"Dungeon exploration means we'll need more party members," Karen said, her tone practical as we stood by the guild's bustling quest board.
"More members?" I asked, tilting my head.
"I'm an attack-focused magic warrior, and you don't have many support or exploration skills either, right?" she explained, her emerald eyes scanning the crowd. "We need someone with mapping skills to navigate the dungeon's paths and a healer who can handle recovery, detoxification, or curse removal. Preferably someone high-level for the latter."
"Makes sense…" I nodded, processing her words. A mapper and a healer were critical for an A-rank dungeon, especially one that had stumped an S-Class adventurer.
If I could just gain those skills myself, we wouldn't need extras, I thought, my mind drifting to my unique perk. The catch was, I couldn't choose the skills I acquired—they came from intimate encounters, and the results were unpredictable.
"What's up?" Karen asked, noticing my distraction.
"N-Nothing!" I stammered, my cheeks heating up. I was already planning a trip to the brothel tonight to try for a new skill, but admitting that to Karen felt… awkward, to say the least.
That day, we scoured the Adventurer's Guild for potential party members, but despite our efforts, no one with the right skills was available. The guild was packed with adventurers, yet none fit the bill for our high-stakes mission.
"Let's try again tomorrow. For now, we'll call it a day," Karen said, stretching her arms, her fiery hair catching the light.
"Got it," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual.
"You're smirking about something, Kairi," she said, narrowing her eyes, a teasing edge to her voice.
"W-What? No way!" I protested, my heart skipping. I'm just excited about hitting the brothel tonight—not exactly something I could say out loud.
"…Suspicious," she muttered, her pout returning, her gaze sharp with mock suspicion.
"It's nothing, really! See you tomorrow!" I blurted, waving as I bolted from the guild, eager to escape her scrutiny.
Time to head to the red-light district, I thought, my steps quickening with anticipation.
I chose a different brothel this time, avoiding the one where Aleesha worked. As much as I'd enjoyed her company—and part of me wanted to see her again—my perk hadn't granted new skills from repeated encounters with the same partner. To maximize my chances, I needed someone new.
Besides, running into Aleesha and picking a different courtesan might be… awkward. "What, I'm here, and you're choosing someone else?" I could practically hear her voice in my head, and the thought made me cringe. A new brothel felt safer, less complicated.
Yet, as I approached the glowing lanterns of the pleasure district, a strange pang hit me. Why do I feel like some kind of cheating playboy? I shook my head, pushing the thought aside. This was about gaining skills to support Karen and conquer the dungeon—not about guilt. With a deep breath, I stepped through the brothel's doors, ready to see what new abilities—and new connections—this night would bring.