Chapter 74: Unreliable System

Sora stared at the disappearing system interface with a deadpan expression.

"...Seriously?"

"What exactly are you useful for?"

"You can’t identify targets."

"You can’t provide background information."

"You disappear for upgrades every other day."

"And when you finally come back, you introduce loot-box romance."

She folded her arms.

"If this were customer service, I’d be leaving a one-star review."

The system seemed to sense the hostility radiating from its host.

Its mechanical voice immediately softened.

[Host...]

[May I offer a friendly reminder?]

Sora narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"...I’m listening."

[The toxins coating your skin were indeed placed there by Serena.]

"..."

Sora’s eye twitched.

She slowly turned toward the floating blue panel.

"...Did I ask?"

The system froze.

Sora pointed at herself.

"I already figured that out."

"I investigated it."

"I confirmed it."

"I even narrowed down the suspect."

"And now you swoop in five minutes later like some detective arriving after the case is solved?"

She clapped sarcastically.

"Bravo."

"What amazing efficiency."

The system fell silent for two full seconds before replying weakly,

[...The system only wished to help.]

"Help?"

Sora laughed.

"If you wanted to help, you could’ve told me before I spent twenty minutes playing forensic scientist in a bathtub."

"..."

The system wisely chose not to argue.

Seeing the guilty silence, Sora sighed dramatically.

"If I keep talking to you, I’m going to die from high blood pressure instead of monster attacks."

With one flick of her hand, the translucent screen vanished.

"Good night."

"And don’t update anything else."

"I’m honestly afraid of what you’ll come back with next."

"Maybe randomized husbands."

Or worse...

"Monthly subscription missions."

The system quietly disappeared.

By the time she’d finished arguing with her glorified digital headache, the bathwater had gone lukewarm.

The pearl mask on her face had nearly dried into a stiff shell.

Sora clicked her tongue.

"There goes my spa experience."

She rinsed off the remaining pearl powder, revealing skin that seemed almost luminous beneath the moonlight.

Even she had to admit...

The Wood Element was incredible.

She dried herself with a soft beast-hide towel before slipping into a fresh leopard-hide dress.

After emptying the ceramic bathtub and tidying the outdoor bathing area, she left the wild kitchen.

The cool evening breeze brushed across her cheeks.

Yet her mind wasn’t on the pleasant weather.

It was occupied by one extremely troublesome person.

Damien.

She sighed.

"Let’s organize this."

Before speaking with the system, she’d already prepared two plans.

Plan A...

If Damien wasn’t one of her strategy targets...

She would politely—but firmly—find an excuse to send him away.

He wasn’t originally from the tribe.

Removing an outsider wouldn’t cause too much resistance.

At worst...

Serena would seize the opportunity to cry crocodile tears.

"Kaelira is so cruel..."

"He came all this way..."

"How heartless..."

Sora almost rolled her eyes just imagining it.

Having survived the apocalypse, she’d long since developed immunity to fake reputations.

Being called cold-hearted wouldn’t kill her.

Making the wrong decision...

Would.

Compared to survival...

A little gossip was practically background music.

Then there was Plan B.

If Damien really was one of the strategy targets...

Things became much simpler.

He already followed her around like an oversized puppy.

She merely needed to let things develop naturally.

Get to know him.

Build trust.

Increase affection.

Mission accomplished.

Simple.

Except...

Nothing about her life was simple anymore.

Now the ridiculous Blind Box Target update had completely ruined both plans.

She couldn’t chase him away.

But she couldn’t grow too close either.

She had to maintain...

Exactly the right distance.

Close enough that he wouldn’t disappear if he turned out to be important.

Far enough that the other five beastmen wouldn’t misunderstand and start deducting affection points out of jealousy.

Sora rubbed her temples.

"This is ridiculous."

"I’m literally trying to socially distance from one specific man."

"Too close is dangerous."

"Too far is also dangerous."

"How is this harder than surviving zombies?"

The more she thought about it...

The more impossible the task seemed.

Human emotions weren’t video game save files.

If she accidentally hurt Damien now...

What if he really was a target later?

By then, repairing the relationship would be far more difficult.

Likewise...

If she invested too much effort in him now and he turned out to be irrelevant...

The other five strategy targets might misunderstand everything.

One wrong move...

Game over.

She sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that evening.

"My system really enjoys increasing the difficulty."

Just then—

A faint silver glow caught her attention.

She instinctively looked up.

Not far ahead...

Beneath the pale moonlight...

Sat a solitary figure.

His long silver-white hair shimmered softly in the night breeze.

The cool moonlight painted his already handsome features with an almost ethereal beauty.

He looked less like a beastman...

And more like a celestial spirit who had wandered into the mortal world by mistake.

Ryan.

He sat quietly beneath a large tree, completely absorbed in his work.

In one hand, he held a polished bone needle.

The other carefully guided strips of pale fish leather through neat, precise stitches.

Because the moonlight alone wasn’t bright enough...

A luminous Night Pearl rested beside him.

Its gentle white glow illuminated his hands and face with crystal clarity.

The light reflected in his silver eyes, making them appear even more mesmerizing.

The scene was so peaceful...

So elegant...

That Sora unconsciously slowed her footsteps.

"...He’s sewing?"

She blinked.

She honestly hadn’t expected that.

She hadn’t seen Ryan around much lately.

She’d assumed he was out hunting or gathering materials.

Instead...

He’d apparently been sitting here quietly making clothes.

And judging by the even stitches...

He was remarkably skilled.

The fish-skin garment spread neatly across his lap looked almost professionally crafted.

Sora couldn’t help staring for another moment.

"So he can cook..."

"No."

"He can’t cook."

"But he can sew."

"That’s... unexpectedly domestic."

As though sensing her gaze...

Ryan slowly lifted his head.

Their eyes met.

For a brief second...

Neither of them spoke.

Then...

His calm silver eyes regarded her with quiet curiosity.

Sora immediately realized she’d been caught staring.

Her ears warmed ever so slightly.

"Caught..."

Trying to pretend nothing had happened, she quickly looked away and cleared her throat.

"I wasn’t looking at you."

"I was..."

She glanced around desperately.

"...Admiring the tree."

The ancient tree stood silently behind Ryan.

It had absolutely no intention of helping her lie.

Ryan looked at her...

Then at the tree...

Then back at her.

Although his expression barely changed...

Sora could’ve sworn the corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly.

Just enough to suggest...

He wasn’t fooled for even a second.