Chapter 32: Arguments! Begging! Arguments!

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Arguments! Begging! Arguments! Before anything could pop up, Isabella immediately flopped onto her animal hide, back facing the system. "I’m going to sleep," she mumbled into the fur. "I don’t want to see." Her words came out muffled and cute, her face buried in the soft hide like a stubborn child refusing to wake up for school. Bubu said nothing. But Isabella felt it. That silent, expectant presence. It was waiting. She knew it was waiting. But she refused to turn back. She stayed perfectly still, committing to the act, forcing herself to breathe slow and steady. A long silence stretched. The system didn’t leave. She didn’t move. ... And just like that, her fake sleep turned into real sleep. For the night. THE NEXT MORNING The first thing Isabella saw when she woke up was blinding white light. She stared. She rubbed her eyes. The screen was shining directly in her face like a clingy ex who refused to be ignored. Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest—she almost screamed. But instead of the usual ridiculous survival tasks, the words on the screen actually made her giggle. "Aww, these are so cute," she murmured, still half-asleep. "These tasks are quite like me—" Then she saw the title. "A DAY?! IN A DAY?!" She finally jumped up, fully awake now. — 1. Make Soap (0/1) (Dirt and sweat aren’t beauty treatments.) (35 points) → Mix ash, animal fat, and water to create primitive soap. Mess up? You get a smelly disaster. → Reward: +5 crafting Points, +3 Hygiene Points 2. Create Natural Shampoo (0/1) (Your hair is a bird’s nest.) (80 points) → Find soap-like plants or herbs to wash hair properly. Use the wrong ones? Scalp irritation incoming. → Reward: +5 Survival Points, +3 Hygiene Points, +2 Beauty Points 3. Make a Simple Perfume (0/1) (Because smelling like sweat is NOT the move.) (350 points) → Extract oils from flowers or herbs to create a natural scent. Bonus if the tribe likes it. → Reward: +5 Survival Points, +5 Beauty Points 4. Whiten Your Teeth (0/1) (Your smile should blind people in a good way.) (25 points) → Use charcoal or crushed herbs as primitive toothpaste. Swallow it? Well, that’s on you. → Reward: +5 Survival Points, +4 Beauty Points, +1 Health Point 5. Invent a Skincare Routine (0/1) (The Stone Age sun is NOT forgiving.) (1000 points) → Find natural moisturizers like animal fat, honey, or plant extracts to protect skin. Pick the wrong thing? Breakouts. → Reward: +3 Survival Points, +7 Beauty Points 6. Introduce a Beauty Trend (0/1) (Make the barbarians fabulous.) (623 points) → Convince the tribe to try hairstyling, body painting, or jewelry. If they reject it? Try again. → Reward: +10 Beauty Points, +3 Charisma Points 7. Make a Primitive Mirror (0/1) (You NEED to see yourself.) (44 points) → Find polished stones or still water to check your reflection. Fail? You’ll never know how bad you look. → Reward: +3 Survival Points, +3 Beauty Points — She blinked. She blinked again. She really couldn’t believe her eyes. Isabella threw her hands up in frustration. "Bubu, how in the world am I supposed to do all of this in one day?!" She gestured wildly at the screen like it was personally offending her. "I need months for this! Months! I have to build relationships, gain trust, trick people—I mean, convince them to listen to me! You can’t just expect me to waltz in and say, ’Hey everyone, let’s make shampoo today!’ and they’ll all just nod along like brainless chickens!" The system was suspiciously silent. Too silent. Then— [You left me hanging yesterday.] Isabella froze. Her eyes widened. "Oh my God," she whispered. "You’re petty." [You ignored me. Pretended to sleep. Left me talking to myself like a fool.] Her mouth dropped open. "Wait. Wait. You mean to tell me all of this—this nonsense—is because you’re holding a grudge?!" [Who, me? A system? Holding grudges? Impossible.] It sounded smug. Isabella dragged a hand down her face. "You’re literally the pettiest system ever." [Oh? And you’re the laziest host ever.] Her head snapped up. "EXCUSE ME?! I am not lazy!" [Right. So when are you starting combat training?] Isabella’s lips parted—then closed. She hesitated. "Uhh—" [And your cultivation?] "Uh—" [Exactly.] She just got her the day before yesterday! "Bubu, listen, I swear I won’t slack off." Isabella pressed her hands together, eyes shining with sincerity. "I’m really serious about this. I just need time—" [As far as it concerns you, right?] "Exactly!" she nodded furiously. [You never even check the notes I made for you] Bubu said with a hint of Sarcasm as Isabella just froze. "Heh" Isabella said "And I won’t be checking them" She blinked cutely. [So, when it comes to combat training and cultivation, will you slack off?] Isabella suddenly started speaking like she had water in her mouth. "I wffwff snffwff off..." [Louder, please.] "I won’t slack off." [You see? You’re lying already.] "No, I’m not—" [Yes, you are.] "Bubu, have faith in me!" [I would, if you had even a little self-discipline.] "EXCUSE ME?!" [You literally ran away from reading your tasks, pretending to sleep. What faith do you want me to have?] Isabella clutched her chest. "Okay, fine, I get it! You’re doing this to make sure I don’t slack off. But Bubu, let’s be real. If I rush all this in one day, I will fail. And then we’re both doomed. I will die. And if I die, then guess what? You die too." [...Go on.] She saw her chance and took it. "Be reasonable, Bubu. I have to pace myself! I can’t just do everything at once. Let’s compromise! Instead of throwing everything at me like a crazy person—uh, system—how about I get a few tasks at a time? When I finish them, you can give me new ones!" Bubu was silent. She held her breath. Then— [Fine.] She almost collapsed in relief. [But in exchange, give back all your points and start from scratch.] "HUH?!" [Fair trade.] "FAIR WHERE?! WHAT KIND OF HIGHWAY ROBBERY—" [Take it or leave it.] Isabella dropped to her knees. "Bubu, my dearest, sweetest system, you wouldn’t do this to me. You know how much I love my points—" [Then hurry up and pick: give up your points, or complete the tasks as they are.] "I—" She clutched her heart. "Okay, wait. I can do a few tasks first. Just—just let me keep my points, please, I beg you." [....Fine.] Isabella collapsed backward. This stupid system was going to give her a heart attack one day.