The Scumbag's Guide To Heroism novel Chapter 108

Chapter 108: 108 | Counterproductive

〘 Observation: Subject Sloane Fitzgerald demonstrates high intelligence and accurate threat assessment capabilities. Recommend continued honesty to maintain trust metrics. Deception at this stage would be counterproductive. 〙

Great. Even the manipulative AI was telling me to be genuine. That was either a good sign or the most worrying development yet.

"For what it’s worth," I said quietly, "I’m scared of it too."

She blinked. "Really?"

"Yeah. Because I don’t know if I’m making these choices or if—" I stopped myself before saying ’the System is making them for me.’ "Or if I’m just following the path of least resistance."

"That’s surprisingly self-aware."

"I have my moments."

She reached over and took my hand, threading our fingers together. The simple contact sent a warm pulse through my chest, grounding me after everything that had just happened between us. Her skin was still flushed, her breathing still slightly uneven, and the sight of her like this — rumpled and satisfied and trusting enough to reach for me — made something twist in my stomach that had nothing to do with the System or its objectives.

"Just promise me one thing," she said, her voice softer than I’d heard it in years.

"What?"

"Don’t lie to me about who you’re with. If you sleep with someone else, tell me. Don’t make me find out by walking in on you or hearing it from someone else or seeing it on your face when you think I’m not looking."

The request hit me like a physical blow. Not because it was unreasonable — it was the most reasonable thing she could have asked for, given what we’d just started. But because of how carefully she’d phrased it. Not ’if you cheat on me’ or ’if you break up with me first.’ She knew. On some level, she already knew this wasn’t going to be simple or exclusive or follow any of the normal relationship rules we’d grown up watching other people navigate.

She was asking me not to make her feel stupid when the inevitable complications arrived.

"I promise," I said, and meant it in a way that made my throat tight.

"Good." She squeezed my hand once, her thumb brushing across my knuckles, then released it. "Now get out of my room. I need to take a nap before Mom gets home, and if you stay here much longer, we both know exactly what’s going to happen."

Her gaze flicked meaningfully toward the parts of me that were already responding to the suggestion, and I felt heat rise in my face.

"What’s going to happen?"

"Round two. And I’m way too sore for round two right now."

I grinned. "That’s kind of flattering."

"It’s your fault."

"You’re the one who wanted me to—"

She threw another pillow at my head. "Out. Now. Before I change my mind and decide to kill you instead."

I caught the pillow with Spectral Reach again, just to watch her scowl deepen. Then I ducked out of her room before she could actually follow through on the murder threat.

Back in my own room, I finally let myself collapse onto my bed and stare at the ceiling.

Sixty-three hours left on the quest timer.

Two out of three objectives complete. Diane was on board. Sloane had reluctantly agreed to try. All that remained was the actual execution, which was somehow the most terrifying part.

How the hell was I supposed to orchestrate a threesome between a girl I’d taken the virginity of yesterday and her mother who’d been my secret lover for two weeks?

〘 Inquiry: Would host like strategic recommendations for optimal scenario execution? 〙

"Not from you," I muttered.

〘 Observation: Host demonstrates unnecessary resistance to assistance. System objectives align with host survival and prosperity. Rejection of guidance is counterproductive. 〙

"Your idea of prosperity is turning me into a walking hentai protagonist."

〘 Correction: Host has already achieved hentai protagonist status through independent choices. System merely provides framework for optimization. 〙

I hated that it wasn’t wrong.

Every choice I’d made since manifesting Spectral Reach had led me here. Sleeping with Diane. Pursuing Sloane. Accepting quests that pushed me toward increasingly complicated relationship dynamics.

This was the Scumbag’s Path. The custom route I’d chosen when I rejected the Hero, Villain, and Vigilante options.

Complete freedom. Zero guardrails. A progression system that rewarded me for getting multiple powerful women emotionally and physically dependent on me.

And the worst part?

A dark corner of my brain was genuinely excited about it.

How did things go with Sloane?

Better than expected. We talked.

Just talked?

Among other things.

Good. I’m coming home early. Six o’clock. Be ready.

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