James let out a weak laugh and stopped when he saw that his mother was serious.
'Is she just messing with me? The only sister that seems to like me is Madeline and she seems too sweet to do something like that.'
James ran his hand through his hair and contemplated the situation. Today had not gone how he thought it would have. He expected a tearful reunion, not the cold indifference he received.
'I've never had a family before so I don't really know what's normal or not.'
His wandering mind kept going in circles until he just shoved it all to the side, intending to deal with it later.
'I'm used to not dealing with my problems, in fact I'm quite adept at running away from them...'
James turmoil turned to excitement as he remembered something important.
"Hey mom, when am I able to get a class? I hit level 10 the other day."
His mom dropped her fork this time and stared at him with blank eyes, the telltale sign of [Identify] being used.
"How did I not notice before… How in the goddess's name did you level up that much?! Why do you have this perk [Unblocked].. you didn't have that when you were born and what's with this skill [Entoxicating Scent] I've never heard of it. Explain!"
His mother had steel in her voice and James almost buckled under the pressure. Instead he hardened his will and defied her.
"That is none of your business. I asked you a question, now answer Lady Mallory."
James tried the only angle he knew that would hurt her.
Just as he predicted, his mom deflated.
"I'm sorry baby.. don't hate mommy again.. I was just worried about you…"
James didn't respond and gestured with his hand for her to answer his question.
"… since you have hit level 10 then you can just access class crystal and choose from the options."
*sigh* "I know that much. But where can I find one? Do I need to go back to Skythorn or something?"
"There's no need for that dear.. I have one in a room here, it's very handy for the new soldiers to have it close. If you want, we can head there after your sisters return."
"Thanks mom! You're the best!"
After getting what he wanted, James made sure to cheer his mother up.
'I'm not manipulative… I'm just good at tactical wordplay..'
Soon he heard three sets of plodding footsteps heading towards them. His sisters had returned with a deadly calm.
The look in each of their eyes was dangerous.
'Holy shit.. I don't think my mom was joking earlier..'
James had to stop whatever retribution they had just planned to carry out.
*cough* "Mother just told me something upsetting… my sweet and kind sisters. Please don't touch Violet.. if you do I'll hate you forever!"
James had used this line on his mom when she was refusing to apologize to Veronica. It looked just as effective as before.
Madeline stumbled out of her graceful walk and Clara stomped her foot in anger before hot tears rolled down her cheeks. Even Gwendolyn had an expression of shock cross into her impassive demeanor.
'I can't believe it… they were actually planning to kill Violet!? What the hell man, the hearts of these girls are too wicked!'
For the first time today Clara willing spoke to him.
"B-but brother! How can we let some conniving broad steal you away, we just got you back!"
She kept stomping around angrily.
'Uuuggh… is she a classic tsundere type..? That's the worst trope ever man…'
"She isn't stealing me away, I proposed to her."
'Accidentally…'
"B-but!"
Clara kept stammering and stuttering until James stood. He made his way over to her and gave her a hug.
"It's okay.. no one will ever be able to replace you girls."
His sister blushed deeply.
"I-I'm not happy about this or anything by the way!"
'Goddamnit.. total tsundere..'
James just played along, hoping to prevent the murder of his future fiancée.
"I know but.. my sister is too pretty and I just wanted to hug her."
"I-I guess I'm okay with you still being alive then!"
'What type of response is that.. this is why this trope sucks..'
James released her and walked over to the heartbroken Madeline.
"Sister.. you're prettier when you smile."
James hugged her as well.
Madeline wasn't as embarrassed as Clara but her mood improved dramatically.
"When did my little brother become such a smooth talker."
After he moved away from Madeline, James saw Gwendolyn pointing at herself.
'Is she saying she wants a compliment next? Her personality is a little.. different.'
He strode over and gave her a hug.
"And you as well Gwen, you're uh.. so.. dependable and whatnot.."
She seemed happy enough at this small praise and gave him another crocodile death roll hug of her own.
James was now a little dizzy from being swung around so many times. He regained his balance and directed his mother to lead him to the class crystal.
His sisters were even more shocked by his level than his mom was. They kept demanding explanations all the way to the far off room.
James only regaled them with the tale of the ogre fight and explained one of his perks helped him level a little faster than the average male.
They weren't satisfied with his answer, but James was firm in declining to explain further.
They approached a random door like any other in the hallway and his mother pushed it open.
Inside was a gleaming white crystal which was floating in the air a couple feet off the ground. Keeping it in place was a mass of chains anchored to the floor stretching up to a band around the center of the crystal, the chains were taught under the strain.
