I woke up to a bright light.
Not sunlight, that was clear. My curtains were drawn, and besides, it was 4 p.m. on a January afternoon—the sun had almost entirely set already.
What woke me up was the System notification hovering above me, giving me a hell of a fright.
[System Notification:
User Ryo: Contract Offer Available
Partner: Llewellyn
Objective: Ensure Partner's Continued Survival
Terms: Binding upon acceptance.]
I stared at it.
Was I hallucinating? Was this some weird aftereffect of whatever the hell had happened yesterday?
My muscles still ached, though.
Maybe I wasn't hallucinating, maybe I was just dreaming.
I pinched myself.
"Ouch!"
… Fuck. Not dreaming, then.
I bolted upright and reread the notification again, heartbeat kicking up.
[Partner: Llewellyn
Objective: Ensure Partner's Continued Survival]
Goosebumps erupted all over my body.
I swiped the notification away before I could be tempted into accepting; but it reappeared immediately, crisp and unbothered.
[Reminder: Contract Offer Pending.]
For some reason, the System seemed to want to partner me with Llewellyn, thinking, supposedly, that I was the best person to keep him alive.
If last night had not happened, I would have thought this must be a prank.
As it was, I could just stare in disbelief.
I was in no condition to guarantee anyone's survival, let alone Llewellyn's, who charged into fights every five minutes without sparing a thought for his own safety.
Besides, I'd scrambled to salvage my shift after yesterday's Distorted Realm, and it hadn't been fun.
There was a reason we worked full eight-hour shifts—monitoring Llewellyn's pages took time. You couldn't cover them in a couple of hours. I'd been lucky Altan had the next shift and I could ask him to do a backcheck, but if this kept happening, it'd be a problem. I needed my job.
I exhaled.
Magic swirled inside me, making my whole body vibrate. The sensation had not vanished after the fight and it kept me on edge.
"Details."
Another window appeared.
[Contract Summary
Role: Tactical Support, Sub-DPS
Specialization: Elemental Insight and Thread Analysis
Primary Objective: Prevent Partner's Death
Secondary Objective: Assist in Knot Resolutions
Compensation: System-enhanced abilities, full living expenses coverage, hazard pay, and increased survivability.]
Wait, it came with payment?
However, increased survivability seemed like such an obvious lie, considering that accepting this offer would throw me directly into Knot sites, that I was inclined to disbelieve the rest too.
Everything else aside, the primary objective was preventing Llewellyn's death, like that was a normal thing to ask someone who barely survived the VR rooms at the local Elemental Cafe without serious physical injury. There was a reason why I never even played in co-op.
I should've felt flattered or terrified, and maybe I was a bit of both—but mostly I just felt awake.
Like, really, fully awake.
I rubbed my face. "Isn't there someone more qualified?"
The System responded immediately.
[Assessment: User Ryo has demonstrated consistent behavioral patterns aligned with Partner's optimal survival outcomes.]
That meant nothing.
"What patterns?"
[Long-term data indicates User's unwavering defense of Partner in online environments, proactive mitigation of threats, and instinctive prioritisation of Partner's wellbeing.]
I blinked.
"You mean… moderating comments?"
[Data also includes User's independent actions from personal accounts, reflecting voluntary engagement in Partner-related defense.]
I shut my mouth.
That… Why did the System know about my personal accounts?!
I looked at the floating text, then let my head fall back against the pillow with a thunk.
I stared at the ceiling—hoping if I stayed still long enough, the System would get bored and leave, sparing me the burden of the choice.
It didn't.
The notification pulsed softly.
I groaned, rolling onto my side, and the notification hovered back a little, to keep in my eyesight.
"Is this optional?"
[Clarification: Contract acceptance is voluntary.]
A breath of relief slipped out.
[However, refusal will result in increased risk to Partner's survival.]
I frowned. "That sounds like a threat."
[Statement of statistical correlation, not a threat.]
That basically meant, If you don't accept, Llewellyn's probably going to die.
I glanced at the clock. Already 4:12 p.m. I was supposed to visit Gran today.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed. My muscles protested—a clear preview of what my life was going to be like if I accepted this offer.
"Let's pretend for a second that this isn't insane. What exactly do I have to do?"
[Primary tasks include: risk assessment, environmental analysis, real-time support during Knot engagements, and direct intervention when necessary.]
"…Meaning?"
[Further elaboration: Do what you did yesterday, but more efficiently.]
I squinted at the glowing text. "You mean, panic and hope Llewellyn doesn't kill me for being in the way?"
[System Analysis: Your panic yielded optimal outcomes.]
I snorted. "Very reassuring."
The notification just hovered.
I stood up, wincing as I stretched, and walked toward the kitchen to make coffee. The contract window trailed behind me.
I glanced at it again.
"Full living expenses coverage," I read aloud. "What does that entail, exactly?"
[Clarification: The System will cover all living costs upon request, including housing, utilities, transportation, food, and healthcare.]
Well, that's…
I blinked. "So… I don't have to pay rent anymore?"
[Correct.]
That was… very tempting.
"Bills?"
[Bills are also covered.]
