MY SHAMELESS SYSTEM WON'T LET ME DIE A VILLAINESS

Serena

"Catch her, thief!" the bookstore owner yelled, chasing me. I only giggled, knowing he was no match for me, running with the book in my arm.

I hadn't planned on stealing, but with everyone talking about the novel and the villainous cannon fodder having my name, I didn't have a choice.

The novel had been sold out for three weeks.

People fought over the last copies online.

Bookstores had waiting lists longer than university admission queues. Every review claimed the same thing.

"The villainess dies the most miserable death in romance history."

Normally, I wouldn't care.

But then someone spoiled the villainess's name.

Serena.

My name

Curiosity became obsession overnight. I skipped lunch, ignored my assignments, and visited every bookstore in town searching for one copy. Every time I arrived, the shelves were empty.

Then today...

One lonely copy sat on the display shelf like destiny itself.

The owner had refused to sell it because someone had reserved it.

So...

I borrowed it.

Without permission.

I'd return it after reading.

Probably.

Just a few more steps and I would be smiling in the bosom of this bestselling romance story.

I hugged the book tighter against my chest.

"So close..." I whispered with a grin.

Just a few more meters.

The bus stop was ahead.

Once I escaped, no one would ever catch me.

The old man behind me wheezed like he had already run a marathon.

I almost felt bad.

Almost.

Then-

SLIP! THUD!

I fell to the ground, a searing pain coursing through my bones.

I heard footsteps tapping against the floor as they drew closer to where I lay.

Warm liquid flowed beneath my head. I didn't want to stand up.

I couldn't.

The last thing I heard before completely blacking out was-

"Is she dead?"

"Heard she was running because she stole a book and was being chased."

"She deserves it."

"Poor her."

"What a disgraceful way to die."

"Ahh..." I groaned, rubbing my head that was sure to be cracked open.

"Wait..." I paused as the surroundings twisted before my eyes.

"Serena."

A voice growled from in front of me, making my head snap up.

A white-haired man, maybe the eldest, stood before me.

The room looked nothing like a hospital.

Instead of white walls and machines, polished wooden pillars stretched toward a high ceiling.

Thick velvet curtains framed enormous windows, allowing golden sunlight to spill across the floor.

The air smelled faintly of flowers and sandalwood.

Expensive.

Too expensive.

Either I'd been kidnapped by billionaires...

Or I'd hit my head much harder than I thought.

Beside him stood two other men and a girl.

Was that rabbit ears?

It had to be a prop.

Is this a costume party?

Wasn't I supposed to be in the hospital after falling down?

Which psychotic person would bring me here instead?

Come to think of it, I wasn't feeling any pain.

"Serena," he growled my name again.

"What?" I snapped, trying to think.

How did he even know my name?

"Big Brother, it isn't Sister's fault. Maybe she was framed," the girl said meekly, her rabbit ears drooping slightly.

I laughed.

"Framed?" I asked. "Framed for what? Falling?"

Everyone stared at me like I'd grown animal ears.

Maybe I had.

My ears twitched.

An ear was supposed to be by the sides of my head.

Mine was literally on top of my head.

I reached up with trembling fingers.

Soft fur brushed against my palm.

The ear twitched beneath my touch.

"Nope."

I touched it again.

It twitched again.

"Nope."

I slapped both cheeks.

The room stayed exactly the same.

"This is either the world's most committed prank..."

I looked at everyone.

"...or I'm officially insane."

And it was hairy.

"Bring out the cameras. You can't film me without my permission," I said, walking toward what seemed like the exit.

Footsteps rushed toward me before warmth covered my hand, holding me in place.

I looked down.

The rabbit girl was kneeling with teary eyes.

"Sis, don't make Big Brother more mad. Please, just get on your knees."

She clasped my hand between hers.

"Who is your sister?" I asked, pulling my hand away and making her fall.

"I don't do scripted plays."

I kept walking away, but suddenly my feet left the ground.