"All you need to do is place your hand in the crystal and the process should begin."
James walked forward warily, eyeing the glowing white gem. He placed a hand out tentatively and touched the crystal.
A jolt of electricity coursed through him, every nerve in his body alighted with fire. The feeling faded as soon as it began and a mechanical voice spoke into his mind.
(Class selection initiated…. checking compatibility… 10% complete… 45% complete… 80% complete… compatibility established)
James felt that same surge of electricity each time the progress went up. Then the voice came again.
(Please select a class)
1. Cum Dumpster
2. Prostitute
3. Stripper
4. Boy Toy
5. ….
6. …
7. …
….
James looked through the first twenty options and his mood turned extremely negative.
'WHAT THE HELL!? Is someone playing a cruel joke! What are these bogus class options… why would I choose [Slut] as a class.. what did I ever do to deserve this…'
James kept scrolling through until he reached about the 200th option where a normal sounding class was.
214. Night Worker
James focused on it to read the description of this cool sounding class.
[Class: Night Worker]
Description: Advanced form of [Prostitute]. Money earned from-
James immediately stopped reading and felt tears running down his cheeks.
'Why are there so many twisted classes… I would take anything that sounds remotely normal at this point.'
James kept up his never ending search until he found another promising name a while later.
742. Primal Mastery
[Class: Primal Mastery]
Description: Take control of your primal urges and dominate women-
'I'm going to break this stupid ass crystal'
James saw a couple other promising names but kept scrolling, he was unwillingly to be baited again.
Then the weird classes stopped and James started to see some normal classes finally.
But James kept looking because there was now something next to the classes he looked at.
1000. Weapon Master (Rare)
He madly scrolled down and saw the rare change into epic.
3000. Death Knight (Epic)
James felt himself get a little crazy with greed and wondered what rarity would be next. He did notice [Archmage] in this category with passing glance.
4500. Berserker of Destruction (Legendary)
James didn't event look at the class names as he kept scrolling. Finally he reached the bottom where a single class sat that immediately caught his eye.
5000. Skill Thief (Mythic)
James thought the name sounded somewhat familiar but he couldn't quite place his finger on it.
He then tried to read the description.
[Class: Skill Thief]
Description: (Information Hidden)
'This is a big gamble.. I could get a legendary class that I know will be good… buuuut i think it's pretty obvious that a mythic class is superior.'
James barely hesitated before choosing his class.
(You have selected class [Skill Thief])
Then the sprawling list of classes disappeared and James felt nauseous as a wave of vertigo hit him.
His mother leapt to his side and propped him up.
James looked around the room and saw his sisters had went to sleep on the floor. The already dark room was now pitch black with the only light source being the class crystal.
"H-how long was I selecting a class.."
"James dear, it's been about four hours since we've been in here."
His mother looked quite happy at this.
"Since it took so long to choose, I bet my baby had a bunch of classes to pick from. I guess you had at least seven to choose from. Is mommy right? Is mommy's son a genius!?"
'Seven options makes you a genius, I definitely can't say I had five thousand…'
His mother studied him and frowned slightly.
"What is [Skill Thief] I've never heard of this class before. Did it have a rarity next to it? You should know that mommy is actually a genius with a epic class."
'I can't say it was mythic either.. she'd never shut up about it.'
"Well uh.. it was legendary.. and I had about twenty options.."
'That should be enough to look awesome without causing a scene.'
His mother froze.
She went completely catatonic.
Then James was crushed into his mother.
"The Duchess's son is actually a genius.. no a genius among genius's.. he's so incredible.."
'Why is she always talking in the third person! Act normal woman!'
He noticed his sister's had been roused awake and soon they all smothered him.
They wanted to know what class their brother had and was shocked when their mother told them that he had a legendary class.
Clara forgot her tsundere act for a moment and jumped on him. Madeline stood to his side and grabbed his head, she kept kissing his forehead like a machine gun. Gwendolyn in another odd display of emotion grabbed one arm and shook it up and down violently.
After their loving abuse stopped, James was asked what his class did.
He then realized he didn't know him self and inspected his character sheet to find the description of his glorious class.
[Skill Thief]
Description: Steal one random skill at its current level per day and copy it during intercourse. Skill only activates when both parties climax. Skills stolen above level 10 threshold cannot be leveled manually, these skills can only be leveled through intercourse with someone of a higher skill level.
'…'
'…'
'I know why this class seems so familiar now… this is the very same class the hero had in Fractured Worlds…'
James couldn't believe he had tried to escape all the horny skills in the beginning just to pick one at the end.
'…'
'Why is this isekai so cruel~'