Chapter 2. The Curse of Bronze
The Next Day
"What did you get today, son?" Father asks me in the middle of dinner, breaking the contemplative silence.
The entire day, I could feel their curiosity hounding me, particularly my mother's. Numerous times, they'd open their mouths to ask before thinking better of it, looking away, blushing. After all, if they said anything, they'd indirectly be asking if I had wanked or not. And that's not something you ask your brother or son. Something to do with societal norms or something.
But my father is shameless. He's not dancing around like the others.
"Damian!" Mother snaps, glowering at him, as if she isn't dying to know herself. "We are eating. Not now, please."
Daphne catches my eye and suppresses an amused smile, even though a dusting of pink colours her cheeks. Astoria, beside her, is actually giggling, finding my predicament funny.
Laugh away, little sister. The safety of this family depends on me wanking. You'll soon learn how dependent we are on my heavenly cock.
"Do not make it sound disgusting and unnatural, mother." I smirk, always eager to argue with her. "Masturbating is totally natural. It's not something to be ashamed about. We all do that. Even father, even Daph and Tori. Even you."
Daphne flings her fork at me for roping her into the crude example, while father and Astoria seem unfazed.
"Alaric." Mother turns her glare at me now, her tone frigid. "I do not want to deal with your filth at the dinner table. We can discuss the outcomes of your… power," she makes a very offensive face at that word, "later. Now, eat quietly."
'You can deal with my filth in the bedroom with your pretty mouth wide open.' I want to return fire, of course, but that's probably too much. She might castrate me.
'You think so?' Brian, my trusty brain, finds the need to be a smartarse.
The dinner remains boring after that, unfortunately. No further banter or innuendos. But once the house elves vanish the plates and the leftovers, I become the centre of attention again.
"Don't get your hopes up." I sigh theatrically before they can expect powerful items. "I rolled bronze both times. So the items are… not that great."
The two items I rolled today are:
[Beauty Perfume] (Uncommon Item)
— A bottle of pink perfume that amplifies your attractiveness to the opposite gender.
And,
[Bottle of infinite lotion] (Common Item)
— A simple bottle of slimy lotion that contains an infinite amount of lotion inside. Lotion must be squeezed out manually and trying to tamper with the bottle will simply break it.
I place the two bottles on the table, drumming my fingers idly. "This one is a perfume that makes you appear more attractive to the opposite gender, and this one contains infinite lotion."
Mother eyes the bottles with dismay. "We can't protect ourselves with these. They're useless."
Direct and to the point. But yes, I agree. Today hasn't been as productive as yesterday. These bottles are nothing compared to the [Twilight Healing] sacred gear, the thing that cured Astoria. I wouldn't blame them for expecting a similar level of gacha roll. But it's gacha. From the little I remember of my past life, the great god RNGesus has always been whimsical. They bless you with one hand and bugger you with the other.
"They're not completely without use. I wouldn't mind the perfume." Father tries to be optimistic about it and stumbles onto a landmine.
I hide a grin.
Mother swivels towards him, her placid smile fooling no one. "And pray tell why, Damian? Is there a woman you intend to charm, hmm?"
We quietly extract ourselves from the impending slaughter, moving to the living room while mother prepares to chew him out. The moron deserves it, really. Why would you even say that when you have a hot milf as your wife? If Proserpina Greengrass was my wife, she'd spend most of her day prone in bed, moaning my name.
'Quite a normal thought, master.' Brian drawls in my head, 'I'm sure most sons imagine their mothers in similar positions.'
'Absolutely.' I mentally agree, playing along. 'Are you really your mother's son if you don't want to fuck her?'
My little sister's voice interrupts my playful banter with myself.
Ugh. Am I really crazy if I'm self-aware?
"Al, you can use the lotion for masturbation, you know." Astoria drops onto the sofa, her words shameless, her face lit with humour. "No need to go all dry and rough. We can't risk your magical instrument."
…
…
Heh. Who needs Brian when I can banter with Tori? I ignore his imagined scoff.
"And I can use the perfume to earn a helping hand, right? Why do all the work by myself?" I snicker, joking back, elbowing her in the side.
