A Tempting Prize
"Now, Hayun. Listen well."
"Yes, Father."
"From this moment on, I'm not going to give a single shit about you."
"?"
"Well, it's only natural, isn't it? I've fathered over a hundred children. How could I possibly look after every single one of them? Only the excellent warriors who can pull their own weight deserve my respect. That rule applies equally, whether you're a stranger or family."
My new father seemed to be a boisterous man in more ways than one. Though, I wasn't entirely sure if 'boisterous' was the right word for it.
"If you want to enjoy my attention, my wealth, my name, and my connections, then get strong. Contribute to the family and make everyone acknowledge you. Bloodlines are inherited, but they are also forged by one's own hands."
"Yes, Father. I will do my best."
Forging a bloodline? What, does he think he's some kind of alchemist? Crazy bastard.
For a brief second, I wondered if I'd made a mistake following him here, but I quickly shook the thought away. No, look at this as an opportunity. I had never once considered this guy my real father anyway. Both of us were just looking to use each other. I was taking the opportunity he provided, and he had simply chosen me as a diversified investment for the future.
If that was the case, as long as I stood out among his hundred-plus children, I could exploit everything he owned. Looking at it positively, wasn't he saying he would judge even an adopted son like me on equal footing? If anything, it was quite generous.
"Ahem! But do not worry. I'm not washing my hands of you entirely. I will provide you with basic support and a personal maid, and then I shall give you ten years. By then, you must achieve a feat worthy of the family elders' recognition."
"I see."
"And if you make outstanding contributions along the way, you will be rewarded accordingly."
"And if I fail?"
He grinned, his mouth splitting open in a smile that was far more terrifying than boisterous.
"Bwahahaha! How could you fail?! As if a son of Kang Baek-jin couldn't manage something so simple! I believe in my son!"
"Of course. Haha. Right."
Look at this bastard, refusing to say what happens to the very end. He seemed like a total musclehead, but he was surprisingly good at playing mind games.
Well, whatever. I had absolutely no intention of scraping by in the dirt only to die like my former father anyway. If anything, this was perfect. Ten years. A whole ten years. If a guy couldn't establish a single decent achievement with that much time, he honestly deserved to die.
"Good! That look! Those are the eyes of a fighter! I knew I had an incredible eye for talent! Here, a gift."
"Huh?"
A black pill slipped out of Kang Baek-jin's sleeve.
"It's nothing grand like a legendary elixir, but it'll strengthen your body if you eat it. Take it and get some sleep. Tomorrow, a servant will come to explain what you need to do."
"Yes. I will live up to your expectations."
"Good boy. That's what I like to hear."
As expected, elders always preferred a spirited, sharp-witted son. Satisfied with my attitude, he vanished from my sight in an instant, leaving behind a single pea-sized pill.
"Well, damn."
Too much had happened today. My mother had said she was staying at Nokgak Palace, where Kang Baek-jin's numerous concubines lived.
"A palace. A palace, huh..."
Ha! A palace just for his concubines. The scale of this place was ridiculous. At this point, it wouldn't be strange to call him a king.
At the same time, I lusted after his power and authority. So, you're saying I can become like that too? Fucking hot women and keeping them locked up in a palace. Then, whenever the mood strikes, dropping by to devour them like snacks. I lusted after that power, that authority, and those women—the kind of absolute strength where you could do such crazy shit and still be worshipped for it.
"Holy shit."
Motivation surged through me. My cock grew rock-hard, and I licked my lips in anticipation. Looking down at the massive tent bulging in my trousers, I gently stroked it to calm it down.
"Hold on. Once I get a little stronger, I'll let you drown in pussy."
My cock twitched once as if it understood, then slowly subsided. However, a lingering, tingling sensation remained, constantly teasing my shaft.
"Ah, fuck."
I was starving for a woman. Especially after witnessing that scene earlier. Feeling the rough texture of the blanket against my skin, I consoled my lonely cock and made a vow. I will succeed. No matter what, I'll make it big and live a life where I swap out a different woman every single night.
"Fuck."
In the end, I couldn't hold it in, so I got up and jerked off. This new body was great and all, but the sex drive was so ridiculously high it was practically a disease.
"My name is So-wol. I have been assigned to serve you starting today, Young Master."
"Nice to meet you."
"There is no need to use honorifics with a lowly one like me."
"Alright."