I set the pack of ground coffee down, fingers tapping the counter. No more overtime shifts? Possible life upgrades?
"And I would work with Llewellyn directly. Right?"
[Affirmative.]
Well. I turned back to the counter.
"What if I buy a new mattress?"
[Clarification: All living expenses are covered.]
That was… Huh.
"Does that include entertainment? Eating out? Elemental Cafes?"
[Affirmative.]
"And if I die?"
[Compensation extends to next of kin.]
…Well. Gran could use a bigger room with a better view.
She'd roast me if I got myself killed over a contract, though.
Coffee dripped into the mug. I inhaled the steam. "What's the survival rate?"
[Probability of lethal outcome for User Ryo: 28.3% in first year.]
"Wait… Only 28%?"
[Higher than baseline, lower than Partner's current 67%. Support role reduces Partner's risk by—]
Sixty-seven percent?! I stared in shock. Llewellyn?
"Fine," I said immediately. I swallowed half the scalding coffee. "Any penalties if I back out later?"
[Contract dissolution permitted with 30-day notice.]
Another notification.
[Transfer advance funds as gesture of goodwill?]
A number blinked. Enough to cover Gran's next ten months.
My mouth went dry.
"…You fight dirty."
[Gratitude is unnecessary.]
My phone buzzed—my calendar reminder. Gran's 6 p.m. visit. Right. I needed a shower first.
I thought for a second as I sipped my coffee.
What if I left my job and then the System decided that I wasn't good enough?!
I needed to get as much out of this as possible.
"I want 5,000 Oryang deposited into my account every month too. On top of everything you already offered."
A brief pause.
[Request acknowledged. Additional monthly compensation of 5,000 Oryang will be provided.]
Wait… Just like that? I was expecting more of a negotiation. Maybe the System was really desperate.
Should I just quit my job then? But then I wouldn't have access to anything anymore. Unless…
I rubbed the back of my neck. "I also want a setup like I have at work. Full access. Same tools."
[Request acknowledged. System will integrate required monitoring tools into User's interface for optimal Partner's protection.]
Well…
I stared at the notification, then down at my worn-out socks. Rent-free living, hazard pay, the same monitoring tools I had at work, and a salary I could've only dreamed of.
Only for a 28.3% chance to die in the first year. And a 67% chance Llewellyn would, if I didn't accept.
"I'm taking a shower," I told the System. "Let me think."
[Understood.]
The hot water did nothing to clear my mind.
My body still felt charged, too. Was this energy just going to keep coursing through?! Did I have to get used to this now?
Every nerve buzzed. Just below my sternum, I could still feel the phantom itch of last night's Knot.
Steam fogged the bathroom mirror as I toweled off.
Back in my bedroom, I pulled on a clean hoodie and paused, staring at the faint reflection of the System notification still hovering in the doorway like it was standing guard.
"Still here?"
[Affirmative.]
"Seriously, what do you even need me for? Llewellyn can handle himself better than anyone else."
[Partner's survival probability decreases significantly without external tactical support. Current combat efficacy is optimal, but strategic vulnerabilities remain.]
"Strategic vulnerabilities," I repeated, snorting. "You mean he's bad at teamwork?"
[Clarification: Partner exhibits tendencies toward operational self-reliance, leading to elevated exposure during high-risk scenarios.]
"So… yes."
I sat down on my bed. "But there has to be someone with actual training. What would I even do? Yesterday, I barely managed not to die. Is it just because of the Threads?"
[Strength and Thread Perception are not the primary criteria. User Ryo demonstrates compatibility in pattern recognition, situational adaptability, and instinctive prioritisation of Partner's wellbeing.]
I scrubbed a hand through my damp hair, bracing. "What happens if I say no?"
[Partner's probability of fatal outcome increases by 42% compared to supported projection. User's likelihood of future re-involvement remains high due to pre-existing experience.]
I blinked. "Future re-involvement? Pre-existing experience?" What?
[Clarification: User Ryo's behavioral patterns indicate a sustained, emotionally-driven fixation on Partner Llewellyn, frequently resulting in spontaneous defense. User's online defensive actions were evaluated and classified as combat experience.]
"…"
You've got to be kidding me.
"So even if I say no, you'll probably just drag me back into this anyway?"
[Correct. However, voluntary participation maximizes strategic advantages—and is remunerated.]
Well.
"What if I get a lawyer?"
That was a pointless question because I could not afford a lawyer, but I felt like I had to ask.
[Legal representation does not affect system protocols.]
"So you're saying there's no legal loophole?"
[Correct. System operations are not subject to human legal frameworks.]
Not even a chance to threaten it with paperwork.
"What if I fake my own death?"
[Ineffective. System tracking remains active post-mortem.]
I paused. "Post-mortem?"
[Clarification: In the event of actual death, System tracking will be deactivated. However, this outcome is not recommended.]
"Yeah, no kidding."
I stood up, grabbing my keys. The notification pulsed softly, waiting.
"We're not done," I said, shoving the keys into my pocket and walking toward the front door. "But I've got a train to catch."
[Understood. Contract offer remains pending.]
"Don't wait up."
The door clicked shut behind me.