Chapter 21: A Gentleman’s System

The moment Daemon received the system alert, his expression changed.

[WARNING!]

[Victoria’s bloodline corruption has worsened.]

He didn’t hesitate.

"Thunderstep!"

Lightning erupted beneath his feet.

BOOM!

His body shot forward, crossing the distance in an instant.

When Daemon arrived outside the interrogation room, Sana was already there, supporting Victoria.

"Victoria!"

Daemon rushed toward her.

Victoria was conscious, but her face was pale.

The Emberalm Jade pendant around her neck was still glowing faintly.

Daemon immediately used Curse Insight Appraisal.

The familiar corruption inside Victoria was still there, but its violent fluctuations had settled.

He finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"You scared me."

Victoria looked at him and gently waved her hand.

"I’m fine."

Daemon frowned.

"You collapsed."

"It was only a headache."

Sana couldn’t help smiling as she watched them.

Victoria was usually composed and intimidating, but whenever Daemon became overly concerned about her, she looked almost like a child being fussed over by someone who cared too much.

Daemon suddenly noticed the pendant.

Its glow was almost completely gone.

He touched it carefully.

"The energy is depleted."

Victoria looked down.

"What does that mean?"

"It needs to be recharged with monster cores. Until then, it won’t be able to suppress your corruption properly."

Victoria nodded.

"I understand."

Daemon checked her condition one more time before finally relaxing

.

Sana watched silently.

He really does care about her.

Not because she was one of the strongest Awakeners in the world.

Not because she was powerful or influential.

He simply cared about her.

Sana smiled to herself.

I hope their relationship stays this way.

The three of them eventually left the WHA building.

Outside, they stood near the parking lot.

Victoria looked at Daemon.

"Why are we waiting here?"

Daemon scratched his cheek.

"I know I said we’d go shopping this morning after the selection."

Victoria raised an eyebrow.

"But?"

"Roxanna wanted to celebrate becoming a WHA hunter with us."

Victoria was silent

Daemon continued carefully.

"So I invited her to join us. Is that okay?"

Victoria looked at him for several seconds.

"Normally?"

Daemon swallowed.

"That doesn’t sound good."

She smiled.

"But Roxanna can come."

Daemon blinked.

"Really?"

"She cared about you in the dungeon."

Victoria’s expression softened.

"Even though she’s a healer, she stood beside you when you were in danger. That earned some favor from me."

Daemon stared at her.

She’s not jealous?

He suddenly realized something.

Maybe I need to stop assuming Victoria will get angry every time I meet another woman.

Before he could say anything, a familiar voice came from behind them.

"Daemon!"

Roxanna came running toward them.

"Sorry!"

She stopped in front of them, breathing heavily.

"You moved so fast. I couldn’t keep up!"

Daemon laughed.

"You actually ran all the way here?"

Roxanna nodded.

Then she looked toward Victoria.

"Miss Victoria..."

Victoria smiled.

"Just Victoria."

Roxanna froze.

"Ah?"

"We’re not at the WHA anymore. Don’t be so formal."

Roxanna’s eyes brightened.

"Then... Victoria?"

"Much better."

Daemon watched them.

Something told him this evening might become interesting.

Their first stop was an expensive clothing store.

Daemon immediately regretted entering.

He looked at the price tag of one shirt.

"That’s..."

He stared at it again.

"...more expensive than some of my weapons."

Victoria casually picked up another shirt.

"I like this one."

Daemon looked at the growing pile of clothes in her arms.

"Victoria, are you planning to buy the entire store?"

"No."

She looked around.

"Only half."

"That’s not reassuring!"

Roxanna laughed.

She was choosing clothes much more carefully.

Instead of grabbing everything, she examined each outfit and imagined how it would look on Daemon.

Eventually, both women stood beside each other holding different outfits.

Victoria held one shirt.

Roxanna held another.

They looked at Daemon.

Then at each other.

Neither said a word.

But their eyes seemed to be having an entire conversation.

Choose mine.

No. Mine.

Daemon immediately sensed danger.

He raised both hands.

"I like both."

The two women stared at him.

"I don’t have many decent clothes anyway. Both look good."

He quickly grabbed both outfits.

"There. Problem solved."

He escaped before either woman could argue.

Roxanna giggled.

Victoria shook her head.

"He’s learning."

While shopping, Victoria and Roxanna gradually became closer.

At first, their conversation was polite.

Then it became casual.

Then they started laughing.

Roxanna told Victoria about some of the ridiculous things Daemon had done during the dungeon.

Victoria listened with amusement.

"He did that?

"

"Yes!"

Roxanna laughed.

Victoria glanced at Daemon.

"You really are troublesome."

Daemon sighed.

"Why am I being attacked from both sides?"

The two women laughed together.

Daemon couldn’t help smiling.

He had expected tension.

Instead, they were slowly becoming friends.

Roxanna looked genuinely happy.

Victoria even helped her choose a dress.

"This one suits you."

Roxanna looked at herself in the mirror.

"You think so?"

"Definitely."

"Thank you."

For the first time, Roxanna didn’t feel like an outsider.

