Immediately after reading all the notifications,
I let out a huge yawn...
Now I knew that my life, thanks to the penalties,
wasn't going to be hardcore...
It was going to be inhumanly hellish on an absurd level.
I took a deep breath. It was intermittent fatigue, after all.
Thinking about it seriously, I hadn't slept for a day—or maybe two...
My mind was worn down.
The subdimension.
The penalties.
My plans, the existence of Org.
My encounter with Sam.
So many events.
In so little time.
My mind was collapsing. And not only did I have to process it—
now I also had to survive while nerfed by the system itself.
My head was beginning to empty itself of all noise and thought.
Blank.
The mental fatigue increased to the point where thinking hurt.
So I headed toward the base to rest.
Ignoring all construction and the recent settlers moving around.
Unfortunately, I couldn't move as fast as before.
And my exhaustion only kept increasing.
When I finally reached the entrance to the base, I looked back.
And I was able to get a better view of the enormous crowd spread across the plain.
Where my future city—still nameless—was taking shape more and more each day.
And I thought:
"Meh... I'll think about it later... time to sleep."
I blinked a few times, caught somewhere between drowsiness, fatigue, and exhaustion.
I noticed there were already some houses on the plain.
Although even deducing things irritated me.
I identified my settlers.
The structures were different.
In a more suburban area,
the Beastmen race had settled.
"Noelle succeeded," I thought.
On the other hand, in the section where nature was more abundant,
it was obvious that Aphrodite's beautiful subordinates—the Nymphs—had settled there.
When I realized I had walked right through the middle of everyone,
and nobody approached me, nor even seemed to notice my presence,
I immediately knew it was because of my nearly nonexistent Charm stat...
I was tired.
I felt deeply offended.
So I muttered:
—Shitty world. All that matters is appearance.
[Ignorant master, don't say that... the reason everyone ignores you is because you have a trait that practically makes you socially invisible. (ಠ‿ಠ)]
—You're talking about «Player's Soul»?
[No, stupid master. I'm referring to the unique trait «Random NPC». (ب_ب)]
—What do you mean?
[Haaa... what I mean is that the effect of that trait was almost nonexistent before... but now, with your Charm being so low, the effect has been maximized. (ಠ ͜ʖ ಠ)]
—Okay, I get it...
But right now I want to rest. Don't bother me for a while.
[Do whatever you want, Master. (ರ_ರ)]
I was finally about to enter the base.
And enjoy several pleasant hours of sleep.
But at that moment, someone approached me from behind.
And when I turned around, it turned out to be: Noelle, Aphrodite, Lilith, and Athena.
All of them changed their expressions when they saw my face.
But Noelle was the first to speak:
Noelle: —"Raymond, I've brought all the clans that agreed to come. Thank you very much."
—That's good. Don't worry, it's nothing.
Noelle: —"Hey... do you want me to introduce you to them?"
—Later, Miss Fandvalen. (I want to sleep.)
Noelle: —"Stop calling me that. Just call me Noelle... by the way, what happened to you? You're not as attractive as you usually... uh, are."
—Well... t-that is... (Ah shit, I forgot to think of a lie... but I'm tired. Can't my lies wait?)
It was after Noelle brought up that predicament
that one of her people appeared—a Beastman.
He whispered something into her ear.
Her expression changed.
And without another word, she simply left.
Apparently, the matter was urgent.
I would have been concerned.
But I was too exhausted to care.
Aphrodite finally spoke.
Judging from her expression, she seemed disgusted just looking at me.
It annoyed me, but I was far too tired to pay much attention to her words:
Aphrodite: —"What happened to you? You're not handsome anymore... you're terribly ugly." (Did I really take interest in someone worse than a Gracksot?)
I didn't want to get into lengthy explanations.
So, irritated, I said the first thing that came to mind:
—I fought an Absolute. (The Absolute System... please, that's enough explanation... I want to sleep!)
I thought that would be enough.
So I turned around and started heading toward the dormitories.
But Athena grabbed my shoulder and spun me around while saying:
Athena: —"Poseidon isn't stronger than Zeus. Who is this Absolute?"
—A transcendental being that doesn't belong to this world. (That's literally true... now leave me alone already, I want to rest!)"
Aphrodite: —"But how did you stop being handsome?" (My eyes hurt just from looking at him.)
—It couldn't defeat me, so the coward cursed me instead... (Enough already... I'm going to sleep!)
I turned around again and started walking away...
But Lilith and Aphrodite grabbed me and turned me back around.
Then they asked in unison:
Aphrodite, Lilith: —"Is that curse reversible?" (Please let it be...)
—I don't know. To find out, I need to train... by any chance, do you know anyone who could help me? (I give up, people... I'll just sleep right here.)
