"HOST's transfer, completed. Scanning the vessels identity. The vessel is identified as the right vessel for the host. Gathering the vessels memories for the host, in process. For now, the host can read the worlds plot summary."
"Fucking system!" Artemis couldn't help but curse in between his gritted teeth.
He would never—as in, never trust any word that the system said, especially words about absorbing!
He did not only suffer once from believing it, but twice! And he's a fool if he still falls for it—three freakin' times!
Before Artemis could rack the system, a hesitant female voice was heard beside him. The system silently thanked the woman and then slowly disappeared.
"What's wrong, Mr. Colins?"
At the same time that the female asked, the system also transferred the original's memories to Artemis, making him groan from the sudden pain that the rushing of unfamiliar yet familiar memories caused in his mind.
This made the female, who was actually the assistant of the original owner of the vessel, more worried, so that she did not hesitate to hurriedly call for someone to help check the actor.
"What happened to Mr. Colins?" the assistant director quickly asked the moment he entered the dressing room.
"I-I'm not sure. He was napping in his seat while we were waiting for Manager Kim when I heard him groan before shouting, surprising me. And when I asked him if he was fine, his face scrunched up in pain, and there he fell back again to his seat, groaning and sweating in pain," the female assistant carefully narrated.
It was at this moment that Artemis completely processed the memories of the original. And currently, he wanted to beat someone so badly that his fists which were tightly clenched trembled from holding back. If he was not in his current situation, maybe he really had beat the system.
Knowing that he had already caused a scene, Artemis immediately used his new skill about perfect expression to assist his acting.
"I-I'm okay now, Axia. I just had a nightmare and felt a bit dizzy when I suddenly stood up. Plus, it's been too hot lately, so it was easy for me to feel dizzy. I'm sorry for the disturbance I caused, Mr. Venganza. As for compensation, just ask Axia to buy foods for everyone on the set, including the production team. Can I ask for a favor and ask the director to let me rest at least for an hour?"
Being subjected to the pleading look from the famous stoic-faced and cold screen emperor, the assistant director—Mr. Venganza—was in shock, so he wasn't able to react immediately. Fortunately, Director Arantax heard the request, and he immediately gave his permission.
He was actually in the middle of taping for the special added scene between the main female character and a guest character on the other filming set when he heard about the ruckus conspiring with the screen emperor, so he did not hesitate to stop the filming and immediately rushed over here. Because once the news about the beloved screen emperor falling sick in the middle of the taping broke, Director Arantax could already see the destruction of this film.
However he changed the character or however he had that special card, it was still not enough to cover the loss of support from the screen emperor's fans.
But hearing now that the screen emperor was really fine aside from the headache, Director Arantax was relieved that he did not hesitate to let the screen emperor have his rest.
"Then I shall also give everyone a rest, so let's move all the filming of the scenes today for tomorrow to also give more time to rest."
And Artemis, who had been given amnesty, gave an order to Assistant Axia before walking away from the dressing room prepared for him. He did not forget to give a gentle smile to all the men and women in the production team, even to some small cast actors and actresses who showed their worry for him.
Maybe because of his perfect expression skill and superb acting skill, no one noticed how Artemis' hand would shake and tremble from being clenched so tightly. Well, there was actually one person who noticed his restraint and expression when he was suppressing something.
Luckily, the person seems like they don't give a damn about something, so they did not speak anything but just watched the passing back of Artemis, who was leaving the set for rest.
Although the reason wasn't really for taking a rest but to actually have some privacy so that he could have a private talk with the system without soliciting doubt and problems, and also to avoid being suspected of going crazy.
Using the memory of the original, Artemis gets into the hotel prepared for them by the production film, which was not far from where the film studio is. And since it was only a walking distance, plus the surrounding area outside the filming sight was actually a private area, there is no need for Artemis to worry about the paparazzi.
After a few moments of silence, Artemis finally entered the suit specially prepared for him in the hotel. He silently entered the suit and then calmly locked the door. He stood there facing the door for a few seconds before slowly turning his back, showing his grim face to the system.
"Come out."
Gone the calm and always smiling Artemis and now the system was facing an angry ferocious beast looking at a small fly dangerously.
The small and cute figure of System Lulu trembled under the pressure of it's host's glare but maybe because of the system's long experience from different hosts, plus he'd been in a very long vacation before this new contract, System Lulu maintained his stature without backing out.
