Aria Lumenford had only one thought as she climbed the tall herb tree behind her house:
If I can get the star-leaf herbs first, Rowan will have to admit I'm faster than him!
At nine years old, Aria was small, determined, and currently three branches too high for her mother's comfort.
"Ariaaaa! Come down before you fall!"Her mother yelled from below.
"No worries, I got this—"
Snap.
The branch betrayed her.
"AR—IAAAAAAAA!"
Aria fell.
But instead of hitting the ground, her mind plunged into darkness… and then—
Memories. A flood of them.A university student from another world.A baker in a different timeline.A grandma with fifty cats.A martial artist who punched a dragon.
She gasped.
Then, a soft ding echoed inside her head.
A blue screen popped up in front of her, shiny and annoyingly cheerful.
[COOKING QUEST SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Welcome, Host!Due to your brain damage— (oops!) awakening,System installation is complete.
Aria blinked.
"…Did my own system just call me brain damaged?"
Another ding.
First Quest Unlocked!Quest: Make a simple stew.Reward: +1 LUCKFailure Penalty: System will mock you for 24 hours.
Aria screamed.
"WHAT KIND OF SYSTEM IS THIS?!"
She shot up from the ground, startling her mother.
"Oh thank the spirits—you're alive!"Her mother hugged her tightly.
Aria rubbed her head. "Mom… I think I hit my brain too hard."
Rowan came running from the village path, breathless.His face was pale, worry written all over him.
"Aria! I heard you fell! Are you hurt? Can you walk? Can you breathe? Do you—"
She stared at him.
Then the system dinged again.
New Notification:Potential Partner Detected.Compatibility: 92%.Warning: He will worry about your safety for the next 10 years.
Aria choked.
Rowan: "Why are you turning red?! Are you feverish?!"
Aria: "NO. It's the stupid system!"
Rowan: "The what?"
Aria panicked. "NOTHING."
That night, she attempted the stew quest.
It… exploded.
Rowan, who came to check on her, ended up covered in carrots.
He sighed and patted her head."Aria… what did you do?"
She pointed at the pot. "It attacked first."
The system dinged again.
Quest completed!Reward: +1 LUCKHost has earned the skill: Basic Cooking (Beginner).
Aria cheered. "I did it!"
Rowan wiped carrot off his face."Aria, I think your cooking is dangerous."
Aria grinned. "Then you better stay close and protect me!"
He turned red.
The system dinged again, showing a new message:
Affection +1.Target: Rowan Hale.
Aria: NOOOOOOO.