Isaac leaned forward.
He didn’t think about anything anymore.
"Issac, don’t. Or else, you will—"
"Why are you getting worried?" Isaac asked.
He gave a small grin.
Seeing Catherine like that, flustered and nervous, made him feel like he was achieving some kind of victory.
He moved his head even closer, slowly closing the space between them.
His instincts were warning him again.
Life or Death Affinity—whichever one it was—kept telling him to stop.
He ignored all of it.
Their lips were almost touching.
A clear ringing sound suddenly echoed.
It felt like a huge gong being struck right next to his ears.
His mind cleared instantly.
The strange fog that clouded his thoughts vanished in one second.
He blinked and finally noticed the floating screen in front of his eyes.
Death Affinity has leveled up. Level 1 → Level 2
’What the hell? So the warning was real?’
He pulled back, startled, and looked at Catherine with confusion.
She looked relieved that he stopped, but there was also a quiet disappointment in her eyes.
For a second, she looked just like him, someone who had thrown caution away without thinking.
Catherine leaned closer again, hesitating at first, then moving her lips toward his.
But someone knocked on the door.
"It’s me, Leora."
Her voice sounded cold. Much colder than usual.
Catherine froze.
She looked at Isaac and then at the door, unsure of what to do.
She seemed torn between two choices.
After several long seconds, she finally stepped forward.
"Catherine! What are you doing?!"
The door was cut into two pieces in a single motion.
Leora burst inside.
But Isaac and Catherine weren’t looking at her.
Isaac felt danger rising inside him again.
His mind was full of warnings.
Even so, he didn’t want to stop the kiss.
At the last moment, he forced himself to tilt his head to the side.
Catherine’s lips missed his and landed on his forehead instead.
A cold sensation spread across his skin.
The next second, Leora stood right next to Catherine.
She grabbed Catherine’s tail and pulled her back with so much strength that Catherine almost hit the wall.
"What are you doing?" Isaac shouted. "Don’t attack her—"
"Isaac, stop talking. I’m doing my job as your bodyguard," Leora said.
She stepped toward Catherine with her sword already drawn.
Her expression was cold, and her eyes stayed fixed on Catherine.
The sword tip hovered right over Catherine’s neck.
"Why did you do that? I told you many times to control yourself," Leora said.
"It was just a light—"
"Next time you do that, I will send you away from Isaac," Leora said.
Her tone had no hesitation.
Catherine looked down.
"...I apologize for losing control," she said softly.
"Don’t let it happen again," Leora said.
She sheathed her sword and turned toward Isaac.
"It’s your fault too. If you want to regain your memories, at least understand what you should and shouldn’t do."
"...?"
Isaac looked confused.
He was still angry from seeing Leora pull Catherine like that.
But after a moment, he understood she wasn’t doing it to hurt her.
She was protecting him.
Kissing Catherine could’ve harmed him, or so his senses were telling him.
And Catherine had almost bewitched him into kissing her.
Leora let out a long sigh.
She looked at both of them with tired eyes.
"Catherine, stay in your room and calm down. I know you are happy, but that doesn’t mean you can lose control. And Isaac, go downstairs. The Sword Empress is in the living room. She wants to talk to you."
"Sword Empress?" Isaac repeated.
He knew it was Leora’s disguise.
She stood in front of him right now.
’No way... does she still think her disguise fools anyone?’
He sighed inside.
Sword Empress was over a hundred years old.
Maybe she was simply mentally slow due to her age.
’Poor Sword Empress—’
"Isaac?" Leora called out.
She was glaring directly at him.
"Yes?" he replied.
"Did you say something bad about me?"
"Huh?"
"No, nothing. Maybe I imagined it."
She shook her head.
Isaac smiled stiffly.
’What kind of instincts does she have to detect me insulting her in my thoughts?’
’I shouldn’t do that again.’
He coughed lightly and stepped out of the room.
As he reached the living room and he got down the stairs, she was there already.
Now she looked like an old woman with white hair and calm blue eyes.
