Subculture God Game Settings (1)
Only after bringing Lucy inside did he remember the place wasn't cleaned up.
"Sorry, I didn't expect a guest to drop by out of nowhere."
"I-it's f-fine."
At least he'd cleared away all the broken window glass from Spiffy Valley the day before.
"Should've just done it at your place."
"Huh…!?"
"Talking to myself. Lucy, have a seat over there."
"O-oh, sure."
"…Why the formal speech?"
"Oh, right."
Lucy sat down on the sofa.
Her tension was obvious.
Was she always like this… Oh.
Come to think of it, he'd brought a girl into his bachelor pad.
She was his neighbor and a character from the story, so he'd invited her in way too casually—like inviting a gacha game character into his myroom.
Whoops.
"Sorry, my bad."
"Huh?"
"Should've kept it outside."
Lucy stared at him blankly.
"…The boy's tastes really are intense, huh."
"?"
Anyway.
Time to get started.
Current remaining points: 1600.
Want to hit over 2500 by the end of the day. 3000 if possible.
He'd learned that even learning magic required Praise Points.
His goal to hit before next week's dungeon class: 5000 points.
A number he could reach quickly with effort.
But one he couldn't slack off on.
"Any compliments you wanna hear?"
"You're asking me directly…?"
"Or should I just go with whatever?"
"G-go ahead."
"Lucy, you've got such a pretty face."
"…Out of nowhere?"
Target is extremely delighted
100 points just for that.
Was she craving compliments that badly?
Points scaled with the target's joy.
If a simple compliment brought such big happiness, maybe her self-esteem was low and she'd been starved for praise.
"You're amazing for being such a hard worker too. If not for that lousy advisor prof, any research student at the Imperial Academy has to earn their spot."
"Boy…"
Target is ecstatic
"And talking with you is fun."
"For real?"
"See? Our chat's bouncing right along."
Target is enjoying herself
He kept the compliments going for another 30 minutes, rotating through her face, smarts, effort, and more.
Reached 2300 points.
But now he was hitting a wall. No more ideas bubbling up.
Time to borrow that function's help.
Category: Trait Assist
Next Praise Recommendation (300 points)
Pay 300 points to acquire Next Praise Recommendation?
Yes / No
He selected yes, and a new window popped up.
Level 1?
Checking the shop, that slot had updated.
Category: Trait Assist
Next Praise Recommendation (LV.2) (3000 points)
Better performance means higher point cost, huh.
As time passed, he'd need more points for better magic, skills, items, and trait assists.
But in exchange, he'd have more people to praise, so earnings would rise too.
Anyway.
The effect of that 300-point trait assist:
Automatically analyzes target → Lucy Merhantia
Recommendation: Breasts
"…."
Breasts?
Compliment her breasts?
Well, Lucy's were undeniably praiseworthy.
But coming from a guy who'd already groped them twice, it'd sound ridiculous—and straight-up sexual harassment, right?
Even if it's harassment, if it's what she wants, does it matter?
No clue.
Nothing to do but try.
"…And your breasts are really pretty too."
"…!!"
Lucy's eyes went wide.
Target is extremely delighted
Solid performance—200 points at once.
Next one?
Target: Lucy Merhantia
Recommendation: Breasts
"…."
Why the same thing?
"I really think they're great—perfect shape, huge size, just a sight to behold."
"R-really?"
Target is ecstatic
Next.
Target: Lucy Merhantia
Recommendation: Breasts
"Honestly, I've wanted to touch them since the first time I saw."
"H-huh…?"
Target trembles with joy
Next one—
Target: Lucy Merhantia
Recommendation: Breasts
No, fuck, give it a rest already.
Bought this because I was out of compliments, and it's telling me to milk breasts how many times?
Is this buggy? Stuck on one category?
Points are still coming fine, though?
"Um, boy."
Lucy whispered.
"…Do you really, truly think my breasts are… that pretty and attractive?"
