System Mission: Seduce the Final Boss [BL]-Chapter 16: This mask makes me way sexier...

The week passed smoother than Blake had expected.

Suspiciously smooth.

No sudden disasters. No strange interruptions. Even the system stayed relatively quiet, only nudging him when necessary. One by one, he completed the other missions, small tasks that felt almost meaningless on the surface, yet somehow exhausting in their precision.

And now...

[ Favorability: -1 ]

Blake stared at the number with a small frown.

’...You’ve got to be kidding me.’

He clicked his tongue internally.

’As always, this bastard is impossible to please.’

After everything he’d done for yet another week, that number had barely moved.

It was still negative.

He was still meaningless.

They sat next to each other on the bus, the low hum of the engine filling the silence between them. The late afternoon light streamed through the windows, casting soft reflections that shifted with every turn.

Blake leaned slightly back in his seat, stealing a glance at Myles.

It was almost irritating how everything changed so slowly.

"Myles," Blake started, keeping his tone casual, "want to come to my house today?"

He knew the answer. He simply wanted to test it.

"I’m busy."

Blake tilted his head, feigning curiosity. "Really? Going to study?"

Myles turned to look at him.

Just that small movement, yet it felt like all the air shifted with it.

"No."

Blake held his gaze for a second, then nodded as if it didn’t matter.

"Well," he said lightly, shrugging, "we can hang out another time. Maybe at your place?"

"I don’t have anything to play with."

Blake let out a small laugh. "Who cares? I’ll bring my stuff. And then eventually you’ll buy your own."

A faint, noncommittal sound. "Mhm."

Myles turned his attention back to the window, watching the passing streets.

Blake followed his gaze for a moment, then leaned back again.

’...I’m surprised he didn’t exactly lie.’

Myles wasn’t avoiding the truth, just... limiting it.

Which meant something.

The bus slowed to a stop.

Blake glanced outside and sighed. "Ah, that’s my stop."

He stood up, grabbing his bag.

"I’ll see you Monday—"

Something cold brushed against his hand.

Blake froze.

Slowly, he turned his head.

"Myles?"

Their hands—

No.

Not quite holding, but they were touching.

Myles’s fingers rested lightly against his, cool against his skin.

Blake’s eyes widened slightly, caught completely off guard.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then...

Myles pulled his hand away.

"Nothing."

"...Uh..."

Blake blinked, still processing, his thoughts momentarily blank.

Nothing?

That was nothing?

He never initiated any kind of physical contact. It literally never happened.

Blake stepped off the bus almost on autopilot, turning back just in time to give a small wave as the doors closed.

The bus pulled away.

And just like that, Myles was gone.

He stood there for a second longer than necessary.

Then, slowly, he looked down at his hand.

The faint sensation lingered.

Cold.

But it wasn’t unpleasant.

His fingers twitched slightly.

"...What was that?" he muttered under his breath, covering his face.

His chest felt... weird.

Not tight.

Not uncomfortable.

Just different.

Blake clenched his hand, as if trying to erase the feeling.

It didn’t work.

’...Damn it.’

A slow grin tugged at his lips.

"Today, you’ll feel defeated because of me."

He adjusted his bag and started walking, then broke into a run.

’Yes... I’m definitely going to beat you, unpleasant bastard.’

***

Back at his house, Blake stared at the thing in his hand.

"Spoon, are you sure this thing is going to work? No, more than that, is everyone going to wear a cheesy mask?"

[ Dear Host, at most illegal auctions, that’s ordinary. ]

"Eh, okay..." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He walked to the bathroom.

It was a bright red mask with black and golden details.

While putting it on, he felt an undescribable feeling.

Pain? Not quite.

Uncomfortable? Not really.

But he couldn’t help but squeeze his eyes shut.

It definitely felt disgusting.

Then, it stopped.

’Finally, I feel clean.’

As soon as he opened his eyes, he was left speechless by the changes.

Black hair, black eyes, rich guy features. He looked bulkier and taller.

And the clothes were also extravagant.

"Woah? Woah! Spoon, this is insane! Even my voice changed!"

[ Dear Host, it doesn’t matter if your appearance is different, you should still behave with class. ]

"Right, but I was never rich in my past life. Now, I suppose Blake’s family is affluent, but that didn’t affect how he lived, and neither does it affect me."

[ This is the invite. ]

A fancy card dropped.

"Ah. How did you get this?"

[ Dear Host, here’s the money. ]

From thin air fell a beautiful, shiny black briefcase.

"So, there’s one billion there... I’m temporarily a billionaire!"

[ Actually, Dear Host, for now there are one hundred million. If it’s not enough, we’ll add more. ]

"Wait, now that I think about it, I’ll be carrying around a shit-ton amount of money... super dangerous."

The briefcase puffed away.

Blake sighed, suddenly feeling weak. Then, he checked the hour.

6 p.m.

His heart was starting to beat louder and louder.

He was supposed to get there at 11 p.m.

And the auction took place in another city entirely.

"I’ll sneak for my lover."

Of course, he had to take precautions and activate his skill. Either Myles had spies everywhere or he had hidden cameras everywhere. It was a paranoia Blake simply couldn’t get rid off.

As he walked out of the apartment, he put his hood on.

On the bus, he looked out the window, heart beating.

’How much money does he even have? I have one billion, yes, but he’s been a villain since forever...’

Four hours later, after taking other 2 busses, he got there.

Truthfully, since the bus owners couldn’t sense him, so he didn’t pay.

10 p.m.

’Okay, I have enough time to walk there...’

Taking his time, Blake walked through the empty streets. He wasn’t sure when to put his mask on, but the auction was in a secret place, obviously, so he couldn’t put it too far away from there.

Spoon had told him the blueprints were actually inside a big sapphire ring that belonged to the architect that structured it.

Ennora’s tear was the name.

As Blake went into a public restroom, he finally put on the mask.

At the same time, the briefcase also fell from the ceiling.

’Okay, okay. I’m ready.’

He took a deep breath, walking out.

"Love tracker."

The map showed in front of him.

’Wait a damn second...’

He immediately turned his head and, at the same time, someone grabbed his shoulder.

’I can’t believe it...’

Even with a mask on, even with a completely different demeanor, he could recognize him.

It was Myles.