Conquest Complete, So Why Is the Affection Dropping?

“Their direct approach to the temple shows they’re done with playing games. With the Divine Master present, there’s no need for others to shed blood.”

A summoned beast with pitch-black wings was seen cutting through the air. Someone was riding on it. Given its notably larger size compared to other summons, it was likely the leader of the invading Demon Race.

I was certain. This was a kidnapping event that often occurred in the previous game. Here, the story would branch depending on whether I get captured by that man or not.

“Shin Joo, get down!”

“Hexion, I said it’s dangerous!”

I became desperate. How could he run so fast through such a dense crowd? Just as I tried to find words to stop him, my vision was filled with black feathers.

Flap!

“Eek!”

“Coming out defenseless without guards – is this a silent protest asking to be kidnapped? Thanks for the consideration.”

A metallic-tinged deep voice. Before I could see his face, a thick arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me in.

“Whoa!”

“Don’t struggle. You’ll only hurt yourself if you fall.”

As the man lifted me up, black wings fluttered before my eyes and soared fiercely into the sky again. With pressure pulling at my ears, the suffocating temple that felt like a prison quickly shrank to the size of a toy.

“Shin Joo!”

Hexion’s voice rang out loudly. For some reason, my chest ached. Was it from guilt? I squeezed my eyes shut and held my breath. It felt like a heavy weight had settled on my chest.

“You’ve become quite docile now that we’re far away. Did you hate the temple that much?”

I had suspected it since he invaded the temple as soon as the portal opened, but judging by his personality of speaking informally at first meeting, he seemed like trouble.

“Excuse me. What are you saying after kidnapping someone out of nowhere?”

I was about to lecture him about whether the Demon Race had no manners, but I froze.

‘Holy s**t.’

Flowing ash-gray hair, crimson eyes symbolizing the Demon Race, deep features with a confident expression.

‘And that incredible chest that seems to be the source of his confidence…!’

Perhaps because he was of the Demon Race and human moral concepts didn’t apply, the man had his front completely exposed.

‘They said this was an all-ages game, but they put in a walking R-rated character as a romance target?’

While Hexion’s chest was impressive too, there was definitely a different destructive power between a body hidden by armor and one displaying raw beauty.

It wasn’t just firm – it was filled with elastic muscles, thick enough to be obscene. If not for the system’s censorship, I would have administered the punishment of touching it with both hands.

With nowhere else to look, I was staring blankly at his chest when a warning window appeared.

Name: Marvis Age: About 150 years Height: 188cm Leader of the Dark City Niflheim. A hybrid of Demon Race and human, he considers himself Demon Race but can’t shake off his fascination with humans. Long-time friends with his summoned beast Dig. Affection: -3

“Why are you staring? Have you fallen for me?”

His skill at flirting with a smirk despite the negative affection rating was remarkable.

Honestly, he was so much my type that I almost said yes. The red affection rating displayed in minus saved my last bit of reason.

“No.”

If he’s speaking informally first, I have no reason to be polite.

While I would naturally respect someone older, when they’re 150 years old, they don’t really feel like an elder anymore. It just feels like a fantasy.

“I was thinking you’re arrogant and rude.”

“…”

“Invading without a declaration of war, threatening people with summons, kidnapping the Divine Manager. Seems like the Demon Race doesn’t think about even the basics of negotiation.”

“Puhaha!”

Marvis burst into loud laughter. Despite my deliberate sarcasm, his hearty laugh was pleasant to hear, without a trace of offense.

‘I might have misunderstood if the affection wasn’t negative.’

By the way, I didn’t know negative affection existed. I thought 0 was the lowest, but what does a negative rating mean?

[Marvis]’s current affection: -3

That level of affection where, after watching you slip on ice, he’d purposely stumble too, only to recover smoothly and flash you a reassuring thumbs up.

What a useless and nonsensical affection description. Why give a thumbs up? Is he trying to mock someone?

“Name. What should I call you?”

After informal speech comes introductions? Anyone watching would think we’re friends setting off on an adventure rather than kidnapper and victim.

“You really are rude, aren’t you?”

“My name is Marvis.”

“Are you even listening to me?”

“I may be arrogant and rude, but I’m not deaf.”

His skill at giving back what he receives is remarkable too. While he doesn’t seem gentle-natured, just his way of speaking shows he’s not ordinary. He’s still smiling even though his affection is below rock bottom.

