Ultimate Spin System: Ero Spin?-Chapter 25 - Level 2 Crook

Lena closed her door behind her, muffling her laughter with both hands as she leaned against the wall. Her chest rose and fell as she struggled to contain the giggles threatening to spill out. Eventually, silence settled in her small room. She collapsed onto her bed, her smile lingering for a moment before slowly fading.

Her gaze drifted toward the faint light slipping through the crack under her door—the spot where Lucas had been sitting just moments ago, staring at his phone like he’d stumbled upon the darkest secret of the universe.

"Lucas... you idiot. How do you always manage to make me laugh, even when I’m... like this?"

She sighed, hugging her knees to her chest and burying her face in them. Her mind replayed their earlier moment—the chaotic wrestling for his phone, Lucas’s panicked expression, and how her heart had raced when their faces came so close together.

"Why do I keep getting like this around him? It’s so... embarrassing. I shouldn’t—he probably thinks I’m just annoying."

But the warmth in her chest refused to fade, no matter how hard she tried to suppress it. Every time Lucas smiled at her, every time he said her name, it felt like someone was tugging at her heartstrings.

"Does he even notice how I feel? No, of course not. He’s too busy... being Lucas."

Lena flopped backward onto her bed, staring at the ceiling. The dim glow from her desk lamp cast soft shadows across her posters and scattered belongings. But her mind kept drifting back to Lucas—his panicked face, the way he clutched his phone as if his life depended on it, and that muffled scream of "LENA!" still echoing in her ears.

"Why does teasing him feel so easy, but actually talking to him seriously feels... impossible?"

Her thoughts were a mess. Did Lucas see her as just a friend? A little sister figure? Or—she shook her head violently, rejecting the last thought.

"No. Don’t be stupid, Lena. You’ll only end up hurting yourself."

She reached for her phone, scrolling mindlessly through social media, but nothing held her attention. Her thoughts kept circling back to Lucas and the way his face turned crimson when she teased him.

"He’s such an idiot. A sweet, ridiculous idiot."

---

Meanwhile...

Lucas sprinted like a man possessed through a quiet city park. His breath came in sharp gasps, and his eyes darted wildly around, scanning flocks of pigeons scattered on the ground.

"A pigeon with a red mark on its left wing... a red mark! Why are all these pigeons just boring gray?!"

The task timer glared at him in the corner of his vision:

[Timer: 00:45:23]

Lucas panicked. Time was running out, and the punishment awaiting him—having his entire digital wallet converted into discount vouchers for Sweet Cindy Foot Pics—felt far worse than death itself.

"Focus, Lucas! You’re not a loser! You can—"

Suddenly, from a shadowy corner of the park, a pigeon with a faint red mark on its left wing strutted confidently among the others.

"There!"

Lucas lunged towards the bird, his arms outstretched like a desperate man chasing salvation. The pigeon turned its head slightly, its gaze seeming to say, "Foolish human, don’t even try me."

But Lucas didn’t care.

He crouched low, creeping closer with exaggerated care, and whispered with unearned reverence:

"You are... a messenger from heaven."

The pigeon stared blankly at him for a moment before flapping its wings and soaring into the sky.

Lucas froze. Time seemed to stop. He stared emptily at the sky, realizing he had failed.

But then, a bright notification popped up before his eyes:

---

[Task Completed!]

Title: "The Pigeon Whisperer"

Reward: 300 XP, 5 Spin Tokens, 100 Points

Level Up Bonus Unlocked!

---

A golden light enveloped Lucas, glowing brightly in the darkening park. Warm energy surged through his body, his skin tingling with newfound strength, and his vision sharpened.

[LEVEL UP!]

Crook – Level 2

Bonus Level Up: +5 Spin Tokens

The glow faded slowly, leaving Lucas staring at his slightly shimmering hands.

"Holy crap... I leveled up? This feels like an actual game. This is... amazing!"

Quickly opening his system panel, he scanned his updated status:

---

[ HOST STATUS ]

Name: Lucas Cross

Level: 2 (Crook)

Exp: 150/1000

Class: Crook (A beginner opportunist with untapped potential. Specializes in exploiting situations for personal gain.)

Active Skills:

Persuasion Touch (LV 1): Increases chances of influencing a target’s emotions through direct touch.

Passive Skills:

Charm of the Forbidden: Natural allure to unfaithful wives.

Heartbound Desires

Stats:

Strength: 4

Endurance: 5

Intelligence: 7

Charisma: 10 (+5 from Charm of the Forbidden)

Points: 250

Spin Tokens: 10

---

The golden hues of sunset painted the sky, casting a warm glow over the park. The breeze carried a faint smell of damp leaves and the tranquility of twilight.

Lucas stood in the middle of the park, still catching his breath. The warmth from his level-up lingered on his skin.

"Level 2... Crook. I actually leveled up. But why does it feel more embarrassing than cool?"

He sighed, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. As he turned to leave the park, his gaze caught a woman standing under the shadow of a large tree near a bench.

She wore a fitted white blouse paired with a knee-length black skirt. Her face was partially concealed by a plain black mask, but her large, expressive eyes glimmered nervously as they met Lucas’s gaze. Her twin braids framed her face, creating an innocent yet oddly contrasting allure.

She held a small piece of paper in one hand and a purse in the other. Her shoulders were tense, and her eyes flicked back and forth between Lucas and the paper she held.

"She... looks familiar. Have I seen her somewhere before?"

Lucas furrowed his brow and decided to approach. With deliberate casualness, he walked over, trying not to seem too suspicious with his slightly disheveled rainbow hair.

"Uh... hey? You look kinda lost. Are you okay?"

The woman flinched slightly, clutching her purse tighter. She lowered her head and extended the paper towards Lucas. Her voice was soft and muffled through the mask.

"I-I’m... looking for this address..."

Lucas took the paper and read it carefully. His eyes went wide.

"Wait... this is my apartment building’s address. Seriously? This is way too much of a coincidence."

He looked at her again. Though her mask covered most of her face, the faint blush on her cheeks was visible. Her nervous eyes darted away whenever they met his.

"Oh, this is my building too. I’m heading there now. Want me to walk you there?"

The woman gave a small nod, clutching her bag tightly. "T-Thank you... I hope I’m not troubling you..."

Lucas gave a faint smile, trying to seem reassuring. "Don’t worry about it. It’s no trouble at all. Let’s go."

---

They walked side by side along the sunlit sidewalk, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun. Lucas kept his hands in his pockets, occasionally glancing at the woman beside him.

She walked with small, careful steps, her shoulders tense as if bracing herself against the world. The mask obscured her expression, but her large, nervous eyes said enough.

"Why does she seem so nervous? And... why do I feel like I’ve seen her before?"

Breaking the silence, Lucas spoke up. "By the way, we haven’t introduced ourselves. What’s your name?"

The woman stiffened immediately, clutching her purse tighter. Her voice was faint as she stammered:

"I-I’m... Cin... Cin..."

Lucas squinted slightly. "Cin?"