Mirin lay curled in Sol's lap, her brows drawn tight as she searched his face, reading his gloom as fear about the execution soon to come.
"Sol, do you think we should escape?" she asked softly. "Do you think we can?"
Sol looked away from the simulation screen and didn't immediately claim his reward.
He looked at her and shook his head. "Mirin, even if I am escaping, it's got nothing to do with us. If I do escape, it will be alone. After all, you are not getting executed. I'll have you leave on your own—safely."
That made Mirin look away from him, not the least bit surprised. She had expected him to respond like that. And of course, she was not going to listen.
"I don't have anything to live for if you die," she muttered abysmally. "If you are dying at least take me with you."
All their life, Sol and Mirin had been solitary people. They rarely engaged in outside company. For all they knew, they were each other's only family, friend, and person.
Without one, they didn't know how the other could be complete.
Sol scoffed, annoyed by his beauty's pitiful-looking gaze. But then, his heart softened and he began to massage her temples. "Are you scared?"
"Of course I am…"
He shook his head.
If he ran away and she remained in the palace, her life would be hell anyway. It was true that she was not set for an execution, but her loyalty was something clear for everyone.
Would they like it when they see a beautiful girl who was loyal to a dead man?
Not the princes with their cold hearts.
It would be a miracle if they didn't try some nasty shit.
Would they let her stay in the castle? No!
Would she have a good time if she did leave the palace?
How?
She was far too beautiful. Even with her Sculptic Gift to protect her in the outside world, it would just be a matter of time before someone stronger tried to do something nasty.
This world was not as peaceful as Earth, after all.
This was a world that followed the rule of the jungle. Government did not exist the way it did on Earth. Rights only existed for nobles.
She would be banished from the kingdom and banished people rarely had good ends.
Sol did not want to see her go through such a situation.
I need to think alone, choose a reward from the simulation. I can't follow in the simulated Sol's footsteps.
"Mirin, let me think, okay?"
"Hm."
Sol didn't let his thoughts consume him for long and stood up. Mirin stood up with him. As usual, she was planning to be his tail.
Alone time?
Forget it!
"Let me be alone for a few minutes."
She shook her head.
He gave her a look and turned towards the bathroom. Then said, "Are you going to follow me to the bathroom too?"
Mirin's beautiful face flushed like a tomato.
Hahahaha!
How cute.
He chuckled and walked towards the bath, already sinking into thought.
Almost mute, a voice said: "I wouldn't mind."
The surprise hit Sol so hard he nearly stumbled. And soon enough, he found himself in a bathtub with his half-naked beauty resting against his chest.
His arms remained frozen.
Tragically—cruelly—
He still had to keep his boxers on, clinging to the last scraps of his dignity.
Otherwise, wouldn't she be surprised to find an earthworm residing in the dragon cave?
Mirin didn't seem to mind.
Or… did she already know?
Sol felt his face warm. His mind was consumed by thoughts, but as her fragrance assaulted his senses, he felt himself gradually calming down.
Then, he just hugged her tightly. She reciprocated.
I really am blessed.
He gave her hair a kiss.
At least, I can kiss her, he thought, planting another kiss on those dark locks.
Mirin hugged him even tighter.
She smelled good.
They stayed for a long time just like that, neither speaking to break the beautiful moment. But befitting a man who has transcended lust, Sol turned to look at his simulation screen after a short time.
It was time to collect his rewards!
[Simulation Rewards generated successfully. The host can choose one of the following rewards:
1) A skill from the simulation.
2) An object from the simulation.
3) An abstract thing of your description from the simulation.
4) Discard all above options and generate an Innate Talent based off the simulated experience's achievements.
Without any hesitation, he chose the 4th option. He had barely lived for a few days in the simulation and had not learned any new, especially noticeable skills in that time. Objects were the same, he hadn't gained anything new that was worthy of note. As for the abstract, he couldn't think of anything that could change his fate.
Then only the 4th option remained.
Will this not be like another pseudo Scultpic Gift itself?
As an Earthian, Sol loved superpowers.
What could be better than that?
The choice crystallized.
[Reward Loading]
[Analyzing Simulation Behavior…]
Even though your time in the simulation was short, your mind demonstrated something unique:
a relentless pattern—
you refuse to accept any circumstance as absolute.
You procrastinated not because you were lazy, but because your mind instinctively chases alternate routes, different angles, hidden possibilities. Even while wasting time, you were scanning everything for an escape.
Nothing is as it seems.
You do not freeze under pressure—you redirect yourself.
When faced with manipulation, fear, and certain death, you tried something no one expected.
