The romance system has been successfully loaded! Choose options, complete tasks, and begin sweet romances with beautiful girls of various attributes!
Yarrow stared at the panel that materialized before him, letting out a heavy sigh.
It had been nearly two years since his transmigration to this strange world, and only now had he received his "golden finger"—a system that promised to help him navigate this unfamiliar reality. This should have been a cause for celebration, right? Even if it was just a romance system, it was still something, at least better than nothing.
But—
"Ahhh! My leg! It's being bitten off! My leg!!"
"My intestines! They're falling out!!"
Amidst the screams, the terrifying roar of a dragon reverberated through the air.
Yarrow peeked out from behind a rock, his heart racing.
His adventurer companions were running in all directions, but in the enclosed hall, they were being dispatched to the afterlife one by one by the legendary Silver Moon Dragon King.
"I'm about to die, and now you want me to have a romance?" Yarrow silently screamed in his mind.
He had come here with his adventurer group, thinking it would be a simple ruin exploration. A few ancient gold coins for some quick cash—nothing more. But who could have predicted that the legendary Silver Moon Dragon King, would show up in this crumbling ruin?
The expedition had started so cheerfully—humming songs while slaying monsters, everyone's faces filled with joy. But things took a turn for the worse when those idiots touched the treasure chest in the middle of the room.
What kind of treasure chest had they thought it was?
When the stone door slammed shut and an ominous BGM began blaring in their ears, Yarrow knew their fate was sealed.
With a splat, the Silver Moon Dragon King flattened their leader with a single swipe of its claw, turning him into a pile of paste.
"Although we only spent two days together, the leader was a decent person. I hope he gets reincarnated on the continent of Tivat after this," Yarrow silently wished, his eyes still fixed on the system interface before him.
The panel persisted, taunting him with its cheerful text.
[There is a white-haired beauty with tsundere attributes! Boldly step forward, greet her, and begin an exciting, blush-inducing romance!]
Yarrow blinked.
He scanned the hall, now empty except for the silver dragon, which was still busy playing a deadly game of tag with the last few surviving adventurers.
Not only was there no white-haired girl around, but there wasn't a woman anywhere in sight. Unless... the dragon was a mother?
Yarrow frowned and glanced back at the system's message, a sudden realization dawning on him.
Wait... Could the "tsundere white-haired beauty" be… the Silver Moon Dragon?
That would definitely be heart-pounding, to say the least. His pulse quickened just at the thought.
With a thud, the last mage tripped while trying to escape, only to be hit by the dragon's massive tail and splattered against the wall, leaving a messy imprint.
The dragon, noticing the last remaining human in the room, turned its gaze towards Yarrow.
The earth shook as it landed with a thunderous roar. The dragon's enormous body gleamed under the dim light, its silver scales sparkling like a mountain of precious metal. Its truck-sized head leaned down, golden vertical pupils locking onto Yarrow with a cold, predatory stare.
A stream of steam hissed from its nostrils as it spoke, its voice a deep, rumbling growl.
"Have you decided how you wish to die, lowly human?"
[Achievement unlocked: Your first conversation with her! A moment to remember, huh?]
Yarrow felt his stomach drop. The system was giving this dragon "romantic options."
[Female Lead: Zen - Successfully bound.]
[Name: Zen
[Affection: 0]
[Current Status: Wants to eat you up~]
[Star Lust Value: Unlock to view after spending 599 tokens.]
"System, bro... the 'eat you up' here, and the 'eat you up' you mean… aren't the same thing, right?"
"And why is there a Star Lust Value? Is this even a real romance system? Who would want to see a dragon's Star Lust Value?"
Heart-throbbing Options: [Hey, wanna see my milk ejection gun?] [Your manicure is gorgeous—where'd you get it done?] [Do you usually eat people with vinegar or soy sauce?] [You're quite the little dragon, huh? Makes me want to log you in.]
[Note: The right choice can increase affection, but picking the wrong one will make it drop.]
Even by the standards of a typical romance system, this was... ridiculous.
But—
If this could really improve the dragon's affection, maybe—just maybe—it could spare his life?
With grim resolve, Yarrow steeled himself, noting the dragon's sharp claws still dripping with blood. He hesitated only a moment before forcing the words out:
"Your... your manicure is really pretty. Where did you get it done?"
The Silver Moon Dragon's golden pupils narrowed dangerously.
"Human... Are you... provoking me?"
