NOVEL WEB Chapter 3: The lewd task
The old man, Jakens, wasn't exactly the warmest person I'd ever met. His gruff demeanor and sharp tongue made it clear that he wasn't thrilled about having me around. But despite his cold exterior, he had accepted me into his home, and for a 13-year-old kid with nowhere else to go, that was more than enough. I didn't need his affection, just a roof over my head and a chance to grow stronger.
The first day with him was uneventful. He didn't train me or teach me anything about cultivation. Instead, he took me to Judíos, the nearby town, to show me around and gather supplies. Judíos was a bustling place, filled with merchants, adventurers, and townsfolk going about their daily lives. The streets were lined with colorful stalls selling everything from fresh produce to enchanted trinkets. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meats and the sound of lively chatter.
"We're here to get supplies and foodstuffs. Don't get lost. You can take a walk around the town, but be back soon," Jakens said before disappearing into the crowd, leaving me to explore on my own.
I wandered through the town, marveling at its vibrancy. The architecture was a mix of medieval and fantastical, with stone buildings adorned with intricate carvings and glowing runes. I almost got carried away several times, distracted by the sights and sounds. But just as I was about to lose myself in the town's charm, the system chimed in.
[Ding! First task: Touch two or three female breasts within 24 hours.
Reward: You can gain the powers of your past life with an additional surprise reward.]
I froze in my tracks, staring at the translucent screen that had materialized in front of me. My heart raced as I processed the absurdity of the task.
The task was clearly lewd and morally questionable, but the rewards were too tempting to ignore. Gaining the powers of my past life would give me a significant advantage in this world, and the additional surprise reward could be something equally valuable. But how could I possibly complete such a task without getting into trouble?
An idea popped into my head.
As if reading my thoughts, the system chimed in again.
[System: The system can only help or give you a hint once while completing your task.
Here's a hint: "Why don't you go forward in time with your time cultivation and look older?"]
I needed to talk to Jakens before attempting anything. The system's timer was already ticking, and I had less than 24 hours to complete the task.
[Ding! 23:34:20 remaining.]
I quickly marked the locations of a few brothels I spotted during my walk and headed back to Jakens' home. The old man wasn't there yet, so I sat outside, waiting for him and contemplating my next move.
"System," I called out, breaking the silence.
[Yes? How may I assist you?] the mechanical voice responded.
"Why didn't you just heal me and help me defeat those so-called heroes when I was in danger?" I asked, my voice tinged with frustration.
[Host's body and soul were badly damaged and needed a replacement. Healing you at that moment would have been futile,] the system explained.
I was about to ask another question when Jakens finally returned.
"Oh, who are you, sonny?" he asked, squinting at me as if he didn't recognize me.
"Seriously, old man?" I replied, frustrated. This was the fourth time he'd pretended not to know me, and it was starting to get on my nerves.
"Oh, you're back, sonny," he said, finally acknowledging me. "How's Judíos treating you?"
"It's… normal. I've seen better places," I lied, trying to hide my amazement.
"Oh, I see. Why didn't you go to those places, then? Why come here?" he retorted sarcastically.
I ignored his jab and got straight to the point. "Old man, I have a question. Can someone change their appearance with time magic? Or make only themselves go forward in time while keeping time around them the same?"
Jakens sat down on a bench nearby and stared into the forest, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, it's possible, but it requires the utmost concentration. Even the slightest mistake could mix up time lapses and create an alternate timeline for yourself."
His words sent a chill down my spine. Clearly, this wasn't something to be taken lightly. But I didn't have a choice. I needed to complete the system's task, and this was the only way.
"Thanks," I said, standing up and walking away.
"Don't go too far, sonny. Be back before nightfall, or you'll have to sleep outside," Jakens called after me.
---
I made my way to a secluded waterfall near Jakens' home. The sound of rushing water filled the air, creating a serene atmosphere. I stood there, staring at my reflection in the water, and called out to the system.
