59. Mission 4 Unlocked

Chapter 59: Mission 4 Unlocked

I was walking back to the Mikaelson Inn, the sun warm on my face and a satisfied grin plastered across mine. The day had been perfect—good food, a refreshing bath, and a successful round of errands. My pack was full, my cash reserves were still healthy, and I was feeling like myself again. Life was good.

And then, as if the universe couldn't let me have one damn day of peace, it happened.

A sudden chime echoed in my head, sharp and intrusive, like someone had dropped a bell down a well. I froze mid-step, my grin faltering as a familiar holographic screen materialized in front of my eyes. The screen was sleek, glowing with a faint blue light, and filled with text and graphics that made my stomach drop.

***---***

SYSTEM LOADING…

MISSION 4 UNLOCKED

***---***

The words flashed in bold, accompanied by a swirling graphic of a golden scroll unfurling. Below it, a table appeared, neatly organized but frustratingly vague.

Mission Title:

The Harem

Primary Objective:

Unknown

Secondary Objective:

Unknown

Reward:

Unknown

Bonus Reward:

Unknown

Condition for Completion:

Unknown

I stared at the screen, my jaw tightening as I read the words over and over. "The Harem"? What the hell kind of mission title was that? And why was everything unknown? This was supposed to be a system, not a damn riddle.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," I muttered under my breath, my good mood evaporating faster than a puddle in the desert. "What kind of bullshit is this?"

The screen didn't respond, of course. It just hovered there, taunting me with its cryptic nonsense. I clenched my fists, cursing the system in my mind. Of course it would drop this on me now, right when I was starting to feel good about things. Couldn't let me have one damn day of peace, could it?

But as much as I wanted to rage at the system, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity. "The Harem"? That title… it had a certain ring to it. A certain appeal. I smirked despite myself, my irritation momentarily overshadowed by the possibilities. Maybe this was one of those missions Kyle had mentioned—the kind that aligned with my desires rather than being some random, life-threatening ordeal.

I thought back to what Kyle had said about the system: "Some missions are tailored to your desires, Kaizen. Others… well, let's just say the system has its own agenda." This one felt… personal. Like it was for me. Or maybe for my own good, whatever that meant.

Still, the vagueness of it all was pissing me off. Unknown objectives? Unknown rewards? What kind of mission was this? I didn't like going into things blind, especially when the system was involved. It had a habit of throwing curveballs when I least expected them.

"Alright, system," I muttered under my breath, glaring at the holographic screen. "You want to play games? Fine. But if this turns into another near-death experience, I'm going to have some choice words for you."

The screen flickered, as If in response, before dissolving into thin air. I stood there for a moment, the weight of the new mission settling over me like a dark cloud. My good mood was officially ruined, but at least the mission title had potential. "The Harem," I repeated quietly, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. "I like the sound of that."

Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that this mission was going to be more complicated—and more dangerous—than it seemed. The system didn't do simple, and it sure as hell didn't do easy. But if this was one of those missions that aligned with my desires… well, maybe it would be worth it.

I shook my head, pushing the thoughts aside for now. Whatever this mission was, it could wait. For now, I had a bedroll to test out and a dinner to look forward to. The system could keep its secrets for a little while longer.

With that, I continued walking, the sun still shining overhead, but the day feeling just a little less perfect than it had before.

I pushed open the heavy wooden door of the Mikaelson Inn, the familiar scent of ale and roasted meat greeting me like an old friend. Mr. Mikaelson was behind the counter, his massive frame bent over as he polished a mug with a rag that looked like it had seen better days. He glanced up as I walked in, his dark eyes narrowing slightly.

"Back already?" he grumbled, his deep voice carrying across the room. "You're like a damn boomerang, Kaizen. Always coming back."

I smirked, slinging my pack off my shoulder and setting it down by the stairs. "What can I say? I missed your charming personality."

He snorted, shaking his head. "Don't push your luck, kid."

I was about to head upstairs when a voice called out from across the room, cutting through the low hum of conversation.

"Kaizen."

I turned to see Captain Alaric sitting at a table near the fireplace, a bottle of rum in front of him and a half-empty glass in his hand. He was alone, his usual hulking frame leaning back in the chair like he didn't have a care in the world. But the look in his eyes told a different story.

"Alaric," I said, walking over to his table. "Fancy seeing you here. Did you miss me that much?"

