Liaine—The System

My mind was still reeling from that memory of Elias' past. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't think straight. It wasn't just a vision-it felt real. Too real. Like I had been there, watching it unfold with my own eyes. Feeling the helplessness, the suffocating grief, the weight of betrayal crushing down on me like an avalanche.

But that wasn't possible.

I never wrote that scene. I had only mentioned in passing that Elias' mother had died. Yet here I was, haunted by vivid details I never created, emotions I never scripted. The world was changing on its own. The story wasn't following my plan anymore.

And it all started the moment I arrived here.

I clenched the sheets beneath my fingers, my mind spiraling with possibilities. Could it be me? My presence in this world-was it disrupting everything? Changing details I had once set in stone?

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

"Then what else changed too?" I muttered to myself, running a hand through my disheveled hair.

The system.

My jaw tightened as I thought about Liaine.

What was her deal anyway? Systems were supposed to guide the protagonist, right? I had read enough books with systems that treated their MCs like beloved children-spoon-feeding them information, guiding them every step of the way, practically handing them power on a silver platter. They would throw in some stupidly convenient quests, just so the MC could get what they wanted.

But Liaine?

She was nothing like that.

She barely told me anything, gave me vague and inconvenient tasks, and punished me if I didn't comply. Her rewards were mediocre at best, and her punishments-those were the worst part. Harsh. Unforgiving. Almost as if she wanted me to fail.

My stomach twisted at the thought.

"No way." I whispered. "Don't tell me... You're one of those systems."

A system that sabotages its own host.

My blood ran cold.

"Not you too, Liaine." I murmured, shaking my head. "Everyone in this world already hates me. I don't need you turning against me too."

No response.

Of course, she wouldn't respond. She only spoke when she wanted to, when it was about a mission, a warning, or a punishment. Never when I needed answers.

I let out a shaky breath, trying to piece things together. If the story was shifting on its own, if even Elias' memories were becoming clearer, then I needed to be careful. I couldn't rely on Liaine. I couldn't trust this system. If she really was trying to lead me to my downfall, then I had to play smarter.

[New quest for Elias Astiars.]

I froze.

Of course.

Of course she would show up now, right when my patience had hit its limit.

A faint, glowing panel appeared before my eyes, illuminating the darkened room with its familiar cold, blue light.

Objective: A true villain does not strike in plain sight; they shape the world from the shadows. Prove your influence without direct confrontation.

Task: Ensure Dante Ashbourne suffers a loss-but you cannot be caught as the cause.

Requirements: Must orchestrate the event using manipulation, deception, or indirect means. No direct physical confrontation.

Time Limit: Three days.

Reward: +10 Influence, Unlock 'Shadow's Hand' (a passive skill that makes people more likely to follow your suggestions).

Punishment for Failure: Dante will gain a personal reason to watch you closely, limiting your freedom in the academy.

I read the glowing text again, my stomach knotting at the implications.

Ensure Dante Ashbourne suffers a loss-but you cannot be caught as the cause.

I could already feel the headache forming. Manipulation, deception, and indirect means? It wasn't impossible, but it was risky. Dante wasn't just some school bully-he was a master at controlling people, keeping everyone under his thumb. If I made one wrong move, I'd end up on his radar.

I exhaled slowly. Think, Elias.

Dante's strength wasn't just in his fists-it was in perception. His reputation, the fear he instilled, the illusion that he was untouchable. If I couldn't attack him directly, then I had to chip away at that illusion.

And what better way than with a little rumor?

I sat up in bed, an idea forming in my mind. Everyone assumed Dante came from an influential family. That was part of why people feared him-because even if they somehow managed to defeat him in a fight, they thought there would be consequences beyond the school walls.

But what if that wasn't true?

I knew the truth. Dante wasn't from a rich family. He was a fraud, someone who had clawed his way to the top through sheer willpower and brutality. His power wasn't inherited-it was built.

And if I could plant even the smallest seed of doubt in people's minds, that power would start to crumble.

The academy thrived on status. If people started whispering that Dante was nothing more than a nobody who had faked his way into power, his influence would weaken. Students who had once followed him out of fear would hesitate. Those looking to challenge him might finally take the chance.

I smirked. Perfect.

Now, I just needed to figure out how to spread the rumor without getting caught.

I pushed the system panel away and stood up. Step one: Find a way to introduce doubt.

By tomorrow morning, the first whispers would start.

And from there, I would watch Dante's empire slowly begin to crack.