As I spoke, the Roman turned to Lu Xiaoran, who had been quiet until this point. He seemed to be deep in thought. Then, he began to share his life story, becoming somewhat emotional on certain topics. After he finished, I realized his story resembled that of a typical protagonist, starting out weak but growing stronger after seizing an opportunity and confronting the villain who had tormented him.
In fact, the villain's fiancée eventually falls in love with the protagonist, joining the harem he will likely build in the future. This narrative reminded me of a web novel penned by a Chinese writer. Interestingly, Lu Xiaoran's enemy is named Lin Chen, which is one of the most common names for protagonists in such stories.
Once he had shared everything, Lu Xiaoran looked at me with hopeful eyes and did something surprising. He got down on his knees, bowed, and said, "I don't know who you are or what you are. Maybe you are a demon beast or a devil, or something even worse. But to me, you are my savior. I can never repay this kindness. Still, as a hopeless loser, I shamelessly ask for more help. Please help me get stronger, help me see my mother again, and help me take revenge on Lin Chen."
After saying this, he fell silent, still kneeling. I sighed and said, "Boy, look straight at me."
He flinched slightly but complied, raising his head while still on his knees. For a moment, our eyes met. In his gaze, I saw someone who felt lost, having accepted defeat and lost himself in the process. However, he wasn't completely defeated. There was still a fire within him, a desire to reclaim what he had lost, to reunite with his family, and to seek revenge on the people responsible for his situation.
He looked at me with hope. It reminded me of my past. After my parents died during that pandemic, I felt lost in my grief, struggling to find my way. I eventually managed to cope, but based on his appearance, it seemed he was in a worse situation. He had almost died if I hadn't saved him.
In that moment of eye contact, I decided that I would help him; I would guide him on the right path. So I asked, "Boy, you want many things but have nothing to offer. Why should I help you?"
He flinched again but, with gritted teeth, replied, "I don't have anything to give you. I'm just a loser who has lost everything, but I promise that once I have my revenge, everything will be yours."
I responded, "Think carefully, boy. What if, after helping you, I demand your life or your soul? What if I ask you to kill your loved ones as a sacrifice? Do you have the courage to kill your mother, whom you desperately want to see when you're dying?"
He shivered, as if ice water had been poured over him. With a look of anger, he stared at me, as if ready to fight, and said, "You can have anything, but not my loved ones."
Feeling somewhat amused, I said coldly, "What if I still want that?"
Then he replied, "Then I will fight you and ensure you can't hurt my family." Seeing his determination made me smile. "That's the spirit, boy. That's the attitude one should have. Listen, Lu Xiaoran, I won't help you seek revenge, but I will ensure you get the most important thing you need right now."
He looked confused and asked, "What is that? Is it power or some kind of rare opportunity?"
I chuckled internally, feeling like a sage guiding someone toward the right path. This felt like my first step toward becoming a sage. I told him, "No, what you need most is hope. Hope that you can overcome these difficulties and rise again. I will make sure you never lose that hope."
After I said this, I waited for his response. He seemed to be contemplating his life choices before finally showing a determined expression. "I understand now," he said. Then he bowed deeply and requested, "Master, please accept me as your disciple."
I was taken aback for a moment, but before I could respond, something unexpected happened. I heard a voice in my mind.
DING! A COMPATIBLE HOST IS FOUND!
CONGRATULATIONS, HOST! YOU ARE SELECTED AS A HOST FOR THE GREATEST MASTER SYSTEM!
I mentally screamed, not this again.