Chapter 1

The system ordered me to rule the beastfolk world.

In exchange, it gave me a frail body that could barely take a beating.

I huddled on the throne and reached, trembling, for the prayer beads around the white tiger’s wrist.

“B-Big brother… I… I want to take your things. I want to show you who’s boss.”

The system scolded me.

【Go kick the other one!】

I started crying at the system’s reprimand. Still sobbing, I swung out a leg—but I was so weak that my foot only came to rest against the merfolk beauty’s waist.

From a distance, the fox-eared youth returned, dragging a chain behind him. He looked at us, puzzled.

“Did you hurt her?”

1

The moment he said that, the white tiger bristled and sprang to his feet.

“Who hurt her? She’s only a little human. Why would I bother laying a hand on her? It’d be beneath the dignity of the tiger clan.”

The white tiger beastman towered over me at six foot five. His open palm was almost as large as my head.

He was intimidating even at rest. When he frowned, I trembled harder.

“You only wanted the prayer beads on my wrist, didn’t you? Here. You can have them all. Just stop crying!”

When his huge hand came down on my head, I felt it wobble before he firmly held it straight again.

The beads slipped off his wrist and landed around my neck.

They were heavy, still warm from his body.

I touched them gingerly. I couldn’t believe I’d completed the system’s mission so easily. Sobbing, I asked in disbelief,

“Did I… just threaten you into giving them to me?”

The white tiger: “?”

The system fell silent for a long moment. Embarrassed, I lowered my head and looked at the merfolk beauty beneath my feet.

He was seated to the right, below the throne. I’d followed the system’s instructions and tried to kick him with all my might, but I’d been so weak that my foot had only brushed his waist.

The sole of my foot tickled. The merfolk’s slender fingers caught my ankle and began idly, playfully stroking it.

The body the system had given me was both weak and sensitive. The moment his fingers moved, I shivered. I couldn’t help kicking out, and accidentally tore his blue robe.

The robe fell half open. Beneath a thin layer of gauze, two red peaks trembled into view.

I’d never seen anything like it. All I could do was stubbornly keep following the system’s orders.

Kick him!

I gritted my teeth and tried again, this time planting my foot against his firm, heated chest.

The merfolk’s serene expression finally shifted. The corners of his eyes reddened. He held my ankle and ran his fingers up my calf, giving it a gentle squeeze.

I’d spent all day walking yesterday. My calves were already sore and aching. How could I withstand that kind of massage?

My face went white with pain, and my eyes filled with tears.

The merfolk let out a helpless chuckle.

“You really are a scaredy-cat.”

The fox-eared youth had dragged the chain closer. Hearing that, he drawled lazily,

“Humans are the most cunning creatures of all. Since the Central Bureau sent her to rule us, I suppose I’ll have to suffer the inconvenience of keeping her by my side.”

I stared blankly at his bewitchingly beautiful face. Suddenly, that didn’t sound so bad. At least I wouldn’t have to deal with all three of them at once.

So I obediently nodded.

“Sure.”

Just then, the system popped back in and screamed in my ear.

【I was only gone long enough to grab a bowl of noodles, and they’ve already turned the tables and started ruling you?

【You idiot! He’s trying to keep you prisoner, and you think that’s a good thing?

【You—go pluck every last hair off that fox!】

2

The system’s shouting made me tremble. I kicked away the chain that was about to close around my ankle.

The system let out a sigh of relief.

【That’s more like it! Stand your ground! Next mission: pluck the golden fox hair at the tip of his tail—the one that symbolizes his status!】

The fox-eared youth missed his chance to catch me. His slanted eyes narrowed, dark with bloodlust, and he slowly rose from where he’d been crouching beneath the throne.

I shook like a leaf. I couldn’t even hear what the system was saying. With my eyes shut, I threw myself at the merfolk.

“I… I want you to chain me up with him!”

The merfolk was adjusting his robe. When I crashed into him, his arms closed around me by reflex.

I hurried into his embrace and clung to his slim, pale waist like an octopus.

It wasn’t entirely because I was a coward.

In the original story, the three most powerful figures in the beastfolk world were the hot-tempered but simple-minded white tiger, the cool and gentle merfolk, and the sinister, bloodthirsty spirit fox.

They fought endlessly over power, leaving the people of their world in misery.

That was why the Central Bureau had sent me here: to play the villain, torment and oppress them until they grew up and learned to work together.

According to the original plot, I was supposed to put all three of them in their place right from the start:

Steal the prayer beads the white tiger treasured.

Kick the merfolk’s most vulnerable tail.

And pluck the golden hair at the tip of the spirit fox’s tail—the mark of his status.

After that, I was supposed to keep bullying them until even the kindhearted merfolk lost his temper.

The three had been at odds, but they endured the humiliation and gradually grew stronger. In the end, they joined forces to imprison me and torture me without end.

The spirit fox would eventually drain my blood until I died.

Just imagining that brutal fate made my vision go dark with fear.

The system finally lost its patience.

【Why are you softer than the noodles I’m slurping? You’re a lost cause, just like Adou!

【Still, at least you managed to humiliate the spirit fox. Now go torment the merfolk!

【My wife’s made me noodles. I’m going to eat. Call me if you’re in danger.】

3

The white tiger had somehow found another strand of prayer beads. His temper cooled, and his face went blank.

“I have no interest in a weak human like her. Whoever wants to take her can have her.”

The spirit fox put away the chain and leaned against a pillar. His blue pupils narrowed as he watched me like prey that had disobeyed him—but was still going to be his.

The merfolk drew me closer and met his gaze without flinching.

After a long pause, the spirit fox suddenly smiled.

“Go on, then. But the beastman you’re relying on may not be what he seems.”

His words were full of meaning.

“Try to stay alive, little human. I’ll come find you and have some fun.”

The merfolk shot him a cool glance, then took me home.

His home occupied the highest floor of the central tower. The decor was orderly and spare, almost cold.

He spoke gently.

“Wait on the sofa for a moment, all right?”

I nodded, a little stiffly.

The sofa was wonderfully soft. I pressed down on it when I thought he wasn’t looking. It was even more comfortable than that throne.

The merfolk returned soon after, carrying a tub of warm water. His eyes softened.

“You walked a long way to get here yesterday. Soaking your feet should help.”

I looked down. Flower petals floated in the water. It was obvious he’d put a lot of thought into it.

The system popped up, thrilled.

【That’s it! Now’s your chance!

【Kick the footbath over and get him all wet!】