Ranching System, Activated!

\u003c Don't be stupid this time, and hear me out. If you plan on having these girls around you and you don't want to become lunch while you sleep, you had better listen!\u003e

Jeez, this guy was forceful, but I wasn't ignoring what he was saying. There was an excellent chance that he was right, and it would only be a matter of time until Jilly figured some way around Mary.

\u003cGood. Now, My name Herotipanlopolis, Great God of Heavens Ninth Gate of Oberomian. You can call me Hero, but I am the ruling god of this world.\u003e

You just made that up, didn't you?

\u003cI can wait until they kill you if you would prefer. Then I can reopen the gate and hopefully find someone more willing to accept the gifts that are bestowed upon him!\u003e

Fine, you're right. I am being a bit of a turd, and I do need your help. So, lay it on me; what is this fancy and unique System that you have for me?

[Ranching System] Activated!

[Level Up] Level 1 gained!

[Level Up] Level 2 gained!

\u003cThis System is built specifically as a support system for the ones that want a more relaxed life somewhat, but this will not give you any physical enhancements. The System will only give you ways to help care for monster girls. In your present situation, I think this is the best thing for you.\u003e

I still wasn't sure precisely what Hero meant with the System, but if it would still let me keep my own personal restrictions on myself, then it couldn't hurt. Plus, it wouldn't be bad to do something that I was already going to do anyway.

\u003cI will now open the menu screen for you to look over, but later, you can just summon the menu by thinking that you want to do that.\u003e

A large white-bordered white-edged window with a black tinted background appeared in front of me. There was white writing, and it reminded me of an old MS-DOS screen on the old IBM computers.

Level: 2

Title: N/A

Rank: {Poor and Ranchless Rancher)

Monster Girls: 2

System: Ranching System

System Abilities:

Level: 2

Title: N/A

Species: Oomukade

Unique Ability: Air Pressure Control

System: Builder System

System Abilities:

---------------------

Level: 3

Title: N/A

Species: Gorgon Medusa/???

Unique Ability: ???

System: Saintly Survival System

System Abilities:

I could feel two pairs of eyes looking over my shoulders as I looked over the menus. I had been distracted and hadn't noticed that Jilly had moved around behind me, but I no longer felt the same creepy-crawly feeling from before.

I guess this new System and seeing her when she was hurt had reminded me that she was still just a girl. I wasn't sure what Mary was doing because I could feel her staring just as intently at the screen.

"Can you both see the floating screen in front of me?" I asked the girls as I turned to the girls.

The screen moved around with me as I turned, and I noticed both girls following it as I did. That confirmed my question, but now I wanted to know how Mary could see it.

\u003cMary can see her screens and yours, but they are the only things that she can see right now. Along with the MP that you will earn from helping others, there will be other rewards along the way you will receive. Unfortunately, all quest rewards you receive that aren't MP will be for one of your party members.\u003e

While that did suck, the idea of getting something good just because I moved some crates or killed a couple monsters was like getting free help. So, the items being for the girls didn't bother me, but what I was worried about was if the System would have any effect on the Items or other things that I found.

\u003cAnything that you find or earn outside of quest will be rewarded to you.\u003e

"What is a Rancher? Are you our Master or something now? I don't feel like I want to eat you now," Jilly said as she looked down at me.

"Mastersss? Mmm, what doesss my Master wantsss me to do for himsss," Mary hissed seductively in my ear, and then licked up the side of my neck, send a hot shiver through my body.

"No, I am not your Master; I am your caretaker, I guess. According to this page," I said, pointing to the screen. "I just need to make sure that you two are taken care of and stay out of trouble, I think. Honestly, I know about as much as you do at this point," I said while scratching my head, but then I heard something.

It was like the patter of feet, but soft like paws, almost like a pack of dogs or wolves. Of course, there would be monsters coming, and the fact that we had this much time without any was the more surprising thing with the dead Stinking Troll.

"I think we should get moving; this place is about to get more dangerous," I said while turning to figure out which was to go.

"What? You don't want to fight whatever is coming? I thought you wanted to get stronger?" Jilly asked, and that was about the time a pack of three head dogs charged into the clearing.

They each had weird glowing mouths with the glowing stuff leaking out, green, red, and blue. They weren't huge, and they went straight for the troll-like savages, but then I heard a high-pitched squeal come from Jilly, and she charged.

Great.