Devious Partner and a Strange Meeting...

Fran's agile body dashed across the village and vanished inside a small hut at the edge of the village. Her silhouette vanished behind the worn wooden door. Julian's gaze followed her, his focus sharpening—until Sena's voice slipped into his ear.

"Julian, shall we go upstairs? It seems you can lock the doors." 

"Huh—Yeah?"

The confused from seeing the same girl he met a few hours before, but now younger and scripted like a robot, and made him uncomfortable.

'Why does it irritate me so much?'

A soft touch brushed against his cheek.

He looked down at Sena, who glanced at him with concerned eyes, her big opal eyes glistening in the sunlight as she caressed his cheek.

"Are you sure that you're okay?"

Julian wrapped her hand around his, stroking her smooth skin. He elevated the corners of his lips and forced himself to smile. 

"Sorry, I was just thinking babe, shall we go see how you look in that outfit?"

"Hehe~ I would love to."

Sena's bright smile brimmed with energy, and her eyes glimmer as if soaking in his reaction.

When he smiled back, she gave a small, satisfied nod before tugging him up the stairs. Her little feet tapped lightly against the wood, and each step carried a weightless bounce.

Thud!

The door barely shut before she twisted her body—slamming both hands against his chest. Julian stumbled back, his shoulders hitting the door with a loud bang. Before he could react, her fingers slipped down, a quick flick—

Click!

The lock slid into place.

"Julian…" 

Her breath brushed against his ear, the warm, almost playful caress sending shivers down his spine. Sena smacked her lips, meeting his confused gaze. Slowly, her tongue traced her lips as her fingertip danced in the air, tracing runic patterns.

"What are you—Wow!" 

Light flickered, and in a blink, her clothes vanished, revealing smooth, fair skin and a toned, athletic figure.

"Do you like what you see?"

Julian's gaze fixed on her, eyes lingering, his wordless stare unbroken.

"Your eyes look so perverted red and bloodshot—like a hungry beast." 

Sena's voice, like a seductive dance, flowed between his ears as she stepped closer, her chest squished against his, the soft warmth of her breasts lingering on his exposed skin.

"Tell me." Her hushed purr sent a shiver through his mind.

As if possessed, his arms moved independently, wrapping around her body tightly. Their hearts, inches apart, drummed into an accelerating rhythm, meeting as one.

"I love it!"

Sena gasped as he effortlessly lifted her off the ground. Her eyes narrowed, and then a pair of silky, smooth black stockings appeared.

"Can we touch each other in the game?" She asked with a curious hum.

Sena locked her legs behind Julian's back for support while stroking his neck with her painted nails. He was having a hard time controlling himself while watching this bewitching beauty wrapped around him like a second set of clothing.

"I can feel you, against me. Hehe, this isn't normal, right?"

'When did Sena become so devilish?!' 

"You should calm down, we can do this later…" 

The flicker of silver glinted as her hair magically transformed. The black kanzashi was tied into a beautiful ponytail style, adorned with sparkling ornaments that made her even more enticing.

Sena's eyes narrowed, her lips curled into a smile, and then she tapped his nose with her finger as she whispered, "Is my sweet boyfriend blushing? How cute~"

His heart rate skyrocketed as he gazed into those opal gemstone eyes that seemed to sparkle at him from their proximity.

'So…fucking…tempting!'

He wished they were still on her bed as blood surged through his vein and a certain part before she leaned forward, and her fragrant breath blew down his neck.

"I'm delighted to see you like this. I dreamt about you and these things."

Her voice lowered to a hushed whisper.

"At night… on my bed." Sena's tone was laced with raw honesty and intimacy. Her eyes twinkled as she delicately cupped his cheek.

"I never imagined my cute girlfriend was so lewd."

Julian's rough grunt resounded from his tightened throat, swallowing hard. 

"Hmm~" Sena purred, teasingly drawing out her desired answer. Her finger gently caressed Julian's cheek before moving up to entangle itself in his silver locks.

"Are you mad?" Her breaths were shallow, each release brushing over his skin, electrifying nerves wherever it touched.

Sena's voice trembled slightly as she continued. "Next time, I won't let anyway interrupt us."

