Chapter 98: Cupid Bow Set: Wooden Hunter Bow
After Silas and Chloe got back, they were obviously bombarded with questions from Anna and Gromda, and with Silas being the menace he was... He slipped right through their entanglement, leaving Chloe to answer all their questions. Fortunately, none of them questioned about the sex they had, though with the way Gromda wrinkled her nose and Anna narrowed her eyes, he figured they’d noticed something.
Not as if he cared though. In fact, he was prepared to give them a taste of it if they questioned him about it, and theirs might be more intense. Don’t get me wrong here. Each of the girls has their qualities, and despite having been in a relationship with them for a very, very short time, he had come to accept some things about them. Only a foolish man and a blind simp wouldn’t discover certain qualities about a woman they liked after a week or two.
That was why playboys got to claim women in less than two weeks, some even took a day, possibly because the lady was a bad girl or a whore- no offense. But even with that, such women had their likes and dislikes. They had their preferences, and they could turn down any advances. The point was, Silas would be a fool if he hadn’t noticed how each of his current girls was.
Anna was a proactive woman who liked to dominate and always be on top. Chloe was a shy girl, even after her awakening and evolution. She was still shy, but when she felt "dared", she would become fierce and proactive, always ending in her downfall when it was related to Silas. Gromda, despite her fierce nature, aura, and presence, appeared to be the most docile and submissive of them all. She wouldn’t mind if Silas fucked her in the middle of the city. As a matter of fact, she would prefer that very much, because it would mean her mate wanted to show the world that she was his.
"I’m really a pervert."
[That is true.]
’You-’
[By the way, congratulations.]
’For?’
[Hold on...]
’Okay?’
[Congratulations!]
[You Unlocked the Cupid Weapon Set: Cupid Bow Set.]
[You Unlocked the Basic Cupid Bow: Wooden Hunter Bow.]
[Details can be seen by opening the weapon’s tab.]
’What the fuck now?!’
[...You got a bow.]
’I can see that...’
[Then why are you asking?]
’...’
[You are beyond saving, you know?]
’Tell me about it.’
Silas quietly slipped out onto the balcony before either Anna or Gromda could drag him back into another interrogation. The evening breeze brushed against his face, carrying the scent of rain and the distant noise of traffic. Below, the academy grounds were peaceful. Students wandered between buildings while others trained on the outdoor fields. He leaned against the railing and let out a long breath.
"Finally."
The system responded almost immediately.
[Running away from responsibility. Classic.]
"I’m preserving my life."
[Coward.]
"I prefer the term survival expert."
The system ignored him while a translucent screen appeared before him.
<Cupid Weapon Set:>
<Cupid Bow Set:>
- Wooden Hunter Bow (Unlocked!)
"Only one?"
[You expected the strongest divine weapon set to unlock all at once?]
"Fair enough."
[Summon it.]
"How?"
[Think about it.]
"That’s your answer to everything."
Nevertheless, Silas focused. A warm sensation flowed through his right arm. Golden-pink threads appeared from thin air, weaving together in front of him. The threads intertwined with astonishing precision, binding wood, fiber, horn, and string. Every component was woven together instead of simply appearing. Within seconds, a bow rested in Silas’s hand.
"Whoa, talk about flashy summoning."
The weapon itself wasn’t flashy. There were no glowing gemstones embedded on it or divine flames surrounding it. It looked... ordinary, almost.
The body of the bow was carved from warm honey-colored wood with natural grain flowing elegantly from one limb to the other. Fine pink-gold thread patterns were embedded beneath the polished surface, barely visible unless light struck them. The grip fit his hand perfectly, so that it felt less like holding a weapon and more like greeting an old friend.
The string shimmered faintly. It looked delicate, yet instinctively, Silas knew it could never snap. He slowly drew his fingers across the wood. The instant his skin touched the grip, his pupils contracted.
Countless images exploded into his mind. A child learning posture. A hunter breathing before releasing an arrow. A bow master striking targets hidden behind forests, moving targets, flying targets, and multiple targets. Shooting while standing, running, sliding, rolling, or jumping. Drawing and releasing a string. Breathing techniques, every muscle movement, every stance, finger placement, every mistake, and correction.
It felt like decades of practice compressed into a single heartbeat. His body instinctively adjusted its posture, while his breathing naturally slowed.
Everything became... quiet. The sounds of the city faded, and even the wind seemed slower.
[Skill Acquired.]
[Bow Arts Lv.1]
[A foundational mastery over the bow. Your body instinctively understands proper form, breathing, aiming, maintenance, and efficient firing techniques.]
[Skill Acquired.]
[Silent Steps Lv.1
[Your footsteps become lighter and quieter while moving. Particularly effective while stalking prey or navigating terrain unnoticed.]
"That’s..." He slowly lowered the bow. "I didn’t even learn."
[Incorrect. You inherited it.]
Silas looked back at the weapon.
"This is ridiculous."
[You’re only at Level One.]
"You’re joking."
[No.]
Silas suddenly understood why the system kept calling Cupid a terrifying existence. This wasn’t merely talent; this bordered on cheating. He couldn’t even imagine what Bow Arts at Level Five, or higher, would feel like. He experimentally drew the string, and it resisted just enough. It was smooth, stable, and powerful. He instinctively aimed toward the distant mountains before pausing.
"System."
[Yes?]
"Where’s my arrow?"
[...]
"System?"
[Purchase one.]
Silas stared blankly ahead.
"That’s it?"
[That’s it.]
"You gave me a bow."
[Correct.]
"But no arrows."
[Correct.]
"Why?"
[Because the Arrow Set and Bow Set are separate branches within the Cupid Weapon Set.]
"..."
[Besides, the System Shop already sells mundane arrows. Your divine arrows will unlock naturally as your inheritance progresses.]
Silas pinched the bridge of his nose.
"So you’re telling me... I own a bow that can’t shoot."
[Technically, yes.]
"..."
"I want a refund."
[Request denied.]
"..."
"Scammer."
The system pretended not to hear him.
[On another note.]
"I don’t like that sentence."
[You asked for a secondary weapon.]
"I did."
[After reviewing your fighting style, I recommend a katana.]
Silas raised an eyebrow. "A katana?"
[You favor speed over brute force. You naturally read openings through Thread Sight and your footwork prioritizes precision. A katana complements all of these while covering the greatest weakness of a bow, close-quarters combat.]
Silas considered it. A bow for long-range, daggers for emergencies, and a katana for everything in between.
"Actually, that makes a lot of sense."
[For once, we agree.]
Silas looked at the Wooden Hunter Bow resting in his hand before dismissing it. The weapon dissolved into countless glowing threads that flowed back into his body through his fingertips. A grin slowly spread across his face.
"So... I’ve officially become an archer."
[No.]
"Hm?"
[You’ve taken your first step toward becoming the greatest archer in existence, just after Cupid.]
Silas chuckled.
"That sounds incredibly arrogant."
[Only because it’s true.]