CHAPTER 61: NEW SKILLS

"Umm... embarrassing, yes... I am," he muttered, trying to keep a straight face. After all, who wouldn’t be flustered after having their underwear robbed by some woman?

He looked at her with a flat expression.

"Alright, give it back." Razeal extended his hand.

Not that the underwear was particularly important. He had a literal system that provided an endless supply of clothes... although, unfortunately, all of them were villain-themed outfits. Dark, edgy, black nothing normal or neutral.

So, if he had plenty of replacements, why was he still bothered?

Simple. Who in their right mind could stay calm knowing someone stole their underwear? Who knew what they might do with it?

That alone made Razeal very uncomfortable.

She looked at him with amusement, clearly entertained. Then, as if enjoying every second of this absurd interaction, she held Razeal’s black underwear in her right hand... and with a flick of her left, conjured up a delicate, lacy pink pair of panties in her other palm.

Most definitely not his.

"Look, you seem like an honest guy," she said with a teasing glint in her eyes. "So here’s a choice. This,"she lifted the black pair"is yours."

"This one," she added with a smirk, "is one of the highest-ranked trophies in my collection. I personally stole it from the most beautiful archangel in heaven."

Her grin was playful, almost devilish. "Now... choose. Which one is yours?"

Razeal’s lips twitched.

Did she seriously just tell him which one was his... and then ask him to choose between the two?

His gaze fell on the pink pair.

His eyes landed on the pink panties. They looked...used. And judging by her words "collection"? she robs underwear... as a hobby?

What the hell kind of weirdo was this SSS-ranked villain?

Was she playing some twisted version of that old goddess in the pond game? The one where you drop an item and the goddess offers you a better one to test your honesty?

Whatever this was, Razeal didn’t have time for it.

"You know what? You can have both. I don’t fucking care," he said, completely deadpan.

Her grin faltered for half a second. She pouted, almost like a child who had their prank dismissed.

"Hmph. Fine," she said, slipping both pairs of underwear his and the pink one into each side pocket without shame.

Razeal’s eyebrow twitched.

The audacity.

Still, he didn’t say a word. It was just underwear... right?

"Now then," she continued, tilting her head at him with mock disapproval, "tell me how exactly do you plan to convince me to teach you anything?"

Her eyes narrowed, voice sugar-sweet with sarcasm. "Far as I can tell, you didn’t even bring a gift. Is that how you greet a beautiful lady like me? Not very sincere, is it?"

Razeal nearly rolled his eyes at how casually she referred to herself as a beautiful lady... right after stuffing his underwear in her pocket. But he kept quiet.

So that’s how she wants to play this... Alright.

Now that he was thinking about it she was extremely girly. Almost exaggeratedly so. And her behavior? That of a bratty, unpredictable gremlin.

He’d dealt with types like her before... in the countless Korean novels he’d read in his past life. He knew how to handle this. Time to start acting.

"Oh no, no, how could that be?" Razeal said, suddenly clearing his throat and stepping forward, putting on his most polite, gentlemanly expression.

"I would never show up empty handed."

His mind was racing.

Of course, he didn’t actually have a gift. But if he faked enough sincerity, maybe just maybe he’d survive this. He needed her help. The skill she could teach him was important, and he couldn’t afford to start all over again with a new villain.

Let this work... please. His heart was pounding.

Now came the next challenge.

System, he asked silently, tell me her name.

[It’s Lily, Host.]

Razeal hummed to himself, not answering right away as he walked toward her, imagining himself as the protagonist of a dramatic romance novel. He had that slow, confident stride. The wind even if imaginary seemed to flow perfectly through his hair. In his head, this was peak protagonist moment.

"Ohh? Is that so?" Lily tilted her head, eyes glimmering with curiosity. "What might that be?"

She didn’t move an inch as Razeal kept approaching. Not even when he stopped just a few steps from her. She didn’t flinch or pull back, just watched him with an intrigued gaze.

