Rain poured down like the heavens were trying to drown their own mistakes.
Which, honestly, made sense. I was one of those mistakes.
I sat under a broken porch roof, roasting spirit cabbage over low-grade spiritual fire, wearing a towel, a bamboo hat, and nothing else. True cultivator fashion.
> [System Status: You have achieved Level 0.1 cultivation. You are now strong enough to kill… possibly a sick chicken. Congratulations.]
I took a bite of soggy cabbage and stared at the void.
"…This world is harsh."
Suddenly—CRASH!
The gate to my shack exploded.
I nearly swallowed my towel.
From the storm stumbled a small figure—soaked, limping, and covered in torn robes. Fox ears twitched on her head. Nine faint tails dragged behind her.
> [Warning: High Demonic Qi detected. Proximity threat level: Very Yes.]
Suggestion: Run. Or scream. Or seduce. System unclear.
The girl collapsed at my feet, panting, face flushed from fever. Her tails twitched weakly.
"...A magical beast?" I blinked. "A nine-tailed…fox-type? Must be a high-tier pet!"
> [She's not a beast, dumbass. That's a Demon Princess.]
[Real name: Yura of the Crimson Claw. Bounty: 400,000 spirit stones. Also allergic to cabbage.]
I picked her up gently.
"I shall name you…Fluffy."
> [She has a name. And she will kill you.]
---
Inside the shack
I laid her on my bed. Which was, honestly, a pile of rice sacks and regret.
I covered her in a blanket and placed a warm potato (my only possession of value) on her forehead.
She mumbled something in her sleep. Her lips moved, and her tails coiled instinctively around my leg.
"Fluffy, you're safe now. No one's gonna eat you."
> [Again, she's not a pet. And she's literally stronger than you by 13 realms.]
---
Three hours later
She woke up.
Her crimson eyes fluttered open.
She looked at me.
Then she looked down at herself—barely dressed, tails exposed, in a stranger's bed.
Then looked at me again.
"…You pervert."
I smiled. "I prefer 'spiritually curious.'"
She sat up, wincing. "Where… where am I? Who… what is this place?"
"You're in my humble sect residence, Miss Fox. And you, my dear spiritual beast, are my new companion!"
Her expression went blank.
"…I'm a demon."
"Yes, yes, but deep inside, all beasts can be tamed."
"I'm a princess of the Crimson Claw Dynasty."
"Even better! Royal bloodlines make for higher loyalty stats!"
"…You're dumber than a rock with a cultivation manual."
> [Fact Check: That rock actually advanced to Qi Condensation last week. You are still Foundationless.]
---
She tried to stand—collapsed again.
I caught her.
She froze, face inches from mine. Her breath hitched.
"...You smell like rotten cabbage and broken dreams," she muttered.
"I get that a lot."
She sighed. "I need to rest… but if you touch my tails without permission again, I'll shove one up your—"
"—All respected beasts deserve space and dignity!"
> [Lying Detected.]
---
Later That Night
She curled up beside the fire, tails wrapped around herself like a fluffy burrito of destruction.
I watched from the corner, quietly cooking cabbage soup that may or may not kill her.
> [New Quest Generated: "Gain the Trust of the Demon Girl"]
Reward: Mystery Pet Pack (95% chance of disappointment)
I looked at her.
Crimson eyes.
Nine tails.
Big… ears.
"She's totally harem material."
> [Warning: Do not seduce Demon Princess without +5 charisma or enchanted pants.]
"I'll start slow. Friendship. Food. Flattery."
> [And lies. Don't forget lies.]
---
Midnight
She groaned in her sleep. Fever still high. I went to check on her.
She grabbed my wrist mid-reach. Eyes wide, breath shallow.
"Don't… betray me."
"I swear on my spiritual cabbage, I won't."
She blinked. "You really are an idiot."
And then—she fell back asleep, still holding my hand.
---
System Prompt:
> New Title Unlocked: "Beast Tamer (By Accident)"
Hidden stat increased: Dumb Luck +1
Corrupted System Transaction Logged: Reward replaced — Original "Trust Bond Token" sold to AuctionNet666. You received: Used Collar of Unstable Loyalty (50% chance to explode).
I sighed.
She twitched in her sleep, muttered something about stabbing emperors.
I smiled.
"My first harem member."