[ Loyalty Signature Detected. ]
[ A New Bond Has Been Forged. ]
[ Congratulations. Someone actually trusts you. Shock: 98% ]
[ Will You Accept Him? ]
'Sorry.. what?'
[ I won't repeat. That's a lazy way to increase word count. ]
I held back an abusive urge.
'At least tell me the deal? Since when could you do all this? How did you even detect loyalty? Did you buy a premium membership of metal detectors?'
[ I have some divinity, remember? I can do many things like this. And since I am tasked with making you overpowered again, having a team is also an asset. So that's what I am doing. ]
'I see. But do you think having Jack is an asset?'
"Er… You know I can hear you, pal."
"Stay shut." I barked. "You haven't been forgiven yet."
Jack wiped his eyes and remained kneeled.
The system finally answered:
[ No. He is a liability. But you are a liability too. So that cancels each other out and we are left with asset. That's basic maths. ]
I sighed.
Jack heard the system too and I can see he was sad that the system called him a liability, but I believe he was also a little satisfied because the system called me a liability too!
'How the hell can I be a liability for myself!? I am not a girl with silicon boobs.'
[ Not for you. You are a liability for me. You lessened my talent. If the people ever stop liking systems, know that you are the reason. ]
'You are filled with hatred, man. I could also complain, you know. I have heard there is a Pornstar system roaming around somewhere. How will you feel if I also start ranting about you not being that type of system?'
[ Just shut the hell up and answer what I asked! ]
Heh. It must have stung him. He changed the topic faster than a feminist asked to split the dinner bill. Like an Indian parent avoiding "sex education."
[ … Just answer and move the plot forward. Do you want people to lose interest? This is not Lord Of The Mysteries where people would stick and wait for it to get interesting. You don't have the luxury like that! You are mid, bastard! ]
'... Damn. Don't get so personal, dude. I will answer your question. Just wait a second.'
[ Hmm. But before you do it, you should know if you accept Jack, you will trigger another quest. So make sure to think carefully and deeply before answering. Think every nook and cranny of your answer. Think of every possible outcome of your answer. You have a whole twenty seconds to think about it. Think like a man confused between seeing your wife having sex with your friend or seeing your neighbour's wife having sex with her husband. ]
'... I have so many questions about the things you said there but I only have twenty seconds so I would only say—Your dialogues, comparisons, similes, metaphors are just the worst.'
[ Nineteen Seconds Left! ]
Angh. This bish..
How can I even think all that he said in just nineteen seconds? I can't even decide whether to watch porn or hentai in nineteen seconds.
[ Eighteen seconds, to be exact. ]
I gritted my teeth.
I decided to rant about the system later and focus on the matter first.
Whether I would accept Jack under my team or not.
I raced my mind like neutered horses and recalled what Jack did since I met him.
He read my mind, he gulped my fist, he removed his pants behind me, he slurped when he saw anything naked, he tried to sell me the ritual that turned him into a ghost, he tried to hand me over to a—certified and graduated from Japanese trains—molester guard.
Yep. Not having this. I am not a girl who ignores the red flags and then cries to her male best friend that she had a toxic boyfriend, not knowing the male best friend isn't actually gay.
But… but…
There are also some things that Jack did.
He kneeled in front of me, he bowed his head to me, he said sorry and he said he would make my mission his in return of making him leave from here. He said he would help me in finding my grandma.
This was really a delirium. Sexis would have came seeing me using such a word.
But the question still stands. Shall I accept Jack or not. And also, there was also the chance of triggering that quest. I wonder if it would be bad for me or good.
I have no idea right now.
[ I didn't know you had a Phd in Yappology. ]
'What?'
[ Don't what me? You talked more than five paragraphs just for one question. No one cares that much. I will say it again, this is not The Lord of the Mysteries. ]
'It was you who told me to think hard about this. And don't mention that title again and again. Not only the copyright could become an issue, I feel jealous too.'
[ I told you to think hard but I also gave you twenty seconds. And you talked so long and yet twenty seconds aren't over yet. Why is this? ]
'That's how plot armor works. And shut up for a second. Let me think.'
I brought back my attention to Jack but the system won't stay shut..
[ If you don't answer within time limits, it would be taken as an Yes. ]
'What? First you only gave me twenty seconds, then you interrupted me and now if I don't answer, it would be taken as a default yes? When it clearly should be taken as a no! I feel like you want me to accept Jack in my team. What's the point of even asking my choice? There is no democracy here. Were you created in Poland while an Austrian Painter was paying a visit?'
[ Nein Seconds Left. Oh, Sorry—Nine Seconds Left. ]
'I see what you did there.'
[ Eight. ]
I understand.
[ Seven. ]
You are in no mood for a joke, system.
[ Six. ]
I should probably say something.
[ Five. ]
Yeah. I should answer now.
[ Four. ]
If the answer is gonna be yes by default then…
[ Three. ]
I am not allowing my choice to go to waste.
[ Two. ]
My answer is..
[ One. ]
"Yes. I accept Jack."
[ Ding! ]
[ Additional Quest Triggered! ]
[ … ]