Chapter 4 What the hell even is a SIMP system?
Aspen kept staring at the floating window flashing before him. If watching anime had taught him anything, it was that acquiring a system was the fastest way to become a hero.
But the system Aspen had just bonded to made absolutely no sense to him.
“Just what the hell is a SIMP system?”
A voice immediately responded, but it wasn’t an echo in his ears. It was a whisper in his head.
[The SIMP system is a unique system that allows the host to seduce, manipulate, and control others by using her sexual appeal and wily charms. Seduce the lustful, manipulate the weak, and control anyone or anything that fails to resist your charms.]
Hearing that explanation only made Aspen feel worse than before.
“A system that allows me to seduce people!” he shrieked. “What a brilliant idea for a practical joke! At least help me learn some powerful spells!”
[The host lacks mana and is unable to learn magic spells.]
[You must rely on your feminine charms to survive and succeed in this world.]
Aspen broke off into a sardonic chuckle.
“Use my feminine charms to survive, you say? Wouldn’t that be easy?” he muttered. “Especially when there are freaking goblins running around trying to impregnate me!”
Before Aspen could continue his rant, his system window flashed again and issued a new warning.
[Current Objective: Find an appropriate set of clothes to flaunt your beauty.]
[Time remaining: 45 minutes and 30 seconds.]
“When were you going to tell me it’s a timed quest?” Aspen fumed. “Damn it!”
As he looked at his reflection again, he noticed he was wearing the same clothes from the night of his accident.
“The goal is to flaunt my beauty right. How about this?”
Thinking on his feet, he pulled off his hooded jacket and tossed it away, keeping only his plain black tee on his body. Next, he squeezed out of his trousers and stood in just his boxers.
Now there was plenty of skin on show, and even his womanly assets looked more visible.
“You wanted me to flaunt my beauty, right? There you go!”
[Objective pending.]
[Host is yet to acquire appropriate clothing.]
“Of course, you needed to remember that,” Aspen muttered. “Fine. At least let me have an objective marker. Just point me in the right direction, and I’ll wear whatever you need me to.”
Aspen waited for a bright green arrow to pop over his head and guide him in the direction of the objective, but there was no response from the system.
It didn’t take long for him to realize that he was completely on his own for this one. If he wanted to complete the objective, he needed to get moving.
“How the hell am I supposed to find clothes in the middle of the woods?”
As Aspen looked around, he noticed some of the trees had missing branches, and there were quite a few woody stumps sticking from the ground.
He quickly understood that someone had deliberately hacked down these trees to use the wood. That meant there was definitely a settlement nearby. And if he had any luck, it could be a human village.
Alright, time to get moving before more freaks show up.
Aspen put his clothes back on and hurried through the woods.
On his way, he picked up a broken tree branch for safety. It wasn’t much of a weapon, but easily beat walking unarmed.
Back during his school camping trips, Aspen had learned that following a moving water source was the best way to find human habitation, and that’s exactly what he did.
Sticking close to the brook, Aspen walked through the woods, keeping his eyes open and his ears perked.
At least I managed to lose that slobbering goblin. But I should still be careful. There could be more of those freaks around.
As Aspen crossed the shady trees and reached a small clearing, he suddenly heard the rustling of leaves nearby. He turned sharply to his right, just in time to spy the faintest movement in the surrounding bushes.
His heart started pounding again as he imagined another goblin spying on him.
“Not again,” he mumbled, clenching his stick tightly. “I have a weapon now, so you'd better keep your distance,” he cried, swishing the tree branch like a sword.
Coral red eyes peeped from the foliage, and the very next moment, a massive black wolf jumped out of the bushes and blocked his way.
Its bristly gray fur covered its thick hide like a mane, and two pairs of dagger-like fangs stuck out of its mouth like a saber-tooth.
As Aspen looked down, he noticed its claws were steely gray and almost as big as his fingers.
A throaty growl rumbled from its belly as it pulled its lips back and started circling its helpless prey.
Aspen’s throat dried up as he felt his heart thumping inside his chest. He wanted to run, but his legs froze in place.
The crooked tree branch he was still holding looked nothing more than a little toothpick in front of the massive wolf standing before him.
Still, Aspen grabbed the branch with both hands and thrust it forward like a spear.
“Ba…back off or I will end you!” He threatened in a cracking voice, his legs shaking already.
The wolf attacked without warning, its jaws snapping through the air.
Aspen barely managed to avoid its sharp claws, but its fangs broke the stick in half, leaving him completely unarmed.
With thick white drool dripping from its mouth, the wolf lurched toward Aspen, ready to finish things with one decisive lunge.
Realizing there was no way he could win this confrontation with his bare hands, Aspen did the only thing he could think of.
Inhaling sharply, he puffed his chest and yelled.
“Help me, please! Somebody save me from this beast!” he cried as he had never cried in his whole life. “It’s going to tear me to pieces. Why won’t somebody save me? Please help me!”
Something moved through the trees behind, followed by the shuffling of footsteps.
Aspen smiled, a flood of relief washing over him as he imagined being rescued by a hero.
But his joy soon disappeared as he saw a small child running out of the tree line.
“Get away from her!” the little boy cried, tossing a small apple at the beast.
The wolf growled and shifted its attention to the boy.
At least that should be enough to fill the wolf’s belly. A nice, juicy little boy is always better than a girl like me, right?
Aspen took advantage of this little distraction and prepared to slink away, but something stirred in his heart as he saw the massive wolf ambling toward the boy, its fangs bared like knives.
“Screw it!” he cursed. “Get out of here, kid. What the hell are you even doing all alone in these woods?” he shouted.
The little boy giggled. “Who said I was alone?”
He put his fingers into his mouth and whistled loudly.
A rush of footsteps converged on the clearing, and a group of seven little boys poured out of the woods, armed with slingshots.
“Get away from our friend, you ugly dog!”
Whick!
Sharp stones flew like bullets, peppering the wolf in the face and nearly taking out its left eye.
It yelped and fell back before disappearing into the bushes again.
Aspen couldn’t believe his luck. He had nearly soiled his pants, but somehow survived.
[Damsel in Distress used successfully!]
[Skill enhanced!]
[1. Damsel in distress (tier 1): The host can cry for help to attract the attention of the nearest passerby. 30% chance to gain sympathy. 50% chance to cause arousal in the opposite sex. Cooldown: 120→60 seconds.]
“Finally, some good news!”
But Aspen’s joy was short-lived as usual. His system window flashed again, issuing a final warning.
[Current Objective: Find an appropriate set of clothes to flaunt your beauty.]
[Time remaining: 13 minutes and 30 seconds.]
[Failure imminent!]
