Chapter 6: A Wild System Appears
'...I can't sleep.'
The one thing his mother was always unable to figure out. He hated sleeping early in the evening because he always woke up at night. He didn't need as much sleep as normal babies did, but his daytime activities had always been cut short due to his mother's insistence.
A noble sacrifice indeed, but it was getting bothersome when he had sleepless nights.
Just like he is right now.
It was a jarring experience, especially since his mother had picked up on his habits and "babyproofed" areas so he couldn't leave. Essentially trapping him in his crib at night, condemning him to the fate of staring into nothingness for hours.
'The ceiling is so brown...it's wood after all.'
Leon could only recall his knowledge so many times. In the past few months, he had memorized everything he could reach.
'Oh right, tomorrow is my 1st birthday.'
One whole year.
His parents were quite giddy, and he spotted the occasional decoration they were setting up. But he couldn't celebrate.
After all, it also meant one year since his death.
'No,' He quickly shook his head at himself. 'Now is not the time to think about it.'
After all, anything that happened was in the past, and there isn't much he can do now.
Right now, all he could do was wait until sleep embraces him again.
Soon the quiet chimes of the grandfather clock in the living room reached his ears. The noise is suppressed by heavy insulation his parents installed to not disturb their sleep.
'Happy birthday to me.' He smiled wryly.
[Requirement has been met.]
"?!"
[Bootup initiated, reading launch sequence.]
'What the-'
[Greetings Host, I hope you retain your sense of self?]
The sudden voice shook him, as his eyes searched the surroundings of the room in search of an intruder.
But finding none.
"Uwa!"
'Where are you? Who are you?'
[Host, you don't need to speak, you can communicate with me with your thoughts.]
The words offered no comfort, and he cursed himself internally as his heart rate picked up. The unknown presence was neither detectable nor discoverable, which frustrated him.
'If you lay your hands on them, I'll tear you into pieces.' He threatened.
[Detecting elevated heart contractions, releasing Acetylcholine through the parasympathetic neuron pathway.] The robotic voice ignored him.
Leon suddenly felt his breathing even out, despite his worry about danger not disappearing.
'...What are you?' He asked, perhaps the most pertinent question of all, 'How did you control my body there?'
[Greetings Host, I am the system bestowed upon you by a higher being.] The robotic voice replied, [I apologise for initiating a neural response like that without consent. However, it would be impossible to discuss matters effectively if you were agitated.]
Leon had difficulty believing what he was hearing, but the unnatural calming of his heart allowed him to follow the words along.
'So...you are something from that slime and goblin anime?'
[Effectively yes.]
For a minute or two, neither spoke, as Leon digested everything the system had told him.
'So, who is this higher being you refer to?'
[I cannot tell you.]
'Who sent me here?'
[I cannot tell you.]
'Why can you not tell me?'
[I cannot tell you.]
'...'
Leon resisted the urge to somehow hit this useless system for not providing any answers to anything, but he calmed himself.
'Ok...can you tell me where you are now? How are you talking to me?'
[I do not possess a physical body. I am fused with your soul, so I can communicate with you directly.]
That was certainly informative. In all regards, Leon had no way of knowing who it was that made this connection to him, but considering it reached as deep as his soul to make that connection, it definitely couldn't be anyone simple.
Or rather this so-called 'Higher being' judged him as unworthy to be aware of his identity.
[I was instructed to awaken when you turned one year old and following my instructions I have awoken.]
'Well, that's oddly specific.' Leon rolled his eyes. 'What is your purpose?'
[I am a coordinator for you in this world. The higher being has given me as support for you as you complete the test given to you.]
'Test?'
[You were reincarnated to complete a test. It is listed as a [Quest] if the host wishes to see it.] The system explained.
So far everything seemed game-esque, something he thought was only possible in novels or manga.
'Show quests.'
[Quest]
-
Complete the quest given by the higher being.
Rewards: ???
Failure: ???
Description: ???
-
'...Is this it?'
[Yes. The host's level is too low to see anything.]
'Haa...fine.' Leon sighed, 'What else can you do?'
[I can induce changes in the host's body, with the host's consent, and create various effects. I can also keep track of your information and show it as a status.]
'Oh? Show me my status.'
[Status]
-
Level: 1
HP: 4/4
Mana: 5/5
Strength: 0
Agility: 0
Vitality: 0
Dexterity: 0
Intelligence: 3
Available points: 0
-
The numerical representation of his capabilities was presented, a concise summarisation of them. The pitiful numbers were just what he expected. After all, he was just a child.
[These stats rise when you level up. Each time you do, you have access to three points that can be allocated to any section you wish.]
'How do I level up?'
[To level up, the host must gain experience points. The main method is to slay monsters.]
'...Monsters give experience points?'
