Rin followed the map on the system toward the first location shown on it. It was located in a dark and abandoned city which looked unsettling. The walls of the mall were cracked and the lights flickered.
"Where did this place come from? An abandoned horror film set?"
Rin muttered as he turned on his torch and walked inside.
This post-apocalyptic world had an energy shortage but batteries were easy to come by. So using the torch was the easiest and safest way for Rin to enter a dark place.
He followed his map until he reached the room that contained the sacred artefact. But the second he reached for the door, he felt something soft under his foot. Something dry brushed against his legs and Rin jumped back immediately and aimed his light at the ground to see what he had stepped on.
Rin saw a black cloth covering something pinkish-red. That creature moved and the fabric shifted to show a face with pinkish-red eyes. The creature—person, looked at Rin with a smitten grin and reached for him.
"Ah, are you an angel here to save me? Hurry, take me away from here. You have no idea how long I've been waiting—"
Rin dodged her before she could collide with him.
It took Rin some time to come to terms with what was happening, but once he did, he blinked in shock as he watched the slightly plump girl straighten herself.
Once Rin had a good look, he realized that plump was the wrong word for her. Voluptuous was a better word for her. And her clothes did nothing to hide her figure either. Rather, her assets seemed to be spilling out with even the slightest movement.
But the thing that made Rin look back at her was definitely her ears. They were sharp and pointed, almost like an elf's. Anyone with eyes could tell that this girl was no longer completely human.
"W-Why are you running away? D-Do you hate me? Don't go-"
The girl reached for Rin again. Her steps were slow and subtle, making her whole body sway when she moved. But that was not the reason Rin felt unable to move.
It was almost as if an invisible force was holding him in place, making it impossible for him to take a single step anywhere. Even his mind was going blank as he watched the girl reaching for his face.
[User has been affected by a status effect. User will not be able to move until the status effect is eliminated.]
Rin had a lot of mental strength and that allowed him to gather all of it to try and move. But when even that did not work, he decided to take a risk and grab his knife.
"Ah, finally. Have you decided to stop running away from me? Now, come to me and allow me to take a bite-"
He cut his hand and the pain snapped him out of it. He grabbed the hand reaching for him and tried to stab the girl instead.
But she suddenly became fast enough to dodge him. Her eyes also widened as she noticed Rin's recovery.
"Huh? You can still move? How is that possible? No human should be able to-"
Rip pushed his knee onto her back and used the girl's confusion to attack her. She dodged but Rin's attack was not aimed at harming her in the first place. All he wanted to do was graze her and activate the passive ability of his weapon.
He watched as the girl slowed down after she was cut. Her eyes looked at the cut in disbelief before she snarled.
"Tsk, you stupid human. How dare you do this to me. I am going to make you regret cutting me."
The non-human was getting angry on her own. Her body was shining a soft pink and alarm bells rang inside Rin's mind.
Invisible hands grabbed him and held him down. He watched the girl walking toward him and her solemn face looked at him with a twisted smile. Her face was even pinker compared to before and her eyes looked unfocused.
A soft hand grabbed Rin's face and turned it roughly. His skin stung where it was touched and Rin shivered at the soothing touch.
"Do you truly think you are a match for me? I will suck you dry and—No, this is not what I want. I don't want this. S-Stop—Stop me. P-Please, help me-"
The non-human suddenly cried as she clutched her head and rubbed it. She looked to be in pain as she clutched and pulled at her hair.
Rin watched the girl fighting her instincts right in front of him. He had been able to move as soon as the girl lost control, but he did not want to move and accidentally ended up in a bad position.
So he waited for his chance, and once the girl seemed far enough, he kicked her leg and made her fall sideways.
The girl thrashed and Rin pushed his knee on her back to hold her down. He did not speak but the girl looked back at him with her soft pink eyes.
She looked nothing like Shelly, but had an air of innocence around her. Her reddish pink hair framed her soft face and gave her an innocent look that made Rin feel sorry for her.
"P-Please, help me. I-I don't want to be like this. Please-"
[User Teressa has offered her loyalty to you. Please accept the role as her 'Master' and gain the right to command her.]
Rin felt a sour taste in his mouth once he read those words. He had no intention of commanding anyone, but looking at a human crying out in pain was not easy to ignore. Especially when he had a way to help them.
[User, what are you waiting for? A human in need is asking you for help. Are you not going to help them?]
The system taunted Rin even further, souring his mood.
Just as Rin decided to run away, a hand grabbed his clothes and forced him to look at the pained but flushed face of the girl in front of him. She was still sitting on his legs and her body felt hot to the touch.
"Y-You have to help me. Please, I will do anything-"
The girl was truly in pain and Rin felt sorry for her. He was weak to people's begging and despite his common sense telling him it was a horrible idea, he ended up pressing the 'Accept' on the system screen.