Chapter 4 - The Six Month Deadline Has Arrived!
Chapter 4 - The Six Month Deadline Has Arrived!
[Ding]
[+86 133 45698]
[Just moved to the area, feeling lonely in the middle of the night and craving some excitement, feel free to come over]
[Hey handsome, it's so itchy down there~]
Explicit and suggestive text messages appear on the screen.
The teasing words stimulate the imagination.
The bright and obvious invitation is like a man on a business trip finding a little card
Seeing the text message that had made countless pure-hearted boys blush and their hearts race, Ji Mu couldn't help but be drawn in.
His fingers tapped on the screen.
Instinctively, he opened the message and started typing a reply:
[The Chinese comma should not be used between "?" and "?". The Chinese comma indicates a pause in a series, but these two words do not form a series.]
A few seconds later, the message showed up as successfully sent.
Satisfied, he snapped his fingers.
That's better. You can't have imprecise wording.
Of course, he didn't forget to send a thoughtful report and then block the sender.
That's what we call attention to detail.
"I thought I had awakened some kind of cheat or system ability. What a waste of excitement."
If you've been scammed, quickly download the National Anti-Fraud App Center!
Ji Mu muttered to himself as he put his phone back in his pocket and continued to think about changing schools.
"I wonder what the conditions are like at other schools."
While muttering to himself, he looked up at the azure sky in the distance.
Although the March weather was beginning to warm up, there was still a slight chill in the wind that blew against him.
He lifted the collar of his coat. He was dressed rather lightly today, and if he stayed out in the cold wind much longer, he would probably catch a cold.
As he put on his hoodie and started to leave, he heard the electronic sound again.
[Ding]
Again?
It must be another spam message; he wouldn't fall for it a second time.
Ji Mu didn't even bother to look at it and went straight to the roof door without hesitation.
[The host has triggered a plot point, the system is activating.]
The abrupt mechanical voice reached his ears.
His steps gradually slowed.
Unlike before, this time the voice seemed to echo in his mind.
He couldn't help but wonder, "Could it be..."
The thought had just risen in his heart when a wave of dizziness suddenly hit him.
It felt like an inexplicable loss of vision and balance. He held on to the wall and endured the discomfort and nausea.
As a strange "buzzing" sound echoed in his head, the sensation of the world spinning slowly faded.
When his vision returned, he saw a palm-sized humanoid creature hovering in front of him.
The pointed ears resembled a miniature elf.
[Hello, hello]
Noticing his gaze, the little elf greeted him with big, swirling eyes.
[Sorry about that, host. The physical reaction was caused by the loading of the system program. I apologize for not informing you beforehand.]
Ji Mu's chaotic thoughts began to clear.
"System?"
He reached out and poked the elf.
The warm touch at his fingertips felt incredibly real, surprising him.
Is it for real this time?
Anyway...
"I've been here for almost half a year and you're only being activated now?"
[Ahaha, well...]
The system clumsily explained the reason.
[The main problem was that transporting the host through the novel world consumed too much energy, causing the delay].
"Oh?"
Ji Mu's expression didn't change, leaving it unclear whether he believed the explanation.
After this simple exchange, the conversation fell into silence.
[Uh...]
Seeing the atmosphere growing colder and colder, the somewhat embarrassed system elf scratched his head and decided to break the silence.
[Speaking of which, host, you're amazing. Not only have you been able to live alone in an alien world for so long, but you've also managed to focus on your studies and get the highest score in the six-school joint exam].
[Remaining calm and positive through it all, it's truly an honor for me to be contracted with such a host _]
The sudden awkward compliment made Ji Mu look at him.
As the other party had mentioned, he really wasn't from this world, but from a place called Blue Star.
But what was strange was:
The person he had transformed into not only had the same name as him,
Even their age, appearance, and experiences were exactly the same.
Both of them were orphans who grew up in an orphanage without their parents, and both of them died suddenly while playing games late at night.
Is this an inter-dimensional counterpart?
After reading the memories of the original host, he quickly accepted the fact that he had transmigrated.
