Alex's breath was still erratic when Sayaka and Kael disappeared through the back door. The residual scent of pheromones hung in the air, a sweet torture that revived the memory of the kiss. It was clear the Milf System didn't mess around.
Sayaka had responded with an intensity that had taken him by surprise, and Kael's interruption had only postponed the inevitable.
The game of seduction was on, and Alex, despite his initial embarrassment, felt a strange mix of excitement and determination.
He checked the time on his nonexistent internal clock. It was midnight. The Moon Herbs mission awaited him. He couldn't afford any more distractions for now. Although his body was screaming to return to that dark room with Sayaka, his rational mind (boosted by his 7600 Intelligence) reminded him that survival in this new world depended on his ability to adapt, fight, and, yes, also to seize the opportunities the system offered him.
With a sigh, Alex headed to the inn's common area, which was now almost empty. Only Elara, the innkeeper, was polishing the tankards behind the bar, her feline eyes gleaming in the dimness.
"Are you off on your errand already, Alex?" Elara purred, a knowing smile on her face. "At this hour, the forest holds its best secrets."
Alex felt a chill run down his spine. Elara always seemed to know more than she was letting on.
"Secrets, Elara? I hope they're just Moongrass."
She gave a low laugh. "Perhaps. Or perhaps something more... interesting."
Her amber eyes bore into Alex's, and he swore there was a spark of mischief.
"Would you mind if I stayed up waiting for you? It's always good to have company when you come back from the dark."
[Affection level with Elara has increased to 20/100.
Alex was intrigued. Elara was a different woman, with a wilder, more direct energy than Sayaka.
"It would be my pleasure, Elara. But don't worry, I won't be long."
"Don't rush. The night is young," she replied, her purr louder.
Alex couldn't shake the feeling that the Milf System already had another, well-established secondary objective.
He left the inn and headed deeper into the forest. The air was fresh and damp, and the full moon illuminated the path. He moved with renewed confidence. His new stats, especially his 7600 Agility, made him feel light as a feather, and his 7600 Strength gave him the feeling he could smash through any obstacle.
The encounter with the Orc had been a revelation. It had taught him that brute force wasn't enough, but that combined with cunning and the right tools (like pheromones), it could be devastating.
As he walked, his mind ran through the new skills he'd unlocked. He needed to invest in some of them at the shop to diversify his abilities. With 5,998 HP, he had plenty of options.
He walked for about twenty minutes until he reached the same clearing where he'd found the Moongrass earlier, and where he'd confronted the Orc. The creature's remains were gone. The forest, with its relentless cycle of life and death, had quickly claimed its body.
The silver glow of the Moongrasses was even more intense under the direct moon. Alex activated his Gathering Skill and began to work. His hands moved with supernatural efficiency, peeling the stems with precision.
The process was almost meditative, allowing him to reflect on the rapid changes in his life. From a manga reader to an adventurer with a system, and now, a man courting women in a medieval world. It was surreal.
As he gathered, his Keen Sense of Smell allowed him to detect the subtle changes in the wind. He smelled grass, earth, and something else… a faint trace of metal and a furry creature. It wasn't an Orc, nor goblins. It was smaller, but caution guided him.
He stopped and crouched in the bushes, using his Agility to move soundlessly. His Intelligence told him not to relax. It could have been a fluke, the Orc, or perhaps the first part of a night of surprises.
A pack of gray wolves appeared in the clearing. They weren't the young wolves from the Guild's quest, but larger adult wolves with intelligent eyes. There were about five of them. They were sniffing around the Orc's remains, looking for food.
[Alert: Enemy detected: 5 Gray Wolves (Level 5).]
[Host Level: 8.]
[Recommendation: Combat at will. Moderate threat.]
Alex smiled. Moderate. That meant he could handle them. Unlike the rats and the Orc, with these wolves he had the advantage of level and stats. He wouldn't use pheromones, at least not yet. He needed to practice direct combat.
He decided to attack them by surprise. He launched himself from his hiding place, straight at the largest wolf. His 7600 Strength did the job. A direct punch to the wolf's head sent it rolling, its body limp before it hit the ground.
[You have defeated a Gray Wolf. +500 EXP (5 EXP x100), +50 HP.]
[You have reached Level 9.]
[You have gained +50 Attribute Points.]
The other wolves howled, turning toward him in fury. They launched a coordinated attack. Alex remained calm. His reflexes, boosted by his 7600 Agility, allowed him to dodge the combined attacks of two wolves, leaping over them and landing behind them.
A backhand blow to one stunned it, and a powerful kick sent the other crashing into a tree.
[You have defeated a Gray Wolf. +500 EXP (5 EXP x100), +50 HP.]
Two wolves down. Only three remained. One tried to bite his leg, but Alex intercepted it with a punch that made it yelp in pain and flinch. The fight was fast and brutal, a testament to the effectiveness of his multiplied stats. He moved like a shadow, his blows devastating. It wasn't a fair fight.
In less than a minute, all five wolves lay dead in the clearing. Alex was panting a little, but hadn't taken any damage. It had been a controlled display of power.
[Optional Mission: Gray Wolf Elimination (0/3)]
[Objective: Eliminate 5 Gray Wolves.]
[Reward: 2000 HP (base 20), 20 silver coins, chance of loot.]
[Additional Combat Mission Completed!]
[Reward: 2000 HP (base 20), 20 silver coins.]
[You have reached Level 10.]
[You have gained +50 Attribute Points.]
