The First Target

In the middle of the night, Alaric was lying in bed, looking up at the ceiling as the events of the day whirled through his head like a tornado. It was more than enough to keep him wide awake due to the peculiar reality of his circumstances, which included his youthful physique, the memories of his previous life, and the unexpected purchase of the Harem God System among other things. A restful night's sleep was not an option.

'A system designed for seduction? What the hell am I supposed to do with that?' he thought, shifting under his blankets. Every time he tried to dismiss it, the mechanical voice of the system echoed in the back of his mind. It was real, and it wasn't going anywhere.

While moonlight was entering the room via the window, Alaric rolled over and stared out the window. While his thoughts were racing, a peculiar exhilaration started to take hold of him. Potential existed in this situation.

His family had fallen into disrepair; what had been a magnificent household was now little more than a semblance of its former splendor.

It was obvious that the Steeles were having a difficult time, despite the fact that his father, Victor, worked tirelessly throughout the day and night to maintain what was remained of their estates and enterprises.

The existence of farms, trading channels, and a few small businesses was sufficient to maintain survival, but it was not sufficient to prosper.

'If I can level up the system, maybe… just maybe…' Alaric's thoughts trailed off, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. He wasn't just thinking about wealth or status.

There was something deeper driving him. Power, control, influence—everything he lacked as a child but had tasted in his past life. This system could be his ticket to regaining it all, and maybe even more.

Nevertheless, he had to first find out how to make it function properly.

It was easy to understand the system's settings. It was necessary for him to entice women if he desired to acquire experience. Not just any woman, however; he had certain expectations.

The statistics of the system shed light on that as well. The higher the grade for their looks, the more appealing they were to him, and the better they were able to accommodate his specific tastes.

When Alaric considered it, he couldn't help but grin. He wasn't going to squander his time on unimportant people like that. Rather than that, he desired women that embodied his ideal profile: voluptuous, curvaceous, and possessing a physique that caused his heart to race and his mouth to moisten.

'If I'm going to do this, I need to find someone with an appearance rating of at least 80. Anything lower just won't do,' he mused.

But appearance wasn't the only factor. To make his life easier, the women needed to have low stats in other areas.

Personality under 10 meant they'd be easy to manipulate—docile, perhaps even a little naïve. Strength had to be low as well; he wasn't looking for a fighter.

Status? The lower, the better. Pride? Negligible. He needed someone who wouldn't question his advances, someone he could control.

In spite of the fact that it sounded icy and perhaps harsh, Alaric pushed off his feelings of remorse. Because these were the rules of the system, not his.

Simply put, he was playing the game that had been given to him.

Alaric got an early start the following morning he left.

The town that surrounded the Steele estate was buzzing with activity, and the streets were packed with that activity. The cobblestone streets were lined with market stalls, and sellers were present to advertise their products to anybody who happened to walk by.

As a result of the Steele family's fall from grace, the town itself became a mirror of that decline. There was a time when their name stood out in this place. They were now little more than a hazy recollection, a remnant of a time that had long since passed.

As Alaric made his way through the marketplace, his eyes swept over the throng, and his attention was split between concentrating on the people around him and concentrating on the marketplace itself.

He needed to exercise caution. His youth was a strength and a weakness, depending on how you look at it.

A seven-year-old child, on the one hand, would not be suspected of anything by anyone.

On the other hand, he would need to be delicate in his approach to ladies who meet his requirements.

When he was thinking, he was suddenly confronted with the same mechanical voice that was in his brain.

[Scanning potential targets…]

The attention of Alaric's gaze was drawn to a woman who was standing close to a fruit vendor.

Her hair was long and black, and she had a slim frame. She was in her twenties, maybe in the middle of her twenties.

Despite the fact that his pulse raced for a little while, the system swiftly displayed her statistics

[Appearance: 65

Personality: 42

Strength: 30

Status: 50

Pride: 70]

Alaric wrinkled his nose. 'Nah, not even close,' he thought, moving on. He needed something better—someone who really fit his preferences.

