System's Threats
---
[Urgent Quest: Do the Quest or Die ☠]
[Note: You have ignored the system's guidance and the quests assigned to you. As a last chance to redeem yourself for your arrogance, complete this quest or prepare for the consequences!]
Task:
Complete 1000 push-ups (1000/0)
Complete 1000 sit-ups (1000/0)
Complete 1000 squats (1000/0)
Mission Rewards: 5 SP and full stat recovery. Mission Penalty: Slow and painful death. Time limit: 3 hours.
For a brief moment, Eren's eyes showed a flicker of surprise before returning to their usual lazy demeanor.
"Hoho… Now you're using death as a punishment?" he chuckled, shaking his head. "Who did you learn that from?"
[!!!!!!!]
The system was fuming, its red screen flickering with raw fury.
Eren smirked at its reaction, completely unbothered. He stretched lazily before pulling the blanket over his head, snuggling into the softness of his pillow.
"Well, I guess that settles it. I can finally get some real sleep."
He murmured the words as if they were the most natural thing in the world. There was no fear, no regret. Only acceptance. He had no attachment to this world. If death came for him, so be it.
[HOST!]
The system, despite not having a face, somehow gave off the impression of pure panic.
[Please! You need to stop ignoring me and complete the task before it's too late!]
"Not interested."
[Host, I'm sorry! I apologize for my earlier actions!]
The sudden shift in tone was almost amusing. The once-arrogant and commanding system was now practically begging.
[Just know… This world needs your help. You are the only one who can save it!]
Eren sighed, keeping his eyes shut. "Find someone else."
[It's impossible! The system can only choose one candidate. If you die, the world will fall into ruin!]
"Then let it fall."
[HOST! NO, PLEASE WAKE UP!]
[DON'T DO THIS TO ME!]
The system's pleas fell on deaf ears. Eren had already drifted off, a serene smile resting on his lips.
For the first time, the system realized it had met someone it could not control.
...
...
Three hours had passed.
The once quiet room stirred as a figure shifted beneath the silk covers of the grand four-poster bed.
Eren slowly opened his eyes, his vision still hazy from sleep. His body felt heavy, but that was to be expected. After all, he had spent an unknown amount of time drowning in exhaustion, hoping for the eternal embrace of death.
A long, drawn-out yawn escaped his lips as he lazily covered his mouth with a hand. His gaze wandered toward the clock mounted on the wall. The antique timepiece ticked steadily, the golden hands pointing toward 11 in the morning.
His brows furrowed slightly in confusion.
"Am I finally dead?" he muttered to himself, his voice hoarse from disuse.
A familiar voice, mechanical and monotone, shattered the silence.
[...No.]
Eren's dull, tired eyes slowly shifted upward.
There it was—his system screen, floating in the air before him. But something was different.
The usual holographic blue display had changed into a dull green, and its once grand, radiant glow had dimmed significantly. Not only that, but it was also smaller than before, almost as if it had lost its power.
[...]
Eren blinked, staring at the system with mild curiosity before exhaling a deep sigh.
"Why didn't I die?" he asked plainly.
The system's response was as cold and mechanical as ever.
[Because I canceled the quest.]
A brief silence fell between them.
Eren stared. The system screen remained still.
"...Huh."
[.....]
"...That's too bad."
[!!!]
The system visibly trembled, its text flickering slightly as if it had just suffered a short-circuit. If it had a physical form, it would have likely recoiled in shock.
Eren, on the other hand, merely shrugged, completely indifferent.
The weight of his own death—or rather, the lack thereof—didn't seem to affect him in the slightest. If anything, he looked almost disappointed.
[Are you serious right now!?]
The system's voice glitched with frustration.
Eren ignored its outburst and stretched his arms before throwing off the blanket. With slow, deliberate movements, he stood up from the bed. His stomach let out a soft growl, signaling his hunger.
Without hesitation, he reached for the bell sitting neatly on his bedside table. He was about to summon the maid for breakfast.
But just as his fingers brushed against it.
[Host, can you stop for a second and listen to me? This is serious.]
The system's tone was urgent, almost pleading.
Eren's hand froze mid-air.
With a slow, bored turn of his head, he lazily met the system's screen with half-lidded, disinterested eyes.
"...What?"
His tone was dry, void of any real curiosity.
Sensing that it had at least gained a fraction of his attention, the system tried a different approach.
[Look, Host. I understand that you must be feeling confused, annoyed, and perhaps even frustrated, but please understand that this is not my fault. You were chosen—]
-Ring Ring-
The crisp chime of the bell rang out before the system could finish.
The system froze, feeling utterly ignored.
[HOST!]
Its voice spiked with frustration, but Eren barely reacted.
Instead, he merely leaned back against the bedframe and let out a slow sigh.
"I'm still listening," he said nonchalantly. "But if you keep babbling about excuses and pointless details, I will ignore you again."
His cold, piercing gaze locked onto the screen, making the system momentarily falter.
For a brief second, it shivered.
It was strange. It wasn't supposed to feel fear. And yet…
The system quickly recalculated its approach.
[Understood. I will be straightforward this time.]
The green screen flickered slightly before displaying a new message.
[Host… this world needs your help. It is on the brink of destruction, and you are the only one who can prevent its fall.]
Eren remained silent.
[My purpose is to assist you—by providing you with quests, to help you get stronger, and increase your chances of survival. Without you, this world is doomed.]
Still, Eren said nothing.
Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned back further, his expression unreadable.
"Is that all?" he finally asked, voice flat.
[N-No… There is more, but I can't reveal everything unless you level up your rank and—]
"Hah...!?"
The system flinched as Eren let out a sharp scoff.
"Tch. Typical writing." He muttered under his breath.
The system hesitated.
Writing?
What did he mean by that?
Eren sat up straight, his cold gaze sharpening.
"Listen up, useless," he said, voice carrying a dangerous chill.
[.....]
The system suddenly felt uneasy.
Eren raised three fingers.
"I'll ask three questions. If you fail to answer even one of them fully, we're done."
One finger went down.
"First question. Who brought me here?"
Another finger followed.
"Second question. Why was I brought here?"
Only one remained, pointed directly at the floating screen.
"Lastly… why should I listen to you?"
His words were slow, deliberate, each syllable carrying an unsettling weight.
For a moment, the system didn't respond.
It wasn't just because the host lacked the required level of authority to receive those answers.
It was because even the system itself didn't fully know the truth.
[...]
[A… you see, I'm unable to—]
Before it could finish, Eren's voice cut through the air.
"Ten..."
The moment he started counting, the system trembled for some unknown reason. A shudder ran through its data streams, an instinctive reaction it did not understand.
"Nine..."
Seeing the look in his eyes, the system panicked. He wasn't joking. The cold, detached way he counted down sent an unfamiliar sensation through the system—something akin to fear.
[WAIT, wait, wait! Please, let me explain!]
"Eight..."
The system felt a creeping dread. It didn't possess a body, yet if it had to describe what it was feeling in human terms, it would say it was sweating, its breath caught in its throat—if it had one.
"Seven..."
The sensation intensified, like icy fingers gripping its core. It couldn't understand why its host's actions filled it with such unease.
[Host! Please stop! I really can't answer your questions!]
"Four..."
[Why did you jump?!]