He smirked, gesturing to the chair across from him. "Sit down, Vale. You're making me nervous standing there like a lost puppy."

I rolled my eyes but took the seat anyway, leaning back and crossing my arms. "What do you want, Alaric? If this is about that time I borrowed your sword and didn't return it, I swear I'll get it back to you eventually."

He chuckled, pouring himself another glass of rum. "Relax, Kaizen. This isn't about your sticky fingers. I just wanted to talk."

"Talk?" I raised an eyebrow. "You? The man who communicates in grunts and glares? This should be interesting."

Alaric ignored my jab, his expression turning serious. "You've been making quite the name for yourself around town, Kaizen. People are talking."

"Oh?" I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. "And what are they saying?"

"That you're a reckless idiot with a death wish," he said bluntly. "But also that you get the job done. The Duchess's quest? That was no small feat. You handled yourself well."

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "It was nothing. Just another day in the life of Kaizen Vale."

Alaric snorted, taking a sip of his rum. "Modesty doesn't suit you, Kaizen. But I'll admit, you've got potential. That's why I recommended you for the Duchess's quest in the first place."

I raised my glass in a mock toast. "Well, thanks for that. The rewards were… useful. I owe you a drink for that."

He waved me off. "Forget the drink. I didn't call you over to reminisce. I need your help."

I frowned, leaning back in my chair. "My help? With what?"

Alaric set his glass down, his expression grim. "The Duchess is heading back to the capital in a few days. I'm assembling a team to escort her, and I want you on it."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Escort the Duchess? You mean the same escort Freya's taking?"

He nodded. "That's right. Freya's leading the guard detail, but I need someone with your… unique skill set to handle any unexpected threats."

I shook my head immediately. "No thanks. I just got back into town, and I'm not planning to take on any quests like that for a while. I want to enjoy my rewards, relax for a few days, and see if the guild has anything interesting for me. Until then, I'm not leaving Torak."

Alaric's jaw tightened, but he didn't push. Instead, he leaned forward, his voice low. "What if I doubled the pay? Tripled it? Quadrupled it?"

I froze, my hand halfway to picking up my pack. The offer was tempting, but something about the desperation in his voice set off alarm bells in my head. I turned back to him, my eyes narrowing.

"Captain," I said slowly, "I have enough money. You'll find that I'm not driven by a desire for coin. So tell me, why are you so desperate to have me join you? Torak is a frontier town with plenty of capable adventurers—men and women with more experience and strength than me. So I'll ask you again: why the desperation?"

The room fell silent, the other patrons turning to watch the exchange. Alaric didn't answer right away, his jaw working as he searched for the right words. But before he could speak, another voice cut through the tension.

"The desperation is coming from me."

I turned to see the Duchess standing in the doorway of the tavern, her presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. She was dressed in a flowing gown of deep blue, her golden hair shimmering in the firelight. Beside her stood Freya, her plate armor gleaming and her expression unreadable.

The room erupted Into whispers, but I barely noticed. My attention was fixed on the Duchess, her piercing gaze locking onto mine. Before I could say anything, another chime echoed in my head, and a holographic screen materialized in front of my eyes.

***---***

MISSION UPDATE

Mission Title:

Starting the Harem (New)

Primary Objective:

Have sexual intercourse with Freya Mikaelson

Secondary Objective:

Unknown

Reward:

5 Stat Points

Bonus Reward:

Unknown

Completion Condition:

Have sexual intercourse with Freya Mikaelson 5 times within a 210-hour window

Note: Mission can begin once secondary objective is unlocked

***---***

I stared at the screen, my jaw dropping as I read the words. "Have sexual intercourse with Freya Mikaelson"? *Five times*? What the hell kind of mission was this? My mind raced, a mix of disbelief and irritation bubbling up inside me.

"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered under my breath, my eyes flicking to Freya, who was standing beside the Duchess, completely unaware of the chaos unfolding in my head. "Stupid system," I cursed silently. "You really know how to ruin a good day."

The Duchess stepped forward, her voice cutting through my internal rant. "Kaizen Vale," she said, her tone calm but firm. "I need your help. Will you join us?"

I looked at her, then at Freya, then back at the holographic screen that was still hovering in front of me. This day had just gone from bad to worse, and I had a feeling it was only going to get more complicated from here.