“…Shin Joo-ah.”

I just answered straightforwardly. There was no point in being stubborn and provoking this opponent.

“Shin Joo-ah. Sounds like someone born to become Divine Master.”

While it’s true according to the game setting that the player was created to become Divine Master, reality is the opposite. My birth registration was way earlier than the previous game’s release date.

But since I couldn’t say such things, I responded rather coolly.

“The divine proxy is the savior of destruction. I might have a destined name.”

“You certainly look like someone who would bring destruction.”

“What?”

“If the world wasn’t going to be destroyed, there’d be no reason for a divine proxy to come as savior, right?”

“…”

Setting up a world on the brink of destruction is the quickest and easiest way to position the player as a savior.

So in a way, the interpretation that the ‘savior’ brings about the ‘world’s destruction’ isn’t wrong.

“What’s wrong with my face?”

Aren’t I pretty enough? Though maybe not to the ultra-handsome romance targets, but I’ve never been lacking in looks throughout my life.

Plus, my makeup turned out well today and even raised my reputation!

“Because you’re too beautiful.”

“…!”

I almost bit my tongue, momentarily speechless.

What’s he trying to do? Flirting?

As I gaped wordlessly, Marvis stared at me intently and pulled my waist even closer.

Only then did I realize I was still in this man’s arms.

“L-let go.”

“You’ll fall if I do.”

With the protagonist buff, I wouldn’t fall even if he let go.

…But it was certainly high up.

A bit scared, I felt around the mass of black feathers carrying us on its back.

‘Is this the summoned beast friend?’

It looked huge from afar, but up close, the bird was the size of a house. If I hadn’t seen it flying, I might have thought I was sitting on a feather carpet.

“Shin Joo-ah, why did you let yourself get captured by me?”

“What are you saying? You kidnapped me.”

“Didn’t you want to be kidnapped? You deliberately lured me.”

“That was to prevent others from being sacrificed…”

“That wasn’t such a noble purpose. Don’t make excuses.”

He’s sharper than I expected. Maybe being of the Demon Race gives him the ability to see through human desires.

“I just… wanted to break free for a while.”

While it’s true I wanted to protect people, I also wanted to leave the temple.

Rather than wanting to escape the temple, I wanted to run away from Hexion. I was curious about him but also scared to face him.

That’s how big the shock from that time with Hexion was. If someone asked what I meant since Hexion only served me and I was the one who thoroughly enjoyed it, I would have no answer.

“Hmm, breaking free.”

The arm around my waist moved up to my shoulder, then pulled my chin. I tried to ask what he was doing but couldn’t. The words I was about to speak were swallowed by his lips.

“Like this?”

“W-what are you…”

“When breaking free from the ascetic temple, isn’t this what you mean?”

“No, it’s not!”

I quickly pressed the back of my hand against my lips and turned away.

Was that just a kiss? It was a kiss even though there was no tongue, right? Was this my first kiss since entering this game? I hadn’t even kissed Hexion!

Only after rubbing my lips until they hurt did I realize I’d missed the timing to get angry. Perhaps because it happened so suddenly, I surprisingly didn’t feel disgusted or embarrassed.

“I meant I wanted to leave the temple. Since I, as Divine Master, couldn’t leave the temple on my own.”

The temple priests were anxious about me leaving the temple, and Hexion disliked me relying on people outside the temple.

Perhaps the system knew I would have difficulty taking actions that went against their will and prepared for this forced event.

To give me justification.

‘In a way, you could say I used Marvis.’

Though I didn’t know he’d be this type of character.

I didn’t know he’d have this kind of body either.

“That’s quite a tame rebellion. Wouldn’t it be better to think bigger?”

“Being kidnapped by the Demon Race is already a huge incident.”

“Haha! I suppose that’s true.”

Marvis laughed heartily. His laugh alone was otherworldly pleasant.

“What about you then, what are you planning to do after kidnapping me?”

The Demon Race and humans don’t get along. While I don’t know the reason since it’s just the default setting, it made sense that similar but different races living together couldn’t get along well. Even among humans, neighboring countries typically hate each other intensely.

But there’s no particular reason to kidnap the Divine Master, right? It’s not like they’re invading because they need Demon Race territory.

“Originally, I was planning to kill you.”

My spine went cold for a moment.

‘I thought there weren’t any dead endings… Could there be one?’