She laughed. "Huh, what are you saying? Isn't he…."
Then she paused.
Her laughter died down, and she did something that would have made me punch her if it wasn't so damn amusing.
She started staring.
Not just a normal glance.
An up-and-down, repeated, drawn-out stare.
She did it again.
And again.
And each time, her face got paler.
It was quite entertaining.
'Is this some kind of compensation, admins?! First, it was Laura, now her!'
Did they think I was some simpy teenager?
Don't bullshit me!!!
Then, as if suddenly remembering something important, she turned abruptly and blurted, "Oh, I think my grandpa is calling me…. I should go!!!"
She spun around, trying to make a run for it.
I sighed, tilting my head.
"Wait."
She froze.
Her entire body tensed up, and I could almost hear the mental string of curses she was launching at herself.
I stepped forward, leaning in close, lowering my voice to a whisper.
"You didn't know, did you?"
She parted her lips, stumbling for an answer.
I didn't wait for her to compose herself.
I continued, voice still dangerously low.
"By the way, why were you trying to run away the moment you realized who I was?"
She hesitated.
Then, with a deep breath, she clenched her fists and answered.
"It was because of your reputation," she said.
A fierce, incompetent lord.
And.
A lecherous guy.
Who does unholy things to his maids.
...
I was bamboozled.
'What the fuck?!'
I could only stare at her for a moment, blinking in disbelief.
Those maids would do unholy things to me. Possibly a blood ritual or some kind of sacrifice.
Not… whatever the hell she was implying.
Nahh.
I liked my terror, but it was misdirected.
I was not some sex fiend asshole.
I was a torturing piece of shit.
That kind of tyrant.
I groaned, pressing my fingers against my forehead.
"I'm not some kind of sex demon. That's just a myth."
Her eyes lit up.
It was like she had found a loophole in a contract with the devil.
"So... that means you're not evil? People are just misunderstanding you?"
I laughed.
A deep, guttural laugh.
Louder than necessary.
"No! No!" I waved my hand, grinning. "Just the sex demon part is wrong. Everything else? Pretty on point."
Her hope shattered like a glass pane.
Gone.
I could see it in her eyes—whatever glimmer had been there was snuffed out immediately.
Hilarious.
I decided to push a little more.
I pointed towards the mutilated carcass of the giant spider.
"You saw our fight, didn't you?"
Her face brightened instantly.
"Yes! Yes! I really enjoyed how it slammed you into the wall—"
She stopped.
Realizing.
She had fucked up.
She stared at me, horrified.
I smirked.
Nice job, heroine.
A flickering bulb brightened in my mind.
'Hey, system. Aren't these heroines supposed to be not just generational beauties but also generational geniuses? What's her talent?'
[ System: Host, you are a piece of shit. Are you trying to corrupt a beautiful maiden? I will not tell you anything about her for her safety. ]
'I might consider the option of conquering beauties if you did tell me.'
[ System: I know that you are blatantly manipulating me. But when the price is so juicy, I can't help it. Fine!! I will tell you. ]
[ Motherly Love: Young ones cared for by the user have a drastic chance to be generational geniuses. They are very healthy and top of their species. This applies to different species of organisms, not just humans. ]
...
This was pretty… boring.
I don't need motherly love.
I need fatherly beating.
If she had been a seasoned fighter, I could have used her as a warrior to protect the miners.
Why can't a single good thing happen to me?
[ System: Luck stat = 7 ]
'Fuck you!!!'
I glanced back at the so-called heroine, whose expression now resembled someone who had lost all purpose in life.
Alright.
I had two ways to use this girl as an asset.
1. Use her as bait to lure in the hero and make him my sla—worker.
2. Find a way to exploit her abilities. The convenient way might be illegal—so corruption would be necessary.
Either way, I had to make sure she stayed in my sight.
And fortunately, she had already given me an excuse to confine her.
I grinned, eyes glinting with mischief.
"What's your name, girl?"
She looked like she wanted to dig a hole in the ground and disappear.
Like a goddamn ostrich.
Still, she spoke, though with much difficulty.
"Tauriel…"
…
Of course, it had some forestry meaning.
I wasn't gonna dwell on that.
Instead, I smirked.
"How do you like living in a castle?"
She spoke before she could stop herself.
"It's like a dream come true… oh… I get it."
Smart.
I like that.
"Yup. You're getting confined. It isn't a request or a gift. You're going to work for me from now on."
I said that with a smile.
Meanwhile, she lost all her color.
"You are a lecherous bastard…" she murmured.
I sighed.
"Don't worry about your old man. He'll be taken care of. I don't want anyone tarnishing my pride. That's why, as a security measure, I will confine you."
Her eyes welled up with tears.
"Please don't defile me. Nobody would take me as their wife then… sob… I promise I won't say anything about your fight."
…
'Why the fuck is she so fixated on that part?!'
I stared at her.
She had nothing else in that stupid brain of hers.
Like, torture for once?
Why is it always assault first?!
Groaning, I rubbed my temples.
"What is wrong with you? I won't touch you."
I paused.
"In that sense."
Then, I continued.
"But if you mess up a job I give you… then I'll beat you."
She gulped.
And that, my dear heroine, was your first job interview.