Kael Draven had always been the type who played the long game.In his old life on Earth, he'd been a mid-level corporate strategist—sharp enough to climb the ladder without making too many enemies, charming enough to close deals with a smile and a drink. He wasn't a saint, but he wasn't cruel either. He just knew how people worked. Desire, loyalty, fear—those were the real currencies. Money was just paper.He'd died the way a lot of overworked salarymen do: quietly, suddenly, on a late-night train home after sealing a merger. Heart attack, they'd probably say. One moment he was scrolling through his phone, the next—nothing.Then light. Blinding, golden light.When the glare faded, Kael found himself on his knees in the center of an enormous magic circle etched into polished marble. The air smelled of incense and ozone. Dozens of robed figures surrounded him, their faces hidden behind ornate masks. At the far end of the grand hall, on a raised dais, sat a king in gilded armor and a cluster of stern-faced nobles. To their left stood a line of beautiful women in ceremonial gowns—priestesses, probably. To their right, a group of grim-looking knights.Classic isekai setup. Kael almost smirked. He'd read enough light novels to recognize the scene.One of the masked figures stepped forward, voice amplified by magic. "Hero from another world! We, the people of Aetheria, have summoned thee to vanquish the Demon Lord Valthor and his legions! Thou shalt receive the divine blessing of the Goddess and—"Kael tuned the rest out. He'd heard the speech before, in a hundred different variations. Hero gets summoned, gets overpowered skills, saves the world, maybe gets a harem as a bonus. Rinse and repeat.But something felt off. The priestesses were staring at him with a mix of pity and disdain. The knights looked openly hostile. Even the king seemed bored, like he was checking an item off a to-do list.Kael stood slowly, brushing imaginary dust from the simple white tunic and trousers he'd been dressed in. He met the head priest's masked gaze. "So I'm the hero, huh? What's the package deal? Legendary sword? Infinite mana? Cute elf companion?"A ripple of uneasy murmurs spread through the hall. The head priest cleared his throat. "The Goddess has… chosen thy class uniquely. Behold!"A translucent blue screen materialized in front of Kael—the ubiquitous System interface every isekai protagonist got.──────────────────
Name: Kael Draven
Title: The Disposable Hero
Class: Pleasure King (Unique)
Level: 1
Authority: 0
Bonded Consorts: 0/∞
Skills:Charm Aura (Passive)
Intimate Dominion (Active)
Royal Edict (Locked)
Harem Synergy (Locked)
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Kael blinked. Then he read it again.Pleasure King?He almost laughed out loud. The hall had gone deathly silent. He could feel the weight of dozens of judgmental stares.The head priest sounded embarrassed. "The summoning ritual has… occasionally produced anomalous results in the past. In most cases, the anomaly is corrected by sending the failed hero to the front lines as a decoy. Thou wilt serve the kingdom in this capacity until the true hero arrives."Disposable. They weren't even hiding it.Kael's smile was slow and sharp. "So let me get this straight. You dragged me from my world, slapped me with a joke class, and now you're going to throw me at the demons like a meat shield?"The king finally spoke, voice cold. "It is an honor to die for Aetheria.""Yeah, I bet." Kael's tone was light, conversational, but his mind was already racing. Pleasure King. Authority based on… what? The description had mentioned "loyalty, intimacy, and emotional bonds with elite women." That wasn't a joke class—that was a goddamn cheat code wearing a pornographic skin.He glanced at the line of priestesses again. One of them—a silver-haired beauty with sharp violet eyes—met his gaze for a fraction longer than the others. Interesting.Kael turned back to the head priest. "Tell me more about this class. What exactly does a 'Pleasure King' do?"The priest hesitated. "It is… a forbidden archetype. One that grows in power through… carnal congress and emotional dominion over women of high status or potential. Each bonded consort increases the King's authority, granting strength, magic, territory control, and political influence. It is considered degenerate. Unworthy of a true hero."The king snorted. "We have no use for a brothel-keeper pretending at royalty."Kael's grin widened. "Funny. Sounds to me like the Goddess just handed me the keys to the kingdom."The hall erupted in outrage. Knights drew swords. Mages began chanting.Kael raised a hand. "Relax. I'm not going to cause trouble." Yet.He focused on the System screen again, willing more details.A new panel opened.──────────────────
Class Explanation: Pleasure King
The Pleasure King rules not through brute force alone, but through desire and devotion. Every woman who swears true loyalty—earned through pleasure, protection, or mutual ambition—becomes a Consort. Consorts grant:Personal power boosts to the King
Unique skills and abilities based on the Consort's talents
Territorial authority (land, resources, armies)
Political legitimacy
Warning: Forced bonds yield no power. Only genuine loyalty counts.