The next few women he saw didn't fare much better.

One was too strong, another had way too much pride. Alaric felt a twinge of frustration creeping in. How was he supposed to level up if he couldn't even find the right target?

A moment later, when he was on the verge of giving up, he came upon her.

His attention was quickly drawn to a young woman who was standing close to a little kiosk that was selling herbs.

As seen by the tattered clothes she wore and the exhausted expression on her face, she was not wealthy, yet she was very lovely.

The woman had long black hair, broad hips, and large breasts that appeared to be straining against the modest dress she was wearing.

The curves of her body were the sort that alarmed Alaric and caused his heart to accelerate. This was the end. She was flawless in every way.

The system chimed in.

[Appearance: 85

Personality: 9

Strength: 5

Status: 10

Pride: 8]

Alaric grinned. 'Bingo.'

Her low status made her an ideal target. She wouldn't question his intentions, not if he approached her the right way. And her personality score? Practically a pushover. Everything was lining up perfectly.

He licked his lips and took a deep breath, preparing himself for the approach. Although he was flooded with ideas, he managed to maintain his composure.

He had grown up and was no longer a child. He had the mental capacity of a 23-year-old, and he was well-versed in the rules of this game.

Attempting to appear as unassuming as possible, Alaric approached the woman and stepped up to her.

It was unnecessary for him to give the impression of being menacing; he was just a nice, innocent youngster with a little bit of charm.

As he approached closer, she looked down at him with a grin that was warm and maternal growing across her face.

"Oh, aren't you adorable?" she cooed, leaning down slightly to get a better look at him.

When Alaric finally caught a glimpse of her chest, the gentle swell of her breasts was tantalizingly close. This caused his pulse to skip a beat. He almost lost focus, but quickly snapped himself out of it. 'Focus, Alaric,' he reminded himself.

"I'm Alaric," he said, his voice as innocent as he could make it. "I live just up the hill at the Steele estate."

Her eyes widened slightly at the mention of the estate. "Oh, the Steeles? I didn't think they had such a cute child."

With a shy look on his face, Alaric shrugged his shoulders. "Thanks. It's just that I am their only child and I get really bored because my father's really busy, so I'm just wandering around town today. What's your name?"

"Kara," she replied, her smile never fading. "What are you doing all alone, Alaric? Shouldn't you be with your parents?"

Alaric tilted his head, feigning a bit of sadness. "My dad's always working. He's really busy running the businesses. And my mom… she doesn't really have time for me either."

Kara's eyes softened, and she knelt down to his level, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Oh, you poor thing. That must be hard."

Alaric's grin widened inside. She was falling for it. This was too easy. He leaned in slightly, trying to seem even more vulnerable.

"It's okay," he said softly. "But… you're really nice. Can I stay with you for a bit?"

She laughed, ruffling his hair. "Of course, you can. You're too cute to say no to."

'Perfect,' Alaric thought, watching as Kara straightened up. He had her right where he wanted her. Now it was time to test the system.

[Would you like to use Wink of Flirtation on Kara?]

'Yes.'

An attempt was made by Alaric to maintain a face that was as innocent as possible as he offered her his best wink.

Kara's eyes widened in astonishment, and she appeared to be perplexed for a brief minute.

On the other hand, rather than perceiving him as a child who was flirting, she smiled and drew him into a loving hug, pressing her enormous breasts against his face.

"You're so cute!" she giggled. "Are you trying to flirt with me?"

It seemed as though Alaric was in heaven. She had a soft, warm, and voluptuous figure in all the right ways, and her body was all he had envisioned from her. Although he was having a hard time keeping his calm, he was aware that he needed to play this correctly.

"I just thought you were really pretty," he said, his voice muffled against her chest.

Kara blushed slightly, clearly flattered. "Well, aren't you the sweetest?"

