Pearl's eyes widened in shock. "Are you kidding me! Not only am I in a world of animals, but I'm also supposed to have a relationship with one? Is this some kind of real-life fiction or what!" she screamed inwardly.
"Pearl," the handsome man called gently.
She glanced at him, then quickly looked away. "Damn it, don't be seduced. He hasn't eaten me yet, but he probably will in the future. Better to find a way out."
"Warning! If the host attempts to run away from him, you will not survive. You'll be devoured by wild animals!"
"Are you scaring me on purpose!" Pearl shouted furiously.
The handsome man froze, then stepped closer to her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you, please don't be angry, Pearl," he pleaded softly, reaching out to hold her hand.
Pearl stiffened and forced an awkward smile. "I wasn't talking to you… not you at all." She tried pulling her hand free, but his grip was far too strong.
Suddenly, the man drew her into his arms. Pearl's breath caught. "This… what are you doing?" she whispered, her heart racing.
"Pearl, don't leave me. I've already marked you—I can't live without you," he confessed.
She blinked in disbelief, then let out a weary sigh. "I've been single all my life, and yet in this strange world I get a husband before I even settle in. This is driving me insane."
But then her gaze lingered on him. "Still… it's not exactly a loss, is it? This snake is dangerously handsome. I can't even tell anymore if this is luck or a curse."
"Pearl, promise me you won't leave," he urged, watching her intently.
"Curse it! How could anyone resist? I couldn't even if I wanted to." She nodded reluctantly. "As… as long as you don't intend to harm me or eat me, I won't abandon you."
"I never will," he vowed instantly. "I'll protect you with my life."
Pearl nodded lightly. "By the way… what's your name?"
"Orrin," he replied.
She chuckled. "Not bad. It's good." After a pause, she added shyly, "Can I… touch your hair? I kind of want to."
Orrin smiled and bent his head toward her.
Pearl hesitated, then slowly ran her fingers through his hair. "As expected… soft, natural, harmless. No little snakes hiding there like I imagined. How is he the Serpent King? Shouldn't he look more like Medusa?"
"Ding! Number one question, cost: 10 points. Answer: he never cultivated that skill because he despises it. However, he can activate it if he chooses."
The glowing text appeared briefly, then vanished.
Pearl nodded thoughtfully, then smirked. "So… you can see the past and future?"
"Ding! Question number two, cost: 10 points. Answer: yes, I can—as long as you're willing to know. But it depends on how many points you possess."
"I see…" she murmured. "Then… will Orrin ever harm me?"
"Ding! Question number three, cost: 10 points. Answer: he never will. His life and death are bound to yours—if you die, he dies."
Pearl shivered. "So terrifying. Why bother weaving such a life-and-death bond with me?"
"Ding! Question number four, cost: 80 points. Error: insufficient balance."
"Forget it. How many points do I have left?" she demanded.
"Sixty points."
"What the—! Didn't you only answer three questions? Why's 40 points deducted?" Her brows furrowed.
"Ten points were automatically deducted from the fourth question. You'll need ninety more to unlock the answer."
Pearl groaned. "Fine. Then tell me—how do I leave this world?"
Silence.
"Hello!" she screamed mentally. No reply. "Damn useless system," she cursed through gritted teeth, then glanced down at Orrin, who was resting peacefully, his eyes closed.
Her anger softened as she studied his face. "Just perfect… flawless," she whispered, trailing her fingers down his chest—until her heart nearly stopped.
"His legs… they've turned into a tail. And it's huge." She froze, then frowned. "Wait. Something's on my chest…"
She looked down to find Orrin's head nestled against her, his arms wrapped snugly around her waist. He was sleeping soundly, and her gentle strokes through his hair only seemed to deepen his comfort.
"Is this really happening!" she almost spat blood, tempted to push him off, but his serene, handsome face held her back.
"Just this once," she breathed. Taking a deep breath, she began patting his back like a child.
"I'm starving… when will you wake up, Orrin? I didn't die in your hands—do you plan to let me die of hunger instead?"
"Ding! Host may use 40 points to obtain ten pieces of fresh wild apples."
Pearl's eyes lit up. "Really? Then exchange them immediately before I starve to death!" she exclaimed.
"Confirmed."
A moment later, a plate of large, glistening apples appeared beside her.
"Not bad, not bad at all. As long as I can eat, I'll survive. Looks like I'll need to work harder to earn more points." She grabbed one eagerly and sank her teeth in.
In minutes, she devoured five apples and was halfway through the sixth. "Strange… sweeter than real apples, but something about them feels odd." Her thoughts blurred, and before long she drifted into slumber.
A faint glow enveloped her body. When it faded, her beauty had sharpened, her hair now shinier, longer by a meter, cascading like a waterfall. It was only the beginning of changes that would bring her both blessings and disaster in the beastmen's world.
---
Orrin's eyes snapped open, deadly cold and sharp as ice. "I slept," he muttered, scanning his surroundings—until his gaze fell on Pearl. His harsh expression melted instantly.
"It's because of her… she's even more beautiful," he whispered, brushing her cheek tenderly.
Shifting, he sat upright, but his head accidentally pressed against her chest, which had turned faintly red. Panic flashed across his features as he reached out in alarm.
"I hurt her! I swore never to harm her, yet I just did!" He leaned closer in guilt.
Pearl stirred awake, blinking at him. "What are you doing!" she exclaimed.