The brown-haired guy had picked me up and dropped me back in front of the scary-looking white-haired man.

"You son of a bitch," I groaned, standing up.

I stumbled two steps before catching my balance.

"Seriously?" I rubbed my aching shoulder and glared at him. "You could've at least warned me. Do all of you solve problems by throwing people around?"

The brown-haired man merely folded his arms, his expression unreadable.

"He's definitely the silent bodyguard type," I muttered.

The white-haired man's golden eyes never left me.

They weren't merely angry.

They were disappointed... almost as if he'd already given up on me long ago.

For some strange reason, that look made my chest tighten.

Wait... why am I feeling guilty? I don't even know these people.

"You are unrepentant and still as villainous as ever. You don't value your life, and I shall show no mercy."

"Spare me the theatrics."

"Brother, please..." the rabbit girl knelt beside me, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Sister, I can't lose you. I have already lost enough.

Please don't leave me too," she whispered, clutching the hem of my robe.

Elara's rabbit ears drooped until they almost hid her face.

Tears gathered in her bright eyes.

"Sister," she whispered, "I know everyone blames you, but I don't. Please... just apologize once. Big Brother might forgive you."

She squeezed my fingers with trembling hands.

"I don't want to be alone again."

I stared at the crying girl.

She looked genuinely heartbroken.

There wasn't the slightest hint of acting.

Which only made everything worse.

Either these people deserve an Oscar... or I'm the one who's lost my mind.

"Tsk." I scoffed, folding my arms and looking away.

"Elara, stand up now. Don't waste your sympathy on this shameless woman," the fierce-looking orange-haired man said.

"Who even needs her sympathy?"

"If you guys aren't bringing out the cameras, let me leave," I sighed before adding, "I might be guilty of borrowing things without permission, but I'm certainly suing this dump of a place."

"From this day onward Serena has been......."

Suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed inside my head.

[DING!]

Congratulations, Host. Guess what? Never mind, anyway.

You have successfully transmigrated and can now gleefully become part of the story you wholeheartedly stole.

I am your System. My name is System. Don't try to rename me.

Unfortunately, your new body is about to undergo stripping you of your title if that's even a word, banishment, defamation, execution... the list goes on.

Current Survival Rate: 0.8%

Emergency Protocol Initiated.

Complete your first mission within ten seconds or face a dramatic death.

At least it won't be as disgraceful as your first death.

Don't worry. Your first mission will be hot.

Emergency Detection Complete...

Host's IQ: Acceptable.

Host's Luck: Catastrophically Terrible.

Host's Mouth: Excessively Reckless.

Overall Evaluation...

Congratulations! You are perfectly qualified to become this world's most hated villainess.

"Excuse me?" I frowned.

Please save your complaints after surviving.

---

Mission begins in...

5..

"Wait."

4...

"You can't just start counting!"

3...

"I don't even know the mission!"

2..

Mission: Kiss the man who wants to execute you.

Failure = Death.

Mission: Kiss the man who wants to execute you.

New Target Unlocked: Riven Goldmane

Bond Compatibility: 0%

Trust: -2

Hatred: 99.9%

Affection: -5

Relationship: Step Siblings / Enemies

I blinked.

Then blinked again.

"...I'm sorry, what?"

My gaze slowly drifted toward the white-haired man.

Blue eyes.

Cold expression.

A face so handsome it honestly felt unfair.

Yep.

Definitely wants me dead

.

I pointed at him with a trembling finger.

"Him?"

Correct.

"You expect me to kiss him?"

Correct.

"The same man who just threatened to execute me?"

Correct again. Host is making excellent progress.

"I take it back. Your IQ assessment is wrong.

"Host, I am delighted to inform you that your survival rate has successfully dropped.

Current Survival Rate: 0.1%.

"...It got worse?"

Naturally.

Your mouth continues to make poor life choices.

"Excuse me?"

I merely report facts.

I glanced around the room.

The white-haired man still looked ready to kill me.