Both sites are pretty much the same. What's the difference where I live?
"Let's skip the mutual compliments."
He had thought that this place was no different from Blue Star and that he could just go through the same routine as before.
But now, out of nowhere, a system suddenly appeared...
Ji Mu's gaze shifted and he suppressed his inner thoughts without showing any expression on his face.
"So, what do you want me to do?"
...???! So direct!
A hint of surprise appeared on the chubby face of the system.
So proactive.
Skipping the guiding phrases and going straight to the point felt a little unfamiliar, but highly efficient.
[No problem at all!]
The system, pleasantly surprised, puffed out its chest and began to introduce itself seriously.
[The world the host is currently in is an amalgamation of four romance novels. The tasks are very simple.]
[Reduce the female protagonists' aversion to men in these four books, restore stability to this derived world, and you will receive a great reward… Hey, hey, hey, don't go, host!]
The boy's sudden movement stunned it.
Without time to think of a reason, the system hurriedly flew in front of him, spreading its arms to block his path.
[What is going on, host? Do you think my introduction wasn't detailed enough or something?]
"No."
Although Ji Mu would occasionally joke about getting a system, it was only in jest.
When faced with something as troublesome as a system, his only thought was to avoid it.
"I'm not interested in doing the task you mentioned, that's all."
[Huh?]
The system was even more confused.
[Host, weren't we just chatting nicely? Why now...]
"What part of our conversation gave you that impression?"
Ji Mu ruthlessly exposed the system's complacency.
"I actually have a question I wanted to ask you."
His gaze fell on the little elf's face. "How do you know about my top score in the six-school joint exam?"
Although he had only been activated today, he was fully aware of his life since he had transmigrated.
So much for the exhausted energy excuse - just an excuse.
Hearing the boy's pointed question, the system elf's eyes widened, ‘Oh no! How did I forget that?’
[Um, um... Host, I...]
Realizing its own mistake, the system raced to find a way to make amends.
Seeing the system's eyes darting around quickly, Ji Mu knew it was probably ready to tell more lies to cover its tracks.
Not in the mood to listen to its nonsense, he simply turned around and walked away.
His firm stance left the system stunned.
[Host! Don't go, Host!!]
Completely panicked, it flapped its wings frantically and quickly flew in front of him to block his path again.
[I'll tell you everything, just don't go. Please?]
"Move."
[...]
Looking at the indifferent boy in front of it, the eyes of the system showed a hint of resentment.
Alright, alright!
You're cold, minus eight degrees.
But my thermal underwear is very durable!
Just being aloof, huh? Watch me win you over with reason and emotion!
After a while of silently arguing, she finally laid everything out on the table.
[Host, I didn't deceive you. The reason I know about your top score in the six-school joint exam is because those things happened in your past life.]
Ji Mu realized the crucial point.
"Past life?"
[Yes]
Realizing that its words had piqued the boy's interest, the system continued.
[Actually, the novel world we are currently in is already in its second cycle.]
"You mean..."
Upon hearing this, Ji Mu's previously lazy expression changed.
"Reincarnation?"
[Yes].
The system sighed deeply.
[As I mentioned earlier, this realm is a fusion of four romance novels. Ideally, the entire world should function according to the core plot.]
[But strangely enough, perhaps due to the excessive fusion of the novels causing a bug, many characters have deviated from their original attitudes and become the complete opposite of their intended personalities].
Recalling past memories, his tone became somewhat confused.
[And the most severely broken were the four female leads.]
[Not only did they not follow the plot and end up with their intended partners, but they also developed an extreme aversion to men].
[This deviation dragged the story to an extreme conclusion].
[They...]
Images too unbearable to look at flashed through its mind. The system swallowed hard, its Adam's apple bobbing up and down.
[They personally killed these male protagonists.]
Ji Mu was surprised, "So ruthless?"
[What else did you expect?]
The system rolled its eyes at him, feeling a bit annoyed.
This kid didn't seem to be afraid at all. It had been terrified the first time it saw it.
