Trapped as an NPC in a Dating Sim

“What is this?”

Aria asked Soren, her gaze fixed on the intricate circular pattern forming on her belly. Thin crimson lines branched inward like veins, converging into a small, thorn-like emblem at the center.

Around it, faint arc-like runes took shape, each one pulsing as if alive. To be honest, she was mesmerized by the display.

“Crimson Bond!”

Soren used his mana to stop his bleeding finger before caressing her smooth belly, lovingly.

’It is a bond between you and me, one that carries my authority.’

This time, Soren used telepathy to speak directly into Aria’s mind, catching her off guard.

“How?”

Aria asked aloud, her eyes widening in shock.

She could tell Soren hadn’t used any skill just now. He had simply… spoken to her directly.

“Don’t tell me…”

For a moment, realization flickered across her face, and she quickly fell silent.

’Soren?’

She called out tentatively in her mind, only to receive a reply almost instantly.

’Yes?’

All the while, Soren stood there, smiling as always, without a single word leaving his lips.

“Telepathy? Is this a feature of this sigil?”

Aria immediately understood, her eyes focusing on the tattoo on her belly once again.

She did feel a strange connection with Soren just now.

“Yeah… it is a unique ability of mine. With this sigil on you, we are now connected. In simple terms, it acknowledges you as mine.”

Soren nodded and explained the feature of his Crimson Bond. However, inwardly, he was confused as he still heard no system prompt yet.

At least there should be some increase in Aria’s main quest, right?

“Oh? What do you mean, acknowledge me as yours? When am I yours to begin with?”

Aria didn’t like his words as she pouted in annoyance.

“If all this sigil does is bind me to you, then what is the benefit for me? Isn’t this the same as the Slave Contract?”

Although her tone was mixed with a joke, it still carried some concern. After all, the tattoo was only on her body, not on Soren.

“This…”

For a moment, her question stumped Soren.

It seemed he had somehow forgotten that Elise didn’t mind him forming a bond with her, only after he had conquered her.

But although Aria was very close to him, she might not take it the same way.

Especially when looking at it right now, it did seem like an unfair contract. At least since Aria didn’t know it could help her increase her levels.

“Then… should I remove it?”

Soren felt that maybe he really had been a bit impulsive. He had made this mistake only because, in his mind, Aria Luna was already his.

Maybe that was why he hadn’t heard any increase in the Main Quest?

For a moment, his face fell into a frown when Aria giggled.

“Pffft… look at your face.”

This was the first time Aria had seen him somewhat down, and she giggled softly while pointing at Soren.

“Tch… tch… it seems even you get stumped sometimes. Serves you right for being so narcissistic.”

The more she looked at Soren’s dark expression, the more she laughed, clearly pleased.

Soren might have thought she would be happy to gain such a connection with him, right?

Well, although that was indeed the case, why would she show it?

“Narcissistic? Aria, don’t go too far. I only formed that bond with you because of our relationship. And you didn’t stop me either.”

Soren, of course, understood everything and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

“But it’s still true that you didn’t tell me what it was beforehand. Who knows, I mightn’t have wanted this yet?”

Aria snickered at Soren.

Wasn’t it a given to inform both parties when forming a contract?

Why was Soren only telling her this after he had given her the tattoo?

If it were any other girl, they might think he was using some nefarious method on her.

“Then I’ll just remove it. I’m not forcing you, am I?”

The more logical Aria sounded, the more annoyed Soren became.

He knew he should have spoken to her first, but he hadn’t, simply because he assumed she wouldn’t disagree.

But if she was really adamant about teaching him a lesson, then he could just remove it.

“NO…Don’t…!”

Unfortunately, just as Soren reached out to touch her belly, Aria quickly stopped him and stepped back a little.

“Soren, do you think I’m some piece of trash you can use and throw away whenever you want? What do you take me for? Don’t you have any shame?”

She even had to add that unnecessary line at the end, full of innuendo, while placing her hand on her belly.

“…”

For a moment, Soren stood dumbfounded, staring at Aria before swooping at her, catching her off guard.

“Damn you, girl, you have gone too far.”

He cursed while holding her waist and throwing her at the bed on the floor.

“Ouch…Soren, don’t…don’t you dare take it away from me.”

Aria was tossed back onto the bed with a light thud, her breath catching for a moment.

Before she could react, Soren caught both of her wrists above her head and leaned over her, his body towering over hers.

“Let’s see how you stop me now.”

Soren smirked at Aria’s futile attempt to struggle before lowering his other hand on her belly. It was as if he was really going to cancel the Crimson Bond.

*Swoosh!*

However, just as he was about to touch her, Aria’s clothes abruptly elongated on their own, directly hiding her belly along with the sigil.

In an instant, Soren found himself touching her robe, the same one he had gifted her before.

“…”

“Remove it.”

“No…”

“Aria, I’m asking you nicely. Remove it already, or else…”

“Or else what? If you’ve got the guts, tear it up.”

Aria didn’t care about Soren’s warning and smirked instead, teasing him with her eyes.

The Veil of Dripping Sin Soren had given her was a D-rank artifact of unknown origin. It could save her from a fatal crisis once per day.

An artifact like that was naturally durable and not so easy to destroy.

So, in short, unless Aria wanted to, Soren couldn’t tear her dress like before.

’Damn it…’

Only now did he realize he had shot himself in the foot.

“Lady, you are playing with fire right now.”

Soren shot Aria a dangerous glare, but in return, he only received a faint giggle of amusement from her.

“Pffftt…then burn me?”

“Sigh…you are the one who said you don’t want it.”

“Tch… I never said I don’t want to have it. I am just angry that you forced me, and now my belly feels so warm and heavy already. How can I let you take it away from me, now?”

Aria gave a cute pout filled with a suggestive look.

“Force? When did I ever force you? And can you stop acting like this?”

Why did Soren never know this side of Aria?

She was clearly playing around, twisting the meaning of his sigil into something else entirely.

“Acting? I’m telling the truth though… Soren… p-please, d-don’t bully me anymore. I’m already so weak… You already gave me this in my belly, what else do you want?”

Yet Aria didn’t listen and acted pitiful instead, her eyes a bit moist.

“…”

Good guy…Soren was speechless.

He didn’t know what had suddenly gotten into Aria, but she kept firing off one pregnancy joke after another at him.

Was she suggesting him or what?

Just as Soren remained speechless, not knowing what to say, a sweet voice cut through the air from behind them.

“What are you two doing right now?”

Despite its gentle tone, the voice trembled with intense, barely contained anger.

Only then did Aria and Soren realize the tent had been opened, with Aurelia, Sylvia, and Evan staring at them in shock.

Apparently, they seemed to have heard Aria’s words just now, as Evan suddenly spoke in a trembling voice…

“Is Aria… pregnant?”

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