The world suddenly turned into a survival game. Lian Zhi had spent five years killing zombies, and had been enjoying her retirement in this world for less than six months when, without warning, she was told she would have to go back to a life where she never knew if she'd have enough to eat the next day.
Lian Zhi closed her eyes and decided to lie flat: ...I'm done! I can't take another day of this miserable life!
Fortunately, the System that brought her here offered compensation: a golden finger that was supposedly going to give her a life of luxury, with fine clothes and delicious food.
When the survival game officially began, the compensation golden finger was finally unlocked, revealing its vicious true nature: a Palace Intrigue Comeback System!
Lian Zhi: ...This really is a golden finger that can give me a life of luxury, with fine clothes and delicious food! But who am I supposed to engage in palace intrigue with in a survival game? Am I supposed to make the wild boar on the mountain Noble Lady Zhu?
Damn it, I'm calling the police and having them arrest all you scammers!
*
On the first day of the survival game, while most people were panicking and gripped by endless fear of the unknown, a system announcement suddenly rang in everyone's ears:
[By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Palace Maid Lian Zhi is brave, valiant, swift, and skilled in battle. She is hereby granted the title of Answering Lady. For being the first to kill a Level One monster, she is awarded one Bronze Chest.]
Everyone: ???
Looking at her ridiculously long new name, [By the Mandate...granted the title of Answering Lady], Lian Zhi let out a quiet sigh. It was a golden finger, after all. It would be such a waste not to use it.
The idiotic System was amazed in her mind. "As expected of my Host! You've been in the palace for just one day and already you've been made an Answering Lady! Becoming Empress is just around the corner!"
"That's right," the System said, its electronic voice full of confusion. "This Emperor's education level... seems a little low."
Lian Zhi, who had spent five years killing zombies without writing a single word and had nearly become illiterate: ...Shut up! You must not speak disrespectfully of His Majesty!
Bonus scene:
Late in the survival game, the different regions merged, and survivors from different servers could finally meet one another.
Survivor A lit a cigarette, curious: You're from Region One? The top-ranked player is in your region, right? How is she? Still obsessed with playing the Empress lately?
Survivor B was silent for a long moment, the hand holding the cigarette trembling slightly: His Majesty... ascended the throne recently.
A feel-good power fantasy. The heroine is the strongest. Screenshot taken on May 5.
Theme: Even a path that seems to lead astray can be diligently forged into a road to the heavens.
