except I was blocking the sun with my body.

Wan: (surrounded by the sun) So... would you also like to lose yourself and your regrets in my abyss?

Hoe: (a bit surprised) °...Is this a guide sent by this universe for me?° (illuminated by Wan (the sun)).

END OF FLASHBACK

(I earned 7 tokens)

Since then, she's been acting like a yandere. She comes to see me every day, brings me food, and stays with me for more than 15 hours a day. I also decided to play the honesty card by telling her that I'm a human disguised as a demon to infiltrate a slave market and destroy it, which wasn't false because with the death of Baron Tsuhre, his slave market would die with him.

Hoe: How can I help you?! (enthusiastically)

We were both sitting at a picnic table that I had set up on a lush green plain. Behind me was a tent large enough for three people, but it only housed me and sometimes Uli, who wanted to sleep with me. I had been making a lot of trips between my lair of knowledge and Daïnmonn.

Wan: I don't want your help. Who knows what could happen if Beelzebub catches us? You'd be in danger, and I don't want that to happen.

I was telling the truth—she was going to be quite useful. She considered me her guide; she might be my token farm, and I liked her a lot. I mean, her character and development (the one in the flashback) moved me and made me attach (just a little) to her (her character).

Hoe: (torn between two emotions, joy and determination) I'm extremely happy and touched that you're worried about me! But I still want to help you!

She then leaned over the table, and her face ended up less than 10 centimeters from mine.

Hoe: Please! Let me help you! I'm really sincere!

Wan: Are you sincere?

Hoe: Yes, I'm willing to do anything!

Wan: Then—....

I was about to speak, but my eyes caught sight of her cleavage, which, in this position, revealed almost everything, whether it was her breasts or her bra. Actually, her cleavage wasn't noticeable at first, but in this position...

Wan: (turns his head) Before anything else, could you sit back down?

Hoe: Huh, oh yes (unsuspecting, then sits back down). Sir, I'm not joking; I really want to help you, and I'm willing to do anything!

Wan: Even become my slave? I'm rather cautious, and even though I trust you, I need guarantees.

I said that in the hope of calming her down, but when I raised my eyes to her face, she was holding her head in her hands with an expression that mixed excitement and embarrassment, although when I looked at her face, I noticed she was much more excited than embarrassed.

Hoe: Your slave... (a thin line of drool runs down her mouth) °Is this the universe rewarding me for my efforts?°

And while she was imagining certain things between her and me, she suddenly started pounding the table, then, with a bright, radiant smile, she stood up and said:

Hoe: I accep—...!

Wan: I'm going to stop you right there.

I interrupted her.

Wan: I know that for some reasons you'd gladly accept, but spend more time thinking about it.

Hoe: But—...!

Wan: I'm saying this for your own good.

Hoe: (makes a pouty face and puppy eyes, then lowers her head) ...Okay...

Oh, and unrelated to the situation, but night was falling, giving way to a starry sky.

Wan: °I'd like to remind you that I'm the younger one here; there's even a six-year gap between us. She's 23, and I'm 17.° (places his hand on Hoe's head, then gently strokes her hair) If you really want to help me, please read this book for me (hands her a book written in the demon language). I'm still having some trouble with the demon language.

Hoe: (slowly raises her head, tears in her eyes) W-with pleasure!

Finally, I rested my head in my arms on the table and listened to Hoe read. To be honest, her voice was rather pleasant to hear, and she read well too. Whether it was her intonation or her punctuation, I could clearly understand everything that was being said.

Hoe: "And after he solved his first problem, he tried to escape with his treasure, but unfortunately for him, he fell into the ocean with it...." The end... (looks at Wan).

Wan: (peacefully asleep).

Hoe: I wonder what kind of person he is among humans... and who his friends are... and also if he has a girlfriend, or if he's engaged or married... (gently and delicately plays with Wan's hair while slumping onto the table).

——————————

Mia: (blushing) This is a book about sexual positions!

Shin-hee: You want to bribe him and... (laughs narcissistically) hahaha... You are holding a book recognized by me, descendant of the ethereal dream tree and eternal possessor of the flame of the depths and death, hahahaha!

Mia: Go to hell!

Shin-hee: And it'll come in handy when you're with him, hahahahahhah!

Mia: (punches Shin-hee, who blocks it with magic power) Ugh, what the hell are you TALKING about!?

Ama-ne: (in a very, very low and uncharismatic voice) S-s-stop fighting... we're in a shopping m-mall..!

——————————

Wan: (sleeping peacefully (but really, just sleeping)).

