I’m good
If Zeke had made a bucket list back in his world, he would've made confusing a possibly sentient system at the top of the list. It was pretty impressive.
[...Apologies. I believe I misheard you.]
And pretty funny, honestly.
"You didn't mishear shit." Zeke snorted as he relaxed and cozied into his bed, "I said no. Now kill me or get out of my head and go to someone else."
[...I fail to comprehend your response.]
"The fuck you don't." Zeke clicked his tongue, trying to fluff his pillow to take a better nap, "No. N. O. I ain't doing it. Was that clear enough?"
[That... You said no?]
"Yeah."
[Did you read the entire message?]
"Yeah."
[So you understand the situation?]
"Yeah."
[...and you understand the punishment if you fail. If you don't help and the Demon King wins.]
"Yeah, I'll die." Zeke rolled his eyes, giving up in his nap as he waved his hands dismissively, "I totally get it. So kill me now or leave, whichever comes first. I just confirmed I wasn't really dead anyway, so it's not like I missed out on anything important."
[You... it is not in my directive to kill you.] The system typed, almost in an epiphany, [I can see where the confusion may come from concerning verbiage. The Failure of the quest does not come from the rejection of a request, simply failing to complete it. I am designed to be a very fair system that way.]
"Cool, so I'll only die in ten years, right?" Zeke said, glancing around the system screen to peek at the TV. "That's sweet. I guess I have a lot longer here than I thought."
"[That isn't... that isn't an invitation to reject the request.]
"But I already rejected it."
[You... I believed that lack of information spurred such a decision." The system said, as if convincing itself, [Now that you know all the details, I believe it fair for you to make your decision again. I am a fair system when it comes to such things.]
"Good for you." Zeke nodded as he gave up watching TV and wondered if any food was in the fridge. Probably not.
"My answer's still no," Zeke said as the system seemed to buffer in confusion. He ignored it. "Now, can you get out of my head? I'm deciding between lunch, job hunting, or sleep, and you're in the way of all of them."
[I do not understand.] The system typed slowly, [Also, I am not in your head. I've been added as a feature to your status screen. All awakened have one. Yours is simply far more advanced now that I-]
"That's what it's fucking called," Zeke interrupted. Now he remembered. He had to say or think Status and get that stupid screen with all the stats.
"Status."
[...I wasn't done-]
"Status!" Zeke barked, smirking as the system eventually showed his stats.
Name: Jay Haze
Age: 16
Potential: D+
Rank: G
Strength: G
Agility: G
Stamina: G-
Intelligence: G-
Mana Capacity: G-
Luck: E+
Charm: E-
Title: N/A
Profession: 2 available
[ (N) Basic Farming]
[ (A) Basic Spearmanship]
Martial Techniques: 1 available
[ (2 Stars) Voxx Academy Spear Arts]
Skills: N/A
"I knew this guy was a bum," Zeke murmured as he looked over the list. Glancing at the profession tab, he asked, "Hey, system, what do N and A stand for."
[N stands for natural,] the system typed in a separate window, so Zeke didn't have to close the status window. [Having an N by your profession means you were born with a natural talent for it. Most people have at least one profession for which they are naturally suited. Your's is farming.]
"That's cool," Zeke hummed. He'd never bought a plant without killing it, but if he could take care of one here, maybe he'd get one. Like a potted plant in the corner or something. Make the room smell less like death.
Or almost death. In Jay's case.
"What about the A?"
[It means an Acquired profession] the system typed, [Or a set job you've learned rather than discovered a gift in. Most people can acquire a profession or two simply by living for a long time.]
"So if I got a job as a cook," Zeke asked, still thinking about which job he needed if he ever left this apartment. "I'd get cooking as a profession?"
[After long enough, yes] the system typed [But chances are you will never progress as far as you would in farming. A natural profession will always progress further than an acquired one. Even if practiced to their fullest, most acquired professions max out at the intermediate stage.]
"That doesn't seem like the worst thing in the world." Zeke shrugged. He'd never tried farming before, and while the idea wasn't horrible, he'd check other options first. He doubted he needed to have a natural gift to do office work, and a paycheck was a paycheck, so if he could make a living in the city, he'd try that before going to the countryside. Yahrnam was an expensive trip.
And student or not, Jay was obviously broke.
"Hey, system." Zeke wondered as he shelved the idea for later and asked, "What are the stages again."
[Basic, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, and Master] The system explained, [Each stage has an increasing difficulty. Once you reach 100% mastery of a stage, you will move on to the next.]
"Cool, how do I check how far I am."
[Tap or think of it] the system typed, and Zeke nodded. Thinking of clicking on a link to open a tab, he saw the description for his profession.
