Conquest Complete, So Why Is the Affection Dropping?

I quickly checked Hexion’s affection window.

[Hexion]’s current affection: 64 It was definitely 77 before. What did I do to make it suddenly drop by 13? Did I do something disrespectful that damaged the temple’s image?

‘I can’t think of anything.’

As I tilted my head and turned my gaze to Kaint, his status window activated next to his handsome face.

Name: Kaint Age: 21 Height: 192cm Naval Admiral who protects the west and south of the continent. Blessed with victory, he never loses in any battlefield as long as God exists in this world. Due to his awkwardness with women, he has never been close to the opposite s*x privately. Affection: 10

‘Affection is only 10…’ Hexion started at 55, so this is quite a shocking number. Or was Hexion’s unusually high? Judging by how he freely offered his hand to me, he doesn’t seem to find my existence unpleasant, but I’m not sure what emotion corresponds to an affection of 10.

[Kaint]’s current affection: 10 The level of affection where he would look at you with pity if you prick yourself while sewing, but wouldn’t make fun of you.

‘…Isn’t this contempt rather than affection?’

Even Hexion, who had high initial affection and whose numbers jumped quickly, hasn’t developed romantic feelings yet. I can’t even imagine how long it would take to romance Kaint.

‘Isn’t there a way to raise affection quickly? I wish I could make in-app purchases.’

As soon as I thought that, a random advertisement popup appeared.

+＄New★☆EXP★☆Patch＄+ ~ Affection ②x Reward ~ Quick♥♡Affection♥♡Progress! Reach♨Ending♨Fast♬ ↘↘↘Discount Now↘↘↘ 129,900 won ☞☞ 99,900 won! (23:59:59 until discount ends)

‘…Thought it was spam.’

This is getting more ridiculous. Selling affection points is funny enough, but why is this the only thing in cash instead of gold?

‘Do they really think anyone would spend real money on affection points in a dating game!’

I was just lamenting, not actually wanting to spend money to raise affection. How would that be any different from exploiting bugs or using cheat keys? I’ll have you know I’m the type who collects all endings through persistent grinding.

So don’t tempt me and begone, you evil system!

‘Besides, it’s not like there’s absolutely no way to win him over.’

I stared at the text in Kaint’s profile.

Due to his awkwardness with women, he has never been close to the opposite s*x privately.

When a game character has the setting of ‘being awkward with women,’ it’s rarely without reason. Usually, it’s followed by a backstory of being badly hurt by someone of the opposite s*x.

“Because he has difficulty with women, he’s never been close to the opposite s*x privately.”

For game characters, the setting of ‘having difficulty with women’ rarely comes without reason. It’s usually followed by a backstory of being severely hurt by someone of the opposite s*x in the past.

If he has no dating experience, the one who created his negative experience with the opposite s*x was likely a family member. Like a mother or sister.

‘In these cases, the standard approach is to start off as friends without being conscious of gender, and then develop romantic awareness while helping heal their trauma.’

Now that I had an idea of how to approach him, I felt more at ease. I should start by being his teatime friend.

“Admiral. Since you’re at the temple, I’d like to serve you some tea.”

“You mean personally, Divine Master?”

He blinked in slight surprise, then smiled with narrowed eyes.

What a heart-stopping smile. This crazy younger man is bewitching me.

“I apologize, but I must decline. I have matters to finish at the military headquarters.”

Kaint rejected me cleanly without a hint of hesitation. My ambitious first step in winning him over crumbled pathetically.

Still, he must have felt bad about rejecting my offer since his affection went up by 1.

[Kaint]’s current affection: 11 The level of affection where he’d look at you pitifully while sewing and hand you a bandaid.

Though he’s become slightly more favorable, that makes it even more oddly irritating?

Besides, why does it keep using sewing examples? Do I have any reason to sew? Should I have started a embroidery club instead of offering tea?

“I didn’t expect Divine Master to extend such an invitation. I’m grateful for the thought.”

Kaint said this while smiling with narrowed eyes again. My heart started doing cartwheels on its own.

Look at how he bewitches me with those cunning eyes. If I don’t quickly throw him onto my bed and sentence him to be a slave to pleasure, the foundations of the state won’t stand firm.

For the sake of world peace and my mental stability, I need to raise his affection quickly.

+＄New★☆EXP★☆Patch＄+ ~ Affection ②x Reward ~

No, you stay out of this.

