The morning after the guild incident, the air in the market was lighter — at least for me.
Two bonds secured. Two women whose loyalty the system confirmed as absolute.
One passive drawing strangers into my orbit. One active upgrade making my words linger in the mind like smoke after a flame.
This wasn't home — never would be — but I'd turned it into mine in the ways that mattered.
The serving girl found me at breakfast, slipping into the seat opposite without hesitation.
"You're leaving," she said. Not a question.
"Yes."
Her eyes lingered on me like she was trying to commit my face to memory. "Will you come back?"
"When I need to," I said. "And when I do, I expect you'll have something worth telling me."
Her mouth quirked into a small, private smile. "I will."
[Bond maintenance: Serving girl loyalty stable at 100%.]
Later, when the inn had quieted and most of the guests had gone about their day, she brushed her fingers over mine in passing — an unspoken signal.
I followed her upstairs.
The door to my room clicked shut, and she turned to me with a fierce urgency, her hands immediately framing my face as she pulled me into a deep kiss. "Don't go yet... I need you one more time," she whispered against my lips, her tongue slipping in to tangle with mine, tasting of the morning's tea, her body pressing close with built-up longing. Desire Touch flared, warmth spreading through us, making her gasp softly, "Mmm... that feeling... it's like fire inside me."
I backed her toward the bed, my hands on her hips, lifting her skirt as we went. "Show me how much you'll miss me," I said, nipping at her neck, fingers teasing the edge of her undergarments before slipping them aside, circling her clit slowly.
"Ah... yes, touch me there," she moaned, arching into my hand, her wetness coating my fingers as I dipped inside, curling to hit that spot. "Deeper... oh, Jin, like that!" She bucked, her breaths quickening, walls clenching as I pumped steadily, thumb pressing her nub. "Faster... please, make me come!"
I brought her to the edge quickly, her body trembling. "Come for me... let go," I urged, and she did, crying out, "Oh... yes! I'm coming... ahh!" waves crashing over her, leaving her shuddering, flushed.
But she wasn't done—pushing me onto the bed, she straddled me, grinding against my hardness through my trousers. "I need you inside... feel how wet I am for you," she panted, freeing me and stroking firmly. "So hard... for me?"
"Yes... take what you want," I groaned, as she sank down onto me in one slow motion, moaning long and low. "So full... mmm!" She rode me steadily, hands on my chest for leverage, breasts bouncing with each rise and fall. "Harder... thrust up into me," she begged, and I did, meeting her movements. "Like that... oh, yes! Coming again... ah!"
Her climax pulled mine, spilling inside with a groan, but we paused only briefly. She flipped onto her back, pulling me over her. "Don't stop... one more," she whispered, legs spreading wide. I entered her again, thrusting deep, her moans filling the room—"Jin... faster! Ah... right there!"—building to another peak. Positions shifted—her on all fours, me behind, pounding relentlessly as she pushed back, "Harder... I can take it... yes!" Multiple rounds blurred, her body slick with sweat, moans incessant—"Mmm... so good... again!"—until after the fourth, she collapsed, panting, "I... can't... anymore... too much... but so perfect."
When it was over, she stayed longer than usual, head resting on my shoulder, silent. I let her keep the silence. Words weren't needed.
By midday, I was at the merchant woman's shop. She was already expecting me, the silver token she'd given me resting on the counter between us like an unspoken reminder of what we'd built.
"You'll reach the capital in four days if you travel straight," she said. "Five if the weather turns."
"Four, then."
She weighed the token in her hand before pressing it into mine again. "Don't show it unless you must. But if you do, the bearer will act in my name."
"I'll use it well," I said.
[Bond maintenance: Merchant woman loyalty stable at 100%.]
Instead of letting me leave immediately, she closed the shutters, shutting out the street, and stepped close enough for me to catch the faint spice of her perfume.
"You've unsettled me," she said.
"That was the point."
Her lips curved, and she reached for my collar.
The kiss was deliberate, her lips parting as she pressed against me, tongue exploring with a controlled hunger. "I've thought about this... since yesterday," she murmured, her hands sliding under my shirt, nails grazing my skin. Desire Touch pulsed, making her gasp, "What... ah, that warmth... don't stop... it feels too good."
I lifted her onto the counter, hiking her dress, fingers teasing her thighs. "Tell me you want more," I said, kissing her neck, hand slipping between her legs to circle her clit.
"Yes... touch me... ah, there!" she moaned, arching as I dipped inside, curling fingers to stroke deep. "Deeper... oh, Jin... like that!" She bucked, wetness coating me, climaxing quickly—"Coming... yes... mmm!"—but urged, "Inside me... I need you now."
I thrust in slowly, her moan long—"So deep... harder!" We built rhythm, her legs around me—"Like that... ah... yes!"—until she shattered again, "Again... please... oh!"
We moved to the floor, her riding me—"Feels incredible... mmm... faster!"—multiple rounds escalating, moans filling the room—"Don't stop... yes... coming!"—thrusts deep, positions shifting until she trembled after the fifth, panting, "I... can't... anymore... too intense... but perfect."
When the moment passed, she rested against me, her breathing steady but slower.
"You'll leave for the capital soon," she said.
"Yes."
"Then take this." She pressed a small, weighty object into my hand — a silver token marked with her personal seal. "Show it in the right place, and you'll have an ally before you say a word."
The system's voice cut through the quiet.
[Bond complete. Target loyalty: 100%.]
[Desire Points earned: +20. Cumulative total: 78.]
[System upgrade unlocked: Desire Tongue II — Increased persuasive effect, subtle suggestion now lingers in target's thoughts after conversation.]
That was the second conquest in this town. Two threads tied firmly before moving on.
That night, I didn't seek out the serving girl or the market. I stayed in my room, the silver token on the table, turning it over in the lamplight.
The capital was next, but I wouldn't arrive there as the man who'd stumbled into this world with nothing. I'd arrive with tools, connections, and the start of a reputation that could open doors before I touched them.
The morning after, the street outside the inn was still in shadow when I stepped into it. The serving girl was there, pretending to be busy sweeping the stoop. When I passed, she caught my sleeve and pulled me into a kiss — quick, fierce, and final. Then she stepped back without a word.
I walked to the carriage yard with the token in one pocket and the weight of two completed bonds at my back.
The capital lay ahead — and on the road to it, a chance for new games to begin.
The coach driver glanced up as I approached. "Headed east?"
"Capital," I said.
"Plenty of company today," he replied, jerking a thumb toward the open carriage. "Some adventuring sort, a couple of merchants, and one woman who looks like she'd bite a man for breathing too loud."
I smiled faintly. "Sounds lively."
I stepped up into the carriage, the leather seat creaking beneath me. My eyes moved over the faces already there — and stopped on her. Confident posture, gear too polished to be for show, and a glance that weighed and dismissed me in a single sweep.
The arrogant adventurer woman.
[System note: Potential high-value target detected.]