I'm the Boss in a World of Monsters

[Fragile, Pitiful, and Helpless Bottom & Cold, Overbearing, Overpowered Top]

Zhu Shuang was a rookie at the transmigration-into-books bureau. After taking on two beginner cannon-fodder roles, he was accidentally made the all-powerful protagonist of a fantasy novel called I Became the Boss of a Monster World because the Main System made a mistake.

The moment he transmigrated, a thick vine wrapped around his waist and hung him upside down in midair. In front of his inverted eyes, several cries for help abruptly cut off.

“Boss, save me!”

“Boss, don’t leave me behind!”

“Boss, run...”

As soon as the voices faded, the men who had yet to be touched by even a thread of the vine fell into an eerie silence, watching the boy being wantonly tormented by the vine without putting up the slightest resistance.

Zhu Shuang dangled there, dizzy. His waist tickled, as if something had slipped inside and was crawling over his body. His soft hair hung down, and his face flushed red. Before he could even figure out what was happening, he heard the System’s icy voice:

Use your newly acquired ability to kill the B-rank bloodvine and earn the admiration of three underlings.

Zhu Shuang did as he was told, instinctively summoning his ability in his mind. Then, with glowing hands, he grabbed the still-wriggling vine tightly.

The next moment, the vine around his waist grew thicker and deeper red. Several of his underlings, who had been easily dodging the vine, were caught one after another when they let their guard down, their faces pale with fear.

System: ...

Zhu Shuang guiltily pressed his lips together.

[You...]

Before the System could continue, the overnourished vine reached its biological limit and suddenly burst.

The four of them finally overcame the crisis.

[Not bad.]

The System said with difficulty after a long pause.

Zhu Shuang watched his three underlings stumble toward him in a sorry state, their eyes seeming to blaze with anger. He took a frightened little step back, looking innocent.

-

After the System explained everything, Zhu Shuang finally learned that this little rookie had somehow become the all-powerful protagonist. His ultimate mission was to defeat countless monsters and become the boss of this world.

He nodded, only half understanding.

The System fretted: Did he really get it?

Zhu Shuang said sheepishly, “I just have to be the boss, right? Easy. I think I used to be the boss, too.”

-

At first, the System was like an anxious mother, dutifully supporting its Host. The process was always a mess, but the results were wonderful.

Until one day, Zhu Shuang, who struggled even to kill A-rank monsters, accidentally fell into the monsters’ lair. Twisted, bizarre S-rank monsters surrounded him, making the slender, pale boy look even more helpless and pitiful.

The System was utterly despondent. It turned away, unable to bear the sight. Host, don’t be afraid. If you die, I’ll spend everything I have to bring you back

The next moment, the boy who should have been torn to pieces in an instant, without even a scrap left, stood there unharmed. The frenzied S-rank monsters, meanwhile, were more docile than ever, crouched at his feet as he patted each of their pretty, slender heads. In a sweet, gentle voice, he praised them like puppies:

“Good boys. While I was away, you didn’t sneak off to eat anything dirty, did you?”

The System was dumbfounded. “...Host, why are they so obedient around you?”

Zhu Shuang furrowed his brow in puzzlement, then said after a long pause, “I remember now. This seems to be my world.”

“I was the boss of this world all along.”

System: ...

·

Now that Zhu Shuang remembered who he was, his career path was completely smooth sailing. Only his love life was a total mess.

The System issued all sorts of missions to save damsels in distress, hoping to find the destined heroine for the all-powerful protagonist, but something always seemed off.

It studied the plot until its circuits overheated, and finally found the reason:

Oh, right. The damsel in distress was supposed to be beautiful, sure, but why the hell were they all men?

And why the hell were they all high school boys with eight-pack abs and over-the-top combat abilities?!

What does this mean? Have SSS-rank ability users become so useless they can’t even beat C-rank monsters anymore?!

Hah. Those scheming high school boys.

Theme: Strive to get ahead.