He had read about it previously. Beasts are different from normal animals, roaming different terrains. These beings had an uncanny ability to harm and are often hostile to others. In simpler terms, they are basically another type of animal.
[Indeed. Monsters or animals in general can give you experience points. Is the host aware of the monster ranking system?]
'No.' Leon quirked an eyebrow. 'They have differing rankings?'
[Yes. The rankings and corresponding levels are as follows in ascending order:
Beast Class- Copper rank
Trooper Class - Bronze rank
Deca Class - Silver rank
Lord Class - Gold rank
Queen Class - Platinum rank
King Class - Diamond rank
Disaster Class - Hero rank
The rankings provided are the rankings that a person can reach. The majority of this world's warriors are around the Deca Class, though the average used to be higher in the past. The current world has become used to peace due to upper-class monsters not appearing enough.]
'So you mean they are lazy?'
[...Yes and no. Host it's similar to Japan's salaryman and entrepreneur proportions. Most people don't try their best to succeed unless there is a need to do so. It is within human nature to take things for granted until situations call for growth.] The system explained.
The whole concept of tough times create tough men. Tough men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create tough times.
An aspect Leon never understood. Why would people not try to achieve their full potential if there is no afterlife guarantee? Did they not value their one chance enough?
Though it wasn't possible to be flawless, Leon tried to excel at everything he could. It takes time to learn things and practice them but it wasn't a process he shied away from.
'System, tell me everything you know about this world.'
Of course, he had to learn about his surroundings to survive.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
"Happy birthday Leon!" Noelle cheered, along with a few people he knew nothing about. The living room was littered with small gifts and toys that he didn't really care for. Among the people present, he only recognised Martha. The sweet old woman's clapping was half-assed at best...but he could appreciate the sentiment.
'Ok me, it's tedious but it's the mother so you can't disappoint. 3...2...1...'
"Uwaa!" He raised both hands, an exaggerated smile adorning his face.
'Nailed it.'
It was truly disappointing that he couldn't continue his usual habits of disappearing into the study. However, since both of his parents wished to celebrate his birthday, he respected their decision.
Leon was of course not unfair to them. He told them that he wasn't supposed to be their child, that he wasn't meant to be a seventeen-year-old inside their baby's body. However, something prevented him from saying it.
At first, he had been confused but thanks to the system he had gotten a clear explanation the night before, and its words were
[The host is a being that shouldn't be in this world, an anomaly, and you are recognised by the world as such. The world's natural order cannot be disturbed no matter how you try.]
Which simply meant that he could do everything he needed to but couldn't tell anyone that he didn't belong. So in Noelle and Joel's eyes, in Martha's eyes, and in anyone else's eyes he was a member of this world.
Leon would not be so unfair to his parents, robbing them of their first child. A happy couple who hadn't done him any wrong deserved all the happiness they could get.
And so he played along. He never had any real parents, just his guardian Raymes, so it's a new experience for all three of them.
'Although being this young is a pain.'
"Now then, Leon." His mother's voice brought him out of his daze, as he saw her place a decently substantial cake with a single candle in front of him. " Give the candle a mighty blow of air."
"Can he even blow it?"
'A mighty blow? Allow me to show you my true power.'
As he took the deepest breath he could, he released it.
...
The candlelight flickered slightly.
"Aww, that's just adorable!"
'Nope, retry.'
And once more, the flame flickered.
Out of breath and tired of trying to snuff out the candle, the flame burned brighter than before. This was as if to mock his attempts at extinguishing it.
'Huff...you beat me today...I will defeat you one day!' Leon vowed, raising a fist in rebellion.
"You'll be able to do it one day," she whispered beside him. "Come, let's do it together. Three. Two. One."
And finally, the candle blew out. The pathetic flame was no match for his mother's prowess.
'I'll get it next time.'
_______________________________________________________________________________________
...
...
He drew out his bow.
His breathing slowed as his hawk-like eyes focused their piercing emerald gaze on what was in his line of sight. Every movement of the prey was captured by his vision.
The tree branch he positioned himself on kept his body balanced, as he leaned against the thick tree.
Zoned in, he notched an arrow and pulled, patiently waiting for his prey to be in a perfect position. He disregarded anything that could get in his way, not even feeling the cold winter breeze that brushed past his body. As he watched the animal, his eyes didn't dare blink, worried he would miss any tiniest mark.
The tension in the string was trying its best to repel against his grip but failing. The thread had been pulled even tighter for him, a compound bow that unleashed an arrow with fearsome force.
He was calm.
Just like he needed it to be.
He was focused.
Just like he needed to be.
The prey was unaware of him.
Just like it needed to be.
A little more, and he'd claim his target just like he always did.
'...a bit more to the right and-'
"Leoooonn! Where are you?!"
As a result of the sudden disturbance, he let go.
A misfire.
"Goddamn it!"