Even as I shivered with uneasiness, I reached out to pick the reward which was just too good to pass up. Immediately, the back of my right hand heated up. I had somewhat expected it. After my legs, arms, and the back of my left hand, it was only proper that the next tattoo appeared on the back of the right hand. It couldn’t have been my eyes or lips. I wasn’t worried at all!

Feeling relieved that it wasn’t a place that was hard to cover, I took off my gauntlet and checked my right hand. There, I saw a pair of spread bat wings entangled by two chains. While it was giving off a pink glow and a feeling of elegance, I felt relieved that it was a much more wholesome symbol than I had imagined.

However, I soon came to regret that decision.

[You have obtained the Succubus Queen’s Tattoo. Your charm and magic have increased by 50. Against members of the opposite sex, the effect doubles. Once per day, you can double your mana.]

I muttered, “Mm, excellent.”

I experienced the effect of the charm stat every day, so the Succubus Queen’s Tattoo was a great boon. Increasing both magic and charm by 50! Not to mention, the effect of charm doubled against members of the opposite sex. It was truly a monstrous effect.

However, doubling my mana once per day…was an amazing effect, but it was almost as if… No, it must be my imagination.[1]

I sighed. “Let’s head out then.”

After putting my gauntlet back on, I left the Floor Master room. Loretta was sitting by the Floor Shop with her chin on her hand, and her expression changed when she saw me leaving the room.

“Shi, Shin-nim!?” she shrieked.

I gave her an odd glance. “What? Is something wrong?”

Was there a tattoo on my body that I didn’t notice? When I became flustered, Loretta took out her double-edged ax and said with a flushed face, “How did you suddenly become so much more charming!? What happened to you, Shin-nim!? If you tell me honestly, nothing bad will happen! I-I-It can’t b-be, w-with that damned succubus, you…!”

The ax in her hand was bending with a creaking noise. T-That thing, I held it once and it was really heavy… Loretta could bend it with just her hands!? As I was scared for my life, I decided to explain everything thoroughly.

“Oh, I see. It was the tattoo’s power.”

Looking relieved, Loretta chucked the ax behind her. The dungeon floor caved in. Scary...

“I thought Shin-nim again…Whew, nevermind. That’s good.”

I smiled sheepishly. “It looks like I’m still lacking in practice. I thought I was controlling the charming aura I was emitting pretty well. Ugh, it’s going to take ages again.”

Loretta gave me a look. “Shin-nim’s current charm stat has entered a dangerous level. It should be fine for members of the same sex, but for the opposite sex, it will be a disaster. Just imagine every woman that meets your eyes falling in love with you. Once it happens, that’s it. There’s no way to escape it. It’s not a status effect; your charm had simply conquered their heart.”

“That’s cruel…” I muttered.

What I had to deal with now was tiring enough!

Loretta warned me, “Shin-nim’s charm can even shake my heart now. You have to control it carefully.”

“Yes…” I nodded absentmindedly.

Damn, so having higher stats wasn’t always good! Of course, as magic had increased by 50 points in addition to charm, I needed time to train and digest the increase. I sighed. I then plopped down on the ground and began to circulate Peruta Circuit. Loretta placed her elbow back on the Floor Shop counter and watched me with a warm smile.

“At least for this time, I get to have Shin-nim for myself, huhuhu.”

I snorted. “Don’t say something so corny. I can’t focus.”

She cooed, “Yesss~ Huhu.”

Afterwards, for ten hours every day, I sat in front of the Floor Shop and trained in controlling my charm. Of course, I didn’t forget to grind the Succubus Queen ten times a day for the magic and charm increasing invigoration elixir she dropped. Although it may seem like a vain effort, I couldn’t sit idly either.

Since I had to avoid seeing those of the opposite sex as much as possible, Ren was the only person I saw from Revival daily. I had to meet him anyways for the thrashing phase.

“I’m sure that Crown Prince hates me!” he wailed during one particular session.

I grinned broadly. “I don’t hate you at all. There, you’re open!”

He howled in despair, “Is there even a single moment in your eyes where I don’t have an opening!?”

“Of course not,” I replied blithely.

He shrieked, “I knew it, you hate me!”

“Ren is just too weak!” I mocked teasingly.

Because of the charm discharge problem I was having, the underground training room had become a prohibited area for the time being. Ye-Eun and Sophie seemed to be displeased as they used it quite often, but when I explained the situation, they reluctantly accepted it.

As a result, Ren and I got to occupy the training room for ourselves, while Father and Walker sometimes dropped by to watch Ren getting beat up. I was thankful that Michel and Leon were devoting all their time to climbing the dungeon. If there were new spectators, Ren would undoubtedly cry.

My father said approvingly, “Oh, my son is truly talented in beating people up!”

Walker replied dourly, “I know that first hand. Kang Shin’s beaten me up before.”

“Please leave! Are you happy watching me getting beaten up?” Ren begged.

“Opening!” I pointed out gleefully.

“Kuhuk!”

I beat up Ren to relieve the stress of being unable to see Ina and Yua…Ahem. Feeling glad that I was helping Ren with his growth, I spent my days in the dungeon working very hard.

Ever since Ren began living on Earth, it seemed he had a change of heart as his quick temperament and habit of losing his sanity in battles was being mended smoothly. It might be too early now, but I was planning on holding Ren back for 10 days while I was grinding the 70th floor master. Maybe by doing that his habit of going berserk might be completely fixed.

On the 10th day after my 65th Floor Master grind fest began, Ren asked, “Crown Prince, do you believe you can protect Earth?”

He had chosen a good time: neither Father nor Walker was in the training room. Apparently, he hadn’t been just getting beaten up as he was dodging my attacks skillfully. As I was about to call it a day so I could go grind the Floor Master, I took my spear back and retorted, “Of course I do. Do you think I’ll fail?”