The orange-haired one looked like he'd volunteer to help.

The brown-haired giant could probably snap me in half with one hand.

Even the rabbit girl looked like she was praying I have a funeral.

Fantastic.

I'd somehow transmigrated into a family reunion where everyone except one crying bunny wanted me dead.

No one told me this was how the story was, else I wouldn't have wasted my life to get it,

Host, I wished to give you hope when I said your IQ was acceptable.

I regret that decision.

You are now on your own.

Please try not to die before entertaining me.

And host,panic is understandable, it's also helpful,try to smile more to improve you look,u look urghh......

The voice disappeared.

I stared blankly into space.

"So..."

I muttered under my breath.

"I died over a library book..."

"...just to be bullied by a talking calculator or whatever it called itself."

"...Stripped..."

I had to do something.

How the hell was I even supposed to complete this ridiculous mission?

"Big Brother!" I cried, throwing myself at his feet.

"I promise to change! I was wrong! Please don't throw me out... or beat me... sniff..." I forced a few tears out, rubbing my eyes dramatically.

Everyone froze.

Even the servants standing by the doors looked stunned.

I secretly peeked through my fingers.

Why was nobody saying anything?

Did I overdo it?

I sniffled louder,

"Big Brother..." I whispered pitifully.

Still silence.

I slowly looked up.

Every single person was staring at me with wide eyes.

I frowned.

"What?"

Hadn't they ever seen a beautiful girl cry before?

Host, do not flatter yourself.

The System's mechanical voice echoed in my head.

Your acting skills are barely passable.

"Excuse me?" I argued inwardly.

Current Survival Rate: 0.05%.

My face dropped

"It dropped again?"

Successfully.

"What did I do this time?"

Everything.

I almost coughed blood.

"You've got to be kidding me."

No. You are just,am no sure any English word can describe you at this point,

"This is bullying."

This is survival, dumbass,

I rolled my eyes.

"Then tell me exactly what to do."

The System sighed dramatically.

Host, for heaven's sake. Your mission is to kiss him,kiss him

"I know that!"

Then why are you crying at his feet?

"..."

"...Good question."

I forgot your IQ was merely acceptable.

"Keep talking and I'll kill you."

You lack the authority.

I mentally cursed every life decision I had made, a certainly turning a new leaf

If I ever returned to Earth-

No.

When I returned to Earth-

I will change for the better,no more stealing,no more,

Host,

The systems voice sounded tired,

Meanwhile...

Riven continued staring down at me.

His icy blue eyes narrowed slightly.

"Have you finally realized your mistakes?"

I blinked.

"No."

The atmosphere instantly froze.

The orange-haired man pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I told you she was hopeless."

Elara covered her mouth in horror.

The brown-haired man simply looked away, as though he had expected nothing less.

Only Riven remained expressionless.

"Then what is this performance?"

I slowly stood up and dusted off my clothes.

"...Character development?"

Silence.

The System spoke again.

Host...

I am beginning to understand why your hatred level is 99.9%. And IQ is constantly depleting,

"Serena."

Riven's voice sounded colder than before.

"Stop calling my name or I'll kiss it out of your lips."

Everyone froze.

Silence swallowed the room.

The orange-haired man looked as though he'd forgotten how to breathe.

The brown-haired man blinked once.

Even Elara covered her mouth in shock.

"She's definitely gone mad," the orange-haired man muttered.

"Completely," someone agreed.

I packed up the skirt of my dress and marched straight toward Riven.

"If kissing you is what keeps me alive..." I mumbled under my breath.

"...then sorry, Big Brother."

Without giving myself time to think, I stood on my tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss against his lips.

Soft.

Warm.

Very warm.

For exactly one second or more,

Then I immediately stepped back.

"There." I dusted my hands together. "Mission accomplished."

The room exploded.

"What did she just do?!"

"Young Miss has lost her mind!"

"She kissed the Young Master!"

Even Elara's rabbit ears shot straight into the air.