Sudden question.
But.
"Yeah. Every word from start to finish has been sincere."
he'd never given insincere praise.
Not once.
That was his strategy in this world.
"…I see."
Lucy whispered back, swallowing hard.
Her throat had been parched for a while now.
Her body felt hot.
This has gotta mean the boy wants to go there, right?
Why else shower her with nonstop compliments like this?
He's seducing me.
For real?
Right now?
The very night after freeing her, coming to claim her heart too?
Idiot.
No need for all that.
Like ramming a battering ram at gates already wide open.
"Boy, got a girl you like or something?"
"Nah."
There.
Sis has done this much for you. Your turn now, boy.
You know what to say, right? Just one line.
One line, and sis is all yours.
Come on.
Quick.
"…Lucy."
Gilliam leaned toward her, choosing his words.
"…Yeah."
Lucy turned to him, face burning, not hiding it.
Come on.
Say it anytime.
Take me anytime.
I—
Suddenly, a loud THUD!! as something toppled.
Followed by a woman's scream.
"Eek!?"
Gilliam and Lucy flinched like kids caught red-handed.
They looked toward the noise.
"…?"
"…??"
The coat rack wardrobe had toppled forward.
A girl with brown hair rubbed her forehead in front of it.
Her irises, clouded purple with confusion, jealousy, and shame.
It was Maron.
"Ow ow…!!"
Looked like she'd been hiding inside, leaned too far forward, and brought the whole thing down.
Maron crawled out on all fours, apologizing nonstop.
"S-sorry! Really sorry! I wasn't trying to spy on purpose!!"
"…Why were you in there?"
"I-I, well, um!!"
Maron flailed in panic.
"I d-didn't know where Liam-kun's place was! So I looked it up, found it here, and I—sorry! I know I shouldn't have snuck in!!"
Quick confession and apology—peak chad move.
"Since dinner?"
"Y-yes! B-before Liam-kun got back… hehe…."
"But it took a while from when I was talking with Lucy outside till I came in?"
He'd chased off a professor in that time.
"Oh, I was hiding in there the whole time… It was f-fine, smelled like you inside since it was your wardrobe…."
"The shirt I wore yesterday's still hanging there."
"Y-yeah… hehe, figured as much. Even had a bit of sweat smell…."
Maron beamed.
"Ah… sorry. It stank, huh."
"Huh? Why apologize?"
"You said it smelled like sweat."
"Yeah. Exactly."
"?"
"??"
Some kind of misunderstanding between them.
Automatically analyzes target → Maron Clearias
Recommendation: Smile
He helped Maron to her feet and complimented her.
"You know, your smile is really nice."
"…My smile?"
"Yeah. It makes people feel so at ease."
Target is happy
Yes! Daily goal hit.
"…."
"…."
But stinging glares from both sides.
"Wow…."
"Scoundrel… for real…."
"Playboy…."
"How does he flirt with girls like it's breathing…."
"That tongue was just aimed at another girl…."
"Scary…."
This was confusing.
Why was he the one getting flak?
Call it here for today?
Already hit the 3000-point goal.
And.
Maron Clearias.
Possessor of the Hwanran Star.
Lucy Merhantia.
Possessor of the Hyeonbing Star.
Both right here.
"Got a question for you two."
"?" "？？"
"Mind if I ask about your stars?"
The theme running through every part of Astra Radius: stars.
Some people in this world were born bearing stars.
But he still didn't know exactly what that meant.
Romance fantasies skipped that for the heroine's politicking.
"Stars…?"
"S-st-stars?"
"Yeah. If you can show them, I'd love to see."
He thought it was a normal request.
But.
"…!"
"…!!"
Maron and Lucy's faces both flushed beet red.
"Liam-kun, you're a total playboy…!?"
"H-how can you ask to see that on the first day we meet!?"
"Pervert…."
"Scoundrel!!"
"Lewd guy!"
"Lust demon!!"