Kaira was still processing the fact that a chirpy, headache-inducing voice was talking inside her skull, when the world around her suddenly… tilted.
Actually... no.
It spun.
A violent wind roared in her ears, lifting her fat arms, her tangled nest of hair, and even the loose hide she wore. Everything blurred into streaks of white and black as the ground disappeared beneath her.
"Wha-HEY-STOP-!" She screamed, flailing.
Her voice was swallowed instantly by a crushing, spiraling force.
Then...
THUD.
She landed on her feet.
Barely.
Almost immediately, her knees buckled under her own weight.
She grabbed her wobbling thighs, panting. "I swear… when I find whoever dropped me in this body, I will kill-"
But the threat died on her lips.
Because she wasn't in the cave anymore.
She was standing on…
A glowing platform made entirely of shimmering crystal, floating in absolute darkness. Endless, vast, bottomless darkness stretched in every direction, swallowing sight and sound until only the soft hum of the crystal remained.
The platform beneath her glowed faintly, emitting a light-blue aura that reflected off her grimy skin.
Kaira looked around, her breath catching.
"... what is this now?"
As if responding, the air in front of her shimmered.
There was a sudden spark.
A pop.
A tiny explosion of glitter.
And then... a small, floating thing materialized in front of her.
It was…
Small.
Round.
Glowing.
A floating white… blob?
No. It had big, watery eyes. Way too big. Like two puppies had taken over its face. Tiny star-like ears twitched on top of its round head, and a pair of sparkly translucent wings fluttered behind it.
Its entire existence radiated adorable, huggable innocence.
Kaira squinted.
"…Why do you look like a marshmallow fairy?"
The little thing puffed up proudly. "That's not a bad comparison."
Its voice was exactly as she expected - cute, chirpy, bubbly, and designed to irritate adults in under four seconds.
She pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Of course. Of course the universe gives me a walking cotton ball instead of a sensible, robotic AI."
"I am very sensible!" the System huffed, crossing tiny arms that didn't fully exist. "And very capable! And extremely cute!"
"You sound like a scam."
The System gasped as if she had stabbed it.
"Host! I'm a premium-grade, officially approved, universe-certified, high-efficiency support system!"
Kaira stared.
"You definitely sound like a scam."
The little creature shook with indignation, causing sparkles to flew around.
"Fine! Believe what you want! But I chose you! And that means you are now responsible!"
"For what?"
The System puffed its cheeks, floating closer until it was eye-level with her.
She leaned back slightly.
The System leaned forward.
She leaned further back.
The System squished its face against hers.
Kaira recoiled. "Hey! Personal space! Fat body or not, I can still kick your-"
"You!" The System jabbed a tiny glowing finger at her chest. "Are responsible for evolving the Beastworld!"
Kaira blinked.
"…No."
"Yes!"
"Nope."
"Yes!!"
Kaira crossed her arms. "Find someone else. I did not apply for the job of World Savior. I'm a scientist. An assassin. A researcher. Not a primitive-world babysitter!"
The System did not back down.
Instead, it gave her the sweetest smile imaginable.
Which immediately triggered alarms in Kaira's brain.
"That smile," she said slowly, "screams danger."
The System nodded happily. "Good instinct!"
Then it dropped the bomb.
"Host, if you refuse to help evolve the Beastworld… you'll die."
Kaira stared.
The System stared back, blinking its huge, adorable puppy-eyes.
"…"
"…"
"You really DID NOT hesitate, huh?" she said flatly.
The System tilted its head cutely. "You die~"
"Just like that?"
"Yes."
"With no dramatic buildup?"
"Nope."
"No emotional manipulation first?"
"Why waste time? You are smart!"
Kaira inhaled. Deeply.
"Give me one good reason not to punt you across this crystal platform."
The System thought for a moment.
Then-
"Because I'll explode - and take you with me."
Kaira froze.
"You are a bomb?"
"A very cute one!" The System beamed proudly. "If Host refuses missions, Host will be eliminated to prevent contaminants from spreading."
"Contaminants?"
"You. You are the contaminant."
Kaira's eye twitched.
"Wow. Thanks."
"You are welcome!"
She rubbed her temples. "Explain. Now. All of it."
The little creature spun in a circle, scattering sparkles like an overly excited fairy.
"Okay! So! This world is primitive! Very primitive! And it has stayed this way for thousands of years! Beastmen were supposed to evolve much faster, but guess what?"
Kaira raised a brow. "What?"
"They didn't!"
"…Not shocked."
"They kept relying on instincts! Instincts! For everything! Fight, eat, sleep, mate! No innovation! No advancement! Nothing!"
A dramatic tear slid down the System's face.
"They have been stuck in caveman mode for so long that the universe is embarrassed!"
Kaira felt her lips twitch.
"Okay. That's admittedly funny."
The System puffed its chest again.
"So! The world needs a push. A very big push. A-"
"-Scientists-level push?"
"YES!" The System sparkled happily. "An intelligent being! Someone capable of innovation! Someone who can change the world! Someone who can guide this era into its next evolutionary stage!"
Kaira narrowed her eyes.
"And out of billions of souls… you chose me?"
"Yes!"
"…Why?"
The System blinked innocently… too innocently.
"Because you are very clever!"
"Try again."
"You are very strong?"
"Nope."
"You are very pretty inside?"
"Try harder."
"…Fine." The System deflated. "Because you died at the exact nanosecond we needed a Host. It was convenient."
Kaira stared at the small floating creature.
"…I'm going to scream."
"Please don't. Your current body has a very loud voice."
She clenched her fists.
"Okay, small bomb marshmallow. What exactly do you want me to do?"
The System brightened instantly at her words.
"Tasks! Missions! Quests!"
Kaira rolled her eyes. "Figures."
"For each mission you complete," the System continued, "you'll receive rewards!"
"What kind of rewards?"
"Exactly the kind of rewards you will need to survive in this world." The tiny creature answered. "And you will get to ask for a starter reward once you will complete your first task."
"Starter Reward?"
"Yes!"
"I can ask for anything?"
The creature gave her a pointed look. "You can ask for any basic need item. Even the luxury level. That's it."
"You just said anything." Kaira pointed out, glaring at the sparkling ball.
"It was a slip of tongue." It returned shamelessly.
Kaira went silent. Her mind running as she tried to make her choice... not like she had really an option.
Seconds later, she sighed.
Loudly.
Then muttered, "Fine. I'll do your stupid missions."
The System exploded into sparkles.
"YAAAAAY! Host agreed! Host agreed!"
Kaira glared. "Don't celebrate. I still want to throttle you."
"You can't. I'm cute!"
"Being cute won't stop me."
"It will!"
"Try me."
The System zipped behind her, trembling.
"Eeeek!"
Kaira smirked slightly.
Assassin instincts still worked, even in pig form.
Then...
The platform flickered.
The darkness shook.
The System cleared its throat.
[First Mission Generated!]
[Stop the Beastman from Killing You.]
Kaira froze.
"…What."
The System nodded seriously.
"Yes! He's waking up! And he's angrier now!"
Kaira's eyes widened.
"WAIT-ARE YOU SENDING ME BACK? ALREADY?!"
The little creature saluted.
"Good luck, Host!"
"NO! HE'S GOING TO KILL ME-!"
WHOOSH.
The crystal world dissolved.
Darkness collapsed.
And Kaira found herself falling back toward reality...
Toward the cave.
Toward the furious beastman.
Toward mission number one.