Isaac walked in.
"Sword Empress, it’s nice to see you again..." he said, greeting her.
She nodded back with a small smile.
"Sit," she said.
Isaac sat on the sofa across from her.
He looked at her carefully.
"What happened? Why did you come so late at night? Is it about the Sinkhole Worms?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"I do want to talk about that too. But I came here for another reason."
"Another reason?" Isaac asked.
She nodded.
"I heard you regained your memories."
Isaac nodded slowly.
The Sword Empress looked down for a moment before speaking again.
"I apologize. I was the one who allowed my disciple to alter your memories. She did it for your sake, but I will understand if you hold a grudge. If you are angry, then take it out on me instead of her. But please forgive her."
Isaac shook his head.
"It’s fine. I already forgave her."
The Sword Empress let out a quiet breath.
"Thank you for forgiving her," she said.
She closed her eyes for a moment and let her shoulders relax.
It looked like she had been holding something heavy inside her for a long time.
Then her gaze sharpened again.
"So, what is your intention toward my disciple?" she asked.
"I want to marry her," Isaac said.
His answer came out fast and without hesitation.
Sword Empress blinked, clearly caught off guard.
Isaac didn’t look away.
He didn’t feel nervous.
He had already decided not to hesitate anymore.
He had learned from his situation with Alice and Celia.
He would not repeat the same mistakes again.
If he liked someone, he would say it directly.
He already knew Alice would probably beat him up later.
But he also knew she wouldn’t react too much about Catherine joining them.
Alice should have already expected it.
A long sigh escaped the Sword Empress’ lips.
"This is what I feared," she said. "It’s one of the main reasons I allowed her to alter your memories."
Isaac tilted his head slightly.
He didn’t understand.
The Sword Empress continued speaking anyway.
"One reason for altering your memories was to stop you from charging at that... child."
Isaac’s lips twitched.
Hearing her call Catherine’s and his Mother a "child" was strange, but he didn’t interrupt.
"The second reason was Catherine herself. With your memories sealed, she believed you might hate her. That fear acted like a chain. It forced her to control herself. But now..."
She shook her head with a tired expression.
Isaac leaned forward.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Isaac," she said gently, "Celestial Kitsune is a powerful race.
"Their natural ability that activates during coitus is what made them so strong.
"It helped them rise to the point where they nearly dominated the entire world in the past. But..."
She paused for a moment.
Then she met his eyes.
"They failed and went extinct. Do you know why?"
Isaac shook his head.
"Their defeat wasn’t caused by another race. It was caused by themselves."
He remained silent.
"Genetic mutation from interbreeding," she continued. "Celestial Kitsune have extremely high sexual desire. Even more than dragons. And they have no moral boundary when it kicks in."
Isaac’s expression changed the moment he heard that.
"They would sleep with strangers. Their children. Their parent. Anyone that is in front of them. That behavior caused severe mutations and destroyed their entire race," she said softly.
Isaac frowned.
It sounded ridiculous at first, but the more he thought about it, the more frightening it became.
As a dragon, he already had strong urges.
There were times in the past where he almost lost control completely.
If Celestial Kitsune were even worse, then he could understand why the race disappeared.
The Sword Empress looked down for a second and then continued.
"I was surprised when I found Catherine years ago. There was still a Celestial Kitsune left, and she carried a pure bloodline. I thought it might be fate, so I took her in as my disciple."
Isaac nodded slowly.
"How does all this relate to our situation?" he asked.
The Sword Empress looked at him with a serious face.
"Isaac, Catherine has strong willpower. A normal Celestial Kitsune would never think twice before having countless partners. But Catherine never looked at anyone except one person."
Isaac stayed quiet.
The Sword Empress continued.
"If I had not seen it myself, I would never have believed a Celestial Kitsune could stay loyal to one person," she said.
"...So the person she likes is me?" Isaac asked.
"Yes," the Sword Empress said. "Like all Celestial Kitsune, her urges are strong. But until now, she held herself back because she thought you hated her for what happened during childhood."
