Conquest Complete, So Why Is the Affection Dropping? - Chapter 74
[Marvis] has shared inventory access permissions.
Those who receive permission can freely access the inventory.
Do you accept?
Yes / No
When I clicked [Yes], a grid-like inventory window activated, and Marvis pulled out what looked like a piece of black fabric.
It appeared handkerchief-sized in his hand, but when he unfolded the thin fabric, it became large enough for me to wear.
A pitch-black dress.
It was the opposite color of my default white priestess robe. Looking at the design, while mine was sleeveless, this one that covered both shoulders and arms actually appeared more modest.
When I accepted the dress from Marvis, he turned around. It seemed he was being considerate so I could change comfortably.
‘I could equip it directly, but since my clothes are torn, this might be troublesome.’
Thanks to receiving the permission settings, a green square filled in at the corner of Marvis’s inventory window, and icons representing both the black dress he gave me and my white priestess robe appeared side by side.
When I deactivated the priestess robe and activated the black dress, my clothes changed automatically without having to change physically. It feels like I got a transformation item.
“This is fascinating. How did you know my size?”
“Well. Just eyeballed it?”
While most clothes fit me well enough, this was quite a tight design that would look awkward if it didn’t fit perfectly, but there were no such issues.
Probably because it’s clothing for the player in the game, it must be set to automatically adjust to body type.
Still, seeing it in person was amazing.
The black dress that fell just above the knees struck a perfect balance between playful and sexy.
The sleeves were made of semi-transparent mesh material, embroidered with elaborate lotus patterns, perhaps representing the underwater city.
The craftsmen of Niflheim have excellent skills.
“Are you done changing?”
Noticing the rustling had stopped, Marvis asked without turning around.
I was about to tell him I was done, but seeing his broad back before me suddenly made me feel playful. I silently approached Marvis from behind.
“Shin Joo-ah?”
Hearing my approaching footsteps, Marvis called out to me questioningly. Yet he still didn’t turn around. When I first met him, I really thought he was a playboy.
‘Surprisingly well-mannered.’
I giggled and stretched out both arms to suddenly hug his waist.
“Oh.”
Not expecting the sudden embrace, he took a small breath. I could feel his abs tense up through his clothes.
Hmm. The feel of his muscles is divine.
I wouldn’t have dared touch him so freely before, but after being intimate, my hesitation disappeared. We’ve had s*x, so he won’t mind me touching his waist, right?
“Did I surprise you? Hehe.”
I smiled brightly and looked up at Marvis while turning my head sideways. He started to unwrap my arms but stopped. I could hear the clock’s second hand ticking rapidly.
[Marvis]’s current affection level: 148
It seems this guy really is weak to aegyo after all.
After breaking through the limit, I can’t even guess how high his affection level might go.
“Marvis, your body’s really nice. How do you usually train?”
“……Want to know?”
“Huh? Eek!”
He easily undid my interlocked hands and suddenly scooped me up with one arm. His broad palm caught my bare feet that were flailing in the air.
I heard something click and looked down to see thin belts fastened around my ankles.
Mary Jane shoes in the same color as the dress. Even the cat ear headband was black – seems like today’s dress code is black. He’s a man with surprisingly firm tastes.
“You might hurt your feet if you walk barefoot.”
Wasn’t the possibility of me walking barefoot already eliminated when Marvis picked me up?
Instead of arguing, I wrapped my arms around Marvis’s shoulders and kissed near his eye.
Maybe it was because he treated me so tenderly, but even when he acted a bit forcefully, strangely, I didn’t feel like rejecting it.
I felt like I could play along with pretending to be lovers as much as he wanted.
Marvis walked slowly through the alley while carrying me. The dim streetlights grew distant, then close, then distant again repeatedly. Our shadows were deeply etched on the small brick walls, sometimes stretching long.
After passing through several intertwined alleys, we emerged onto a wide main street.
I know what lies at the end of this road. Marvis was taking me to his mansion.
We’ve confessed, we’ve had s*x, so our relationship is pretty much established.
Are we moving on to living together now?
“Marvis. Now……”
“Joo-ah. You like me, right?”
“……Yes.”
Interrupted by his question, I hesitated for a moment before nodding.
I don’t understand why he keeps asking for confirmation, even though I already said I liked him earlier. A man who repeatedly demands reassurance from the woman he loves isn’t attractive.
“Good. I finally got all three answers.”
“Huh?”
Clank.
