The octopus-mascot knockoff floated up and down without a hint of concern, its enormous eyes never leaving Mirabelle long enough to inspect the surroundings.

Mirabelle, on the other hand, very much wanted to inspect the surroundings.

The balcony had been designed to resemble a miniature savanna.

Tall stalks swayed in the wind.

The scent of sun-warmed grass drifted through the balcony, so vivid that it almost drowned out the smell of stone and the distant city below.

Every time a breeze swept through them, she had to physically force herself to stay focused.

’Priorities, girl.’

She mentally retraced everything that had happened during the twenty minutes since she’d woken up.

There was something.

Something important.

CLICK.

Ah!

Mirabelle: "What exactly was that message about Bloodline Qualification Confirmed?"

Pebbles: "Do you want to know?"

Mirabelle: "...Yes?"

Pebbles: "That will cost one million Legacy Points."

’What the fuck?’

Mirabelle: "Forget it. Why exactly would I pay for that?"

Pebbles blinked.

He? She? It?

(You know what? We’re calling it "it.")

It somehow managed to look as though it was questioning Mirabelle’s intelligence.

And as though that was a serious problem.

Pebbles: "Asking the correct question is easy." A tiny tentacle rose into the air. "Obtaining the answer is not."

Mirabelle: "...That sounds stupid. And that’s not a reason."

Pebbles: "It is."

Mirabelle: "Then explain."

The octopus puffed up slightly: "Information changes decisions." A second tentacle joined the first. "Decisions change territories."

A third tentacle appeared. "Territories change history."

All three pointed directly at her.

"Therefore, information has value."

Mirabelle stared at him. Somewhere below, metal clanged against metal. A soldier shouted. Her ears picked out both sounds with absurd clarity.

Mirabelle: "...You charge people for spoilers."

Pebbles considered that.

"That is an acceptable simplification."

Mirabelle: "Aren’t you here to help me?"

Pebbles somehow managed to raise an eyebrow despite not possessing eyebrows.

Pebbles: "Who told you I was here to help you?"

Mirabelle was completely flabbergasted. Even her tail had frozen mid-swish.

Mirabelle: "Wait. I have a System, and it’s not here to help me? What?"

The last word came out as a near shout.

The smell of disturbed grass reached her a split second before anything moved.

A moment later, a small flock of sparrow-like birds burst from the tall grass and took off into the air, chirping their complaints as they fled.

Mirabelle’s ears twitched.

She hadn’t even noticed they were there.

Which was ridiculous.

Now that they were airborne, she could hear every wingbeat.

Pebbles watched the birds disappear into the distance.

Then he spoke in a dry tone.

Pebbles: "No."

A beat passed.

Pebbles: "You are here to help me."

Mirabelle couldn’t believe her ears:

"Say that again."

Pebbles: "I am the Territory Development System. I obviously exist to develop territories."

The tiny octopus spread its tentacles as though explaining something painfully obvious.

"It just so happens that you’re attached to one. Furthermore, your probability of success was the highest among all available candidates at seventy-nine percent."

A brief pause.

"Therefore, your primary function is to assist me."

Mirabelle: "PRIMARY FUNCTION?!"

Pebbles scratched his nonexistent chin:

"For some reason, all System Hosts seem to have that misconception."

Outrage burned across Mirabelle’s cheeks. Then, as her brain fully processed what she’d just heard, anger began boiling through her veins.

She took a step toward the floating octopus. Her voice dropped into something distinctly threatening:

"Does that mean I ended up in this world because of you?"

She bared her teeth.

Her claws slid free.

Pebbles immediately raised two tentacles in surrender:

"I had nothing to do with that. Take it up with the Beast Goddess."

’Beast Goddess?’

Mirabelle suddenly remembered another System message.

The Beast Goddess has acknowledged your ambition.

Her gaze drifted upward. As though she might suddenly spot a divine spectator hiding among the lazy white clouds.

Unnoticed by her, Pebbles wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead.

This Host was terrifying...

Mirabelle: "So the Beast Goddess is actually real?"

’And that bitch never answered me?

I’ve been making a complete fool of myself down here while she’s apparently watching for entertainment?’

Pebbles: "Would you like to purchase that information?"

Mirabelle: "No."

For a moment, they simply stared at each other.

It felt like the pause in a duel when both opponents circled each other, searching for a weakness that wasn’t there.

Mirabelle’s thoughts raced.

There was absolutely no chance she was going to let a System use her.

Her primary function?

PFFF...Please...

She’d show this thing exactly what —

Mirabelle froze.

Wait.

Could it read her thoughts? The System interface obviously did.

Pebbles: "If you’re wondering whether I can read your thoughts, the answer is no."

Mirabelle: "..."

She wasn’t convinced.

