As I sat there, trying to enjoy the peace, I noticed something weird—a faint ding sound echoing in my head, like some kind of notification.
[New Companion Registered.]
I blinked. "Wait, what? Companion?"
I looked down at the little white hedgehog that was still curled up next to my boot, its tiny paws twitching in its sleep. It looked so harmless, like a little ball of fluffy frustration, soft and tiny, almost too cute to believe.
I stared at it for a moment, waiting for something… anything.
Nothing.
"Okay, this is probably just some weird system glitch," I muttered to myself. But the moment I thought that, the message came again, this time louder:
[Companion: Whitefluff Hedgehog]
Type: Lesser Beast
Mood: Grumpy
Loyalty: Low (Doesn't like you much yet.)
Note: A particularly difficult creature to deal with. Tends to be hostile unless fed properly. Will only listen when it feels like it. Has a strong dislike for being ignored, but responds well to food.
"…Grumpy, huh?" I smirked. "Sounds like you, buddy."
The hedgehog squirmed in its sleep, letting out a small growl-like sound and curling up tighter, clearly not in the mood for anything. I could tell just by the way it squished its face against the dirt.
"Is that a 'leave me alone' growl, or is it just your default setting?" I leaned in, trying to get a better look.
It was quiet for a moment, before suddenly the little beast stretched out its tiny claws, then snorted, giving me a side-eye. Like, seriously, a side-eye. From a hedgehog.
I snickered. "So, you're one of those."
[Loyalty Status: Low]
Warning: A companion with a low loyalty level may ignore or even actively resist commands. Best to work on improving bond through feeding and positive interaction.
I rubbed my chin, reading the system message. "So basically, I gotta keep feeding you until you start liking me? That's… that's real nice."
The hedgehog let out a soft, almost annoyed noise, and then, as if on cue, started pawing at my bag, sniffing around like it was looking for food.
"Alright, alright. You want food, huh?" I grinned, already knowing what it wanted. I dug around in my bag and pulled out some dried jerky, a little gift to the temperamental beast.
As soon as I tossed it on the ground, the hedgehog's eyes lit up. In a blur, it rushed forward, grabbed the jerky, and started chomping away at it with an enthusiasm that belied its earlier grumpiness.
"...And just like that, you're my best friend, huh?"
The hedgehog paused mid-bite, looked at me with one eye, and then, to my surprise, let out a soft, satisfied grunt, almost like a purr.
I let out a deep breath. "I'll never understand this world."
Just as the hedgehog finished the last crumb of jerky, it waddled closer, rubbing lightly against my boot with a low snort. Then suddenly—another ding rang in my head.
[Monster Bonding: Initiated]
Conditions Met: First Feeding, Proximity, Emotional Spark
To complete permanent taming, assign your companion a name.
"Huh? A name?" I tilted my head, staring at the glowing message in front of me. "Wait, that's it? Just name it and it's mine forever?"
I looked down at the grumpy little furball.
It was staring up at me now—those big, round eyes half-lidded in boredom and maybe just a little curiosity. Its belly was round from all the jerky, and I swear I heard a tiny hiccup.
"You're seriously asking me to name this cranky, food-obsessed hedgehog? Damn, this feels like naming a daughter who's already mad at me."
The hedgehog gave a short, irritated chirp.
"Okay, okay! No offense. Let's see…"
I scratched my head. "You're white, fluffy, temperamental… kinda tsundere too."
It rolled over onto its side, back turned to me.
"Yup. That's full-on attitude. You're totally a girl."
I thought for a moment… and then smirked.
"…Alright then. From now on, your name is Shirayuki."
The moment the name left my lips, a soft wind stirred the grass, and a warm glow enveloped the little hedgehog.
Her body lifted gently off the ground, paws outstretched in the air like she was being cradled by invisible hands. Her cheeks puffed ever so slightly, her fur gleamed, and for one glorious second—she looked absolutely majestic.
Then—plop!
She dropped.
But somehow, like a true pro, she tucked and rolled mid-air, landing on her stubby feet with a proud little spin… before immediately pretending nothing had happened.
[Monster Bonding Complete.]
[Whitefluff Hedgehog has been named: Shirayuki]
Status: Permanently Tamed. Companion now responds to emotional tone, voice commands, and combat instincts. Loyalty will grow over time.
Shirayuki blinked up at me, then calmly climbed into my lap, curled into a warm ball, and started snoring without shame.