When Marvis opened the iron door, an indoor garden filled with an overwhelmingly sweet fragrance spread before us.
Before, it had smelled heavily of damp moss and grass, but now it was full of red flowers.
“I’ll make you happy.”
Marvis whispered to me with a deep smile. Just as I was feeling dazed and enchanted, a translucent window appearing beside his face caught my attention.
[Marvis]’s route has been completed. Would you like to see the ending?
- View the ending.
- Continue the game.
- Exit the game.
To succeed in the conquest this quickly.
No, considering I nearly died twice before, maybe it’s not that quick?
‘Anyway, I’m glad Marvis’s route was comfortable and worry-free.’
It might seem too easy to see the ending now, but considering all the hardships before, this should be seen as receiving a proper reward rather than taking the easy way out.
Just as I was about to select option 1 with anticipation, I suddenly stopped. Soo-young’s words came to mind.
“Why do you think ‘Harem’ is in the title? It means simultaneous conquest is the lowest difficulty.”
In this playthrough, Marvis’s conquest was too easy. Although there were traps in the quests, I progressed smoothly without major complications. Maybe it was designed so that affection would rise easily with the right choices, given how low it started.
But I’ve finally hit a smooth progression. It seems a bit wasteful to see the ending right away.
‘It’s not like we’ve built up enough emotional narrative to whisper desperate words of love.’
Rather, this trouble-free progression without incidents might be the foundation for a harem route rather than a solo route.
A player of otome games must be ambitious.
Who knows when a new title will come out? It would be wrong to finish the game after conquering just a few characters that suit your taste.
Soo-young definitely said the harem route was the easiest to conquer. I’m not blinded by greed; I’m just trying to challenge the recommended easy mode as a beginner.
‘Since it’s come to this, I’ll conquer all four of them!’
Proudly clicking option 2, the window smoothly disappeared, and then with a ding, a bright red window popped up.
You have chosen to continue the game.
[Marvis]’s individual route will be permanently closed.
Bombs for all conquest targets will be activated.
What? Come again?
The permanent closure of the individual route was terrifying enough, but the sentence that followed was even more outrageous.
‘Bombs?’
The same ones that Cedric detonated and led to world destruction?
With trembling eyes, I hurriedly pulled up Marvis’s profile window.
[Marvis]’s current affection: 112
Time until next bomb: D-7
Not only did the affection drop without warning, but there’s even a bomb countdown.
‘What is this? Is this really supposed to be easier?’
I looked at Marvis with trembling eyes.
Is it just my imagination? The formerly benevolent look in Marvis’s eyes seemed to have lost its mercy. He always had a dangerous impression to begin with!
How on earth do I stop that bomb? If there’s any silver lining, it’s that we still have 7 days left. At least the world won’t suddenly end like in the previous playthrough. I decided to try soothing and coaxing Marvis first.
“Marvis, let’s go in. I’m tired.”
“Oh? You should work on building up your stamina.”
Though his response was still caring, it definitely felt different from before.
Is it because of the bomb? Is he also internally calculating something, steadily accumulating anger points?
Despite my uneasy feelings, Marvis led me to the bedroom with a playful smile. It was the same large bedroom he had shown me before. The furnishings that I had previously ruined seemed to have been replaced with new accessories I didn’t recognize.
‘He doesn’t seem angry about me stealing his belongings… right?’
As I watched Marvis carefully, he smiled and helped me sit on the bed.
“If you’re tired, I guess we can’t do more today.”
We could though!
…But I couldn’t bring myself to say that. No matter how shameless I am, it would be too much to take back what I just said.
I nodded regretfully while rolling my eyes to the side.
“That’s fine. It’s not like today is our only day.”
Marvis shrugged and gently bit my lip. A moist kiss without tongue. The way he sucked my lip briefly before pulling away made me feel even more frustrated.
Damn! If I hadn’t been so distracted by the bomb!
Though I clenched my fists in regret, getting swept up in desire might lead to another bad ending. I should first let Marvis sleep and then look for ways to handle this situation.
I waved goodbye to Marvis and lay straight down on the bed. I heard him leave and the door close completely. I immediately sat back up.
‘Status!’
As I internally shouted with the fury of a beast, translucent windows appeared before my eyes.
[Kaint]’s current affection: 0
Time until next bomb: D-30
[Hexion]’s current affection: 0
Time until next bomb: D-3
[Cedric]’s current affection: 0
Time until next bomb: D-1
…Is this actually a survival game disguised as a dating sim?
