What 'females are precious'? What 'reverse harem'? Does the System think she is a fool?
Marie complained in her heart as she was being manhandled by these brutish beastmen.
She knew what the word 'concubine' meant and entailed, and it wouldn't be used in the context of her being the one to have multiple partners.
Not that she had ever desired the latter, she was a lazy and unambitious person, a group of men vying for her attention simply wasn't what she desired. Actually, it sounded more exhausting than anything else. One person was more than enough for her as long as they were mutually in love with each other.
But her preferred type of relationship was currently not the issue.
No, the issue was how she would escape her predicament, but she wasn't able to come up with any solution.
'...So, any idea on how to run away, host?
The System asked weakly in her mind.
This caused Marie to speechlessly roll her eyes and snort sarcastically.
Ha! Run away? She couldn't even move her body, in this tight beastman embrace, let alone run away!
What a useless System! Shouldn't it be the opposite? The mighty and magical System pulling out some cheat to overwhelm the beastmen! But instead, it asked her, an ordinary person for suggestions.
'...I'm sorry.'
Marie instantly stopped scolding the System in her mind. Slowly a wry smile spread on her face as she asked cautiously.
...Can you hear my thoughts by chance?
The System didn't answer and just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the System awkwardly replied.
'...Yes.'
Both of them fell silent.
So, the System had heard her scolding earlier..., well, she couldn't take them back now and she still meant them so...
'...I'm sorry.'
The System apologized once more.
The conversation came to another awkward halt.
Finally, Marie decided that this silence wouldn't help anyone, they still hadn't found a way to escape and she was the one to actually suffer the consequences if they didn't.
So, do you possess any cheats, System?
Marie asked with an exceptionally kind tone.
'...I already used up most of it.'
A crack appeared on Marie's gentle expression.
I'm sorry?
The System hesitated for a moment before answering:
'I used it to let the branches grow at the river.'
Realization swept over Marie. So that was the System! She simply didn't have the mental capacity to think about that occurrence yet until now, temporarily writing it off as a phenomenon native to this world. Who knows? Maybe the plants here had sudden periods of spontaneous growth? And she just happened to encounter it.
She realized that her thoughts were wandering again and returned to the topic at hand.
So, what do you mean by 'used up most of it'?
She had the illusion that the System trembled in fright at her question.
'Every System receives a certain amount of energy for emergencies when they are launched.'
So the System cheat was something fueled by energy?
Marie wondered.
How can we get more of that energy?
Marie felt like the Systems' trembling grew more severe after her question.
'...Completing missions.'
Of course it was!
Marie almost spit out blood. She wanted to strangle this damn System.
So it was completely useless then?!
She was furiously cursing in her mind, as the System hastily continued.
'I can also gather energy by going offline for certain periods of time!'
Instantly, Marie's demeanor became much gentler, and she felt her anger subside slightly.
As expected, it was too soon for her to give up! Just like the phrase, when life closed the door, it would leave a window open!
How long do you have to go offline, half an hour? An hour?
'...'
'... A week.'
Welp, that's it. Mr. Beastman, please let go of her so that she could jump back into the river and end this transmigration early. That would still be better than becoming a concubine.
Marie laughed out loud in disbelief so that the group of beastmen turned to look at her.
Looking at her laughing face, the beastmen only thought:
She must be extremely happy to become Lord Agnis' concubine!
What a pretty female, if only they could make her theirs instead!
Her 'ecstatic' expression touched their hearts and improved their moods instantly. Smiles had also crept onto their ferocious faces.
Marie felt like crying looking at these beastmen, but she only continued laughing. To the point that even the System was wondering if his host had gone crazy, because of her hopeless situation.
After a while, Marie calmed down but remained quiet with only a smile gracing her face as her eyes were closed 'contently'.
The System was too timid to take the initiative to ask if she was alright, so it also remained silent.
Soon, the beastmen arrived at their goal.
A medium-sized town had appeared before them at some point, much in an ancient chinese style. Marie didn't even have the energy to roast the setting of 'primitive world' yet again, she just stared at bustling in the streets numbly.
If you only gave the town a glance, you wouldn't find anything wrong, but after observing a bit more carefully, you would discover that there were only men walking around, no sight of any women at all.
The group of beastmen resolutely made their way through the streets.
There were a lot of beastmen who stopped their actions to blatantly stare at her along the way and Marie could feel their burning gazes on her body very clearly, especially around her butt and chest area. This sensation almost caused her to tremble in anger and disgust, she was only able to barely restrain another furious laughing fit.
After, what felt like an hour of torture for Marie, they arrived at the door to a private estate, its size dwarfing every other building in the town.
Two beastmen guards stood in front of the door, sternly watching the group of beastmen. They were a lot taller than the hunters and even held 2,5m long spears in their hands, their threatening aura not concealed in the slightest.
The boldest of the hunters stepped forward and, while kneading his plate-like hands, announced with a stuttering voice and a scared smile:
"P-please report to Lord Agnis that we found a Female at the riverside and we wanted to present her to him."
With these words, the beastman holding on to Marie lifted her up and presented her to the guards.
"..."
This posture reminded Marie of a certain lion cub, causing her to grind her teeth in shame.
Looking at her, the guards' faces gentled. One of them nodded, before stepping into the estate. The other guard watched Marie with the same hunger and regret as the hunters. As if sighing in his heart, such a pretty Female, if only he good swap places with his Lord.
It didn't take long for the guard to return with another beastman in tow who was much thinner compared to the guards and hunters, with a very ordinary face, probably a servant of some kind.
The new beastman nodded with satisfaction after inspecting her appearance for a while.
"Good, wait for a moment, someone will bring you your reward."
The servant beastman took Marie from the hunters.
Despite his scrawny look, he was very strong, slumping her over his shoulder and continuing to carry her.
He walked through the estate to an empty courtyard. Marie occasionally saw some beastmen, but there were still no traces of any maids or female servants.
When they arrived at the courtyard, the thin beastman dumped her on the bed inside.
"Lord Agnis will visit you tonight, you should fix yourself up and please him the best you can after he arrives."
The servant left without looking back and locked the courtyard's entrance behind him.
Small theater:
Marie: My hands feel itchy.
System 999: *hiding in the corner farthest from Marie*