Chapter 52
While Yebin and Haena nuna headed off to work, and Lea was chatting online with her friend while gaming in her room, my aunt slipped quietly into my room. "Kangmo? I'm coming in?" What was that about saying she's coming in after she'd already entered? I sat up in bed, planting my feet on the floor, and mumbled a casual response.
"Ah... yeah... come on in."
True to her Openness stat that had risen to 28 overnight, Aunt Dana was dressed even cooler than yesterday. Gone was the turtleneck sweater that covered her up to the neck—instead, she sported a top that revealed just a hint of cleavage, paired with a slightly shorter denim skirt. Sure, she wasn't usually this bold with her normal Openness levels, but once the fire ignited, she seemed the type to push even further.
As I scanned her figure, lost in thought, she spoke up in a hesitant tone—the first time she'd sounded cautious since arriving at our house. It didn't suit that seductive face at all.
"I've got something I'm curious about..."
"Yeah... what is it?"
I'd braced for some steamy, sticky conversation the whole time she'd been here, but instead, she hit me with a question I'd half-expected.
"You and Haena... you're not, like, that kind of close, are you?"
So she had noticed. Duh—anyone but Lea Im would've picked up on it by now. But honestly, I wasn't tense or nervous. After everything with Haena nuna last night... how could she not know? If they weren't dating, she'd probably just assume Haena nuna was some brother-complex pervert. I didn't beat around the bush and told Aunt Dana straight up.
"...Yeah. We're dating in secret from Mom."
But I had this confidence. With her stats barely scraping the bottom ranks, showing this level of sexual openness and pervy behavior? A little begging, and she'd keep her mouth shut... or at least pretend she didn't know.
Truth be told, "Mom" Yebin Choi already knew. But that "Mom" Yebin had lost to her son/lover/sex slave version, so it wasn't an issue. Lea would probably just freak out like, Whoa, you two are getting married now?! if she found out. All I really needed was Aunt Dana's acting skills.
"Ohhh... I knew it?"
As expected, she grinned with that intrigued look. I laid out the situation roughly for her.
"We can't let Mom catch on yet, so..."
I rambled on.
"...so could you just play along and pretend you don't know?"
When I finished my long explanation, she replied,
"Deal. But I've got a condition."
"A condition?"
Then, slyly sliding onto the bed beside me and brushing my thigh, she said,
"Keep it from Haena... or get her permission, whatever... anyway, you and me... at least twice a week. Sound good?"
Honestly? That offer got me excited. Once the family ranks started climbing, the thrill of sneaking around had faded—except during outdoor exposure play. But with Aunt Dana, it came rushing back. Unlike with Lea or Yebin, this felt like straight-up cheating, stirring a twinge of guilt toward Haena nuna. Well, gotta treat nuna extra nice now. Is this why cheaters overcompensate? Ahem... anyway, I didn't want to pass up this sweet deal, so after pretending to mull it over, I agreed.
"...Sounds good."
And then, those insane windows popped up again.
Heroine Dana Choi Interest +4
Dana Choi's F-rank promotion conditions met!
Promote now?
Insane stat growth speed followed by insane promotion speed. It hadn't even been a full 24 hours since registering her. I'd figured it'd take at least a week. Hadn't even checked the promotion conditions yet, and boom—already prompting.
"Alright, that's the deal then. Free tonight?"
"Yeah..."
Heroine Dana Choi F-rank achieved.
...
Late into the night. Time for my promise with Aunt Dana. I'd already sent Haena nuna to Jupiter a few times, so she was out cold. I slipped out of nuna's room and headed toward Aunt Dana's.
But... had I always been this kind of guy? Sure, building a harem kingdom was still the goal. But this would obviously hurt my lover, Haena nuna. Should I just tell Aunt Dana I couldn't do it?
I paused in my steps. The hallway was dead silent.
But then how do I explain all these messy relationships to Haena nuna? If I bail on the deal, Aunt Dana spills, and even if nothing changes, nuna would sense something off. What choice did I have?
I started walking again toward her room. It was like Haena nuna's Self-Justification had swallowed me whole. That trait felt like it had formed its own ego, whispering to me.
'You've just been devoured by me in the end.'
I knew. I knew. This was all self-justification. Admitting it made Haena nuna's thoughts flood in strangely. Her speech was rough, but she'd always been there for me. Last time with the photos, her Exposure Mania trait must've made her want to show off, but she knew I was jealous and bundled up extra instead.
Haena nuna's image tugged at my sleeve. I stopped again. Her door was in sight.
But I'd already done it with Lea and Yebin, right? What's one more aunt? Funny how any choice here was a double standard. Guilt and taboo wrapped around me, twisting into raw excitement surging through my veins. Yebin's Innate Pervert ignited in my heart, spreading everywhere. Nuna's image faded.
I stepped forward again. Her door grew larger in my vision. Memories with Haena nuna flashed by like a panorama—her worries, her care for me. During that stealing event, she'd said I was the only guy she ever bantered with privately. Her confession as we became lovers. Her tears when I collapsed at the pool... All those Haena Im's glared at me with resentment.
Those precious moments loomed large in my mind. Her door was right there. I stopped again. The hallway clock ticked: tick. tock. tick. tock. Urging me on.
Why had I been playing this game? Oh, right—the Coin System. But wasn't I already leading the pack? Did I really need another heroine? Weren't the three I had enough?
No, I was clueless about the system. Lea Im's Innocent Naivety tore through my mind at that excuse, asking,
'Kangmo Im, are you truly ignorant... or do you just want to be?'
Our precious memories scattered from my brain. A lump of desire, solidified in my blood, formed an ego and questioned me.
'But Kangmo Im, who are you to play the good guy alone?'
I knew—I'd given them Exposure Mania, but acted caught up in it myself last night. Gave them Voyeurism, and peeped right along. Gave them Incest, and dove in headfirst. Called them "fucking perverts," but I was no different. Hilarious. My hypocrisy, this bullshit double standard. Rationally, it was "disgusting," but it didn't faze me.
Yeah, you're right. No need to pretend to be good. It's all excuses. I know. I'm just a fucking pervert bastard. I act on my desires.
The era of scraping coins out of "blackmail" threats on my life was over. Ironically, it started when I stopped treating family like Coin System parts to ease my guilt. I'd become a filthy monster devoured by pure lust.
Plunged into this otherworld, getting to know my family, I asked what I was to them. Son, little brother, big brother. They were mom, big sis, little sis. Conquering them redefined our bonds in twisted ways. I bestowed traits: Exposure Mania, Voyeurism, jealousy... Unique ones led to Haena nuna's love confession, Yebin's sex slave claim, Lea's fanatic devotion.
So what was I? If they saw my status window, how would it look? Did I have all those traits too? Was I Yebin's Sex Slave, Haena nuna's Lover, Lea's Fanatic?
What the hell was this Coin System? Like that famous quote: I peered into the abyss, and it peered back. I gazed into the Coin System, and it gazed into me.
I reached out. Aunt Dana's door opened. The brightly lit room welcomed me deep into the night.