Lazry blinked, re-reading the words several times, his lips twitching slightly. "Optional missions?" he murmured. "So I can grow stronger on my own with the system by doing nothing, but at the same time, I have missions to get even stronger?"
It sounds too good to be true.
Lazry rubbed his temples and leaned back against the couch. "It's optional." But dry paper like curiosity inside him was easily burned through him faster than reason could smother it.
"Alright, let me see it first," he muttered. He tapped the small glowing box labeled Daily Missions, and another screen expanded before him.
The title at the top read:
[ Beast Missions: Any missions can give the host a beast.
[ Please choose carefully. ]
Lazry's eyes widened. "Beast missions?" His voice quivered slightly with surprise. He hadn't even tamed a single curse beast yet.
Could this system actually grant him one? His pulse quickened as he scrolled down, and four options appeared in neat glowing text.
[ Fire Beast Mission.
[ Water Beast Mission.
[ Flora Beast Mission.
[ Devouring Beast Mission. ]
The system's words followed shortly after, its tone mechanical yet oddly commanding.
[ You can only take one mission this dark morning. The missions will vanish once sunlight touches the horizon. ]
Lazry gulped, glancing toward the window.
The sky was still dark like midnight, but dawn was lurking somewhere beyond the clouds. "One mission, huh…" he whispered. "Then I need to check fast."
He selected the Fire Beast Mission first, and another window burst open.
[ Fire Beast Mission:
[ First Level: Go to a Fire Wolf cage and do nothing for 5 seconds.
[ Reward: A normal Curse Ethereal Fire Wolf. ]
[ Second Level: Go to a Fire Wolf cage and do nothing for 10 seconds.
[ Reward: An elite Curse Ethereal Fire Wolf. ]
[ Third Level: Go to a Fire Wolf cage and do nothing for 15 seconds.
[ Reward: A rare Curse Ethereal Fire Wolf. ]
Lazry stared at the glowing text, completely dumbfounded. "Do… nothing?" he muttered in disbelief. "That's the mission? Go to a Fire Wolf cage and stand there?"
His face contorted as the absurdity sank in. "What the hell? Do nothing? More like die doing nothing!"
He knew those beasts well.
The Fire Wolves weren't normal ethereal creatures—they were monsters born from the curse residue of slain wolves his clan once tamed.
They burned endlessly, their flames feeding on hatred. Even seasoned Conjurers avoided their dens.
He immediately shook his head violently. "No way. I'm not going in there just to be roasted alive. I'm not insane."
Still, curiosity got the better of him again. He checked the next mission.
[ Water Beast Mission: ]
[ First Level: Stand beside a Lake Serpent's lair for 5 seconds without moving.
[ Reward: A normal Curse Ethereal Serpent. ]
[ Second Level: Stand beside the lair for 10 seconds without moving.
[ Reward: An elite Curse Ethereal Serpent. ]
[ Third Level: Stand beside the lair for 15 seconds without moving.
[ Reward: A rare Curse Ethereal Serpent. ]
Lazry's shoulders slumped. "So basically, same kind of suicide but in water this time," he muttered. He scrolled to the next.
[ Flora Beast Mission:
[ First Level: Enter the garden of a Withered Thorn Tree and stay still for 5 seconds.
[ Reward: A normal Curse Ethereal Vine Beast. ]
[ Second Level: Enter the garden and stay still for 10 seconds.
[ Reward: An elite Curse Ethereal Vine Beast. ]
[ Third Level: Enter the garden and stay still for 15 seconds.
[ Reward: A rare Curse Ethereal Vine Beast. ]
He dragged his hand down his face. "These missions are insane. How does doing nothing in front of death traps make any sense? Five to fifteen seconds of pure stupidity." He exhaled loudly, slumping back on his couch.
Still, the last mission—Devouring Beast Mission—stared back at him like a lure in the dark. He hesitated, then tapped it.
The box expanded slowly, glowing with a dark red hue.
[ Devouring Beast Mission:
[ Level One: Stay near a Devourer's tunnel nest for 5 seconds.
[ Reward: A normal Devouring Curse Beast. ]
[ Level Two: Stay near the tunnel nest for 10 seconds.
[ Reward: A elite Devouring Curse Beast. ]
[ Level Three: Stay near the tunnel nest for 15 seconds.