[There is no need to say more. If the plot collapses to this extent, a world derived from the novel will naturally be destroyed].
Worried that the boy wouldn't believe it, the system extended its finger and gently tapped his forehead.
In an instant, countless fragments of images flooded Ji Mu's mind.
Mountains crumbled and tsunamis swept through.
Mighty buildings collapsed and fell, with heavy dust and smoke swirling through the ruins.
The silent despair was slowly devouring the entire world.
Seeing such an apocalyptic scene, even someone as calm as Ji Mu couldn't help but be affected.
"Wow, this is more realistic than a 3D movie."
Brother, that's your focus?
Hearing his astonished remark, the system was speechless.
It really shouldn't have expected any other reaction from him.
[Originally, I was just a wandering system. My primary purpose in contracting with the host was to play a supporting role and quietly pass through all the major and minor plot points of the book.]
Who could have known this would happen?
The main characters all collapsed, and even the world was destroyed.
[If the Space Management Bureau hadn't discovered the anomaly, rewound time, and reset everything to the starting point, we would have been doomed along with this world.]
As it spoke, it pointed upward.
[The reason I was delayed for six months before being activated was because I was recalled by the Space Management Bureau for reassignment.]
"Oh?"
Ji Mu rubbed his chin and asked in turn.
"So the new mission is to prevent this realm from coming to a destructive end?"
[Yes].
The system nodded.
[After all, this realm is formed by the fusion of four novels, which is unprecedented among countless smaller worlds, so the Space Management Bureau attaches great importance to it].
"How can we change and correct these broken plots?"
[There is no need to go to such troublesome lengths].
The system spread its hands.
[Since this novel world is mainly a BG (boy-girl) romance, you only need to change the female protagonists' aversion to men.]
[It doesn't matter which man they end up with, as long as their view of men changes].
Simply put, the key is the female lead. It doesn't matter who plays the male lead.
Ji Mu replied with an "Oh," his expression revealing nothing.
"When did the apocalypse happen in the last cycle?"
The system's eyes lit up, thinking that the boy had finally agreed to the task.
[Ten years later!]
It wobbled excitedly, its voice rising with joy.
[Host, I'm telling you, we still have enough time, we should hurry...]
Before it could finish its enthusiastic speech, the boy stretched lazily and said, "I see, that's enough time.
The system froze.
[Huh? Enough for what?]
Finally getting the information he wanted, Ji Mu looked relaxed.
"Goodbye."
[???]
The System Elf stood there with her mouth half open and her brain crashing.
Her inner turmoil was like tens of thousands of grass mud horses galloping across the plains.
Although she hadn't interacted much with the boy in her past life, she knew that he had a rather laid-back personality.
But damn!
Who would have thought he could be so casual?
[No! Don't do this, host! Please reconsider, ten years is not enough to live!]
The system, on the verge of tears, flew beside the boy.
[The days ahead are so full of excitement that ten years will pass in the blink of an eye.]
[There are many decades in a lifetime. Can you really be content to live only one?]
[Host, oh host...]
No matter how much it tried to persuade him, the boy kept walking forward, showing no signs of changing his mind.
In the end, he could only watch helplessly as his slender figure grew smaller and smaller in the distance.
Exhaustion and despair surged through the system, causing it to slowly lower its arms in utter dejection.
It's over, it's really over this time.
If I don't accomplish the goals of the task, even if I don't perish with this world, I will be reconstructed when I return.
How is that different from perishing!
[Why, why on earth...]
The head of the system hung in despair.
[Completing the task would bring a reward of one billion and a return to Blue Star. Isn't such a task enticing enough?]
In a moment of distraction, Ji Mu, who had one foot in the roof door, suddenly stopped.
[I don't understand, I really don't understand.]
The system muttered softly with a pale face. Out of the corner of its eye, it suddenly noticed a dark shadow covering its entire body.
It looked up and saw that the boy who had seemingly left had returned for some reason and was looking at it with a serious expression.
"You just said, what reward for returning to Blue Star?"