How to Persuade Your Lover (3)
After deciding to come clean to Hyeun about everything, I truly told her everything. That my awakening ability wasn't limited to swordsmanship but could unlock and use other awakening abilities as well. That I could level up those abilities or acquire various artifacts from the point shop using points earned through sex. I even revealed how estimated points to gain appeared next to hunters' faces, and the existence of Esila—leaving nothing out.
Well, except for the 'Achievements' and 'Current Libido-Managed Hunters' sections. No matter what, I just couldn't bring myself to say those.
Achievements were too explicit, each one basically laying bare my past sexual history. And the current libido-managed hunters involved other hunters' personal information. Especially the fact that 'estimated points to gain,' which scaled with their sexual desire, were visible in real-time—I felt that wouldn't be good for her to know.
If I put myself in her shoes, it was basically like someone could observe whether I was erect or not from anywhere, just by wanting to. Even for Hyeun, that would be mortifying, so I deliberately held it back for her sake. Besides, since I'd already explained the rest of my awakening ability—the most important part—those felt like minor details anyway.
Hyeun's expression, having heard my full explanation, turned confused just like it had a few days ago when she first learned of my awakening.
"That... that can't be real...? A multi-awakening that even generates artifacts...?"
At first, she reacted with utter disbelief, but eventually, faced with the evidence I showed her, she had to accept it. The flame magic and subspace pouch were irrefutable proof.
I drew fiery runes in the air with a flick of my wrist and pulled my greatsword out of empty space before stowing it away again, right in front of her eyes. No matter how unbelievable or absurd it sounded, she had no choice but to believe.
"This is... just insane. Even for a unique male awakener, how is this possible...?"
"I didn't fully grasp it myself for the first week. Can't blame you for struggling to understand."
"At this point, doesn't it feel like some god gave you these powers for a reason? Nothing else makes sense...."
"I think so too, but it's not like I can just find out by wanting to."
It was a question I'd mulled over in my head countless times, but no answer ever came. I was probably the first case like this in world history—no data to compare with.
"What does that Esila thing say about it? Doesn't she tell you anything?"
"I've asked her a few times, but..."
"Information censorship always garbles it into nonsense I can't understand."
Asking Esila yielded the same result every time—the relevant parts were locked away entirely, echoing as unintelligible noise in my head. What could I do about it?
The best I could manage was to accept this fate-given awakening and make the most of it.
Anyway, with the explanation of my awakening ability—which had left Hyeun thoroughly bewildered—finally complete, it was time to get to the main point.
"Now, about what your mom and I need to... do."
"...Obviously, her points are off the charts, so you can't pass it up. That's the gist, right?"
"Huh?"
"Come on. Mom hasn't dated or been with a guy since Dad died. Her 'libido-proportional awakening points' must be stacked to the brim, yeah?"
It was natural for Hyeun to think that after hearing only up to this point, but I had to clarify this absolutely.
"It's not about doing it just for simple reasons like that."
I'd explained all this awakening stuff to her so far precisely to avoid any misunderstanding that I was just after her points and screwing her for them.
"Then what is it?"
"There's this emergency task."
"Emergency task?"
"It appears only to hunters who meet specific conditions. In short, the system rewards extra points if you have sex with the target hunter within the time limit."
Hyeun's face turned even more incredulous at my words.
"So you don't want to miss it? What's the emergency task reward that's got you so hooked?"
"...The target hunter's life."
"............What?"
"There are other rewards like awakening points too, but in my view, that's the most important one from this emergency task."
"......"
She probably hadn't expected something this grave from my mouth—Hyeun's lips clamped shut for a moment.
"What does that mean? That if you don't sleep with her, Mom dies? Your awakening ability is going to kill her or something?!"
"No! It's not like that—just hear me out!"
"Th-that......"
She looked ready to say more, her voice starting to crack, but...
"...Okay."
I gripped her hand tightly and met her eyes, and she finally nodded reluctantly.
"I told you at the start. The emergency task only pops up for hunters who meet 'specific conditions.'"
"...Yeah."
"Those 'specific conditions' mean the hunter is fated to lose their life."
