Captivating the Caretaker Sisters 1

Character creation in Dungeon & Fantasy is simple. Since it's a text-based game, there's no need for customization. You just distribute 50 points across five stats: Strength, Agility, Health, Wisdom, and Charisma.

A stat of 10 is about average for a normal person, while 14 makes you an expert in that field. Strength 16 lets you uproot trees, but if it's 5 or lower, even walking around is a struggle. The official tutorial recommends putting 10 points in each stat evenly, but...

No matter how I look at it, going all-in on one stat is the way to go.

The gap between 10 and 11 is smaller than between 11 and 12, and the jump from 12 to 13 is even bigger. It's exponential growth—only an idiot would walk a linear path while everyone else rides the curve.

I decided to go all-in again this time.

Strength and Agility all-in was a bust last round.

Strength 16, Agility 16. That was my previous build. It was great for smashing buildings and rocks, but before long, I got scammed out of my life savings and died wheezing from wounds and illness.

You might think, "Who'd scam the guy who just uprooted a street tree?" But that's Dungeon & Fantasy for you. If your Wisdom is low, you fail scam checks no matter how strong you are.

To live a somewhat human life, you probably need at least 7 in every stat.

"Hmm..."

Tic-tic-

I distributed the points first. Now to pick the one to go all-in on.

I rubbed my forehead for a moment.

Charisma this time?

Charisma covers not just looks, but presence, influence, aura, and more. What I was after was its effect on shops.

Think about whether a fishmonger would price a dolphin higher for me or for Madongseok. It means buying cheaper and selling higher. Plus, late-game, you can buy items to boost your other stats.

The manual that boosts Strength costs 50,000 gold, right?

In theory, with enough gold, you can max any stat you want. Sure, you'd be half-dead in the early and mid-game, hunting monsters on foot...

"Just die and start the next run."

If you're on the brink of death, die. Create a new character. No problem.

"Charisma all-in it is."

Name random generation. Can't get scammed again, so a bit in Wisdom...

"Done."

I hit the 'Creation Complete' button right away.

Proceed.

"So Charisma gets the mask."

Last run with Strength and Agility at 16 each gave me bracelets and shoes. Before getting the first bracelet, I was breaking my own bones with my raw power.

Better get a mask quick.

"Wait, how strong is Charisma 20, anyway?"

20 is the human limit in game lore. The Blue Tower Master's Wisdom—the pinnacle of human intellect—is 19...

Humanity's pinnacle ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of beauty? Something like that. It sounded impressive, but there was no substance. Charisma doesn't perfectly correlate with handsomeness anyway.

Above all, Dungeon & Fantasy is a text game with no illustrations, so no way to check my face.

Lost ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in thought, the loading finished. The monumental first run of my Charisma all-in build. I boldly hit 'Game Start.'

No time for regrets—I got isekai'd.

2. One rainy night, Cecile, a caretaker at the orphanage, opened the door to find a small wooden box.

"A donation?"

Anonymous donations often arrived like this. She casually opened it.

"Oh my, who made such a pretty doll...?"

Inside was a tiny baby doll. Silver-white hair sparkling in the moonlight, thick lashes framing transparent blue eyes peeking through closed lids. Perfect proportions in every delicate feature—no spot untouched by a master's hand. Clearly expensive and time-intensive.

"How much would a craftsmanship like this cost?"

Cecile lifted the doll carefully, admiring it. And then...

"Atchoo!"

The doll sneezed.

That marked the start of my orphanage life.

"Yeah, I knew it wasn't just any doll. Nael, you were so pretty. Still are, of course."

In the orphanage's small counseling room, I silently stared at Cecile as she ranted.

"Can't wait to see how handsome you'll grow up. But no touching noble ladies, okay?"

As my body ached, the Director sitting beside Cecile patted her shoulder.

"Ahem."

Cecile cleared her throat. She pulled a mask from her bag.

"Nael, I need a favor."

"Sure. What is it?"

