And How Do I Explain This?

I feel a smile tug at my lips as Jilly darts down the hall. It does my heart good to see someone so innocent. After all, I first became aware of this world in a secret lab designed to make automaton sex workers. Hopefully, I've left a good impression on Jilly that not every male is a sex-crazed monster.

My smile becomes brittle when I notice a mound of fabric on the floor near the door. I look down and realize I'd dropped the blanket and was sporting a raging hard-on. Sorry, Jilly, I guess I didn't leave a good impression after all.

[It was certainly a lasting impression]

What was that, Alexa?

[Congratulations! The host has unlocked the Title System.]

[The host has gained the Title 'Not a Scumbag']

...

[...]

You're just making fun of me now, aren't you?

[It was a valiant effort host and based on good intentions.]

I don't feel not doing something scummy is a valid reason for a reward. Is this a reward? This is just a joke, right? I'm falling for some trick of your newly developing personality, right?

[The Title System and the acquired Title are both genuine rewards, host. The acquired Title increases the host's resistance to coercive effects that would cause the host to violate their moral code.]

I have a moral code?

[Yes, host.]

Do I know what it is?

[That would require more self-awareness host.]

Oh. I frowned at that but decided to let it drop. Alexa was developing a somewhat sarcastic personality. This did not bode well for my future.

I kick the blanket out of the way and close the door. Using the basin and pitcher of water, I clean up and put back on my clothes. I need to get a few new sets, but I'm on a budget. Money is tight and I need to prioritize cash flow and leveling. Especially leveling; the System Store probably has a lot of useful things in it besides the Class Tokens and Name Change.

It's not that the Name Change is the most important thing. I could always make up a name to tell people; it's just that I hate seeing it there in my Status. Imagine if your name was an acronym that included a phrase that was meant to describe you, but didn't. Like, if your name was Jenn and you found out it was an acronym for Jizz Eating Naughty Nurse, you'd probably want to change it. It's inaccurate. I mean, if you're not a nurse anyway.

Downstairs I pay the innkeeper a small silver to reserve the room for the remainder of the week and sit down to breakfast. Hannah has a mischievous smile on her face and brings me out a plate that looks much more appealing than the bowl of slop from the night before.

"So what happened with Jilly? I asked her to bring the plate out to you, and she turned bright red and ran away," she asked.

I rubbed at the back of my head and grimaced. "She sort of banged her head and ended up getting an eyeful more than she expected."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, the blanket fell off while I was helping her. I was more concerned about her at the time and didn't notice the light and airy feeling caressing my nethers."

"Pfft. Poor girl must be traumatized. You could club a goblin to death with that thing," she said, barely restraining her chuckles.

I frowned. "I feel bad enough already. She probably thinks I'm some sort of sexual predator."

Hannah patted my shoulder. "I doubt that. I think the worst thing is that she now has an unreasonable expectation that will probably lead her to disappointment with her future lover."

"What about you? Have I led you to unreasonable expectations of future lovers?" I ask with a teasing smirk.

"Ha. While I'm not the most experienced pussy cat, I am well enough aware of what I can expect of a lover. You are merely a pleasant surprise. Besides, this town is predominately human. Most humans stick with other humans around here. They still think of Zoikoi as a slave race barely more than animals."

"Are you serious? But- you're gorgeous and witty and..." I was utterly incredulous; how anyone could think of her as lesser was beyond me.

She smiled a sparkle of affection in her eye. "You're sweet, but changing prejudice is a long process, and I don't expect it to come too soon. Some highly regarded adventurers are doing a great deal to show that we are not the chattel they once thought we were."

"Oh, that reminds me. I have a few questions I hope you have the answer to. I need to earn some coin while I'm in this town, and I don't want to step on any toes. Do you have some time later?"

"I should be free after the lunch rush for a couple of hours before I start dinner, but if it's nothing too involved and you don't mind keeping me company, I can work and talk at the same time. I'm multitalented like that."

Keeping her company while she sweats over a hot stove while wearing an apron sounded like a great way to spend the morning.

"That sounds great. I wouldn't be opposed to helping out either. I mean you are helping me, I feel it's only fair to return the favor, right?"

"Alright, sounds like a fair trade. Eat your breakfast and meet me in the kitchen after. I'll let Baird know to let you back."

Baird was the large man behind the bar that polished glasses with a dirty rag. His actual job was as a bouncer, but that was a rare occurrence, and he liked feeling useful. Not the sharpest knife, but a good guy overall.

Hannah was in the kitchen bent over in front of the stove, adjusting the wood inside. I paused to appreciate the view of her firm posterior and adorably twitching tail. It was a rump worth admiring. Then Hannah did something that truly surprised me. She held her hand aloft, and a ball of flame appeared she tossed the flaming ball into the over and a whoosh of fire lit up the inside.

"You know magic?" I asked, genuinely shocked.

She jumped a little bit. She looked back with a clouded expression which cleared once she saw who it was behind her. She smiled. "You scared me. I didn't realize anyone was behind me."

"Whoops. Sorry about that, I was just surprised you could do magic."

She pointed at her hair with an awkward shrug. "It's not much considering I have a Mana Affinity with fire."

"What's a Mana Affinity?"

