As they neared the door to Emily's apartment, she smiled softly at Leon. "Thanks again. I don't know what I would've done without you tonight."
Leon nodded, offering a reassuring glance. "Glad I could help."
Emily fished her keys from her pocket and unlocked the door, but before she could step inside, a voice called from within.
"Emily! Where have you been? I was getting worried!"
Emily entered, with Leon following behind. Her younger brother, Jake, stood in the hallway, his messy brown hair tumbling over his forehead, looking every bit the concerned sibling.
"Hey, Jake," Emily greeted, crouching to give him a quick hug. "Sorry, I lost track of time talking with a friend."
Jake shifted his gaze toward Leon, a puzzled look crossing his face. "Who's this?"
Leon offered a friendly wave. "Hey, I'm Leon. Nice to meet you."
Emily stood and flashed Jake a reassuring smile. "He's an old friend from college. We were just chatting for a bit. I'll make dinner soon, okay?"
Jake didn't seem entirely convinced but reluctantly nodded. "Okay… just be careful."
Emily tousled his hair. "I'm fine. Really, it was just a walk. Nothing to worry about."
Leon caught the protectiveness in Jake's tone and gave him a subtle nod. The kid clearly cared.
"Come on in," Emily said, stepping inside. "Make yourself at home. I'll get things sorted."
The warmth of the apartment was a stark contrast to the cool night outside. Emily quickly went to prepare something simple to eat, and Leon settled onto the couch, finally beginning to relax as the tension of the evening lifted.
Jake glanced over at Leon again, still curious. "You two were talking a long time, huh?"
Emily chuckled softly, catching Leon's eye. "Yeah, just catching up. Been a while. Go get ready for bed, okay?"
Jake hesitated, then nodded and wandered off to his room. The apartment settled into a quiet hum, broken only by the sounds of Emily moving around the kitchen.
Emily eventually turned to Leon, her voice soft but sincere. "Really, Leon… thanks for everything. I don't know how to repay you."
Leon smiled faintly and shrugged. "No need. I'm just glad you're safe."
As Emily cooked, Leon surveyed the apartment. Modest but cozy, it reflected her grounded nature—calm, quiet, and steady.
She glanced over at him, a small frown pulling at her lips. "You alright?"
"Yeah," he replied, leaning forward. "Just thinking."
Her expression softened. "About earlier?"
Leon paused before answering. "Not exactly. I'll handle it if it comes back around."
Emily nodded slowly, understanding without needing to press. "Well, dinner's almost ready. Hope you don't mind something simple."
Leon gave a small smile, feeling a bit more at ease. "No problem at all."
"Anything's fine," Leon muttered, his gaze following her every move as she worked in the kitchen. "Thanks for making it."
Emily gave a faint smile, but the words didn't come. Leon didn't push it, his attention slipping toward Jake for a brief moment. He found the kid's protective instinct amusing—maybe even admirable. It wasn't a bad thing. Jake had guts. That might just come in handy one day.
The meal passed in a comfortable quiet, the rhythmic clink of silverware against plates mixing with the hum of the city outside. The ambiance settled around them like a thick blanket, easing the tension that lingered just beneath the surface. Jake, after a quick look at the two of them, had already disappeared down the hallway toward his room, his footsteps muffled by the carpeted floors. Emily, meanwhile, seemed content to let the quiet stretch on, savoring the peacefulness.
When dinner was over, Leon stood without waiting for her offer to clean. His movements were effortless and routine as he began gathering the dishes. Emily shot him a surprised glance but didn't protest.
"You cooked," Leon said nonchalantly, meeting her gaze briefly before returning to the task at hand. "Least I can do is help clean."
"Fair enough," she said, her voice light, almost playful. A faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, but she didn't elaborate.
Soon enough, the dishes were washed, dried, and put away. The apartment had transformed from a lively mess into a calm, quiet place once more. Emily pulled a blanket and a pillow from the closet and set them on the couch.
"You can crash here for the night," she offered quietly, her tone hesitant but warm. "It's not much, but…"
Leon shrugged, tired eyes meeting hers. "It'll do. Thanks."
Emily hesitated, her gaze softening a little before she nodded. "Goodnight, then. And… thanks again."
Leon returned the nod, the faintest smile flickering across his face before he watched her retreat into the hallway, her figure vanishing into the shadowed spaces of the apartment.
Then, a sudden surge cut through him—an overwhelming, relentless force that tore through his body, leaving him breathless. The sensation gripped him like an icy fist, and before he could even register the change, his muscles seized, locking into place.
The room around him distorted—twisting and flickering, the walls now an erratic blur of stark black and white. His heart pounded in his chest, erratic and violent, every beat a jagged spike of fear.
[System initializing…]
The voice was cold, mechanical—uncaring.
[System integration complete.]
[SSS-Rank Kingdom-Building System]
Leon's eyes snapped open, his breath coming in short, uneven bursts. Every part of him was still—frozen in place, as the world around him continued to shift, disorienting and surreal. A holographic screen flickered in front of him, the text that appeared scrolling in unnerving precision, too fast, too clinical.
He stared at it, wide-eyed, heart hammering against his ribs. His breath hitched in his throat as a dark chuckle crawled out, almost involuntary.
[Welcome, User. You have been selected as the sole inheritor of the SSS-Rank Kingdom-Building System.]
His throat went dry, the words weighing heavy on his tongue. He didn't respond at first—no, he couldn't. He didn't even know what to think. It was madness. This was insane.
The system's mechanical tone hummed on, unbothered by the depth of confusion and disbelief seeping through him.
[Primary Functions Activated.]
Status Panel – Displays your attributes, skills, and current health.
Inventory – A pocket dimension for storing items. Capacity increases with upgrades.
Quest System – Missions tailored to your progress. Completion rewards are provided based on performance.
World-Hopping Protocol – Unlock the ability to travel between the current world and another realm after completing specific accomplishments. Once unlocked, you can move freely between the two worlds.
[Bonus Feature Activated: Knowledge Assimilation]
The words swam on the screen, their meaning barely sinking in. The system continued its cold, indifferent dialogue as Leon sat frozen, unable to do anything more than watch.
This wasn't just a dream, was it? No—no, he could feel it, the strange felling settling deeper inside of him. It wasn't a hallucination.
[New Message: Awaiting Next Command. Would you like to review your Status Panel or continue observing your system functions?]
"Status Panel." He spoke it more to himself than to the screen—though part of him was already bracing for whatever would come next.
The system responded immediately, its cold monotone filling the room once again.
[Status Panel initialized. Displaying current attributes.]