Lucian moved to the window with measured steps, his posture straight despite the disorientation of his new circumstances. The world beyond the glass was almost offensively vibrant: rolling green hills stretched toward distant mountains beneath a sky so impossibly blue it seemed painted.
The air itself felt different here, cleaner, carrying the scent of flowers he couldn't name and the distant sound of life that had nothing to do with traffic or sirens.
"Well," he murmured, "at least the aesthetics are an upgrade."
He glanced down at himself, taking in the ornate robes with clinical assessment. Deep blue and gold fabric, expertly tailored, the kind of clothing that announced status before you even opened your mouth. His hands looked different too: younger, stronger, with the kind of calluses that suggested combat training rather than controller grip.
A polished mirror on the nearby wall caught his attention. Lucian approached it with deliberate calm, studying the reflection that met him. Sharp features, styled hair, a face that belonged to someone who'd never known poverty or powerlessness. He looked like a noble. Like someone born to command.
"Not bad," he said quietly, a slight smile touching his lips. "I can work with this."
The melodic chime that echoed in his mind didn't startle him. He'd been expecting something like this.
[Welcome, Lucian, to your second chance at life.]
[This world is called Astroval, a land filled with endless possibilities, danger, and, of course, women.]
Lucian's eyes sharpened at the name. "Astroval." He said it slowly, testing the word. His mind immediately began cataloging connections, possibilities. "That name... it can't be a coincidence."
He turned from the mirror, hands clasped behind his back as he paced. "The game I was playing. Same name. Which means either this is an elaborate shared universe, or..." His eyes narrowed. "I'm inside the game world itself."
[Hmm, won't you let me take you through the tutorial stage? °=°]
"A tutorial. Of course." Lucian's voice carried dry amusement. "Fine. I assume there's a status system? Character sheet? The usual RPG mechanics?"
[Say "status" to check your profile.]
Lucian didn't shout it like an excited teenager. Instead, he said it clearly, with the tone of someone giving a command: "Status."
The interface materialized before him, clean and organized.
[Name: Lucian Voss Ashford]
[Age: 18]
[Skills: Sex Monster, Plunderer]
He read it once. Then again. His expression remained neutral, but something dangerous flickered in his eyes.
"Lucian Voss Ashford," he said slowly. "So that's my name here. Fine. But these skills..." He scrolled to examine them more closely. "Only two? And with names like these?"
[It's what you wished for, dummy. I don't know what you're complaining about.]
"I didn't wish for specific skills," Lucian replied, his voice sharp with precision. "I wished to never be a victim again. I assume you interpreted that... creatively?"
[Your final wish was that you wanted to be the one doing the NTR to others. So I gave you the two skills you need. What are you complaining about?]
Lucian's jaw tightened. "I don't recall requesting it to become a walking pornographic cliché. I asked for agency, not..." He stopped himself, took a breath, and reassessed. "Explain the skills. Properly."
[For heaven's sake, just read them before you complain.]
Lucian's eyes moved to the first skill, his expression unreadable.
[Passive Skill: Sex Monster : Your dick size is automatically 9 inches. You have increased stamina in bed when with the opposite sex.]
He stared at it for a long moment. "Subtle. Very subtle." But he didn't dismiss it. In a world where building a harem apparently granted power, this had practical applications. Distasteful, perhaps, but practical.
The second skill caught his attention more seriously.
[Plunderer : Once you successfully dominate a female and make her part of your harem, you can roll a dice (1–6). If you roll a 6, you may pick six of their skills to add to your list. Note: If the female has OP skills, you may only pick one of them.]
Lucian's mind immediately began calculating. "Skill acquisition through... intimate conquest." He paced again, hands still clasped behind his back. "So my growth isn't linear. It's exponential based on the relationships I form. The more talented women I recruit, the more powerful I become."
His expression shifted, not to excitement, but to strategic interest. "This isn't just a power fantasy. It's a political tool. In a world of nobles and warriors, the ability to literally steal the talents of others would make me indispensable. Dangerous. Valuable."
[I told you so. Now I demand an apology. •^•]
"You gave me a weapon disguised as a vice," Lucian said, his voice carrying grudging respect. "I underestimated you. That won't happen again."
[Worship me, mortal!]
"I'll acknowledge your effectiveness," Lucian replied dryly. "Worship seems excessive..."
A knock at the door interrupted him. Professional, measured. Two taps.
"Master Lucian, is everything all right?"
Lucian's entire demeanor shifted instantly. The analytical strategist vanished, replaced by someone who belonged in this world. He straightened, adjusted his robes with casual elegance, and moved away from the window with the practiced grace of nobility.
"Enter," he said, his voice carrying natural authority.
The door opened to reveal a young woman. Nara, his mind supplied, though he wasn't sure how he knew. She had the refined bearing of a personal attendant, her expression politely concerned.
Her eyes swept the room, finding him standing near the window rather than wherever she'd expected. "Forgive the intrusion, Master. I heard... voices? I wanted to ensure you were well."
Lucian regarded her with calm appraisal, his expression giving nothing away. So this is how it begins. My first test in this world.
"I'm perfectly well, Nara," he said smoothly, using her name with casual familiarity. "I was simply... reflecting on some things. Thinking aloud."
His eyes met hers with the kind of confidence that suggested he'd never questioned his right to her service, her presence, her loyalty. Because in this world, as Lucian Voss Ashford, he never had.
"Tell me," he continued, his voice measured and deliberate, "what exactly are my duties today? I find myself in a... contemplative mood. I'd like to understand my schedule before I commit to anything."
It was a calculated question, one that would give him information about his role, his status, and his obligations without revealing his complete ignorance.
Because if he was going to play this game, he was going to play it smart.
And he was going to win.