"System, can you keep time sacred and prevent me from creating any alternate realities or messing up time?"
[Yes. Would you like to activate it? The first try of every skill is free. Subsequent attempts require you to complete tasks.]
"Activate," I said firmly.
[Roger! Skill activated. Free trial remaining for this skill: zero (0).]
I took a deep breath and focused on speeding up time around me while keeping the environment unchanged. Slowly, I felt my body begin to age. My limbs grew longer, my muscles filled out, and my face matured. But I overshot it, and for a moment, I looked like an old man.
"Shit!" I cursed under my breath, quickly reversing the process until I reached the right age. I stared at my reflection in the water, now looking like a young man in his early twenties.
"Now it's time to get my old cultivation back," I muttered, a smile spreading across my face.
[Ding! 4:01:13 remaining.]
I hurried back to Judíos, my heart pounding with anticipation. I went straight to the brothel I had marked earlier. The bouncer at the door didn't even ask for identification, simply nodding as I walked in.
The interior was lavish, with dim lighting and plush furnishings. The air was thick with the scent of perfume and alcohol. Women of all shapes and sizes lounged around, their seductive gazes locking onto me as I entered.
"Sir, would you like some company?" a nude woman approached me, her hand trailing down my chest.
"I just want to touch those breasts of yours," I said bluntly, my voice steady.
She blinked in surprise. "Are you sure that's all you want?"
"Yes, that's all," I replied.
She shrugged. "Well, okay then. You can touch them as much as you want, sir."
I took my time, marveling at the softness of her skin. "Are you new here?" I asked, curious.
"Uh… yes, it's my first time doing something like this," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.
"How about you come with me?" I suggested, feeling a strange sense of protectiveness toward her.
"But sir, this is the only way I can pay off my debt," she said, her eyes downcast.
"I'll pay it off for you. Just stop indulging in these kinds of acts," I said firmly.
She looked at me with wide eyes, as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Sure, but I have to work tonight. It's part of the contract, or I'll have to pay a huge fine."
"Fine by me, but you're coming with me," I insisted.
She hesitated, then nodded. "Sir, why are you being so kind to me? Do you want me as a private sex slave?"
"No-" I started to say, but the system chimed in again.
[Ding! 2:20:34 remaining.]
"Go get your things and get dressed. I'll explain everything along the way," I said.
She hurried off, and while she was gone, I completed the task with another woman.
As I was leaving, I spotted the Sword Hero walking down the street. He didn't recognize me, of course, but I couldn't resist testing him. I whispered the name I had in my past life: "Helen Phil."
He turned sharply, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the crowd. I smirked and walked away, feeling a surge of satisfaction.
---
As we walked back to her house to pay off her debt, the system chimed again.
[Ding! Task completed! Congratulations! Rewards received.]
A bright green glow enveloped my body, signaling the return of my healing powers.
"Succeeded," I whispered, a grin spreading across my face.
[Extra reward: Pervert.
You have the ability to make anyone horny or sexually attracted to you.]
"Wow, nice!" I exclaimed, unable to hide my excitement.
The woman, Jessica, stared at me in confusion. "You can't see the system?" I asked.
"What system?" she replied, her brow furrowed.
[Only time cultivators have the ability to see the Pleasure System.]
"I did notice you glowing. What was that about?" she asked.
"Oh, that was just my cultivation," I said, brushing it off. I didn't want to explain my time cultivation to her, so I quickly changed the subject.
We reached her house, and I paid off her debt, along with an extra month's rent. Jakens wouldn't let her stay with us, but I made sure she had a place to live.
"See you tomorrow, then," I said, waving as I disappeared into the night.
"Thank you! Safe journey back!" she called after me, her smile radiant.
I smiled back, feeling a sense of accomplishment. The task was complete, and I had gained new powers. But this was only the beginning. There was still so much to learn, so much to achieve.