Chapter 22: Her Future Is Better Without Me

Under the starry sky, Ke Leya’s hand was still held by Vanessa.

Fireflies rose and fell around them, like a quiet dream.

Vanessa’s palm was warm, her fingers lightly clasping Ke Leya’s hand.

Ke Leya looked at the scattered lights of the distant town, then looked up at the star-filled sky.

Then she called softly in her mind:

‘System.’

[Host?]

The system’s voice immediately sounded.

‘You said before that once we complete the mission, we’d leave this world and go to the next, right?’

[Right.]

The system answered quickly.

[Once we’re done here, we’ll pull out.]

[What, Host already wants to run? Two out of three targets are already handled…]

‘Is there a way not to leave?’

Ke Leya interrupted, her voice calm in her mind.

The system froze for a moment.

[…Huh?]

‘I said, is there a way to just stay in this world.’

Ke Leya repeated.

‘I don’t want to leave.’

Vanessa seemed to sense her momentary stiffness, turned her face, and her gaze fell on Ke Leya’s lowered lashes.

[No, Host, you…]

The system’s electronic voice was rarely stammering.

[The contract we signed is to travel through different worlds doing missions. What does it mean to stay in one world and not leave? And what are you staying here for? What’s so great about this crappy place…]

‘Answer me.’

Ke Leya didn’t let it finish.

The system was silent for a few seconds.

[No.]

[If the mission is completed or judged a failure, we must detach from the current world module. I can’t change that.]

‘What about Vanessa?’

Ke Leya asked next, her gaze fixed on the dark river valley in the distance.

‘Can her cycle be lifted?’

This time the system was silent even longer.

[Yes.]

The system finally answered.

Ke Leya’s heart felt as if it was gently squeezed by that hand.

[But, Lin Mu.]

The system called her true name.

[Lifting the cycle of a protagonist that has been solidified by the World Will and serves as the core driving force requires all the points we’ve earned in this world.]

‘How many points do I have now?’

[Zero.]

The system said dryly.

[Because the mission isn’t complete, your points are zero right now. Completing this world’s mission gives 500, just enough.]

[And once we operate, the World Will will immediately detect the anomaly. We’ll be marked, then forcibly ejected. Do you understand what that means?]

Ke Leya shook her head.

[Forced Ejection by the World Will: this body will die instantly, and your soul will be taken by me to the next unknown world.]

[Moreover, due to the illegal operation, the initial conditions of the next world will be extremely poor, possibly worse than this one.]

[Host, this isn’t worth it. She’s just a character in this world, a person trapped in a cycle…]

‘Do it.’

Ke Leya said.

The system went silent again.

Wind passed through the grass, bringing rustling sounds.

A firefly wobbled and landed on Ke Leya’s overlapping skirt, green light reflecting on a small patch of black fabric.

[Are you sure?]

[All points reset to zero, next world hell mode start, just to lift her cycle?]

[Just so she can have a normal future?]

[Even if that future doesn’t have you?]

“Yeah.”

Ke Leya answered, then paused and added, “It’s better if her future doesn’t have me.”

Vanessa couldn’t hold back anymore.

She used a little force, pulling Ke Leya closer to her, shoulder to shoulder.

“Cold?”

Ke Leya shook her head.

She turned to look at Vanessa.

Starlight fell on Vanessa’s profile, her gray eyes appearing especially deep in the night, clearly reflecting the silver-haired version of herself.

Vanessa was also looking at her, her gaze focused, carrying a question, and a trace of barely noticeable worry.

Ke Leya looked into those eyes.

‘As expected… I still don’t deserve love.’