Hiroto barely had time to process Sylvara's teasing words before the forest erupted with noise.
Three ugly, green-skinned goblin women burst from the bushes, crude spears and rusty swords in their hands. Even they had noticeable, swinging bulges under their ragged loincloths.
"Fresh male! Rare meat!" one of them snarled with a disgusting grin.
Hiroto's soul left his body for the fourth time that day.
Even the goblin girls are futanari?! Goddess Lunara, you really went all in, didn't you? This world is personally bullying me at this point.
Sylvara stepped in front of him without hesitation, her longsword drawn.
"Stay behind me, little male," she said calmly, though her voice dripped with amusement. "This is no place for someone with your… extremely delicate constitution."
Hiroto wanted to defend his honor, but his legs were already shaking like jelly in an earthquake.
The System, as always, had perfect timing.
[Combat Situation Detected. Displaying Status.]
Status Screen
Name: Hiroto Takahashi Class: Harem Lord Candidate (Locked) Level: 1 Title: Otherworlder
Strength: 7 Agility: 9 Vitality: 8 Intelligence: 15 Charm: 16 Luck: 10
Skills: None Special Path: Harem Lord Road (Progress: 3%)
Notes:
Extremely low Strength detected. Direct physical combat is strongly discouraged. High Charm detected. Social interactions and bonding success rate significantly increased. Forming your first Bond is highly recommended before you get yourself killed in the most embarrassing way possible.
Hiroto stared at the screen with pure betrayal in his eyes.
"Strength 7?! Seven?! System, are you mocking me?! I'm weaker than a newborn kitten! How the hell am I supposed to build a harem if I can't even make a goblin flinch?!"
Sylvara glanced back at him, barely holding back a laugh.
"Seven? That explains why you look like you'd lose a fight to a particularly angry squirrel." She smirked. "Don't worry. I'll protect you… for now. Try not to trip over your own feet. Or do. It might be funny."
The goblin women charged with ugly laughter.
Sylvara moved like liquid silver. Her sword flashed, shattering the first goblin's spear and sending her flying. She spun gracefully, her armor shifting with each powerful movement.
One goblin woman slipped past her and lunged at Hiroto.
"Male! Mine!"
Hiroto panicked and threw the most pathetic punch of his life. His fist bounced off the goblin's shoulder like he had gently tapped her.
The goblin woman blinked, then burst out laughing.
Strength 7 in full glory… I just gave her a very gentle pat on the back. I'm not even a threat, I'm a massage therapist with zero customers.
Sylvara appeared in a blur, kicked the goblin woman away like a football, and finished the fight in seconds.
When it was over, Sylvara sheathed her sword and turned to him, breathing slightly heavier. A thin sheen of sweat made her silver hair stick to her neck and collarbone. Her armor glistened, and the prominent bulge in her lower plates was even more noticeable after the exertion.
She looked ridiculously attractive and intimidating at the same time.
"Not bad for your first five minutes," she said, wiping her blade. "Though without me, you would have been goblin dinner. Tell me, little male… do all men from your world have such adorably low Strength?"
Hiroto rubbed his sore knuckles and groaned.
"Yes. I was a software engineer. My greatest battle was against crashing programs. My best skill was crying internally while smiling at my boss."
Sylvara let out a rich, melodic laugh.
"Then you'll need strong companions." She stepped closer, towering over him, her emerald eyes sparkling with clear amusement. "Lucky for you… I'm quite strong. And very interested in rare, weak, blushing males like you."
She reached out and flicked his forehead lightly.
"Especially ones who stare at my crotch and then look like they want the ground to swallow them whole."
Hiroto's face turned nuclear red.
The System chimed happily.
[Quest Progress: Form your First Bond with a Futanari Companion — 28% Complete.]
Hiroto thought desperately:
This System is having the time of its life watching me suffer.
Sylvara smiled sweetly.
"Come. The nearest village is a few hours away. We can talk more on the way… about this Harem Lord Road of yours."
She started walking, then glanced back with a wicked grin.
"And try not to stare at my armor too much while we walk. It might make things… hard for both of us."
Hiroto sighed deeply as he followed her.
Strength 7. Charm 16.At this rate, I'm going to die of embarrassment long before any monster gets me.
This second life is officially a comedy of errors.