Holy sex. I hit the jackpot. I swept my eyes down the girl, who was wearing a tight cheongsam as a maid uniform. Her voluptuous breasts and plump hips seemed custom-made to seduce men. Her face was a perfect ten, and the beauty mark right under her eye was incredibly erotic. With her mature body and decadent beauty, she looked like the perfect stress-reliever—the exact kind of woman you'd bend over and fuck whenever you got a random hard-on during work. A female optimized for having her panties pulled aside and stuffed with cock whenever I was in a bad mood or had some free time. My dick felt like it was about to tear through my pants right then and there.
Perhaps sensing my intense gaze, she quietly bowed her head, subtly exposing her cleavage. The collar of her dress parted slightly, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her pale, milky breasts.
"Though this low one lacks in many areas, I am quite confident in my face and figure. I believe I am more than adequate for your casual amusement, Young Master."
"Ah, is that so?"
Ah, fuck. I stuttered like an idiot. But I couldn't help it. It was So-wol's fault for showing off those gorgeous breasts so seductively. She was the absolute definition of a sexual relief secretary. Since she was the one doing the teasing first, there was no reason to hesitate. I reached out both hands to grab those voluptuous breasts.
"However..."
I would have succeeded, too, if she hadn't immediately pulled her collar back together.
"Before I belong to you, Young Master, I am the property of the Head of the Family."
As if her previous seduction had been a mere illusion, So-wol demurely folded her hands and cast her eyes downward.
"What the..."
Are you fucking kidding me? She wiggled her tail like a sly fox and now she's saying no? The worst kind of person is the one who gives you a taste and then takes it away. My hands, having missed their target, squeezed the empty air in disappointment.
"..."
Should I pretend it was an accident and feel up her thighs instead? Her cheongsam had high side slits that left her smooth thighs completely bare. It was the perfect outfit for pulling aside to shove my cock in, or for fondling her breasts and pussy at a moment's notice. Whoever designed this uniform was a shameless genius. Ah, fuck, she's so goddamn hot. But I had to hold back. Just yesterday, my new father had warned me. While she was my maid, she was also an evaluator sent by Kang Baek-jin. If I mindlessly pounced on her and she filed a bad report, my future would become a living hell.
"However, if you wish to claim me, Young Master, there is a way."
Why the hell are you only telling me that crucial part now?
"What is it?"
"The Master left a single command. If you are acknowledged by the elders and become a true member of the Kang family, you may claim me."
"Which means?"
"A personal maid is someone who serves only one master, acting cute and coquettish to win his affection. Yes. In short..."
So-wol leaned in, bringing her face close to my ear. A sweet, intoxicating scent tickled my nose. Her long hair brushed against my cheek, and when I glanced down, her flawless, pale neck came into view. If her next words hadn't shocked me, I would have definitely bitten and sucked on that white neck to leave a dark hickey.
"It means you are free to impregnate me. From the moment I become your personal maid, everything this low one possesses belongs entirely to you, Young Master."
"Ha."
"For your information, I am a virgin. My body is pure and untouched by any man."
"What?"
With the way you're acting, you look like you've reeled in dozens of guys.
My remark must have hit a nerve, as So-wol, who had maintained a blank expression until now, slightly furrowed her brow.
"I have been trained to be a personal maid since childhood. I was born to serve a single master, and I received extensive training for that purpose. That includes bedroom etiquette and the art of seduction."
"So, you're this incredibly slutty, yet you're still a virgin?"
"...Yes."
I've decided. I am absolutely devouring this girl.
"Haa..."
A sweet taste filled my mouth. I barely managed to suppress the boiling desire inside me with a deep exhale. Calm down. I need to hear the rest of the story first. Let's be calm and smart, and ask about entering Jamgwidong first...
"Can I touch your breasts?"
"No."
"Your hands?"
"...No."
"Not even your hands?"
"If you insist on touching them, I have no justification to resist. However, if you attempt to compromise my virginity, I have the right to resist. You may not touch my lower half."
"So I can hold your hand, right?"
"...If you wish."
I immediately grabbed So-wol's slender fingers and began kneading them. Every time I touched her, a sweet fragrance seemed to waft from her skin. Is this what they meant by hands like jade? Getting a handjob from these beautiful hands would be incredibly pleasurable. Just as I was about to interlace my fingers with hers—
"May I explain about Jamgwidong now?"
"Hmm."
Withdrawing her hand just before our fingers could lock, she spoke in a businesslike tone. The more I looked at her, the more I realized So-wol had a knack for driving a man wild. That demure, teasing attitude of refusing to yield her body—it only made me want to conquer her even more.
"Once I become your master."
"Yes."