“Um, Admiral. Then next time…”

[Hexion]’s affection has decreased! Current affection: 39

At the sudden system message, I bit my tongue.

Why does Hexion’s affection keep dropping while I’m talking to Kaint?

It even dropped by 25 at once. Isn’t it too easy to decrease when it’s so hard to increase?

Could it be a bug? If not…

‘Could Hexion dislike Kaint?’

While most dating simulation games only have events between the player and capture targets, there are occasionally games where you need to consider the compatibility between capture targets.

For example, if you call two men who get along well and trigger an event simultaneously, the affection increases more, but if you call two who don’t get along, the same event might receive an affection debuff.

‘Anyway, now that Kaint has expressed his refusal, it wouldn’t be good to keep pestering him.’

Though I’m not one to talk after being clingy with Hexion, you need a basic level of affection before having the courage to try.

Besides, Hexion’s affection is dropping too rapidly right now. Since you never know what might happen, if I’m not planning to go all-in on capturing Kaint right now, I need to pay attention to Hexion’s affection too.

“That’s too bad. See you next time then, Admiral.”

When I sent Kaint off with a smile, he returned a polite bow with a smiling face and turned away.

The tense atmosphere among the knights dissipated like a lie the moment Kaint left through the temple doors. Seems they were also tired from being tense the whole time.

Wondering if Hexion was okay now that Kaint had left, I looked at him, but he turned his head away like he was avoiding eye contact. Though his expression remained blank, his complexion seemed somehow dark.

‘Do they really not get along? Must have been something between them in the past.’

Come to think of it, I’ve only been thinking about seducing Hexion all this time, without trying to learn any information about him. It’s hard to understand Hexion’s characteristics with just what the system has shown me.

I dusted off the hand that had shaken Kaint’s and approached Hexion.

“Hexion.”

“Yes, Shin Joo.”

“Something seems wrong. Your expression is bad.”

At my words, Hexion’s body stiffened for a moment, then he quickly composed his expression and answered with downcast eyes.

“I’m in perfect condition. Shin Joo need not worry.”

“Are you really okay?”

“I’m fine, Shin Joo.”

“Would you like some tea too?”

“I’m fi… Pardon?”

Hexion stopped mid-mechanical response and asked back. Whatever the response, getting an answer is my victory.

“Since you’re fine, let’s have some tea.”

“Wait, Shin Joo…”

“Don’t you want to talk with me?”

“…No, that’s not it.”

I brought Hexion into the prayer room. I chose this place because it was closer than my room, but considering Kaint was supposed to pray here, the prayer room was decorated more nicely than usual.

After washing my hands with the holy water placed on the altar beneath the small window, Hexion also washed his hands and sat facing me.

“Hexion. Are you perhaps angry with me?”

“How could that be possible?”

Hexion answered firmly. His voice still resonates beautifully. Looking at his expression alone, he seems to have not even a hint of dissatisfaction, but I can see Hexion’s affection level.

To think it would drop from 77 to 39 in an instant. The drop is more dizzying than stocks or cryptocurrency.

“Then Hexion, are you angry with the Admiral?”

“…”

His face hardened, probably not expecting me to ask such a question.

I used to think he was just expressionless, but maybe it’s because I’ve been seeing him up close. Now I can distinguish what expressions he makes when he’s flustered or reluctant.

Right now, Hexion was… troubled.

“The Admiral protected the Holy City’s residents by winning the naval battle. I was just expressing my gratitude for that.”

“Protecting the sea is the Admiral’s natural duty. It’s not something that deserves the Divine Master’s praise.”

As I thought, it was because of Kaint.

Since Hexion is also a Holy Knight of the temple, is he trying to check the Admiral’s influence?

“There’s no reason for people with the same goal of protecting the Holy City’s residents to keep their distance. There’s nothing wrong with relying on the Admiral.”

The temple’s wariness of the Admiral must be some kind of power struggle. Sorry, but I have no intention of joining someone else’s power struggle where I have nothing to gain.

No, maybe I shouldn’t call it someone else’s place when I’m staying at the temple. But it’s not exactly my home either.

There are too many restrictions here. Like in the previous game, I’ll probably be able to create a base outside the temple this time too. Then this place will truly become someone else’s house.

“So Hexion too…”

“Isn’t it enough for Shin Joo to rely on just me?”

Hexion cut off my words with this question.