Riven remained completely still.

His blue eyes widened for the first time since I'd met him.

A faint shade of red slowly climbed to the tips of his ears.

Not much.

But enough.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Y.You blushed!" I whispered.

"I did not," Riven replied instantly.

"Oh, you definitely did."

Large hands suddenly wrapped around my neck and effortlessly lifted me off the ground.

My feet dangled helplessly.

His face was only inches from mine now.

Those icy blue eyes looked ready to freeze my soul.

"How dare you?" he growled.

"You kissed me."

"I noticed."

"I should kill you."

"You've been saying that all morning."

A cheerful bell rang inside my head.

[DING!]

Mission Completed Successfully!

Reward Calculating...

Affection (Riven): 0

Trust: -1

Hatred: 99.5%

Survival Rate: 0.5%

I frowned.

"Only zero affection?"

Yep

"You literally told me to kiss him!"

I didn't,it was your mission

"So why is the affection still zero?"

Because...

The System paused dramatically.

...you kissed him like someone submitting homework five seconds before the deadline.

I blinked.

"What?"

You displayed no romance.

No atmosphere.

No chemistry.

You merely assaulted his personal space.

I was speechless.

"So you're telling me..."

"You wanted a better kiss?"

Like a French kiss,you know,

"You shameless thing"

The System laughed.

Host, please work harder.

Your love life is disappointing.

The voice disappeared.

I looked back at Riven.

He was still glaring at me like I had committed ten unforgivable crimes.

"...Actually," I smiled awkwardly.

"I think one kiss is enough for today."

His grip tightened.

"I disagree."

"Can you put me down so we can talk like adults " I said voice strained,

A terrifying pressure swept through the room.

Everyone unconsciously stepped backward.

Even Elara looked frightened.

Swoosh!

A stone came flying in my direction,

[DING]

Danger detected host,

[DING!]

Danger detected, Host.

The flying stone barely missed my head.

Instead, it struck Riven's outstretched hand before it could hit the ground.

I, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky.

Still hanging from his grip, he casually let go.

THUD!

I landed face-first on the cold stone floor.

"Ow!"

I pushed myself up, rubbing my sore back.

"Can people in this world stop dropping people like bags of cheap potatoes?

No one answered.

Every head turned toward the entrance of the great hall.

A tall man with crimson-red hair strode inside.

His footsteps echoed against the polished stone floor.

Unlike everyone else, he didn't bow or ask permission to enter.

He walked as though the hall belonged to him.

If Riven was terrifying...

This one looked worse.

Sharp crimson eyes swept across the room before stopping on me.

For a brief second, I forgot how to breathe.

Unlike Riven's cold anger, Nerien's presence was quiet.

Quiet enough to make people stop breathing.

He didn't need to shout.

He didn't even need to frown.

One look from him made the entire hall feel colder.

"Riven," the red-haired man greeted with a slight nod.

"Nerien," Riven replied, returning the gesture.

The red-haired man's gaze slowly lowered until it settled on me.

I immediately looked away.

"Don't look at me," I muttered under my breath.

"She's here," he said flatly.

"Of course I am," I scoffed, rubbing my aching backside. "Someone kindly dropped me here."

A few servants lowered their heads, pretending they hadn't heard me.

Riven's expression darkened.

"Why delay the execution," Aiden continued.

The words made the entire hall fall silent.

Even Elara's rabbit ears drooped.

She carefully stepped forward, wringing her hands together.

"Brother Aiden... Sister said she has changed,please you have to trust her" she called softly.

He didn't answer her,he just stepped closer,

This family seems to have intimidation as a bloodline trait.

The moment Nerien stepped into the hall, the atmosphere changed.

Even the servants straightened their backs and lowered their heads.

The orange-haired man stopped smiling.

The brown-haired one silently stepped aside.

Even Riven's expression became noticeably more serious.

Yep.

This guy definitely held the most authority in the family.

Host!