Lilith: —"With your level of power, why do you need training?"
—How should I know? I need to break this curse. (The curse of being weak... but these annoying women... haaah, they won't let me rest. Damn them!)
I blinked once.
And that was all.
At that moment...
Aphrodite discreetly moved closer to her sisters and whispered:
Aphrodite: —"What do you think if I make one of my potions to make him more attractive?"
Lilith: —"I agree with you. It's difficult to look him in the face... I just hope that curse can be cured with one of your potions."
Athena: —"He certainly looks much worse than my former priestess now." (Hmm... why don't I hate him?)
Aphrodite: —"It's decided. I'll make some potions to improve his attractiveness."
When the sisters looked back toward Brian,
they realized he had fallen asleep standing up.
Then Athena, seeing such an opportunity,
didn't hesitate for even a second.
And slapped him.
His body shot through the air and crashed into the mountain.
The impact woke him up,
leaving him partially embedded in the stone.
Brian's POV:
I had woken up.
Without realizing it, I had fallen asleep standing.
But the important thing now was that in front of me,
it appeared that the basic skill «Absolute Resistance»
had activated against my will.
But I didn't care that much.
Because by activating and lasting less than a second,
the penalty it gave me
was only an additional hour added to the one I already had.
So I let it slide.
Then I stepped out of the rock,
which had partially molded itself around my body.
And I immediately knew who was responsible for this incident...
Seeing that face full of satisfaction, I asked:
—Happy? (Damn, I'd be dead if I didn't have this skill.)
Athena: —"Yep." (I finally managed to hurt this bastard.)
—Did you enjoy it? (I'd sue you in real life, bitch.)
Athena: —"I won't deny it. I truly enjoyed it." (My stress level dropped.)
—You know? That was a very friendly way to wake someone up.
Athena: —"Hah. If you want, I'd be delighted to wake you up like that every day." (I'll play your little sarcastic game, you deformed little goblin.)
—No thanks. Now I order you: never hurt me again, Sla-ve.
Athena: —"Bastard." (Why... why did I have to be subdued by this guy?)
—Sorry. It's just that I'm seriously tired...
I know you don't like me, but I really want to rest!
I'm human, after all. (I can't afford to have her as an enemy.)
Athena: —"If you were that exhausted, you should've said so earlier." (He apologized... does that mean... I win this time?)
Aphrodite: —"But before you go rest... could you wait to consume some potions? They'll help with the curse, if that's what you want."
—Fine. But I still need to train. (Damn it... I just want to sleep!)
Aphrodite: —"You'll have to wait. I need herbs and other ingredients."
—I understand. I'll order Artia to help you gather them. (As expected... nobody likes ugly people.)
Aphrodite: —"Thank you, young master."
—Wait, master?... But you're not a slave.
Aphrodite: —"Can I be, if you want?" (After a few potions, he'll become acceptable.)
Aphrodite said that and showed me a slave stigma engraved on her abdomen.
Just like Lilith and Athena.
Which, if I remembered correctly, had that dark heart shape.
I couldn't care less.
I wasn't giving my blood to another slave.
I JUST WANTED TO SLEEP!
I took a deep breath and sighed.
Then asked, as if exhaustion weighed tons upon me:
—What does this mean, Lilith?
Lilith: —"She told me she didn't want to feel left out, so I drew the stigma for her."
—You're not going to go crazy because of my blood, right?
Lilith: —"Don't worry, Master... if that happens, you can always kiss me again." (If I say this... maybe he'll feel better?... Huh. He still looks bad... and I don't think a few drinks would lower my standards that much.)
—Hey, this goes for all of you. Stop calling me master. I don't like it.
Lilith: —"Alright."
Athena: —"Fine by me." (I wouldn't call something that ugly "master" anyway.)
Aphrodite: —"Why? I thought all men liked feeling in control." (I'm sure this is a test, right?... I've already seen that he can become ugly or handsome whenever.)
—You see... I don't like feeling like I control people. I like individuality, you know?
Aphrodite: —"Then... what do you like?" (I hope it's not weird fetishes.)
—I like feeling chosen. With that said, there's no need to go into details.
Athena: —"So, chosen... What else are you hiding, mortal?" (What method should I use to extract more transcendental information from him?)
A mischievous smile formed on my face as I looked at all three of them and said:
—In time, you'll all understand... NOW LET ME REST, DAMN IT!
Lilith: —"You're a mystery... but seriously, sister, hurry up and make those potions. He's far below my standards right now."
Aphrodite: —"I'll get started immediately, sister." (I wonder if he'll want to try my alchemy skills?)
—Don't insult people for being ugly. Beauty is on the inside.
Athena: —"In your case, I don't think so."
—Fine, fine...
We'll finish this conversation later.
I'm going to sleep.