My Scumbag System - Chapter 114

Chapter 114: My Gacha Luck is Terrible, But My Seduction Game is S-Rank
The digital readout on the weight machine ticked upward: 220, 230, 240. I gritted my teeth, forcing the bar up one more time before it clattered back into the rack.

“Fucking hell,” I muttered, checking the time on my phone: 3:17 AM.

The house was silent, everyone long asleep. I had been down here for almost three hours, driving my body past its limits. My muscles screamed in protest as I moved to the punching bag.

I imagined Reyna Cabana’s face on the bag as I unleashed a series of jabs and crosses. La Sirena. A-Rank potential with an S-Rank pedigree. The kind of natural talent that made someone like me look like a joke.

“System stats,” I whispered to Nel, not wanting to risk waking anyone.

The floating interface appeared before me, hovering like a ghost in the dim light of the gym.

SATORI NAKANO

Level: 1 | Title: King of the Glass House | Class: None | Schema Points: 245

ATTRIBUTES:

Strength: D-329 Endurance: D-358

Dexterity: D-258 [+150] Magic: F-172

Agility: D-283

ACTIVE ABILITIES (2/2):

Ember, Sever

PASSIVE ABILITIES (2/4):

Mysticism, Protection From Arrows

SKILLS & TRAITS:

Charming Eyes, Intermediate Kama Sutra, Basic First Aid, Rivalry, Consort’s Touch

I swiped the screen away with a frustrated gesture. The numbers were climbing too slowly. The Gala was in four days, and I would be swimming with sharks.

“I need an edge,” I muttered.

[Did you have something in mind?]

“Show me the Gacha.”

The cosmic slot machine materialized in my vision, Apollo’s grinning chibi face welcoming me with a taunting wave.

[A five-pull will cost you 100 SP] Nel informed me.

“Do it.”

The machine whirred to life, cosmic energy swirling through its display. The first pull: Bronze. A useless hand cream that supposedly softened calluses.

Second pull: Silver. A recipe for monster-meat stew.

Third and fourth: More Bronze trash. A pocket lint remover and a shoe polish that changed color based on mood.

“This is fucking ridiculous,” I growled.

The final pull ignited in a flash of gold light. A small silver pin shaped like a serpent eating its own tail materialized in my palm.

[THE LIAR’S BROOCH – Gold Tier]A small, silver pin shaped like a serpent eating its own tail. It subtly warms when the wearer is being lied to and enhances the believability of the wearer’s own falsehoods by 20%.

A slow smile spread across my face as I examined the brooch. I pinned it to the inside of my workout shirt, feeling it settle against my chest.

“Now we’re talking.”

===

I was in the middle of a sprint training session when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I slowed to a jog, my breath fogging in the cool morning air of the park.

Natalia’s text was simple: This is harder than I thought.

I typed back immediately: I know. It’s a test. Don’t fail it. Remember what we’re building, my Queen.

Her response came a minute later: I won’t. See you tonight.

I tucked the phone back into my pocket and resumed my run, pushing myself harder. The physical exertion helped keep the edge off. I hadn’t anticipated how difficult this would be either – not just the acting, but the distance. Having tasted what it was like to have her completely, the withdrawal was worse than I expected.

As I rounded the bend in the park path, a familiar figure caught my eye. Emi sat on a bench near the fountain, a sketchbook balanced on her knees. She hadn’t noticed me yet, absorbed in whatever she was drawing.

I slowed my pace, calculating. This was an unexpected opportunity.

“Emi?”

She looked up, her face lighting up with surprise and delight. “Satori! What are you doing here?”

“Morning run,” I gestured to my workout clothes, slowing to a stop in front of her bench. “What about you?”

“Half day,” she explained, closing her sketchbook quickly. A blush rose to her cheeks. “I was just… getting some fresh air.”

I cocked my head toward the sketchbook. “What are you working on?”

“Oh, nothing really,” she mumbled, her blush deepening.

“May I?” I held out my hand.

After a moment’s hesitation, she passed me the book. I flipped it open to discover page after page of Hunter gear designs – sleek combat suits, utility belts, reinforced boots. The most recent page showcased a figure with an uncanny resemblance to me, wearing an armored jacket adorned with intricate flame motifs cascading down the sleeves.

“These are amazing,” I said, genuinely impressed. The designs weren’t just good – they were innovative, stylish, and showed real talent.

“It’s silly,” she mumbled, reaching for the book with embarrassment written across her face.

I held it just beyond her grasp, examining another page. “It’s not silly at all. This is your passion, right? Hunter gear design?”

Emi nodded, surprise flickering across her features, her eyes widening slightly. “You remembered.”

“Of course I did.” I settled beside her on the bench, our shoulders nearly touching, the warmth of her body radiating between us. “I remember everything you tell me.”

We lost ourselves in conversation for twenty minutes, Emi eagerly revealing more of her designs while I provided thoughtful feedback, suggesting tactical improvements that made her eyes light up. The conversation meandered effortlessly between us, her initial shyness melting away like morning frost, replaced by genuine, infectious enthusiasm that animated her whole body.

“I should probably get back to my run,” I finally said, reluctantly standing and stretching my cooling muscles.

“Oh, right. Of course.” She looked disappointed.

I leaned down and kissed her cheek, letting my lips linger just a fraction too long. “I’ll call you after the Gala. I want to hear what you think of these new boots you designed.”

She touched her cheek, eyes wide. “Y-yes. Please do.”

As I jogged away, I could feel her eyes on my back. The foundation was solid. After the Gala, I would accelerate things with Emi. We needed the cover she would provide, and her healing Aspect would be invaluable once we reached the Academy.

The brooch remained cool against my chest. I really did want to call her after the Gala. I really did like her designs.

I wondered if Kaelen Leone was still in here somewhere, or if I was becoming something else entirely.