Chapter 3 Hold On, What Can I Actually Do?

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

<You Have Accepted The Root Quest: Save Us>

[Your Actions Have Been Recorded In The System's Records]

The moment the golden tab before me appeared, I smiled in anticipation.

'It really is just like the novel!' I exclaimed.

Just like the System that was used in T.W.T.S.S, I had gotten a notification about my acceptance of their Quest.

Thanks to this, I was already tied to these people, whether I liked it or not. I was tending towards not.

Failure to complete the Quest had repercussions, and success had rewards.

The most important thing to note about 'Root Quests' was that they were the underlying motivations and principles that governed every action the MC would make, until he finally eliminated the origin threat.

'This was why I had to ask for the cost before agreeing to help. Damn, it's too late now…'

It was an impulsive and rash action on my part.

If Damien saw me now, I was sure he would be pissed.

Still, I knew just how he too reacted when he arrived in his first Transmigrated world.

Unlike me, he didn't keep his cool at all. In fact, compared to the immature and inexperienced MC of my favorite Novel, I was actually doing pretty well, all things considered.

"T-THANK YOU, HERO!" The kneeling people bowed once more, thanking me fervently.

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

<You Have Earned The Complete Trust And Loyalty Of These (5) People>

[They Will Be Added To Character List]

~You May Check The Information Of Those You Have Built Certain Relationships with In The Character List~

My smile broadened into a grin.

Usually, one could only check the Basic Status Bars (HP and MP), and Levels of any character using the System.

However, Character List would give a more detailed explanation and statistical analysis of selected individuals.

'I have five already? Damn! I'm good.'

No matter how I looked at it, these guys were too trusting. The pieces of this puzzle were falling into place too easily.

It was almost suspicious.

If it wasn't for the confidence I had in my intuition and people-reading ability, I would have already placed them on my 'Watch Out For' List.

'I suppose that won't be necessary, at least not yet.'

The System never lied.

This meant I actually had their trust and loyalty.

"Rise to your feet," I said to them in my usual calm manner.

It was partly because I was uncomfortable seeing them kneel for so long, but also due to the fact that the ground was quite a mess.

'It's so cold. My feet are getting numb!'

Still in my pajamas, and with nothing serving as protection for my feet, I shivered a bit.

That didn't mean I displayed my discomfort, though.

The Priestess and her four barbarian guards rose obediently.

'Hmm. I wonder if there's anything in my inventory that I can use…'

The System had many capabilities.

'Visit (Mybo x novel. com) to read, pls!',

One of them was a special storage unit that contained items and personal effects of the MC.

In light of the fact that I was currently the MC, it should work for me too… right?

I should also use this chance to check out my Stats and stuff. This should have been the first thing I did upon my arrival.

The unusual atmosphere had distracted me and had made my head all muddled up, but I was slowly getting accustomed to things.

From the corner of my eyes, I spotted the concerned expression of the Priestess.

One of the guards also seemed to be whispering something into her ears, to which she nodded.

I was a bit curious about it, but my curiosity could wait.

The most pertinent matter was my overall Stats and Condition.

I had to get accustomed to my new reality as soon as possible. That meant only one thing.

'System Window!' I spoke in my head.

Instantly, a large golden window appeared before me.

'Let's see what I got!'

[SYSTEM WINDOW]

Name: Samuel Peterson

Level: 1

Age: 17 Years

Gender: Male

Current Condition: Curious; Excited (Stable)

Status Infliction: None

Title: Hero

~[QUEST DETAILS]~

[FEATURES]

~ Stats~

~Skills[Locked]~

~Inventory [Locked]~

~Character List~

~Shop [Locked]~

~Arcana Value [Restricted]~

<You have not met the requirements to unlock some Features>

[More Features will be added subsequently]

[END OF INFORMATION]

"What?" Words of profound confusion escaped my lips for the first time.

This didn't look like the kind of System Window I was hoping to see.

Almost everything was locked, and even the most important aspect was restricted. Was this some sort of joke?

Was this really the same world that I read about in the novel?

'Calm down! Calm down!' I repeated silently, willing myself to calm down. 'Let's check the Stats first. At least, that should be…'

[Stats]

Level: 1

Exp: 0.0

'ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ N ovelBi(n)',

Class: None (Classless)

Karmic Value: 0

[Basic Ability]

HP: 10/10

MP: 1/1

Strength: 1

Agility: 3

Vitality: 2

Intelligence: 3

<Stat Points: 0>

[Complete Quests and slay enemies to obtain Stat Points and EXP. Doing so will increase your Level and also grant you Stat Points]

[END OF INFORMATION]

"What is wrong with this shit?!" I exclaimed in an infuriated tone.

I had to finally admit it.

"This System is broken…"

… And I didn't mean it in a good way!

"E-erm, Hero… there's something you should know." The Priestess, whose name and Status Bar I could see above her after I activated the Status Window, Sarah Pierce, called out to me.

'The hell?' I looked in her direction, too caught up in my own dilemma to care about the terrified expression on her face.

"T-the thing is…" The young lady began to mumble.

'This made no sense. No, it never made any sense ever since I arrived here.'

Even though I had the same System as the MC from my favorite Light Novel, and the dynamics were pretty much the same—even the Arcana Value was there—I was starting off with an extremely limited profile.

'The MC started episode 1 with his Stats in thousands, and that's even calculating the penalty he suffered in his last Transmigrated World. Why would I…?!'

As I racked my brain trying to figure out all this, and trying very hard to piece together the mystery behind how very strange and yet similar the world I was in was to that of my MC's, the words of the Priestess jolted me back to reality.

"Hero, our people… everyone is in danger as we speak. The forces of the wicked one has already descended upon us, so please…"

'Holy shit, this can't be happening!'

Danger? A Quest? Right now?

This had to be a joke, right?!

"… Oh Hero…" She pleaded.

The very words that I had always loved to hear suddenly made me stiffen with fear and a terrible foreboding.

"… Please save us!"

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

<A Quest Has Been Issued>

[The enemy forces have begun their assault and your help is required to fend them off.]

<Parameters>

Success: Resist the Opposition alongside your allies and drive them away.

Failure: Your allies are eliminated and the Base is completely wiped out

—Reward: 5 Stat Points. 1 Skill (Active/Passive). 10 Karmic Value.

—Failure: Death

~Do You Accept This Quest?~

[Yes] [No]