Gathering Wives with a System Chapter 5: Soulbind Pendent

Perhaps closeness carried a certain influence?

If that's the case... wouldn't rejecting it be utterly foolish?

'Right. I'm pursuing this for the prizes. For boosting my power. It's not out of any personal desire.'

A shiver ran through Isaac as Emily's chilly form pressed close to him.

At the start, their actions were tentative and unhurried, yet as the evening dragged into night, natural urges began to guide them.

Emily held on tightly, her face dreamy as she requested more kisses.

The gentle tone of her voice, the tender feel of her skin, and the innocent longing in her pleas shattered every bit of reluctance Isaac felt.

Soft breaths and prolonged caresses filled the chamber until weariness finally overtook them.

[Host has received Soulbind Pendant x1, Random Gift Box x1]

Sunlight from the dawn poured in via the window, spreading warm golden tones over the space.

Isaac stirred and opened his eyes.

The spot next to him lay vacant.

"Was it all just a dream?"

He covered his face with his hands.

Had his longing grown so intense that he imagined sharing a bed with a spirit?

A clatter from the kitchen suddenly interrupted his musings.

Isaac whipped his head around, spotting cookware hovering in the air.

Dishes and glasses shifted by themselves. A frying pan bubbled on the burner.

He scrubbed at his eyes, yet the scene stayed the same.

While attempting to 'observe' the activity, a strange force awakened in his vision.

[Demonic Eyes] activated.

A sound echoed in his mind, prompting him to glance back at the kitchen.

There stood Emily, drifting about with a resolute look, donning an apron as she fixed the breakfast.

It lent her an oddly endearing appearance.

She faced him and grinned.

"Good morning."

"....Morning."

"Come on, let's eat breakfast."

Isaac settled at the modest table, still grappling with the truth while staring at the hot dish Emily set in front of him.

She took a seat beside him, her face bright with anticipation as she observed.

"Give it a taste."

"And what about yours? There's just one serving here."

"I don't require food. It doesn't provide me with vitality." She offered a gentle smile. "I'd rather you consume it. I can draw energy from you afterward."

"You ought to eat anyway. Plenty of folks do it for the flavor."

"Your lips are tastier," she whispered.

Isaac grinned while sampling a mouthful of the meal.

"It is delicious."

"Thank you."

Emily beamed bashfully.

While munching, he summoned his System.

Following the previous evening's exertions, his Constitution had risen by one. Emily's had too. By linking her attribute to his own, his Constitution gained a total boost of 2 from that night.

He reviewed the alert records.

[Host has received Soulbind Pendant x1, Random Gift Box x1 for his first marital night with his wife, Emily Warren.]

A pendant materialized under his clothing.

He pulled it free and inspected it closely.

The pendant consisted of a compact piece of dark rock. Though smooth on the outside, subtle, time-worn fissures marked its face.

Inside, he detected a vast, unoccupied residence.

The structure came equipped with numerous sleeping quarters, cooking areas on each level, and a modest outdoor garden.

"Isaac, what's that?"

"Is something off?"

He caught the peculiar gaze Emily directed at the pendant.

"It's nothing. It simply seems like I could go inside it."

Isaac arched an eyebrow.

The pendant measured about the length of his thumb, while Emily stood roughly 168 cm (5'4). Could she fit into something so tiny?

Moments like this drove home the fact that he inhabited a different realm.

His reflections halted abruptly at the chime of the doorbell.

He immediately knew who waited outside.

Professor Lorrain.

"Enter the pendant," he instructed Emily, hurrying toward the entrance.

She gave a nod, transforming into a beam of light that slipped into the pendant.

He sensed her materializing inside the dwelling.

With that, Isaac swung open the door to welcome Professor Lorrain.

In contrast to the prior evening, she wore a neat button-down blouse paired with fitted trousers, though these did little to conceal her shape.

The blouse hugged her bust snugly.

The material appeared ready to strain at any moment, and the trousers accentuated her waist and hips, highlighting her contours.

"Morning, Professor."

"Morning."

She entered without pausing for permission.

Her nostrils flared faintly as she inhaled the scent in the air.

"I spotted a sign near Blackmire Pond a couple of weeks ago," she mentioned, alluding to the dim, stagnant pool close to the city barriers. "It bore a warning that read, "

Isaac stared in bewilderment.

"I pondered what sort of individual would attempt to approach a crocodile. Those creatures are fierce beasts, after all." Her gaze fixed on his. "Now I understand."

His eyebrow jerked.

Disregarding his response, she scanned the surroundings.

"Where's Emily?"

"She wasn't there when I awoke," he answered, then added in a drawn-out, uneasy voice on purpose. "Perhaps she slipped away?"

"Escape isn't possible for her. A ward encircles this space, blocking all spectral entities from passing."

Isaac's gut clenched.

It dawned on him that Professor Lorrain truly intended to claim Emily as her Bonded Beast.

Over breakfast, he had researched Bonded Beasts.

They functioned as servants.

Their owners subdued them and compelled submission.

Whispers suggested owners could tamper with the Bonded Beast's thoughts and emotions.

They might even compel affection.

"So, where has she gone?"

Isaac stayed quiet, though anxiety surged within him.

Professor Lorrain had arrived to subdue a ghost rivaling an Adept-rank Awakener, clad in her everyday instructor outfit, treating it like routine.

'Should she attempt to seize Emily by force, I'd be forced to resist. I won't hand her over to anyone capable of twisting her mind.'

Victory wasn't necessary for him to flee.

Phantom Step (SSS rank) was at his disposal.

A skill of SSS rank in mobility demanded respect.

Lorraine grinned slyly, as though peering into his very thoughts.

"No issue if you're unaware of her location," she remarked offhandedly. "You ought to prepare for your Talent Awakening. It marks a key milestone in your journey."

Isaac's forehead creased.

"Here's an idea?" she pressed on. "Get dressed. I'll take you to the academy myself. Consider it my personal favor."

'What's her angle—'

Chills trickled down his spine upon noticing her subtle smirk.