Astoria nods sagely, her lips twitching. "Or a helping foot. Or a helping mouth. I don't judge."
"Vulgar! So vulgar!" Daphne squeezes in between us, wrapping her arms around our shoulders, looking both fond and irritated. "Why are you both so… without shame?"
"Maybe it's you who's too prudent, Daph." I rest my head against her shoulder, revelling in her scent, in her warmth, in the way she strokes my hair. "Be more vulgar, darling. Live a little, will you?"
"I can show you how to masturbate, sister. It might help you loosen up." Astoria is still in her snippy mood, it seems, holding nothing sacred, throwing bombs after bombs.
Daphne's jaw drops, and she pinches her cheek, thoroughly mortified. "Shut up! You've been crass since yesterday. It's like having two Alarics in the house!"
"This is the real me." Astoria shrugs and breaks away to stand before us, her hip jutted to one side. "There's freedom in knowing you can live past your teenage years. Typically, it's the sense of death that sets you free. For me, it's the opposite. It's the prospect of long life that motivates me to live every moment, to not bother with masks and modesty. I feel light now. I feel… unbound. I feel outrageous."
My heart brims with warmth, proud at her outlook on life. There are no more dark circles under her eyes, no more quiet melancholy shrouding her. And while she's still very thin, I'm sure her health will improve without the curse leeching on her magic.
Daphne and I share a soft look, and then we drag her into our arms again, hugging her like we used to when we were children. Astoria laughs at our ticklish grasp, but not for a moment does she try to move away. She stays there squished between us with her eyes closed and a smile so wide that it must hurt her jaw.
I… I am incredibly thankful for my new power. Even if I gain nothing of value from now onwards, I've already been gifted the world.
~xXxXx~
The Following Morning
In the morning, I pat my wood and earn the precious honey. I don't know what I was dreaming, but it must've been intense, if my throbbing boner is any proof.
Bronze Gacha Ticket Gained!
Rolling!
Item Gained!
[Five Hundred Cigarettes] (Trash Item)
— 500 non brand name generic cigarettes. Useful for taking the edge off.
…
…
Umm… fuck, did I jinx myself? This is even worse than yesterday's rolls.
Hey, RNGesus, I wasn't being serious when I said I've already been gifted the world, you know. I was being a sentimental fool. There's a war on our doorsteps. I can't save them by smoking this shit! Give me a fucking nuke, you cunts!
Annoyed at spilling my honey for no good reason, I march into the bathroom to clean up.
~xXxXx~
That Night
I jerk off before I go to sleep. It's a bit later than usual, but oh well.
I've long since come to the realisation that the more you space your wanking sessions, the more fun it becomes.
Though I'm hoping this will be more than just fun.
I'm expecting it to be beneficial.
As I twitch and empty my balls, the familiar game window pops open before my eyes.
Bronze Gacha Ticket Gained!
Rolling!
Item Gained!
[ColorS] (Common Item)
— A small book-like magic item that allows the holder to change the color scheme of their clothing by sliding their finger over its surface.
Fucking hell. What is with these rolls? A bronze gacha ticket again? When will I get something rarer?
~xXxXx~
The Next Day
It's morning again.
And I'm pumping my morning wood again, actually praying for a better roll. Is it weird I'm praying to Aphrodite while wanking? Wait, is it disrespectful that I'm fucking her arse while chanting her name?
I grunt as the imaginary Aphrodite squeezes my cock between her cheeks and drinks up my sacrificial juice.
Bronze Gacha Ticket Gained!
Rolling!
Item Gained!
[Cleaning Stone] (Common Item)
— A small blue bead that slowly cleans and removes filth from everything within a 10-meter radius of it.
I clench my jaw and restrain a frustrated laugh.
It's gacha. It will give me better rolls sooner or later. Right?
Then I roll a bronze again in the evening and punch the wall. I glance at the screen window and try to punch it too.
[All-purpose tool] (Trash Item)
— A screwdriver that shapes itself into any mundane tool such as hammers, knives, chisels, etc.
~xXxXx~
After disappointing everyone again today, I retire to my room for the night.
