---
I woke up to the scent of roses.
And the weight of something very soft pressing into my side.
My eyes snapped open—and landed on the last thing I expected.
A woman. Naked. Beautiful in the kind of way that felt unfair to the rest of the human race. Her silver hair cascaded over silk pillows like moonlight. Her eyes, violet and glowing faintly, watched me like I was her favorite meal. And her chest… gods, her chest was practically resting on my ribs.
I bolted upright.
"What the hell—?!"
"You're awake," she said, voice smooth like velvet soaked in wine. "I was beginning to worry. You sleep like a mortal."
"I am a mortal," I snapped. "And I don't know who you are or why I'm in this hotel room with you, but I'm leaving."
She just smiled.
A slow, terrifying smile.
"I've been watching you, Jin," she said, stretching like a cat. "You've caught my eye. Your soul's resilience, your emotional resistance… it's beautiful. Rare. I want you."
I stumbled to the edge of the bed, yanking the sheets around my waist. "No offense, but I'm not interested in being someone's pet project. Or sex fantasy."
Her smile didn't fade. "I'm not someone, Ren. I'm a goddess."
I froze.
"You don't believe me," she added, leaning forward, chin resting on her palm. "Then let me show you."
She snapped her fingers.
The room rippled like water—and suddenly, images appeared in the air. Dozens of them. Hundreds. Me. Her. Different positions. Kissing. Moaning. Writhing.
I backed away like the room was on fire.
"Stop. What the hell is this?"
"A glimpse of what we could have," she whispered, stepping closer. "Bliss. Power. Eternal pleasure. I can give you everything. You'd never need to struggle again."
I shook my head, cold sweat clinging to my neck.
"I'm not interested in being your plaything," I said. "I don't care how divine you are—I want nothing to do with this. Or you."
Her expression darkened.
The air grew heavier. Charged.
"Then you leave me no choice," she said quietly. "I offered you heaven. But if you refuse me…"
Her fingers traced glowing lines in the air. Symbols formed—ancient, arcane.
"I curse you, Jin. May every bond you form haunt you. May power come only through connection. May you drown in the intimacy you fear."
My jaw clenched. "Do your worst."
I turned, stormed toward the door, yanked it open—
—and walked straight into a speeding car.
The world went black.
---
I gasped.
Air punched into my lungs like I hadn't breathed in years. The world around me was blinding—sunlight pouring through tall stone pillars, birdsong echoing in the distance.
I wasn't in a hospital.
Or a street.
Or even my world.
I was lying on cold marble in a circular plaza. Statues of armored warriors towered above me. The sky was too blue. The buildings too ancient. The people around me wore robes and armor and none of them were speaking English.
[System Sync Initiated…]
A voice—clear, mechanical, feminine—rang out inside my skull.
[Welcome to the Intimacy Sync System.]
[Status: Cursed. Objective: Reach Level 100 to break the curse.]
[Method: Synchronize with others. Emotional, physical, or romantic intimacy required.]
"What the actual—no. No no no."
[First Sync Target Nearby.]
A soft footstep behind me.
I turned.
And there she was.
Not the goddess—but a girl. Gorgeous. Smiling. Reaching out her hand like she knew me already.
"Jin," she said. "I've been waiting for you."
---
I stared at the girl reaching out her hand to me.
She wasn't dressed like anyone else in the crowd—her clothes were a strange blend of priestess robes and silken curves, all ivory and gold, with a slit running dangerously high up one thigh. Her hair shimmered like warm honey, her eyes soft and glowing faintly like she had moonlight tucked behind her irises.
"You… know me?" I asked, hesitant.
She nodded. "Yes, Jin. I was told you'd arrive today. I've been waiting."
"By who?"
"The Goddess. My Lady. She said you'd refuse her… and that you'd come here instead."
My jaw clenched. Of course.
"You're her servant," I said slowly.
"I am," she replied, then offered a small smile. "But don't worry. I'm not here to tempt you. Only to help."
She gestured. "Come. This world isn't kind to newcomers, especially cursed ones."
I didn't move at first. But then I looked around—no phones, no signs, no vehicles. Just winding streets, sandstone buildings, guards in cloaks, and people openly carrying swords.
I had no choice but to follow.
We walked through a bustling market, the smell of herbs and roasted meat blending in the air. Traders called out in strange languages, bartering for crystals, spices, and things I didn't recognize. The ground beneath my feet felt ancient—cobblestone, etched with patterns that pulsed faintly when I passed.
"This is Lysereth," she said. "One of the thirteen kingdoms of Arduvia. A place where magic still breathes, and names still matter."
"Doesn't look like Earth," I muttered.
"It's not. Time flows differently here. Spirit energy sustains life. People train in their Sins and Virtues—strength, cunning, devotion, even seduction.
I raised an eyebrow. "Seduction?"
She smiled knowingly but didn't explain. Instead, she added, "We'll need to find you a place to stay. Until then, you'll stay close to me."
[System Notification]
First Intimacy Path Activated: Physical Proximity Detected.
Minor Sync Detected – Emotional Channel Opening…
I froze. My chest tightened—not painfully, but like someone had reached inside and twisted a string. I looked at her.
Nothing had changed.
Except…
She was walking just a bit closer now. Her hip brushing mine with every step. The warmth of her body creeping along my skin even though she hadn't touched me directly. Her scent—something floral, something intoxicating—was suddenly all I could breathe in.
---
The room was small—just a single bed, a wooden chair, and a washbasin. Dusty light spilled in through the high window, cutting across the floor in soft gold.
She stepped inside first.
I followed… and shut the door behind me.
And then it hit me.
The pressure. The heat. The awareness of her. Every move she made pulled at something beneath my skin, like invisible strings drawing me closer.
Neither of us spoke.
She turned to face me.
And I moved.
I reached out, grabbed her waist—then kissed her.
Hard. Deep. Like something had snapped.
She didn't hesitate. Her arms came up around my neck, pulling me in. Our bodies met in a tangle of need and confusion. Fingers tugged at clothes. Her robes slipped from her shoulders. I felt her skin against mine—warm, soft, dangerous.
There was no thought. Just hunger.
We fell into the bed.
Limbs tangled. Breaths gasped. The air thick with heat and something else—something primal.
---