"Holy crap… could this be the power I got from eating the Hitch-Hitch Fruit?"
Leon's eyes lit up with sudden excitement.
He originally thought the Cowherd Fruit was useless — nothing but trouble — but he didn't expect it to unlock a real ability, and quite a powerful one at that.
The Seductive Massage Hands not only had a flashy name, but their functionality was unbelievable.
Especially once fully mastered… they could make a woman lose her mind entirely.
"What's going on? His technique suddenly feels completely different!"
"So… comfortable…"
Luna Crescent hadn't been satisfied with Leon's massage at first. But suddenly, his hands began moving with astonishing fluidity.
The speed alternated, the pressure rose and fell perfectly.
Luna slowly relaxed her entire body, closed her eyes, and truly began to enjoy it.
Seeing her serene expression, Leon let out a small sigh of relief. Maybe she wasn't as difficult as Shane said.
Though, if he were being honest… that was mostly thanks to the power awakened from the Hitch-Hitch Fruit.
Without his seductive massage technique, he wouldn't have lasted a minute with Luna.
However—
Just a few minutes later, Luna abruptly opened her eyes.
With a sudden jolt, she sat upright on the sofa.
"Is the massage uncomfortable?"
Leon asked cautiously.
"It's… alright. Somewhat comfortable."
Luna exhaled a long, deep breath.
"If it's comfortable, then why stop?"
Leon asked, confused.
It had only been a few minutes — anyone else would be begging for more.
"No reason. I just don't want a massage anymore. Is that a problem?"
Luna lit another cigarette and blew the smoke out slowly.
"This woman… is seriously difficult to deal with."
Leon had just awakened a new ability, only for her to refuse to let him use it. That made his power completely useless.
His brain started racing.
If massage wasn't an option… then he had to improve his performance in some other area.
"How about a drink?"
Leon held up a glass of wine and gently swirled it toward her.
"Is that even drinkable?"
With a flick of her wrist, Luna slapped the glass right out of his hand.
"Your massage technique was impressive earlier. Tell me… are you a host?"
Luna suddenly stepped closer, staring into Leon's eyes.
The sudden proximity made him tense up — mainly because she came far too close.
"Yes! I'm a host!"
Leon patted his chest, proudly admitting his identity.
This was the world of male escorts, after all. What was there to hide?
"Take it off."
"…What do you mean?"
Leon instinctively stepped back and covered his chest protectively.
"I may be a host, but I sell my skills — not my body!"
"Get lost! Who wants your body?"
Luna rolled her eyes, followed by an impatient snort.
"I just want to see your physique."
"I don't buy that! Your eyes are lit up like fireworks — you're definitely up to something!"
Leon wasn't stupid. Her eyes practically shone with mischief. There was no way she simply wanted to "inspect" him.
Luna didn't respond — but the corner of her lips curled into a strange little smile.
The next moment, a leather whip materialized in her right hand.
"Holy— what are you planning to do!?"
Just as Leon was about to retreat, the whip cracked through the air—
PAH!
It struck across Leon's chest.
A sharp, stinging pain shot through his entire body instantly.
"Damn it— I'm not accepting this!"
Before he finished speaking, Luna swung the whip again.
PAH!
"I didn't come here to get beaten!"
PAH! PAH!
In just a short span, Leon was struck several times.
Each lash wasn't enough to injure him, but the repeated stinging blows were genuinely painful.
For someone who enjoys this sort of thing, maybe it's pleasure.
But Leon had a very healthy mindset — he had no such "special interests."
Getting whipped over and over again was pure torture.
"If only this fruit could at least awaken some kind of toughness…"
As frustration built, something stirred within him again — and suddenly, new information surfaced in his mind.
Damage Absorption.
It absorbs incoming damage and allows the body to endure repeated attacks, granting temporary immunity.
Current level: Able to withstand up to one ton of force.
"…What? I already have one ability."
"Why is there another one!?"
"Don't tell me… the Cowherd Fruit is a double-yolk fruit!?"
Leon was stunned.
Not only did he have Seductive Massage Hands, he now had Damage Absorption — and the first-tier effect allowed him to withstand a full ton of continuous damage.
The whip struck again and again, but with his new ability absorbing the force, the stinging pain vanished completely.
"Harder! This is too weak — it's not even scratching me!"
Leon shook his torso provocatively, teasing her.
Hearing that, Luna's eyes lit up, and she swung the whip much harder.
Her speed doubled, her strength tripled.
But the force of her whip was, at most, a few dozen kilograms.
Even if she swung with full power, it wouldn't exceed eighty pounds.
That was nowhere near enough to break through his one-ton resistance.
It couldn't shake him at all.
"Enough already!"
After enduring whip after whip, Leon's patience finally snapped.
He grabbed the whip from Luna's hand, and whether out of instinct or bottled-up frustration, he swung it back.
PAH!
The strike landed squarely across Luna's hips.
"Oh no…"
Leon sucked in a breath sharply, instantly regretting acting on impulse.
He braced himself for her anger.
But instead…
Luna's expression froze.
There was no rage.
Instead — her eyes softened.
Her face flushed faintly.
Her breathing became unsteady.
She looked almost… enchanted.
"Don't just stand there…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Continue."
--------------
T/N:
Access 30 chapters in advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/FicTale
(Replace @ with a)
Thanks :)