Mirabelle: "And why exactly do you think that’s what I wanted to know?"

Pebbles: "Hosts always make that specific face."

Mirabelle: "And how does the System know which interface I want to open?"

Pebbles: "Do you believe in manifestation?"

Mirabelle: "What?"

Pebbles: "In manifestation, people focus their thoughts on a specific goal. The System functions similarly. When your thoughts are directed toward me because you want to communicate or open an interface, those thoughts reach me."

The tiny octopus floated confidently in place.

Pebbles: "If you’re insulting me in your head, however, I can’t hear it."

Not convincing.

Not convincing at all.

’You look like something a child made out of modeling clay.’

Pebbles remained completely unbothered.

Her tail flicked once in irritation.

Okay.

That had been mean.

It actually was kind of cute.

Its personality, however, sucked.

What an attitude...

Pebbles: "Do you have any further questions?"

Mirabelle: "Actually, yes. What were those animal manifestations I saw after the mate oaths?"

Pebbles: "Information regarding Bloodline Qualification costs one million Legacy Points."

At the same moment, a System window appeared. The exact same sentence was displayed across it.

Below were two buttons.

[Purchase]

[Decline]

Pebbles: "Would you like to proceed with the purchase?"

’How persistent can one octopus be?’

Mirabelle: "No."

The [Decline] button depressed with a satisfying click. The window vanished.

Pebbles visibly deflated. The octopus looked vaguely disappointed.

Though Mirabelle wasn’t exactly an expert at interpreting the facial expressions of chibi mascots.

Even without paying, however, it had revealed quite a bit.

The manifestations apparently had something to do with her bloodline.

She doubted they referred to her being a lynx. More likely, all of this connected back to her mysterious father.

She absolutely needed to question the Duchess about that.

Now there was only one thing left to do.

Mirabelle: "Do you have a manual?"

Pebbles: "Of course."

That strange cloud appeared again. When it burst, a book materialized in midair.

Immediately afterward, gravity remembered it existed.

Had Mirabelle not possessed the reflexes of a Beastwoman, the book would have crashed straight into the floor.

Instead, she caught it.

Now a thin, remarkably boring-looking blue leather book rested in her hands.

Ignoring the floating octopus spirit, Mirabelle made herself comfortable on Kaelith’s sunstone and began reading.

The stone was surprisingly smooth. And surprisingly comfortable to sit on.

The sun had warmed it throughout the day.

Now it smelled faintly of Kaelith. Or perhaps Kaelith smelled like the stone.

Mirabelle’s tail curled contentedly behind her. Then she opened the manual.

Territory Development System

The Territory Development System exists to assist in the growth, administration, and prosperity of territories.

Its primary purpose is not to strengthen an individual, but to strengthen the land under their authority.

The system rewards actions that improve the long-term development of a territory and its people.

Examples include:

•increasing population

•improving food production

•establishing trade routes

•constructing infrastructure

•advancing education

•improving public health

•maintaining stability and security

•encouraging innovation and craftsmanship

Rewards are primarily granted in the form of Development Points and Legacy Points.

Development Points

Development Points may be exchanged for blueprints, technologies, infrastructure projects, agricultural improvements, administrative systems, and other territory-related benefits.

Development Points cannot be used for personal advancement.

Legacy Points

Legacy Points represent the lasting impact a ruler has upon the world.

They may be exchanged for abilities, tools, consumable items, rare resources, and other personal rewards.

Core Principle

The system does not create prosperity.

It accelerates prosperity that already exists.

Poor decisions will still produce poor results.

Wise decisions will produce greater rewards.

The system cannot build a territory on behalf of its host. It can only provide guidance.

Whether that guidance leads to a thriving kingdom or a forgotten ruin remains the responsibility of the ruler.

Host Requirements

The Territory Development System may only be granted to individuals possessing

*&¤45@8◇5 ☆}62"0◇$.

Additional requirements may apply.

Additional Information Available.

Access Restricted.

That being said, Mirabelle had learned something else that was potentially far more interesting.

In fact, she was just about to test it when Pebbles suddenly began hovering in front of her face.

Very deliberately.

The tiny octopus drifted left.

Then right.

Then directly in front of the book.

Then back again.

He continued orbiting her head until she finally looked up.

Mirabelle: "What?"

Pebbles: "I recommend purchasing Merchant’s Eye."

Mirabelle blinked.

Mirabelle: "Why would I do that? Then I’d have zero Legacy Points left."

Pebbles didn’t seem concerned:

"You will acquire additional Legacy Points."

Mirabelle narrowed her eyes:

"And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

Pebbles: "By acquiring additional Mates. Specifically the panther and the fox."

The floating octopus fell silent for a moment.

As though carefully considering something.

Then he said it:

"Unless, of course, you’re planning to wait another nine days for each of them."