"If the host wanted to beat the system, although it was not stated in the system and host rules and regulations, but this system had long been working in the main system so this system had gathered so much points than the host. Once the system felt danger from the host pointed at this system, this system—I will not hesitate to use force to punish the host."
Artemis scoffed. "You think I'm afraid. I'm already dead. What's there to be afraid of?"
System Lulu remained silent as he did not think the host would answer him like that. Not to mention the way the host is glaring at him. Like System Lulu is only a smal fly in front of a big and ferocious beast. And that only with a swing from the host's big and sharp-nailed paws, the small fly system will be quickly smashed and break.
This thought brought unprecedented fear within the system that he couldn't even feel the unconscious tremble of it's body.
According to the informations of the host that the main system pass unto his nucleus, the host is a very optismistic person. Any struggles or problem the host encountered were faced with a smile.
So hearing the host said those statements full of negative vibes, and his angry expression, the system was both shock and dumbfounded. He could only remain afloat in front of the host like a naughty kid reprimanded by his father.
That's why Artemis noticed it but he maintained his stoic and angry stare towards the pitiful system. However irresistible he felt staring down at the cute little sphinx in front of him, he could not deny the anger and roaring madness inside.
And he has the right to feel that way. So despite the pity he felt for the system, Artemis could not let everything he learned to slide. Plus this can also be his way to left impressios within the system so that it will never do the same thing and hide it from him again.
But because the system seems like it had no plan on speaking about the matter, Artemis could only sigh and solicit answers from the system.
"If you can't say everything in your own then just answer my questions. And I will never accept lies or silence as an anwer. Got that?"
"Yes," the system immediately answered.
That made Artemis flash a smile, making his handsome features became more prominent. This scene if watch by fans can cause shock as the always cold and stoic face of their screen king—which is already a critical hit especially for ladies—suddenly had a gentle smile is really a great blown for the fans.
"Good. Now first and foremost, are you sure you are not mistaken about this vessel? Or maybe your system have some breakdown that you forgot how to identify between a female body to a male body?" Artemis asked in incredulity.
Another thing that's bothering him is that when he heard himself speak, his voice is very manly that it made himself felt goosebumps from hearing it.
Maybe for others, especially the vessel's fans, it would make their heart beats from excitement. But for Artemis, it was no longer new for him who was already immune to hearing these type of deep and manly voice from different actors that he had been co-starred with.
And now that he was hearing it from his own mouth, it was really mind blowing.
"There's nothing wrong with this system, host. After the search for the specific vessel for the host, aside from the requirements that the vessel must be categorized as second lead, just like the host himself, the vessel must be categorized as the second male lead specifically. And after searching in this world, the host's current vessel is the best vessel that are currently available," System Lulu synthetically replied.
"Then I will just remind you since I think you have already forgotten about the fact that I—this host—is not a male but a female!" Artemis said in his highest note.
Unfortunately, the voice of the vessel is naturally deep and hoarse that when Artemis tried to speak in a high note, it ended up raspy and croak.
It took a few minutes for the system to speak. "But it was the host's mistakes for believing until now that he's a female when I had been addressing the host as male."
Now it was Artemis who was rendered speechless. Since he could not deny the fact that the moment the system and him met, the system had been addressing him as a "he". At first, he only thinks that it was probably only the system's error. Or that because of how old the system is, it can no longer identify between "he" and "she".
"Since host is now out of the system domain, this system can start explaining the details with the host. How about asking the host what does he want to know first," System Lulu initiates asking.
"Then can system Lulu enlightened me about how did I turned into a male just from signing a contract with the system?"
System Lulu no longer hesitate with answering. "Actually, this system had no idea how does the sexuality of the host change in your last life but the real face and sexuality of the host is how your current soul looks like. Since there is a rule in the system domain that whatever you may look when you entered the system domain is what the real soul looks like when your soul was born. So what happened now on the host is not the fault of this system or even the main system. It was the people in the reincarnation pool who made the mistake."
Despite the system's explanation, instead of being enlightened, Artemis felt more disoriented. And as he listen to System Lulu's words, the more he got confused and hazy. Like a mirror splashed with water, everything became more unclear and vague for Artemis since the question that was supposed to be answered, another batches of questions appeared instead making his head felt an headache.