[ (N) Basic Farming]
—> Mastery 7%
Description: Born with a green thumb, you have a slightly higher talent for handling plants. You have a somewhat higher talent when it comes to handling farming tools.
[ (A) Basic Spearmanship]
—> Mastery 87%
Description: Acquired after years of training with the spear. Voxx Academy's tutelage has only boosted this understanding.,
"Neat." Zeke said, glancing at the martial techniques, "And what does the 2-star thing mean again."
[The grade or rank of the martial art learned. Stars range from 1 to 5, with five being the rarest and most powerful.]
"So it could be worse is what you're saying." Zeke hummed, opening the tab for martial technique and checking the description.
[ (2 Stars) Voxx Academy Spear Arts]
—> Movements learned: 2/7
Description: Standard Spear Arts of Voxx Academy.
"What does the movement thing mean again?"
[The steps in a martial art technique. The higher your mastery is in the corresponding profession, the more movements you will be able to learn] The system elaborated, [Stars correlate to how easy it is to know all the movements. For two stars, there's a chance you will master it by the time you reach intermediate stage spearmanship, but for three stars, you would have to be Advanced to complete all of it. Four stars for Expert and Five Stars for Master]
"Hm," Zeke snorted, "Seems like Jay was wasting his time in spearmanship then."
[Yes] the system agreed, [But he was working with a potential that limited his ability. With my help, you will be able to break past that barrier and-]
"I'm good," Zeke said, the system seemingly refreshing. [... Apologies. I seem to have-]
"You didn't mishear me." Zeke rolled his eyes as he stood up, firming his aching feet, and walked to the kitchen. "I'm not going to the academy, so I don't really need to mess with my potential or whatever. Being a D-rank citizen seems fine to me."
[But the quest-]
"I rejected the quest."
[You weren't supposed to reject it.]
"Then why give me the option?"
[It was complementary.] the system said, before it buzzed and seemed to get excited. [There has been an update! Please reread the quest!]
Zeke raised an eyebrow as he picked out a coffee mug and filled it with tap water. Sipping it quietly before leaning against the dirty countertop and rereading the quest. It looked the same.
Well, mostly the same.
[Quest: Assist the protagonist and his allies to find a better ending in a scenario more complicated and dangerous, risky and world-ending than the one prophesied. The more you assist the main cast, the better humanity's chances of survival.]
[Rewards: Survival]
[Failure: Death]
[Conditions: Should you refuse, you will be killed immediately]
[Do you accept?]
[Yes/No]
"I thought you said you were generous on these things?" Zeke smirked as he watched the system flicker. Three dots flashed across the screen before the system typed.
[It was not my decision to make such a change] it typed, as Zeke tilted his head curiously. With an amused smile, he watched as the system seemed to pick up its nonexistent shoulders. [But! Now that the quest has been updated, you must help! Otherwise-]
"I already told you." Zeke shook his head, an amused smirk on his face, as he reached for the no button. "I'm good."
[Wait!] The system disappeared right when Zeke was about to press it. His finger pushed through the empty air where the screen had been before it popped back up with the system's message. [I do not understand.]
"What's not to understand?"
[You were about to die.]
"And?" Zeke shrugged, "I already died, didn't I?"
[I assure you, you did not die because of your-]
"Then I'm in the hospital waiting to die." Zeke rolled his eyes, "Feel free to pull the plug whenever. Or hey. If this guy's still alive and he didn't wake up in my body, just let him use mine. It's only fair."
[...was that what humans call, a joke?]
"I mean it." Zeke shrugged, "He'll be in a lot of pain when he wakes up, but if I didn't end up in a wheelchair, it should be a decent trade. Since I'm living in his, he might as well live in mine."
[...I...] the system buffered, [I am unsure if they are alive, or if that is possible, and even if it was, I do not have the power to do that.]
"Then who does?" Zeke asked, watching as the system buffered, before typing. [The creator has granted you access to level three information. I am now allowed to refer to the creator as the creator. They are the ones that brought you here. And only they have the power to give Jay Haze your body.]
"Cool." Zeke sipped his mug. "Why don't they then?"
[Because it would be permanent] the system said, [It costs nothing to send Jay away but would cost too much of themselves to bring him back.]
"Themselves?"
[The creator has allowed you level 5 clearance. Themselves is similar in connotation to 'their powers.' The powers they have to influence their reality. Right now, they have very little and have already used much of it to bring you here and create me. Should they send Jay away, they would not be able to get them back. It would be permanent.]
"Permanent, huh..." Zeke wondered, "So does that mean they would just kill Jay otherwise."
[Jay was already on the brink of death. It is unknown if he would have lived without the creator. Still, you couldn't be transferred to a dead body, so they used their power to... delay the process.] the system said, buffering like it was thinking, [However, they say they are willing to send you back to your world after the demon king is defeated if that's what you want. In which case, Jay would reclaim his body after-]
"Nah, I don't want to go back," Zeke said, finishing his cup as he set it down and moved the fridge. "I've got nothing waiting for me back there."