"I'm going to kiss you first, and then I'm going to shove my cock right into your mouth. The way you talk, your tongue looks incredibly soft and supple."
"...If you are capable of doing so."
It wasn't a matter of capability. I had to do it. Hayun licked his lips as he stared at her pink, inviting lips.
"Alright, let's talk about something productive."
"Yes."
"So, what's your race?"
So-wol looked down at me with a slightly pathetic gaze. What? I'm just trying to get to know my future woman. What's wrong with that?
"This low one... is a half-blood, born of a Dokkaebi and a human."
"Ah, really?"
"While I possess the lifespan of a Dokkaebi, I did not inherit their strength. However, because of my outstanding appearance, I was trained from a young age to serve the Dokkaebi lords."
I couldn't help but think that So-wol's childhood must have been quite tragic.
"Must have been tough."
"The treatment of half-bloods, especially those born from rape, is usually like this. Fortunately, because I have Dokkaebi blood running through half of my veins, I receive relatively decent treatment."
I had heard of this before. Unlike half-bloods with other monsters, humans were the mortal enemies of all monsters, including Dokkaebi. Humans, as well as human half-bloods, were mostly raised as livestock. The reason she was granted the status of a maid rather than livestock was partly due to her beauty, but she was also lucky to have been born in a Dokkaebi city. Beastly or monstrous demons would swallow humans whole without a second thought. It was the same reason humans didn't feel lust toward pigs. After all, So-wol's beauty would only appeal to humanoid monsters, not pig demons. That was why half-bloods of monsters and humans were inevitably born looking extremely human, like So-wol. After all, the only monsters who would feel lust toward humans were those who already resembled them. If anything, it was the Dokkaebi who possessed unusual tastes.
As a result, half-humans were despised by both monsters and humans alike. If anything, it was the Dokkaebi who possessed unusual tastes.
"Once you become my woman, no one will ever look down on you for being a half-blood."
"I shall look forward to that."
So-wol bowed her head meekly. She seemed to quite like those words. Despite trying to hide it, her emotions were surprisingly easy to read. Hayun licked his lips, staring at the curves of her legs visible through her revealing dress, before speaking again. It was time to start a truly productive conversation.
"But a 'feat worthy of the elders' recognition' is such an ambiguous scope. Surely they aren't expecting me to achieve some heroic exploit."
"You have only just reached adulthood, Young Master. Even after ten years, you will still seem like a mere child to the elders. Perhaps they are looking for creativity, potential, or vision."
"That makes sense."
Realistically, they wouldn't have astronomical expectations for someone who had just become an adult. This world was fundamentally ruled by absolute power, where a single supreme being could reign for thousands of years. They wouldn't expect a newly minted adult to compete with them and establish legendary feats. But putting that aside...
"The problem with subjective questions without a fixed answer is that the grading depends entirely on the whim of the examiner on that day."
"..."
"I could try to achieve a heroic feat that everyone would have to acknowledge, but if any random bastard could do that, it wouldn't be called 'great' in the first place."
In times like this, the best approach was to look at past precedents of success. By tracing the records of success and failure left by my predecessors and finding commonalities, I could get a vague grasp of the grading criteria used by those old fogeys on the elder council. However, there was one prerequisite to all of this.
"I'm way too weak."
This world was thoroughly dominated by extreme martial worship. Since it was a savage society where an individual's level of martial power determined their worth, I needed to attain a minimum level of strength before I could do anything. The leaders of this world were essentially warlords, so if I wanted to stand on equal footing with them, personal strength was not an option—it was a necessity.
"I can't do anything like this. Is there any support? Like martial manuals?"
To be completely honest, my former father was a total loser. The combat manuals left by a guy like him were barely better than cheap pamphlets sold at a corner store. I had brought them along just in case, but no matter how I looked at them, they were useless. This world was a blend of fantasy and martial arts. It was too advanced in magic—or rather, spells—to be called a traditional wuxia world, yet its civilization and culture were undeniably Eastern, making it too oriental to be a standard fantasy. If I had to define the genre, it was probably xianxia. Especially considering how suspiciously well-developed the slavery and contempt for the weak were. High-level manuals were things people like my former father couldn't obtain even if they begged for them.
"There is. The Master instructed this low one to have you choose one cultivation method and one spiritual treasure from the Silver-grade armory and library. Please follow me."
I followed behind So-wol, my eyes glued to her swaying hips. Midway, I reached out a finger to sneakily cop a feel of her ass, but her sharp instincts kicked in and I missed. So touching her lower half really is off-limits, huh? I'll have to test later if her breasts are fair game.