Kael Veyron opened his eyes to the scent of damp moss and iron-rich blood.
Sunlight pierced the canopy in thin, golden spears, illuminating floating motes of dust—or perhaps something more ethereal. His body ached in places he didn't remember having, and when he tried to sit up, his head spun like he'd been hit by a truck.
Wait.
He had been hit by a truck.
The memory came in flashes: rainy street, screeching tires, a woman's scream, the sickening crunch of metal meeting flesh. He'd shoved her out of the way. Then darkness. Then… nothing.
Now he was here. Sprawled on a bed of fallen leaves and fern in what looked like an ancient, untouched forest. Towering trees with bark like blackened silver stretched impossibly high. Strange flowers glowed faintly along the roots. The air tasted metallic, charged, like right before a lightning strike.
He touched his chest. No wounds. His clothes were different too—rough linen tunic, leather bracers, sturdy boots that looked like they belonged to some low-fantasy cosplayer. A short sword lay beside him in a battered scabbard.
"What the actual fuck," he muttered.
A voice answered—not in his ears, but directly inside his skull.
[Welcome, Contractor Kael Veyron. Or should I say… the Thief of Oaths?]
The words appeared as shimmering golden text floating in his vision, accompanied by a soft, amused feminine chuckle that vibrated through his bones.
[I am the Veil Thief System. Your new… sponsor, let's call it. You died pathetically heroically in your previous world. I offered you a second chance. You accepted. Congratulations—you now exist in Aetheria, the Shattered Veil Continent.]
Kael blinked hard. The text didn't disappear.
"System," he said slowly, tasting the word. "Like… LitRPG bullshit?"
[Precisely. But far more personal. And far more indulgent.]
Another window unfolded.
[World Introduction – Core Truths]
The gods fell 700 years ago. Their divine essence shattered into Aether Veins that crisscross the land.
Magic is bound by oaths, pacts, vows. Break them, and corruption follows—pleasure, power, monstrosity.
Most high-status women are chained by powerful fidelity oaths: knight-captains to lords, priestesses to temples, mates to alphas, tribute brides to dragons.
You were granted the rarest sin: the right to steal those chains.
Kael's lips curled. Something hot and dark uncoiled in his chest.
[Your Path – Veil Thief]
Core Objective:
Seduce. Corrupt. Claim.
Steal oath-bound women from their men.
Reward Scaling (the juicier the theft, the better):
Loyalty of the Original Bond determines payout multiplier.
Casual lovers / politically arranged / indifferent → Base reward (minor gold, common skills)
Devoted fiancée / loving wife / fated mate → 3×–5×
Fanatically loyal / soul-bound / chastity-oath knight / heat-locked beastkin alpha's mate → 8×–15× or higher
Rewards include:
Gold & resources (usable currency, property deeds, rare materials)
Skills & abilities (seduction auras, pleasure enhancement, oath-cracking pulses, physical upgrades)
Fragments of the original man's power (titles, martial techniques, magic, status)
Permanent marks on stolen women → they become loyal only to you + gain Veilborn traits (heightened sensitivity, corruption sharing)
Bonus Modifiers:
Public humiliation of the original partner → +20–50%
Willing / masochistic cuck partner → +30% faster corruption + special "Humiliation Shards"
Extreme physical overwhelm (size, stamina, essence) → additional pleasure/corruption multiplier
Special Note:
The more devoted and faithful the couple was before you arrived… the sweeter the reward when you make her scream your name instead of his.
Kael stared at the last line for a long moment.
His hand drifted down unconsciously. Even through the rough trousers, he felt it—thicker, heavier than it should be. A faint golden vein pulsed along the underside when he gave an experimental squeeze.
[Initial Adjustment Complete. Endowment upgraded to Veilborn standard: 29 cm erect length, exceptional girth, enhanced vascularity, mild addictive essence in fluids, near-infinite stamina.]
He let out a low, disbelieving laugh.
"So I'm the villain in this story."
[You're the protagonist. Villains lose. You won't.]
A map appeared in the corner of his vision—crude, but expanding as he focused. A small marker blinked: "Current Location – Outer Veilwood, near Thornmarch border."
Distant howls echoed through the trees. Something big moved in the underbrush.
Kael stood, drew the short sword, and tested the weight. It felt right in his hand—better than it should.
He looked down at himself again, at the obscene bulge already straining the fabric just from the system's words.
Then he grinned—sharp, hungry, utterly without remorse.
"Alright, System. Let's go find someone's perfect little wife to ruin."
The golden text shimmered once more, almost purring.
[Quest Generated – First Theft]
Objective: Locate and begin corruption on your first oath-bound target within 72 hours.
Reward: Starter Pack (500 gold, Minor Seduction Aura I, Pleasure Mark I) + bonus based on target loyalty tier.
Hint: Head northwest. A knightly patrol from House Valmont passes through these woods tomorrow. Their captain is… exceptionally devoted.
Kael sheathed the sword and started walking.
The forest seemed to lean in, listening.
Somewhere ahead, a woman who still believed in honor was about to learn how fragile oaths really were.