I'm a dog if I lie to you

[Ding—]

[Successfully judged]

[Host’s confession successful]

[Congratulations, host has obtained a B-level confession opportunity.]

[Random attribute point +1—]

[Host’s attributes have been updated]

[Intelligence: 9]

[Attribute-derived skills have been unlocked]

[Intelligence has reached 9]

[Skill 1: Memory Enhancement]

[Skill 2: Observation Enhancement]

[Skill 3: Imagination Enhancement]

[Skill 4: Critical Thinking Enhancement]

[Skill 5: Judgment Enhancement]

[Would you like to randomly select one skill?]

"I will become the Crown Princess!"

The moment Hoshino Mirai declared this, the rooftop fell into dead silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Even the penguin was stunned, its usually small eyes now wide open, unable to utter a single word.

Was it shocked by Mirai’s bold declaration, or bewildered by the sudden activation of the system?

Probably both. After all, in the world of anime, such a proclamation was practically a law of causality.

After a long pause, the penguin finally swallowed hard and managed to speak: "C-can I say something?"

Right now, the priority was dealing with this awkward situation, so it quickly changed the subject.

"Go ahead, I’m listening…"

Mirai’s cheeks were flushed, her words slightly stammering. Clearly, the audacity of her confession had left her both mortified and exhilarated.

"Humans and penguins are different species. It’s impossible."

The penguin sighed, lowering its head in exasperation at Mirai’s stubbornness.

"What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Mirai puffed her cheeks indignantly, raising her voice. "You can turn into a human! I know what you really are—you’re human!"

On the day they first parted, the penguin had taken human form. That tall, striking figure was forever etched in her memory—she could never forget it.

A penguin that could transform into a human!

Like Sun Wukong’s seventy-two transformations.

"That was just temporary!"

The penguin squawked sharply, nearly jumping in place. It couldn’t back down now. "Wake up! This is a forbidden love! A human and a penguin? No world would ever accept this—it’s insane!"

Mirai froze for a moment, her expression faltering.

But she quickly clenched her teeth and doubled down. "I don’t care! You’ve already seen me… like that. I’ve made up my mind—you’re the one!"

"Hey, you there! Come deal with your delusional sister!"

At its wit’s end, the penguin scurried to the door, pounding on it while screeching: "She’s lost it! She wants to be a penguin’s Crown Princess—this is madness!"

"Don’t worry, my brother will definitely support me!"

Mirai stood her ground, fists clenched. "Not just him. If I told my parents, they’d back me too… You don’t have to worry about that!"

"That’s just your wishful thinking."

The penguin kept hammering the door, hoping Hoshino Yikui would step in and talk some sense into his sister.

But from outside came only Yikui’s muffled, incoherent muttering. The penguin strained to decipher it.

‘Royal in-laws…’

‘Brother-in-law to a god…’

‘Does that mean I could become a royal uncle?’

"You’re all insane!"

The penguin stopped mid-knock, turning to Mirai with a defeated shake of its head. "I’m done. I’m leaving."

But Mirai suddenly lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around the penguin. "No! You’re not going anywhere! Unless you agree, I’ll never let go!"

"Sigh…"

The penguin struggled halfheartedly but couldn’t break free. After a moment, it relented. "Fine. The truth is… I already have a Crown Princess. I’m loyal in love—that’s why I’m an Emperor Penguin."

"Liar."

Mirai shook her head stubbornly. "You’re just saying that to push me away…"

"No, it’s true."

With a resigned flap, the penguin nudged open another door. "If you insist, I’ll tell you about her."

Mirai hesitated but didn’t loosen her grip.

The penguin began its tale: "Centuries ago, I met her on a grassy plain.

She was—and is—my Crown Princess: Ji Xueqi."

Mirai stiffened at the name.

The penguin spoke swiftly but vividly, recounting their first meeting, their love, their betrothal, their marriage…

And then how it all ended—destroyed by a conspiracy known as the "Lich’s Curse." The Crown Princess died, their kingdom fell overnight, and he was cursed into this penguin form. Yet, by some twist of fate, he survived, even gaining the power to traverse worlds through the Lich’s residual magic.