The massive room feels claustrophobically small. The canopied bed is suffocating like a coffin. All these luxuries cannot ease my tense mind. Tomorrow, Lucius Malfoy will return and tell us whether the Dark Lord bought our lie or not. If he doesn't, then the slimy snakeface will take Daphne away from me, handing her to Draco as a plaything.
Even if the Dark Lord doesn't force a betrothal between Daphne and the Malfoy spawn, one thing is quite certain. I will get the dark mark, just like the other boys my age. And while I won't be sent on dangerous raids yet, I'll be compelled to act as his servant, to kiss his feet and do all his bidding. I hate it already.
'Maybe you should give it another try, master.' Brian's voice is unusually sombre this time. 'I know you can wank one more time. Maybe it will unlock your luck.'
'You know the drawback.' I flop on the bed and stare at the silky green canopy over me. 'If I ever wank more than twice in a day, I cannot be aroused for the next few days. I fall into depression. The mere thought of sex will make me nauseous during this downtime. It's not worth it. It's an overall loss. I'd rather continue my safe routine and try again tomorrow.'
'If that's what you wish, master.' Brian quietens after that, allowing me to keep worrying about the future.
If only I could roll some legendary weapon and kill Voldemort for good. All our problems would vanish once the no-nose bastard is gone. With the scary monster unable to back Malfoy and his ilk, we'll gain our autonomy and won't have to bow to them anymore.
I flinch at the knock on the door, irrationally afraid that the boogeyman himself has decided to show up to execute me for the thoughtcrime.
"Open the door." My mother's voice calms me down.
Phew!
I grab my wand from the bedside table and unlock the door wordlessly. "Come in."
I sit up, draping my arms around my knees.
Mother steps inside and closes the door, locking and silencing it. Facing me, she sighs in exhaustion.
She hasn't changed into her nightwear, still dressed in the black gown. That's strange. She's one of the early sleepers in the house. By now, she should be doing her regular reading in bed.
"Mother." I don't even try to rile her up. "What brings you here?"
She stays near the door, fixing me with a complicated look. "Bad news."
Fuck.
"I love bad news." I scoot to the foot of the bed, so she's in my direct sight. "Please, tell me. I'm dying from curiosity."
"From my sources, I've gathered Malfoy wasn't bluffing. You-Know-Who truly asked him to form a visible connection with our family, so we have no choice but to support them publicly." She doesn't mince words, doesn't react to my sarcasm, hellbent on exacerbating my bad mood. "That means it's very likely he will force us to give Daphne away, uncaring about our desires to keep us 'pure pure' by wedding you to your sisters."
Fuck.
"I'd rather bugger Draco myself than allow Daphne to be used as a broodmare!" I cannot hold off the rage this time, my tone a notch higher than it should be.
She makes a disgusted face at that. "Very pleasant mental image."
"I try my best." I smile mirthlessly, anxiously tapping my foot on the floor. "If you want a more pleasant image, picture Daphne getting railed by the Death Eaters. Because that's not an impossible future."
For the first time since she entered my room, her tired, beautiful face twists with ugly fury. "Shut your filthy mouth, boy! Do you think we don't care? Do you think I want to ruin my daughter? I loathe this arrangement more than you. I have raised Daphne with all the love and discipline I could muster. I want to see her achieve all she wants. I want to see her become successful. But there are no bloody options! We either die or bend. And death is so… final. I'd rather wager on a small hope that the Dark Lord is vanquished again than doom us all for pride. It's not worth the lives of my children. We just have to persevere."
I grimace, shutting my mouth with a click, realising what a dumbfuck I was being. It's not just me who's concerned; it's the entire family. Even my moron father. We all are being crushed under the might of a fearsome wizard, hoping for a miracle weapon.
"Sorry. I'm just having a bad day. Well, bad days."
"I noticed." She softens, sitting down beside me. "What happened? The first day, you received such a useful boon. It's been all downhill from there."
"It's a lottery, mother. All the items I gain are divided by rarity. 'Bronze' is the most common. And 'Divine' is the rarest. I was lucky on the first day. Since then, it appears I'm not. All I can do is keep rolling and hope for the best."
She is quiet for a moment, just staring at me, biting her bottom lip. "Why not… masturbate again? I assume it has been hours since your last one. You can't be that weak."
