The implications of what Lady Yuan had just told me couldn't be understated. And honestly? It wasn't just hope — this was reality. My reality! And the reality of every woman who wanted to become my sex partner today.

'A beautiful day to be alive.'

It was a shame this same boon couldn't apply to my villainesses, but when I thought about it, they'd already reached the epitome of power. Or at least come damn close to it.

Perhaps in this era, as spirit summons, what remained for them was raising their fortitudes — which would help them return to a hundred percent of their strength from their peak era.

But what was truly beautiful for me in all of this? I could ride the slow and steady bus from F rank all the way to S rank. And in the meanwhile, how many villainesses would I be controlling?

Right now, only five villainesses were able to get into my soul. I assumed each level gave me access to one of them.

This meant I was on my way to possibly gaining tens of villainesses.

Instead of Spirit Beasts who could level up from one to nine, I could only level up from one to five — and upon breaking out of five, I'd enter the next rank entirely?

'It's not far-fetched…'

After all, the lodestar responsible for my awakening was a damn glitch.

'So let's say I'm not as connected to the Spirit River as Spirit Beasts are, but I'm also far more connected than mundane races. Some weird in-between existence.'

It was a good incentive for all the suffering I'd endured in this world.

'Finally, one big victory!'

Lady Yuan's beautifully soft voice cut through my thoughts.

"Lord Cade… you seem happy."

I belatedly wiped the smirk off my face and met her eyes.

"I'm fascinated by the news. It opens so many possibilities for exploration. Haha…"

She chuckled after my short laugh, sparkling like a jade beauty in and of herself. Her wolfish ears twitched slightly. Her black furry tail swayed behind her. Both only added to the ineffable allure.

'Good lord…'

She straightened, composing herself. "You strike me as someone who will love explorations, Lord Cade."

After several moments of heinous trials, I managed to tear myself away from the depth of her obsidian eyes. Having to do such should be a capital offense, by the way.

I drew a long breath and sighed.

"Well, I do like explorations…"

'I like exploring the woman's body. That has to count.'

I turned to her. "Perhaps we could both explore someday."

My smile was innocent. She'd never get the innuendo, but it was a step closer to being friends with her. Friends with certain benefits, ideally.

"Ah, right." I caught myself. "I carried us away. You said you wanted me to help you."

I paused, thinking about what she'd asked of me.

It was true that I didn't think I was strong enough to help her — but that was just my personal assessment. It wasn't like I didn't have the means.

I had two deadly ladies the size of pillars who could level her clan to ruins if I willed it. Granted, I'd need at least ten thousand spirit essences… or more.

'I'll get there soon.'

But the most important thing was: I wasn't in the position to help her.

Regardless of how much I wanted to score with a wolf-kin — and this opportunity would have been perfect — I just felt like I couldn't. Not now…

Aside from the fact that I was on the run, I was in the care of an organization that specialized in selling help to people. If Nisha was correct, that meant if I decided to help Lady Yuan for free, I'd be robbing them of a potential customer.

Aside from that, it was an ungrateful and insensitive thing to do, considering these people had struggled tooth and nail to get me out of Aetheris Kingdom.

We certainly weren't going back there. But this was a question of... what, morals?

I wasn't a good person. I believed that. I didn't really understand the concept of morality either.

I'd done some... morally disturbing things.

But taking this opportunity would leave me with too many regrets. Not guilt, exactly. Practical regrets — the kind where you realize you've burned a bridge you might have needed later.

So I couldn't.

Before I could even speak, Lady Yuan was studying my eyes.

By the time I'd made the decision in my head, she could already see it written across my face. Immediately, her expression fell.

"Oh…"

I quickly reached out and touched her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Lady Yuan… I'm just not currently in the position to help. But…" I held her gaze. "If you still need it, I can promise to help you. Just not now."

She raised her eyes. Some light returned to them.

"Really?!"

I hesitated. Suddenly it felt like I was making a terrible decision.

'Why does doing the right thing feel so much like stepping in shit?'

"Uhm… sure. Remember, it's when I can help, as far as I can help — I promise to help then. You can come find me in Recimiras."

The resolve in her eyes returned, though she still looked sad. But she seemed better than a moment ago.

"Shall we seal an oath of debt then?"

'Oh no…'

Now I truly felt like I was about to dip my heel into a lot of shit.

"Uhmm… what exactly is the detail of this oath?"

She sat straight and gently placed her hand on her breast, revealing the black underwear beneath — bindings like tapes holding her breasts tightly in place under her kimono.

"If it's a man of your strength… with the power you possess to slay a level three Primal beast, then I can use my body to pay for the assistance you'll be offering. Through a spiritual bond that can only happen by putting your manhood in me, we will share a sign of bound fate, and this will evoke a promise of our paths certainly intertwining."

I studied her. She sounded genuinely happy.

"Oh… so the promise is that our paths will definitely intertwine?"

She nodded. "Yes, whether I come to Recimiras or not."

'Hmm… besides, she just said I have to put my dick in her, right?'

I glanced at the door and confirmed it was closed, then leaned toward her and whispered.

"By putting my manhood in you. You mean…" I demonstrated with my fingers. "Right?"

She nodded and added, "You don't need to worry, Lord Cade. It just needs to enter once."

'Like hell I would let it just enter once.'

I gave her a dashing smile.

"Oh, Lady Yuan… I am many things. Worried is not one of them."

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