I Became the Tutorial Boss in an Adult Game
I became the tutorial boss in an adult game. Had I handed the heroine too reckless a quest? Elena was just barely an adult. She'd only been swinging a sword for a day or two now. Normal thoughts started creeping in, wondering if I hadn't demanded too much from a kid like her.
In the game, Elena was a genius blessed with innate talent in both swordsmanship and magic. The harsher the trials, the faster she grew. She was still a total greenhorn, but this world gave women a huge edge in that regard. Monsters were such gentlemen that they hardly ever killed women. As expected of adult game monsters—their default mindset was to kill the men and rape the women.
That genius Elena could exploit the world's conveniences, screwing up a few times against monsters without dying and getting another shot. Too bad I can't pop her cherry... but later, when the chance comes... wait, what the hell am I thinking... that's not Eck...
Still immature and weaker than me, I pictured crushing Elena down, slamming her head on the table, yanking her pants off, and pressing up against her ass. She let out those cute little whimpers. Elena was gorgeous. I swallowed hard at the thought of gripping that luscious waist and looking down on her.
...I shook it off. Damn... even with my past life's memories, am I turning into Eck after all...?
I was the thug boss of an adult game, so my past life's influence weighed heavy—but Eck's wasn't nothing. Hell, my sanity right this second was thanks to Eck's experiences and memories. If some Earthling got isekai'd here with a clear head, things wouldn't be this peaceful. A monster-infested dump with hygiene straight out of a shithole? Even with Eck's fat pockets guaranteeing a decent life, it beat scraping by on Earth by a million times. Modern folks—even part-timers—ate better and lived more conveniently than medieval kings, or so they said.
Thinking about it leaves a bitter taste. I fiddled with my empty glass. My palms were thick with calluses. How many people had I killed with these hands? Eck's memories surfaced: beating folks in back alleys for pocket change, shaking down newbies for protection money—a total piece-of-shit thug. But the guild never booted me because I had the skills befitting a tutorial boss.
How strong am I right now? I could feel the combat instincts carved into this body, even drunk as I was. No damage from whatever this possession-like bullshit was. I felt it crystal clear. With my past life's memories, wielding this tutorial boss physique against monsters? I might fight better than the original Eck—hell, maybe even better than the game's protagonist.
Well, just sentiment for now. No way to know how it'd hold up until I tested it in a real scrap. My body was too damn lazy to even stand, soaked heavy in booze. Still, I chugged more.
"Urk..."
This hunk of meat was hooked on the stuff. The second the buzz started fading, my whole body ached like hell.
Creeeak.
Then the guild door swung open. Elena stepped in, looking even rougher than yesterday. One side of her robe was torn clean off, and her cheek bore a dirt-caked scratch.
Thud.
She dropped a pouch on the table and untied it. Goblin ears.
"Exactly ten. Wasn't too bad, right?"
"This much? Nothing at all."
Elena put some force into her voice.
"I brought what you asked, so now you gotta pay up."
"Yeah."
I stood.
"Follow me."
"Pardon?"
"Don't make me repeat myself. Follow."
Elena blinked, then meekly trailed after me.
We stepped out of the guild. The sunset slanted over the rooftops, painting the alleys red. The market was winding down, vendors packing up one by one. I took a familiar path, veering into the back alleys. Eck's memories guided my feet.
Borudo's Blacksmith.
The dwarf smith infamous for hunting down guild adventurers who stiffed him on payments and cracking their skulls. A scammer who'd pocket enhancement materials to rig the odds. We'd known each other since before I became an adventurer, back when I ruled these alleys.
Knock knock knock.
No answer.
Clang! The bellows kept going, so he was deep in work.
The old me would've been considerate enough not to interrupt, but that ain't Eck.
Knock knock knock!
"Open up before I bust it down!"
Silence for a beat. Then the iron door unlatched with a clunk.
A beard-covered dwarf glared up at me. His bear-like forearms were caked in soot. My drunk mug stared back, annoyed.
"What the hell you want this late? Already paid up. Tryin' to squeeze more?"
We went way back, but friends? Nah. The guy I'd ripped off plenty pretended to be tough, but he couldn't hide the fear aimed my way.
"Here for a sword. I'm a customer—open the damn door."
"A sword? You?"
"Yeah. See the kid behind me? Buyin' for her."
Borudo's eyes flicked to Elena, scanning her up and down before wrinkling his nose.
"Fittin' a girl for a sword? You?"
"Quit with the 'you' bullshit. Shut it and open up."
I shoved my hand through the crack and forced the door wide, barging in. Spotting the rack of swords Borudo had made, I picked through them one by one, hunting for one that'd suit Elena's build.
