"...My apologies.."
I bowed my head deeply.
"..? Ho... your change is more significant than I imagined.."
As if impressed by my drastic transformation, she circled me, even playfully tugging at my hair.
"Um... is there something you wish to say... Headmaster?"
"Not really."
"...I see..."
"..."
The silence was suffocating. Somehow, I had to escape this situation and return to my room immediately.
[ SYSTEM DETECTS HOST'S DESIRE. ]
[ SEARCHING FOR REASON TO "RETURN TO ROOM"] ---> [ 100% ]
[ HOST, USE THE EXCUSE "TAKING MEDICATION" OR "CATCHING UP ON MISSED LESSONS" IF THE FIRST OPTION FAILS. ]
'That reason... it makes sense! Good work.'
[ HAPPY TO ASSIST. ]
"..Headmaster..."
"...What is it?"
Nervously, I tried to voice the excuse about the medication I was mentally rehearsing.
"I apologize for intruding on your time, but I must return immediately to take my medication..."
"Is that so?"
"...Yes."
There was no time for hesitation. This time, I had to return to my room without fail.
"Very well, you may go."
"...Thank you very much, Headmaster." I bowed once more and moved with all my might to leave the area.
______________________________________________________________________________
"...How strange..."
In her mind, Vespera still remembered the Edward who would proudly boast of being just as talented as his sister.
"Whatever conviction made his former arrogant self change... but seeing him now... huff... humans truly are interesting creatures."
Vespera was an ancient dragon who enjoyed change, which was why she became the Headmaster of Ardenfield. Perhaps seeing a weak human evolve into something she never expected was truly delightful.
"It seems this year will be the most enjoyable one to watch. In a place where all geniuses gather... let's see how hard you will struggle to rival them."
____________________________________________________________________________
"Huff... huff..."
I moved as fast as I could to avoid that old dragon and finally reached the room I had left for a week. For some reason, it felt like that meeting wasn't just a coincidence.
"I don't know what caused me to run into her, but I hope it's nothing serious."
[ HOST, YOU SHOULD REST NOW. ]
That's right... about this system...
"...Hey," I called out softly.
[ YES, HOST? ]
"About you... why did you only show up now?" I asked suspiciously.
"I've been in this body for days. I almost died fighting Ronie, I was humiliated, and I suffered through Hemorrhagia Arcana alone. If you're the 'System' that's supposed to help me, why did you only show yourself during my duel with Alaric?"
The system screen flickered for a moment, shifting from a stable blue to a faint purple, as if processing emotions or searching for the right data. I waited while sitting on my bed—which, as it turned out, was not nearly as soft as the Class-S infirmary bed. I was genuinely jealous of my past self for a moment.
[ ANSWERING HOST'S QUESTION. ]
[ THE SYSTEM REQUIRES A TRIGGER IN THE FORM OF A 'WILL TO LIVE' THAT TRANSCENDS THE LOGICAL LIMITS OF THIS BODY. ]
[ THE ORIGINAL EDWARD HAD GIVEN UP ON HIS FATE AND CHOSE SUICIDE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE HOST TOOK OVER AND DECIDED TO DEFY THE 'NARRATIVE,' SOUL SYNCHRONIZATION REACHED THE CRITICAL THRESHOLD. ]
"I see..."
As I rubbed my chin, I realized something.
"Wait... so you know I'm a transmigrator?"
[ CORRECT. ]
"And... do you know that I'm also the one who created the world of Terra Sol Luna?"
[ CORRECT. ]
"....You've got to be kidding me..."
Just before my thoughts could spiral into something worse... the system displayed an additional message.
[ I ALSO POSSESS THE COMPLETE RECORD OF YOUR LIFE IN THE PREVIOUS WORLD. WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ IT? ]
"...." Looking at that message, I stared at the screen with empty eyes and a gaping mouth. Thinking about how the 23 years of my life were recorded made my entire body shiver.
"You... make sure you delete those embarrassing record.."
[ I WILL MOVE THOSE RECORD TO TEMPORARY DELETION. ]
"Delete them permanently."
[ DELETING DOCUMENTATION IS A DECISION THAT MUST BE MADE WITH CAUTION ]
[ HOST. I SUGGEST MOVING THEM TO TEMPORARY DELETION. ]
"..Delete. Permanently."
[ ... ]
"..."
[ COMMAND RECEIVED. ]
"Good. At least you're obedient."
Fortunately, this system was quite compliant. I was truly afraid of getting a system that couldn't stay quiet or one that never missed a second to insult its host.
"Next question... why did you only appear after I nearly died?"