Now he roams the multiverse, searching for an artifact rumored to resurrect her.

Somewhere, in one of these countless worlds, it lies hidden.

His voice wavered between grief and steely resolve by the end: "No matter what, I will tear her from death’s jaws. Nothing will stop me—not even fate."

By now, Mirai had gone still, absorbing every word. Her grip slackened as silence settled over her.

Her heart was in turmoil. She didn’t know what to feel—only a pang of envy for this Ji Xueqi, and a crushing weight of helplessness.

Her nose tingled with unshed tears. "I…"

This story couldn’t be fabricated. No one could improvise something so intricate.

As he spoke, she’d seen it—the blazing love, the tragedy, the devastation.

Compared to his loss, her pain felt insignificant.

"Child, I understand."

The penguin gently patted her head with a wing. "No one is rational in love. I can’t fault a kind heart for breaking."

At this, Mirai finally released him. The penguin waddled aside, picking up a knife in its beak before turning back.

"No cost too great. No atrocity beyond me. For her, I’d do anything."

"Now you see why I’m an Emperor Penguin? My devotion is absolute."

After declaring these words with such fervor, the penguin paused, as if steeling its resolve. "Child, I must go now. I have a mission to fulfill."

Hoshino Mirai opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"Little sis, it's lying to you! The story and lines it's spouting are all from a game's setting. Don't believe it!"

At that moment, Hoshino Yikui's voice rang out from the doorway.

"Holy crap, so you play it too..."

The penguin turned around, but before it could finish, its body was once again tackled and pinned down by Hoshino Mirai.

Even if it tried to turn invisible now, it wouldn't help...

"Ow! What the hell are you doing?!"

The penguin struggled desperately but couldn't break free from Hoshino Mirai's grip. It could only cry out helplessly, "Fine, I admit I made it all up! But I really do have someone I like—actually, a lot of someones. I'm an Emperor Penguin, which means I'm an emperor—a playboy! I can't give you happiness!"

Even after such an admission, Hoshino Mirai refused to let go. Her eyes were red, tears welling up as she sobbed, "You lying penguin! I won’t believe a single word you say!"

"It's true! I'm not lying this time!"

The penguin hurriedly defended itself.

But Hoshino Mirai wasn’t buying it. "Even if it is true, I don’t care. As a prince, what’s one more? I don’t mind."

"Fine! If I bring them here someday and you can convince them, I’ll make you a general!"

The penguin was getting desperate—it was nearly suffocating from her tight embrace—and without thinking, it shouted toward the door, "And I’ll make your brother the Chief Eunuch of Ceremonies!"

"I don’t want to be a general! I want to be the crown princess! If you bring them to me, I’ll convince them myself!"

Hoshino Mirai huffed defiantly.

"You sure about that?"

The penguin eyed her skeptically.

"Absolutely!"

Hoshino Mirai declared without hesitation. "If you dare bring them, I’ll dare to confront them!"

"Deal!"

The penguin immediately agreed. "Now let me go, and I’ll go find them right away!"

Hoshino Mirai still clung tightly. "No way! You’re just trying to trick me again. I won’t fall for it!"

"I won’t!"

Gritting its teeth, the penguin added, "If I’m lying this time, I’ll turn into a dog!! I swear on my life!"

"Don’t—"

Hearing this, Hoshino Mirai finally loosened her grip.

"Whew… whew…"

The penguin gasped for air, rubbing its neck before looking up solemnly. "I, Su Cheng, am a beast at heart."

At this moment, Su Cheng decided to reveal its true identity—but not now. Since a proper farewell was impossible, the only way to end this cleanly was to sever all social ties.

Hearing this, Hoshino Mirai reluctantly believed it. She wiped her tears and managed a smile—only for her expression to freeze the next second, her pupils shrinking in shock.

"Wait… why am I a dog now?!"

With a poof, the penguin actually transformed into a dog, then poofed again into a cat. The moment its paws touched the ground, the knife it had been holding vanished, and it bolted from the rooftop, leaving behind one last line—

"Meet me here same time tomorrow!"