"Fuckin' hell. Bitch. What're you?"
"What?"
"What're you to that Eck prick."
"I just... got scammed by the old man..."
"Scammed?"
Borudo coughed in disbelief at her words.
"Ahem! The hell? The great Eck buyin' a sword for some scammed sucker... gahk?!"
"Cut the crap."
Borudo flinched at the sword that flew his way.
"Sheath. Now."
"Tch. Gimme a sec."
"This cover the price?"
I counted out five silver coins and slapped them into his palm.
Borudo grimaced like he'd eaten shit, pocketed them, and fetched sheath materials.
"Hold on."
Elena tugged my clothes from behind.
"That can't be, right?"
"What?"
"That's not my pay, is it?"
"And?"
"And? That's my money! The five silvers you promised. Why give it to the dwarf?"
"What, you gonna take the sword for free? Thief vibes much?"
I flicked her forehead with my finger.
"You're lucky to snag a sword for five silvers. Bitch all you want, I ain't givin' more."
"What?! No way!"
Elena’s eyes went wide. Borudo, eavesdropping, shot a glare like bullshit.
I clapped a hand over Elena's glaring eyes, pinning them down.
"A senior like heaven himself deigns to help personally, and you're not grateful—instead you dare get pissy? Think five silvers buys a sword? Who you givin' that look?"
"Eek...!"
Elena ground her teeth.
"Just checkin', but..."
I knew her whole deal, main quest or side. They'd play out as I remembered—fate as good as set.
"Those three silvers from yesterday. Where'd they go?"
"..."
"Spit it out."
"...Medicine costs."
Figured. She came to earn medicine money in the first place.
"Who's sick?"
"What's it to you? You're not coverin' it."
"Not like I can't."
"...Pardon?"
I fixed Elena with a steady gaze. She was beautiful, true to form as this world's heroine. No wonder the guys she'd meet would lose their minds over her. Designed pretty, strong, and sweet for the player's eye candy—at the start, players hit a choice.
"Become my lover instead."
"Lo-lovers?!"
"Means devote that body to me alone. Then medicine money ain't an issue."
"..."
Adult game heroine. Right at the start, players faced the "sell your body" option. Bet every last one picked it for cash, a pardon, or to defuse a crisis. I sure did. Official story had the tutorial boss take her virginity, but players popped it with some random citizen or monster. Did all kinds of wild shit to unlock positions.
Later I focused on clearing, so it faded from my mind...
But yeah, started that way—rolled the heroine every which way first.
Elena pressed her lips tight.
"That's your problem."
"Huh?"
I leaned on the display rack.
"If it was just medicine money, there's easier paths than adventuring. Like my offer. With that face and body, it'd be a cakewalk."
"W-what're you even saying?"
"But you picked adventurer. Means it's not just about the money."
Exactly—sister's medicine needed more than cash. I played it like I'd deduced it.
"Whatever it is, you need something rare only an adventurer can snag. Pricey enough you won't take even my help as a lover."
Eck's personality was freaking out inside, piecing together what the medicine was. Stuff he could never know, never should know—but with my head full of it, he clocked how premium the info was. How insane what Elena was after.
"If you're adventuring, do it right. Half-ass it, and you won't just fail the medicine—you'll lose yourself too."
"...That."
"That?"
Elena's face hardened. Flustered. Dim light hid it at first, but her cheeks were flushed.
"Why go that far to tell me?"
"Hm?"
"D-do you... like me or something? Is that why you're so nice?"
"..."
I replayed what I'd just said. Must've slipped out of character for a sec.
"Couldn't care less about your sob story. Just hate seein' you turn useless. Look at you—goody-two-shoes sucker, waggin' your tail knowin' full well I'm usin' you."
"Ugh..."
"I need someone to bring me cash even after I retire. You? Spend your life repayin' the favors I give."
"..."
Elena stood there silent for a long stretch, face complicated as she bowed her head.
"Bullshit."
"Quick on the draw."
"Take it."
Borudo, who'd been spectating with arms crossed, tossed over the sheathed sword nonchalantly.
I drew it to test the feel, then slid it home and handed it to Elena.
She eyed it over. A plain straight sword, no frills. But the blade was even, weight biased toward the hilt—perfect for quick cuts even for the strength-challenged.
Borudo's eyebrow shot up.
"She yours or what?"
I waggled my pinky.
"Obvious question. Keep your hands off. Touch a hair on her head, you're dead."
"Heh..."
"What."
"First girl I hear you talk like that about. Rebecca's gonna be jealous. Better suck up to my future sister-in-law."
Borudo sidled up to Elena, suggesting she try it on the straw dummy. With her prodigious talent, Elena cleaved it in a single stroke.