Even if the attempt failed, the instinct behind it was unmistakable:
You do not yield. You adapt. You bend the rules in your own favor. You seek openings even inside cages.
Though you were manipulated and misjudged the cage, the instinct to judge and move with logic was there.
The Heavens call this trait the Instinct of an Unbound Mind.
[Generating Talent…]
Talent Awakened — White:
Unbound Instinct.
Talent Description:
Your mind rejects confinement. Whenever you engage in activities you genuinely enjoy—reading, planning, analyzing, touching what you treasure, or simply acting on your own impulses—your body initiates subtle internal recovery.
This healing applies to injuries, curses, restrictions, or any unnatural limitation on your physical function. The more freely you act, the more you enjoy your life, the stronger the effect.
Sol stared at the screen in silent surprise.
A mind that cannot be caged eventually frees the body as well.
Maybe not immediately. But it will. One day.
It was only a simulation—he couldn't know the exact truth behind conclusions about how effective it was mentally—but it still caught Sol completely off guard.
For a moment, he wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. But in truth, he hadn't wasted his time reading after all!
He had been going through a mental journey of his own conclusion!
What others saw from outside was not what he was going through inside.
This was the heart of a mind who willingly put himself under a contract to avoid being sealed.
Unbound.
An ice-cold energy suddenly spiraled through Sol's body. He nearly cried out at the sensation, but it vanished just as quickly—brief, sharp, and felt by him alone.
Mirin only saw him trembling.
Mistaking it for hesitation—his obvious confusion over where to place his hand—she quietly took his arm and guided his left hand down onto her thigh.
The softness startled him.
Mir…Mirin?
A faint warmth spread through his body before he could stop it.
She spoke softly, almost uncertain.
"We don't have the luxury to dawdle like this anymore, Sol," she said. "It's clear you don't hate me… and I don't hate you either. Stop this now. Just put... your hand where you want. Touch wherever you want."
He gave a small nod, then leaned in, burying his face against her neck.
"This is where I want to touch."
His breath brushed warm skin before his lips followed—soft, hesitant, exploratory. His hands moved without clear intent, wandering as if guided more by instinct than decision.
Mirin stiffened at first, a sharp intake of breath catching in her throat.
Then she relaxed.
Her fingers curled into his sleeve, gripping lightly—not pushing him away, not pulling him closer either. Just… anchoring. Her shoulders eased, and she tilted her head just a fraction, giving him room without quite admitting she had.
The reaction caught Sol off guard.
A quiet heat stirred low in his body—subtle, sudden, impossible to ignore.
He froze for half a heartbeat.
Wasn't he castrated?
And... It was so light.
He didn't even feel the lust fully.
It's the effect of the new talent, right!
This talent was not passive regeneration. It was not "sleep and recover."
It was a will-aligned recovery talent.
As long as he was doing something he loved, he would activate a healing function in his body. It was only a sliver of arousal—not even close to lust. Yet even that much was something he hadn't felt in a very long time.
This was what he had been waiting for.
A healing talent that worked on the whole body could heal his ruined manhood as well.
Maybe not immediately. Maybe not cleanly. But if he used it again and again, pushed it over time, then eventually—slowly, painfully perhaps—it would restore him.
That certainty hit harder than anything else.
Sol almost cried.
He wasn't allowed to think more.
Mirin looked up and brushed a quick peck against his lips—and whatever distance remained between them quietly vanished.
One peck became another. Then they lingered. Arms slipped free of their restraint, hands finding familiar places without asking permission. Laughter dissolved into breathless silence as the kisses deepened, clumsy at first, then certain.
"Sol…"
"Mirin."
They pulled apart only to laugh, foreheads touching, both a little unsteady.
By the time they climbed out of the bath, they were still clinging to each other, fumbling through towels, helping dry skin neither of them was in a hurry to cover.
Mirin huffed, half-annoyed, half-embarrassed as she gave him a shove."You really shouldn't bite me like that."
"You looked way too inviting," Sol shot back. "And why is your butt so unfairly pale?"
"But I didn't bite you," she protested, face flushed as she swatted at him. "You were inviting too."
"Your fault." He laughed.
Soon, they ended up in bed, just cuddling for the next hour.
And for Mirin's chagrin, Sol's bites never stopped. If he had a phone, Sol swore he would have a gallery full of Mirin's white butt, littered with pink bite marks.
Mother, Liora, I have my first Girlfriend now. I hope, someday, I can introduce you all.
His mother could be proud—his girlfriend was a stunner. And without doubt, Sol knew that Liora would be great friends with her.
Certainly.