Chapter 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Skill Test?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Skill test?
An alert that had never appeared before. And the one I'd been desperately waiting for.
My reaction to seeing the skill level-up alert wasn't joy or emptiness. It was simply...
'Is this some kind of erotic game world setting?'
That was the thought running through my head.
When I first arrived in this world, the very first thing I checked was whether it matched any game or novel I knew. There was a game-like system with a skill window, and places like the Labyrinth that could have come straight out of a story.
But when I looked into major historical events and famous names, I concluded it wasn't the kind of game or novel world I recognized. I'd tentatively decided it was a real, living world—not some game or book—and had been surviving here for three years now.
'It specifically called out blocking sexual sensation, and that leveled it up? Isn't this straight out of some adult novel or game?'
Feeling an inexplicable unease, I opened my skill window for the first time to see the changes.
[Sensory Block skill has leveled up to Lv. 2.]
[Intensity of blockable sensations has increased.]
[Sensory Block duration has increased.]
[Sensory Block range has increased.]
The messages that appeared confirmed that my [Sensory Block] skill had been enhanced. Range increase and duration increase—common effects for debuff or buff skills. The boost in intensity for blockable sensations felt like a power-up.
[Derived skills have been created.]
[Acquired Sensory Release Lv. 1, Sensory Amplification Lv. 1.]
The next messages announced new skills acquired. I'd heard that some rare skills spawn derivative skills as they level up, but I never imagined mine would be one of them!
Finally accepting reality, a wave of joy started to build. Memories of three stagnant years flashed by, and I nearly let out a cheer without thinking.
[Your latent skill has been unlocked.]
[Lust Absorption Lv. 1 skill has been created.]
But the very next message cut my cheer short.
What the hell is this? Is it really an erotic game?
[Sensory Release: Lv. 1]: During Sensory Block's duration, the target feels sensations without awareness. Upon Sensory Block's end, accumulated sensations explode. (Has a limit)
I could roughly understand the new [Sensory Release] skill. Up until now, my [Sensory Block] made the designated sensation vanish entirely during its duration. But with this, those sensations build up instead and hit all at once when the skill ends.
It even had an on/off toggle, so I could still use it the old way if needed. Offensively, I could stack damage on a pain-blocked enemy and release for massive shock. Or... for something naughtier?
Damn, my mind keeps veering that way because of that skill message... Anyway, the next one.
[Sensory Amplification Lv. 1]: While blocking sensations, amplifies unblocked ones. Or amplifies sensations accumulating in [Sensory Release].
This second skill was even better than I'd imagined. Enhancing sensations? Humans have five senses, which break down into even more specifics, and this world has things like a sixth sense too. The possibilities were endless. Up to here, it was all incredibly positive...
[Lust Absorption Lv. 1]: Gain experience through sexual activity. However, EXP gradually decreases if no sexual activity occurs for a period.
Additional Effect: Provides correction in sexual areas. But occasionally inflicts <Heat> status ailment.
This was the problem. A skill with an incomprehensible reason for appearing.
In this world, accumulating experience in specific actions turns them into skills. Or you hear rumors of innate special skills or rare Labyrinth items granting new ones.
But my [Lust Absorption] didn't fit anywhere. Latent skill? First time hearing that term after three years here.
And reading the description, it almost seemed like this skill was why I hadn't leveled up or gained any other skills in three years. Meaning... it'd been active all along?
...If I'd known, I would've at least visited a brothel. But I'd been saving every penny for the Labyrinth and never even considered it.
Anyway, ignoring the creepy latent skill, this was worth celebrating. Hell, even [Lust Absorption] was great if you overlooked the penalty. Gaining EXP from sex? It just said "EXP," so how it applies to other skills needs testing, but the skill itself looks amazing.
"S... S..."
"......."
As I finished sorting through my skills, my eyes fell back on the woman lying in the bed. If she hadn't rolled over and rubbed her chest against my hand, my skills would've stayed stagnant forever. This woman was truly my benefactor. My light. I'd live in gratitude to her for the rest of my...
