“Sleepyhead, if you don’t wake up soon, all that lovely affection is going to drain away.”
A soft, honeyed woman’s voice slipped into Evan Hale’s mind, sweet enough to make him shiver.
His head throbbed like it was about to split open. Still half-blind from a hangover, he forced his eyes open and stared blearily at the ceiling.
“What kind of dream did I have last night…?” he muttered, rubbing his aching temples as he tried to sit up.
Then he froze.
Something was wrong with his body.
It felt too light.
He looked down. Instead of the familiar chest he was used to, the one with a bit of muscle definition, he saw pale skin and a soft curve that very much did not belong on a man.
What the hell?!
Evan threw the blanket off. His brain went white.
Slim legs. Smooth skin. A flat, delicate stomach. This was obviously a girl’s body, and not just any girl’s body. It was the kind of body that looked like someone had designed it in a character creator and pushed every beauty slider to max.
A faint scent lingered in the air, something like orchid mixed with peach nectar. It seemed to be coming from him.
“Nope. Dream. This is definitely a dream.”
Evan stumbled out of bed, only for his knees to nearly give out beneath him. This body was way too fragile. It had about as much core strength as a wet paper bag. Bracing one hand against the wall, he staggered into the bathroom and looked up at the mirror.
A breathtaking face stared back at him.
She looked about eighteen or nineteen. Her eyes were a rare light amber, glossy and bright, with slightly upturned corners that gave her an effortless, almost dangerous charm. Her nose was small and neat, her lips soft, her cheeks still flushed from sleep and alcohol. Every inch of her skin looked impossibly smooth, as if she had been rendered by some absurdly expensive CGI engine.
Innocent and alluring at the same time. Somehow, both fit her perfectly.
It was the kind of face that could ruin a man’s common sense.
To Evan, though, it was more horrifying than watching a ghost crawl out of a television.
Because that face was his.
Just as he stood there petrified, his entire worldview cracking apart, a chibi little devil UI popped into existence in front of him with a cheerful little “biu,” wiggling its hips like it was proud of itself.
[Ding! Dear Master, congratulations! You have been chosen. The Succubus Self-Improvement System has been successfully bound to you.]
That same syrupy mature voice sounded in his head again.
[From this moment on, you possess the irresistible body of a succubus. Your life is now permanently linked to your Affection Points.]
“Affection… Points?” Evan croaked.
The voice that came out of his throat was clear, girlish, and a little husky in a way that made even him feel uncomfortable.
[Affection Points are positive emotions directed toward you by intelligent beings. This includes goodwill, admiration, concern, fondness, affection, and even the desire to protect you.]
The system sounded far too amused.
A translucent status panel unfolded beside the little devil.
[Name: Tessa Vale (Evan Hale)]
[Race: Newly Awakened Succubus (Trial Period)]
[Affection Points: 10]
[Status: Affection Depletion. Natural decay: -1 point per hour. Estimated remaining life: 9 hours, 59 minutes.]
Tessa’s heart clenched as she stared at the slowly falling number.
One point per hour. Ten points meant ten hours. No, less than ten hours now.
This wasn’t a transformation.
This was a death countdown.
[Hehe, don’t be scared. As a beginner’s benefit, the system has prepared a mandatory starter quest for you.]
The little devil UI blew her a kiss, and a quest window appeared.
[Starter Quest: Your First Display of Charm]
[Objective: Successfully obtain the contact information of a male with an appearance rating of 85 or higher.]
[Reward: +50 Affection Points]
[Failure Penalty: Tingly Shock from the Abyss]
Tessa stared at the word “male.” Then she stared at “contact information.”
Something in her head snapped.
“Screw your stupid system!”
The furious shout exploded through the small dorm room, though the clear, bright girl’s voice made the rage sound almost ridiculous.
“You want me, a perfectly normal guy, to go ask some dude for his number?! Forget it! That’s trampling on my dignity! That’s an insult to my entire existence! I’d rather jump out that window and die outside than do that just to survive!”
Tessa completely lost it. She ranted at empty air, waving her arms around like she was arguing with a customer service bot from hell.
The system did not respond.
The countdown kept falling.
Minute by minute, time slipped away.
Tessa went from furious to swearing, from swearing to exhausted, and finally ended up sitting on the cold bathroom floor with her knees hugged to her chest, feeling the life slowly drain out of her new body.
[Affection Points: 3]
When the number hit three, a brutal choking pressure seized her heart.
It felt as if the air had been sucked out of the room. Every breath became a struggle. Her heart felt like an invisible hand had closed around it and started squeezing. Cold sweat broke across her skin.
“Gh… hah…”
Tessa opened her mouth wide, but no air came in. Her face went from flushed to pale, then from pale to faintly blue.
Death was real.
It was cold, immediate, and terrifying.
Dignity and pride suddenly felt laughably cheap.
[Affection Points: 2]
[Oh my. Master looks terrible. Your body is already going cold. If you don’t replenish your nourishment soon, you really are going to fade away.]
The system’s voice was still teasing.
[Affection Points: 1]
The world spun. Her vision blurred. A shrill ringing filled her ears, and Tessa felt her consciousness begin to peel away from her body.
No.
She didn’t want to die.
She was only twenty. She still had a whole life ahead of her. She had never even dated anyone.
Raw survival instinct crushed everything else.
“Live… I have to live.”
Using the last of her strength, Tessa lurched up from the floor and staggered toward the dorm room door.
She did not know where she was going. She did not know who she was looking for. She only knew that if she did not grab onto something, anything, she was going to die.
Bang!
The door flew open. Tessa rushed out blindly and slammed straight into something soft that smelled faintly sweet and clean.
“Careful!”
A cool, surprised female voice sounded above her.
Tessa reeled backward, but a strong arm caught her before she could fall. She forced her blurry eyes up and saw a face every bit as beautiful as her own.
The girl looked down at Tessa’s tearful eyes, flushed face, and bloodless lips. For a brief moment, she froze. Then the coolness in her gaze melted, replaced by surprise and a trace of aching concern.
Tessa no longer had the strength to speak. She clutched the girl’s arm and parted her lips with the last bit of power she had.
The girl’s heart tightened at the sight of her, fragile and trembling like she might break at any second. Almost without thinking, she leaned down. Her voice, usually so composed, softened into something gentle.
“Don’t be scared. Do you… need a hug?”