The dirt road led Alex directly to the village entrance. As he approached, the smell of burnt wood and stew grew stronger, mingling with the sweet aroma of freshly cut grass. The wooden sign at the entrance, crude but legible, read "Oakha."
Two figures, a man and a woman, moved near the fence, hoes in hand. They were peasants, with simple clothes and sun-tanned faces. Upon seeing him, both stopped their work and watched him with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
Alex, aware that her manga clothing and otherworldly appearance were likely attracting attention, raised a hand in a friendly gesture.
"Greetings," she said, trying to make her voice sound confident. It was the most generic greeting she could remember from role-playing games.
The man, with a scraggly beard, nodded slowly.
"Greetings, stranger. What brings you to Oakha?" His voice was gruff, but not hostile.
"I've been... traveling. I got a bit lost and found this road," Alex quickly improvised, hoping it sounded vague enough not to raise too much suspicion. "I was wondering if I could get some food and a place to stay for the night."
The woman, who had so far remained silent, took a step forward. She had an air of strength and experience that Alex immediately noticed. Her dark brown hair, streaked with silver, was tied back in a braid. Her eyes, a warm hazel color, examined him with a keenness that seemed to see beyond his words. Her face, though marked by age and outdoor work, retained a mature beauty, a quiet grace that was both commanding and attractive.
She was about forty, Alex thought, but she had a particularly striking appearance. There was something about her gaze, a wisdom and warmth, that drew him in.
""Of course, stranger. Oakha always has a place for an honest traveler," she said, her voice surprisingly soft and melodious, a contrast to the man's expression. "My name is Sayaka. This is my husband, Kael."
Alex felt a pang in his chest, not that of death, but a new and different one. Sayaka. The name rolled around in his mind. It was unusual, with a Japanese echo. And her presence… There was something about her, a combination of maturity, resilience, and a serene beauty that captivated him. The way her eyes assessed him, not with distrust, but with intelligent curiosity, made him feel exposed and, strangely, intrigued. He was presented with a woman who perfectly fit the kind of tastes that appealed to him.
""I'm Alex," he replied, feeling a faint warmth in his cheeks that had nothing to do with the sun. "Thank you, Sayaka. It's a relief to find such a welcoming place."
Sayaka gave him a small smile, her eyes deepening slightly. "Appearances can be deceiving sometimes, boy. The forest can be treacherous. But you're welcome here." Her gaze lingered for a moment on his unusual clothing before returning to his eyes. "You seem... out of place, Alex. Where did you really come from?"
Alex felt the pressure. The Luck ability hadn't given him an easy answer here. Clearly Sayaka was perceptive. Was telling the truth an option? Too risky. Lying outright? She could detect it.
"I come from far away, Sayaka," she said, settling on a half-truth. "From lands where things are different. So different you wouldn't even know how to imagine."
He looked into her eyes, trying to convey sincerity and a touch of mystery, hoping his enhanced Intelligence would give him the ability to convince her.
Sayaka stared at him for a long moment, her hazel eyes fixed on his. She said nothing, but Alex could sense that she was evaluating his words and his demeanor. Finally, an almost imperceptible sigh escaped her lips.
"I understand. There are things in this world that go beyond what can be seen or explained," she said, her voice implying she had seen more than most would believe. "Come. I'll take you to the inn. You can rest and tell us more about your 'faraway lands' when you're ready."
She turned and began walking toward the village, her stride firm and sure. Alex, despite the situation, couldn't help but let his gaze fall on her back. Sayaka wasn't a young woman, but the vitality in her gait and the serene confidence in her bearing made him feel an undeniable attraction. This world, with its system and its goblins, was already fascinating. But Sayaka's presence had just added a whole new layer of interest to the adventure.
As Alex followed Sayaka into the heart of Oakha, the robotic voice of the system echoed in his mind again, this time with a slightly different tone, almost... suggestive.
[¡Alert! New System Target Detected.]
Alex blinked, feeling a chill. A new target? he thought.
[Primary Romance Target: Sayaka.
Status: Affection Level: 0/100 (Indifferent).
RewardforAffectionLevel1: 500 HP, Unique Passive Skill.]
Alex almost tripped. A romance target? And with Sayaka? His isekai gamer mind instantly connected the dots. The "Milf System." The SSS skill. And now, a target with a mature woman who had already caught his eye. A mixture of surprise, embarrassment, and a strange arousal washed over him. This wasn't just survival; it was a dating game, too, and something he liked.
He glanced at Sayaka, who was walking a few steps ahead of him, oblivious to the system notification, walking with that wavy, bouncy butt, shaking it, having no idea she'd be targeted by a boy younger than her.
How was she supposed to gain "affection levels"? Were there dialogue options? Specific quests? It was an unexpected twist, but, to be honest, he didn't dislike the idea.
As they walked, Alex decided to explore the system shop. Now that he had 60 HP from the goblins, he could see what he could buy.
"System, open Shop," he thought.
The shop interface appeared, showing several categories:
[Weapons], [Armor], [Potions], [Skills], [MiscellaneousItems].
Alex navigated to [Weapons] first. He scrolled down the list:
*RustedIronDagger: 5 HP
*Apprentice's Short Sword: 10 HP
*Basic Hunting Bow: 8 HP
* Lumberjack Axe: 7 HP
* ...
* Forged Steel Longsword: 50 HP
* ...
* Radiant Magic Sword: 5,000 HP
His gaze fell on the Forged Steel Longsword. 50 HP. He was only 10 HP away from being able to buy it! He considered the power of his 2600 Strength. With that sword, he would be unstoppable. But he also considered that he would need more HP for other important things. Perhaps the best option was something basic for now.
He scrolled down to [Potions]:
*Minor Health Potion (Restores 50 HP): 5 HP
*Minor Mana Potion (Restores 25 MP): 3 HP
*Basic Antidote: 2 HP
A Health Potion seemed like a good investment. Survival came first.
Then, he went to [Skills].
* Active Skill: Heavy Strike (Cost: 10 MP. Damage +50% with melee weapons): 10 HP
* Passive Skill: Minor Resistance (Increases Physical Defense by 5%): 15 HP
* Gathering Skill (Allows you to gather herbs and materials more efficiently): 5 HP
* ...
* Fire Creation Skill (Allows you to summon a small flame): 20 HP
The Gathering Skill caught his eye. It could be useful for gaining more HP by selling materials, and it was cheap. So was the Minor Health Potion. He could buy both and still have 50 HP left over. Or should he save everything for the sword?
"System," Alex asked, "if I buy the Gathering Skill, will I gain HP faster?"
[Affirmative, host. Efficient resource gathering can generate significant income by selling them in the Shop or to merchants in the world.]
That sealed the deal. It was a wise investment.
"Buy Gathering Skill and Minor Health Potion," Alex mentally ordered.
[Purchase confirmed. -5 HP (Gathering Skill), -5 HP (Minor Health Potion). Current balance: 50 HP.
[Gathering Skill acquired.]
[Item: Minor Health Potion (1) added to Inventory.]
A new tab appeared on his interface:
[Acquired Skills]
And his Inventory opened automatically, displaying the glowing potion. He felt like a true gaming hero, gearing up for his adventure.
Sayaka stopped in front of a larger wooden structure than the others, with a carved sign depicting a frothy mug of ale. "This is the Oak Inn. The finest in Oakha. I'll get you a room."
Alex followed her, his mind still processing the latest system updates. A romance target, the unexpected milf Sayaka. This isekai was far more... interactive than he'd imagined.