Ren woke up once again in his new bed.
He didn't even question it anymore. He simply sat there, dark circles standing out sharply against his pale skin. He looked like a ghost returned from the dead.
He was hungry, but he had no appetite. He stared at his thin, trembling hands and thought:
Ren: "Will I be able to do it? Should I give up?"
He clenched his fists, got out of bed, and walked toward the balcony for the first time, taking small steps, his arms swaying weakly at his sides. When he arrived, he grabbed the balcony railing.
It was afternoon. From where he stood, he could see a beautiful sunset—one that could warm anyone's heart. But not his.
Around the villa, there was nothing but forest as far as the eye could see.
Ren: "Wow… how beautiful."
(He said sarcastically.)
Dark thoughts began to invade his mind.
What would happen if I jumped from this height?
What if I gouged out an eye and threw it into the void?
What if… what if…
He was so desperate that he suddenly started laughing into the emptiness.
Ren: "Ha ha ha ha—HA ha! Hi he he he ha ha!"
(His face lifted toward the sky.)
When he finally stopped, he took a deep breath, a smile on his lips.
Ren: "Ah… so useless… ah!"
Suddenly—
SYSTEM BASIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVATED.
DEAR HOST, YOU'VE BEEN TRICKED—NA NA NA NA! HE HE!
A small boy appeared in a burst of light. Ren was completely shocked.
Ren: "S–System?! What is—"
(Looking up.)
He stared at the small boy floating in the air. A light breeze passed through Ren's hair.
Ren: "Who are you?"
(Clenching his fists.)
System: "My name is Lilou! Hehe—and you've been tricked!"
(Spinning in the air.)
Ren: This voice… don't tell me… no, that's impossible.
(Frowning.)
Ren couldn't stop feeling uneasy, though he didn't know why.
What he saw was a small boy, short in stature, with Redhead and green eyes. It was the first time ren had ever seen such colors on someone.
Ren: "Lilou… that's a strange name."
(Relaxing his fists.)
Ren seemed a little calmer. Was it because he was no longer alone? No one knew.
System: "Yes! I'm Lilou, and I really like Ren!"
Ren froze. His lips moved slightly.
Ren: "What did you just say?"
System: "I told you—you've been tricked! Ha ha ha, heh!"
Ren felt anger boiling inside him.
Ren: "I'M ASKING YOU ONE LAST TIME—WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!"
(Shouting.)
The system was startled by Ren's rage.
System: *Ren is angry?*
System: "Ren, don't be angry… Lilou likes Ren a lot."
Ren clenched his fists, bit his lower lip, and shouted again:
Ren: "I WON'T REPEAT MYSELF AGAIN—ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW. WHO ARE YOU REALLY?!!"
Silence.
System: "I'm really sorry…"
(In a low voice.)
What was happening?
Ren: "So… you were the voice?"
System: "Yes… Lilou likes Ren very much. I didn't want to hurt Ren."
Ren: "So you thought playing such a joke on me would make me laugh?"
(Pointing at himself.)
System: "Lilou likes Ren very much."
Ren : "You're really starting to get on my nerves with your declarations of love You may not know it, but I will never be able to forgive you.
Système : "But why ? I saved your life "
Ren: "I'll say more than you're playing with people's lives."
Système : "Don't talk nonsense, I'm a super competent system "
Ren : "Enough! Tell me who sent you, who you are, and what a system is."
Système : "To begin, my name is Lilou, I am the system that will guide you."
Ren : "Okay, and tell me where we are."
Système : "The place where you ended up is called the modern world, completely different from the historical world. "
Ren : "What is the historical world? And what is the modern world? "
Système :" How can I explain to you "
(with one hand on his cheek)
Ren : "I knew your story was a joke; you're just an incompetent fool who plays with people's lives."
Système : "No, that's not true."
Ren : "Okay, for now I'm tired and hungry.
Système : "Don't worry, with a snap of my fingers I can make the food you want appeare "
Ren se retourna surpris
Ren : "You really can do that."
Système : "I'm telling you, I'm super efficient. And if you'll forgive me for the joke, I can even express any of your wishes. "
Ren, after these words, remained frozen for a moment.
After all, the system can offer Ren whatever he wants, and if he forgives him, it wouldn't do him much harm.
The two beings—so different in every possible way—might be more connected than they realized.