"Skill granting process initiated."
"Processing…"
"Processing…"
"Processing… Complete."
"Kairi has been granted the B-rank skill [Charm (Intermediate)]."
"This skill is a 'passive skill' that remains active continuously from activation until the caster chooses to deactivate it."
"[Charm (Intermediate)], huh?" I murmured, my mind already racing with possibilities.
The skill's effect likely lived up to its name—some form of allure or persuasion, perhaps drawing others to me. Could it make women approach me on their own? As an intermediate-tier skill, its potency was unclear, and the specifics of [Charm]'s mechanics were vague. I'd need to test it to understand its scope.
As I pondered, a familiar heat stirred below, my body reacting to the tantalizing potential of this new power.
This time, the skill was B-rank. Reflecting on my past experiences, I noticed a pattern: intimacy with Aria, Karen, Prim, and Beatrice had granted A-rank skills, while others yielded B-rank or C-rank ones. Was there a rule governing this? Perhaps it depended on the partner's strength, their status, or some other factor—or maybe it was purely random. Either way, I wanted to investigate further. A-rank skills, with their superior potency, were too valuable to pass up.
"Is something on your mind, sir?" Aleesha asked, her voice soft and curious, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Just… thinking," I replied, a spark of inspiration hitting me. Why not test [Charm (Intermediate)] on her? Just a little experiment…
"[Charm (Intermediate)], activate," I said under my breath.
"Understood. This skill will remain active until the caster wills its deactivation."
A low hum—vnnn—resonated, and a faint pink aura shimmered around me, glowing briefly before sinking into my skin, vanishing as if absorbed.
"It's… active?" I muttered, glancing at my body, searching for any tangible sign. I felt no different, no surge of power or shift in perception. Without knowing who [Charm] targeted, how it worked, or its strength, I was left guessing.
Then—
"Wonderful…" Aleesha whispered, her voice barely audible, her eyes fixed on me.
"Huh?" I blinked, startled.
"Our time together… it was truly wonderful," she continued, her gaze sparkling with an intensity that felt almost too personal. "I… I feel my heart racing for you, sir…"
"W-What? Really?" I stammered, caught off guard by the fervor in her eyes—a heat that transcended the transactional nature of her profession, a glimmer of genuine affection.
"Aleesha…?" I said cautiously, my pulse quickening.
"Ha… my body aches for you…" she murmured, her voice trembling with desire. "Sir, if you'd like… would you be with me again? This time… not as a client, but… privately."
"Wha—!?"
A courtesan inviting for an off-the-clock encounter—something beyond her job. This had to be [Charm]'s doing, its effect far more potent than I'd imagined.
I extended my time with Aleesha, indulging in a cascade of passionate lovemaking that blurred the lines between professional and personal. Though she offered herself privately, her work obligations meant I paid an additional fee to keep her company, a small price for the intensity of our connection.
"Haa, haa… that was wonderful, sir…" Aleesha panted, her breath ragged, her eyes dreamy as she gazed at me, her face flushed with satisfaction.
"Please come back," she said softly, then hesitated, her voice tinged with hope. "Um… how about we meet outside the brothel next time?"
"Like a date?" I asked, a grin tugging at my lips.
"Yes," she replied, her cheeks reddening. "I want to get closer to you."
"Absolutely," I said, nodding warmly.
Her face lit up, and she leaned in, her lips meeting mine in a fervent, passionate kiss that lingered far beyond the transactional. Our tongues entwined, the deep kiss carrying a heat that felt profoundly intimate, transcending the boundaries of client and courtesan.
Aleesha had climaxed countless times during our time together, but the [Charm (Intermediate)] skill seemed to amplify her feelings, doubling her affection toward me—or so I theorized. If this skill could enhance "likability," it likely applied to Karen, Aria, Prim, and Beatrice as well, each of them now tied to me in ways I was eager to explore further. The thought of reuniting with them sent a thrill through me, my anticipation growing for what lay ahead.
------------
I left the brothel around 11 p.m., the night air cool against my skin as I stepped onto the cobblestone streets. I'd visited hoping to gain a skill useful for adventuring, but [Charm (Intermediate)] promised to enrich my life in ways beyond mere combat. The prospect of newfound social influence was exhilarating, far more exciting than another battle-oriented ability.
Is this the start of my popular phase? I wondered, a smirk creeping onto my face.
Still, [Charm] needed testing. How would it affect someone indifferent to me? Or someone who outright disliked me? What about its duration or range? These were questions I'd answer methodically, experimenting to uncover the skill's full potential.
Luckily, I had time. Unlike my old life, chained to a corporate grind, this world offered freedom to explore at my leisure.
"Let's enjoy this otherworldly life to the fullest," I declared, my spirits soaring as I strode through the quiet town