She sighed again.
"Her control slipped a lot recently. The reason your apartments got closer and closer was because those were her heat cycles. She was drawn toward you during those times."
Isaac felt his scalp tingle.
"You should also remember now that she entered your dreams," she added.
Isaac nodded.
He couldn’t recall the dreams clearly.
Dreams always faded when waking up.
But he knew he had seen an unknown woman in them for a long time.
Now he knew that woman had been Catherine.
The Sword Empress straightened her back.
"Now that she knows you like her, she will try to seduce you. Do not, under any circumstances, be intimate with her. If you do anything intimate, you will die."
Isaac remembered how violently his Death Affinity reacted earlier.
He finally understood why.
The Sword Empress continued.
"Coitus with a Celestial Kitsune gives many benefits, but even a small intimate moment can drain your vitality," she said.
"Catherine is peak Champion rank. You are only peak Adept rank. Unless you reach Champion rank while she stays at Champion rank, you cannot be intimate with her."
Isaac’s face twisted.
It looked like he had taken a bite out of something rotten.
"Wait until Champion rank?" he muttered.
Why didn’t she just tell him to never touch her at all?
The Sword Empress wasn’t finished.
"Even kissing is dangerous," she said. "Now..."
She shifted the conversation smoothly.
They moved on to talk about Sinkhole Worms and other matters related to the city.
Isaac answered where he needed to, but his mind wasn’t fully there.
His thoughts kept circling around Catherine.
He couldn’t be intimate with her.
He couldn’t kiss her.
If he was still the indecisive person he used to be, he would have accepted it easily.
But now, this was torture.
His mind kept turning.
He needed a solution.
He needed something that would let him stay with her without dying.
But he didn’t know what that solution was yet.
The Sword Empress continued speaking about city matters, but Isaac barely heard half of it.
His mind kept drifting back to Catherine.
’Wait...’
A small idea formed in his head.
’The problem is vitality. Sis— let’s just call her Catherine. It feels weird to call her sis when I’m thinking about those things.’
’She will suck my vitality if we kiss or... do anything, and it will kill me.’
He knew using Life Drain on Catherine wouldn’t solve the problem of vitality.
If it worked, the Sword Empress wouldn’t have warned him so seriously.
But what if—
’What if I grow a plant with stronger vitality than an Overlord rank awakener?’
He could already grow powerful plants.
And now he had class skills that let him change plants genetically.
If he could create a plant with vitality as strong as an Overlord rank awakener, maybe even stronger...
He could do whatever he wanted with Catherine while draining vitality from the plant to keep himself alive.
Isaac rubbed his forehead.
’I’m thinking about creating a ridiculous plant just so I can push Catherine down.’
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
His mind was calming a bit now.
He realized he had been thinking too fast.
Even if he couldn’t kiss her or sleep with her, that didn’t change how he felt.
He didn’t mind if things moved slowly.
Until now, his dragon instincts had been controlling him.
Now that he was calmer, he could see what truly mattered.
"I will be leaving now," the Sword Empress said.
Their discussion was done.
Isaac told her she should rest here, but she shook her head.
"I still have work to do," she said.
She left.
Isaac stood there for a moment, then went toward Alice’s room.
That was where he would sleep today.
He opened the door quietly.
Alice was already asleep on the bed.
’She must’ve been tired.’
He smiled and cleaned himself before lying down beside her.
As he settled on the mattress, Alice’s tail moved and wrapped around his waist.
Isaac blinked.
She was doing it in her sleep.
He chuckled softly, and kissed her on the head.
A smile appeared on Alice’s face.
Isaac stared at her smile for a while before falling asleep.
Darkness filled his vision.
He opened his eyes again and found himself in a dream.
He was sitting on a couch, staring at a TV screen with someone next to him.
He turned his head.
Catherine sat beside him.
She wore a white shirt with a couple of buttons open near the top.
Her glasses and pencil skirt made her look like some kind of strict yet seductive professor.