"Lately, your name keeps coming up everywhere."

What did I do wrong? My mind raced through possibilities. Recently, I'd acted cute at mealtime for an extra bread roll? The fruit shop auntie secretly tossing me apples daily? Or getting the library sister to let me in for free?

But what did that have to do with a mask?

"Don't take this the wrong way. I'm just relaying what I heard."

Cecile cupped her hand over her mouth and leaned in close.

"A few of the caretaker sisters said..."

Her hot breath tickled my ear.

"You've been exercising a lot lately. Coming back from laps sweaty after dinner. And at seven, borrowing and reading tough books like crazy."

"Yeah."

It was obvious. I started with 777 in Strength, Agility, and Health—no elixirs or manuals here, so running and reading were all I could do.

"Watching you like that, they keep hearing... what’s the word."

I swallowed hard, eyes on her lips, waiting.

"The devil whispering in their ears."

"......"

A beat of silence. Then chills ran down my spine. I snatched the mask.

"I-I'm not like that! I've never looked at you weird!"

Cecile flailed in panic. Ignoring her, I inspected the mask.

Ah, this is it.

I knew this item.

Yeah, something like that. Around 50 copper—not pricey, but with Stealth. Now plus my trait's Charisma Correction V.

I aligned the eyeholes and tied it tight. A sigh escaped me.

No wonder life felt too smooth for a Dungeon & Fantasy isekai. I'd wandered maskless with no issues—must be fine until I trigger Charm.

Almost game over before even entering the dungeon.

Bad end possibilities were endless. The game's lore went deep into weird places. Unlocking the 19+ rating unleashed floods of that stuff—I could've been the star.

Probably safe so far because even in this low-morals world, my age was a hard line.

Not safe anymore, huh.

No more fruit shop visits.

"Nael. You okay?"

Cecile touched my shoulder gently.

"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable. The Director and I racked our brains. But some sisters seem really dangerous—like something bad might happen..."

The Director nodded quietly.

I sighed.

"No, it's on me to deal with."

Hard to say I bore no blame for being careless.

What can you do with these stats?

I'd been grinding ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to survive, but Nael wasn't built to die on the first try.

"Thanks. Tell River to come in on your way out."

I stood and bowed.

Clunk—the counseling room door opened to reveal a familiar face in the hall.

"Nael? You talked to Cecile sis too!"

River wagged her tail wildly. Dog beastkin, same age as me, my only real friend here.

Guess peers are fine.

My Charisma stat dumped pheromones on adults but barely affected kids my age. If anything, it backfired.

I wasn't popular at the orphanage. Group activities? They'd just watch me nervously, never speaking up.

Ah.

A hypothesis hit.

Dungeon & Fantasy's Charisma includes presence and influence.

Too overwhelming?

I wouldn't casually befriend a kid radiating crazy aura either. Laughable to big strong sisters, scary to peers.

"What's with the mask?"

River, boldly chatting me up, was the brave one.

I patted it gratefully.

"Cecile sis said to wear it from now on."

"Why?"

"Well..."

As I pondered, River covered my mouth.

"Never mind! I like it, so whatever."

If you're cool, fine by me.

"Hey, River. Fought again?"

"Uh..."

She was a counseling room regular. Fists flew every other day.

"River, you promised Cecile sis no more hitting other kids. What now?"

"She tried to take my stuff!"

Beastkin possessiveness at full throttle. Borrow a toy ball? She'd bite like it was life or death. Made her easy to handle.

"Next time, let's go buy toys together."

"For real?"

"But no hitting kids."

"Got it! No more fights!"

River playfully tapped my mask and dashed in. Her wagging tail was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cute.

Good thing I secured her.

In game, dog beastkin were always worth raising. Solid stats for frontlining in dungeons, or at least pack-mule material. Reliable allies are rare.

Using her too much?

A twinge of guilt, but oh well. No karma system in Dungeon & Fantasy.

No reason to hold back.

Surviving with a conscience is tough anyway.