Chapter 3
I stepped out of my room, gripping a broom, heading toward the third floor. I was still adjusting to my new body, but the overwhelming sense of not belonging suffocated me.
As I looked around, I noticed that a luxurious room’s door was left open. On the plaque mounted beside it, a name was elegantly engraved:
“Frosita.”
I let out a deep sigh.
“I’m screwed!”
I had found her room without raising any suspicion.
Summoning the system, I clenched my fist in frustration.
< “You damn bastard! What kind of system transports someone to a new world without granting them the host’s memories or even a map to navigate?!” >
The usual annoying notification popped up, as if the system was mocking me:
< [To purchase this body’s memories, pay 100 points.] >
My eyebrows shot up in shock.
< “What?! Every transmigrator gets the memories for free! This is a scam!” >
But I quickly realized there was no point in arguing with this piece of digital junk. I sighed and asked about the map’s price.
< [To purchase a map of this world, pay 200 points.] >
I gritted my teeth.
< “This is daylight robbery, you scrap heap!” >
Instead of continuing the argument, I started cleaning. The room was spacious, with a king-sized bed, a massive mirror, and a wardrobe filled with luxurious clothes. Books were stacked neatly on one of the shelves.
As I dusted, my hand accidentally knocked a book off the shelf.
I picked it up and read the title:
< “Fundamentals of Magic.” >
A smirk tugged at my lips, and I started flipping through its pages.
< “Mana is the source of all things in this world…” >
“Blah, blah, blah… the same cliché introduction in every magic-based world.”
But the next part caught my interest:
< “To master mana sensing, one must close their eyes and visualize circles of energy flowing around them.” >
Taking a deep breath, I gave it a try. At first, it felt like an empty void, but after a moment… suddenly, mana exploded around me!
I felt it surging inside me like a raging ocean, flowing unnaturally—as if I were a black hole consuming everything.
< [Analyzing bloodline… Processing…] >
< [Update complete!] >
A new notification appeared before me:
[Status Window]
Name: Lin Darkil Noctarien
Clan: Noctarien (Partially Sealed)
Age: 13
Level: 1 → 6
Strength: 5 → 20
Agility: 8 → 25
Endurance: 10 → 28
Mana: 20 → 100
Blessing: Not Activated
< [Newly Acquired Skill] >
Mana Gluttony (F) → An abnormal ability to absorb mana at an extremely fast rate and convert it into internal energy.
“What?!”
I expected some advantages, but this… this was insane! I could absorb massive amounts of mana in just four hours! Even the geniuses in the original novel took months!
Before I could process it further, Camellia’s voice called out to me:
< “Lin, are you done?” >
I jumped up and quickly returned the book to its place.
< “Just need to finish dusting the books.” >
Camellia eyed me suspiciously.
< “Why are you taking so long today? You usually finish in two hours.” >
I lowered my head, feigning exhaustion.
< “I’m just a little tired today.” >
She didn’t seem entirely convinced, but she didn’t press further.
A while later, we carried the food to the family’s dining hall. As I was leaving, the patriarch entered, followed by his wife, Arin, their daughter, Frosita, and her brother, Silvren.
The moment my eyes met Frosita’s, I froze in place.
She was smiling.
But it wasn’t a childish, innocent smile. It wasn’t sarcastic or even amused. It was just a calm, faint smile… yet it felt like it was penetrating my soul.
“Shit… why do I feel like a rat under a microscope?!”
Had the symptoms already begun?
I hadn’t even interacted with her yet…
Then, suddenly, the system popped up.
< [Target detected.] >
< [Mission initiated: Gain Frosita’s favor.] >
< [You have 10 days to raise her favorability to 70%.] >
< [Current favorability: 30%] >
I silently gasped. But what I read next nearly made me slam my head against the wall.
< [Failure penalty: “The First Nightmare” – You will be unable to sleep for 20 days.] >
I clenched my teeth.
“Damn you, you bastard…”
“You’re trying to imprison me. This is insane! You want me to kiss a 12-year-old kid while I’m 18?! Are you out of your mind?!”
“What else was I expecting from a shoujo novel?!”
Before I could think of a way out, a new notification popped up.
< [Side Mission Activated: “Shoujo’s Touch”!] >
< [Condition: Kiss the heroine, Frosita.] >
< [Reward: +30% favorability, 50 additional points.] >
At that moment, I felt my heart stop.
“Huh?!”
Kiss !!!!!!!!
Fury exploded inside me.
< “You damn system! Have you lost your mind?!” >
But the system remained unfazed:
< [Warning: Refusing the mission will result in point deduction and the immediate activation of “The First Nightmare”!] >
< [“Good luck, dear romantic hero! ♡”] >
My hands trembled, and I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself.
< “That old hag…” >
“That insane author who wrote this cursed story! I know you’re watching me! Are you enjoying my suffering?!”
Then, a thought crossed my mind.
“Alright… if I’m inside this novel, there must be a way to turn it upside down!”
I tightened my fist and smirked darkly.
“I won’t be the hero of this shoujo nonsense… I’ll be its downfall.”