4.ON YOUR KNEES

"Big Brother... please... can I spend the night with you? I'm scared."

I dropped to my knees, forcing tears into my eyes.

Nerien didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he simply looked at me with those unreadable silver eyes.

No anger.

No pity.

Nothing.

After what felt like forever, he turned around and began walking away.

"..."

"...Does that mean yes?"

I scrambled to my feet and hurried after him before he could change his mind.

Stepping out of the hut where I had transmigrated only hours ago, I finally got my first proper look at this world.

The crimson evening sun painted the entire settlement in warm shades of red and gold.

Simple wooden huts were scattered across the land instead of standing in neat rows.

Smoke curled lazily into the sky from cooking fires.

Children chased each other between houses while beastmen carried freshly hunted prey across the village.

It looked peaceful.

Wolves sharpening weapons.

Rabbit beastwomen carrying baskets.

Tiger warriors returning from hunting.

Everyone stopping to stare at Serena because she's infamous.

Almost too peaceful.

I kept following Nerien, stumbling over loose stones while desperately trying not to trip over my own dress.

Every beastman who looked at me had the same expression.

Fear.

Disgust.

Suspicion.

Wow.

I guess the original Serena really had terrible customer reviews.

--------

The farther we walked, the quieter the settlement became.

Even the birds stopped singing.

"System..."

[Yes, Host?]

"Does he always live this far away?"

[ According to the novel... He requested it.]

"Because?"

[ Fewer interruptions.]

"...That somehow sounds even scarier."

Finally, he stopped. A single hut stood at the very edge of the settlement. Unlike the others, it was isolated.

Silent.

Even the air around it felt colder. Sweat rolled down my forehead.

...Did he bring me here to kill me?

He stood in front of the entrance without moving.

I stood behind him, trying to peek inside.

What exactly is he staring at?

Maybe...

Maybe I should just run.

The System never mentioned what would happen if I failed. One step. Then another.

I slowly backed away. Nerien hadn't noticed and freedom was only a few more steps away.

I could disappear into the forest, maybe start a new life.

Become a farmer.

Raise chickens.

Anything but this.

[DING!]

[Host.]

[ I forgot a few details. Here is the complete mission information.]

[Mission: Spend the night with Nerien Goldmane.

Reward: 100 SP.]

[Penalty: Immediate death.]

[ Current Survival Rate: 1.0%]

"..."

I nearly screamed. "You forgot to mention immediate death?!"

[ It slipped my mind.]

"...You're the worst System ever." I yelled

[ Thank you.]

"I wasn't complimenting you." my voice retr d to a low whisper "What's SP?"

[Spirit Points. A currency used inside the System Store. Items, skills, information and special abilities can all be purchased with Spirit Points.]

A transparent blue panel appeared before me.

"So you're basically an online shopping app." is aid calmly "Can I buy immortality with 100 SP

[ Nope,besides>>> Current Balance: 0 SP.]

[ Your financial situation is embarrassing.]

That is one way to describe it. When I looked up again...

Nerien was gone. I hated horror movies for exactly this reason.

I stepped inside the hut steps slow and cautious. The wooden floor creaked beneath my feet.

The hut was surprisingly simple.

A bed covered with thick animal fur occupied one corner. A rough wooden table sat beside it. Across the room hung several weapons.

Stone axes.

Wooden spears.

A heavy bow.

Two swords.

None of them looked decorative.

Every single one had been used.

I swallowed.

Scary.

But manageable.

I turned back—

Cold steel pressed against my neck.

Again.

"..."

Is he obsessed with my neck or placing metals on people's neck,maybe me in particular,

He wiped the blade with a cloth.

Slowly.

Carefully.

As if deciding whether it was sharp enough.

I suddenly wanted to apologize for crimes I hadn't even committed.

"Why are you here?"

His voice came from directly behind me.

Cold enough to freeze the air.

"My... Big Brother..."

I forced out the words, my heartbeat pounding against my ribs.

"I just wanted to spend the night with you."

"A lie." His voice remained emotionless.

"With a dagger hidden inside your sleeve, even a child wouldn't believe that."

"..."

My eyes widened.

He slowly pulled the dagger from inside my sleeve and held it between two fingers.

The moment he pulled the dagger free, a blurry memory flashed across my mind.

The original Serena hiding the weapon inside her sleeve.

Smiling.

Whispering,

"Tonight... he dies."

The memory disappeared as quickly as it came.

"...Original Serena."

[ You're making my life unbelievably difficult.] I gritted,

"...Wait."

"When did that get there?"

The original Serena, of course. I thought with an eye roll She really wanted everyone dead.

I wanted to argue.

I really did.

But the evidence was literally dangling in front of my face.

"...Please."I pleaded tears stinging my eyes but not falling down"Just one night....I swear."

For a brief moment...

Nerien said nothing.

His silver eyes simply watched me.

Seconds passed probably 1 or 2, maybe 3, I began sweating.

"System..."

[Yes?]

"Is he going to kick me out?" I panicked

[Negative. He is evaluating whether you are worth killing.]

"...That doesn't make me feel better."

Nerien smiled.

It wasn't warm.

It wasn't kind.

It was the smile of someone who had already decided another person's fate.

"You will be kneeling throughout the entire night, Serena Goldmane."

"...What?"

I stared at him in disbelief.

[ System...Kneeling beside him still counts as spending the night together...]

[Right?]