Creating a Familiar (3)

The moment the system message popped up, a strange sensation washed over my body. It felt like something invisible was wrapping around me, tightening, then loosening again. My vision blurred for a second before snapping back into focus.

Status window. Open it.

My charm stat had jumped again. Twenty-two. Even in this alternate Three Kingdoms world where every major historical figure had been reborn as a stunning beauty, that number was absurdly high. I could practically feel the subtle aura radiating from me, the kind that made people instinctively lower their eyes or shift uncomfortably in my presence.

But that wasn’t what mattered right now.

I turned my gaze to the small, trembling figure still kneeling before me in the dim storage room. The girl—no, the former spy who had tried to assassinate me just minutes ago—had her head pressed firmly against the cold floor. Her shoulders were shaking. Not from fear of death anymore, but from something far more profound.

Her mind had been rewritten. Completely. The Absolute Submission skill I’d activated through the system had burned away her original loyalties like dry leaves in a wildfire. In their place, an unshakable devotion to me had taken root. A devotion that would make her willing to tear out her own heart if I simply asked.

I crouched down and gently lifted her chin ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with two fingers. Her eyes, once sharp and calculating, now shimmered with pure, unfiltered adoration. Tears welled up and spilled down her flushed cheeks.

“Master…” she whispered, voice hoarse and trembling. “This worthless one… has finally realized her true purpose. Please… ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠use me however you wish.”

Her words sent a dark thrill racing through my veins. This was the power I had been given. The ability to take proud, dangerous women and turn them into something far more useful. Something that belonged only to me.

I activated the familiar creation window with a thought.

I didn’t hesitate.

“Bind.”

A brilliant violet light erupted between us. The girl gasped as glowing runes etched themselves across her skin, visible for only a moment before sinking beneath the surface. I felt a new connection form in my mind—like a thin but unbreakable silver thread linking our souls.

She collapsed forward, forehead once again touching the ground, body quivering with overwhelming ecstasy.

“Thank you… Master… This slave is now yours, body and soul, for all eternity…”

I watched her with a mixture of satisfaction and cold calculation. In this world of scheming warlords and beautiful heroines, having an invisible blade like her at my disposal would be invaluable. She had been trained by one of the major factions—probably one of the many powers trying to control the flow of the Three Kingdoms era. Now that loyalty belonged to me alone.

I helped her to her feet. Her legs were still shaky, but she clung to my arm like it was the only thing keeping her anchored to reality. Up close, I could see just how striking she was. Sharp fox-like eyes, pale skin, and a lithe body built for stealth and assassination. Perfect.

“From now on, your name is Yeon.”

She looked up at me with wet, shining eyes, as if I had just bestowed upon her the greatest honor in the world.

“Yeon… Yes, Master. This one is Yeon.”

I smiled faintly. The first piece of my harem—no, my arsenal—was now complete. But this was only the beginning. There were far greater beauties waiting out there. Women like Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan, all reimagined as breathtaking beauties in this twisted version of history. And I intended to claim every last one of them.

Using whatever means necessary.

I brushed a strand of hair from Yeon’s face and spoke softly.

“Your first order. Infiltrate your former organization and bring me every piece of information you can find about their plans for the upcoming campaign. Do not get caught. Do not fail.”

Her eyes burned with fanatical zeal.

“As you command, my Master. Your will is my only reason for existing.”

She bowed deeply once more, then melted into the shadows near the wall and disappeared without a sound. Even I, who had just bound her, could barely sense her presence now. Excellent.

I stood alone in the storage room, clenching and unclenching my fist as I felt the new power settling into my body. The system had given me a tool far more dangerous than mere military strength.

It had given me the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ability to rewrite hearts and minds.

And I was going to enjoy every second of it.

Outside, the distant sounds of the city drifted in—merchants shouting, horses neighing, the clatter of weapons being sharpened. The Three Kingdoms era was slowly waking up to a new threat.

Me.

I stepped out of the storage room with a dark smile playing on my lips. The real game was only just beginning.