Chapter 3 : The Beginning of the Shoujo Nightmare!

I stepped out of my room, gripping a broom, heading toward the third floor. I was still adjusting to my new body, but the overwhelming sense of not belonging suffocated me.

As I looked around, I noticed that a luxurious room's door was left open. On the plaque mounted beside it, a name was elegantly engraved:

"Frosita."

I let out a deep sigh.

"I'm screwed!"

I had found her room without raising any suspicion.

Summoning the system, I clenched my fist in frustration.

< "You damn bastard! What kind of system transports someone to a new world without granting them the host's memories or even a map to navigate?!" >

The usual annoying notification popped up, as if the system was mocking me:

< [To purchase this body's memories, pay 100 points.] >

My eyebrows shot up in shock.

< "What?! Every transmigrator gets the memories for free! This is a scam!" >

But I quickly realized there was no point in arguing with this piece of digital junk. I sighed and asked about the map's price.

< [To purchase a map of this world, pay 200 points.] >

I gritted my teeth.

< "This is daylight robbery, you scrap heap!" >

Instead of continuing the argument, I started cleaning. The room was spacious, with a king-sized bed, a massive mirror, and a wardrobe filled with luxurious clothes. Books were stacked neatly on one of the shelves.

As I dusted, my hand accidentally knocked a book off the shelf.

I picked it up and read the title:

< "Fundamentals of Magic." >

A smirk tugged at my lips, and I started flipping through its pages.

< "Mana is the source of all things in this world..." >

"Blah, blah, blah… the same cliché introduction in every magic-based world."

But the next part caught my interest:

< "To master mana sensing, one must close their eyes and visualize circles of energy flowing around them." >

Taking a deep breath, I gave it a try. At first, it felt like an empty void, but after a moment… suddenly, mana exploded around me!

I felt it surging inside me like a raging ocean, flowing unnaturally—as if I were a black hole consuming everything.

< [Analyzing bloodline… Processing…] >

< [Update complete!] >

A new notification appeared before me:

< [Status Window] >

Name: Lin Noctarine (Transmigrator)

Clan: Noctarine (Partially Sealed)

Age: 13

Level: 1 → 6

Strength: 5 → 20

Agility: 8 → 25

Endurance: 10 → 28

Mana: 20 → 100

Blessing: Not Activated

< [Newly Acquired Skill] >

Mana Gluttony (F) → An abnormal ability to absorb mana at an extremely fast rate and convert it into internal energy.

"What?!"

I expected some advantages, but this… this was insane! I could absorb massive amounts of mana in just four hours! Even the geniuses in the original novel took months!

Before I could process it further, Camellia's voice called out to me:

< "Lin, are you done?" >

I jumped up and quickly returned the book to its place.

< "Just need to finish dusting the books." >

Camellia eyed me suspiciously.

< "Why are you taking so long today? You usually finish in two hours." >

I lowered my head, feigning exhaustion.

< "I'm just a little tired today." >

She didn't seem entirely convinced, but she didn't press further.

A while later, we carried the food to the family's dining hall. As I was leaving, the patriarch entered, followed by his wife, Arin, their daughter, Frosita, and her brother, Silvren.

The moment my eyes met Frosita's, I froze in place.

She was smiling.

But it wasn't a childish, innocent smile. It wasn't sarcastic or even amused. It was just a calm, faint smile… yet it felt like it was penetrating my soul.

"Shit… why do I feel like a rat under a microscope?!"

Had the symptoms already begun?

I hadn't even interacted with her yet…

Then, suddenly, the system popped up.

< [Target detected.] >

< [Mission initiated: Gain Frosita's favor.] >

< [You have 10 days to raise her favorability to 70%.] >

< [Current favorability: 30%] >

I silently gasped. But what I read next nearly made me slam my head against the wall.

< [Failure penalty: "The First Nightmare" – You will be unable to sleep for 20 days.] >

I clenched my teeth.

"Damn you, you bastard…"

"You're trying to imprison me. This is insane! You want me to kiss a 12-year-old kid while I'm 18?! Are you out of your mind?!"

"What else was I expecting from a shoujo novel?!"

Before I could think of a way out, a new notification popped up.

< [Side Mission Activated: "Shoujo's Touch"!] >

< [Condition: Kiss the heroine, Frosita.] >

< [Reward: +30% favorability, 50 additional points.] >

At that moment, I felt my heart stop.

"Huh?!"

Kiss !!!!!!!!

Fury exploded inside me.

< "You damn system! Have you lost your mind?!" >

But the system remained unfazed:

< [Warning: Refusing the mission will result in point deduction and the immediate activation of "The First Nightmare"!] >

< ["Good luck, dear romantic hero! ♡"] >

My hands trembled, and I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself.

< "That old hag..." >

"That insane author who wrote this cursed story! I know you're watching me! Are you enjoying my suffering?!"

Then, a thought crossed my mind.

"Alright… if I'm inside this novel, there must be a way to turn it upside down!"

I tightened my fist and smirked darkly.

"I won't be the hero of this shoujo nonsense… I'll be its downfall."