[Host, what present have you prepared?] the system asked in his mind, sounding utterly confused.

Razeal didn’t reply. His feet carried him forward anyway, though his throat tightened. This was already awkward in his head, but he was committed now. He told himself it didn’t matter he didn’t fear anyone’s judgment, and there were no real consequences here anyway. Just time lost. And he could live with that.

He reached up, flicked his hair dramatically with one hand. Smooth.

[Charisma: S] thankfully kept him looking dashing even when he felt like dying inside.

Finally, standing right before her, he reached out and gently lifted her chin with one finger, tilting her face to meet his gaze.

She still didn’t resist.

"A present?" Razeal said softly, voice dipped in sultry confidence. "No... for the price of learning your skill, I would like to offer something far more valuable.."

He leaned in, his lips just inches from hers.

"my body."

[This is... fucking cringeyyyyyy. Host, where the hell did you learn this? Are you possessed by a trashy web novel? WHAT IS THIS???] the system blurted in pure disgust.

Razeal ignored it.

He thought this was his best shot. After all, the woman in front of him was an SSS-ranked villainess, likely older than entire civilizations. Maybe something as bold as this would actually amuse her. Maybe it would even work.

As for the embarrassment? Please. Razeal’s skin had thickened to steel over the past few days. There was no audience here to witness his fall just one chaotic women.

His hand remained under Lily’s chin, and she continued to stare up at him.

Silence stretched.

And stretched.

And stretched.

Finally

"PFFFT!" Lily burst into laughter, spraying air toward his face as she barely held herself back.

She doubled over, slapping her thigh, wheezing. Then she clutched her stomach like it hurt, gasping between laughs.

"Oh my... HAHAHAHAHAHA!" she howled. "PAHAHA! P-Pay with your body!? What are you, some desperate drama queen from a third rate novel? OH MY GOD.."

Razeal’s soul left his body in that moment.

He stood there frozen like a statue, fingers still awkwardly in the air where her chin had once been. His brain stopped functioning. His breath caught in his chest.

[Now you realize how cringe that was, huh?] the system muttered flatly.

Lily was on the ground now, literally rolling around in the dirt, tears forming in her eyes as she kicked her feet.

"Oh no no no HAHAHAH you’re too much! That was the best thing I’ve heard in centuries! Who does that?! You thought I’d go all blushy-blushy like some schoolgirl? OH. MY. GOD."

Razeal was still frozen. Still dead inside.

She looked up at him while wiping her tears, grinning like a lunatic. Her laughter still echoed softly through the ruins, the kind that hit deep and refused to stop. "You’re either stupid, or absolutely insane. Either way... I love it."

Razeal blinked, unsure how to react.

"Love it?" he repeated slowly, raising an eyebrow. "Ahem as in... you’ll teach me?"

Her grin widened, becoming somehow even more wicked. "Maaaybe. But only if you do one more thing."

Razeal tilted his head. "And what’s that?" His embarrassment from earlier? Gone. Burned to ash like a useless old scroll. He didn’t care anymore. If shame could be set on fire, his was already incinerated and blown away with the wind.

It was just some little sacrifice... right?

Lily leaned in close, her breath teasing his cheek. Her voice dropped to a syrupy, sensual whisper that felt far more dangerous than anything she had done so far. "Call me... ’Mommy.’"

Razeal’s soul nearly left his body.

"Wha ..WHAT?!" he gasped, stumbling back a full step like he’d been struck by a divine grade lightning bolt. The air around him cracked with the silent scream of his pride being shattered.

Just like protagonist in that korean drama.

[Sigh... It’s alright, Host. I know you won’t be able to do it. How could you? Don’t worry I won’t remember this moment... I promise. Let’s just leave this place. Clearly, this sacrifice is too much.] The system’s voice rang in his head with the perfect mix of sarcasm and teasing, sounding like it was holding back laughter. [You’re the kind of guy who’d rather die than apologize. And this? This is leagues beyond that.]

