It was only a brief moment when I took my eyes off her, and suddenly I hear her moaning in pain. I quickly looked to see what had happened this time. It is unusual for something to hurt her, so if it does, it is very worrying.
"Look, Honey, touch here. It feels like there's something hard, and then you get an electric shock. It hurts a lot. Ouch! See, it happened again."
"Huh?."
At first I didn't understand what she said. She had opened the door but she just stood there like a mime in the doorway, and then she threw her hands back as if in pain.
It looked like there really was something there, so I went over to check it out.....
"Eh?, it's true, there's something hard, but I only see air, but it's solid. Yagh! Aahh! Damn it!"
"See, there's an electric shock and it hurts."
Yes, I did feel the hardness she was talking about, but there was nothing there. And in fact, I felt a current afterwards.
Iris made it look like nothing, but I felt it was a high-voltage current that shook even my head, giving me a clear and absolute warning not to do it again under any circumstances.
"That wasn't just pain, hey!!, stop doing that! It's dangerous."
"But where does it come from? Is it magic?"
But there was my wife, with infinite curiosity, going for a third electric shock.
"System, what's going on?"
[Users are restricted from going outside.]
"Damn, one more thing, it looks like we're being held prisoner."
[You are not prisoners, it is only temporary.]
"And how long would that be?"
[I cannot answer that question.]
"Are there any key requirements, besides time...?"
[That is correct, when the users' kamra reaches a certain threshold.]
"What is Karma?"
[I cannot answer that question.]
"It's really hard to figure out what you can and can't answer. Tell me, between reincarnation and now, has my Karma increased in a positive way?"
[That is correct.]
Karma, as far as I know, is something of cause and effect. I don't know if that's the same here, but if it is and it has increased, I think I see where this thing is taking us.
"Well, I'm going to take it as if for some reason it's dangerous to go out, since we would have the bad luck to run into something negative. Okay, tell me, what is it? Is it something that consciously threatens me and my wife?"
[I cannot answer that question.]
"I understand... ! hey Love! seriously, we're not going to be able to go out, the system already said so."
"Eh, but I wanted to explore, be an adventurer, save a princess and corrupt a saint, hmm, do dragons metamorphose here? Huehue~, that would be great..."
"…hmmm, system, just in case—the reason we can't go out isn't because we're the dangerous ones, is it?"
[I cannot answer that question.]
Damn, it's really difficult, but there definitely is a valid reason why we can't leave, and there's really nothing we can do to contradict it, at least not yet.
"Look, darling, look! The landscape is changing. Now it's sunset and the buildings are different... oh, it's changed again".
"Haaah~ please, things really keep coming nonstop... Haaa~, system, could you explain what's going on now?"
[Correct, since there are no customers, this is the natural state of the premises.]
"Changing locations... aren't we a fixed location? And isn't it dangerous if someone enters and exits in another place?"
[No, the premises always remain in the same place, but they can exist in several places.]
"Are we moving between dimensions or something?"
[No, we are limited to this one world, user.]
"What happens when two customers from two different places come at the same time?"
[Both will be able to enter the premises, and it will stabilize in two places at the same time.]
"What if they look through the windows?"
[They will see their place of origin. Only users with the Eyes of Lethargy are able to perceive these changes that are occurring.]
"I see... it's all so damn complicated, doing such high-level stuff just for a massage parlor. Tell me, this business of existing in multiple places, is it to make it easier to get customers, who serve to fulfill our purpose, right?"
[That's correct, user.]
"Oh, interesting that you just accepted that. I thought you would refuse. You know, just with that answer, I understood a lot of things."
"Oh dear, you tricked the system-chan again. Cheating is wrong."
"I didn't cheat, and it's too late, considering we've told many more lies than anything else since we reincarnated."
"Oh, right... honey, you lie to me a lot, don't you?"
"N-no, and I wouldn't. I'm always honest with you."
"Hmm, you know, when we were one, I felt like it was fun to deceive and manipulate, as well as the satisfaction when they believed the lies. There was also that unlimited power that—"
"Ahem! Love, it's not like that. I mean, it could very well be because of the fusion, and neither of us is like that. The skill is a mystery... ahem. More importantly, system, just to confirm something: you're selecting the clients, right?"
"You know what, it's easy to tell when you're lying. Whenever you do, you avoid my eyes."
Yes, I'm not good at lying to Iris... but only to her.
[I cannot answer that question.]
