I felt a warm hand gently graze my forehead, followed by the soft patter of warm droplets falling onto my face. My eyes squeezed shut before snapping open, and I came face to face with my sister, Sharon, silently crying. When she saw me awake, her eyes brightened, though just a little.
I felt a sharp pain shoot through my head, and my joints ached even worse.
"Hey..." I muttered with a weak voice.
"Finally awake, you idiot! I thought you were a goner," she huffed, wiping her tears away. "You've been unconscious for three whole days after spending two in prison."
"What?" I blurted out in shock. "I've been out for that long?"
I tried to stand, but my body felt unbearably heavy. My legs wobbled beneath me like I've never walked before. I felt like a child trying to walk for the first time as I staggered across my dumpster of a room, stopping a few meters from the mirror.
Hideous.
There was no other word for it. My face was a mess of bruises, my cheeks swollen with pain. The witchy GM hadn't been kidding when she said she wanted me dead.
I felt as light as a feather, probably even lighter. Had I lost weight? My stomach growled loudly in protest. Guess I hadn't eaten in days. I turned to Sharon.
"Did you cook something?"
She let out a bitter chuckle. "Cook? We don't even have pots to cook with anymore."
"Hey... what do you mean by that?"
She crossed her arms. "Thanks to a certain stubborn someone, the GM sent her guards to ransack our house in exchange for your life. They took everything valuable and sold it dirt cheap, saying the money was their reward for sparing you. On top of that, they tore up mine and Mom's guild cards. That means we can't take any more quests to hunt monsters or earn money."
My jaw dropped, stunned and shocked. My family was suffering because of me? Because I refused to bow to an arrogant girl? This world was so unfair. My mind immediately jumped to Mom.
"Where's Mom?"
Sharon sighed. "Don't know. She left in the morning. She said she'd find another way to make money to get us some food."
I tapped my foot against the floor in frustration. There had to be something I could do. Anything. Then, it hit me.
"System!" I called out. A glowing screen materialized before me. Of course, Sharon couldn't see it. To her, I was just talking to myself.
"What can I do to make money?" I asked it.
[Hunt monsters and sell their rare drops to the guild.]
"Argh... What else? I need money now!" I yelled.
[There are no ways to obtain instant money.]
"Are you kidding me? You're a system! You're supposed to make me OP. You're supposed to make me invincible. So why am I so weak? Why can't I stand up and protect myself... and my family? Come on, do something! I'm begging you!" My voice cracked as my vision blurred with tears building in my eyes. I had never felt so pathetic and helpless.
[There are no ways to obtain instant money.]
The system repeated itself, and a bitter chuckle escaped my lips.
"I should've known. I should've known you were useless! If I had picked a vampire system or a tycoon system back then, I'd be filthy rich and powerful by now. But you? What can you do? Help me seduce MILFs? Like that's gonna help in a world where I'm powerless and worthless."
The system didn't respond.
I collapsed onto the floor, my body wracked with silent sobs. Sharon sniffled beside me, patting my back, whispering reassurances neither of us believed.
Then, there was a sudden knock at the door. Before we could even answer, someone stepped inside.
Mrs. Rambrandt.
Draped in dark cloth with a hood concealing most of her face, she carried two plastic bags filled with food—meat, vegetables, and real sustenance.
"You!" Sharon snapped, pointing at her. "What do you want in our house? I told you, we'll pay your—"
"Shh." Mrs. Rambrandt silenced her with a raised hand.
"I'm not here for the money. I heard what happened, and I'm really sorry," she said gently, holding out the bags. "Here. Sharon, can you cook?"
Sharon hesitated, then begrudgingly took the bags and stepped outside to start a fire.
Now alone, Mrs. Rambrandt knelt beside me and gently lifted me from the floor, laying me onto the bed.
"Master... I'm sorry. I couldn't do more to help you."
Master? That's what she was calling me now?
She was crying, too.
Despite everything, I gave her a weak smile. "Thanks for saving me. If it weren't for you, I'd probably be dead right now."
Even though she was in tears, she still looked as sexy as ever. Her oversized hoodie barely concealed her curvy figure. And at a time like this... maybe a little motivation wouldn't hurt.
"Take off your robe," I said.
Her cheeks flushed red with blush. "Are... are you sure, Master?"
I nodded.
"Well... if you insist."
Her voice was high-pitched as ever. Extremely sexy!
She slid the robe off, revealing a tight red dress hugging her body like a second skin, stopping just above her knees. The dress just added to her allure.
Now, this was what l call motivation.
For a moment there, even my hunger faded. I had completely forgotten l hadn't eaten any food in days.
The rod of judgment in my trousers twitched in appreciation at the sight before it. Then, my system screen popped up in front of me.
[...]
But it remained silent. I swear it wanted to say something but held back. Well, whatever. Right now, I have more important things to focus on.
"Kiss me," I commanded.
Like she was under a spell, she leaned in, pressing a soft, gentle kiss against my lips.
Lips of a mature woman sure are sweet and soft. I can't get enough of them.
Tbc