"Nooo!" The girl let out a desperate cry. "Anything but that! [orz]."
That was absolutely the worst possible outcome! She had just sworn, since he couldn't die, she could only complete the Main Quest with him, but now they had become one and the same. Hadn't she just been doomed?
"Give up, Non-compliance leads to death, you wouldn't want that, right?"
If he could, he would pat her back. Alas, she was only a voice in his head.
"You seem awfully subdued. Don't you feel bad for me," she hissed while sobbing. The girl still could not fathom how she had fallen into such predicament. She was just a little system that wanted to help a mere mortal fulfill his wish, why was it that she now had to fight for her survival?
The youth pinched his chin. "Can't you control these things on your own?"
"A Main Quest is different. After it has been established, I can't change it, I don't have enough jurisdiction."
"Ask Host to wait for the Reward to be issued," the systems voice rang in the youths head. "Error. Reward cannot be issued due to unexpected issue."
The girl gritted her teeth. "This piece of crap! Aren't you supposed to be on my side?" Every time that voice spoke, she grew irritated. "How am I supposed to give a reward to someone like him?"
"Isn't that mechanical voice you?"
"It is, but I it is also not. Since a lot of systems task requires complex computations, we have developed a technique that automatized these processes. You can refer to it as my subconscious—wait, why am I explaining this to you?"'
He nodded, as he learned something new again. "However, maybe it is only my imagination, but doesn't it feel like that system is a bit impudent?"
Maybe because the system felt like it was being called, it said in a solemn voice, "Non-compliance will result in death with no means of resurrection."
"Eh, I thought you people loved that type of system? I heard heartless systems are in the trend right now, I even saved money to purchase this version," she asked, "Damn it, should I have gone for the Kindhearted Mother 5.1.3 or the cool Big Senior 2.2.11 after all?
"Your race seems very complicated," he remarked. "Anyway, where's my reward," he stretched his hands out.
"Is there even anything you could possibly want," the girl rebutted.
He tilted his head. "How about some clothes? And a knife to cut my hair?"
"Oh, that should be doable. [nod] [nod]." Due to the repeated shocks she had received, the girl had not even realized she didn't know how he looked like.
"You know, I have been thinking for a while now, but did you just say [nod] [nod]?" He didn't know how to react, but when he thought about it, it did make sense, she was only a voice after all.
"All right I have giv—"
The system abruptly interrupted. "Reward has been issued. Asking Host to prepare."
"..." All the time, she had been using her true voice to communicate, she almost forgot, announcing these things wasn't her original job. Still, when that mechanical voice cut her off, she really did have the urge to beat it up.
"How do I prepare?"
As soon as he asked, another window appeared in front of him. This time, it wasn't a clear one but one that glimmered red.
[Reward: Fire Phoenix Silk Robe and Dragon Claw Knife.
*Click here to confirm reward*]
"Oh, very user-friendly, not bad." He touched the window-screen and immediately out of thin air, a dark-red robe and a small golden ceremonial knife appeared in his hands. The youth was slightly shocked. "Was that Space Law? No, it was different, it didn't break through space, it was like it had always been there. How interesting."
"Hehe. Don't underestimate a systems capabilities," the girl said with glee.
Without further ado, the youth donned the robe. Next, he took the knife and shortened his black hair. With precise cuts—as if he was used to doing such things—the long strands fell to the floor. The original ankle-length hair now only reached slightly below his ears.
For the first time, he revealed his appearance. His eyes, just like his hair, were completely black, not reflecting any light. On the other hand, his skin was bright and fair, creating a tasteful contrast. The only thing with color were his red lips; Combined with his long eyelashes, he looked just like a young girl.
"Oh wow, you don't look too bad," the girl commented in surprise. Since the youth had been hiding his face the entire time, she simply assumed that he was hideous. It would not have been a big deal, as with the help of a system, such things could have been more or less fixed. However, she realized there was no need to do so.
He wasn't a world-ending beauty, but he was soothing to look at, as if all problems disappeared and were only a mirage. If one didn't pay attention, they might end up lost in his appearance. Even for a system like her, she felt comfortable staring at him.
"Well, you know how people look better the higher their cultivation got? Due to the many times I restarted my cultivation road, my appearance changed every time, becoming better and better, truer to all living things."
"Aren't you just barely passable then?" The girl couldn't help but say. Shouldn't he look blindingly dashing if so? Ah, maybe it was because his starting point was too low. The girl sighed and memorized to not talk about that topic anymore.
"..."
'Was she trying to get back on me?' The youth thought. 'I can feel she is thinking something very rude.'
"Whatever. Don't forget the Quest we have received. Let's go find something interesting. I am sure, after these many millennia, the era should have renewed itself. It might relieve my boredom for a few years." He was faintly anticipating the new state of the world. "If I remember correctly, there used to be a small settlement a few days from here."
"Don't decide that on your own! Who knows if that place still exists, you—oh, what should I call you? The system says your name is unknown."
"That is because I go by many names, but I have no original one. You can call me whatever you want."
"All right, since our end goal is to find a method for you to perish, how about I call you Shou, as in life," the girl said, "because as long as you have a name, you are still alive."
"Are you trying to curse me?" The youths eye twitched. "That is the absolute worst name for me."
"I quite like it."
"Then how should I call you?"
"I am system No. 4444, I will be in your care. [strikes chest out]"
"That hardly is a name." He tilted his head. "Since you gave me a name, how about I give you one too?"
"Really, you would do that," she shouted out loud, her voice excited, "I never received a name [nods furiously]!"
"Good. Since your system number is 4444, how about shortening it to Si?"
"Uhh, it isn't too bad." she graciously received the name. She liked the sound, and it was also something she was used to hear, so it felt familiar. However, there was a small thing bothering her. "Doesn't Si kind of sound like death?"
"Hehe."
"You! You tricked me! Give me another name!"
"I quite like it." He ignored her shouts. "Anyway, it is just a name, I have many of those."
"It was my first one and was supposed to be special!" Soon enough, her tears began falling again.
The youth, Shou, had slowly gotten used to her cries and simply cupped his ears—although it didn't do anything. He started walking north, leaving the cliff, while in his head the girl, Si, kept complaining.
Thus, due to a meeting beyond fate and destiny, a simple story about life and death began, taking its first steps, hoping to see its last: A story for two, one borne from life, wishing for death, and another giving life to those that wish for death.