[ Reward: A rare Devouring Curse Beast. ]
[ Level Four: Stay near the tunnel nest for 20 seconds.
[ Reward: An super rare Devouring Curse Beast. ]
[ Level Five: Stay near the tunnel nest for 25 seconds.
[ Reward: A devouring Legendary Curse Beast. ]
Lazry froze. "Legendary…?" The word lingered in the air like a spark about to ignite something deep inside him. His throat tightened.
The image of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox flashed before his eyes—the one he had summoned yesterday, the one ripped away from him before he could even touch its power.
A hollow ache burned through his chest. He clenched his fist. "A legendary beast…" he whispered. "Like her."
His eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as he thought of everything he'd lost. His mother's approval, his clan's respect, and the fox—his fox—taken from him without a shred of remorse, now, someone wanted to kill him!
And the mission that could help him?
They only needed seconds.
Yes, seconds.
It sounded so simple, yet the more he thought about it, the more his chest tightened. Seconds around a Fire Wolf den meant being burned alive. Seconds near a Lake Serpent lair meant being drowned and crushed. Seconds beside a Withered Thorn Tree meant being impaled by vines that moved faster than blades.
Seconds could kill him.
And the rules were cruel.
Once he went to those places, he wasn't allowed to do anything. No dodging. No blocking. No running. Just stand there and hope for the beast.
It made no sense.
It was insane.
It was no different from courting death.
He rubbed his face with both hands as confusion piled atop dread in his mind.
If he stayed here, the AFK System would make him stronger. Yes. His level would rise just by breathing, just by existing. But what was the point if someone was already after his life? Strength meant nothing if he died before he could use it.
A sudden thought struck him and he grabbed his phone, hands trembling slightly. "He needs to know," Lazry whispered to himself before calling.
The line rang once, twice. Then Butler Winston's tired but dependable voice came through. "Young master?"
Lazry didn't waste time. "Winston… I might die tonight." His voice cracked, the words spilling out before he could hold them back. "Someone's after me. They broke into my apartment. They tried to plant a curse beast inside of me. A suicide-type curse spirit."
There was a sharp inhale from Winston. "What— Impossible! Young master, please calm down. Madam Eldra may not favor you but she would never allow someone to harm you. She has strict rules even toward your cousins, let alone—"
"It could be her too," Lazry cut in, his voice low and rough. "Don't tell me it's impossible when I felt their intent. They called me young master while trying to kill me. They followed you earlier. They knew where I was. They knew I had no beast. They knew everything."
"But Madam Eldra—"
"Winston, think carefully," Lazry snapped. "Who else would know your habits? Who else would track us quietly? Who else would dare use a Suicide Curse Beast inside my home? Only someone from the Lycannis Family could do this. Only someone inside."
Silence stretched on the other end of the call.
Winston's breathing grew heavier, like the realization was sinking into his bones. "Young master… wait for me," he said finally, voice firming. "I'm coming there right now. Do not move. I will protect you."
Lazry swallowed. "I don't know if I can wait long."
"You must," Winston insisted. "Lock everything. Stay inside. I'll—"
Lazry slowly closed his eyes, what close the door? It was already blasted open. But he sighed and didn't say anything about that. "Winston. I'll be fine. Just be prepared. Someone might kill me tonight."
"Please do not say that—"
But Lazry had already heard enough. He exhaled deeply and hung up before Winston could try to talk him down again.
The screen dimmed in his hand.
Silence filled the room, heavy like a blanket suffocating his thoughts. Lazry lowered the phone and stared at the four glowing mission panels still floating in the air.
"All the dangers… are the same," he whispered. "No matter which one I pick, I'm risking my life."
His heart pounded in his ears. He stepped closer to the Devouring Beast Mission box, drawn by instinct more than logic. If he was going to take a gamble, then he might as well go all the way.
He reached out toward the final line.
Level Five.
Twenty five seconds.
A legendary devouring curse beast.
His fingers trembled.
If he survived, he'd have a beast powerful enough to stand at the same height as the fox taken from him. Maybe stronger. Maybe one day strong enough to tear down the Lycannis Family themselves if he needed to.
Lazry clenched his teeth.
"Legendary… I'll take it."
Without hesitating anymore, without giving fear time to crawl back into his spine, he tapped the glowing option.
The Legendary Beast Mission lit up in deep crimson the moment his finger touched it.