"I'm so hungry!"

Yifia sighed from her bed, stomach twisting in hunger. Eat soon—or die again.

Her eyes drifted to the dark bread beside her.

Fist-sized, stale, foul-smelling. Hard enough to weaponize. How was she supposed to chew this?

Once, she dined on gourmet dishes prepared by elite chefs from every nation.

Now? She lived in the slums. Her "home" was a shack of moldy planks, trembling on the verge of collapse. Inside, stacked newspapers formed her bed. Blanket? Pillow? More newspapers.

That tiny piece of dark bread was probably the most valuable thing she owned.

Survival won. Resigned, she picked it up and took a tentative bite.

*Crunch.*

No give. Sharp pain shot through her teeth.

Tears silently streaming, Yifia gritted her teeth like an ice shaver until a few gritty crumbs broke off. The awful taste made her gag—but her starving stomach demanded it.

She grumbled the whole time: *This isn't food for humans.* Yet the small loaf vanished in seconds. It barely dulled the ache. Hunger roared louder.

She patted her hollow stomach and wearily rose. Bare walls. No food left. Only water could fill the void.

No bottle. No jug. She’d have to go outside.

Two days since waking as Yifia. No inherited memories. Total darkness. Zero context.

【System, where’s the nearest water source?】

【Go straight, then turn right.】

At least she had a system. Telepathic chats—no speaking needed.

Too bad hers was useless. While other systems soared through heavens and hells, hers just nagged. Best feature so far? A map guide.

After a winding walk, she spotted clear spring water and sighed in relief.

*Westis slums.* She’d feared sewage.

She crouched, washed her hands, cupped water, and drank. Her long black hair tumbled forward.

Annoyed, she shook her head—failed to toss it back.

Never had hair this long. Never this unfamiliar weight on her chest. Earlier, crouching nearly sent her face-first into the water.

Thirst quenched, she finally glanced at her reflection.

Round almond eyes. Large black pupils clouded with confusion. A petite nose. Lips plump as if glazed in red honey. A faint smile revealed two tiny dimples.

So sweet it pierced the heart.

*Way too cute!*

Waist-length black hair. Fair skin. Curvy figure—full bust, narrow waist. Only flaw? Short. Maybe 160 cm. Otherwise… perfect.

If *he* had met this girl before *his* death, *he’d* have asked for her number.

But now… *he* was *her*.

【System! Are you seriously expecting me to save the world with my looks?!】

She preferred this spot over her drafty, damp shack. Sunlight. Sweet water. Wildflowers swaying.

She shooed a butterfly, hitched up her linen dress, and sat cross-legged—unladylike, uncaring. Slender legs exposed. Tattered cloth shoes revealed plump toes wiggling restlessly.

Silence. Expected.

The system clammed up whenever "world destruction" came up. Terrified of spoilers.

From the moment she woke: system activated. Quest issued—【Save the World】.

Yep. *Save the world.*

She’d been reborn into a storybook world. A cliché campus romance: noble prince + commoner girl.

But after defeating the Villainess Heiress, the couple united… then the Westis Empire collapsed. Everyone died. No survivors.

That was just the start. Nation after nation fell. Blood stained the earth. Humanity vanished. Only ruins, plants, and beasts remained.

Why?

Yifia didn’t know. The system gave only a vague synopsis.

Maybe born from reader resentment. A host bound to change the ending…

*Yeah, right.* If the system truly wanted salvation, it should unbind *now* and find someone competent.

She had no money. No skills. Zero chance.

Might as well lie down and wait.

After two days of refusing cooperation, the system reluctantly negotiated.

World-saving? Paused. New quest available.

【Become friends with Baron Amalia. Reward: Botanical Encyclopedia.】

Yifia rolled her eyes. Ignored it.

Then hunger hit—dizzy, painful, forcing down that awful bread.

Now, stomach full and bored, she chatted.

【Who is Baron Amalia?】

【Villainess Heiress. Duke Barren’s only daughter. Nobles call her the Empire’s Red Rose.】

The system answered freely—unless spoilers loomed. Yifia’s face twisted into a pained grimace.

*Befriend the Villainess Heiress???*

Everyone knew: in games, in novels—villainesses were death traps.

One misstep? Game over.

Was the system *trying* to get her killed?

This quest? Someone else can have it. *She* wasn’t doing it.

Back to slacking off.

She plucked a blade of grass, stuck it in her mouth, and leaned back—

Then froze.

Sunlight glinted off gold beneath a nearby tree.

*No way.*

*A gold coin?!*

One gold = ten silver. One silver = one hundred copper. One copper bought *three* dark breads!

Pah! Who needed bread now? Meat. Wine. A feast!

Heart soaring, she dashed toward it—grab and run—

A light chuckle cut her off.

"Well, well… what have we here?"

Simultaneously, the system flashed:

【Villainess Heiress Baron Amalia has appeared!】