Alex smiled with satisfaction. Another level jump and more HP. The reward system was incredibly generous.
He checked his statistics.
[Name: Alex
Race: Human
Level: 10
Class: No Class Assigned
HP: 100/100
MP: 40/50
Available Attribute Points: 50
Available Skill Points: 0
Strength (STR): 76 (Effective: 7600)
Agility (AGI): 76 (Effective: 7600)
Intelligence (INT): 76 (Effective: 7600)
Stamina (END): 26 (Effective: 2600)
Luck (LUK): 76 (Effective: 7600)
HP Balance: 8598 HP
He decided to save the 50 attribute points for now. There was no rush. I wanted to see what new skills I could unlock or buy in the shop. The most urgent thing was to return to the inn. I had gathered the Moon Herbs and proven myself against the wolves.
He returned to the village, the silence of the forest replaced by the distant sounds of the Oakha night. The moonlight was still high, but the first rays of dawn were beginning to peek over the horizon.
As he entered the Oak Inn, Elara was sitting behind the bar, just as she'd promised. Seeing him, her feline eyes sparkled, and a smile spread across her face.
"So you're back. What secrets has the forest blessed you with tonight?" Elara asked, her eyes scanning him from head to toe. She could feel the change in him, the renewed confidence.
Alex se acercó a la barra, sacando las Hierbas Lunares. "Misión cumplida, Elara. Y quizás… me encontré con algunos lobos en el camino. Los eliminé."
Elara's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "Wolves?! And you took them out by yourself? Without a sword, and at night? You're more than you seem, Alex. Much more."
[Affection level with Elara has increased to 30/100.
"It was nothing my fists and a little cunning couldn't handle," Alex said with a smile, enjoying the admiration in the beastwoman's eyes. "But now, I'd like to get some sleep."
"Sure, sure," Elara purred, her gaze still fixed on him. "Rest is for the brave. May your dreams be... interesting."
Alex went upstairs to his room, tiredness beginning to weigh on him. But before he went to sleep, his thoughts returned to Sayaka. She had been left wanting the night before. This time, there would be no Kael.
He took a quick shower with the cold water from the pitcher in his room, washing off the sweat and the smell of the forest. He put on clean clothes and, before leaving, took the Pheromone Potion (Enhanced) from his inventory. He would only use it once, in a more controlled manner. He wanted this time to be different. He wanted a moment without interruptions.
He went downstairs. The inn's main hall was deserted. The candles had almost burned out, and only a faint glow came from the kitchen.
Sayaka, he thought. She was preparing breakfast. He approached the kitchen. Sayaka had her back to him, lighting the fire for dinner. Her hair was a little disheveled, and fatigue was evident on her shoulders. But even so, there was an intrinsic beauty in her everyday movements.
Alex hesitated for a moment. Would it be too direct? Too soon? But his 7600 Intelligence, coupled with the push of the system, told him the opportunity was there, waiting.
He inhaled deeply.
The scent of the pheromones he'd applied to her clothes was barely perceptible to him, but he knew it would be magnetic to her.
"Sayaka," Alex said, his voice low and soft, but with an intensity that resonated in the silence of the kitchen.
Sayaka turned sharply, the firebrand in her hand. Her eyes widened at the sight.
"Alex? What are you doing up so early? I thought you'd be sleeping."
Alex took a step toward her, closing the small distance between them. The firelight danced in her hazel eyes, making them sparkle. He could see the way her nose twitched slightly, catching the scent wafting from him. Her pupils dilated.
"I couldn't sleep," Alex confessed, his gaze fixed on hers. "Not after last night." He took a step closer, close enough for the scent of the pheromones to envelop her completely.
"I couldn't sleep knowing that... that what happened last night wasn't over."
Sayaka's face flushed bright red, and her hands shook, the firebrand falling to the floor with a small thud. Her eyes, now filled with a mixture of desire and astonishing vulnerability, locked with Alex's. Reason and prudence battled in her gaze, but the pheromones were winning.
"Alex... Kael could..." she whispered, but her voice was weak, her resistance crumbling.
Alex reached out and placed a hand gently on Sayaka's cheek, her thumb stroking her soft skin.
"Kael isn't here now, Sayaka. And I... I can't keep pretending. What I feel for you... is real. And I know you felt it last night, too." He leaned in, his breath brushing her lips. "Let me finish what we started."
Sayaka closed her eyes, a stifled moan escaping her throat. Her body leaned into Alex's, surrendering to the attraction. "Alex... yes..."
He kissed her, this time with deep tenderness, a silent promise. His hands circled her waist, pulling her closer, until there was no space between them. The kiss grew more demanding, more passionate.
Sayaka responded with suppressed ferocity, her arms running up Alex's back, her fingers tangling in his hair. The pheromone potion, combined with Alex's genuine desire and Sayaka's own longing, had broken down all barriers.
The chemistry between them was explosive. Alex leaned down, gently lifting her into his arms. Sayaka let out a small cry of surprise and clung to him, her legs wrapped around his waist. He headed to the farthest corner of the kitchen, where the shadows were thickest, away from the candlelight and any prying eyes. It wasn't their bedroom, but at that moment, they didn't care. The heat of passion consumed them, a promise of intimacy that had been put off for too long.
The outside world faded away, leaving only Sayaka's shallow breathing, the rhythm of their hearts beating in unison, and the promise of a new dawn that would bring not only sunshine but also a new level in their relationship.