New Target Detected: Nerien Goldmane

Trust: Unknown

Relationship: Step Siblings

Hatred: Unknown

Affection: 0

"Unknown? Seriously? You're incompetent."

It is not my fault, Host. He is about as expressive as a stone statue.

Danger Level: 99.5%

Current Survival Rate: 0.5%

"What? I thought-"

My words caught in my throat.

Cold steel pressed lightly against my neck.

I looked down.

A silver dagger rested against my skin.

One tiny movement...

One slight slip...

Blood would be running down my neck.

Okay... okay... don't panic.

Panicking has never helped anyone.

Actually, that's a lie.

People panic all the time.

They just usually panic before dying.

Slowly, I raised my eyes.

Nerien hadn't even changed his expression.

"Hey, Big Brother... or whatever," I sighed carefully.

"You've got the wrong person. I'm not today's sacrificial animal."

Technically, you are, Host.

Don't assume you've escaped execution with an IQ as low as-

"Don't start with me."

I cut the System off immediately.

Very well.

Good luck removing that blade.

I stared up at Nerien, pouting.

Then, with years of shameless acting experience that absolutely did not exist...

I forced tears into my eyes.

Host.

Your heartbeat has increased by 42%.

"That's called survival instinct."

Nope

That's called finally using your brain.

A tear rolled down my cheek.

Nerien stared at me for several long seconds.

Then...

He lowered the dagger.

"...Interesting."

Everyone in the hall gasped.

Even Riven looked surprised.

"Why are you crying?"

His voice was calm.

Somehow...

That made it even scarier.

"Why wouldn't I cry?" I gritted through clenched teeth, glaring at him.

Then, almost instantly, I switched back to my pitiful expression.

A single tear rolled down my cheek.

"I've suffered enough for one day..."

For a long moment, Nerien simply stared at me.

"...Enough drama," he finally said, his voice calm and emotionless.

"We shall continue the edict tomorrow."

The dagger disappeared back into its sheath.

I rubbed my neck the moment the blade disappeared.

"Still attached," I muttered, feeling every inch of my throat.

"That's great."

I swallowed.

"I'd really like to keep my head where it belongs."

Host, that is generally how heads are supposed to be,

"Not helping."

The suffocating pressure in the hall instantly eased.

I let out a long breath of relief.

I survived.

Barely.

Without another word, Nerien turned and leisurely walked toward the exit.

The servants quickly stepped aside, lowering their heads as he passed.

Even Riven watched him leave without saying a word.

"See?" I muttered under my breath. "He's the scary final boss."

Yes!

I'm alive!

Maybe transmigration isn't so bad after all.

Maybe I'll actually survive this novel-

Host, please stop celebrating prematurely.

"I earned this celebration."

No. You merely postponed your death,you wouldn't have succeeded without my help, tsk,

Elara hurried over, nervously clutching Serena's sleeve,

"Sister... are you alright?"

I looked at her.

"...Do I look alright?"

She hesitated.

"...No."

"Exactly."I wanted to celebrate my survival more when....

[DING!]

A familiar mechanical voice echoed inside my head.

New Mission Activated!

Spend the night with Nerien Goldmane.

"..."

I froze.

"...Come again?"

Mission countdown begins in twenty-four hours.

My legs gave out beneath me.

I staggered backward, nearly falling flat on the floor.

I stared into space.

"...Do you hate me?"

Everyone does I don't wanna be different

"Wait, what?"

You heard me

"...You're joking?"

Perhaps.

"You're the worst System ever created."

Thank you.

"What kind of shameless system are you?!"

"Me, Spend the night with him?!" I unconsciously stretched my finger, pointing at Nerien,

Everyone turns to stare at me

Riven frowns.

Elara blushes, her face turning strawberry red,

Nerien stopped walking.

Without turning around, he said,

"...Did you just say you wanted to spend the night with me?"

The hall became deathly silent.

I slowly smiled awkwardly,

Narien slowly looks back over his shoulder,

"Me?" I asked pointing at myself,