Her coat was open.
Her stockings covered her long legs.
Isaac swallowed before he could stop himself and stared at the TV again.
"Why did you bring me into your dream? Or am I in my dream and you came inside?" he asked.
"Does it matter?" Catherine asked. "Or do you not want to spend time with your sister anymore?"
"...Fine," Isaac said.
He didn’t think about doing anything intimate.
He really did want to spend time with her.
So he stayed.
They watched the TV quietly at first.
"Do you remember? We barely had time to watch anything when we were younger," Catherine said.
"Yes. And when we finally had time, half of it got wasted because all of us fought over the remote," he replied.
Catherine let out a small laugh.
"Jack would always..." she started.
"Yeah. He would always grab it first and run," Isaac said.
They continued talking.
They shared small memories with soft smiles.
At the beginning, Isaac stayed cautious.
Sword Empress’ warning lingered in his mind.
But as they talked, he relaxed without noticing.
Catherine leaned against his shoulder.
Isaac didn’t move away.
He didn’t mind it.
The warmth felt familiar.
Then, as they continued to speak, her hand rested on his inner thigh.
Isaac looked at her.
She was watching the television with a small smile, still chatting about how Jack would hide the remote underneath the pillow.
He thought maybe she did place the hand by mistake.
The touch didn’t seem deliberate at first.
But then her fingers started to caress his inner thigh, moving in slow circles.
Only then did he notice the scent in the room.
It was that familiar aroma that always stirred him up.
It had been building slowly, almost without him realizing. Now it filled the air, sweet and pulling at his senses.
His body reacted before he could stop it.
He felt himself getting hard, pitching a tent in his pants.
Catherine glanced down.
Her eyes lifted to meet his, upturned with a playful glint.
"What is this? Did you get excited by your sister?" she asked.
Isaac’s breathing came heavy now.
He reached out and grabbed her shoulders.
His voice was rough as he spoke.
"Sis, you know we can’t—"
She cut him off gently, her hand still on his thigh.
"It would be fine if I use my hands. Did Master not tell you this?" she asked.
Isaac stared at her.
His Death Affinity wasn’t warning him at all.
No alarms, no pull to stop.
That meant she was right.
There was no risk with hands.
"...She did not," he admitted.
Catherine let out a soft laugh.
"I knew that," she said.
She leaned closer to his ear.
Her breath was warm as she whispered against his ears.
Her hand moved up, caressing his shaft through the fabric of his pants.
"Do you want your sister to help you?"
Her fingers traced the length of him, light but sure.
Isaac felt his resolve slipping.
Her hands were already working, moving up and down in a steady rhythm.
"It’s not going to be a problem," she continued.
Her voice stayed calm, like they were just talking about the weather.
"Only kissing and sex are the issue, but anything else is allowed."
She pulled back a bit to look at him.
Her smile was gentle, but her eyes showed she enjoyed seeing him like this.
"So, what do you want, Isaac? Do you want your sister to help you right now, or are you going to wait until you reach Champion rank?"
Her breath tickled his ear again as she leaned in.
The scent wrapped around him tighter.
His mind leaned toward her.
And besides...
’We are in a dream. So, it should be safe here, right?’
He wasn’t thinking clearly.
"Okay," Isaac said.
His voice came out quieter than he planned.
Catherine tilted her head.
Her hand paused for a second.
"Okay what? Say clearly about what you want, Isaac."
He gritted his teeth.
She was enjoying his reaction too much.
But his mouth moved anyway, like it had its own mind.
"I want... your help, sis."
"Good boy," she replied, patting his hand.
Then, she leaned downward slowly.
Her hands worked at his zipper with skill.
She pulled it down, and his hardness sprang free.
Catherine wrapped her cool hand around it.
She started moving up and down, firm but gentle.
A groan escaped Isaac’s lips.
It felt so good.
The pressure from her hand mixed with the longing he’d felt for her all this time.
It sent waves of pleasure through him.
