Lys woke slowly, the first gray light of dawn slipping through the half-closed windows. Selene was still asleep beside him, curled on her side, one arm tucked under her pillow and the other resting lightly across his chest. Her dark hair spilled over the sheets, messy from the night before, and her breathing was soft and even. She looked peaceful in a way he'd never seen her look before, no tension in her shoulders, no guarded expression. Just Selene, bare and relaxed under the thin blanket.
He stayed still for a long minute, watching the rise and fall of her chest, feeling the warmth of her skin against his. Last night replayed in his head in flashes, her gasps, the way she'd clenched around his fingers, the sound of her moaning his name into the pillow. His body twitched a little at the memory, but he didn't do anything, knowing she needed to rest, especially after the intense night they had shared. So, now he just lets himself enjoy the warmth coming from her body as he stares at her.
After a while staring, he suddenly remembered last night's system screen. He opened the system with a thought.
A new window appeared, glowing softly in his vision. Not the usual target list. This one had another list sitting on top of it, labeled Partners.
<< Milf Breeding System >>
<< Host: Lysander Veyne >>
Strength: 33→38
Stamina: 45→49
Mana: 160/190
System Points (SP): 510→760
Partners:
------------------------
Selene Veyne – (Bonded)
Mira Veyne – (Bonded)
Sara Thorne– (Bonded)
---------------------------------------------------------
Active Targets:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Elara Veyne (Step-Mother)] – Difficulty: SS-Rank | Status: Pouring tea(Physical contact 0%) | Affection: 93 | Lust: 55%
-----
[Bertha Hale (Maid)] - Difficulty: D-Rank| Status: Sleeping(Physical contact 0%) | Affection: 25 | Lust: 35%
------
[Nora (Merchant) - Difficulty: D-Rank| Status: Getting out of her Inn(Physical contact 0%) | Affection: 29% | Lust: 28%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Passive Targets: Elowen Valtor
---
Lys blinked. The others, Elara, Bertha, and Nora, were still listed under the old Target system. Only these three had moved over. He focused on this new partner list, and more details about them unfolded.
[Partners]
-------------
[ Selene Veyne (Fiance) - Status: Sleeping — feeling relaxed(Physical contact 5%) ]
Strength: 18 | Stamina: 22 | Mana: 45/80 | Fertility: 45%
Potential: Priestess(Divine) Magic (Tier 2) | Leadership Aura (Tier 1) | Resilience (Tier 3)
----------------
[Mira Veyne (Step-Sister) - Status: Waking up — feeling drowsy(Physical contact 0%) ]
Strength: 20 | Stamina: 25 | Mana: 10/30 | Fertility: 30%
Potential: Sword Mastery (Tier 3) | Agility Boost (Tier 2) | Loyalty Aura (Tier 1)
----------------
[Sara Thorne (Landowner) - Status: Sleeping — in deep sleep(Physical contact 0%) ]
Strength: 24 | Stamina: 35 | Mana: 50/60 | Fertility: 60%
Potential: Earth Magic (Tier 4) | Resource Management (Tier 3) | Combat Tactics (Tier 2)
----------------------------
He closed the windows with a quiet breath. 'So this was how it worked.'
He realised that once they crossed that line, once they became real partners, the system automatically upgraded them. The thought of them showing on his partner's list made something warm settle in his chest. It felt like a representation for him that he wasn't just collecting targets. Till now, he felt awkward to pursue the system's quests and other things, because deep in his mind, he was still evaluating things from his earthly morals, where thinking of women as trophies seemed like a bad thing to him. But now that they seemed less like targets and more like partners, it made him feel that these women were his now, in a way the system itself recognized.
He carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to wake Selene. Sensing someone was moving by her side, she stirred once, murmuring something soft, but settled in her sleep once again. He dressed quietly, pulled on his tunic, and buckled CorpseSlayer at his waist. The sword felt warm against his hip, almost as if pleased that he picked it up again.