Current Authority: 0 (No territory, no subjects)
──────────────────Kael's pulse quickened. This wasn't a joke class. This was kingdom-building on easy mode—if he played it right.The head priest snapped, "Enough mockery. Guards, escort the failed hero to the eastern front at once."Four armored knights advanced.Kael sighed theatrically. "You know, I was hoping for a warmer welcome. But fine. Let's do this the hard way."He activated his first skill on instinct.Charm Aura (Passive): All females within 20 meters feel subtle attraction and reduced hostility toward the Pleasure King.The effect was immediate. The priestesses shifted uncomfortably. One blushed. The silver-haired one bit her lip. Even a few noblewomen in the galleries leaned forward slightly.The knights hesitated, confused by the sudden change in atmosphere.Kael stepped forward casually, hands open. "Before you throw me away, maybe hear me out. You need a hero, right? Demon Lord's winning. Your armies are losing ground. Traditional heroes keep dying or failing. Maybe it's time to try something new."The king slammed a fist on his throne. "Silence! You will obey or be executed here and now."Kael met the king's eyes. "Execute me and you waste the summoning. Send me to die on the front lines and you waste me twice. But keep me here, let me do what I do best, and I'll give you a kingdom stronger than any sword-swinging hero ever could."A long silence.Finally, a new voice—female, cool, and amused—cut through the tension."Father, perhaps we should hear the 'failed hero' out."Everyone turned. The speaker was a stunning young woman descending from the royal gallery. Long raven hair, crimson gown that hugged dangerous curves, and eyes like polished emeralds. She moved with the confidence of someone born to power.The king frowned. "Liora. This does not concern you."Princess Liora. Kael catalogued the name instantly."It concerns all of us," she countered smoothly. "The eastern provinces have already fallen. The church's last three summonings produced one mad berserker, one coward, and now… this." Her gaze flicked to Kael, curious rather than dismissive. "If he truly believes his class can turn the tide, what do we lose by testing him?"The head priest sputtered. "Princess, his class is obscene—""Is survival obscene?" Liora interrupted. "We are losing a war. Pride is a luxury we can no longer afford."Kael inclined his head toward her. "Wise words, Princess. I like you already."Liora's lips twitched in what might have been a smile. "Bold. We'll see if you live long enough to back it up."The king rubbed his temples. "Very well. One chance. You will be given a ruined border territory—Baron Varyn's old holdings in the Ashen Marches. No troops. No funds. If you can hold it against the demon scouts for one year, we will reconsider your status. Fail, and you die forgotten."Kael bowed with deliberate grace. "Generous. I accept."The king waved a hand. "Take him to the quartermaster for basic supplies. Dismissed."As guards escorted Kael from the hall, he passed close to the line of priestesses. The silver-haired one whispered as he went by, so low only he could hear: "The Goddess does nothing by accident, Pleasure King."He glanced back. Her violet eyes held secrets.Interesting.Later, in a small antechamber, Kael received his "supplies": a rusted sword, a worn cloak, a pouch with ten gold coins, and a map to the Ashen Marches. The quartermaster sneered the whole time.Kael didn't care. He was already planning.The Ashen Marches were a wasteland—burned villages, scattered refugees, monster-infested forests, and constant demon raids. Perfect for a fresh start. No oversight. No meddling nobles. Just opportunity.He stepped out of the capital's gates at dusk, alone, on foot.The System pinged.──────────────────
Quest Generated: Found a Kingdom
Objective: Establish your first territory in the Ashen Marches.
Reward: Unlock Royal Edict skill. First Consort slot strengthened.
──────────────────Kael grinned into the gathering dark."Let's build an empire."Three days later, he reached the ruins of Blackthorn Keep—the former seat of Baron Varyn, now a half-collapsed fortress overlooking a desolate valley. Weeds choked the courtyard. Ravens nested in the broken towers. A handful of starving refugees huddled in the shadows of the walls.Kael's Charm Aura did its subtle work as he approached. Hostility melted into wary curiosity.An older man with a limp—probably the unofficial leader—stepped forward. "Who're you, stranger? This place is cursed.""I'm the new lord," Kael said simply. "Kael Draven. And I'm here to fix that."Disbelieving laughs rippled through the group—about thirty people total. Mostly women and children, a few elderly men. The able-bodied fighters had either died or fled.Kael didn't push. Instead, he spent the afternoon helping repair a collapsed well, using his modern knowledge to rig a simple pulley system. By evening, clean water flowed for the first time in months.Gratitude replaced skepticism.That night, around a meager campfire, they talked. Names, stories, fears. The demons weren't full invasions yet—just raiding parties testing defenses. Monsters roamed the forests. Bandits preyed on the weak.Kael listened more than he spoke, filing away details.One woman in particular caught his attention: Mira, a former maid from the baron's household. Mid-twenties, auburn hair, tired green eyes, but still beautiful beneath the grime of survival. She'd stayed to protect the others when everyone else fled.She approached him after the others slept."You're no ordinary wanderer," she said quietly, sitting beside him. "That aura around you… it's magic, isn't it?"Kael met her gaze. "Something like that.""Why help us? You could have kept walking.""Because I need people," he answered honestly. "And you need someone who won't abandon you. We can help each other."Mira studied him for a long moment. Then, surprising him, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his—soft, tentative, tasting of woodsmoke and desperation.Kael didn't pull away. He kissed her back gently, letting her set the pace.When they parted, her cheeks were flushed. "It's been a long time since anyone made me feel… safe."The System chimed softly.──────────────────
First Bond Formed: Mira (Loyalty: Devoted)
Benefits Unlocked:
+10 Authority
Skill Gained: Basic Logistics (from Mira's experience as a maid/steward)
Territorial Claim: Blackthorn Ruins (Level 1)
──────────────────Kael felt power flow into him—warm, intoxicating. His muscles strengthened subtly. His senses sharpened.Mira blinked as faint golden lines of magic briefly connected them. "What… was that?""The beginning," Kael murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Of something great."She smiled, small but genuine, and rested her head on his shoulder.In the distance, wolves howled. But for the first time in years, the people of Blackthorn slept without fear.Kael stared into the fire, plans already forming.One territory. One consort. One step.The Pleasure King's reign had just begun.