She felt welcome.

After shopping, they went to a restaurant for dinner.

The evening passed peacefully.

When they finally dropped Roxanna off at her apartment, she stood outside the car.

"Thank you for today."

Victoria smiled.

"Come again next time."

Roxanna’s face brightened.

"I will."

Daemon waved.

"Good night, Roxanna."

"Good night."

As the car drove away, Daemon glanced through the window.

She really has a big-sister kind of charm.

Roxanna had an easy warmth that naturally made people comfortable around her.

Victoria seemed to like her too.

That was a relief.

When they arrived home, Victoria immediately went upstairs

"I need to sleep."

"You’re tired?"

"A little".

Daemon watched her disappear into the bedroom.

Once he was alone in the hall, he sat down.

The lights were dim.

Only now did he remember the system notification.

"Show me the rewards."

A translucent screen appeared.

[Rewards generated based on today’s performance.]

[Reason: Exceptional performance during the Hunter Selection.]

[Reason: Genuine care toward Victoria.]

[Reason: Bringing happiness and pride to your wife.]

Daemon raised an eyebrow.

The system continued.

[Affection Reward: Victoria’s Affection has reached 95%.]

[Voidreaper has evolved.]

[New Function Unlocked: Inferno Fusion.]

[Inferno Flame can now be fused with Voidreaper.]

Daemon’s eyes widened.

That’s useful.

The next notification appeared.

[Emberalm Jade Recharge Resource: High-Level Monster Cores ×50.]

Daemon smiled.

Perfect. Victoria’s pendant can be restored.

Then—

[Nameless Bloodline Growth: +1.2%.]

Daemon stared at the number.

[Current Bloodline Progress: 11%]

His expression became serious.

Even a small increase felt significant.

Finally—

[Cooking Skill has evolved.]

[New Skill: Bloodfire Culinary Mastery.]

Daemon blinked.

"Bloodfire... Culinary Mastery?"

The system explained that his improved cooking technique could now extract stronger properties from monster ingredients while reducing harmful effects and increasing beneficial ones.

Daemon leaned back.

"So even cooking is becoming ridiculous."

He smiled.

Then he asked the question that had been bothering him.

"Why do these rewards keep appearing?"

The system responded.

[Affection Reward System Explanation.]

[Women whose affection toward the Host reaches or exceeds 75% become eligible for the Host’s relationship system.]

[Higher affection allows stronger reward generation.]

Daemon listened carefully.

[Women possessing ancient or lost bloodlines may generate significantly greater rewards.]

[These rewards can contribute toward bloodline growth, skill evolution, resources, and unique abilities.]

Daemon’s expression became thoughtful.

Then another explanation appeared.

[Warning: Relationships formed solely for reward acquisition will weaken reward generation.]

Daemon nodded.

[The Host must provide genuine care, affection, protection, and emotional support.]

[System-generated rewards given directly to a woman do not count as genuine affection-based contribution.]

Daemon finally understood.

The system wasn’t encouraging him to manipulate women.

It rewarded genuine relationships.

He smiled.

Thank goodness.

He had never wanted to use anyone just to become stronger.

This system was actually much more decent than he’d expected.

"Show me the affection status."

The screen changed.

Victoria — 95% — Official Wife

Kassia — 92% — Girlfriend

Roxanna Sterling — 56% — Eligible for relationship progression at 75%

Daemon froze.

"Roxanna?"

He stared at her name.

She...

He didn’t know she had developed feelings for him.

And there was another problem.

She’s married.

Daemon’s expression became serious.

"I need to be careful."

He didn’t want to interfere with her life or cause trouble for her.

Whatever she’s feeling, I can’t take advantage of it.

Suddenly—

"Daemon."

A voice came from the staircase.

He froze.

The hall was dark.

Victoria stood there like a ghost.

Her crimson eyes glowed in the darkness.

Daemon’s soul nearly left his body.

"V-Victoria?"

She stared at him.

"You bastard."

Daemon swallowed.

"Why do you look like you’re about to kill me?"

Victoria slowly walked down the stairs.

"In the middle of the night..."

She pointed at him.

"...your mind is full of other women."

Daemon’s face went pale.

"How did you—"

"You were sitting here thinking about them!"

"I wasn’t doing anything!"

Victoria’s eyes narrowed.

"I’ve never seen such a perverted man in my life."

"Wait! That’s not what happened!"

Victoria continued walking toward him.

Daemon instinctively stepped backward.

"Victoria, please listen."

She smiled.

It was not a reassuring smile.

"Run."

Daemon stared.

"Why?"

"Because if I catch you..."

She cracked her knuckles.

"...we’re going to have a very long conversation."

Daemon immediately turned around.

"THUNDERSTEP!"

BOOM!

Lightning exploded through the hall.

Victoria stared at the empty spot where he had been sitting.

A vein twitched on her forehead.

"DAEMON!"

From somewhere upstairs came his terrified voice.

"I CAN EXPLAIN!"

Victoria’s crimson eyes glowed brighter.

The peaceful evening had officially ended.

________________________________________

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