"Just what it sounds like, mana can be aspected towards a given element or property. Mine works best with fire magic and such," she said with a shrug.

"That's pretty cool."

She scrunched up her face, bemused by my fanboying. "Even though I only use it for cooking?"

I snorted. "It's your magic to use as you see fit. Who the Hell am I or anyone else to tell you how best to use it?"

She smiled, but her eyes dulled. I frowned. "Do you want to talk about it?"

She took a breath, broadened her smile, and blinked a few times to shake the melancholy off. "There's not a lot to talk about really," she said, though that was a lie. "I wasn't always a cook. I used to be a guild certified adventurer. Worked with a good group, eventually made B rank out of Jager House, and got cocky." Her eyes went dull again, then dark. "Took a mission that was beyond us..."

She went quiet for a while before jerking herself out of her past. "Healing magic is pretty good. It can clean up almost everything as long as you survive long enough for it to take effect... Anyway, after that, I retired and came to help Holly run this place, and the rest is history."

She tried to smile and lost it quickly. "You- You didn't come back here for my story, though. You have questions and-"

I took two steps and pulled her into my arms. You don't need the details to know someone is hurting. You don't need sage-like advice or to try to solve their problem. Sometimes you just need to let them know someone cares. Sometimes, that's enough.

She stayed in my arms for a couple of minutes while she composed herself while I just tried to exude a feeling of care and concern. You don't want to try to analyze someone else's trauma. Unless you are a professional, it's just presumptuous. Even if you are a professional, unless they request it, it would still be presumptuous.

She stepped back after a moment and cleared her throat. "Alright, enough living in the past for me. So, how can I help?"

She was bright and focused; her pain locked back inside. I raised a hand and extended a finger, no, not that one. "First question. Is there anything like a massage parlor in the city?"

She frowned, thinking. "Do brothels count?"

"Maybe. I'm thinking more for therapeutic for sore muscles after a hard day's work than a sensual or erotic massage, though I'm a fair hand at both. Do the brothels offer services like that?"

She shrugged. "Not generally, but there are some that don't know the difference. Are you trying to avoid conflict with them?"

"That would be ideal," I said. "I need to make some money, and I'd like to leave town for a while. That's difficult without cash or ability. Ability takes time while cash can depend on how hard I work."

"How good are you?" she said with an eyebrow arched.

"Want to find out?" Is sounded like a challenge, but really, I have no idea how I'd stack up against the rest of the crowd. I was at Intermediate rank, but what the Hell does that mean? It's not like I went to college and studied massage therapy or something. It was programmed in.

"Not a bad idea, but not me. Are you okay with male clients?"

"If it's therapy and not sex, fine." I meant that too. I almost felt like a professional.

"Alright, let's test that," she said with an evil glint. "Baird, come here," she called out.

The burly man lumbered in. "Yes, Miss Hannah?"

"You still got that bad shoulder?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Alright. Have a seat. This fine gentleman is a masseur. Maybe he can help you out."

He frowned a bit. "You mean like Katie over at Miss Sarah's place?"

She laughed. "No. Not like that. This is the kind that helps with pain, not with pleasure."

"Oh. Alright then," he said and sat down at the heavy wooden table. I shrugged and stood behind him.

[Quest activated. Help Baird overcome his shoulder injury.

Reward for Success: +2 VIT and WIS, <Restricted>

Penalty for Failure: <Restricted>]

Well, guess I don't have a choice now.

"Answer the following. Which shoulder hurts? How does it hurt? How did you hurt it?"

Thirty minutes later, Baird was singing my praises. Before he could lift his arm above his shoulder, now he had a full range of motion. It was ridiculous, honestly. There is little of my memory other than vague feelings and the occasional pop trivia nonsense, but even still, I'm reasonably sure that one massage therapy session isn't enough to fix anything never mind a damaged rotator cuff.

[Quest Complete. Congratulations, you have been rewarded with a plus two to VIT and WIS and gained the Ability Magic Fingers.]

[System Initializing Status]

Name: <S.A.B.L.E.>

Titles: <Not a Scumbag>

Race: <Biological Automaton>

Class: <Gigolo Lvl 2>

Experience: <80/250>

STR: 11

VIT: 13 Increase!

AGI: 11

WIS: 13 Increase!

INT: 11

CHA: 11 Increase!

PER: 10 new!

MP: 80/130

SP: 80/130

Abilities: <Integration> <Mana Absorption> <Mana Control> <Charm> <Magic Fingers>new!

Skills: [REDACTED] <Hand-to-Hand Combat: Dagger: Basic>new!

Hey, Alexa. What did I spend MP on? I assume SP was spent due to the physical activity of the massage. Also, what does 'Magic Fingers' do? I feel like I have a good idea, but I want to confirm the exact effects.

[MP was spent during the massage to stimulate the body's natural healing abilities allowing the damaged portion of the subject's body to repair itself.

The 'Magic Fingers' Ability grants the user greater control over their MP allowing them to channel MP directly into a target's body to stimulate them in many ways. The most common way is for healing purposes, but I am sure the host can recognize other ways to stimulate a body. Additionally, the name 'Magic Fingers' is a misnomer as any direct contact may be used to trigger the effect regardless of which part of the body is touching the intended target.]

Nice!

[...]