The commotion after Cassian woke up wasn't much, but it was overwhelming for someone who had just regained consciousness. Understanding this, the others gave him space to gather his thoughts. Now, as Cassian washed himself, he reflected on the events of the past few weeks.
His memories were fragmented—flashes of heinous torture and killing—while his life before it all felt like a distant past. It seemed as though he had lived a long, exhausting lifetime through the agony he endured.
As cool water cascaded over his face, Cassian closed his eyes, attempting to piece together the shattered fragments of his memories. Though there were no scars left on his body—thanks to his newly acquired healing ability—the same couldn't be said for his mind.
Now, in a relatively calm state, his thoughts drifted to the time when he had killed without hesitation or guilt. That version of himself felt unrecognizable, yet disturbingly familiar. Even now, the lack of remorse lingered. The justification played in his mind: if he hadn't killed them, they would have tortured and killed him instead.
"I'll kill anyone who dares to inflict pain upon me..." he muttered under his breath, his voice carrying a sharp edge of anger.
As the words left his lips, a crimson glow enveloped his body, the heat radiating from him intensifying. But just as quickly, it subsided. Letting out a sigh, Cassian shook his head, unwilling to dwell on those thoughts any longer. Instead, he focused his attention inward and opened his status screen, curious if anything had changed.
[Name : Trainee Cassian ven dyke
Warrior level : Trainee
[System function : Training field (available)
Swords mastery : Apprentice Lv5
Half Body Massage Mastery : Lv2(119/500)
Passive skills : Self healing, Pain Immunity.]
[Accepted task : The Skilled Masseur(0/10)]
[Finished Task : Path of the Gladiator (Completed), Beginner Monster Slayer (Completed)
[Training points : 61]
His status had changed significantly, particularly his attributes, which had seen a noticeable boost. The most dramatic improvements were in his endurance and vitality—undoubtedly tied to the newly acquired skills he noticed on the screen.
Self-Healing and Pain Immunity—the names of the skills were self-explanatory, but the reasons for acquiring them ran deeper. Cassian knew that when someone awakened their domain, they typically gained abilities aligned with their innermost desires. He could easily understand why Pain Immunity had manifested.
After everything he had endured, it was clear he no longer wanted to feel pain. However, the emergence of Self-Healing puzzled him. He couldn't pinpoint what had prompted it, but he considered himself fortunate. Both skills were exceedingly rare among circle warriors, and Pain Immunity was so unusual that it was practically unheard of.
As he thought about Pain Immunity, a faint sizzling sound reached his ears. Startled, Cassian glanced down at his skin and realized the water was scalding hot—yet he felt nothing. The realization sent a jolt of fear through him. If he couldn't feel physical pain anymore, what else might be dulled?
With this unsettling thought in mind, he hastily stepped out of the bath, water dripping from his half-dressed form. To his surprise, Lucy was waiting just outside, her serene smile greeting him.
Still only wearing his pants, Cassian approached her with urgency. Without preamble, he said, "Miss Lucy, I need to confirm something. Could you... could you show me your breasts for a minute?"
Her eyes widened, the serene smile freezing as confusion flickered across her face.
Lucy raised an amused eyebrow, her lips curling into a teasing smile. "Well, that's a bold request," she said, her tone light and playful. But as she looked at Cassian's face, her amusement deepened. He wasn't blushing, fumbling, or trying to make excuses—his expression was dead serious.
She chuckled softly, shaking her head in disbelief. "I don't mind showing them to you," she said, her voice carrying a hint of mischief, "but young man, only this time. Don't expect it every time."
Cassian nodded, his gaze steady. "Thank you, Miss Lucy," he said earnestly, his tone making it clear that this wasn't some frivolous request.
Cassian waited with a serious, focused gaze as Lucy, seemingly unfazed, began unbuttoning her shirt. The fabric parted to reveal her smooth, milky skin, partially concealed beneath a beige lace bra. Once she had undone the last button, she paused and, with a subtle quirk of her brow, asked, "Can I ask what exactly you're trying to confirm?"
Cassian stepped closer to her, his hand moving gently toward her back before she could unhook her bra. With a focused expression, he said, "You know, right? I lost the ability to feel pain?"
"Yeah... what about that?" Lucy asked, unfazed as Cassian's face pressed against her chest while he unhooked her bra and removed it. The fabric slipped away, allowing her chest to fall naturally into place as it was freed.
He glanced at them and explained, "I was afraid I lost some other sensation with it..." He reached out, squeezing them gently, and continued, "But it doesn't seem to..."
Lucy smiled as she noticed the bulge forming in his pants.
"Well, I am grateful you didn't, else," Lucy said, pressing against the bulge. "I don't know where I would have found another of this thing... if you had lost the ability to make it work..."
Cassian blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her words. He raised an eyebrow, a surprised expression crossing his face, before an amused smile spread across his lips. "Is that all you care about?" he asked, his tone teasing, a playful glint in his eyes as he squeezed both of her breasts, enjoying her soft flesh with a hungry touch.
Lucy's smile widened as she noticed the shift in his expression. She let her gaze wander down to the growing bulge in his pants before slowly meeting his eyes again, her own gaze mischievous and confident. "What if I said yes?" she asked, her voice soft but full of teasing curiosity. "Would that make me a bad woman?"
Her words hung in the air, her playful smirk daring him to respond.