"Okay, stop playing and get dressed, little minx!"

Pah!

A quick swat on her butt left Sena writhing.

She hopped from his arms and wrapped herself in the black kimono, with a thin gap putting her milky thighs on display.

Julian's eyes narrowed as he nodded. "Really nice, let's go and kill some monsters."

"Hmph! I tried my best to follow that magazine, and you didn't push me down… such a cruel man!"

Despite the words leaving her mouth, her smile only widened further. As Julian reached for the doorknob, an overwhelming urge remained, but he resisted the desire. 'I shouldn't waste time on that right now.'

After stepping downstairs, Julian noticed Fran stood outside, across from the shop with a quest icon above her head, but the colour wasn't grey or golden like normal, but a distorted red and black, with cracks.

"Sena, follow me."

"I will." Her lovely lips pushed out, sulking with a bitter groan after he rejected her approach.

Julian, with rushed steps, approached the pink-haired female, her ears hidden, while wrapped in clothes head to toe, hiding her fur. 

'Well…'

He half expected her to greet him in her shy, introverted manner, but the mechanical voice made his lips tremble.

"Hello?"

"Greetings, Husband ♡ how can I help you?"

'That damned couple's nickname!'

Julian's cheeks became hot from Sena's chosen nickname for him.

The NPCs would refer to him as Player, Hero or the nickname randomly.

Once he spoke to the NPC, several boxes popped up. He could either tap the using his fingertip, answer aloud, or think of the answer he wanted. A mixture of those who wanted to role-play and those who just wanted to play.

'Maybe the goddess wanted to make this comfortable enough for everyone?'

'Accept Quest!'

[Please hand over spare meat and pelts to Fran to complete her task!]

Leonhardt didn't mind because he sold most and his gold wasn't an issue, thanks to buying Sena's full outfit. She wouldn't need new items for quite some time, and gear below level ten couldn't be put on the Real Money Auction house.

[…]

• Handed Fran 60 Monster Meat and 20 Panther Pelts! ♡

[◊ Fran Sakurapaw completed her quest! ♡ ◊]

"Huh?"

He peeked back, able to see Sena browsing the item shop.

Meanwhile, the broken screen that allowed him to communicate with Fran had vanished.

And for a moment, her eyes flickered… different from her NPC style, but the same pink shine as her real eyes, which reminded him of gemstones.

[Fran is receiving her rewards!]

[Synchronisation Activated: …0% …10% …20%]

[Synchronisation Halted, not enough contribution!]

He didn't understand the messages, but the moment the conversation ended, Fran gazed up at him and suddenly muttered in a soft, familiar voice.

"Julian…?"

"Eh?"

Though it only lasted a moment before she returned to her usual state, the message beneath her health bar now stated.

Fran Sakurapaw: Friendly in bright green letters.

'What does synchronisation mean?' 

Suddenly, another screen he saw in the nightmare world caused him to gasp as her attributes became visible to him.

[◊ Fran's Affection Level reached: Friendly! ◊]

• You can now view her attribute panel and request her support whenever logging into the game!

• Fran has gained the class Leporian Ranger (B+) Earlier than before!

Fran Sakurapaw • Leporian Ranger (B+)

• Level: 1

• HP: 20

• Attack: 4

• Defence: 2

• Speed: 3

• Magic: 1

• Total: 10

• Arcane Arrows: 1

A sudden pop-up with the voice of the goddess Solaria made Julian's eyes dizzy and prevented him from focusing.

He heard hundreds of voices speaking at once.

[◊ You have affected the Ebb and Flow of Fate! ◊]

• The Nightmare has deepened—All monsters strengthened

• The first Devil has noticed your existence…

• You have taken the first step to removing the system's limitations.

[◇ Kang Sena ◇]

• Attack Increased by 1

• Defence Increased by 1

• Speed Increased by 1

• Magic Increased by 1

[◇ Julian Pendragon ◇]

• Magic Increased by 2

[◇ Nocta ◇]

• Defence Increased by 3

[◇ Umbra ◇]

• Attack Increased by 1

• Speed Increased by 2

• May the light of Solaria guide you, Your Highness.