In response to her decision to release him, Alaric took a few steps back, his pulse racing with excitement. Although the outcome was not precisely what he had anticipated, the skill had been successful. Once more, the system made its input.

[Experience gained: +10]

Although it wasn't much, it was a good beginning.

While Alaric was looking up at her, his mind was already working out what his next move would be. Because it was evident that she was destitute, he was able to use that fact to his advantage.

Additionally, he needed to keep her around since she was someone he could exploit to advance his level. One of the best ways to do this would be to give her a job that would keep her close to him.

"Kara," he began, his voice as sweet as honey, "I know you're busy, but… would you like to work for me? My family has a big house, and I know my dad's always looking for new staff. You'd get paid really well."

"Work for you?" Kara repeated, clearly taken aback by the sudden offer. She glanced around, as if unsure of whether he was serious, then back at Alaric. Her expression softened into a thoughtful smile. "That's a kind offer, Alaric, but I don't know if I'm really qualified for something like that."

However, despite the fact that Alaric could see the hesitancy in her eyes, he continued. It was clear to him that the hook had already been set; all that remained was for him to successfully entice her.

"Don't worry about qualifications," Alaric said with a disarming smile. "We're not looking for anything fancy. Just someone who can help out around the house. I'm sure you'll be perfect. And… you could really help me too. It gets kinda lonely up there."

Kara looked down at him again, her expression softening even more. She seemed to be weighing her options, glancing toward the stall where she had been working. The vendor she worked for didn't seem to be paying her much mind, busy haggling with a customer. Alaric knew she was likely underpaid and struggling to make ends meet.

"Do you really think I'd be able to work at a noble estate?" she asked, her voice quieter now, as if she didn't want to get her hopes up.

Alaric gave a firm nod, stepping closer to her. "I know you could. Besides, I think you'd like it there. It's a nice place, and… you'd get to spend more time with me."

Kara chuckled, shaking her head at the innocence of his words. "You're too sweet, Alaric. How could I say no to that face?"

Once more, she leaned down and softly ruffled his hair with her fingers. Alaric was filled with joy as he realized that he had been successful. As a result of his success in securing his first target, the system would reward him for his efforts.

"Well," Kara sighed, "I suppose I could come by and talk to your father about it. But don't get your hopes up, alright? I'm not making any promises."

Alaric's heart raced. He didn't need promises right now. He just needed her there, in his home, where he could take his time leveling up his skills. "You'll see. It'll be great. We'll have lots of fun together."

Kara smiled warmly, clearly charmed by the young boy's enthusiasm. "Alright then, Alaric. I'll think about it."

At the end of the talk, Alaric felt a subtle sensation of victory. As Kara made her way back to her stall, Alaric took a step back, his thoughts racing with the various choices that were available to him. While the experience gained from the Wink of Flirtation was a very little win, it did demonstrate one significant thing: it was successful. All that was required of him at this point was to continue accumulating experience and leveling up.

During his stroll across the town, Alaric allowed his thoughts to wander while he went about his business.

His thoughts were preoccupied with the system and what was to come, despite the fact that the streets were bustling with activity. He still had a lot of things to sort out, including the more practical issues of living his double life.

Even though he was just seven years old physically, he was an entirely different person intellectually.

'This system is going to change everything,' he thought, his eyes scanning the crowds around him. 'But I have to be smart about it. No one can know what I'm really up to.'

Along the way, he went by a few more women, and each time he did so, he gave each of them a fleeting glance to see whether or not they fulfilled his requirements.

After using the system for a few brief moments, he came to the conclusion that none of them were worth his attention.

In spite of the fact that he could have been able to earn experience from inferior targets, Alaric was not interested in wasting time on anything that was less than ideal. Their appearance ratings were far lower than they should have been.

He did not have to wait long until he found himself back at the estate, which was a magnificent but aged house that towered over the scenery that around it.

