The Heart System

Chapter 138: Chapter 138

This cosplay event was... weird. Here I was, standing in the middle of a chaotic crowd at the City Center Convention Hall, surrounded by people in costumes I couldn’t even begin to understand.

One guy was decked out as a blacksmith, hammering away at a fake anvil for some skit, his leather apron stained with fake soot. Another dude had these massive horns jutting out of his head, so big he kept accidentally whacking people as he turned, muttering apologies. A group of girls in shimmering fairy wings giggled nearby, their glittery makeup catching the fluorescent lights. Someone in a full-body mech suit clanked past, drawing stares, while a person in a fox onesie danced to music blasting from a portable speaker.

The air buzzed with chatter, laughter, and the occasional shout of someone hyping up their cosplay group. Booths lined the walls, selling anime merch, handmade swords, and colorful wigs, the smell of hot dogs and popcorn wafting through the hall. Everyone seemed to have some elaborate costume... and here I was, in a plain black tuxedo Anotta had bought me, feeling like I’d missed the memo.

I’d checked out My Life in Zararo last night, binging a few episodes to get a feel for Mr. Nawia, the teacher Nala suggested I cosplay. He was a slick guy—black uniform, crimson red tie, all charm and confidence. My tuxedo was the closest I could get, but it felt off among the sea of capes, armor, and cat ears. Still, I hoped it’d pass.

Oh, and my level... It had fucking skyrocketed after banging Delilah, completing that quest, and all the sex we’d had.

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- Evan Marlowe (Lvl 8)

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- Age: 21

- Height: 180 cm

- Weight: 73 kg

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- EXP: [█▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒] 191/1131

╰────────────────────╯

No new items in the shop, though. Bummers.

With my new three ability points, I decided to hold off on spending them. No way was I wasting them yet—I needed to reset and max out Pleasure first. That stat was doing wonders.

╭────────────────────╮

- CURRENT STATS

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- Strength: 3

- Charm : 12

- Manipulative Charm

⤷ Honeyed Words (⏹⏹☐☐☐)

⤷ Gaslight (⏹☐☐☐☐)

- Emotional Charisma

- Seductive Allure

- Libido : 10

- Pleasure: 10

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Unused Ability Points: 3

╰────────────────────╯

I checked my phone and saw Nala’s text—she was by a hot-dog stand, her location pinned. The GPS showed she was across the convention hall, so I started moving, weaving through the crowd. A guy in a spiky blue wig bumped into me, apologizing as his plastic sword clattered to the floor. A girl in a Sailor Moon outfit posed for photos nearby, her skirt twirling as she struck dramatic poses. The noise was overwhelming, shouts, music, the hum of a thousand conversations, but I pushed through, my mind elsewhere.

Delilah was on my mind 24/7. Fucking her in Ivy’s bed, nearly getting caught... fuck. She was incredible. Her curves, her moans, the way she looked at me like I was her everything. I was lucky as hell to have her, and I needed to see her again. Maybe today? Shit, I’d promised Jasmine, Kim, and Tessa a foursome at my place later. Could I squeeze in Delilah after? Nah, I’d be spent, my dick out of commission, and I wouldn’t be able to savor her the way I wanted. If only Ivy wasn’t home, I could’ve gone to Delilah’s before the foursome. God, I wanted to fuck her so bad, feel her pussy clench around me again, hear her moan my name.

Just as I was lost in thoughts of her, my phone rang. Delilah’s name flashed on the screen, my heart jumping as I followed the GPS through the crowd.

”Hey, Delilah,” I answered, dodging a guy in a full-body dragon costume.

”Delilah?” Ivy’s voice came through, sharp and teasing. ”Didn’t know you were that close, Mr. Marlowe.”

”Oh,” I said, clearing my throat, my face warming. ”Sorry, it’s an inside joke with Ms. Komb and me. You remember that time I called her Delilah when answering her phone?”

”I know,” she said, laughing lightly. ”Just, hey, forget that. I need some help.”

”Help with what?” I asked, squeezing between two women in oversized angel wings, their feathers brushing my arm. ”Everything okay?”

”Yeah... where are you? There’s so much noise in the background.”

”Outside,” I lied, not about to admit I was at an anime convention. ”Walking, taking in the city scenery. Tell me, what’s up?”

”Well, ’Delilah’ seems happy, Evan. Like, really happy,” she said, her voice curious. ”I asked her what happened, and she said nothing. I know she’s hiding something. Do you know anything about it?”

Happy? Fuck yes. I was maybe happier than her that Delilah was back to her vibrant self—caring, gentle, full of life. No more of those degenerate bastards from BrightWave, no more problems. Thank fuck for this system.

”No,” I said, turning left, the hot-dog stand coming into view. ”That’s a good thing, right? She’s happy. Be happy for her.”

”I am. I just... gah. I’m curious, Evan,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration. ”I want you to talk to her about it. She never tells me anything. Maybe she’ll open up to you.”

