Chapter 02

Pei Xi stuffed the hide of the high-level Aberrant beast back into his bag and nodded at his teammates.

“Let’s go.”

The four of them left the church. As they walked, someone could not help voicing a complaint.

The blond young man dressed in an expensive white suit clicked his tongue. “The people from the church are as arrogant as ever. When they chased us out, they were practically looking down on us through their nostrils.”

The tall boy wearing soft armor spoke in a conciliatory tone. “It might not have been the benefactor’s intention. After all, that person saved us. They should be a good person.”

“Hah. Just wait until their noble Divine Academy gets crushed by us in the league. They actually dare to look down on people from the lower district so openly.”

The girl with a high ponytail swung her fist angrily. Her short leather skirt fluttered with each sharp step.

At last, all three turned their attention to their captain, Pei Xi.

Walking at the rear of the group, the usually calm and composed Pei Xi appeared distracted, as though lost in thought.

“Captain, what’s wrong? You’ve been quiet the entire time.”

The girl hopped forward and casually slung an arm around Pei Xi’s shoulders. He snapped back to awareness and smiled faintly at his teammates.

“We’re still within the church’s jurisdiction. It’s better not to discuss them further and avoid unnecessary trouble.”

The three teammates accepted their intelligent and capable captain’s judgment without hesitation. Soon, the topic shifted naturally to food, drink, and leisure. After surviving a fierce battle, they deserved to treat themselves properly.

Pei Xi, however, remained silent.

After walking a short distance, the steady and handsome young man could not help turning back. His gaze lingered, thoughtful.

From this vantage point, the church was no longer visible.

Yet the faint fragrance he had sensed while hovering at the edge of death several days earlier still seemed to linger at the tip of his nose.

That girl’s voice unsettled his heart.

“I’m so glad… you’re still alive.”

The gentle sigh carried an illusion of intimacy, as though he were someone precious to her.

Soft strands of hair had brushed against his chest. Even now, he could almost feel the lingering tickle.

That backlit, indistinct face appeared in his dreams time and again.

She had saved him, and yet…

Why was she unwilling to see him?

『Ahhh! How could you refuse to meet the protagonist team?!』

The system’s shrill mechanical voice thundered in Ye Zheng’s mind.

『Compared to having disliked scenes, having no scenes at all is even worse! You do not want to become a background character, do you?』

『In a dangerous world like this, background characters can die easily in Aberrant Realms!』

Ye Zheng sat quietly in the carriage heading home, leaning against the seat with her eyes closed. Despite the incessant noise echoing in her mind, her expression remained gentle and composed.

“Refusing to meet them is itself a scene,” she replied calmly.

A first meeting with gift exchanges is far too ordinary. Since I could not think of a better debut, it is better to leave some suspense.”

The system remained unconvinced.

『Every panel in the manga is precious. Originally, you were supposed to receive sixteen panels to accumulate popularity.』

『Without popularity, you gain no action points. A poor start will only make it harder to earn points later, leading to a vicious cycle…』

Ye Zheng slowly opened her eyes and let out a soft laugh.

“But now, I have three action points.”

The system froze and hurriedly checked its backend data.

[Current popularity value: 300]

[Action points: 3]

『B-But you never even appeared. How could you have 300 popularity?』

『According to the original love-at-first-sight plot, your popularity would only have reached around 50. How did not appearing generate more popularity instead?』

The system was utterly baffled.

It specialized in assisting female protagonists and possessed extensive experience in increasing a heroine’s presence.

As social awareness evolved, passive, ornamental female leads had fallen out of favor. Audiences now preferred proactive heroines with personality and agency.

Through spoilers and strategic item-gifting, the system helped female leads avoid being naive burdens and instead participate in the male lead’s pursuits.

Managing political affairs, overseeing businesses, searching for hidden treasures. Along the way, romantic sparks would naturally emerge. This kind of strong partnership aligned better with contemporary tastes.

『This is a male-oriented work. Even female-oriented works follow similar logic.』

『In any case, proving your usefulness to the male lead and the readers is how you gain popularity as the female lead.』

『This suspense tactic can only be used once. You must quickly find a way to approach the male lead.』

Ye Zheng did not respond. She simply blinked quietly, listening without comment. The carriage came to a smooth halt before a grand manor.

Ye Zheng first gathered her ankle-length black hair to prevent stepping on it, then lifted her skirt with her other hand and exited the carriage with graceful composure.

It was clearly an awkward motion, yet she executed it with the elegance of drifting clouds.

The system felt slightly reassured. At the very least, Ye Zheng’s beauty was as striking as in the manga. Her signature black hair alone left a deep impression, even on casual readers. As long as they avoided controversial plotlines, her popularity would remain stable.

The butler at the door welcomed her respectfully.

“Miss, dinner is ready. The master, madam, and young master are waiting for you.”

Ye Zheng was mildly surprised. After returning the butler’s greeting with a smile, she entered the dining room.

