Chapter 509

Chapter Twenty – The System’s Incitement

The vicious dragon could easily make those who knew its terror remain motionless, even in their defenseless sleep. Now, Yayoi being suddenly faced with this supernatural presence was even more directly scared into curling into a fetal position.

The virtual panel of the system silently displayed a string of ellipsis.

If you can only tremble on the ground, you cannot become the person he wishes to save.

Text from the system’s virtual panel changed once again.

[Calm down, girl.]

Feeling something, Yayoi cautiously narrowed her eyes while still in the curled position, making sure she wasn’t actually swallowed before daring to read the text carefully.

[I am not him, you can call me System.]

“System?” Yayoi murmured the name, unsure of its meaning.

But given her habit of reading comics, Yayoi’s mind raced through imaginary concepts swiftly.

This person seems to be asleep; could this panel maybe be like a fairy being, such as Sugar?

Seeing this, Yayoi mustered her courage again. “Then, what are you? And what is your relationship with this person?”

What exactly do you all want to do to us? Even though I no longer have the strength to resist this man…

[These things aren’t important; you could say this is our secret.]

The changing text on the panel further confused Yayoi.

[I want you to help him, for him, for this world, and for you.]

Help…him?

Yayoi, confused by such a request, felt genuinely bewildered.

But how can I help him? In what way? Would someone as powerful as him need my assistance, a little girl?

No, no!

Remembering the fear the other person instilled, Yayoi shook her head vigorously.

“Talk about helping—it’s clear this man has wronged me and my friends. He didn’t just seal the power of the Smile Compact, but also…”

The arrogant gaze that looked down at her, like one might at an ant, lingered in her memory. Far worse was the sense of denial he projected—she found it intolerable!

[His initial fierce attitude is precisely because he values you all so much.] The text even went beyond the panel, adding [This is his way of showing care.]

Caring… You call this care?!

Seeing the cold text on the panel, Yayoi’s fingers tightening around it turned white, while her previously fear-filled and puzzled thoughts were now consumed by a rising resentment and anger.

“I can’t believe this! Even if I wanted to trust a stranger like him, his words!”

Thinking of the eye that harmed her and her companions, Yayoi’s usual calm broke as fury took hold. “I can’t believe it!”

“Even if you tell me this now, I don’t know what to do! I, I…”

Tears blurred Yayoi’s vision, and she rubbed her eyes with her sleeve.

“Speaking to me like this is just too much!”

The system’s panel paused a moment after hearing this and then continued forming new text.

[Try touching the sword; just a touch will explain everything.]

Touch the sword used for transformation?

Gathering her courage, wiping away tears, and feeling bewildered, Yayoi slowly extended her right hand and touched a finger to the emblem on the hilt of the sword.

“Clack.”

The small drawing set Yayoi was holding fell to the floor.

“Uh…uh, uhh!”

Yayoi cried out to herself as she knelt, her appearance derived from Ash, whose hair was messy and covered one eye, creating a low-pressure impression. Ash gripped Yayoi’s soft hand tightly, twisting it away.

Holding her arm, Yayoi tried to wrestle free, yet Ash’s grip was like iron, leaving red marks. His left eye, barely visible, stared at her with a deathly-cold glare, filling her heart with fear and pain, regardless of her cute or pitiful state.

“It hurts, it hurts!”

Cries and pleas did not move him, perhaps not considering children’s reactions, but Ash definitely wasn’t ordinary.

“If you don’t know pain, you won’t learn not to touch others’ belongings.”

Feeling the trembling of tiny bones beneath his palm, Ash released her before letting her fly away with a push.

“Go home; I have no use for those lacking courage.”

Ash was clearly displeased, observing Yayoi run off in tears until she disappeared from sight. Only then did he say the name.

[System, you always have your say, right? You always cause trouble.]

If she had really touched the dark sword and seen such things….tsk, I wouldn’t be happy at all.

[I think Ash needs someone to support him at his side.]

“Geez, having someone disturb my sleep is enough already.” Crumpling the panel into a paper ball with annoyance, Ash tossed it into his body casually.

“And since I have seen that scene, if I wish to change the outcome, it is my responsibility alone. No need for anyone else’s help!”

“No matter the problem, I’m plenty strong on my own!”

Integrating back into Ash’s body, the system didn’t go silent but watched as Ash looked at the overflowing item slot representing proof of his past.

Ash, precisely because of this, I believe solitary travels are impossible for you.

Preparing to relocate for a better sleep spot, Ash noticed something underfoot—an abandoned yellow-haired girl’s drawing board.

Curiously picking it up, he discovered something unexpected.

“Hmm…”

Seeing the self-portrait, drawn as resilient as a comic character, sleeping on a bench, Ash couldn’t help smiling.

“What? Not bad.”

“But, that’s totally not how I look.”