”I can try,” I said, my mind racing. ”I can visit her. Would you... go out for a couple hours? It’d be best if I talked to her alone.”

”Yeah, that was my plan.”

Man, I couldn’t believe I was tricking my friend into leaving her house so I could fuck her mom. But... oh well. Sorry, Ivy, but Delilah was happy, and I intended to keep it that way. If she knew what I was doing, she’d strangle me, no question.

”Alright,” I said. ”I’ll visit her in an hour, maybe two. I’ll text you.”

”Great,” she said. ”Keep me posted, okay?”

”Okay. Bye.”

”Yup. Bye.”

I hung up, my heart pounding, a grin creeping across my face. The convention hall buzzed around me—someone in a giant robot costume was posing for photos, a group of teens in matching ninja outfits were arguing about who got to hold the fake kunai, and the smell of fried food grew stronger as I neared the hot-dog stand.

I spotted Nala, leaning against the counter, her dark skin glowing under the lights, her wavy hair tucked under a teacher’s cap from My Life in Zararo. She was in a tight-fitting school uniform, her curves accentuated, a playful smile on her lips as she waved me over.

”Evan!” she called, her eyes lighting up. ”You made it! Nice... tuxedo?” She tilted her head, teasing, her smile widening.

”Yeah, best I could do for Mr. Nawia,” I said, shrugging, my Charm stat probably helping me play it off. ”You look... damn good.”

She laughed, tossing her hair. ”Thanks. You’re not half-bad yourself. Ready to dive into the chaos?” She gestured at the crowd, where a guy in a full-body cat costume was breakdancing to cheers.

I nodded, but my mind was split—half here at the City Center Convention Hall, half on Delilah, her body, her moans, the way she’d cum for me. Today was gonna be wild, and I couldn’t wait to get to her after this.

”Born ready,” I said, grinning, shoving thoughts of Delilah to the back of my mind. ”Lead the way.”

We weaved through the crowd, her hips swaying, her skirt riding up just enough to keep my eyes glued to her ass. She didn’t notice, too busy pointing out booths. ”Okay, first stop,” she said, grabbing my arm, her touch warm. ”That stall has the best Starlight Odyssey pins. You ever watch it?”

”Nah, not yet,” I said, dodging a kid in a cape sprinting with a fake wand. ”What’s it about?”

Her eyes lit up, her hands animated as we stopped at a booth covered in colorful pins and keychains, a banner reading ’Galaxy Guild Merch.’ ”

Oh, man, Starlight Odyssey is amazing,” she said, picking up a pin shaped like a glowing sword, her fingers brushing the table, her ass jutting out slightly as she leaned forward. ”It’s this space opera about a runaway princess, Kaelia, who joins a crew of misfit pilots fighting a corrupt empire. She’s such a badass—wields this nebula-sword that glows like starlight. And her romance with the ship’s mechanic, Ryn? I die every episode.”

”Sounds intense,” I said, my eyes flicking to her curves before focusing on the pin. ”So, Kaelia’s the star?”

”Totally,” Nala said, handing me the pin, her fingers brushing mine. ”She’s got this tough exterior but a soft heart. Reminds me of me sometimes.” She laughed, turning to the vendor, a guy in a robot mask. ”How much for this one?”

”Ten bucks,” he said, his voice muffled. ”Limited edition.”

”Worth it,” she said, fishing out cash, her skirt shifting as she moved, giving me another glimpse of her thighs. ”You gotta watch it, Evan. The plot twists in season two? Mind-blowing.”

”I’ll add it to the list,” I said, grinning, my mind half on her ass, half on her enthusiasm. ”What else you into?”

We moved to the next booth, piled high with manga and posters. A girl in a spiky green wig was haggling over a figurine of some armored knight. Nala grabbed a poster of Crimson Veil, a gothic-looking anime with a hooded girl wielding a scythe.

”This one,” she said, her voice dropping conspiratorially. ”Crimson Veil is my obsession. It’s about this assassin, Veyra, who’s cursed to kill anyone she loves. Super dark, but the art? Gorgeous. And the fight scenes? Chef’s kiss.”

”Dark, huh?” I said, leaning closer, catching a whiff of her perfume—something sweet, like vanilla. ”You into the tragic stuff?”

”Sometimes,” she said, smirking, rolling up the poster. ”Veyra’s got this whole ’I’m doomed but still fighting’ vibe. Gets me every time. You strike me as a guy who’d like Iron Pulse—it’s all about mecha pilots in a dystopian city. Lots of action, less feels.”

”Mecha’s cool,” I said, my eyes drifting to her ass again as she bent to check a stack of manga, her skirt riding up dangerously. ”You gonna cosplay Veyra next?”

”Maybe,” she said, glancing back, catching my gaze and raising an eyebrow. ”Eyes up, Evan.” She laughed, playful, not mad, and I grinned, unapologetic.

”Busted,” I said, my Charm stat carrying me. ”Hard not to stare when you’re rocking that outfit.”

She rolled her eyes, but her smile stayed. ”Come on, let’s grab food. I’m starving.”