system binding

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Anshika blindly reached toward the screaming alarm before smashing her phone face-first into the mattress.

“Shut up…”

Silence returned.

For exactly three seconds.

Then the alarm started ringing again.

“…I’m going to commit crimes.”

With the expression of someone personally betrayed by life, Anshika slowly sat up on the bed and stared blankly at her tiny rented apartment.

Same cracked ceiling.

Same pile of clothes hanging over the chair.

Same depressing corporate existence.

Nothing had changed.

She clicked her tongue softly.

“So God ignored me after all.”

Honestly, rude.

After last night’s suffering, the least the universe could have done was transmigrate her into some rich villainess novel with unlimited money and attractive servants.

Instead, she still had rent to pay.

Tragic.

Anshika dragged herself toward the bathroom before stopping in front of the mirror.

A beautiful young woman stared back at her with clear pale skin, soft features, and long dark hair falling messily around her face.

Unfortunately, the dark circles under her eyes ruined most of the effect.

“Beautiful,” she muttered sarcastically.

Cold water splashed against her skin as she tried forcing herself awake.

The apartment remained silent except for distant traffic outside and the sound of rainwater dripping from somewhere beyond the window.

Everything felt painfully normal.

And somehow, that was disappointing.

Life had never been kind to Anshika.

According to orphanage records, she had been found as a newborn near a garbage dumping area behind a marketplace.

Wrapped in an old towel.

Half freezing.

Barely alive.

Whether the story was true or not, she never cared enough to investigate.

The orphanage itself was hardly better.

The caretakers loved donation money far more than the children themselves. They smiled warmly when outsiders visited, pretending to be kind and caring adults.

The moment the visitors left, everything changed.

Food was limited.

Punishments were harsh.

And weak children quickly became targets.

The other children were not much better either.

Children raised in cruelty often learned cruelty early.

Some bullied others for entertainment.

Some stole food.

Some spread rumors just to avoid becoming victims themselves.

Anshika learned very quickly that crying solved nothing.

Trusting people solved even less.

So eventually, she stopped doing both.

By the age of ten, she already understood something most adults never learned:

Nobody was coming to save her.

From then on, survival became her only priority.

She learned how to hide herself.

How to smile politely.

How to lower her head and speak softly.

How to act harmless.

People liked masks.

Society rewarded masks.

So Anshika created the perfect one.

Her coworkers thought she was quiet and hardworking.

Her boss thought she was obedient.

Her college classmates used to describe her as cold but reliable.

Nobody knew the real her.

And she preferred it that way.

The truth was simple.

Anshika did not trust anyone.

Not friends.

Not society.

Not kindness.

Not love.

Experience had already taught her that people only stayed good when life was easy.

The moment survival became difficult, most humans would betray each other without hesitation.

Because of that, she never formed close relationships.

Never depended on anyone emotionally.

Never allowed herself to become attached.

It was peaceful that way

.

She was not cruel enough to hurt innocent people

for fun, nor did she enjoy watching others suffer.

But risking herself for strangers?

Sacrificing herself to save everyone?

Playing some selfless saint?

Absolutely not.

The world had already taught her what happened to people like that.

They got used.

Then discarded.

Anshika opened the fridge.

Inside sat:

one bottle of water

expired bread

emotional suffering

“…Damn.”

After staring at the fridge for a few seconds, she grabbed the water bottle before walking back into the room.

“Time to continue selling my soul to capitalism.”

The moment she took one step toward the door—

Ding.

Anshika froze.

A transparent blue screen suddenly appeared in front of her face.

[ Welcome to the Apocalyptic Hotel System. ]

Silence.

Anshika stared at the screen.

The screen stared back.

“…I finally lost my mind.”

Honestly, not impossible.

The panel flickered softly.

[ Candidate Successfully Selected. ]

[ Would you like to bind with the system? ]

[ YES / NO ]

Anshika narrowed her eyes immediately.

Unlike most people, she did not panic.

Instead, her first reaction was suspicion.

“A scam?”

The floating screen remained motionless.

Slowly, she reached one finger toward it.

The moment her skin touched the panel, a cold sensation spread across her fingertips like touching water.

Her expression finally changed slightly.

“…Interesting.”

More text appeared.

[ Please bind quickly. ]

[ Time until apocalypse: 29 Days 17 Hours 42 Minutes. ]

Silence filled the apartment.

“…What?”

The system continued calmly.

[ Due to upcoming global catastrophes, humanity has entered the survival selection phase. ]

[ Natural disasters, viral mutations, monster evolution, and dimensional corruption will begin soon. ]

[ Host’s intense desire for cheat abilities before the beginning of the apocalypse has been acknowledged. ]

[ Divine permission granted. ]

[ Congratulations. ]

[ You have been chosen as the sole owner of the Apocalyptic Hotel System. ]

Anshika stared at the glowing screen without blinking.

For several long seconds, the apartment remained completely silent.

Then—

“…Holy shit.”

Her sleepy brain finally started working properly.

Apocalypse?

Monsters?

Dimensional corruption?

Any normal person would probably panic immediately.

Anshika, however, focused on something far more important.

“Sole owner?”

[ Correct. ]

Her eyes narrowed.

“So nobody else has this system?”

[ Correct. ]

A slow smile appeared on her face for the first time that morning.

Not a warm smile.

Not a kind one.

But the smile of someone who had suddenly realized life might finally become interesting

.

The countdown on the screen continued ticking downward silently.

29 Days 17 Hours 41 Minutes.

If this was real—

Then the world was going to become hell soon.

Food shortages.

Violence.

Chaos.

Humanity tearing itself apart.

Honestly?

Exactly what she expected from society.

But unlike everyone else…

She had a cheat.

And unlike those idiot novel protagonists—

Anshika had absolutely no intention of wasting it.

Without hesitation, she pressed YES.

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