Ugh. Now I have to explain to her why.
I do that reluctantly, stating with a blank face how I tend to become morose if I wank too much and how I lose my sex drive for many days at least. I explain why my current dose is the best.
"Plus, I'm already feeling the effects." I confess, leaning back on my hands. "It would be a chore to get hard. Already, I want to renounce lust and become a philosopher to search for the meaning of life. Like, why are we here? Are we just evolved monkeys? Or did some alien fuck one and produce our race? Like, why do we even have sex? Isn't it too gross? All the yucky body fluids. All the foreign bacteria you'd catch. Like, why do we have children? Is it for a sort of immort—"
"Stop." Mother raises her hand, ruining my flow state.
She gets off the bed and stands before me. Wait, is that a fond expression on her face? She looks nearly identical to an older Daphne. It's the same face. The same smile. Just bigger tits and a wider arse.
Fuck, what I wouldn't give to shove my face in those tits. I'd die with a ridiculous smile.
Her scoff breaks my flow state again.
"There goes your search for the meaning of life." Though it's said with a pointed tone, her blue eyes are twinkling with mirth. "Don't think I'm not aware of your male gaze, son. I've received such looks my whole life, and you're not subtle."
"I don't know what you're talking about." I try to look puzzled and innocent. I probably should be more careful with my ogling.
"Unfortunate. I was going to help with your… important task." She spins around and starts for the door, the sway in her hips slightly exaggerated.
Wait, what? Did I hear her right? Am I dreaming? Am I mishearing?
No, no! It isn't possible! That arse is too solid for it to be a dream.
"Wait! I'm ready to confess! Yes, I have scoured your divine figure with my undeserving gaze!" I yell, jumping off the bed and grabbing her arm. "Mommy, forgive me, for I hath sinned!"
She slowly turns around, deadpanning at me. "This is why you don't have a girlfriend."
I grin, yanking her into a tight embrace, basking in the press of her voluptuous body, burying my face in her warm, scented neck. "All I need is you," I husk, my hands sliding past her slim waist. I can feel each thread beneath my fingertips as they rove over her wondrous backside. But before they can find a hold in her thick arse, she shoves me away with enough force that my knee collides with the bed frame, and I end up sprawled on my back.
When I sit up, she is towering over me, her noble, queenly face burning with fury and embarrassment. The blush has travelled all the way down to her slender neck, her porcelain skin speckled red. "I did not give you permission to manhandle me, boy! The next time you take such liberties, I will neuter you."
"Understood." I raise my hands placatingly. "I got overexcited."
"Then why isn't there an erection?" She snaps, glowering at my crotch. "If it were Damian, he'd have a tent pitched up there already."
Ah, even in this unexpected taboo situation, she has her priorities straight. I've got to give it to her for being so single-minded. I'd be offended at being used as a wank machine if it weren't for the greater good.
"I wasn't lying earlier." I meet her glare with a lazy smirk. "I'm spent. While your offer did make me twitch down there, it alone isn't enough. You have to… entertain me."
If I can be made into a wank machine for the greater good, you bet I'd take all the advantages as well.
She wrinkles her nose, her hands going behind her back, making my eyes widen.
Wait, wait, I didn't think it would be this easy! I was preparing a list of arguments!
I hear the sound of the zipper. I watch with bated breath as the tight-fitting dress suddenly loosens. When she slips her arms free from the sleeves, the heavy black gown slides down her body like liquid shadow.
My heart pounds against my ribs as I'm offered the stunning view.
I'm not worthy.
As she steps out of the gown, my shaky gaze falls on her dainty toes. Her nails are painted a dark shade of blue. Her feet are small and delicate, the arch of her soles an alluring sight. I never knew feet could be this arousing. Then my eyes travel upwards, over her shins, past her shapely calves, and then my mind blanks.
Her thighs, oh her thighs, fuck, I'm speechless. Her pale thighs are the perfect mix of thicc and lean. Fuck, fuck, fuck, this is the meaning of life, to get strangled by such fine thighs. My cock is already semi-hard when my gaze falls on her lacy knickers.
"Fuck." I groan aloud, gulping the excess saliva.
