“No, something’s wrong!”
Vylian couldn’t see the other’s specific level like the Hero could, but there was no mistaking the fluctuation of rising power.
It was common knowledge that Anlis, as the protagonist of the original story, had a well-known trait.
She got stronger after sex.
But right now, this girl hadn’t had sex…
Oh, right, right.
Vylian remembered.
The so-called “getting stronger from sex” was actually because of Strength through Adversity—as long as there was a setback, the Hero would grow stronger.
“Does being tormented by a curse to the point of pent-up desire count as a setback? That’s a pretty broad definition of setback.”
Damn.
Sex makes you stronger, no sex also makes you stronger, solving the sex makes you stronger, not solving it also makes you stronger.
How could the Hero be this broken?!
So why was a curse meant to corrupt the Hero turning into a void-leveling pump?
At this point, what else was there to say?
Nothing to say!
Now, only two paths lay before Vylian.
One: Kill Anlis, then cast the forbidden spell again.
At that time, she would not only continue to bear the cost of “being suppressed in power by close contact with the Hero,” but also take on the new enormous cost of casting the forbidden spell once more.
Then she could search for a new Hero and restart “The Plan to Spoil the Hero” with experience.
Two: Help Anlis remove the curse, temporarily stabilize her condition, and continue observing.
Vylian looked at her own palm—slender fingers, skin like congealed fat.
People always refuse to believe in bad luck.
Add to that path dependence, procrastination, and a bit of reluctance.
After some hesitation, Vylian finally chose the second path.
‘It’s just helping to solve the curse. No big deal.’
‘Besides, even if I have to replace the Hero, it’ll be most cost-effective when I’m about to lose control of Anlis.’
With her mind made up, Vylian suddenly lunged forward and pinned Anlis beneath her.
The binding magic she had cast earlier was still in effect. Even if her power got suppressed due to close contact later, she could relax, not worrying about Anlis fighting back.
The thin pajamas were easily undone, revealing the girl’s delicate collarbone.
Pale, tender skin outlined perfect curves. Just looking at it made Vylian feel her own breath quicken.
“Mmn~”
Anlis didn’t struggle. She seemed to have already sensed what was about to happen. A watery sheen appeared in her eyes, and she gave a soft, lazy moan, her gaze so alluring it could practically stretch into threads.
“You… you should be glad I’m doing this myself.”
Vylian muttered under her breath.
She didn’t know what mindset she had when saying that…
‘Maybe I just wanted to give myself an excuse to calm my flustered heart.’
Her hands finally moved clumsily, unpracticed and at a loss.
…
…
The next morning, Anlis woke up groggily from her sleep.
Her eyes flew open. She felt heavy, her head swollen and aching, and her whole body was filled with an indescribable soreness and fatigue.
Last night seemed to…
Everything that had happened surged into her mind like a tide, the once-blurry memories becoming clearer.
The shameful experience now carved itself more vividly in her mind.
Instantly, Anlis’s face flushed red. She lightly slapped her hand over her eyes and gave a helpless bitter smile.
‘Help!’
She asked herself every single day—why did this kind of unlucky, detestable thing have to happen to her?
‘What a miserable life.’
‘If only I hadn’t awakened as the Hero, then I wouldn’t have met that annoying, perverted demon king loli Vylian, and I wouldn’t be stuck in this situation.’
What had she said last night?
Something about “loli mama.”
By the time Vylian started helping to solve the problem, she was even saying “Oh hoh hoh, Mama is so good.”
‘Saying “loli mama” was definitely just to save my own skin. It’s not actually my preference.’
‘Look, it worked.’
At least she dodged another bullet.
… ‘Anlis, you idiot! How embarrassing!’
‘Even if I had said something like “I’ll never give in,” that would have been better!’
At least that would have been the image of a righteous, heroic figure who fought bravely and never compromised with fate.
But no, she acted like a pervert, saying those shameful things. She could even see the disgust in the demon king’s eyes from her fuzzy memories.
After scolding herself internally and numbly digesting the shame for a while, she finally calmed down a bit.
Vylian hadn’t woken up yet. She was lying sprawled on top of Anlis, one hand restlessly gripping a sensitive spot, occasionally giving it a subconscious little squeeze.
Anlis, with a face full of exasperation, pried that restless little hand away and tried to get the person off her.
But she accidentally used too much force and woke her up.
They stared at each other. The silence stretched for a while.
“Good morning, Miss Anlis.”
Actually, Vylian’s brain was still booting up. After a moment, it finally started, and she forced out this greeting.
“M-morning.”
“Ah, Miss Anlis, why are you sleeping naked? You’re not alone here. P-please be more mindful.”
‘Mindful of what?!’
‘Does that person have no self-awareness about who took off her pajamas?’
But she couldn’t show her anger.
“Uh, maybe I accidentally untied them while sleeping.”
“Oh, is that so? How careless.”
The silence fell again.
“Thank you for helping me remove the cur—”
“Alright, Miss Anlis. Let’s not talk about this. I’ve noticed that your level seems to increase because of it. I wonder if it’s a blessing or a curse?”
The neurotic Anlis immediately became wary at those words.
‘A test!’
‘Another test!’
“Sigh, need you ask? Vylian, it’s obviously a curse. I don’t want to be stuck with this damn curse. Doesn’t the Holy Order have a way to remove it?”
“Currently, I don’t think so. And why would you want to remove it? This method of gaining power is so simple.”
“But it’s too crooked. I’d rather take steady steps and walk down a solid path.”
[Name: Anlis Kachi]
[LV: 47]
…
‘Who says it’s crooked?! This method is crooked!’
‘Leveling up is like riding a rocket. If I only trained, who knows when I’d ever reach this level.’
Anlis was a very realistic person.
If only the person she had to do it with wasn’t the demon king Vylian.
“Then how about you cripple your cultivation?”
“No-no.”
Both of them were joking.
It was already around ten in the morning. They quickly dressed and walked out of the room together.
Bolai had gone to the fields early to work. Lisina was at home doing other chores.
When she saw them come out, she looked up and casually said, “You really need to control yourselves. With all that noise last night, I thought you were going to tear the house down.”
“Ahaha.”
Anlis really didn’t know how to explain.
After all, Lisina’s words, while not entirely accurate in a certain sense, did describe most of what happened last night.
‘Better just laugh it off.’
“Your father told me before he left to supervise your sword practice. You’ll train in the yard today. No need to go far, so you don’t slack off.”
Lisina didn’t tease them further.
“Okay.”
This was actually what Anlis wanted.
If her mother was in charge, she would actually have more time to practice.
‘That’s a huge help!’
“Huh? Auntie, don’t you trust me? Why not let me continue as the supervisor?”
Hearing the girl behind her, Anlis let out a long sigh in her heart.
‘Sigh.’
‘There’s really no helping it.’