Strongest Mystic

[So you have your own dark past.]

"No shit." Ethan rolled his eyes and said, "Just please don't make fun of this sensitive topic."

[I am not insensitive like you.]

"Bulshit, you are a stupid AI like being who always makes fun and plays with feelings."

[No shit,] Nyx sneered.

"…" He was amazed by her shamelessness. But considering that she was a system, not like she should have shame… Well, never mind, no need to think about this stuff.

He then asked her to open the next hidden quest.

[Crush on Ethan Chase]

[Ethan Chase always wanted to have some girl like him. The heir made this possible. The remnant will is satisfied. Special points: +50.]

"This dude feels like some king giving out his leftovers to peasants." Ethan grumbled.

[Well you can consider the will like that, after all it provides the maximum special points.]

Ethan smiled, "And so far the most trouble too."

Ethan remembered feeling satisfied and accomplished as Sasha's interest in him grew, but now he felt uneasy about it. When he shared his discomfort with Nyx, she was puzzled.

[I don't understand. Shouldn't it make you feel good when someone is interested in you?]

Ethan responded, "It does feel good, but I'm worried I won't be able to return her feelings."

Nyx pointed out, [You were the one trying to seduce her, and now you're being hypocritical by not embracing her interest in you.]

Ethan washed his face and sighed, "I may be hypocritical, but I don't want to have regrets."

Nyx finally understood and said, [So, you're just being selfish.]

Ethan simply replied, "Yes."

Nyx countered, [But you're also considering Sasha's feelings, so it's not entirely selfish.] Nyx then grumbled, [I thought you were just a simple-minded, lustful fool.]

Ethan replied with sarcasm, "Thanks for the compliment, miss." He dried his face with a towel and continued, "As I said, I don't want to have regrets. I don't care if my actions are right or wrong, I just don't want to feel that way again."

Nyx became silent as Ethan took a deep breath and stepped out of the bathroom. He saw Sasha sitting on the bed, her face still flushed.

He went and sat next to her, placing his hand on hers, and smiled at her as she gazed at him with wide eyes. She looked so cute.

Sasha mumbled, "Why do you look so attractive right now?"

Ethan's charm was a hundred right now, but more importantly, he told Sasha, "Because you're starting to like me."

Sasha looked taken aback, confusion and uncertainty crossed her face. "I-I think I do feel that way, but that's so unlike me. I still have so much to learn about you, so it doesn't make sense for my heart to race for you so suddenly."

Ethan nodded and explained, "I noticed that, which is why I wanted to make things clear. I don't want either of us to feel bad later on."

Sasha asked, "What do you mean?"

Ethan took a deep breath and told her, "I'm a womanizer and won't be satisfied with just you. Even if we start dating, I'll still pursue other women. I'm sorry, but I can't control this."

Sasha was stunned and didn't know how to respond.

Ethan knew that he needed to clarify his stance. He could already see how the influence of the "remnant will" would impact him and his future decisions. Rather than resisting this supernatural force, he decided to go along with it and he also knew his nature.

Most importantly, he acknowledged that he did not love Sasha. He believed that simply finding someone attractive or likable did not equate to love. If he truly loved someone, he would be willing to fight even gods, if they existed, to be with them.

Sasha's face fell into a frown, but Ethan tenderly eased it by placing his hand on her cheek. "Take your time, Sasha," he said comfortingly. "I'll accept whatever decision you make."

Sasha nodded and closed her eyes, slowly relaxing. Ethan patiently waited.

[Sasha Drew's Interest: -20]

'I guess that's it then,' Ethan thought.

However, Sasha suddenly opened her eyes and looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes.

[Sasha Drew's Interest: +5]

Confused, Ethan watched as Sasha chuckled. "I had started to have hopes for our future, but then you showed me the truth. You don't like me."

"I'm sorry," Ethan said, feeling guilty.

"Don't be," Sasha replied, squeezing his hand and smiling softly. "Actually, thank you for being honest. It just shows that you have a good heart. Despite feeling disappointed, I still want to get to know you better. So..."

Sasha leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Ethan's lips. "With this kiss, let's start fresh."

Ethan admired Sasha's outstanding character and realized that she was a much better person than he was. He could feel his attraction to her slowly increasing.

Laughing, Ethan nodded, "Great!"

A few days later, Ethan was in the physical therapy room and had just finished a session. He chugged in some water and said to Dr. Emily in a casual tone, "By the way, I haven't seen nurse Claire around for a while.

He wanted to know more about her but he couldn't see her for some time and of course, he wouldn't ask Sasha about it, until she got comfortable with his antics.

Dr. Emily cocked her head. "You know Claire?"

Ethan shrugged. "Sasha has mentioned her a few times, so yeah."

Dr. Emily laughed and jokingly said, "Sasha must be envious of her beauty."

Ethan smiled. "Dr. Emily, it's not nice to talk about her like that."

Emily grinned. "It's all in good fun. We're close friends so she wouldn't mind even if you told her."

"I wouldn't do that," Ethan replied.

"Good," Dr. Emily nodded and added, "Claire was a great nurse."

"Was?" Ethan asked, sensing a hint of past tense in her words.

Dr. Emily let out a sigh. "Unfortunately, she left the hospital a while back. Otherwise, she would have been helping me with your therapy."

Ethan thought to himself, 'What a shame,' and asked curiously, "What happened?"

Dr. Emily shrugged. "I don't know. I tried asking, but all she said was that she had some family issues."

"I see," Ethan responded.

"It's really a shame that the hospital doesn't have such a talented nurse anymore," Dr. Emily continued. "She's quite young and doesn't have a medical degree, but she scored high on the FET exam."

"FET?" Ethan asked.

"It's an exam that every physiotherapist has to take," Dr. Emily explained.

"Ah," Ethan said, comprehending.

"Yeah, she was really amazing. Her knowledge of human anatomy even surprised me. Too bad she was also a shy and reclusive person," Dr. Emily added.

Ethan guessed, "So you don't have her contact information?"

Dr. Emily smiled bitterly and then playfully smacked her forehead. "We shouldn't have talked so much. Come on, you need to do some more stretches."

Ethan smiled and nodded in agreement.

Later that night, Ethan was drifting off to sleep when he felt a presence beside him. He thought about how Sasha had been so stubborn, refusing his offer of sex, claiming that even a seemingly relaxed position like cowgirl was too physically taxing.

He remembered how she had been so embarrassed by the thought that, if they were to actually have sex, she wouldn't be able to control herself and wouldn't be gentle, which made him smile.

Ethan laughed. "Can't control yourself now?" and turned to look beside him, only to find that it wasn't Sasha, but a tall, dark figure wearing a large robe and a mask that obscured their face.

His laughter died away as a thought occurred to him: 'Am I fucked again?'

Nyx was quick to respond, [...sorry, maybe you are.]

'...'