Razeal stood frozen, his mind reeling. He gulped as he stared at Lily, trying to erase her words from his brain but they were etched there, permanent and taunting.

"Be quick now," Lily sang, spinning slightly on one heel. "You’ve only got eight seconds left. Say it, and I’ll give you the skill you came for."

She started whistling and inspecting her nails, looking utterly unconcerned, though her eyes gleamed with devilish mischief.

Razeal remained like a statue. Not a muscle moved. Not a thought formed that wasn’t screaming.

[Let’s go, Host. Enough embarrassment for today, yes?] the system whispered again, its smug tone lighting every fuse in Razeal’s skull.

"How about... two of my skills," Lily added, glancing back. "Four seconds left."

His hands clenched.

This is so dumb. This is just one word. Just one. Two skills, and it’s over. He could pretend it never happened. Hell, it’s better than fighting another ten insect monsters until his bones break again. Right? Right?

M...mm... Razeal’s lips trembled.

He could feel the weight of every moment.

And finally

"Mommy..."

It was barely audible. More breath than sound. But it escaped his mouth.

Lily’s grin widened into a full, wicked smile. "Good boy," she whispered, tiptoeing closer to ruffle his hair. Her fingers brushed lightly over his head, playful and triumphant.

Razeal didn’t move. His soul had left his body ten seconds ago. His mind was a blank landscape, echoing with one phrase: Good boy.

—

Two minutes later, outside the system space

[Congratulations, Host. You have received Skill: Shadow Step (A-Rank).]

[Congratulations, Host. You have received Skill: Keen Hearing (S-Rank).]

Razeal didn’t react.

He sat on tree branch, staring blankly into the distance, his face devoid of emotion. His eyes looked hollow haunted even. Not by death, not by pain. But by those cursed two words echoing again and again in his skull.

Good boy.

[See? Who says you can’t buy someone’s dignity? I’ve seen people sold for less than a decent skill. Aha haaa~ Aha haaa~] The system’s voice sang with joy. [What do you think, Host? Can I become a writer now? I feel inspired.]

Razeal didn’t move. Not even a blink.

[You alive, Host? Hello? Earth to Razeal? Or should I say... good boy?]

His eye twitched.

He wasn’t going to let this moment live.

Ever.

He would bury it. Kill it. Pretend it was a dream. A hallucination brought on by training trauma. Anything. But if Lily ever dared to repeat that phrase again

Good boy.

Razeal stood up with a slow, heavy exhale. The skills he just acquired were powerful. Insanely so. Worth every piece of the humiliation, even if he’d rather die than admit it out loud.

"Alright," he muttered, clenching his fists. "Time to put these skills to use. And next time... no more Mommy quests. Ever."

[Sure, Host. Whatever you say. Good boy.]

"SYSTEM!!!"]}]}

----

Hey everyone!

Ahhhh, sorry for the delay! This Chapter was supposed to be out yesterday, but I got caught up with a project my girlfriend gave me so things ran a bit late.

That said, this Chapter will count as part of that gift!

The Chapters meant for tday are still on the way (I’ll be writing them right after this), so stay tuned.

Thank you all so much for your patience and support! I promised you an extra Chapter, and here it is I kept my word!

Oh, and something I’ve been meaning to ask...

Would you all be interested in a Discord server? Let me know!

Also, huge shoutout to everyone

We just broke into the Top 30 in Power Stones and Best Selling (31–90 days) categories!That’s all thanks to ya all

And of course, massive thanks for all the Golden Tickets! You all are good boys. haha

(Also, don’t worry, guys! The author’s thoughts I add here don’t count toward any extra coins or anything like that. One coin only gets added for every 200 words in the actual Chapter, and I always try to keep my notes under that limit, so you’re not paying extra for them.)

~Lazy