Prologue. - "Rebirth of Eira"
In the heart of a beautiful grey-blue room, sunlight filters through sheer curtains, casting soft patterns on the floor. The air is fragrant with the scent of blooming flowers, their vibrant colors providing a stunning contrast to the room's serene palette. Delicate jewelry glimmers on a polished wooden dresser, each piece telling a story of elegance and grace.
Nestled amidst this enchanting space is a little girl with a white cloth on her head, as though she had caught a cold, peacefully asleep. Her small features are delicate, and in her slumber, she exudes a captivating beauty. Her silver hair, cascading like a silken waterfall, frames her face and glistens softly in the gentle light. Long, dark eyelashes rest against her cheeks.
She wears a flowing dress in pale blue, adorned with tiny floral patterns that echo the blossoms around her. In this serene moment, the little girl slowly opens her eyes, rubbing them before suddenly shouting in pain while holding her head with her small hands.
"Argh! Ahhh, what is this? My head... it hurts!" the little girl cries out, clutching her head as unknown memories suddenly flood into her mind.
"Huh? This... so I'm Jason, eh?" the little girl says in confusion.
The mysterious memories continue flooding her mind, and she eventually accepts them, her curiosity overtaking any resistance.
"Haa... haa..." she pants, catching her breath.
"Now I'm really sure these memories are mine—my past life as Jason Haller," she murmurs, unaware that these memories are subtly altering her personality.
Minutes later, the door suddenly opens.
"Creak..." "Thud."
"Mmm, oh, Eira, you're awake! Thank goodness! I thought you wouldn't wake up because of those rocks that caused the bruise on your head," says a beautiful girl with white hair, blue eyes, and a perfect figure, her tone full of concern.
"Ah, Sister Suzu, I'm okay. You don't have to worry," Eira replies, unaware that her tone is far more polite than usual. Typically, she was childish and stubborn.
"Oh my, hehe, my dear little Eira, this is the first time I've seen you so polite. Could it be that you've realized how much you love me and want to hug me?" Suzu says with a wide smile, breathless with excitement. Usually, Eira wouldn't let anyone, including her, touch her, much less hug her.
"Eh, Sister..." Eira realizes her unusual behavior but says nothing, knowing how stubborn she had been in the past.
Moments later, Eira shifts her approach. She gets out of bed and jumps onto Suzu, immediately hugging her hourglass figure.
"What—Eira, what are you...?" Suzu's face flushes red in surprise, as her normally stubborn little sister clings to her with her soft, small body.
"Eira, stop! I... I can't control myself!" Suzu's eyes begin to flicker with heart-shaped pupils, and her breathing becomes labored.
"Huff... huff..."
Eira notices the change and quickly retracts her hands, returning to her bed. She mumbles to herself, "Did I flip a lustful switch? She seems... turned on. What's going on with Sister Suzu?"
"Ah, Sister, are you okay?" Eira asks, pretending to be unaware of Suzu's transformation.
"Huff... huff..." Suzu glances at Eira, saying nothing as she struggles to control herself. Suddenly, she pounces on Eira in bed.
"Thud... thud..."
"Argh! Sister, get off me! You're heavy!" Eira protests, feeling her past life as Jason resurface, stirring a desire to touch Suzu's lewd figure.
"Hehehe, why are you suddenly afraid, Eira? You're the one who hugged me first, so don't blame me for being ruthless," Suzu teases, ignoring all sense of restraint.
Hearing this, Eira suddenly recalls that her sister was a known pervert. She'd even seen her hugging a doll of a little girl in a disturbingly obsessive manner. Her previous self had despised Suzu for this very reason.
"Ahhh, let go of me, Sister Suzu! Forgive me!" Eira pleads, shouting.
"Ahhh, Eira, that voice is so cute!" Suzu coos, extending her hand to touch Eira's mouth. But suddenly, the commotion is heard by a maid, who enters the room with another.
"Huh, what's going on?" The two maids exchange glances and nod.
"Shush." They stride toward Suzu to pull her away from Eira.
"Miss Eira, just calm down. Miss Suzu's illness seems to have been triggered. What did you do to make her like this?" the maid asks, staring at Eira. Eira remains silent, confused. She had no idea what kind of illness her sister had.
"Could it be... loneliness?" Eira wonders aloud.
Moments later, the maids manage to separate them, though Suzu resists.
"Argh, let go of me, you mere maids!" Suzu protests, but she can't break free, as the maids' strength is far from ordinary.
"Ah, I remember now. These maids are combat-trained," Eira says to herself, watching them.
"Ahhh nooo! Eira, just wait for me! I'll make you mine soon, hahahaha!" Suzu cackles with a sultry laugh, a sound so beautiful that anyone who heard it would be entranced.
Minutes later, Eira regains her composure and sighs. "Haaah... Thank goodness. I thought I wouldn't be able to control myself. Could it be because of those memories?" she wonders, questioning if her suspicion is accurate.
Moments later, a soft ding echoes only in Eira's ears, sharp and clear. The air around her feels charged, as if something powerful has awakened. A faint shimmer pulses in her vision, making it seem like reality itself is responding. For a brief moment, time slows, and anticipation thickens the atmosphere. Then, silence envelops her, as if the universe is holding its breath, waiting just for her.
[DING!]
[YOU HAVE TRIGGERED THE UNIVERSE AUTHORITY SYSTEM]
[YOU HAVE GAINED THE ABILITY TO MANIPULATE TIME FOR THREE SECONDS.]
[ABILITY STATUS: UNLOCKED]
ABILITY: CONTROL TIME (FOR 3 SECONDS)
DURATION: 24 HOURS
WHAT IT DOES: YOU CAN PAUSE, REWIND, OR FAST-FORWARD TIME FOR 3 SECONDS. AFTER USING IT ONCE, YOU MUST WAIT 24 HOURS BEFORE YOU CAN USE IT AGAIN.
[END OF SYSTEM PROMPT.]
"What..." Eira mutters in shock. But moments later, she composes herself, realizing this is her "cheat." After all, her past self had been a novel fanatic, and she couldn't help but feel a thrill at such a rare opportunity.
"System," Eira said softly.
[DING!]
[THE SYSTEM IS WAITING FOR YOUR REQUEST.]
"Can you explain what my mission is?" Eira asked, accepting its existence without questioning why the system had chosen him.