The world around me was silent when suddenly I gasped, the sound tearing out of my lungs as though I had just been dragged up from the depths of the ocean after nearly drowning.
Air rushed into my chest violently, my lungs burning as though they'd been deprived for far too long.
For a brief moment, I simply stood there, breathing heavily.
My heart pounded violently against my ribs, my entire body trembling slightly as a strange sense of disorientation flooded my mind.
Instantly, my hand moved to my body, touching my face in disbelief.
My skin felt real, slightly cold, but real nonetheless.
"I've been… transmigrated?"
The words slipped out slowly, almost uncertainly.
There was a mirror on the other side of the room, and as though driven by instinct, I walked toward it.
When my gaze fell upon my reflection, my pupils shrank slightly.
It wasn't the me from Earth.
I stared at the young man in the mirror in silence.
Dark blue eyes like frozen ice.
Light white hair that fell neatly around my face.
A sharp jawline.
A toned, slightly lean body.
Healthy.
Far healthier than the exhausted body I'd dragged around while writing day and night during my previous life.
"Who… the fuck am I?" I muttered under my breath, running my hand through the length of my hair.
The gesture felt strangely familiar.
Something I'd unconsciously brought along with me from Earth.
I tried recalling the characters of the novel I had spent five years writing.
Every major character.
Every important side character.
But no matter how much I searched my memory, I couldn't remember creating someone that looked like this.
Just as confusion began creeping deeper into my thoughts—
[ding! System initiated!]
My body froze.
A line of glowing words materialised directly in front of my eyes.
[The milf conquering system is initialising…]
"…what?"
[1%… 10%… 54%… 99%… 100%]
The display flickered slightly before the words changed once more.
[Congratulations host on acquiring the unique Milf Conquering System!]
I blinked repeatedly, then leaned slightly forward, staring at the floating interface as though afraid it might disappear if I blinked again.
[Function 1: After engaging in an intimate act with a heroine's mother for the first time, you may awaken an SSS-rank origin path.]
Silence filled the room.
"…what the fuck?"
A slow grin began spreading across my face.
"Perverted Dreamer…"
The name slipped out subconsciously.
That was the username of the reader who had commented under nearly every chapter of my novel.
Truly… this person had surprised me to a ridiculous extent.
Just that single function alone was enough to make my mind explode.
This was a world of origin paths.
In this world, strength determined everything.
Those who awakened powerful origin paths stood at the peak of society.
Four major origin paths existed.
The elemental origin path.
People who controlled elements such as fire, wind, water, ice, darkness, space, and countless other elemental variations.
Then there were the ability awakeners.
Individuals who awakened strange abilities of varying levels, ranging from small telekinesis…
While others awakened terrifying powers capable of controlling minds or destroying entire battlefields.
Then there was the summoner path.
Those who awakened this path could summon beasts, relying on their summoned creatures to fight while evolving them to higher ranks.
And finally—
The potion path.
A complicated origin path where people gained abilities through potions.
After completely digesting one potion, they would have to take another potion of the same pathway to advance.
In simple terms, if someone consumed a strength potion for the first time…
They would need a stronger version of that same potion to increase their power again.
At first glance it sounded like the worst pathway.
But those who walked that path eventually realised its terrifying potential.
I ran my hand through my hair again, feeling slightly mentally drained from recalling the complex power system I had painstakingly created while writing the novel in my previous life.
"Perhaps… with me inside this masterpiece…"
A quiet chuckle escaped my lips.
"…it will finally gain the recognition it deserves."
Just as I finished speaking, the system interface shifted once more.
[Function 2: Complete mission details to obtain EXPs, system points, and level up.]
[Function 3: System store – purchase a variety of tools, equipment and other items.]
[Function 4: System space – a unique space where both living and non-living things can be stored. Time remains frozen within this space.]
[Do you wish to activate the system's interactive mode? Or do you prefer a mechanical interface?]
I tilted my head slightly.
"Interactive mode?"
After thinking for a moment, I replied internally.
'Activate it.'
[Welcome, host!]
An excited feminine voice rang inside my mind.
I froze.
"…you're the system?"
[Yes. The interactive mode allows the system to communicate with the host, answer questions, and assist with system navigation.]
I blinked slowly.
Not even the protagonist of the novel I had written possessed something like this.
"Do you have a name?"
[No.]
"I see…"
My eyes lit up slightly.
"From today… I'll call you Astra."
"Is that alright?"
[Yes!]
The voice sounded strangely happy.
The reaction made me pause.
"Wait… are you alive?"
A few seconds passed before the reply came.
[Unfortunately no. However I possess advanced intelligence that allows me to behave similarly to humans.]
"…I see."
That made sense.
Changing the topic, I asked internally,
'What missions are currently available?'
[Do you wish to view daily missions or standard missions?]
'Which is more important?'
[Standard missions. However they are significantly more difficult.]
'Then show me the daily missions.'
Instantly, glowing blue words began forming in front of my eyes.
But just as I was about to read them—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
My head snapped toward the door.
"Logan?"
A voice came from outside.
Logan.
So that was my name.
I glanced briefly at the mirror before forcing my expression into a calm mask.
Taking a deep breath, I walked over and opened the door.
Standing outside was a young lady dressed in a black suit.
Running from her firm breasts down to slightly above her knees was an apron with faint stains on it.
A maid.
I raised a brow slightly.
"The mistress has asked us to ensure everything is perfectly prepared for the banquet tonight."
"…what?"
The words slipped out subconsciously.
"The mistress asked that we ensure everything is prepared perfectly for the banquet."
A banquet?
My brows slowly furrowed.
"When did this happen…"
My mind raced rapidly as I ran through the plot of the novel I had written.
I didn't remember writing anything about a banquet.
Could this be an event that happened in the background?
"Are you alright?"
The maid snapped her fingers slightly in front of my face.
"What family is this?" I asked sharply.
"The Evernight family… why?"
The confusion in her eyes deepened.
Logan had been working as a servant in the Evernight family for nearly ten years.
How could he suddenly forget where he was?
But the moment those two words echoed in my mind—
Evernight.
My entire body froze.
It felt like a thunderclap exploding inside my head.
A scene flashed across my mind.
A beautiful woman standing in the pouring rain.
Her noble family collapsing overnight.
Her reputation destroyed.
Her future ruined.
"One year ago…"
My lips moved unconsciously.
"The day Angeline Evernight lost everything…"
A chill ran down my spine.
Because that exact day…
Was today.