Trade-Off 1
Two little rats were stuck to me. One watched me 24/7. The other occasionally got reports and switched shifts. They were obvious plants from the cult.
With Life Detection, no surveillance could stick to me without my knowledge. On the flip side, I could expose them only to the scenes I wanted.
This was the image of me the cult had pieced together. Every dawn, I trained with Harina in workouts and martial arts. After part-time work at the flower shop, I headed to the Red Club in the evenings to help rebuild the village.
"The cult should be reaching out again soon... but it's awfully quiet."
I'd figured the elders would come crawling back to revoke my disqualification as heir. But it stayed dead silent—even after I'd deliberately had the Blood Raven crew spread rumors.
The cult's silence felt ominous, like the calm before a storm. They were definitely plotting something. Waiting for me to step onto their board of my own accord.
Fine. Wait for me. I'll dance so hot it'll burn the place down.
Today, I'd shaken off my tails on purpose. Dodging them was a breeze with Life Detection.
Last time, I'd harvested the golden wheat and left right away, leaving Marlin in tears. That scene had stuck with me. I'd even told An Hyeonmi I was sleeping over at a friend's tonight.
I needed to comfort Marlin's devotion with a storm of sex.
My castle, surrounded by dense thorny thickets. The fortress of brambles conjured by the power of the Ancient Druid Wood Ring had grown even thicker and more menacing than before. As I approached, part of the thicket silently parted to let me through.
The inside of the Elf Forest Dungeon was peaceful. An elf-less Elf Forest. It was an F-rank non-aggression dungeon teeming with cutie goblins, but now it was all mine.
"Wara rarara rara rara!"
Seemed like a bunch of new cutie goblins had popped up.
"Where do these guys even come from?"
Run into them by accident, and I'd get gangbanged, so I slipped past quietly.
Climbing the hill past the forest revealed Marlin's house with its windmill in view. Golden wheat ears swayed in the breeze, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.
Spotting me from in front of the windmill, Marlin dropped what she was doing and came running straight into my arms.
"Wara rara!"
Her embrace was as warm and soft as ever. A light kiss and hug had her nuzzling my cheek with a blissful expression.
Being welcomed like this by someone? That was true happiness. Was this what marriage felt like? To me, worn down by loneliness and isolation, she was a restful oasis.
An Hyeonmi, Haruna, and Harina were family—with needs and obligations. But Marlin wanted nothing from me. She was like a giving tree, endlessly generous.
"Wara rarara rara?"
Stroking her head, I checked the golden wheat's growth. Thanks to the remote mana feed through the ring, the ears were even fuller and riper. Double the yield from last harvest.
"Good job, Marlin. Excellent work."
She beamed like a child at my praise, pulling away from me. Then, as if remembering something, she grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the windmill.
"Wara rara?"
She pointed to the coziest corner of the windmill—a nest-like spot lovingly made of soft hay and glowing moss. At its center sat a bizarre object I'd never seen before.
"What... is this?"
It was an enormous egg, bigger than an ostrich's. Its surface gleamed with a smooth, pearly sheen, and aurora-like patterns of multicolored light slowly and endlessly shifted across it. Touching it brought a warm pulse and faint vibration. Like a living heartbeat.
◈ Analysis: The lifeform inside is in deep slumber. Massive amounts of pure mana required for hatching.
"Ooh??"
Seeing me examine the egg closely, Marlin started gesturing animatedly to explain. She'd found it glowing deep in the dungeon, monsters were after it, so she'd barely snatched it and been brooding it here. Her drawings and explanations were so cute—I wanted to call the whole neighborhood to watch.
Wide-eyed, scribbling earnestly—it was adorable. Then she pointed between the egg and me, her gaze pleading as if declaring me its owner.
"You're... entrusting this to me?"
"Wara rarara!"
She nodded vigorously. I carefully lifted the egg. Heavy, but the weight of the life inside was far greater.
Focusing Life Detection, I sensed a pulsing core of pure mana within. This wasn't some ordinary beast egg. Maybe... something from legend.
Nothing like this in the original novel.
"Marlin, I'm hungry. Feed me. I'll eat, stay the night."