-----
Downstairs, the house was already awake in its usual quiet way. Elara stood at the kitchen counter, slicing bread. The moment Lys stepped into the room, she glanced up. Their eyes met for half a second. Her cheeks flushed instantly with a deep pink. She looked away fast, almost dropping the knife. But after calming herself, she pushed a plate of warm bread toward him without a word or even any glance at him.
Lys sat down. He knew exactly why she was acting like that. The walls in this house weren't thick. She must have heard everything last night, Selene's moans, the headboard knocking, the way they hadn't exactly been quiet toward the end.
But he didn't say anything about it, not trying to embarrass her any further than she is. Neither did she say any words. She just kept slicing bread for likely others, her cheeks still burning hot.
Mira came down a minute later, hair still messy from sleep, yawning wide. She took one look at the room, Elara's flushed face, Lys sitting quietly with his bread, the heavy silence, and read everything in three seconds flat. She didn't smirk like she usually would. She just walked over, poured herself a cup of tea, and slid the butter across the table toward Lys without being asked.
"Thanks," Lys said quietly.
Mira nodded once. "Yeah, you're welcome." Her voice was normal, but her eyes flicked to the sword at his waist for a second before she looked away.
Selene came down after a while. She had her hair pinned up neatly and wore a simple dress, looking every bit the composed priest's daughter again. She sat across from Lys, poured her own tea, and for a moment, everything felt almost normal, like nothing had happened last night.
Then she lifted her eyes and looked straight at Lys.
It wasn't a soft look. It was a little embarrassed, a little warm, a little wondering look. Lys looked right back at her, holding her gaze. Selene's cheeks colored slightly as their eyes locked. She was the first to look away, suddenly very interested in stirring her tea.
Helga and Mitsu moved around the table doing their usual breakfast things, as if things like these never fazed them. Mitsu refilled everyone's cups with quiet efficiency, not with her clumsiness like before. Helga set out a second loaf of bread, her face carefully blank.
No one in the kitchen said a word about last night. The household absorbed the morning quietly, without making a fuss. They all knew. They just didn't want to be the first one to say it out loud.
Breakfast passed in small, normal talk. Mira complained about the weeds in the garden. Elara asked if anyone needed more tea. Mitsu mentioned that the tomatoes were finally starting to ripen. Selene stayed mostly quiet, but every so often her eyes would drift back to Lys.
When the plates were finally cleared, Lys stood up. "I should head to the guild. Miss Vessa had asked me to come early."
Elara just nodded and handed him a small cloth-wrapped bundle of bread for later, if he is late for lunch or anything. Mira gave him a quick, knowing look but said nothing. Selene's eyes followed him to the door, but she stayed seated.
Lys stepped outside into the morning light, feeling the warmth of the sun.
-----
The walk to the guild felt shorter than usual. His mind was still half back in that bed, half wondering what the new partner list really meant for everything going forward.
He rounded the last corner and stopped.
Vessa was already waiting for him at the entrance instead of inside the yard. As she was standing this time, Lys saw how long her leg was. Before, he couldn't quite notice them, but now it made him think she really was stunning in her own way.
She stood with her arms crossed, leather vest laced tight, hair swinging slightly in the breeze. But there was something off about her today. She didn't look like she was in the mood for drills today, as if something had happened.
"You're late. Let's go. We're not doing drills today," she said to him the moment he got close enough to hear. Her voice was flat, but her eyes had that same sharp, no-nonsense glint. "I've got somewhere I need you to go with me."
Lys raised an eyebrow. "Huh, where?"
Vessa didn't say anything. She just turned on her heel and started walking, expecting him to follow behind her.
"You'll see when we get there. Keep up." She said this with a gruff voice, not wanting to explain much now.
Lys fell in beside her, the sword bumping lightly against his leg with every step. Whatever Vessa had in mind, it didn't feel like a normal training day.