Awkward Panty Pants

Kite and Viperus, bound together by the system's whims, wandered through the nearby mountains and forests.

"I want to walk on my own," Kite grumbled, crossing her arms stubbornly.

Viperus gave her a sharp look, his voice low and serious. "The grass here is thick and dense. There are snakes, scorpions, and other dangerous reptiles hiding within it."

Kite pouted. Aren't you a snake? she thought to herself but didn't dare say it out loud.

Still, she obediently let Viperus carry her. After all, his idea of "nearby" was dozens of miles away from their cave. If she had to rely on her two legs, she doubted she'd make it there in a day—or even two.

I wish I had a bike, she sighed inwardly.

As they walked, Kite suddenly remembered the sweet fruit she'd eaten that morning. Her eyes lit up with curiosity. "Viperus, where did you find those fruits?"

Viperus pointed ahead. "Not far. We'll be there soon."

True to his word, a short while later Kite spotted a tall bush about three meters high. Bright red fruits, like oversized strawberries, dotted the branches like tiny stars against the green foliage. The sight made her mouth water.

Kite swallowed hard, her gaze glued to the berries. She hated her height in moments like this—how was she supposed to pick them? She wanted to experience the joy of picking the fruit herself, but the bush towered over her, taunting her with its bounty.

Viperus noticed her wide, longing eyes and the way her small hands twitched as if ready to grab the berries. His lips curled into a faint smile. With a flick of his strong tail, he wrapped it around a bundle of bushes and gently bent the shrubs down, presenting the fruit to her at eye level.

Kite's face lit up with delight. This Viperus is so thoughtful!

Her eyebrows arched, and her lips curved into a brilliant smile as she plucked the raspberries, popping a few into her mouth. The sweet and tangy flavor made her sigh in satisfaction. "Mmm, delicious!"

She picked as many as her small hands could hold but quickly realized it wasn't enough. Without a bag, carrying the fruit back would be tricky. I'll need to make a straw basket when we get home, she thought with determination.

Viperus extended his hand. "Give them to me. I'll store them in my space for now. You can eat them later."

Kite glanced at his handsome face, feeling a little dazed. If he weren't a snake beast, he'd have a line of girls chasing after him in the modern world. Someone like me wouldn't stand a chance.

"Wait," she asked hesitantly, "won't the fruit spoil if it stays in your space too long?"

"It will," Viperus admitted nonchalantly. "The space only makes it easier to carry. Time still passes normally."

Hearing that, Kite's enthusiasm dimmed slightly. She restrained herself and only picked two or three cities of the ripest, largest berries. It would be a waste if they spoiled, after all. She could always come back for more in a few days.

But just then, the system's voice piped up, smug as ever. [Host, our space is far more advanced. Time stops in it. The fruit will stay fresh indefinitely.]

Kite's eyes widened with excitement. Even if I only have one cubic meter of storage right now, that's enough to store so much!

She made a mental note to unlock her space as soon as possible.

Heading Back

As the sun dipped low on the horizon, Kite glanced at the hazy orange light filtering through the trees. Dusk was settling in, and the forest would be dangerous at night. She tugged at Viperus's sleeve. "Let's go back. I don't want to be out here in the dark."

Viperus didn't argue. Instead, he scooped her up effortlessly, holding her close to his chest as they headed back. Kite didn't resist this time, letting herself rest in his arms.

As her cheek brushed against his shoulder, she thought idly, Maybe if I stay this close, I can save up love points faster.

She pulled up the system mall, watching her love points slowly tick upward.

2000… 2001… 2002…

A pang of guilt hit her. She felt like a total scumbag, using Viperus's affection to rack up points. He's so simple and sincere, she thought, her cheeks flushing. I'm horrible.

She drifted off to sleep with that thought, the gentle sway of his movements lulling her.

Space and Sewing

When Kite woke the next morning, Viperus wasn't in the cave. She rubbed her eyes, groggily checking the mall. Her love points had shot up to 20,000 overnight.

Weird, she thought. How did it rise so much while I was asleep?

Shrugging it off, she quickly spent 10,000 points to unlock her one-cubic-meter storage space. A glowing, three-dimensional void appeared in front of her. Kite grinned and immediately tested it by placing her quilt inside. Success! The quilt vanished into the void.

Staring at the space, she felt a surge of satisfaction. This is amazing!

Her joy faded as she remembered something important—her backpack only had one disposable pair of underwear left. I need more. She sighed and spent another 10,000 points to buy a pale pink cotton fabric and a pair of scissors.

Pulling out the disposable underwear as a template, she set about sewing a few pairs. However, the task proved far harder than she expected—far more delicate than making a quilt. Within minutes, she pricked her finger, and a bead of blood welled up.

Before she could react, a cool, pale hand gently grabbed hers. Viperus's voice carried a hint of concern. "What are you doing?"

Startled, she turned to see him holding her finger. Without hesitation, he brought it to his lips, his tongue—now a slender snake tongue—cooling the wound as it wrapped around her fingertip. It was oddly soothing, though Kite couldn't ignore the fact it was a snake tongue.

"I was just sewing," she mumbled, flustered. "It's not like I stabbed myself on purpose."

Viperus's gaze dropped to the small piece of fabric in her hands. "What's this?" He picked it up, inspecting it with curiosity.

Kite's face turned scarlet. She snatched it back. "It's... underwear for females!"

His sharp blue eyes scanned her, lingering at certain spots. Realization dawned on his face, and his gaze darkened with heat.

Without a word, he sat down beside her, grabbed the needle and thread, and began sewing.

"H-Hey, wait!" Kite stammered. "You don't have to—"

But Viperus ignored her, his movements swift and precise. Within half an hour, he had made two perfect pairs of underwear.

"Here." He handed them to her, his voice calm but his gaze smouldering. "Try them on."

Kite's face burned. "I-I can handle it!" She snatched the garments and stuffed them into her storage space.

Viperus looked mildly disappointed. He had wanted to make sure they fit properly.

Bamboo Discoveries

Later that day, Kite suggested exploring nearby areas for wild vegetables. "I'm tired of eating barbecue every day. Maybe we can find bamboo shoots or something."

Viperus silently carried her to a new location. When they arrived, Kite's eyes widened in awe. A vast bamboo forest stretched before her, the towering stalks swaying gently in the breeze. The sight filled her with excitement.

"Bamboo shoots!" she exclaimed, spotting tender sprouts poking out from the ground. Her mind raced with ideas: sliced pork with bamboo shoots, stewed ribs with bamboo shoots, stir-fried bacon with bamboo shoots… Oh! Pickled pepper bamboo shoots!

Her mouth watered at the thought. She eagerly searched for something sharp to dig with. "If only I had a pickaxe," she muttered.

Viperus chuckled softly. With a flick of his wrist, his fingers transformed into sharp claws. Squatting down, he carefully dug out a bamboo shoot in two swift motions.

"Wow!" Kite gasped, her eyes sparkling with admiration. She clapped her hands together, her face glowing with excitement. "Viperus, you're amazing! When we get back, I'll cook bamboo shoots and stir-fry meat just for you."

Viperus's lips curved slightly. Watching her light up like this made him feel… satisfied.

The little female is pleased, he thought. That's all that matters.