Arc 1 : Rock Bottom to System Awakening
**Chapter 2: The System Awakens**
Jae-min lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering if he'd lost his mind. The events from last night felt hazy, like a half-remembered dream. He'd talked to a... hologram? Or was it just his brain's way of dealing with everything that happened? The idea of a "system assistant" sounded ridiculous now, especially in the stark light of day.
But as he shifted in bed, his phone buzzed. His eyes flicked to it, and there she was—Elyra, in all her silver-haired, glowing-eyed surrealness, looking up at him from the screen.
"Good morning, Jae-min," she greeted him, her voice crisp and almost cheerful.
He sat up with a start, staring at the phone in disbelief. "You're… still here?"
Elyra tilted her head slightly, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Did you think I was a dream?"
Jae-min rubbed his temples, trying to process this. "So… this is real? You're real?"
"As real as the opportunity I'm offering you," she replied, her tone perfectly calm. "But only if you're willing to play by the rules."
Jae-min looked at her, still struggling to understand. "Remind me again… how does this work?"
"Let's go over the basics," Elyra said, as if she'd been expecting this question. "You have access to 1000 quadrillion dollars in your system account. However, there are conditions on how and when you can spend it."
"Right," Jae-min said, piecing it together slowly. "The money can only be spent on things involving… girls?"
Elyra nodded. "Correct. Specifically, any spending must directly or indirectly benefit a girl. And when you spend, 1% of that amount will transfer into your personal funds, which you can use freely."
Jae-min's brow furrowed. "So, if I bought something worth $100 for a girl, I'd get $1 for myself?"
"Precisely," Elyra confirmed. "And if you can build a strong enough connection with that girl—when her likability for you reaches 90%—you'll receive a bonus: 10% of the total amount you've spent on her."
"'Likability,' huh?" Jae-min echoed, feeling like he was talking his way through a strange, life-sized video game. "And if it gets to 100%?"
Elyra's expression softened, almost tender. "If a girl's likability reaches 100%, she'll be completely loyal to you. But remember, likability doesn't come from spending money alone. It's about making genuine connections."
Jae-min sat there, the reality of it all starting to sink in. He wasn't just playing with imaginary money—this was an actual chance to turn his life around. He had nothing else left, no job, no girlfriend, nothing tying him down. And here was this… this system offering him a way up.
"What if I don't succeed?" he asked, a hint of doubt creeping into his voice.
Elyra's expression turned serious. "If you fail to make a genuine impact on others' lives, or if you misuse the system, the opportunity will end. This isn't just about money, Jae-min. It's about transformation."
He nodded slowly, feeling a strange surge of determination. "Alright. Let's give it a try."
Elyra's face brightened, almost like she was pleased with his answer. "Then let's start. I'll help guide you through your first interaction."
Jae-min got dressed, and as he headed out into the city, Elyra stayed on his phone, guiding him to a small park nearby. The morning was crisp and cool, the sun barely peeking through clouds.
As he walked, he spotted a girl sitting by herself on a bench. She looked to be around his age, with long, dark hair that cascaded over her shoulders and a sketchbook in her lap. She was hunched over, completely focused on her art, her brow furrowed in concentration. Elyra's voice came through his phone softly.
"Her name is Mina," Elyra informed him. "She's an artist trying to make a name for herself, but struggling financially."
Jae-min glanced at Mina, feeling a pang of empathy. She reminded him of himself—someone just trying to get by, without much luck.
"What do I do?" he whispered, glancing down at Elyra's image on his phone.
"Try talking to her," Elyra suggested. "Introduce yourself. See if she needs any help. Sometimes, the smallest gestures can make the biggest impact."
Jae-min took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself. He wasn't exactly the outgoing type, but he could at least try. As he approached Mina, he cleared his throat softly.
"Hey, uh… is this seat taken?"
Mina looked up, startled. She hesitated, then gave a small shake of her head. "No, go ahead."
He sat down beside her, casting a quick glance at her sketchbook. The drawing was intricate, showing a cityscape at night, with tall buildings stretching into the sky. "Wow, that's really impressive," he said honestly. "Are you an artist?"
Mina shrugged, a hint of a smile on her face. "I'm trying to be. But… it's hard. Art supplies are expensive, and it's tough to get noticed without any support."
Jae-min nodded, genuinely interested. "I get that. It sounds like you're putting everything into it, though."
She looked at him, a bit surprised. "Most people don't understand that. They just tell me to 'get a real job.'"
"I can relate," Jae-min said with a chuckle, though there was a tinge of bitterness behind it. "I just lost mine."
Mina's eyes softened. "I'm sorry to hear that. It's tough out there, huh?"
They sat in silence for a moment, both absorbing each other's words. Elyra's voice broke the quiet, whispering in his ear through the phone.
"Offer to help her out with some art supplies. A small gesture, but it'll be a good start."
Jae-min glanced down at the phone, then back up at Mina. "Listen… I know we just met, but I'd like to help you out with some supplies. You know, if it'll make things a little easier."
Mina blinked, taken aback. "Are you serious? I mean, you don't have to. Art stuff isn't exactly cheap."
Jae-min shrugged, trying to play it off as casually as he could. "Consider it a… random act of kindness. Besides, I'd love to see what you could do if you had everything you needed."
A small smile crept onto her face, the kind that was equal parts grateful and surprised. "Thank you… really. I don't know what to say."
As they continued talking, Elyra's voice popped up in his head again. "Good job, Jae-min. Her likability just increased to 15%. Keep going—you're making progress."
Jae-min felt an odd thrill at Elyra's words, a spark of hope he hadn't felt in ages. This was his chance to turn things around, to make something of himself while helping others. And with Elyra by his side, maybe—just maybe—he could pull it off.