“Haha, don’t kid. If there’s anyone in this guild with an absolute trust in you, it would be me,” Ren retorted with a bitter smile as he leaned against his claymore. Since he had used up most of his stamina and mana, he was moving quite slowly.

He slowly swept his hair up. His lion’s mane-like hair became entangled after getting coated in his dripping sweat.

He added, “I can’t believe in myself.”

Oh right, Ren had become the Panan continent’s Hero. I was the one who made him one.

Remembering that crucial fact, I replied with a shrug, “You’re lacking in training.”

“Right, I am. That’s what I thought you would say…But I’m really shaking inside. The kids that are looking only at me…Ah, of course, Elfa is also looking at Crown Prince, but the point is, both Lebuik and the kids trust me wholeheartedly. They trust that I’ll chase the El Patiz out and reclaim the Panan continent. I…I find that extremely pressuring.”

“Don’t worry about it so much. There are still at least 2 years before you’ll have to try,” I replied as if it was something trivial and returned my spear to its choker form.

Ren looked at me and asked, “If you die, Earth will lose its future. Have you not thought about that?”

I shook my head. “Nope.”

“If you die, billions of people will lose their future. Even if they don’t fall into the monsters’ hands, they will slowly wither away. Have you ever despaired thinking about that?” he asked, his eyes serious.

I smiled. “Nope.”

“When you die, those left on Earth will resent you and curse you with all their heart. Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night when they appear in your dreams?”

“Nope.”

After replying to that question, I glared at Ren.

“Are you stupid? I’m busily swinging my spear, climbing the dungeon, and gathering more members of Revival. I already had my mind full with all of this, so how would I have the time to think about something that hasn’t even happened and despair? Rather than worrying about all that, just swing your sword one more time.”

He wailed, “How can you do that? What I’m saying is, how can you shake away all this pressure?”

It appeared an unforeseen side effect had come from Ren’s thrashing phase. He was feeling pressure as a Hero, and he had come to doubt his abilities. For someone who looked so reliable, he couldn’t be more delicate. Simply put, it was annoying.

“Ren, how many beastmen are alive in Panan continent?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I’m not sure, but it can’t be many. There’s the possibility that there are none left.”

“What would happen if you suddenly died and lost the Hero’s power?”

He replied quietly, “Humans and beastmen wouldn’t be able to proliferate on the Panan continent ever again… Though Lebuik and the kids will be fine.”

“Then even if you die, it’s not like a lot of people will lose their future, right?” I pointed out.

He frowned. “That’s true, but then the Panan continent will…!”

I gathered mana at my fingertips and flicked it at him. It hit Ren’s forehead and pushed him backward.

I sighed. “You don’t even know how many people will die, so how can you be so scared? There’s probably nothing more pathetic than that. Plus, it’s not like you’ll be going back to the Panan continent alone. I and other members of Revival will also go.”

“Crown Prince…” he said forlornly.

I continued, “Ren, you said you trusted me. Then there’s nothing to worry about. I’ll go back to the Panan continent with you, and if your strength isn’t enough, I’ll offer my power. So rather than worrying about the consequences of you dying, just focus on your training.”

I then dealt the heavy blow.

“Let’s double the thrashing phase’s intensity. I was happy thinking that you were getting better, but it turns out you were just out of steam. I’ll make sure you get your lost spirit back. Aren’t you happy?”

“I’m not happy at all! Double!? Did you just say double!?” he shrieked.

Ren’s ears perked up and shook. However, I had no intention of taking back my words, but since I had understood how he was feeling, I decided to be a bit more honest.

I smiled slightly. “I’m also human, Ren. Of course, I thought about such things and got a bit depressed. But Ren, if I die, will you blame me?”

“Of course not! You’re doing everything you can!” He shook his head vigorously.

“Would Yua, Hwaya, or Ina blame me?” I asked again.

He replied seriously. “I think they’d be sadder that Crown Prince died than Earth ending.”

“Right. So there’s nothing I need to fear. I’m already doing all that I can.”

I put my hands on his shoulders.

“Ren, you do everything you can too. Then, you won’t have anything to fear. Plus, I’m the one that made you a Hero. I think of you as my disciple, so I’ll help you too.”

He asked forlornly, “Is that why you’re doubling the thrashing phase…”

Seeing Ren’s sullen face, a sinister thought crossed my mind.

“Oh, by the way, Ren, if it gets too hard, ask Lebuik to sleep together with you,” I said slyly.

He instantly turned beet red.“H-H-H-H-How can I do that! To Lebuik!?”

I continued teasingly. “Didn’t you say Lebuik was like a mother? When things get hard, falling asleep in a mother's embrace is the best.”

“But this and that are totally different things!” he shrieked.

I grinned widely and slapped his back. “Just believe me. Go to Lebuik’s room at night and ask, ‘Can I rely on you a bit?’ Lebuik treasures you too. She’ll surely let you in.”

He breathed deeply. “Lebuik will never do that!”

“Ren, do as I say. Lebuik won’t refuse, I promise.” I winked.

“…Really?” He looked at me suspiciously.

I nodded. “Really. You can kick me otherwise.”

He sighed. “Mmm… Alright, if you are willing to go that far, I’ll give it a try…I didn’t know Lebuik thought of me as a son…”

Well, something like that. I’m sure she thinks of making a son with you. I replied to him silently and began to think about how Lebuik would repay this favor. Right, banquet noodles would be best.[2]

1. A Korean reader asked the author what this meant. The Author replied, “Try substituting mana with some other unit…” ☜

2. Traditionally Korean noodles served at weddings. ☜