Although the mansion was stunning in its own right, it was patently obvious that it had seen better days.

There were areas of the gardens that had become overgrown, and the stone walls showed the marks of time. The gardens had been beautifully kept in the past.

It was the sight of his father's office door being securely shut that attracted Alaric's attention as he approached the estate.

Alaric Steele's father, Victor Steele, was a strict individual who was also diligent yet aloof.

The majority of his time was spent managing the enterprises that belonged to the family, and he had very little time for either Alaric or Lyra.

In a number of respects, Alaric had resentment toward him for that, but he also saw that Victor was making every effort to prevent their family from slipping into total and utter disaster.

'Father's too busy to notice anything I'm up to,' Alaric thought with a smirk. 'That works to my advantage.'

He proceeded through the corridors, passing a few servants who nodded politely as he headed to the library.

Among the few locations on the estate where Alaric could feel fully at peace, the library was one of those places.

It was stuffed with old grimoires, which were evidence of the more affluent times in the Steele family's history.

Despite the fact that some of the volumes were so old that even Alaric had difficulties interpreting them, they were packed with information that may provide him with an advantage.

As Alaric entered the room, which was only faintly lighted, he took a quick look about to ensure that there was no one else present.

Especially when it came to the magic grimoires, he needed to exercise extreme caution.

Despite the fact that his mother, Lyra, had always tried to dissuade him from investigating the darker arts, Alaric was unable to resist.

One other method to acquire power was via the use of magic, and he was not going to allow anybody stop him from doing so.

After removing a grimoire that was unusually weathered from one of the shelves, he sat down on a huge chair that was covered in dust and placed it near the window.

The pages of the book had yellowed with age, yet the mystical symbols contained inside were as clear as they had been for centuries.

With his eyes searching for anything that may be of use, Alaric turned the pages of the book.

'I wonder if there's magic in here that can complement the system,' he mused, running his fingers over the symbols. 'If I can combine the two… I might be unstoppable.'

The concept piqued his interest.

There is a possibility that he might level up the system even more quickly if he were to discover spells that either boosted his charm or made it simpler for him to control other people. In the meantime, however, it was all theor

. The situation required him to proceed in a step-by-step manner.

As he continued to read through the grimoire, the sun began to fall, which resulted in the library being filled with lengthy shadows.

In his mind, Alaric couldn't help but keep coming back to Kara. Although she had been a nice beginning, he needed more from her.

Being able to level up rapidly with just one lady was not going to be enough.

In accordance with the requirements of the system, he need a harem.

Finding the appropriate targets, however, was a challenge. As he sat back on the chair, Alaric was contemplating something deeply.

Because of his taste for voluptuous women who had an attractiveness rating of at least 80, it was difficult to locate applicants who were acceptable for the position.

The majority of the females his age did not fulfill those requirements, and despite the fact that he had the ability to effortlessly charm them, he was just not interested in them.

'No, I need real women,' he thought with a determined look. 'Women who fit my type. They have to be gorgeous, and they have to have low stats in the other areas. Personality, strength, status… those need to be low. That's the only way I can succeed.'

His thoughts returned to the streets of the town as he closed the grimoire, and he found himself transported back there.

Kara was not the only woman who had a poor status and little to no dignity; there had to be other ladies like her.

Those who were destitute and financially disadvantaged were the easiest to influence. Furthermore, if they were also stunning, it was an added bonus to the whole thing.

While Alaric was standing up and putting the grimoire back on the shelf, he couldn't help but smile to himself.

The day had been fruitful, but it was just the beginning of the possibilities. He was going to be able to accomplish his ambitious goals with the assistance of the system.

When he goes back to town the next day, he would look for other ladies to seduce.

He had covered just a small portion of the ground, and there remained a great deal more experience for him to acquire.

Alaric was aware that it was only a matter of time until he reached the next level of this Harem God System, given that Kara had the potential to become a maid and that the system was on his side.