...
The afternoon passed in the blink of an eye, and now, at 11:21 p.m., the room was plunged into a cozy dimness, lit only by the soft light of the bedside lamp.
Theo was lying on his bed, his body relaxed against the soft pillows, while he snuggled Nayun close to his chest. Her warmth spread over his torso like a comforting wave, and the soft scent of her hair, a mixture of lavender and something uniquely hers, filled his senses.
Nayun was sound asleep. Her face, usually animated and expressive, now displayed a rare serenity.
Her long eyelashes cast delicate shadows over her cheekbones, and her slow breathing created a hypnotic pattern against Theo's skin. She was completely asleep, as if she had been carrying the world on her back all day.
Ever since Theo had picked her up in Seoul, Nayun had shown obvious signs that she hadn't slept properly from yesterday to today
Even though he didn't know why, it didn't matter much to Theo, since if something was bothering her, he was sure she would have told him by now.
Careful not to disturb her, Theo only moved his eyes, turning his attention to the translucent blue screen floating in front of him.
_Cappie. Is all that information you sent me right? And it's okay for you to do this? Sending me information that involves you?
The answer came seconds later, not through his ears, but straight into his mind, with that unmistakable tone of irony that was already becoming characteristic.
_Oh! You're back. I thought you'd fallen asleep after having fun with your girlfriend.
Cappie's voice seemed to come from a hidden corner of his own brain, like a thought that wasn't quite his own, but spoke with his own language.
Theo smiled, still staring at the blue screen.
Using her ability to communicate with her host wherever she was, Cappie replied sarcastically, as she lay on her bed watching videos on the iPad in her hand.
_We had a lot of fun, yes.
He replied in the same ironic tone.
_Now she's here, using my arm as a pillow, she's so tired. Do you think that's a good sign?
Theo replied with a wry tone.
_Probably.
Cappie replied in her mind, her total disinterest evident.
Theo snorted quietly, holding back his laughter so as not to wake Nayun.
_And about your questions.
Cappie continued, now answering the question Theo had asked.
_Yes. All the information I've given you is true, according to my memory and the knowledge I have about the system I've become. Everything you saw in my memories: the world of systems, and what happened to me, is all real.
There was a brief pause. Cappie seemed to consider what to say next, which was strange for someone who had taken on the role of a system.
_As for whether it's "okay"... I guess so?
She replied, uncertainly.
_I didn't see any clear restrictions saying that I couldn't share this information with you. So... technically, I'm not breaking any rules.
The conversation stopped there. Neither of them said anything else. Theo let the silence take over again, as he mentally pronounced the word "Status", activating the interface that should have appeared from the first day in that world.
In the next room, Cappie sighed. She set the iPad on the bed and played the movie she wanted to watch, pleased to be silent at last.
_That... Is that my status window?
Theo's question came again, but Cappie didn't answer, because she knew that the question wasn't directed at her, but at what was in front of his eyes.
And she was right...
Theo's question wasn't about Cappie, it was about what he saw in front of him.
-----
STATUS
Name: Theo Sagan
Age: 16
Character Cards: Anos Voldigoad (Equipped) - True Form (Locked)
Plane of Fictional Totality: Multiverse (TNE)
Sole Authority: Usurper (Locked)
Liberated Worlds: None
Current World Completion Status: (TNE) - 1%
Host: Cap-wearing Mita (Cappie)
-----
'That's it? It's more normal than I thought.'
Where were the level charts? The skill tree? The inter-dimensional store full of absurd artifacts? And even the possible mission windows.
There was nothing more than a simple screen.
It looked more like an unfinished draft of a system than a real one.
However, even with this simplicity, one detail caught his eye. His eyes went back to the line that read: "Character Cards."
Anos Voldigoad: Equipped
He already knew that. It was the power he had been counting on until now.
But just below it, another text caught his eye even more.
It was information he had never thought existed.
True Form: (Locked)
Theo frowned.
'So... this guy has a true form that I can't use yet?'
He thought, raising his eyebrow slightly, without moving his body, so as not to disturb Nayun.
'Is he more powerful than he is now?'
The thought made him shut up.
It was strange to think that there was something even stronger hidden there.
Until then, Theo had believed that what he possessed from the Voldigoad Years was all his power. A power so vast that it placed him above any being in the universe. But now, that solitary line "True Form (Blocked)" hinted that there was something more. Something he didn't even understand yet.
'And this, what could it be?'
And it was then that he noticed another line that baffled him even more.
Sole Authority: Usurper (Blocked)
Not even the information taken from Cappie's memories had any information of value about this thing called the Usurper.
But one thing was certain: the word that came before it, "Authority", seemed loaded with meaning.
And whatever this Usurper was, it sounded pretty incredible.
'Something tells me I'll be able to find out more once this world is completed.'
He had no answers. But, for some reason, he felt that he would understand everything when the Completion of the World reached 100%.
It wasn't a certainty.
But it was what his instincts told him.
...
Without realizing it, the night passed quickly.
Now, at almost 8.30 on a Monday morning, Theo and Nayun were walking side by side, crossing the corridors of the Cube towards the Veritas Class.
Nayun, already visibly in better spirits than the night before, seemed to have finally recovered her energy. Her face showed that usual glow, and her steps were light, as if the good night's sleep had put everything back in place.
"...Hey. Who's that girl in our dorm?"
The question came in a casual tone.
Yesterday, she was so exhausted that she barely had time or patience to think about it. Today, however, with a rested mind, curiosity spoke louder.
Theo blinked, pondering a good way to answer...
"Cappie, it's like a system, you know, the kind you find in role-playing games. She should have appeared when I was reincarnated in this world, but some things happened and she only appeared now... Right on the day I came home from your brother's party."
"Hm..."
Nayun murmured, frowning slightly.
"But she seems so real. Like, real."
She was sure she'd seen that girl in the living room watching a movie just like a normal person.
So it was a bit difficult to see it as a system.
"Because it is."
Theo replied simply.
"Or at least, it became. She was a character in a game, after gaining consciousness, there was an opportunity for her to get out, and now she's here, living with us."
Nayun paused for a moment. The corridor was almost empty, the sound of distant footsteps echoing in the background.
"That sounds completely crazy. Someone coming from a game into the real world..."
Theo shrugged.
"I know. I thought so too. But it's the truth."
Nayun and Theo walked leisurely, although the girl was still digesting the explanation.
"And now she's going to live with us?"
"Yes."
Theo confirmed bluntly.
"But it's not like you think."
"Hm."
Nayun looked away, staring at the floor for a few seconds.
"I'm not thinking anything."
"Mn."
She cast a sidelong glance at him, saying nothing for a moment. Theo remained neutral, but the slight smile at the corner of his mouth gave him away.
"It's serious."
She insisted, now trying to look more serious than she really was.
"I just thought it was strange. That's all."
"It is strange. I'm not going to lie. But, I don't know, with everything that's happened to me since I came here...
He laughed lightly.
"A girl coming out of a game and becoming my personal assistant doesn't even seem that absurd."
Nayun snorted, crossing his arms.
"Good for you, huh? It's not enough me and Yeonha, now there's her too. Your list of girls must have grown, hasn't it?"
Theo laughed, unable to disguise his surprise at her wry, sharp comment.
"Who knows..."
...
Note: "Sorry for not posting a chapter yesterday... I was very busy, the end of the month is very complicated for me. But I'll do my best to keep the chapters coming."