Hoe: Actually, earlier, I noticed you looking at my cleavage... it embarrassed me, but I really wanted you to let me help, so I stayed like that, hoping it would dissuade you from saying no, but no, you turned your head and asked me to sit back down.

Wan: (sleeping peacefully).

Hoe: And then when I was sad that you rejected my help, you comforted me again (he just asked her to read a book he couldn't understand). And when you asked me to be your slave... it's weird to say this, but I reached ecstasy.... And again, I know it's strange, and this is the first time I've felt this way, but I think I'm in love with you, Mr. Hypnos... (blushes a little as she realizes what she just said).

[Thanks to your strong involvement with a character who has undergone a change, you obtain 12 tokens].

The next morning

Wan: Hmm (slowly opens his eyes).

As I was struggling to wake up because my sleep had been so comfortable and restorative, I felt something rather soft against my face. It took me a moment to realize it was a woman's chest, and that woman was Hoe. Of course, I quickly moved away, and fortunately, she wasn't completely naked; otherwise, who knows what I would have thought happened last night. But she was wearing a baby doll nightshirt with a lingerie set underneath. I first tried to extricate myself from her arms, but I was surprised to notice that I also had my arms wrapped around her.

Wan: (looks at himself and his body) °Okay, I'm not naked... well, not completely...°

I was shirtless, but below, there was nothing unusual. Besides, I don't know why, but I felt comfortable.

Wan: °It must be thanks to her gift or her skills.°

Although Hoe was often seen when the protagonist was in Daïnmonn, we never actually saw her fight or even talk about fighting, so it was impossible to know her gift or anything like that.

Hoe: Hmm...

Hoe was waking up, so I pretended to still be asleep, but it didn't work.

Hoe: I saw you (giggles softly and kindly amused).

Wan: (continues pretending to sleep).

Hoe: And besides that, I feel something hard against my skin.

Wan: Th-that's my phone! (pulls out his phone and shows it).

Hoe: (laughs gently, amused) Your reaction was really cute.

Wan: Hmm (turns his face away).

Hoe: (pulls Wan against her).

Wan: Aaahhh...

And... I know that it sounds like I'm just a pervert, but I swear I didn't do it on purpose.

Wan: (one hand on Hoe's breast and the other hand on her stomach) Haaa...

Hoe: (laughs, genuinely amused) You're just a child; it's obvious.

Wan: S-s-sorry! (still monotone, with eyes just a little narrower).

I stuttered because this was the third or fourth time something like this had happened in my life, despite all the people obsessed with me.

Well, in the end, she did let me go and told me that I had fallen asleep while she was reading the book. Just after that, she had brought me back to the tent, and when she was about to leave, a storm had set in. And storms in Daïnmonn are particularly violent because they strike with magic power that the former Great Demon had sown while fighting against the former Imperial Elf. Even though the battle took place 300 years ago, its effects are still felt, particularly through storms like this one.

Wan: (puts his shirt back on) And about my shirt... and your clothes? (with a bit of hesitation on the word "clothes").

Hoe: Well, the storm was going to last a really long time, so I made myself comfortable; and as for your shirt, I thought you'd like to be comfortable too.

Wan: Hmm...

Silence fell as I stared at her, and she looked at me, wondering what I wanted.

Wan: Aren't you going to get dressed?

Hoe: No, after all, the storm hasn't passed.

Wan: What?

"The storm hasn't passed" didn't make much sense to me because I couldn't hear anything that could be a storm, especially not a Daïnmonn storm.

Hoe: I put up an isolation barrier.

Okay, now I understood better. With an isolation barrier, we could only hear the noises from inside and not from outside, and vice versa.

Wan: ... (stares at Hoe, then glances back and forth between her outfit and her face) Are you really not going to get dressed?

Hoe: No, besides, you're the one who grabbed me in your sleep, you held me in your arms on your own.

Wan: I wasn't conscious.

Hoe: (teasing smile) And when you took the opportunity to check out my outfit, you were conscious then, right?

Wan: It was just to analyze the situation, that's all. And besides, it's see-through, so I could see every inch of your body, even the most intimate parts.

Hoe: (teasing and provocative smile) Ooh~

Suddenly, she flipped me over, and I found myself lying on the ground with her on top of me.

Hoe: You saw "even the most intimate parts"?

Wan: Yes, and right now it's even worse.

Now I was closer, and since she was on top of me, I had a full view of everything—her vagina, her breasts, her legs, her stomach, and even the junctions connecting her legs to the upper part of her body.

Hoe: (licks her lips) So, do you want to explore them? (a wide, provocative, and teasing smile).

End of chapter

(Spoiler: He said no, and then they played cards while waiting for the storm to pass).

[Current number of tokens: 61]