Crown of Thorns - Chapter 3

It was the year 3090 AD, the virtual reality net game “Swords and Magic” was developed on Earth, and the game would descend upon the world in ten years! In order to survive, the only way was to tame various powerful monsters in the magical world. That’s the only way to make oneself more powerful and take control of the gods’ power! Jiang Bai reincarnated to a time before the game was launched. By relying on his memory, he successfully obtained the Infinite Beast Taming Encyclopedia. Divine Beast Black Dragon Princess! Sacred Beast Dark Night Elf Queen… Jiang Bai asked, “Why is everyone else’s pet beasts animals, but mine is a bunch of gorgeous girls? I’m going to be sucked dry. I need help, quick.”

‘He’s so cute I want to kick him flying through the air.’

Bai Yao runs a seafood restaurant in a seaside town. One day, he saw a small sentient sea otter being bullied.

Out of pity, he helped out the little sea otter.

The sea otter acts quite defensively, baring his teeth, all while still covered in wounds yet to heal.

His way of saying thanks, is gifting Bai Yao an oyster in his pocket that’s been sitting there for who-knows-how-long.

Bai Yao ends up bringing the wounded and exhausted little sea otter back to his restaurant, giving him food and a shower.

Though the sea otter is still quite scaredy and defensive. He wouldn’t let Bai Yao rub his cute little face, or even ruffle his fur.

That’s not all the quirks of the little sea otter either. Bai Yao realised he’s a dummy that didn’t even know how to anthropomorphise.

Later that day, Bai Yao wakes up in the middle of the night, when there is something soft he’s holding in his hand.

He looks, and sees the little sea otter has put his paw in his hand. The sleepyhead is also snuggling on him, his head brushing against his chest.

Not feeling drowsy enough to sleep anymore, Bai Yao just props his head on his arm, watching until the otter finally wakes up.

When he finally does, he looks around, and sees that it’s Bai Yao; he squeaks, and then nestles his face against the fingers of Bai Yao.

Amused, Bai Yao asks, “oh? I thought you were a tough little guy that didn’t like petting?”

- Description from Novelupdates

She was born into a powerful family of the nobility, a blue-blooded aristocrat as capable as any man. He rose from humble origins up the military ranks, an iron-blooded knight with high ambitions. A transaction for power severed her from her childhood sweetheart. A tardy encounter was the beginning of his and her vow to meet life and death under heaven, standing shoulder to shoulder.

Political intrigue, dynastic succession struggles. He trampled through it all in the toil of becoming emperor.

Old enmities became new disputes, concerning life and death of entire families. She entered once more into the palace, changing the entire political climate of their world.

Meeting once again, they had become strangers. The peach blossom were all fallen, no more than a golden age grown cold.

- Description from Novelupdates

There are 7 dimensions controlled by a Universal Government. Each dimension is governed by its own unique universal laws. There are a few things they have in common, there is always 1 the strongest and 1 the smartest. Except for the Universal Government, it’s forbidden to travel between dimensions. Interdimensional gates don’t close on their own and if left open, creatures that dwell in the darkness between the worlds will find their way through. Without warning, one of the dimensions disappeared without a trace. The remaining 6 in panic did all they could to find the reason why. They never found an answer. 12 years after the dimension vanished, a signal started appearing in the empty universe. Perhaps the answer is in that signal.Tsugi No Level