Welcome Host
This is the deadly rose system.
Rose
Age: 5
Level: 1
Job: None
Title: None
Stats
Physical: 3
Mental: 90
Strength: 3
Intelligence: 90
Agility: 10
Sense: 10
Skills
Deadly eye: 1/10
[-The Host can quicken a person's death just by locking eyes with them long enough. It amplifies any dormant disease or toxin in their body until it becomes active and lethal.-]
Well, that explains how he died, I think with a bitter scoff.
What I'm seeing now is beyond anything I ever imagined. Yes, I used to read fantasy books out of boredom in my past life, but experiencing something so... surreal is another matter entirely. This power, this "system," is as terrifying as it is fascinating. Most people live ordinary lives, but not me. I've spent most of my existence in the shadows, navigating the darkest, cruelest corners of the world. Sold. Abused. Broken. I've endured it all. But this? This is unlike anything I've ever encountered—unnatural, extraordinary, and undeniably dangerous.
My Stats are disappointing, almost laughably so. I can't help but wonder: what were they like in my past life? Did I always start this weak? And now that I'm thinking about my past life... how did I die?
The question gnaws at me. I try to dig through the haze in my memory, searching for any clue about my final moments. But the harder I focus, the sharper the pain becomes. A sudden pulse of agony pierces my brain like a bolt of lightning. The intensity makes me cry out before I can stop myself.
The sound catches the attention of the other girls in the room. They turn to look at me—wary, uncertain, and too afraid to approach. I clutch my head, willing the pain to subside.
Before anyone can say a word, the door bursts open. The man stomps in, his voice like nails scraping against rusted metal. "Here's your food. Eat quick. Now, two, get up. Let's go."
I glance up, my vision blurred with pain. The man is revolting—a caricature of filth. His receding hairline exposes patches of glistening scalp, while yellowed, crooked teeth peek out from thin, cracked lips. His bloated abdomen strains against a shirt that looks ready to split, and the stench of sweat and decay clings to him like a second skin. Even from across the room, I can smell him.
The older girl who's been clutching a child around my age stiffens. She reluctantly stands and shuffles toward him, her shoulders hunched in defeat. I watch as they leave, the door slamming shut behind them.
The rest of us turn our attention to the bags of bread he threw onto the ground. Some have burst open, the contents spilling onto the dirty floor. My stomach churns with hunger, but my body is weak. It takes all my strength to drag myself toward the scattered food.
The bread is hard, stale, and speckled with mold. It's clearly been sitting around for over a week. But beggars can't be choosers. Compared to the grass and leaves I was once forced to eat, this feels like a feast. I grab a piece that looks the least revolting and force myself to chew, swallowing it down with grim determination.
When I've had enough to stave off the hunger, I retreat to my corner, curling up with my back against the cold wall. My body feels like a crumbling shell, but my mind is restless. I summon the system again, eager for answers.
A virtual cat face materializes in front of me, startling me with its sudden appearance. Its wide eyes and soft, fluffy cheeks look absurdly out of place in this grim reality.
"Hello, Host!" it chirps in an impossibly cheerful voice. "I'm your friendly cat assistant. I'll be guiding you through the Deadly Rose System!"
The voice is so absurdly cute that, for a moment, I forget my circumstances. It almost makes me want to laugh.
"The Deadly Rose System," it continues, "is a progression system. Not much can be revealed at Level 1, but completing missions will earn you rewards and help you grow stronger. As a bonding gift, you've been granted the skill Deadly Eye."
I sit up straighter, the words igniting a spark of excitement in my chest. Deadly Eye. The name alone is enough to make my mind race with possibilities.
This system could be my salvation. It's my chance to fight back, to take revenge on the men who've tormented me. For a fleeting moment, I consider escaping, finding my way back to my family, and pretending to be a normal, loving child again. But the thought turns my stomach.
No. I've endured too much to go back to that life. To act like everything's fine.
And besides... there's someone here I want to deal with first.
Just as that thought solidifies in my mind, a notification flashes in my vision.
[-MISSION 1- Eliminate Stuart Greg]
The name sends a thrill through me. It seems this system understands me better than I expected. Stuart Greg is the man who runs this hellhole—the man who profits from our suffering.
Finally, I have the means to fight back. But how do I do it? I'm weak, and this body is far from ready to take on someone like him. I'll need to plan carefully, to bide my time and grow stronger.
The question now is simple: do I wait here, gathering strength while keeping an eye on him, or do I escape to train and come back stronger?
For now, I have only one certainty. Stuart Greg won't see the end of this alive.