Gathering Wives with a System

Chapter 146: How To Tame A Yandere 101

Isaac said nothing.

Seeing that, her expression, normally so cold and distant, started to falter.

”A-answer me,” she whispered. ”Please.”

This time, the pressure on his throat grew stronger. It was not enough to harm anyone, but it was enough to show that she was no longer fully in control.

So this is why her Affection wasnʼt 100.

Alice had been holding herself back. She was suppressing what she felt, telling herself it was too much, and too twisted. She had been trying to be the version of herself she thought he wanted.

Even now, as her hands shook and her voice trembled, he could see the glisten of tears at the edge of her eyes.

Alice wasnʼt trying to scare him.

She hated this part of herself. She hated what she was doing. But she couldnʼt stop feeling it either.

ʼI thought we solved this the last time we talked,ʼ Isaac thought. ʼBut even back then... she was already suppressing this. These are her real feelings.ʼ

And yet, instead of fear, a quiet smile tugged at his lips.

This wasnʼt something to be scared of. This wasnʼt a flaw to erase. It was proof of how deeply she loved him. Obsessively, yes, but sincerely nonetheless.

If he couldnʼt calm her right now, then he didnʼt deserve her.

”A-are you going to say yes?” she asked, noticing the faint smile on his lips.

”...Alice,” he said calmly. ”I told you last time. You can do whatever you want. I respect your wishes. Iʼll never stop you from doing what you truly want.”

Her eyes widened. The grip on his neck loosened instantly.

”Really?” she asked, barely above a whisper.

”Yup.”

”So... we can run away?”

”If thatʼs what you want,” Isaac said. ”Then yes. Iʼll come with you. I respect your wishes, Alice. So just do what you want.”

For a second, Aliceʼs face lit up. She opened her mouth, ready to speak again, probably to tell him where they could go, what they could do, what kind of life they could build.

But then, she paused.

That smile on his lips….

She knew that smile.

She had seen it when he was scheming something. It was the same smile he used when outmaneuvering others, when talking circles around them until they were left nodding without even realizing it.

Her eyes narrowed.

”What are you planning?” she asked slowly.

Steam began to rise faintly from her shoulders, heat shimmering around her. Anger was rising within her, but not just anger. There was shame, too. Sheʼd shown him the ugliest, most selfish parts of herself, which she had always tried to hid, especially from him.

A part of her was relieved he didnʼt reject her. But another part hated how exposed she felt.

She knew her love wasnʼt sweet or innocent. It wasnʼt anything like Emilyʼs childish affection. It was dark, and heavy, and greedy. The kind of love that didnʼt want to share. The kind that didnʼt want to let go.

”Planning?” Isaac blinked innocently. ”I would never plan anything against my dear mad princess.”

Those words confirmed it.

Aliceʼs glare deepened. Her eye twitched slightly. Steam hissed louder.

”Spit it out,” she demanded.

Isaacʼs eyes widened a fraction, then softened with a deliberately hesitant expression. His lips curved into something between regret and theatrical sadness.

Alice almost smiled despite herself, knowing he was acting.

He was trying to shift the mood, and annoyingly, it was working.

”Itʼs just...” Isaac sighed dramatically. ”Iʼm a little sad.”

”Why?”

”I thought we both loved each other.”

”What?” Alice scowled. ”I donʼt know whatʼs going on in your head, but I do love you.”

”Really?” he tilted his head, pretending to be unsure.

”Yes.”

”Then…” He hesitated, then gave her a careful look. ”I thought in a relationship, both people are supposed to respect each otherʼs wishes, right?”

Alice frowned. ”...What are you trying to say?”

”I mean,” he continued, voice still light, ”you can take me away if thatʼs what you want. I wonʼt stop you. But—”

”But?” she repeated.

”Just like Iʼm respecting your wish... shouldnʼt you respect mine too?”

A beat of silence passed.

She exhaled slowly.

”...What is your wish for?”

”I donʼt want to be trapped in a cave or anything.”

Alice blinked.

Then narrowed her eyes again.

”This bastard.”

She sweared out loud without even thinking.

It had been a long time since she swore in front of him. She did that only in their early days, but after that, sheʼd worked hard to keep herself composed and clean around him.

The fact that sheʼd let it slip now meant she was truly pissed.

”You… are you fucking kidding me right now?”

Isaacʼs expression twisted into a painfully exaggerated look of hurt.

”W-why are you swearing?” he asked, like sheʼd just stabbed him through the heart.

For a brief moment, Alice faltered. She didnʼt know if he was acting, or if he actually felt hurt.

Logic told her that it was another one of his tricks.

But her heart tried to tell her he was being genuine, and she should be ashamed of swearing in front of him.

She bit her lip. ”What are you even saying right now? You just said I could take you away. Now youʼre saying no?”

”I didnʼt say no,” Isaac said quickly. ”I just said itʼd go against my wishes. But since I respect yours, I wouldnʼt stop you.”

Alice stared at him blankly. Then slowly lowered her hands from his shirt.

”Wow. Look at this bastard.”

She didnʼt even know whether she was holding his neck or his collar anymore. The lines had blurred somewhere in her frustration.

”Youʼve got a slick tongue, huh? Is that how you tricked Emily? And even that Celia bitch is hovering around you. Did you use that silver tongue on her too?”