[<Heat> status ailment activated due to Lust Absorption Lv. 1 effect. Will not resolve without sexual activity. Gradually intensifies.]
My thoughts shattered with the system message floating before my eyes, my suddenly ragged breathing, and the growing ache below. And then...
"Mm..."
"....!"
She rolled over once more, her clothes shifting to emphasize the breasts right in front of me.
Without thinking, like I was entranced, I grabbed the tempting fruit before me—the woman's breasts.
As my hand touched her breast, I realized my mistake. Even if she was asleep, stimulating her chest like this would obviously wake her.
[Sensory Block Lv. 2 is currently applied.]
A reassuring system message popped up. I'd definitely cast Lv. 1 Sensory Block on her, but the level-up had automatically upgraded it to Lv. 2.
If the skill hadn't reached Lv. 2, with its expanded range and power, she'd have noticed the weird sensation and woken up immediately.
"Sigh... sigh..."
The woman before me seemed utterly oblivious—no, the curse's itch had stopped, so she actually looked more comfortable, her breathing steady and quiet as she slept.
[Lust Absorption Lv. 1 Additional Effect: Can identify name of target under Lust Absorption.]
[Target's Name: Hiss Gray]
Then [Lust Absorption] activated, revealing her name. Wait, it said correction in sexual areas—how is showing a name sexual? Whatever, Hiss... Hiss Gray...
"Miss Hiss, you asleep?"
No response, of course. She looked exhausted, so she was probably in deep sleep.
I gauged the time based on when Priest Jeffrey left. The nearby Temple of the Sun for holy water was a 10-minute walk... no, factoring his pace, about 15 minutes.
Another 5 minutes for the procedure there, and return trip makes roughly 35 minutes total.
From casting the skill on Hiss, her falling asleep, and me checking my skills—call it 20 minutes. That leaves over 10 minutes before the priest returns.
No, stop calculating time. Think rationally. Get this hand off her first...
<Heat> is active!
Fuck, I'm so damn horny.
No matter how out of my mind I was from all these factors, I knew full well I'd be screwed if caught. So I had to be as careful as possible not to get busted. Time to think this through.
First, limit touching to upper body, mainly breasts. Right now... Hiss has Sensory Block on her upper body to suppress the curse. If the skill hadn't hit Lv. 2, it would've only covered the cursed spot, lacking range for her breasts.
Luckily, the level-up let it cover from her shoulders/neck down to both breasts comfortably.
I also felt the increased power—the intensity of blockable sensations.
The Heat debuff made me act before thinking, but thankfully, light kneading with my hand was getting blocked. Still, I didn't know Lv. 2's exact limits, so I'd stick to this intensity.
Pinching a nipple on impulse would wake her instantly.
Ah, fuck, I wanna pinch those nipples so bad. Calm down, me.
Another caution: hearing. My skill wasn't blocking sound right now. A loud noise and Hiss would bolt awake. Especially since she's Catkin—beastkin with sharp ears. God, I wanna touch those cat ears. Ugh.
Keeping all that in mind, I savored the sensation in my hand.
Her tight-fitting clothes let me feel the texture perfectly. Shockingly, no bra underneath—the areola and nipple texture came through faintly as I touched.
I yanked my hand back, fearing the block might break.
My eyes drank in the sight fully. Her breasts deformed violently in my grip, but Hiss felt nothing, her breathing even growing shallower as she sank deeper into sleep.
Meanwhile, my other hand pulled out my throbbing cock, ready to burst.
'It said <Heat> status resolves with sexual activity, but at least one release should clear it.'
I was pretending to analyze coolly, but it was all excuses—I just needed to calm this thing down somehow. The hand not on her breast started stroking.
Three years without proper release meant my cock surged toward climax after just a few strokes—faster than I'd expected.
'Wait, at this rate... Ngh!'
Was it the thrill of toying with a sleeping woman? Or the <Heat>? Climax built quicker than anticipated. I tried stopping too late, but couldn't halt it.
-Splurt! Spluuurt!
I couldn't hold back and unleashed my load. In a last-second pivot, most hit the floor. A few drops on the bed.
And a few... toward Hiss's face.