From Pawn to King: Ruling a Harem of Chaos

Chapter 4: The Primordial Artifact, Ring of Charm.

While planning in his mind, Shia easily navigated to his destination.

Though it stung his pride, thanks to the countless playthroughs in his previous life, Shia was intimately familiar with the Ring of Charm's location.

It was hidden in this beginner's area, the city of Seven Shields.

Standing before the maze, Shia showed no hesitation.

To the uninitiated, this appeared to be nothing more than a simple side quest—a quaint little park for couples to explore, perfect for a romantic date.

Experienced players, however, wouldn't even spare such a trivial dungeon a second glance.

Walking through the maze, Shia was surrounded by walls of neatly trimmed vegetation that obscured the path ahead.

Everywhere he looked seemed identical, making it easy to lose one's way.

Yet Shia's steps were steady and deliberate.

He turned left, rounded a corner, walked straight past two intersections, and turned right at the third.

Not once did he pause or glance around at any fork in the road.

His familiarity with the layout left no room for doubt. It was exactly like the game he had played before.

Navigating the maze was not particularly challenging, but leaving it was not Shia's immediate objective.

Soon, he stopped in front of a dead end.

This looked like an ordinary cul-de-sac, the end visible at a glance.

Most people wouldn't have bothered to check it out.

But Shia stepped forward confidently.

At the very end of the alley sat an unremarkable treasure chest, dusty and worn, as though it had been abandoned as junk.

Shia crouched down and opened it, revealing a simple silver ring, slightly tarnished and darkened as if weathered by time.

It looked like low-level beginner's gear, something only novices would notice and treasure as a special bonus.

However—

Who would have thought this was the most powerful piece of equipment in the world?

Hiding such an overpowered artifact in plain sight was just one of the game developers' many twisted jokes.

Shia examined the Ring of Charm in his hand. No matter how closely he looked, it appeared utterly ordinary.

Its name might sound cheesy, and its appearance was unimpressive, but it was one of the most broken items in the game—a bug-level relic, the highest-tier Primordial Artifact.

Relics were the overarching term for items and weapons in this world.

They were categorized into ranks from F to S, determined by the gods. Most relics were crafted by deities and dropped into the mortal world like divine care packages.

To the gods, watching mere mortals stumble upon their handcrafted trinkets and rise to prominence was an endless source of amusement.

But—

The Ring of Charm was coveted even by the gods themselves.

As a Primordial Artifact, it predated the gods, having been nurtured by the original forces of the universe.

Its origins and value were unparalleled, capable of influencing even divine beings, hence its inability to be ranked.

The ring's most direct ability was to bewitch the opposite sex, causing them to crave your presence, become addicted, and cling to you.

It delivered an undeniable intellectual blow to the opposite sex, lowering their rational defenses.

In short, it was a tool tailor-made for the darker side of this world.

Yet, if that were all, the Ring of Charm would merely qualify as a supreme artifact, not worthy of the Primordial designation.

Its true value lay in its second trait—a special bonus to auxiliary professions, raising them by one level.

This ability directly influenced the unlocking of hidden professions.

This was something Shia had only discovered after nine playthroughs in his previous life—a secret feature.

It was the sole means for someone like him, a behind-the-scenes administrative type, to acquire combat power.

A unique path that allowed for meteoric rise—a hidden class called Visionary.

Of course, that was a distant goal for now.

Shia ran his fingers over the Ring of Charm, feeling a mix of anticipation and frustration.

A thorny problem loomed before him.

Currently, the artifact was sealed by seven layers of enchantments.

Unlocking the seal required seven keys.

He had to find the first key to even begin.

Find the keys—unlock the seals. It sounded like a straightforward and classic questline.

Sounds proper, doesn't it?

But these seven keys were represented by seven unique female characters.

How did the keys unlock the seal?

Insert.

Withdraw!

Suddenly, it all makes sense, doesn't it?

It's an eroge, after all. The goal is to conquer the heroines, plain and simple.

Shia carefully stored the Ring of Charm, his gaze flashing with determination.

As of now, four of the keys were likely within the academy, but only one was accessible to him at this stage—the succubus princess, also a freshman.

Which was why gaining admission was critical!

Having secured his objective for this trip, Shia wasted no time and headed for the maze's exit.

Next, he planned to visit Lilith's mentor.

A serene villa came into view—a blend of classical elegance and modern simplicity. It exuded an aura of comfort and peace, like a safe harbor.

Shia's lips curved into a soft smile as he approached the front door and pressed the doorbell.

"Ding-dong."

The clear sound of the bell echoed through the villa, and Shia thought he heard footsteps approaching from inside.

He stepped back slightly, making way for whoever would answer.

"I'm coming."

The voice from behind the door was slightly muffled but carried a gentle warmth, reminiscent of a newlywed wife waiting for her husband's return.

The door opened.

The angle of the opening perfectly occupied the step Shia had just vacated.

In his line of sight stood a woman with a refined and elegant face, her beauty tempered by maturity.

Her purple hair was styled into a bun, with a single loose strand cascading softly by her temple, adding an unassuming charm.

A pale pink form-fitting dress hugged her voluptuous figure, perfectly outlining her curves with an inviting warmth.

Beneath the hem of her dress were legs wrapped in black stockings, their tautness hinting at the fair skin beneath. She wore thick slippers, but even those couldn't dull the allure of her shapely legs.

Coupled with her striking hairstyle, the overall effect was nothing short of fatal attraction.

Her aura was one of gentle grace and dignified composure. Her physique exuded warmth, evoking a desire to dive into her embrace and bask in her motherly affection.

She embodied the image of a perfect homemaker, though currently, she was also a widow.

Shia's smile deepened.

"Aunt Ella."

The owner of the villa was Ella, a lecturer at the Seven Shields Academy, Lilith's mentor, and the administrator in charge of freshman admissions.

She was the linchpin in Shia's plan to gain entry into the academy.

Ella seemed momentarily surprised to see the handsome young man at her door, but her expression quickly softened into a warm smile as she stepped aside.

"Is there something you need from me? Come in and talk."

Her demeanor, though gentle, carried a certain formal stiffness—polite but distant.

She wasn't truly the warmhearted big sister type.

For most, this subtle coldness might have been discouraging.

But Shia wasn't deterred. Without hesitation, he stepped inside the villa.