At the head of the table sat a stern middle-aged man. To his left was a handsome yet frivolous-looking young man, and to his right sat a graceful and beautiful middle-aged woman.

Ye Zheng took her usual seat.

“Ye Zheng, why are you back so late?” the man asked. “Were you doing charity work in the lower district again?”

His tone conveyed neither praise nor reproach.

Ye Zheng lowered her head slightly. “No, Father. The people I treated previously wished to thank me in person.”

“Ability users from the lower district?”

“Yes.”

“Did you meet them?”

“No, Father.”

Only then did the middle-aged man reveal a faint smile.

“You have handled it well, my child.”

“As the church’s Saintess, you must demonstrate compassion and equality while preserving its mystery and authority. You understand how to balance this.”

“It is because Father taught me well.”

Her obedience pleased him. He nodded and continued his guidance.

“Lately, you should reduce your activities in the lower district, especially contact with ability users.”

“In the Ability Academy League, a bottom-tier academy team from the lower district is causing quite a stir. They even dared offend the crown prince’s team.”

“The entire lower district is restless because of them. Truly troublesome people.”

Ye Zheng ate only a few bites before setting down her utensils. She wiped her lips and stopped.

“Yes. The lower district’s people need only obey orders and eliminate Aberrant Realms,” she said softly. “For those in higher positions like Father, there are far more considerations.”

Imperial Minister Ye Fanjing sighed, looking at his daughter with approval. His gaze then shifted to his son, Ye Di.

“Look at you,” he scolded sternly. “Idle all day. You could not even qualify as a substitute for the royal team this time.”

Ye Di protested indignantly. “I only enrolled in the Royal Academy this year. How could I compete?”

“Besides, the match locations this year are all at least C-level Aberrant Realms with extremely high casualty rates. Only lunatics from the lower district, desperate to change their fate, would volunteer.”

As a noble from the upper district, Ye Di rarely encountered Aberrant Realms.

These Realms were alternate spaces that descended randomly, filled with monstrous creatures. Centuries ago, they nearly destroyed the empire.

At the brink of collapse, an ability user of godlike strength emerged. He eradicated the most dangerous 3S-level Realm and buried the bones of the demonic dragon at the empire’s heart.

Strangely, Aberrant Realms never descended where the dragon’s bones lay. That region became the upper district. The middle district housed one of the dragon’s wings, resulting in fewer domains.

The vast lower district, however, contained only a single horn. There, Aberrant Realms appeared frequently.

“Who came up with adding Aberrant Realm trials to the competition?” Ye Di fumed. “It is clearly biased toward those lower district people who fight them daily!”

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

An S-level talent at level four, he would have made the royal team’s substitutes in previous years. Now, due to insufficient Aberrant Realm, he had been excluded entirely.

The elegant woman across the table spoke gently. “Do not be discouraged, little Di. Little Zheng often goes to the lower district and even encounters Aberrant Realms. Ask her for advice and you will succeed next time.”

Ye Di sneered. “She is only an A-level talent, level three, and a healer. What experience could she possibly offer? Experience being protected by church guards?”

Ye Zheng smiled gently and nodded.

“Yes. I am always protected by others. The lower district is indeed very dangerous.”

Her response restored Ye Di’s dignity.

He was not afraid of Aberrant Realms. When his strength improved, eliminating them would be easy.

He simply did not want to become a fragile ornament like Ye Zheng. Dinner concluded in a relatively harmonious atmosphere.

A strict yet caring father, an obedient and clever daughter, a lively younger brother, and a gentle mother. To outsiders, it was the perfect upper-district family.

Back in her room, Ye Zheng finally exhaled. She sat before the mirror, gazing at the expressionless girl reflected within.

Tonight was a rare family gathering.

Even her father, usually busy placating countless lovers, had returned home. She disliked such hypocritical reunions. She disliked even more the orders her father had delivered.

“Aberrant Realms are appearing more frequently,” she murmured. “Casualties in the lower district are severe. I cannot ignore this.”

She would continue her healing work there.

As she combed her heavy, floor-length hair, she spoke softly to her reflection.

The system comforted her. 『That is correct. The next plot point occurs in the lower district. I will spoil it for you in advance so you can gain favor with the male lead and readers.』

Ye Zheng paused.

“System, you are very similar to my father.”

『?』

“Whether I go to the lower district or refuse to meet the protagonist team, those are my own decisions.

Yet you dissolve my agency with a few words, as though I exist only to orbit the protagonist.

But you told me I am the female lead.”

The system fell silent.

How could it explain that in male-oriented works, and even many female-oriented ones, the female lead existed primarily to highlight the male lead?

It could help her gain more presence, but it could not alter the story’s center.

『Ye Zheng, open your phone. I have installed something for you.』

『After understanding the real world, perhaps you will no longer ask these questions.』

Ye Zheng lowered her gaze and picked up the phone from the vanity.