The timer was slowly ticking and I could still hear the boy's constant rambling on the background.
'What the fuck?!'
What kind of nonsense is this? A Main Quest? What Main Quest? Is the system broken or something? It even insulted me and made me seem like a jerk!
[0:19]
[Please choose quickly before the timer ends]
Oh this piece of shit! You're threatening me and now you have to balls to pressure me. I swear if I find your creator I'm gonna spit on their face!
I could feel my head throbbing and heart racing as I watch the seconds pass by.
This-this shit ahhhhhhhh. What do I do? Ah, I should just stand still and not do anything. That's right! Nothing can happen to me! The system can't blame me! I'm a geniu-
[0:10]
[The ten second countdown has begun. Choosing to not choose an option would result to immediate death. Please choose wisely.]
THIS FUCKING SYSTEM!
"Mr. Clause are you alright? You've been staring at the air for a while. Mr. Clause-"
Suddenly Yuno can feel two hands squeeze his shoulders.
"Mr. Clause is everything ok?"
He worriedly asked and sure enough the grip on Yuno's shoulder tighten. If it was any normal person, they would've winced in pain and thrashed around but the boy just stood there treating Clause's grip like it doesn't even amount to an ant's bite.
"Yuno..."
"Yes sir?!"
Are you a robot? You little brat what in the world is your skin made of! It hurtsssssss. My hand-Ow OOOOOW-my nailssssss-
"Bring your bag, I have a spare tent, you can use it."
I retracted my hand and looked at the bewildered expression on the boy's face. Tsking internally, I slowly walked away as I shake my numbing hands. Seriously what the hell is that kid?!
"Eh?"
Yuno was still confused and continued to stood there with a dumbfounded expression. I sighed as I briefly turned around.
"You." I pointed to him.
"Me?"
With a forced smile anda gigantic hologram slapping my face-
[Main Quest
Main Quest has been successfully accepted. Please commence Step #1 to progress to later stages.
Step #1: Proudly accept Yuno as a disciple. -Announce Yuno's discipleship and make it clear to the boy that he is now your student. You may use any methos to convey it as long as it does not hurt the boy (speak it, dance, sing, draw, write, charade, etc.)
Time Limit: 5:00
Remaining Time Left: 4:21
*Please note that without [Rating Points] all limited time quest that aren't finished on the set time limit will result to Immediate Death.]
Ignoring the large threat slapped on my face, I sucked up my tears and smiled even more. I could see the boy gaze at me with a mix of worry and confusion.
If only you knew that THE SYSTEM is holding me at gun point, threatening me, insulting me, giving me a nonsensical quest and all of it so I could take you in as a disciple.
Maybe I should just tell him-
[According to [Main Quest] Qualification states that Yuno must not know that Clause has accepted a [Main Quest] nor can he tell about the system. Disregarding this rule will result to Immediate Death.]
Is there no punishment that isn't Immediate Death?
I asked sarcastically and sure enough the system responded.
[Affirmative. Do you want to die slowly with torture?]
Hey. No matter how I look at it...this system seems to be broken.
Suddenly beyond that holographic screen a hand came to view, shaking up and down in front of me.
"Mr. Clause are you sure you're ok? You've been staring at the air again."
I heard the boy's worried voice again and only then did I snapped out of my thoughts.
"Mr. Clause what did you mean by that...Am I-Mr.Clause you don't have to pity me. I'll survive somehow on my own."
The boy gave a reassuring smile. His eyes were clear and determined. Somehow he reminds me of those kids who would help their mothers carry heavy bags of groceries while saying that they were a piece of cake while in truth they were struggling.
What a pure child. Maybe the system was right-he was indeed a jerk.
[This system is glad that you've finally realized.]
Oh this piece of shi-
"Ahem. You seem to have misunderstood."
"Huh?"
"I offered my tent since starting from now you're going to learn from me. Isn't it only fair that this master provides his student with basic necessities."
"Student? Me?"
Yuno's eyes widened, his mouth hanging open as he looked at me with disbelief, as if I just announced that I was his true father who left him 10 years ago to buy milk.
"Yes, is there any other people here besides from us?"
I added casually as I secretly praise my acting skills.Suddenly the boy shed tears again-
[System Warni-]
Alarmed, I quickly closed the screen and scrambled to get Yuno to stop crying.
"Why are you crying? Stop crying."
Of course the boy cried even more. Fuck. I should've read those parental books my sister gave me.
"I'm just...hic really hic...happy..."
"I see..."
I could only nod as I try to comfort him by patting his back. Kid if you're happy then just smile...please don't cry, that shitty system would kill me!
"So do you accept to be my disciple?"
"Of course!"
The boy immediately straightened, he replied like a motivated soldier as teardrops dry from the corner of his eyes.
"I'll be looking forward to Mr. Clause's teaching!"
Unconsciously I nodded in satisfaction. With this Step#1 would be completed. At the same time another holographic screen popped off.
Before I read it I looked at Yuno who was beaming with pure joy.
"Get you're bag first and we'll head back to camp."
"Yes! I'll get it Immediately!"
I watch the boy run off, leaving a trail of dust as he zoomed out in an inhumane speed.
Directing my attention back to the holographic screen, it seemed that a bunch of pop up screens have appeared.
[Congratulations on Completing Step #1!]
[You have received 'REVIVAL PILL']
[You have unlocked [Rating Points]!]
[You have received B+ Rank Weapon 'Iron Dagger']
[+5 Rating Points]
[Please keep up the good work!]
[Step #2 has been unlocked. Check the [Missions] tab for more information.]
This system is sham! I went to all that trouble and all they gave me was a pill and a B class dagger. HUH? HUUUUUUUUH?
[If you are dissatisfied with the system's rewards please note that it depends solely on the difficulty of the quest. The harder the quest, the greater the reward. If the User is having a hard time on a low difficulty quest, then the problem would be the User.]
"..." Clause could only remain silent as he remind himself that fighting with a system-something that doesn't even have it's own concious would be a waste of time.
With deep breathes he went to observe the other screens. He'll open Step #2 later, he was already stressed with #1 and he still needed to calm his soul.
Seeing the [Revival Score] being unlocked, he remembers the system saying that he could escape Immediate Death with these.
Hitting the more information button, the system gave him a summarization of [Rating Points] function.
[Rating Point: Are points earned while doing the [Main Quest]. These can be used to trade items through the system's personal shop and it can also be used as toll for time limited quests that aren't finished on time.
"Ohhhhhh" For the first time today, Clause smiled genuinely like an evil villain who just thought of an evil master plan.
-Just as [Rating Points] can be added, it can also be deduced. If the system detects the User breaching the Mission's Guidelines then points would be deducted. Points differ from how much you help or how much you disobeyed. If you contribute more to the mission then a higher quantity of Points will be gathered and vise versa.
* Please Note that if [Rating Points] hit a negative then it will result to Immediate death after undergoing Slow Torture.]
The smile on Clause's face immediately disappeared as he looked at the screen with an unknown emotion.
"..."
Seriously....WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THIS SYSTEM!!!