"You know, there were only two answers to that: yes or no. Saying 'no' would be the obvious thing to do, and you could answer, because you can always answer simple questions even if they don't make sense. I ask you: the ink in the pen at the reception desk is black, right?"
[That is correct.]
"Yeah, I thought so. So we are choosing clients."
Customers must be beings who help that greater purpose. The system is searching and selecting as we move.
These customers must have something unique or important to the true purpose, which is why he even had to cut his explanation short: he prioritized a customer over finishing introducing us to this world.
Those customers must be rare.
I think if you're not considered a customer, you probably can't see the place, which explains the lack of people even though we were stuck there for hours, and that bullshit about saving the place from ruin is nothing more than a poorly done facade that only a fool would believe, considering that we're applying things like exitir in several places at the same time.
These are hypotheses, but the important thing here is.
What was so special about Azalea? Should there be something? Her authority, beauty, work, physique? Or maybe the possibility of place a stigma her? Hmm, the latter seems most likely.
The missions seemed necessary to fulfill this purpose. And yes, it's more than clear that she wants me to brand her with Lethargy.
In that sense, the impulsiveness I had as a result of our fusion was good. If it had been just me, the result might not have been as good as it is now.
My rational side remains to a certain extent, but at the same time, I can make more dynamic, circumstantial decisions.
Ignoring the fact that he sometimes seems to have chunni, and on that I will reserve my right to blame Iris... yes, it was definitely his side.
"Haaah~, well, let's go eat, I'm really hungry."
I wanted to go rest and eat. Today has been a very hectic day with a lot to think about, not to mention that Iris wanted a romantic evening.
I needed to regain my energy, but curiously, I don't feel tired. Even with everything I did.
I wonder if it's because of the mana?
But I was hungry. Luckily, the place had food, or so the information in my head said. I guess it's because of the restriction on going out.
"Oh, that's it! There's lots of food. I also discovered that the system has a store. I even bought some popcorn with extra cheese. There are lots of great things, and I got something awesome with less than a one percent chance. You'll be surprised when you see it!"
"Huh!? What did you do now?
.
..
*****
POV:???
*****
He had lost everything. All that remained was the empty shell of what he once was. There was no reason to live, no reason to fight, and yet he carried on.
"Haaahh... aahh... haah..."
He didn't know how much time had passed. Everything was blurry and vague; he didn't recognize anything around him. He found himself in a treeless wasteland, with no sign of life. The earth was black, like coal, and the sky was covered by clouds so thick that it was impossible to tell night from day. Everything was darkness and loneliness.
But he didn't care. He simply moved forward, taking one step after another, faltering with each one. He had already forgotten his purpose; he didn't even know what he was looking for now. He just kept going.
[Do you desire power?]
That was when he heard a voice, deep and seductive. In that instant, he remembered: it was power he sought. Something without which anyone was crushed, destined to live under the yoke of others.
[If you desire it... accept me.]
He was no fool. Anyone would understand that no power came without a price. Stories of such forces had reached his ears time and time again.
If he wanted power, he would have to be prepared to be consumed by corruption, fading away until nothing remained of what he once was.
He knew that. Even so, he had a purpose. A destiny that he could never achieve as a simple cook. That was why he had come willingly.
That was why his body moved, as if guided by something beyond his comprehension, and now he finally heard what he had been seeking and did not hesitate to respond.
"...I accept."
The man spoke in a dry, almost unintelligible voice, but he was determined. Even if corruption consumed him, he would use that power for his purpose. Nothing else would matter.
[Hehe~ what an interesting mindset. No wonder... this is your destiny. Boy, don't worry. What you think won't happen. ]
At that moment, as the voice was speaking, the dense clouds in the sky began to swirl into a vortex, gathering in a spiral just above him.
[You and I will become one, and we will start this new era together].
As he continued to listen to the voice, he saw how the dark clouds, hundreds of kilometers away, slowly concentrated, becoming denser, more real, more dangerous.
[The nobody you once were will remain in the past.]
The voice continued to speak cheerfully, but the man remained blurry-eyed and free of any reaction, simply observing.
[It is time for it to begin, THE END.]
Finally, all the clouds dissipated, leaving only a small, dense dark spot, which began to descend directly toward him.
When it touched his forehead, the world shook.
Day 6 of the second month of the coalition of kingdoms' calendar, year 150. The day that being appeared, and its presence in this world marked the beginning of a new era of chaos and conflict.
Whether by coincidence or simply something that had to happen, on that same day two other beings, absolutely dangerous to the inhabitants of this world, also descended.
It was the day the world mourned and the day the rules were rewritten.