[ ANSWERING HOST'S QUESTION. ]
[ THIS SYSTEM IS A MANIFESTATION OF THE HOST'S WILL TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE. I WAS ACTIVATED BECAUSE THE HOST REJECTED THE DEATH FATE OF THE UNIT 'EDWARD,' WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO END AT THE HANDS OF RONIE. ]
[ DURING THE DUEL WITH THE UNIT 'ALARIC,' THE HOST'S SOUL SYNCHRONIZATION REACHED A CRITICAL POINT. THE 'HEMORRHAGIA ARCANA' CONDITION YOU SUFFER FROM IS A FORM OF THE BODY REJECTING A FOREIGN SOUL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT PAIN IS WHAT TRIGGERED THE OVERDRIVE PROTOCOL. ]
I fell silent. So, the pain that almost killed me during the duel wasn't just a side effect? It was the "key." A defense mechanism that only activates when I'm truly on the brink of destruction.
"So... I have to stay on the verge of death just to use your power?" I muttered bitterly.
[ NOT ENTIRELY TRUE. ]
[AS SYNCHRONIZATION INCREASES, THAT PAIN WILL BECOME A CATALYST, NO LONGER AN OBSTACLE. ]
"I see... so in the end... you are the manifestation of my will," I murmured, closing my eyes.
"Then, the next question. Who created you? If I am the creator of Terra Sol Luna, I should know about such a system. But I never wrote about a 'System' in my novel drafts."
[ SEARCHING FOR CREATOR DATA... ] ---> [ ERROR. ]
[ DATA NOT FOUND. ]
The screen shook violently, displaying rows of corrupted and fragmented code.
[ MEMORY FRAGMENTATION DETECTED. ]
[ INFORMATION REGARDING THE SYSTEM'S ORIGIN HAS BEEN DELETED OR SEALED BY A HIGHER AUTHORITY. ]
[ I ONLY HAVE FAINT RECORDS OF A LIGHT... AND A FIGURE WHO GAVE THE COMMAND TO PROTECT YOU. ]
[ DATA REGARDING THE 'SYSTEM CREATOR' HAS BEEN LOST FROM MY DATABASE. ]
I frowned. Lost data? Higher authority? This was making less and less sense. If I didn't create it, then who did? Is there another "God" in the world I built? Or did a God from my original world interfere?
[ I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING UNABLE TO FIND THE DATA YOU DESIRE. ]
"Why are you apologizing? Data corruption or loss isn't your fault," I said, trying to cheer it up.
For some reason, my system was very kind. Perhaps too kind...
"Well, whatever. I think it's time I gave you a name."
[ I WOULD BE DELIGHTED WITH ANY NAME YOU CHOOSE. ]
"Really?"
[ YES. ]
"...hm...before that, quick question. Did the sound of female I heard when I almost collapsed is you?"
[ CORRECT. ]
"Alright."
She seemed to be looking forward to this... I shouldn't disappoint her. A name... a system... helping... giving advice... she's very much like an editor? And honestly, I couldn't just name her something generic like Freya or Sera... too common.
"Maybe I should look at it from a system's perspective..."
I was truly afraid of disappointing my system... because of that, I kept tapping my foot on the floor.
"Hm..."
[ HOST, YOUR HEARTBEAT HAS INCREASED SLIGHTLY. ]
"...Really? My heartbeat shouldn't be too... heartbeat?"
I began to catch onto something.
"That's it! I finally have a name for you!"
[ I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT. ]
Even though she showed no outward emotion, I could see her background color turn slightly pink. Was she blushing? No way, she's a system.
"Your name from now on is Edith."
[ INITIATING NAME REGISTRATION FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. ] ---> [ E.D.I.T.H. ] ---> [ EDITH. ]
[ ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO NAME ME 'EDITH'? ]
"Yes. I'm sure." I nodded proudly.
[ CONFIRMATION COMPLETE. ]
[ FROM NOW ON, I WILL NOT APPEAR UNLESS THE NAME 'EDITH' IS SPOKEN BY YOU. ]
"Mm, good. From now on, I hope you can help me, since I can't do anything on my own."
When I said that, Edith, the system in front of me replied with another message.
[ DO NOT WORRY, HOST. I WILL ENSURE YOUR PROTECTION FROM ANY DANGER. ]
"...Thank you."
It felt good to have someone to accompany me now.
"...Edith."
[ YES? ]
"Nothing, I just wanted to call your name."
[ YOU MAY CALL ME WHENEVER YOU WISH. ]
[ BECAUSE I AM EDITH. ]
[ THE SYSTEM THAT EXISTS FOR YOU. ]