First Target

Chapter-2 Charm System

[Question: Will the host continue… or stay a loser?]

A year had passed since Mike awakened the Charm System.

At first, he thought he was losing his mind. The glowing screen and strange messages felt like the start of a mental illness, so he ignored them.

The first mission was simple.

[Quest: Help an elderly man carry his groceries.]

Mike wasn't trying to complete a mission. He only helped because it was the right thing to do.

The moment he set the bags down, a message appeared.

[Mission Complete.]

[Reward: +5 Stamina.]

Mike frowned. He still dismissed it as a hallucination.

Mike went about his day as usual. He pushed the strange reward to the back of his mind and told himself it wasn't real.

That evening, he laced up his running shoes and headed out for his usual run.

After a few kilometers, he frowned.

His breathing stayed steady. His legs felt light. This was usually the point where he slowed down, but his body kept moving with ease.

He picked up the pace.

Another kilometer passed. Then another.

When he finally stopped, he checked his running app. He had shattered his personal best and still had energy left.

Mike stood there, staring at the screen.

For the first time, he wondered if the system was real.

[Ding! Mission Available]

Quest: Repeat for a month.

100 push-ups

100 sit-ups,

10 km run.

Author: Classic.

Reward: +1 Confidence, +10 Karma points; Skill Shop available.

Failure: Losing Streak continues, System Disappears, Erectile Dysfunction (permanent).

Mike's eyes remained fixed on the final line.

Permanent... what?

He slapped himself across the face.

Smack.

The sting was real.

"...This isn't a dream."

Mike didn't dare ignore the system. What if it's real? That single thought was enough to push him out the door. Day after day, he ran, trained, and completed every mission without fail. His sudden consistency shocked the entire town.

[Ding!]

[Quest Completed]

Reward: Confidence +1, Skill Shop available.

[Host Profile]

Name: Mike

Level: 1

Title: Loser

Stats:

Strength: 25

Stamina: 23

Charm: 10

Confidence: 15(+1)

Intelligence: 12

Karma points: 0(+10)

Status:

Women: 0

Wealth: $100

Skill shop: available

Mike felt his eyes sting as he read the screen. Every number was painfully accurate. Even the "$100" made him want to cry.

[Skill Shop]

Three skills appeared on the screen.

Jab (Intermediate)

A fast, precise punch sharpened through years of boxing.

Cost: 5 Karma

Trade (Beginner)

Improves negotiation and bargaining skills, making it easier to spot profitable deals.

Cost: 4 Karma

Silver Tongue (Beginner)

Improves conversation, flirting, and the ability to read romantic signals.

Cost: 4 Karma

Available Karma: 10

Mike didn't waste any time.

"Purchase Jab."

[Ding!]

A flood of memories rushed into his mind. Countless hours of training, endless rounds on the heavy bag, and thousands of perfectly thrown jabs became part of him in an instant.

He clenched his fist. The movement felt natural, as if he had practiced it for years.

Without another thought, he made his second choice.

"Purchase Trade."

[Ding!]

New knowledge settled into his mind. Prices, negotiations, and business opportunities suddenly felt easier to understand.

Only one skill remained.

Silver Tongue.

Mike stared at it for a few seconds.

Claire's smile crossed his mind.

He let out a quiet breath and closed the Skill Shop. "No."

He smiled to himself. "Learning to flirt with other women when I already have Claire..."

He shook his head. "That would be cheating."

***

Mike said in a determined voice, "I will continue."

[Ding!]

System unlocked the next stage.....

[Generating Quest]

Fuck a girl within three days.

Reward: Seducer's Eyes. You can see anyone's weak points, whether in a fight or in sex.

Failure: Hostel stay canceled.

Mike read the quest without a word. His eyes lingered on the reward for a moment before moving back to the objective. He had stopped questioning the system a long time ago.

The first few quests had seemed ridiculous too. Yet every one of them had changed his life in ways he couldn't deny. By now, he had learned one thing—the system never gave him a task without a reason.

"I'll complete it," he said quietly.

With that, he dismissed the screen. His mind had already moved on to the only thing that mattered: how to finish the quest.

The next morning, Mike woke up around ten. He had already missed his first class, but he didn't care.

Yesterday had drained every bit of excitement he had felt about starting university. He walked into the bathroom, looked at himself in the mirror, and frowned.

"Damn... I look like shit."

Mike took a shower, grabbed his backpack, and headed to class. Halfway down the hallway, his stomach growled.

"I should grab something to eat first."

He stopped by the canteen, ordered a cheese sandwich, and waited for his food. As he stood there, he kept his eyes on the quest window, searching for a way to complete the mission before the deadline.

The sound of laughter pulled him out of his thoughts. A group of students walked into the canteen, talking loudly. Mike looked up and recognized a few familiar faces.

His eyes settled on one of the girls, and Mike recognized her right away. It was the same girl he had met in the campus park. She wore different clothes today, and the fitted outfit hugged her figure in a way that caught his attention.

Their eyes met for a brief moment. Mike quickly looked away, picked up his sandwich, and headed to class.

The classroom was already packed.

Mike slipped into an empty seat by the window. Conversations buzzed all around him, but he ignored them, unwrapped his sandwich, and quietly ate while staring out the window.

A hand tapped lightly on Mike's shoulder. He turned and saw Eve standing behind him.

Author: Eve??

"Sorry," she said with a small smile. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

A sweet, slow voice entered Mike's ears. "You, from the park, right?" Mike asked, a little surprised.

"I'm Eve." She extended her hand with a friendly smile.

"Mike." He shook her hand, still unsure why she had approached him.

Her tight top hugged her full, ripe breasts. A deep cleavage line showed on top. Every small move made her upper chest jiggle softly.

…When they shook hands, the fitted top shifted with the movement, fabric pulling tight across her chest. Mike's gaze lingered a beat too long before he dragged it back up to her face, no shame in it.

Eve noticed. Instead of pulling her hand away quickly, she held the handshake a moment longer than normal, her fingers lightly brushing against his palm before she finally let go.

"I saw you at the campus park yesterday," she said. "The way you were holding those flowers... it was sweet."

Mike raised an eyebrow. "Is that a compliment?"

Eve smiled. "Maybe a little."

She tilted her head. "You're new here, aren't you? I don't think I've seen you around before."

"More or less."

"Good," she said with a faint smile. "That means I still have a chance to make a decent first impression." She looked at him for a moment before adding, "I'm heading to the café near the east gate. Come with me."

Mike met her eyes.

"You ask every new guy out for coffee, or am I getting special treatment?"

Eve let out a soft laugh. "Only the ones worth inviting." She turned slightly, then looked back over her shoulder at him. "Coming, Mike? Or are you going to make me walk alone?"

The way she said his name was deliberate.

Mike's lips curved slightly. "Lead the way."

As he fell into step beside her, a cold blue screen flickered across his vision.

[Ding! Mission update]

[Target: Eve]

[Have sex with her within 72 hours]