"...What?"
"I've verified it with Esila already. Hunters with an emergency task have a high chance of dying if they don't have sex with me."
"......"
She still seemed half-doubting, not fully grasping, so I continued via our mutual acquaintance.
"Remember about a month ago when Cha Yuri lost her awakening ability?"
"Oh, yeah... I heard she could only use 1-circle magic then..."
"After sleeping with me, it came back, and she returned to the company."
"True, but... what does that have to do with her life?"
"The first place I met Cha Yuri was inside the C-rank dungeon, Ancient Tree Tomb."
Sensing what came next, she tensed slightly as I pressed on.
"What do you think someone who could only use 1-circle magic was doing in there?"
"Probably... risky, yeah..."
"It was risky. If I hadn't been there... she might not have made it out. After saving her from near-death, I asked why she'd done something so reckless, and do you know what she said?"
"...What?"
"'If my awakening didn't come back, that was it. Just the end.'"
"......"
She seemed to have guessed from the mood, but hearing it straight from me deepened the worry on her face.
"Even after I saved her, she said if her power didn't return, she'd rather die. And she's not the only one. You might not know them, but other hunters have ended up in near-death situations because I didn't sleep with them first."
"......"
"Now do you get why I have to resolve your mom's emergency task?"
Realizing the gravity, Hyeun nodded with teary eyes.
"S-so you're going to sleep with Mom? Because if you don't complete the emergency task, she might die?"
"...Yeah."
"Even though she's basically parental age and you have zero desire to mix with her? Just to save her life?"
"That's not it. Your mom—Eunyoung noona—is genuinely attractive, rationally speaking."
"Liar at a time like this..."
"Can't do that. I decided to tell you only the truth."
It was the bare minimum I owed her.
"...Fine, got it."
With that, Hyeun shot up from her seat right after hearing me out.
"Get up already—what're you dawdling for?"
"Uh, yeah?"
She suddenly yanked my arm, pulling me up from my knees in front of the sofa.
"Wh-what's this all of a sudden, Hyeun?"
"You kidding? We're going to fuck your mom right now."
"Uh, wha?"
"I'm not thrilled about permitting this. But better she lives after banging you than dies. If you'd said you hated it and had to force yourself, I'd have hesitated—but you said she's rationally hot enough, right?"
"I did say that, but..."
"Then that's that. Hurry up and follow."
As she dragged me toward the door, I hurriedly explained the next part.
"Don't rush—there's still time left."
"......"
"If you just barge in and say 'let's fuck' to your mom out of nowhere, she'll be pissed. That might keep her libido from releasing properly, and the task won't complete."
"...So what, how do you suggest we do it?"
"The deadline's next Monday, so I'll set up a natural situation to sleep with Eunyoung noona by this weekend somehow. I brought this up with you just to get your permission. It'd be the worst if you found out later that I'd done it behind your back."
"Not like you were planning to tell her to run so I'd hold her down while you railed her?"
"As if I'd ever..."
Her casually suggesting something so unethical sent chills down my spine. Knowing now it was all for my sake made it somewhat relieving, though.
"Anyway, force isn't a last resort—I'll handle your mom myself."
"Fine, got it. If it's just my permission you need, you have it."
"Thanks, Hyeun."
"But I can't just give you a verbal okay."
Still gripping my wrist tightly, her serious tone made me nod in agreement quietly.
"I'll do whatever you want, as long as I can."
"Then strip, Taekyung."
"...Yeah?"
"Strip, Sung Taekyung."
Releasing my wrist, she replied in a dead-serious voice, no hint of joking.
"Monday next week, right? So today is still fine."
"...Yeah."
"So strip. I won't hand you over to Mom until I've had my fill first."
Her glare was terrifyingly intense, unwavering. I nearly dropped to my knees again in shock.
"Even while you're banging Mom or any other woman, you'll always picture my face in your head. So strip. Or should I do it?"
She'd already shed all her clothes by then, still glaring at me fiercely. Meeting her eyes, I nodded and replied.
"I'll strip, and you can do whatever you want with me."
It was one of the few compensations I could offer her right now.