While Rudy rushed to the inn after their return to the town, the girls followed Custer to his shop as he offered that Aura listen to the problem they were facing instead of him. Shy as they were about discussing the topic with a boy, they quickly jumped at the chance to talk to someone of the same sex and who would possibly know more about how to deal with their intricate problem.
It was night when they returned, and Zephyr took his leave early. And as he retired to bed, Aura listened to the girls explaining their newfound ability. In the mask of Cecilia, she hummed along and showed flashes of empathy. But that didn't last long, as the moment she saw an opportunity to exploit them, she decided to work towards it.
"So you can't gain the experience that you've gathered until a man makes you orgasm," pouring another cup of tea for the girl, she took a seat as well. "Unfortunately, it seems to be an ability that's considered cursed and not a curse itself. Otherwise, I'm sure we could dispel it somehow."
Eyeing the girl's downcast expression, she leaned forward and said in a whisper.
"Although I have to say that the skill sounds impressive. Twice the stats increase per level? It's basically doubling them, and if you go on long enough, you could go from something like a hundred strength to two hundred in a single level up! Gosh, that's every adventurer's wet dream if you ask me~."
Listening to her, the girls' eyes lifted. They hadn't thought about the skill in this way yet, for in their mind, it was more of a nuisance than anything.
"And if not wrong, it says that it accumulates the experience, doesn't it?" Picking up her cup, Aura brought it to her lips. "If that's the case, you can combine that skill with the belt that I mentioned! That way, you will gain double the experience and double the increase in stats as well!"
A hefty gulp went down everyone's throat; it was truly any adventurer's wet dream. To not only level up twice as fast but to also gain twice as many stats, until it basically multiplied itself so much that the number grew absurdly large.
Looking around at each other as that thought crossed their heads, they looked at Aura again, but only Roxanne could gather the courage to speak up.
"But didn't you say that we can't have sex or anything like that for the belt to work?" Nodding at the girl, Aura set her cup back on the table.
"Yes, but pay attention to the wording of the skill. It says accumulate, right? That means it can't be taken away once you've acquired it. Like the name suggests it holds the experience like a dam, and even if you break the condition for the belt, that acquired experience should remain! It's worth testing out if nothing else, don't you think?"
The longer she talked, the more tempting the idea seemed. However, one issue still remained, and this time it was Charlotte who spoke it, being the eldest of all.
"But the orgasm part? We're all single and well… I don't wanna hire a sex slave or visit a parlour to level up every time."
Tilting her head, Aura furrowed her eyebrows.
"It just says that you need to orgasm, right? Not that you need to have sex," shrugging her shoulders, she looked around at the girls with visible confusion. "You're all adults, what's a little bit of fun? Besides, I heard Rudy was rejected by Roxanne, and neither of you has a boyfriend, so this way you might actually find one–at least it will motivate you to get a boyfriend."
"Y-you knew about Roxanne and Rudy?" Audrey asked, shaking her head as she struggled to grasp how Cecilia knew.
Before the devil could answer, however, Roxanne placed a hand by Audrey's chest and stared at Cecilia in warning.
"Let's not talk about that for now. We have a bigger problem to deal with, no?"
"Agreed…" Sensing the tension, Charlotte shook her head and turned to Aura again. "What you're saying sounds good, but we can't just go out and hunt for a boyfriend because we suddenly have a need to. That feels a little–"
"Exploitative?" Scoffing at the mere thought, Aura leaned forward with a teasing smile. "Oh come on, any guy would love to be exploited by gals like you. Fine body, a mature mind, and most importantly–the need to have sex every night ahaha~ Believe me, there are guys out there who would rather live as your boyfriends for a few months and then die than live out their full lifespan happily."
"I…I still don't feel good about this." Speaking up, Audrey folded her arms and looked to the floor with a red streak glowing across her cheeks. "That's something you do with someone you love, you know."
"Then do it with the one you love, what's wrong with that?"
Both Audrey and Charlotte froze at those words. Their eyes widened, and their heart began to pump. To do it with the one they love–there was one man, although if he would return their advances was another thing entirely.
"Thanks, Cecilia, but I think we're gonna find another way–"
"W-wait…" Before Roxanne could completely dismiss the idea, Charlotte grabbed Roxanne's hand and moved it off the desk. "Let's just hear out what she has to say first, okay?"
"What?! Are you seriously considering–"
"N-no, aunty is right. If we're stuck with this curse anyway and can't gain levels without doing something, then maybe we should listen to the expert here." Cutting Roxanne off, Audrey turned to the front and stared at Aura with trepidation apparent in her gaze. "What do we need to do–I mean, what should we do? We might try it and see how it goes."
Holding the widest of smirks, Aura got off her chair and gestured for the girls to follow.
"Let me show you the belts, they're in the back, so follow me." And with that began the first major step of their fall–one that they'll soon come to regret, before loving it all…