[Magic shop has been updated.]
[System regulation completed.]
[Would you like to access the magic shop?]
'No.'
Ash pulled off his top and found himself seated at the corner of the tent, a loud sigh escaping his mouth.
Seated there, he could hear the voices of Echidna and Kelvin approaching the tent, probably because Aisha had invited them to have some more food.
He could also hear them asking and wondering where he had gone, but Ash was not the slightest bit interested in seeing them.
So instead, he ignored their voices and laid flat on the ground.
'People who are clingy seriously piss me off. Take a hint already. Ah, hold on… thinking of hints, I never really got the gist of how to use the points to upgrade Aisha, right, System?'
Asking this, he noticed the system glitched back online.
[Would you like me to explain the upgrading method?]
'Yes.'
Though the growing noise from outside was starting to mess with his concentration, Ash willingly chose to ignore it for now. Then the system proceeded.
[The slave enhancement works as follows. First, you must confirm if said slave already has your sigil, as seen with your first slave, Aisha.
Secondly, an intimate bond between you and your slave must be made in order for the ritual to take place. During said ritual, you will pour as much mana as you can into her, which will then be transferred to her sigil and used as a means of power-up when activated.]
Ash's eyes narrowed a bit.
"So you're saying I have to have sex with her?"
[That is correct.]
Ash sighed once again.
'I should have expected something like this. It's not like I can just make this decision by myself; things are different now. Besides…'
He sat upright, his expression hardening.
'As much as I want my revenge against those bastards, I also want her to get hers as well. Nothing hurts more than losing twice to the fucker you wanted to get your revenge on. I can't let that happen. She needs to be stronger.'
So, Ash stood up from where he was lying down and slowly began to approach the entrance of the tent.
As soon as he was out—
Baam!
He slammed his chest right into Echidna's head.
"Ow!"
Echidna was soon seen falling to the ground, her hands holding her hurting head.
Kelvin stared with confusion, wondering what Echidna was doing all the way over there, while Aisha quickly dropped her food to attend to her master.
Ash, on the other hand, locked his dark gaze on Echidna for a while.
He was sure she was peeping into the tent, but he couldn't prove it.
His hunter's instinct hadn't flared up, so there was little chance she was any threat.
"Master, I thought you went to sleep." Aisha moved right past Echidna and walked directly toward her master.
Ash drifted his gaze away from Echidna, who was already standing back to her feet, and looked straight at Aisha.
"I need you inside as soon as possible," he said to her.
Aisha paused.
The urgency with which he said those words proved that it was important.
There was no way in hell she was going to risk messing this up.
How soon is "as soon as possible"?
She quickly shook her head to erase all the questions and doubt.
"Yes, Master. I'll be there as soon as possible."
Ash threw one more dismissive glance Echidna's way and then stormed back into the tent.
As he left, Echidna raised both her hands to her eyes, her cheeks beet-red with a slight, dazed smile on her lips.
"H-how is he both soft and hard at the same time? Is that even possible?" She could still feel the firm, solid texture of his chest against her head.
Aisha was now thoroughly confused, but still, she didn't want to mess up.
She looked down at Echidna, who seemed to be in her own world, and then back at the tent.
She quickly made up her mind and followed Ash inside.
"Hey, earth to Echidna. You good over there?" Kelvin asked, shoving the last piece of meat into his mouth right after.
Slowly, Echidna looked towards him, her expression carrying all the seriousness in the world.
A sudden thought had just passed through her mind.
"Kelvin, what I am about to ask you might sound weird at first, but trust me, it's all for research."
Kelvin immediately scowled.
"No way. If you're going to ask me to hunt monsters for you again, I refuse."
"Oh, don't worry, there will be no hunting of monsters," Echidna said as she stood to her feet, taking slow, steady steps toward him.
"There isn't? Then what do you need me to do?"
"Strip. Let me see your chest."
"What?!" Kelvin's face turned bright red.
"You heard me. Hurry up and pull off your clothes," Echidna commanded as she dashed toward him.
"What the fuck!!!!?"
…
Inside the tent, Ash was already seated, his expression completely serious.
Aisha knelt before him, her head bowed.
"Master, I am here."
Ash looked at her, his dark eyes intense.
"Aisha, the system has explained how to make you stronger. It requires a bond. An intimate one." He didn't waste a single moment and got right to the point.
Aisha's head shot up, her eyes wide with surprise.
Then, a deep blush crept up her neck and over her face.
She understood what he meant, and a complicated mix of fear and excitement stirred within her.
"Master… j-just to be sure I understand, do you mean…?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Yes. It seems the requirement to activate that sigil is for us to have sex."
Aisha's face turned an even deeper shade of red.
For starters, she had always wondered why Ash had not made a move on her, considering she was already of age.
If this was truly how it was meant to happen, could she really question it?
"A-are you sure, Master?" she tried, at least, to put up a front of hesitation.
Ash glanced to the side. "There is no other way, Aisha. For your revenge, for our revenge, you need to be at your strongest. Are you willing to do this?"
Aisha looked at him, truly looked at him.
She saw the unwavering determination in his eyes, the subtle pain of his own past, and the burning desire for retribution that mirrored her own.
Her path had led her to this moment, and she knew, deep down, that she would follow him wherever he led.
"Yes, Master," she said, her voice gaining strength and resolve. "I am willing."
A small, almost imperceptible smile touched Ash's lips. "Good." He stood and extended a hand to her. "Then let us begin."