Chapter 202: I Can Awaken...?

"F-F-FREDRINN!" Her voice cracked on the syllables, squeaking in utter panic and ecstatic hysteria. "TH-THERE’S A SCREEN IN FRONT OF ME!"

Andrea’s frantic shriek shattered the peaceful, post-coital silence of Room 308 like a dropped ceramic vase.

The sudden outburst yanked everyone clean out of their relaxed daze, instantly drawing every pair of eyes in the suite toward her trembling figure.

Fredrinn was the only one in the room whose heart didn’t skip a beat.

Unlike the girls, he didn’t feel a single shred of shock. He had known about the system since last night, and he was just waiting to see how long it would take for her to notice it and if she would tell him about it.

A small, cynical part of him had braced for the worst.

Both Jenny and Rose had kept their personal system notifications and status screens closely guarded secrets from the very beginning.

While that level of secrecy was standard survival protocol in an apocalypse where information meant leverage, it had still left him with a lingering twinge of disappointment.

He was genuinely curious to see whether Andrea would follow their lead or if her natural openness would compel her to lay her cards on the table.

Of course, what Fredrinn completely failed to anticipate was the catch.

He had assumed her system would just issue quests directly or something, not give her the option to choose who she wants to bully!

"Screen?"

Jenny swung her bare legs off Fredrinn’s lap, sitting bolt upright on the edge of the mattress. Her hazel eyes were wide with sudden alertness. "What screen? What do you mean?"

Rose, still loosely draped over Fredrinn’s shoulders, narrowed her pink pupils. Her lazy, affectionate purr vanished, replaced by sharp, calculating curiosity as she leaned forward to inspect the brunette.

Andrea finally caught her breath, realizing she had just screamed her most intimate revelation at the top of her lungs. Yet, even as heat crept up her neck, she felt zero urge to backtrack or cover it up.

Why on earth would she try to hide it?

To an unawakened ordinary girl who imagined having skills and magic of her own, this was a dream!

Keeping it a secret was the absolute last thing on her mind.

"I-It’s... it seems like those holographic system screens from video games and web novels!" Andrea stammered, raising a hesitant, trembling hand to poke at the empty air directly in front of her nose.

Both Rose and Jenny’s eyes widened a fraction, some bell chimes ringing in their own heads but both remained silent.

Fredrinn, carefully managing his expression, forced a look of mild, bewildered surprise onto his face.

He made sure to furrow his brow and blink slowly, pretending he was still processing her absurd announcement so he wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

Andrea was far too swept up in her own whirlwind of adrenaline to notice his theatrical hesitation.

Her gaze remained glued to the luminous blue window hovering inches before her retinas.

She swallowed hard, reading through the crisp, glowing lines of text once more:

[ Congratulations to Host Andrea for awakening The Bully System! ]

[ Host: Andrea Wilson ]

[ System Tier: Level 1 ]

[ Scanning the memories for Bullying Targets... ]

[ Scan Complete. Two Valid Targets Found. ]

[ Target 1: Rhea Wilson — Host’s biological younger sister. ]

[ Target 2: Fredrinn Winchester — Host’s romantic partner. (System Recommended Choice!) ]

[ Note: The Host may unlock additional bully slots once the system level is upgraded through successful infractions. ]

She read it a second time. Then a third.

The absurd moniker stared back at her with undeniable clarity: The Bully System.

Paranoia flared in her chest. Convinced her sleep-deprived brain was playing an elaborate, cruel joke on her, Andrea reached over with her thumb and forefinger, pinching the tender flesh of her inner forearm with full force.

"Ow!"

A sharp yelp slipped past her teeth. The sharp sting radiated across her skin, leaving behind a faint red blotch. It wasn’t a hallucination.

It wasn’t a fever dream. The screen remained rock-steady in her field of vision, its blue hue casting a phantom reflection across her dilated pupils.

"Did you... awaken?" Jenny asked, her tone a mixture of genuine surprise, professional skepticism, and quiet intrigue.

Andrea blinked rapidly, trying to anchor her swirling thoughts. She opened her mouth to say yes, but then immediately hesitated, giving an awkward, conflicted shake of her head.

"Yes... or maybe no? It’s completely confusing... I honestly don’t know what to make of it..."

When an ordinary human is confronted with cosmic, supernatural nonsense, logic dictates turning to the most dependable person in the room.

Andrea’s gaze immediately snapped toward Fredrinn. Her long eyelashes fluttered with barely contained excitement, her soft, rounded features glowing with eager anticipation.

"W-What do you think, Freddy? I can awaken? How am I supposed to check my attributes or use a skill?"

Fredrinn let out a low, fond chuckle. Reaching forward, he caught her beneath the arms and gently hoisted her into his lap.

Andrea didn’t offer a speck of resistance; she melted straight into his hold, curling her frame against his broad chest while resting her cheek near his collarbone.

She was practically buzzing with joy. At this stage, she couldn’t care less if the granted ability turned out to be the most useless, bottom-tier parlor trick on earth—the sheer fact that she had crossed the threshold from helpless deadweight into an Awakened was all that mattered.

Fredrinn’s hands settled comfortably around the slender curve of her waist, anchoring her firmly against his bare torso.

Andrea let out a soft, shuddering breath at the contact, the lingering heat between them sending a faint tingle down her spine. But she forcefully reined her wandering thoughts back to reality; she had far more pressing matters on the table.

"What exactly does your notification say?" Fredrinn whispered directly into the shell of her ear, his deep voice smooth and reassuring.

Andrea bit her lip, hesitating for a fraction of a second before blurting it out: "It says... ’Congratulations for awakening the Bully System’... and right now, it’s asking me to choose a target."

"A target?" Rose hummed from behind his shoulder, tilting her head with an intrigued, cat-like squint. "Target as in what, exactly?"

Andrea let out an awkward, dry cough, her face flushing crimson as she stared down at Fredrinn’s chest.

"Uhm... a target to bully, apparently... and the only two options listed on my screen are Fredrinn... and Rhea. Cough."