That voice alone could give me a heart attack…
I'll never forget when I was six. Powder and I were always getting into trouble, tearing through the fields, swiping crops and fruit from unsuspecting farmers. It was all just fun and games until the day she caught us.
A girl with the scariest short pink hair and those eerie golden eyes spotted us raiding her father's potato field. She beat us black and blue right there among the rows, and from that day on, our fates were sealed.
We became her lackeys. She became our little mafia boss. Every bit of loot we managed to grab had to go straight to her—no exceptions. Or else… Well, let's just say, it wasn't worth the risk. She's always been a monster. A stupid, terrifying, ugly—wait, what?
I glance up at her now and instantly freeze.
The girl I'd despised as a kid was different now. My gaze locked onto hers, those golden eyes refusing to let me look away. Her face was flawless, her body strong, muscular, but still undeniably feminine, with curves in all the right places. Her hair, once cropped short, now flowed down her back in a single long ponytail.
How do I even put this? She's got a pair of—massive melons. Holy shi—
Before I can process it, something smacks into my face at lightning speed the instant my eyes drift to her chest.
It's not my fault she's wearing a dress that leaves almost nothing to the imagination…
Blackout!
Thud… Thud…
What's going on? My head is spinning, and I can feel myself moving—no, being carried. The last thing I remember is spotting two massive fruits, my eyes popping out of my head, and then… darkness.
Even now, I can't seem to open my eyes. I'm probably still unconscious, but I can sense everything around me. Who's carrying me? Where am I even going?
"Roxy… can you please let us go… for old times' sake… Please forgive Quill…" Powder's voice comes through, low and desperate, like he's pleading for both our lives. Is Roxy really the one hauling me around? Wherever I'm lying, it feels hard, but my limp hand keeps bumping into something round and soft… And she smells… sweet. Nice, even.
What are you thinking, Quill? Are you some kind of creep? You probably deserve a beating for this… I curse myself, fighting to control my wandering thoughts before I tumble off the edge for good.
"He deserves it." Roxy's voice snaps, surprisingly cute, which is probably a sign I've lost my mind. "You two brats ran away, ratted me out as the leader, and I got kicked out of the village. Did you really think I wouldn't hold a grudge? Today, you'll see… follow me if you want to live a little longer. Or else…" Her words jolt me awake, like a slap I badly needed.
"Especially Quill… I'll make sure he never runs away from me again."
That did it. Her words made me angry, and somehow, I found the strength to squeeze as hard as I could with my limp hand, grabbing onto that softness for dear life. It felt… weirdly satisfying…
But then, suddenly, I was weightless, falling through the air.
Blackout! Round two.
Silence. It can be dreadful and comforting at the same time.
But being tied up and stripped naked in someone else's house? That is definitely not either of those things!
"What the hell is going on?!" I twist and squirm, but the ropes dig into my wrists—sharp and unyielding, burning more the harder I fight. And why am I naked?
Did Roxy strip me just to humiliate me? This is bad… My chest… my secret!
The crimson hole in my chest pulses like a living heart. There's a crystal embedded at the center, but I've never dared to touch it. Did she? Shit… What am I supposed to do now? What will Big Boss say if he sees me like this?
"You need to work out, that's what we'd say… No wonder you got tossed around like a useless leaf with such a frail body. Even someone in the comments pointed it out—look."
{New Comment on Chapter 10 from Current number one fan—ObservantReader: Rip, aren't you a farmer? why is your physical stats so low?}
My face starts burning bright red. Listen… I know I'm not much, but why are we even talking about my physique right now?
"Go away, Big Boss. If Roxy sees you… She already found out about my secret… and my quill… my clothes—everything's gone, and my chest is just out there for everyone to see…"
"Relax. How many times do I have to tell you... Nobody can take your quill away, you damn fool. For your IQ, you really are stupid."
"You…" That one stings right where it hurts. This stupid system always knows how to bite when I'm already down…
"Don't complain. Just wait here. Your childhood lover will be back soon."
"We're not lovers!" My face is practically molten.
"That's not what your memories say. As far as we can see, Roxy confessed to you when you were kids, and you betrayed her. Honestly, you deserve this punishment. I won't tell you how to get your quill back. Not yet. Stay here and complete a quest until she returns."
"Right now?!"
"Yes, right now…"
[You have received a new quest: Answer the reader comments and entertain them. Failure to comply will result in punishment, which could be death. Most likely.]
"Hey, wait… not now! I can do it later, just wait! Big Boss! Why?!"
Nothing helps—the system vanishes, leaving me completely alone. Even Powder's gone. And now all my secrets are out in the open… Just great.
Well, my dear readers… looks like it's just you and me for a while. We'll wait here together. For, uh… that woman. The changed woman. Ahem.
P.S. Don't say a word about how I look right now. I don't like her, okay? That's not why my face is burning…