[...the creator was informed you had a family.]
"Had," Zeke said, ignoring the quiver in his fingers as he opened the fridge and found a half-eaten apple and milk he wasn't willing to test out.
"But if things work out," Zeke said, removing the few ingredients left in the fridge and closing the door. A ham and pickle sandwich would have to do.
"They'll be this guy's family now." Zeke made his sandwich, "And he looks like he could use 'em."
[The creator does not understand.] The system said, [You do not want to return home but are unwilling to protect this one. What do you want?]
"A nap." Zeke rolled his eyes before he took a bite. Sour. He spoke through his bites, "And why does he even want me to 'save' the world so badly."
[You have the highest probability of success.]
"Out of who?"
[You do not have clearance to access-]
"See, now I just think you're lying." Zeke clicked his tongue, "If you're so powerful, do you really expect me to believe Ryu couldn't do better with you."
[Your clearance has been raised to level 7. I can not be given to Ryu.]
"Why?"
[Because it costs more of the creator's power to change this reality than others.] The system typed, [That is why they had to choose from another reality, and yours is the one closest to ours.]
"So, can't he just do that again?" Zeke asked as he finished his food. Moving to the sink and filling up his mug with more tap water. "Pick someone else to give the system to. They can save the world instead of me."
[That is... possible but not wise.]
"Why?"
[You had the highest chance of success.]
"How high?"
[I can not-]
"Dude."
[You have been authorized clearance level 9 access—59%. If you accept the quest, there is a 59% chance of humanity's survival. And only a 41% chance the demon king will win.]
"Not bad odds." Zeke admitted as he downed his second cup of water, and started doing the dishes, "What if I say no?"
[There is a 59% chance the demon king will win.] The system typed [41% chance humanity will survive.]
"So flipped, huh," Zeke mumbled, "What about second place?"
[Second place?]
"Yeah, you said I had the highest percent chance, right?" Zeke asked, finishing the dishes as he wiped his hands on his shirt and glanced back.
"So what about the second highest?" he asked, "What percent chance do they have?"
[That's...] The system seemed to take a few seconds to respond. [50%]
"A coin flip?" Zeke titled his head. He rolled over the chances in his head.
[Yes. A coin flip will decide if humanity survives.]
50% wasn't bad at all.
[Hence why you must-]
"Cool," Zeke nodded. "Do that then. Send Jay back and give second place the system. Leave me the hell alone. They can save the world instead of me."
[It is not that simple.] The system typed. [It might not seem like a lot, but 9 percent is a big gap when conceding probabilities. And even if the creator used the last of their powers to bring them here, similar to what they would do with you and Jay, I wouldn't be able to transfer over completely.]
"Why?"
[Because transferring me to their new bodies will also take power] the system typed, [And the only way the creator could accomplish such a thing is by downgrading me and refunding some of my more valuable features. Leaving the second candidate with a subpar version of me.]
"Will that change the 50%?"
[Yes]
"By how much?"
[...8%] The system eventually typed. [So humanity would only have a 42% chance of survival.]
"That's still pretty good."
[You do not understand how probabilities work.]
"It would be 1% more than if I said no and died."
[It would be 17% less than if you just said yes.]
"Huh, never thought of it that way," Zeke hummed, scratching his chin before he shrugged, "Yeah, still no. I'm sure whoever comes next will do a better job than I could. So let's just give them the system."
[You're making a mistake]
"What?" Zeke snorted, "No creator says anymore?"
[They also said you are making a mistake.] The system clarified. [Please reconsider.]
"The creator chose me, a shut-in that couldn't even pass college." Zeke rolled his eyes, "Pardon me if I think he has better options."
[You're underestimating your potential]
"Trust me, I'm not." Zeke smiled thinly, watching as the system seemed to load and recalibrate. Then, either it or the creator gave up entirely.
[...The creator says they will transfer what they can of me to the second place prospect, and refund what they need to. Jay will take your body, and you will no longer be allowed to leave this world." the system said, before Zeke's status screen started fading.
[Update begins in 10 seconds... 9... 8...]
Zeke watched the clock tick down, catching a glimpse of a final message before he was locked out of his status screen for the next 3 hours.
[I hope you have a horrible life] the system typed before the status screen faded. Zeke laughed, shaking his head with a smile. Turning to the rest of the apartment, he decided to start cleaning. He'd have to start getting used to the name Jay since he was living as him now. And job hunting would come later. But for now, he decided to clean and chuckle.
"Generous, my ass."
If Zeke knew the system could tell jokes he might've kept it around a bit longer.