[Affection -20]
[Too bad. The other party doesn't seem interested in this topic.]
Yarrow cursed under his breath.
Yarrow greeted the dragon with a long string of mock-friendly salutations. "Come on! Choose already! Which of these four options is normal, damn it!"
"You dare provoke me when you're about to die?" the dragon bellowed. "You truly are courageous, human!"
With an earth-shaking roar, the dragon's mouth opened wide, its teeth sharp and glinting in the dim light. A chill filled the air as its jaws descended toward Yarrow.
[Detected romance object parameter error, non-designated object] Yarrow's lips curled into a grin as he saw the pop-up window.
"Hahaha, you actually noticed it? Impressive... really impressive."
But the dragon wasn't interested in banter. Its maw, dark as an abyss, was already closing in. Yarrow sighed and nonchalantly dusted off his clothes.
"Well, guess I'll clean up. Time for the resurrection match, then. Maybe in the next life, I'll transmigrate into an office game."
[System error, correcting] [Di] [Correction complete]
Suddenly, a blinding light erupted from the Silver Moon Dragon King, engulfing her massive form. The light shrank rapidly, until it was smaller than Yarrow himself. As it dissipated, the terrifying dragon was gone, replaced by a petite, silver-haired girl.
A pair of delicate silver-white dragon wings sprouted from her back, while horns jutted from her head. Her forearms and calves were covered in shimmering dragon scales, and a thick tail curled behind her.
The girl was tiny, her skin snow-white, her silver hair flowing. She wore only the barest scraps of cloth that clung to her lithe body, still caught mid-pounce as if to bite Yarrow.
Yarrow barely managed to dodge, and the transformed Silver Moon Dragon King crashed to the ground with a soft plop, her face landing first.
He blinked, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Silver Moon Dragon King... turned into a girl?"
To confirm he wasn't hallucinating in his final moments, Yarrow pinched his cheek hard.
"Ugh... that hurts..."
The girl—now the Dragon King in miniature—groaned, sitting up and clutching her reddened nose, tears welling in her golden eyes. Her voice was soft, almost delicate, no longer the terrifying, booming roar of a dragon but the sound of a teenage girl.
Her form was... undeniably alluring. Though her chest was as flat as a small steamed bun, her waist and hips were elegantly shaped, and her dragon horns, wings, and tail added a peculiar beauty to the overall picture.
Then, she noticed the change. Her eyes, sharp as jewels, widened in shock.
"Wait… what's happened to my body?"
Gone were the majestic dragon scales, the imposing muscles, the massive form. In their place was a slender, human body that felt foreign to her. She clutched her head, eyes filled with confusion.
"How could I, your king, be reduced to a lowly human?!"
[Zen seems a bit upset. Try to comfort her.] Intriguing Options: [If you're sad, why not come into my arms and vent to your heart's content?] [Good heavens, how are your boobs so small? What a letdown.] [Ha, you useless little fish. You've got it coming.] [I have the antidote in my pants. You'll have to come and get it yourself.]
Yarrow swallowed hard, his lips twitching as he looked at the now feminine Dragon King. He could practically feel the awkward tension in the air.
"System, I admit, I may have been a bit too loud. But when we get back, I'll definitely build you a memorial tablet."
"You—You lewd human! What have you done to me?!"
Zen's eyes flared with fury as she finally pieced together the cause of her transformation. She roared at him, her voice now high-pitched and filled with rage—but the threat of a mighty dragon was no longer there.
"Hahaha, how's that? Scared now?" Yarrow struck a heroic pose, hands on his hips, his grin wide. "Told you it would work out."
"You filthy, disgusting human! How dare you tarnish the glory of the dragon race!"
With gritted teeth, Zen raised her hand, crackling with lightning. A sphere of energy formed in her palm, and with a flick of her wrist, she hurled it at Yarrow.
He dodged quickly, his heart pounding. The lightning hit a stone pillar behind him with a deafening explosion, sending debris flying.
"Damn it... she can still use magic after turning into... this?" Yarrow cursed, his pulse racing. His mind was spinning as he scrambled to think of a way out.
"Wait!" He shouted, desperate. "Don't do anything rash! If you kill me, you'll never turn back into your original form!"
While it was likely true that even if she didn't kill him, she couldn't change back, the words seemed to have an effect. The magic she'd been gathering fizzled out, and her golden eyes flashed with uncertainty.