Questions after questions slowly integrate inside his head as he looked for more answers. Knowing that those questions wouldn't be answered once he won't ask, Artemis could only try to organized his thoughts so he could ask the right questions at the right time.
"So what you mean system is that you haven't forgotten about how to identify the "he" from "she" but because you are seeing my soul in the appearance of a "he". That's why you had been addressing me as "he". Am I right?"
As a response, System Lulu nodded his head. "The host probably did not notice anything wrong at the time inside the system domain but the host did not only looked like a man but even his voice is very manly. To give a hint for the host how you actually look and sound in your real form, you can look yourself in front of a mirror and speak. Your current vessel now has an eighty-percent the same with your soul. The host's real appearance was just more handsome to the point of otherworldly than the host's current vessel."
With System Lulu's suggestion, Artemis immediately find some mirror inside the room. He found a full-body length mirror inside the bathroom. And Artemis gaze at his reflection in wonder.
Because the original vessel is a famous actor and renowned as the screen emperor, the vessel weren't only looking handsome and manly. With those perfect sword-like eyebrow forming a slightly slanted line, that high and well-proportioned nose. Those small red lips and a pair of dark obsidian eyes. A symmetrical shape of cheeks and jaw, creating an aloof image of god that descended in the mortal world.
Thinking again about how the system describe his real form makes him feel both astounded and tongue-tied. And maybe to make himself believe that everything is real, without leaving his sight from his reflection, Artemis lift his right hand towards his cheeks.
Artemis' eyes followed all the movements of his hand. So he could feel how it felt when his hand touched the slightly cold feeling of his cheeks. It wasn't only the cheeks which felt cold but it was the normal body temperature of the vessel that felt cold.
The wondering look of the host was taken advantage by System Lulu so he continue his explanation. "Digging the host's history since being born in the universe, host had been into fourth lives. If the main system could rank the host now, because of how high the ranks of the host's past worlds, the host should be an A rank. But the system world had a strict rules and requirement which first, the host must have experienced his third cycle of reincarnation. Each cycle has four reincarnation so three cycle of reincarnation means twelve reincarnations."
"The other one is the requirement of merit points. If a soul who had just experience death, whether it was already their twelfth death or less, if their merit points accumulated had not reach the required points of fifty thousand merit points, then the door to the system world will not open as a choice for those souls leaving them with only the door to the reincarnation pool as their choice. Since fifty thousand is the requirements for a star hopper to enter an F-class star. These two are the requirement for entering the system world."
Artemis interjected. "So you mean is that I have reached these so-called requirements that's why I am forced to be here?"
"No host." System Lulu used the chance that the attention of the host is gathered to bring themselves in the System Lulu's system space. "Do not fret, host. We are now inside my system space which is the space owned by systems like me. Though we can only use this when we are inside a star. Since the matter I am going to explain to the host is very important, this system decided to talk about it inside the system space which is a private space between systems and hosts that only the person involved in the contract can enter it."
Artemis roamed his eyes around. The system space is not different from the system domain. From how the space looks like unending vast of galaxies. How he can only feel that he was gravity-less, floating but not in the messy and uncontrollable way. But Artemis knew that there was something that the system space had less than the system domain.
"Don't worry host, unlike how the system domain is connected to the main system, system space is created between the connection of the system and the host so it has less soul force than the system domain. The force will only increase once the host's rank increases. So the system can do anything within the system space."
"Anything?" Artemis asked in suspicion.
"Anything that is under the host's soul force. If host wants to stay here and make this space his own safe haven, then keep on increasing your rank and earn enough merit points to upgrade the system space. With your current level, you can only changed the interior design of the space in a minimum stage. Like putting some simple bed, sofas, table, and a book shelf full of books about the system, and system world. Also, the host could not enter the space in his own freewill since your soul force is not enough to enter the space without the system's help. And this system can only drag the host here if it was deemed necessary. So even if the host was in danger, host's soul is the one who can escape in here but the vessel which is an external force will still experience the danger."
Like bubbles popped, Artemis' dream of using the space as his safe haven, were all ruined with the system's words. Basically, he could never use the golden finger space in his personal use. He can only regret in his mind what's the use for the system to share it with him. To make him hope but not help him fulfill it.
Artemis could only visualize a sofa and like magic, a black single sofa appeared. He took a sit and then let the system continue.