She kept the rhythm steady.
Up and down, her grip just right.
Isaac leaned back on the couch.
He closed his eyes.
The TV faded away.
He focused only on the feel of her hand milking his shaft.
His breathing quickened.
Tension built inside him.
And finally, Isaac came.
His release spilled over her hand.
He opened his eyes, still catching his breath.
"That was—"
His words stopped short.
Catherine was licking her hand clean.
It was covered in his cum, but she didn’t look away.
She held his gaze the whole time.
Her tongue moved slow, and deliberate.
Then she lowered her head.
She pressed a soft kiss to the side of his shaft.
Isaac felt himself stirring again right away.
He was already standing hard once more.
Catherine stood up.
She reached for her pencil skirt.
With a slow motion, she slid it off.
Isaac’s eyes locked on her lower half.
He didn’t say a word. His gaze fixed there, drawn in.
Blood rushed hot through him when he saw the moist spot between her legs.
She hooked her fingers in her panties.
She pulled them down.
A sticky crystal thread of liquid stretched between the fabric and her skin.
It broke as the panties fell to the floor.
She still wore her stockings.
They hugged her legs smooth.
Isaac raised his hand.
He touched her vagina, which was bare and smooth.
A moan slipped from her lips.
It was low and needy.
He played with her labia for a moment.
His fingers explored the folds gently.
Then he pushed two inside her.
She was wet, and welcoming.
Isaac began to move his fingers.
In and out, curling just right.
Moans started to escape Catherine’s lips.
She grabbed his shoulder for support.
Her nails dug in lightly.
"Good, you’re doing good," she gasped. "Haah, haah."
Her breathing came hard and fast.
Her body trembled after a while.
Then she shuddered all over.
She came, her walls clenching around his fingers.
Catherine leaned on him.
She hugged his head close to her chest.
Her body went limp for a second.
"I didn’t know my little brother was so good at pleasing women," she teased.
Her voice was breathy, and seductive.
Isaac felt the blood still rushing south.
Pleasing her had only made him harder.
His shaft throbbed, carving more touch.
Catherine knew it. That was why she let him touch her in the first place.
She pulled back slowly. Her eyes met his, sparkling.
Then she let go of his head.
She turned around.
Leaning over the table in front of the couch, she pushed her plump ass toward him.
The curve of it was inviting.
Her stockings framed it perfectly.
"What are you doing?" Isaac asked.
His voice sounded rough.
As she turned her head to look back, she chuckled.
She saw him staring at her entrance.
He was speaking to it more than to her face.
"Aren’t you pent up?" she asked.
Her tone was light, like offering a favor.
"How about you let your sister help you?"
She shook her ass a little. Just enough to tease.
Isaac almost said yes right then.
The sight pulled at him strong.
But the last thread of his rationality held him back.
He swallowed hard.
Catherine’s eyes turned to crescents.
She saw the struggle on his face. It made her smile wider.
"You can use my thighs instead of putting it in," she said.
That was all Isaac needed to hear.
The barrier broke.
He stood up from the couch.
His hands went to her hips.
She arched her back perfectly.
Isaac positioned himself.
He pressed against her ass cheeks.
Not entering, just sliding between them.
The warmth enveloped him. He groaned low.
Catherine pushed back gently. Helping him find a rhythm.
"Do you like this?" she asked. Her voice was soft over her shoulder.
"Yeah," Isaac replied.
He started moving.
Slow thrusts at first.
The friction built quick.
Her skin was smooth, slick from her own arousal.
He gripped her hips tighter, and picked up the pace.
Catherine moaned softly. Her hands braced on the table. She rocked with him.
His shaft was pressed between her thighs, and her entrance, rubbing it gently.
The room was filled with the sounds of their breathing.
Isaac felt the pressure rising again.
Catherine glanced back.
Her eyes locked on his.
"Go ahead. Let it out on," she whispered.
He did.
With a final thrust, he pulled back and came over her back.
Warm release spilled over her clothes and skin.