I just stared.
"…You're like a grumpy marshmallow with ninja reflexes."
No response. Just a tiny twitch of her nose.
And just like that, I had my first companion in this strange new world—a white, sassy hedgehog named Shirayuki.
Just as I was about to stand up with Shirayuki snoring in my lap, another ding echoed in my head.
[Companion Skills Unlocked – Shirayuki the Whitefluff Hedgehog]
> Name: Shirayuki
Type: Beast – Hedgehog Class
Bond Level: 1
Temperament: Tsundere / Food-Obsessed / Sleepy
Status: Loyal (barely)
Skills:
1. Quillstorm Lunge – Launch into a wild, spinning charge that scatters enemies like bowling pins. May cause minor whiplash.
2. Burrow Ambush – Digs underground in seconds, then erupts with a surprise strike. Ideal for sneak attacks and petty revenge.
3. Spiral Drill – A powerful, high-speed spin that drills through tough enemies or armor. Dramatic. Dangerous. Dizzying.
4. Spine Burst – A last-resort burst of sharp quills in every direction. Best used when surrounded or when someone tries to touch her food.
---
I stared at the glowing panel, lips slightly parted.
"She's not just a hedgehog… she's a damn landmine with attitude."
Shirayuki let out a lazy snore and curled tighter in my lap.
"…Yeah. I should definitely not piss her off."
The morning light filtered through the trees, casting soft, golden beams across the quiet forest. The air was still crisp from the early hours, and the soft chirping of birds in the distance gave the whole scene a peaceful feel.
I stretched, groaning as my back cracked from sleeping on the ground. The blanket of soft grass beneath me wasn't the worst thing, but it sure didn't beat my bed back in the real world.
"Ugh, this sucks," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "I didn't even get to sleep in."
I glanced down at Shirayuki, who was curled up at the edge of the fire pit, still fast asleep. Her little white body was all puffed up, and for a moment, I thought she might actually be snoring.
"Hey, Shirayuki," I called softly, nudging her with my boot.
She grunted in annoyance, eyes narrowing, before slowly stretching her tiny legs in an exaggerated way.
Then, without warning, she rolled onto her back, all four limbs sprawled out like an overly spoiled little fluffball.
"Guess you're a bit of a drama queen in the mornings, huh?" I smirked, watching her struggle to open one sleepy eye.
Shirayuki let out a high-pitched chirp, a sound that was somewhere between a meow and a squeak, as if she was announcing to the world that her nap was finally over.
And then, she sprang to her feet in an instant, like a spring-loaded toy. She jumped so high that I almost thought she'd slam into a tree branch.
"Squee! Squeee!"
I jumped back, startled by her sudden enthusiasm, and she landed in front of me with her quills flaring, a happy little growl escaping her tiny throat.
"Woah, woah! Calm down, you hyper little thing," I said with a laugh, stepping back. "You're way too excited for someone who just woke up."
But it was pretty damn cute, so I let it slide.
"Alright, alright... Let's check out your skills again," I said, looking at her and tapping the air as if I were calling up the system.
The moment I did, a small, glowing panel appeared in front of me.
---
Shirayuki's Skills:
Quillstorm Lunge: Launch into a spinning charge that scatters enemies like bowling pins.
Burrow Ambush: Disappear underground, then re-emerge with a surprise strike.
Spiral Drill: Use a high-speed spin to drill through enemies or armor.
Spine Burst: Fire a scatter of sharp quills to deal damage when surrounded or threatened.
---
I paused for a moment, reading over the abilities again.
"Not bad, huh?" I mumbled to myself, impressed. "I mean, I don't exactly know what kind of enemies I'll face, but these skills seem pretty damn solid."
Shirayuki let out another enthusiastic chirp, as if agreeing with me. Then, with a sudden twirl, she jumped into the air, spiraling as if to demonstrate her Spiral Drill in the most dramatic way possible. She landed on the ground with a soft thud, rolling a little bit, but quickly regained her balance.
"Hey, that was cool," I said, raising an eyebrow. "You really know how to put on a show, don't you?"
Her response was another excited squeak, followed by a tiny hop in my direction, as though she was ready to do it all over again.
"Alright, alright, calm down, Shirayuki," I chuckled, ruffling her fur. "Let's go find something to eat before we get into any trouble."
She happily chirped again, her little tail wagging, and waddled right beside me, excited to face whatever the day would bring.