Her underwear is black, just like her gown was. It's not a thong; the fabric is wider at the sides, but those frills are for some reason fucking with my head. How can just an extra trim of fabric amplify the sex appeal to such a degree? It does not make sense.
As if to KO me, she rotates her hips, allowing me the view of her ample arse. I use that word consciously. Ample. Curvaceous. Peachy. Perfectly round. Full.
The dictionaries lack the adjectives to capture her beauty.
Then she leans towards me, her humongous tits straining within the constraints of her black bra. Just like the knickers, the fucking trims make it look 100x sexier. Though I'd love to tear off the bra and actually have a full serving of her large, pillowy breasts.
The bra comes off, and she flings it on top of the discarded gown.
…
…
I moan.
The shape is what blows my mind. Like perky teardrops, most globular at the bottom. They're simply… marvellous. Her areolas are pink circles, topping off the white peaks with small cute nipples. And then there is the scent. Mouthwatering vanilla.
I ache from the view. My hard cock throbs against the band of my trousers.
Pulling it open, pushing down my boxers, I allow my cock to pop out, so excited that it strains to point all the way back at me.
"That was easy." Mother unties her hair and shakes it loose, the silky platinum blonde tresses framing her haughty face.
"Can I touch your boobies, please?" I beg, a fist wrapped around my pulsating dick, the other stretched towards her.
Her small, pink mouth twists into a grimace. "No. Absolutely not. The stripping was humiliating enough. I even took off the bra by my own volition. Now, focus on the work, son. Our lives depend on it."
"Please." My voice is hoarse, my fingers trembling, like a drug addict crying for one more hit.
She growls and yanks on my hand, pulling me to my feet. "I'll slap you if you demand anything more." And with the threat delivered, she tentatively guides my extended palm to her perfect breast.
I moan.
My hand is not big enough to contain the glorious mound. Yet it tries in futility, my digits splaying, digging into the soft-firm flesh.
It's warm. It's soft. It's smooth. It's heaven.
Her breath hitches, and she looks away, her face scarlet.
"Please," she murmurs, squirming, reluctantly placing her hands on my shoulders for balance. "Be quick."
I barely catch her words, already fapping hard, my fist a blur along my shaft.
I brush my thumb across her stiff nipple, earning her gasp.
I so want to kiss her, to claim her pouty lips. But no, I don't want to jeopardise this.
It should be awkward, really, the quiet, the sound of me wanking. But it somehow works. The tension is sweet. The sensation of her hefty tit in my grasp is indescribable. And her silence is… endearing. My usual bitchy mother looks like a teen having her tit grabbed for the first time.
I pinch her nipple, and she gasps again, falling against me. But the moment my cock grazes her belly, she stiffens and regains her balance. "How long, boy!?"
Heh. I never thought her whine would turn me on.
"Nearly there." I mutter, still fondling her breast, still rolling her nipple.
Then I feel the pressure. A rush of ocean channelled through a pipe.
I grunt and thrust into my first erratically, clutching her boob.
She winces at the rough grab but doesn't complain.
"If a single drop falls on me, you're dead."
Fuck. She read my mind. I was going to paint her thighs.
Releasing her breast, I move away from her and let the volcano erupt. Spurt after spurt of white shoots out of my cock, landing on the floor soundlessly. I twitch and squirm, still pumping, squeezing out every last drop.
I don't think I've ever come this hard.
Once I'm sure I'm truly done, I collapse on the foot of the bed, my cock immediately going limp.
Legendary Gacha Ticket Gained!
Rolling!
The familiar system window opens, showing the ouroboros-shaped throbber, going round and round.
Item Gained!
[Geass—Memory] (Epic Item)
— Once consuming the orb, it gifts you the ability to rewrite the memories of a target through making direct eye contact. The more memories you rewrite in more detail, the more energy you expend and the more time you need. The energy you expend scales with the power difference between you and the target, as well as their willpower. It is possible to break through the rewritten memories. Through training you can improve the speed at which you rewrite memories and expend less energy, as well as being more detailed and accurate.
"What did you get?" Mother sags beside me, looking both hopeful and apprehensive.
I grin, rereading the description. "Salvation."