Rylan never thought he would witness something like this in his lifetime.
A female—an actual female beastkin—standing in front of him with confidence blazing in her eyes, declaring she was going to change the world.
He should have been proud.
He should have felt honored.
Instead, his heart hammered with a strange mix of awe… and fear.
"Lisa," he said cautiously, stepping toward her, "I admire your resolve. But you must be careful. You're still weak. And the other clans will—"
But Lisa wasn't listening.
Not even a little.
Her gaze wasn't on him, nor on their dangerous surroundings. She was staring into thin air—eyes following something only she could see.
The system screen.
Rylan sighed. "Lisa? Please tell me you hear me."
"Yeah, yeah," she muttered without looking at him. "Be careful, don't die, hide in cave, blah-blah—SYSTEM SHOW ME SOMETHING USEFUL!"
Rylan blinked. "System?"
But Lisa wasn't hearing him at all. She crossed her arms as she glared furiously at the blue panel hovering in front of her face.
"Why are you so stingy!?" she snapped.
The system chimed lightly, as if mocking her.
[The host must complete a mission before receiving her starter rewards.]
Lisa's jaw dropped.
"Starter rewards!? So you DO have things to give me!"
Rylan stepped closer. "Lisa… who are you talking to?"
She ignored him.
"What mission? Tell me!"
The screen flashed:
[MISSION: Conquer Handsome Rylan]
[Reward: 10,000 Lewd Points + Basic Knowledge Panel]
[Deadline: None]
Lisa froze.
Then her eye twitched.
"You—" she pointed at the invisible screen "—you perverted blue calculator!"
[The system does not accept insults.]
"Oh shut up," she snapped. "Conquer Rylan? Seriously? You can't give me a sword or healing or anything NORMAL?!"
[Host must seduce the Alpha to unlock basic functions.]
"Seduce!? Are you kidding me!?" she shouted.
Rylan blinked, confused. "You… want to seduce me?"
Lisa whirled on him so fast her new ears almost fell off.
"No!! I mean—maybe—NO! The system wants—ugh never mind!"
Rylan stepped closer, genuine concern in his golden eyes.
"Lisa," he said gently, "are you… alright?"
She huffed, cheeks burning.
The system dinged again.
[Hint: Flirting increases favourability.]
Lisa's glare could have melted steel.
"Stop giving me hints!"
Rylan watched her tiny frustration-filled stomps and angry muttering with growing confusion. She looked like a kitten fighting the wind.
Finally, he approached and placed a steadying hand on her shoulder.
"Lisa," he said softly, "you're angry at… something. What happened?"
She inhaled sharply.
Her mission.
Her target.
She must "conquer the handsome Rylan."
She looked up into his gold eyes.
Strong. Calm. Warm.
Her cheeks flushed.
"Nothing," she lied. "Just… thinking about something important."
Rylan raised a brow. "You were… cursing the air."
She panicked.
The system chimed.
[Tip: Direct flirting can rapidly increase favourability.]
Lisa gritted her teeth.
"Fine! You want flirting? WATCH ME."
She planted both hands on Rylan's broad chest and smiled up at him with exaggerated sweetness.
"Well, Rylan," she purred, "maybe I'm just angry because… I can't stop thinking about you."
Rylan's entire body went rigid.
He blinked once.
Twice.
His ears flushed a faint red.
"L-Lisa…" he whispered, utterly unprepared.
She took a deep breath.
The system hovered behind her like a devil on her shoulder.
[Favourability +2]
Rylan looked genuinely flustered.
Adorable even—if that word could apply to a giant muscular beastman alpha.
He tried to regain composure.
"Lisa, you shouldn't say things like—"
She leaned in way closer than necessary.
"Why not?" she teased. "Does it make your heart beat fast?"
Rylan coughed, looking away, trying to hide the flush spreading down his neck.
"I-I'm trying to protect you," he said weakly. "Not… whatever this is."
Lisa giggled—actually giggled.
It felt thrilling.
She had never flustered a man this badly in her life.
And this one was an Alpha beastman.
Her confidence soared.
The system dinged again.
[Favourability +3]
Lisa stuck out her tongue at the screen.
"Of course now you're generous—"
But she didn't finish the sentence.
Because when she backed up to gesture angrily at her invisible tormentor, her foot landed on a loose stone.
"Ah—!"
She slipped.
Rylan lunged instinctively.
"Lisa!"
He caught her—
but their balance tipped,
their bodies collided,
and Lisa fell forward—
Right into his chest.
Before she could react—
Her lips brushed his.
Just a second.
A soft, accidental, shocked contact.
Lisa froze.
Rylan froze.
The world froze.
Then—
DING!!!
[Favourability: 15%]
[Congratulations! Host has completed Mission 1.]
[Rewards Granted: 10,000 Lewd Points + Basic Camping Kit]
Lisa's brain exploded.
"Oh no-no-no-no— I DIDN'T MEAN THAT—"
Rylan stared at her, breath caught, eyes wide and pupils dilated.
He slowly touched his lips as if stunned.
"Lisa…" he whispered, voice low, rough, trembling. "That was…"
She backed away so fast she almost tripped again.
"I-I-I swear it was an accident!!! The ground—my foot—your face—it was gravity's fault!"
The system chimed smugly.
[Host may attempt to call gravity her wingman.]
"SHUT UP!"
Rylan was still staring at her like she had just awakened something deep inside him.
Something primal.
Something warm.
Something dangerous.
He swallowed hard.
"I… didn't dislike it," he admitted quietly.
Lisa's face turned scarlet.
Her system glowed cheerfully.
[Rewards delivered.]
A small pouch materialized at her feet—containing a basic camping kit, waterskin, flint, blanket, small knife.
Lisa grabbed it and held it to her chest like a life raft.
Rylan stepped toward her, gentler than before.
"Lisa," he said softly, "that kiss… it meant something."
She shook her head violently.
"NO IT DIDN'T. IT MEANT NOTHING. ZERO. AIR."
Rylan smiled faintly—soft and sincere.
"It meant something to me."
Lisa's heart stopped.
The system chimed again.
[Warning: Host may be in emotional danger.]
Lisa kicked the screen.
"YOU ARE THE DANGER!"
Rylan blinked.
"Lisa… are you fighting your own magic?"
She groaned into her hands.
"Rylan… please… give me a moment to die of embarrassment."
He chuckled—a warm, deep sound that made her new ears twitch.
He gently placed a hand on her head.
"I won't let you die," he said softly.
Lisa peeked through her fingers.
"Not even from embarrassment?"
He shook his head.
"Especially not from that."
Her face burned.
Her heart beat too fast.
The system hummed knowingly.
[Favourability Stabilized: 15%]
Lisa exhaled shakily.
Her journey had just begun.
And somehow…
Her first step involved kissing the Alpha of the mountain clans.