Isaac almost laughed when he heard her.

He held it in barely.

Alice rarely lost her temper, but when she did her cold shell would crack and all the molten chaos underneath would erupt.

When he didnʼt respond, she stood up abruptly and glared down at him.

”Take out a weapon,” she said flatly.

”Huh?” Isaac blinked, genuinely confused, or at least pretending to be.

”Weʼll settle this the old way. Whoever wins gets to decide.”

Isaac remained on the ground, head tilted slightly, lips pursed like he was weighing her words. A flicker of amusement passed through his eyes.

And Alice saw it.

A small, suspicious part of her whispered that sheʼd just walked right into his trap. That maybe this had been his plan from the very start.

But she was too angry to care.

But her anger smothered it. She didnʼt care if he was scheming. Not right now.

”What exactly are we dueling for?” Isaac asked, brushing invisible dust off his shoulder as he stood up.

Aliceʼs answer was immediate. ”Our wishes are clashing. I want to take you away. You donʼt want to be taken. So letʼs settle it through force.”

Isaac frowned. ”Huh, but—”

Before he could finish, Alice drew a massive warhammer from her spatial ring and charged forward. A low hum of power followed, then a loud whoosh as golden flames burst from her body. The moment she activated Solar Dominion and Heart of Eternal Sun, the entire courtyard brightened.

The flames didnʼt burn Isaac, but he felt the change instantly. His mana regeneration dropped, and his natural health recovery dipped by almost thirty percent. He winced and instinctively took a step back.

”Damn,” he muttered, half-impressed.

Alice didnʼt give him time to react. She cycled her Solar Fire mana through her body, and her speed jumped sharply. Her strength, too. The flames didnʼt burn him but that was her last consideration for him. She raised the warhammer and swung it at Isaacʼs head.

The weapon cut through the air, but missed by a few inches.

Alice narrowed her eyes. Sheʼd aimed correctly. Had she misjudged the distance?

She attacked again. Once more, the warhammer narrowly missed. And then again. And again.

She kept swinging, faster and harder, but each time, Isaac was just out of reach. It was only after a dozen attempts that she realized what was happening. He wasnʼt standing still. He was moving too quickly for her to see, and dodging in the slivers of her blind spots with casual precision.

Her attacks didnʼt even graze his clothes.

ʼWas he holding back when he fought me before?ʼ she thought, stunned.

”Fight seriously!” she snapped, frustrated. She launched another full-force swing, and golden fire flared in a wave behind the weapon. But all she saw was that damned smirk.

He didnʼt even look like he was trying.

This was the same Isaac who didnʼt have a Class yet. The one who was supposed to be a ”Farmer,” of all things. Then why—

”I said, fight me—!”

”Okay.”

That was all he said.

Suddenly, he was in front of her. He didnʼt run, or dash to appear there. She blinked, and he... was just there.

Before Alice could react, his hand clamped around her face, gripping with alarming force. The next second, she was lifted clean off the ground.

Her vision swam. Her body went cold.

It felt like sheʼd been caught by a monster. A real one. His fingers dug into her cheek, and her entire frame went limp. She was sure he was about to slam her into the ground. That this was the end.

She closed her eyes.

But instead of the harsh crush of impact, she felt... softness.

When she opened her eyes, she was lying on the ground, completely unharmed. The terrifying grip had vanished.

Isaac was crouching beside her, resting his chin on one palm, smiling that same playful smile.

”I won,” he said simply. ”Oh, but itʼs okay. You can challenge me anytime from now on. If you win, Iʼll go to a cave or basement with you. Until then, though...”

Alice didnʼt respond immediately. She just lay there, breathing slowly. Her fingers curled into her sleeves as she turned to the side and buried her face in her hands. She didnʼt feel frustrated that she lost. No, she....

”Bastard,” she muttered.

Her face was beet red. Despite cursing at him, the fact that he had accepted her ugly self, and dealt with accordingly made her feel relieved.

A series of notifications echoed in Isaacʼs mind:

[A wifeʼs affection for you has reached 100.]

[All Affection Points received from Alice Calloway will be hereon increased by ten times.]

[You can now see a hint to help Alice Calloway increase her rating.]

He blinked.

The sudden clarity in her expression—the way she looked away from him, embarrassed but not ashamed—made him feel strangely warm. She hadnʼt tried to hide her feelings anymore. She was obsessive, clingy, and painfully earnest. But she wasnʼt apologizing for it, and he liked that.

Another notification appeared.

Affection (Alice): 100 → 101

Isaacʼs eyes widened slightly. ʼWait, so it goes beyond 100?ʼ

[Alice Callowayʼs Affection has crossed the 100 threshold.]

[For each point after 100, the Affection Points gained will be increased by 100%.]

ʼSo that means... instead of ten times the base value, Iʼm now getting eleven times?ʼ

As if in response, the points continued climbing.

Affection (Alice): 101 → 102

Affection (Alice): 102 → 103

Affection (Alice): 103 → 104

It didnʼt stop.

Isaac watched the numbers rise, feeling a strange mix of amusement and awe.

Affection (Alice): 109 → 110

He inhaled sharply.

ʼTwenty times the base value now? Thatʼs insane.ʼ