A Useful Shop

Ardor smiled, his emotionless part feeling something new.

"You're my personal slave, so you don't care about them. But if any of them heard this, though…"

He went towards her, pinched both her cheeks and pulled them away. Her cute face looked comical and cuter. "You cheeky brat! Control your tongue! What if they heard you? What will you do then?"

Jeanne knew she was in the wrong, but didn't want to admit it. She stepped back, breaking free of Ardor's clutches, and puffed up her chest with a pout. "I'm not a brat anymore! Look at this! I'm 16 today and ready to get married!"

Ardor stared at them intensely. He automatically ignored her face turning red and noted a few points. 'Melons, no, they're watermelons! How can this small body even lift them? She's just about 160 cm‌! Hmm… I cannot deny she's not a brat anymore.'

But he wasn't backing down. "Who'll marry you? Look at you! You still look like a kid!"

Jeanne felt offended. She pointed at him. "There'll be a line of people waiting to marry me! You'll see!"

"Not if I stop them first! You seem to forget you're my slave! And you shall do what your master says!" He playfully knocked her head and went inside his bedroom to change.

She faked being in pain and held her head while sneaking a glance at him from between her fingers. With a soft exclamation of 'yes,' she hurriedly presented Ardor with dinner, which he ate with relish in the dining room.

He didn't mind her behavior as he knew why she did that; she wanted to cheer him up, and it worked.

'To think I was lucky enough to have someone so wonderful, but went after someone who never loved me back…' Ardor thought with regret.

How he wished he didn't waste all that time on her and instead focused on the one he already had. 'But… I think she was a minor back then, but now she's not.' Ardor didn't feel upset at the thought.

Once done with his food, he called Jeanne to stand in front of him, which she immediately obeyed.

He walked around her and nodded from time to time. Jeanne felt déjà vu in this situation, but couldn't remember the memory that felt familiar.

He finally stood in front of her. Looking down at her face, he started asking questions in rapid fire. "Who are you?"

"I am Jeanne Shadow."

"Who do you belong to?"

"My master, Ardor Flame."

"If he wanted you dead, would you be willing?"

"Yes, without a second thought!"

"If he wanted you to kill someone, would you be willing?"

"Yes, tell me the target!"

"If he wanted you to be his lover, would you be willing?"

"Yes, definite… what?" Jeanne stepped back in shock. Her eyes opened wide, and her mouth went round as she stared at him in astonishment.

Ardor nodded in delight. "Okay, now you're my lover, you agreed to it. Let's do what lovers do."

"But, wait, what? What is going on? You tricked me!" Jeanne almost shouted, still confused. Her face went beet red as she realized what she had just agreed to, and what he just said.

"No buts." Ardor swiftly picked her up and carried her all the way to his bedroom. Along the way, he designated her as his Temporary Harem Member.

She strongly protested by shaking her legs, and hitting him with her pale arms. But it was just symbolic, as she didn't put any strength in them. Ardor took that as a sign of her silent agreement and inwardly smiled in joy.

'Finally, there's someone willing to love me back! I'll love you with all my heart!' he thought with glee.

Soon, there was a small cry of pain, and then moans resounded in the silent night. The pair happily played like the new lovers they were and soon slept in each other's embrace in bliss. Just before sleeping, Ardor heard a new notification that made him grin.

[Ding!]

[Mission 1 Accomplished!]

[The rewards have been distributed.]

…

Ardor woke up as the sun's rays reached his room. He had never felt so relaxed before and saw the room was clean, except for the bed with a stain. He remembered completing his mission.

Ardor thought of Lust Points and noticed the updated value beside it.

[Lust Points: 100

Logs:

Base LP = 0

Mission 1 Reward = +100]

Ardor saw Jeanne's name under Harem, and saw that the Shop was now accessible. With a single thought, he selected it and a new interface appeared, with items arranged from the cheapest to the most expensive organized in different categories.

[Unranked Shop]

'There're skills mainly based around manipulating carnal desires, items to use on partners and enemies, consumables that have potions with temporary effect and the more expensive permanent effects and a Custom option to create almost anything with Lust Points. Sweet!'

But as one would expect, the more useful something was, the more lust points he had to spend to buy it.