Her eyes welled up at my words, pricking my conscience a bit. Like a puppy staring only at me—waiting all day at the door, wasting away for playtime...
"Rarara rara~ rarara~"
Marlin humming while cooking was too lovable. Her tilted hips swaying, emphasizing her riding muscles. Thighs merging into that massive, beautiful ass.
I approached her from behind, slowly.
...
It ruined the meal, but gifting her ecstasy made it all worthwhile. Marlin's pussy embodied "chewy"—taking my relentless thrusts, enduring the pain without complaint.
"Wara rarara rara~"
Over ruined food, we sipped fruit wine. I recounted my adventures like tales by the fire, my hand gently stroking her Venus valley.
Her flushed cheeks, dilated pupils of a woman in love. She listened intently, blinking, hanging on every breath. Not sure she understood it all, but she flinched at the part where I killed Roel of the Blood Ravens.
Occasionally, she'd pass fruit mouth-to-mouth, juice bursting as her tongue slipped in naturally.
"Tonight, Marlin... I'll make it unforgettable for you."
Her tiny walls clenched my reinserting cock—squeeze squeeze squeeze. Shyly averting her eyes, she bowed her head. Beneath her golden ponytail, her pale nape flushed red.
Around 3 a.m., Marlin passed out from pleasure.
"A bit... unsatisfying."
I laid her down and perched on the bed. Even in the dark, the mysterious egg drew my gaze with its vivid presence. Smooth surface emitting aurora lights—undeniably, a mana being gestated inside.
Checking with Life Detection again, I felt the egg's emotions. Anticipation? Longing? Joy? A bundle of positive vibes.
"I can feel the egg's emotions??"
Life Detection
Level 2 / Passive Skill
Detects sexable lifeforms within an 11-meter radius.
Faintly sense the status of 'favorable targets' toward you.
"What... you... you've felt goodwill toward me?"
I cradled the egg, trickling in light mana.
"??"
I felt its happiness. And—it was absorbing the mana? The joy intensified as it drank it up. The drain hit me like a punch, surprising even me.
"You... must've been a handful for any average mage."
Only possible because my mana overflowed. Regular mages wouldn't dream of sharing with pets.
"Marlin fed you tons of Golden Goblin's Advanced Elixir to keep you going. Mana's plenty."
I swapped all stamina to mana with Mana Stamina. Then slowly infused the egg.
"Gotta take you tomorrow, but shouldn't Marlin see your face too? Wanna hatch today?"
Speaking softly to it, the egg perked up happily.
"You understand me too?"
Positive emotions confirmed. Mana was ample. Cradling it tight, I infused slowly, carefully.
"Ooh..."
I felt the pure, potent mana core inside activate. From mere pulsing to rapid heartbeat.
My actions birthed an unpredictable new variable. Beasts took on traits from their master's mana... What would it become infused with my Incubus Power mana?
"You... what exactly are you?"
I wanted to see this glutton devouring my mana poured in endlessly.
Lost in it, I didn't notice dawn. After 12 hours, I downed another Golden Goblin's Advanced Elixir. Mana plentiful—overflowing.
Marlin, awake, watched quietly as I poured mana, then rose to prep breakfast.
"Marlin... any way to boost mana more?"
She smiled softly, went out, and returned laden with moonbloom herbs, spiders, snakes, poisons, fruits. Into the cauldron they went, her stirring diligently.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Pounding in a mortar, wiping sweat from her brow.
"Take it slow. Need help?"
She shook her head with a radiant smile.
What a devoted wife she'd make. Meanwhile, the egg begging for more mana made me chuckle.
"You... such a mana hog. Hang on a bit. I'll let you meet soon."
Even my innocent words thrilled it. Conveying determination: just a little more.
Soon, Marlin brought a red jelly-like substance, her hand trembling slightly. Not an easy brew.
Infused with Treasure Goblin's Sacrifice
"Ooh..."
I swallowed it down.
Consumed Golden Goblin's Blooming Mana Elixir.
Maximum mana increased by 20%.
"What?????????????????????????"
Goosebumps exploded across my skin.