Her fangs ground together, but a flicker of fear crossed her face.
The magic Yarrow had used to change her form was far more powerful than she'd anticipated. It was terrifying—so much so that even her legendary magic couldn't undo it. And what terrified her more was the fact that this human had managed to turn her into this... thing.
She was convinced he must have some grotesque obsession with it.
As a Dragon King, Zen knew the darker depths of human nature. She had seen their perverse fetishes, and now, faced with this unsettling turn of events, she couldn't help but feel a shudder of dread.
Zen couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. This human had the power to turn her into... this. Could he also possess the ability to do that to her? The mere thought made her subconsciously step back.
The idea of a noble dragon being subjected to such things by a lowly human filled Zen with disgust. What if he had some vile magic, some twisted power that forced her into... something else?
Her golden eyes flickered with uncertainty, but she managed to force a smile.
"Alright, human. You've done well. Your magic is more powerful than I anticipated. I admit defeat this time. Now, change me back."
"No," Yarrow replied without hesitation.
Not a chance. First off, it was the system that had altered her, not him. And besides, who knew if there was even a way to reverse this?
Zen's eyes narrowed, her temper flaring once more. "Dragon Mom's what did you say?" she growled, almost charging at him. But, sensing her rage, she forced herself to calm down. With a deep breath, she softened her tone.
"If you can turn me back, I'll give you my treasure hoard. I'll also teach you the dragon race's secret techniques—things that even the greatest human mages would kill to learn."
Yarrow raised an eyebrow. "Then let me leave first. Afterward, maybe I'll consider changing you back." He tried to sound confident, though his mind was racing.
Zen's eyes flashed dangerously. "You dare negotiate with me?"
"So what? Kill me if you want," Yarrow shot back. "Unless you want to stay this adorable forever."
Zen clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms until they cracked. The urge to kill him was strong, but the fear of remaining in this form was stronger.
Dragon Mom's what... She cursed herself for falling for this. The thought of staying in this state because of some disgusting magic he might use made her blood run cold.
She had to get out. There had to be a way to break this spell somewhere on the continent. Once she regained her original form, she'd return to settle the score.
Zen pointed a slender white finger at Yarrow, her delicate voice laced with fury.
"I'm telling you, human, I will make you pay for this!"
With that, she flapped her wings, lifting herself into the air.
But something went wrong. Her wings were too small now, their strength greatly diminished. She plummeted briefly, before flapping her wings desperately, managing to lift herself again.
[Zen wants to leave. Try to persuade her to stay.] Intriguing Options: [I'll be very lonely if you leave.] [Leaving so soon? Stay for a meal.] [Hmph, you think you can escape? Eighty-one!] [Wow, I can see your little peach from below.]
Yarrow ignored the options, watching as Zen flew toward the skylight in the hall, disappearing through it.
He exhaled in relief, still stunned. He hadn't expected her to run away so easily. He had anticipated more of a confrontation, unsure how he would handle it.
"I survived..." he muttered, feeling a rush of triumph.
"But... speaking of which, the dragon's form after shrinking is actually kind of cute... except for the small boobs..."
Suddenly, Yarrow's eyes widened as he heard a familiar flutter of wings. He looked up to see Zen hovering above him, her gaze filled with annoyance.
Crap. Did she hear that?
But Zen didn't attack. Instead, she flew to the treasure chest in the center of the hall, grabbing it in her arms before soaring into the air again.
"I'm telling you again, human! You'll pay for this!"
She paused mid-air, glowering down at him.
"Also! It's not because I'm afraid of you that I'm leaving! I just remembered I have something important to do! So don't flatter yourself!"
Her wings beat desperately as she clutched the treasure chest, struggling to stay aloft.
Yarrow blinked at the skylight, then back at the now-empty center of the hall.
Was this some kind of boss fight where the enemy runs off with the loot?
Well... at least he was alive.
He glanced at the system interface. The errors, the bugs—there was something wrong, sure, but the system did work, even if only for now.
Object identification error? No, that had to be a glitch. Zen's transformation wasn't the system's fault—it was all her fault.
In any case, this couldn't be his system's doing.
But... wasn't it a little odd that he was given a dating system in another world?
Maybe, in some alternate timeline, some urban fantasy protagonist was staring at a quest board, considering whether to kill ten goblins or collect herbs.
The stone doors of the hall groaned open, signaling that he could finally leave.