'100 isn't nearly enough!'

He first looked at the Custom option.

[Custom-Made Items

Use: You can create anything physical with a blueprint and anything else you can imagine at the cost of your LPs.

Restriction 1: Your duration in the Custom Creation Room depends on your mental strength.

Restriction 2: You cannot bring something that'll cost more than your balance LPs into existence.

Restriction 3: Anything you create can be normally devoured to get a full refund of LPs, including items invested or sacrificed. But any normal item you buy from the Store will only give you 90% of its LPs upon devouring it.

Note: Special things can be added with your LPs to bring about unexpected effects.

Remarks: The world is your oyster with this one.]

He then went through the Items section and looked at Consumables. One by one, devious ideas filled his mind. 'Isabella and Edgar, you have no idea what's coming at you.'

"First, let's get stronger!"

With the hint of 'magical' in his MHS, Ardor had a faint idea that there was a bigger world beyond the warrior one he knew. But until he could explore it, it was best to get stronger with what was available at hand.

He rang the bell on his bedside, and within a few minutes, Jeanne came in with her maid clothes. "Why do you wear those every day?" He remembered seeing her wardrobe filled with them.

"What do you expect me to wear to work? A strapless bra with panties?" she replied with little thought, only to regret it immediately.

As expected, Ardor seized the chance. With a profound look on his face, he rubbed his non-existent beard and looked at her figure. "I clearly think, no, I know it's a great idea! Why don't you wear them from today?"

He didn't know why, but the suppressed thoughts he had long hidden inside him began leaving the confines of his mind once he replaced Isabella's figure with Jeanne's.

Jeanne fumbled with her words for a bit, then instantly responded with a smirk, "So… so you want me to wear this to work with other maids? With all your cousins, those young masters, uncles and-"

"Enough!" Ardor stopped her. Even the thought of it annoyed him. "Keep wearing this, then. When I get my own place…" He grinned.

She understood what he meant, but didn't mind it. She could be shameless, careless, ruthless, or anything else, but only for him. After giving him her mind and body, he at least deserved that much, she mused.

"So, how strong are you?" Ardor got to the main point. In a world where might made right, he wanted more of that might. The situation of weakness in front of Edgar had clearly proven that. Having the blessing helped, but he wanted to know if he had a head start.

Jeanne looked genuinely confused. "What do you mean?"

Ardor was slightly annoyed. "Don't you know there are Apprentice Warriors, Warriors and Seasoned Warriors in our Kingdom of Zoran? How strong are you?"

Jeanne had an enlightened look on her face. "Oh! I thought you were talking about the bed." She tapped her chin and cutely said, "Outside, I'm just a mortal like you!" Before Ardor could express his disappointment, she continued, "But on the bed I'm a Seasoned Warrior!"

Ardor could only hold his forehead. 'So, she's just a pretty flower vase? I guess I'll have to start from zero then.'

He had never realized how low he was in the hierarchy of this world until he finally looked at the real world and the powers controlling it.

"Really?" He grinned. "I guess I can test some new moves on you!"

Jeanne subconsciously took a step back, then felt ashamed of herself. She mentally cheered herself up. "You were lucky yesterday! We'll see who submits first!" She was not going down without a fight!

Ardor smirked as he entered his Shop and bought a useful skill.

[Skill: Pleasure Fingers

Type: Passive (on/off)

Description: Your fingers are now enhanced to bring more pleasure to your partner.

Remarks: Based on how you use it, your partner can experience heaven or hell.

Cost: 10 LP]

It hurt his heart to spend 10% of his wealth, but he knew he could regain them with his Daily Missions. It was just beside the [Missions] tab on his system interface.

[Daily Missions]

[Make a woman release her essence without penetration = 1 LP/release (repeatable)]

[Get a hand/melon/mouth/foot job from a woman and release your essence = 1 LP/release (limit of 5 per day)]

[Mate with a woman from the front and make her release her essence = 2 LP/release (limit of 10 per day)]

[Mate with a woman from the back and make her release her essence = 2 LP/release (limit of 10 per day)]

[Note: Permanent Harem members can provide twice the reward for the same daily missions.]