["Unfortunately, there are currently no tasks for you to carry out, Host."]
Stella's voice echoed in her head.
"Ughhh…" Mira dragged her hand down her face. "What the hell is even going on? Why is everything going wrong for me today?"
She threw her hands up.
"Fine! Whenever you finally have a task for me, let me know."
Grumbling under her breath, she flopped onto her bed. Her head was pounding, her body was still weak from everything that had happened, and she honestly needed a break. The moment her back touched the mattress, she was out—gone, sleeping like a stone.
When her eyes opened again, the room was dim.
Evening already?
Her stomach answered that question with a loud growl.
She stretched, yawned, rubbed her eyes and patted her tummy with a sigh.
"Great. I'm starving…"
Still half-asleep, she rushed out of her room and headed straight for the kitchen. In her previous life, evening meant dinner was already waiting. So of course she expected the same here.
Except…
The kitchen was quiet.
Only the two cooks were inside, leaning lazily on stools, chatting and laughing like they didn't have a single responsibility in life. Their eyes rolled the moment they saw her walk in.
Mira clenched her jaw but forced herself to stay calm.
Okay Mira, help yourself for once. Just cook and eat, simple.
But when she turned to the stone stove—empty.
She checked the table—empty.
She checked every pot, bowl, cupboard—EMPTY.
Her eye twitched.
She spun toward the cooks. "Where is the food? Why isn't there anything to eat?"
They didn't even answer.
One looked her up and down like she was insects on her shoe.
The other tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and pretended Mira wasn't speaking at all.
Her irritation snapped.
"I asked a question."
This time, one finally spoke—rudely.
"Did going into a coma make you lose your memory? Why are you expecting food when you haven't gone out to hunt? What exactly do you think we're cooking with?"
And just like that… everything clicked in Mira's mind.
Right.
This tribe was small—they didn't have assigned hunters.
Everyone hunted for their own meals.
Her "family" — Elora, one cook, and whoever volunteered — usually went.
Her father joined when he felt like it.
Original Mira never went because she was weak and always sickly.
And because she never hunted?
They gave her the smallest, most pathetic share.
A portion that wouldn't satisfy even a starving rat.
Mira's lips thinned.
So that's why this body is so skinny. They've been feeding her scraps.
Absolutely not.
She was NOT about to eat another miserable crumb-sized portion.
If hunting would get her a full meal, then she was going.
Later that evening, when her father finally said they should all go hunt for dinner, Mira joined the group by the door. Elora, the two cooks, and that rude half-shifter servant from earlier—Roxane—were already there.
From the moment they stepped outside, they acted like she didn't exist.
They walked ahead, whispering loudly on purpose.
"Why is she even coming? She'll die out there with how weak she is," Roxane laughed.
"I swear," one cook muttered. "She'll just be a burden."
Elora led them, pretending to shush them while secretly enjoying the insults.
Her plan earlier had failed—Mira hadn't died, and she hadn't been punished either.
The humiliation still burned her, but hearing them mock Mira soothed her ego a little.
She turned with a fake sweet smile.
"You guys, don't say that about Mira. I'm sure she wants to help and not be a burden. I believe she'll catch enough food for us today." She faced Mira. "Right, sister?"
Mira didn't even bother responding.
She just gave Elora one cold look and walked past her.
Elora's smile twitched.
This bitch… where did she get the nerve?
Fine. Elora would put her in her place later.
They reached the river and spread out around it.
Elora cleared her throat.
"Tonight's dinner is fish. Everyone try to catch as many as you can. And Mira… if you can't do it, just tell me. You can sit and watch. No need to embarrass yourself trying to prove something."
Mira snorted.
"Are you obsessed? Focus on your own fishing and leave me alone."
She walked to a farther corner.
Fishing…
She stared at the net.
She had no idea how to do this.
She had been a CEO in her past life. Numbers? Business? Deals? Yes.
Fishing? Absolutely not.
"Stella," she whispered. "Can you help me or not?"
[Yes Host! Fishing won't be difficult if you use an advantage.]
"And what advantage?"
[Something with a strong smell that attracts fish. Like fruits. Combine these two fruits a moon berry and a sunfruit Host.]
"Oh? That's nice. I don't know them though were do I find them? Are they rare or common?"
[Common, Host. I detected some nearby, inside that part of the forest.]
"Perfect. Let's go."
She returned a few minutes later with a bowl full of fruits. She smashed them lightly, mixed them into a sweet-smelling mash, and stuffed small amounts into a leaf.
She rolled them into small balls, tied a thread through each one, and attached them directly to her fishing net.
Then she cast the net into the water.
She held her breath.
Please work… please please work…
Seconds passed.
Then silver shapes moved—fast.
The fish swarmed toward her net.
She gasped, then squealed under her breath.
"It's working!"
The net tugged.
Hard.
She struggled, pulling with all her strength until the net finally came up—heavy and full.
Panting, she dropped the catch into her basket.
One. Two. Three.
Twelve.
"Twelve," she whispered, eyes sparkling. "Stella… maybe you're actually useful."
She didn't bother fishing again. This was more than enough.
Basket in hand, she walked back toward the group.
Elora spotted her approaching and smiled confidently.
She had caught four fish, which she felt was decent enough to show off.
The others had barely caught any—two at most.
She walked forward proudly…
Then saw Mira's basket.
Her smile shattered.
"You—how—how did you catch this many?" she blurted out.
The others were stunned too.
Mira raised a brow.
"What do you think? That I'm all talk and no result? Like you?"
Elora's nails dug into her palm.
She swallowed her anger quickly and changed tactics.
"Well… sister… it's good you caught this much. Since we barely have anything, you'll have to share with us." She held out her hand slightly. "We're all eating together, after all."
Before Mira could even breathe out a response—
A soft ding echoed in her head.
[New Task Generated:
Establish your first personal boundary: Reject Elora's unfair demand.
Reward: 45 system points
Penalty: System will disappear for one day.]