The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the dark streets as Kyle made his way home.
His footsteps were deliberately slow, muffled by the brown fabric of the cloak that now hung around him like an oversized curtain. Beneath it, the hockey mask covering his face reflected faint glimpses of moonlight, while the shaggy blonde wig itched at his scalp like a persistent mosquito.
"[Phantom Facade] huh?" Kyle muttered, tugging at the cloak's collar. "Couldn't you have made it… I don't know, less conspicuous?"
[System reminder: [Phantom Facade] was designed for its effective anonymity, not a fashion design choice.]
'Yeah, because nothing screams 'blend in' like a hockey mask and a blonde mop that looks like it came from a dollar store Halloween aisle.' Kyle couldn't help but roll his eyes. 'Besides I look like a dollar store antihero patrolling the roofs thanks to my abilities.
[System reminder: Your concerns are noted as being 'irrelevant' according to our system. The design of the disguise was merely to prevent the recognition by the protagonist, Heroines and the antagonists.]
"Right," Kyle said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Because nothing draws attention like not looking suspicious." He sighed, adjusting the wig for what felt like the hundredth time. "Whatever. If it keeps them off my back, I'll deal with it."
Kyle narrowed his eyes to a sight of a cat climbing the wall down nearby an alleyway he was passing.
"Actually, while we're on the subject, let's talk about this whole 'involving the Heroines' thing. I told you a few times now... I don't want any part of that mess." He knew the fate of himself as an [Antagonist] and knew what would happen to the others.
He shuddered at the thought.
The System chimed in, its tone as neutral and matter of fact as ever.
[Your current quest involves gathering the Heroines' interest to manipulate their alignment away from the Protagonist.]
Kyle stopped in his tracks, running a hand down the front of his mask in exasperation. "No, see, that's the problem. I don't want their interest. I want them to forget I exist. Remember we agreed originally to distract away from me!"
[Your objectives require interaction. Avoidance will result in quest failure.]
"Failure?" Kyle barked a laugh. "Let me make something clear: you made these objectives. I'm just trying to live my life. If that means ditching this circus act, so be it."
[Rewards include currency and stat boosts crucial to survival in this world.]
Kyle paused, staring at the empty street below. The quiet hum of distant traffic filled the silence as he weighed the System's words. Ten thousand in cash. Body modification. Stat points. It wasn't just tempting it was practically irresistible.
But then his mind flashed to the chaos he'd already endured: spying on Justin and his gang, overhearing threats, and now potentially dealing with Layla and the other Heroines.
"Survival, huh?" he muttered. "You really know how to dangle the carrot, don't you?"
[Acknowledgment of motivational tactics. Does this imply compliance?]
Kyle groaned, resuming his walk. "... You damn system... You better make sure those rewards are better than I already think they are."
[Understood. Quest progress remains active.]
'Goddamit! This system has got me playing the role of a hero like in those damn comic books I used to read!'
As if responding to his inner frustration, the System chimed in again, its tone neutral but faintly smug:
[Suggestion: Additional optional quests are now available to maximize rewards and increase survival probability.]
Kyle's eyes narrowed behind the hockey mask. "Optional quests? Like what?"
[Optional Quest: Street cleaner.]
[Quest summary: Enhance the reputation of the masked hero by intervening in small crimes across the city. Strengthen dual identities to create a layered narrative. Rewards include increased influence, double reputation points, and enhanced quest rewards.]
Kyle stopped mid-step, processing the implications. "So, let me get this straight. You want me to play some vigilante hero in this ridiculous getup while still acting as myself a so-called antagonist?"
[Correct. Establishing a dual identity will allow greater flexibility in interactions with other characters and create opportunities for high-risk, high-reward scenarios. This will also reduce suspicion of Kyle Graysun's involvement in masked activities and slowly as Kyle graysun you can fade into the background.]
He let out a low laugh, part incredulous, part genuinely amused. "You're basically turning me into a comic book character. A villain in one life, a hero in the other. You realize how insane that sounds, right?"
[Acknowledgment: Insanity is subjective. Success is objective.]
"And here I thought you couldn't get any more annoying. What happens if I don't do these optional quests?"
[Optional quests are not mandatory. However, completing them significantly increases the value of the main quest rewards. Refusal will not impact current progress but will limit additional benefits.]
"What if I become a real thorn for both the protagonist and antagonist's that are in this story starting from now? Will my rewards improve enough for it to be worth it?"
[Acknowledgment: Rewards will scale with effort and performance. Reward's depending on your performance will be shown closer to the quest's completion.]
"I want those damn rewards if I'm going to survive." Kyle stopped in his tracks, looking over to the central part of the city. "If I'm going to survive, I better start getting ready then as I have work in the afternoon tomorrow."
The idea of attending classes and then work shortly after pained Kyle to no end.
---
The evening air was cool, the sky a gradient of fading orange and deepening blue.
Kyle stood on a small apartment block rooftop near the main academy's district, a sleepy expression beneath the mask as his cloak blowed brilliantly in the breeze passing by.
His mask felt snug on his face and his shaggy blonde wig dangling enough to obscure any true features of his.
From such a vantage point, he scanned the streets below, his eyes catching a group of female students walking briskly toward the main thoroughfare.
'Is this what heroes in the books feel like? All badass and perched on a rooftop as they lurked over the city.'
He couldn't help but laugh internally at his own thoughts.
His attention sharpened when three male figures emerged from a nearby alley, their swagger unmistakable. Thugs.
The guy's fellow students from the academy, judging by their uniforms moved in with practiced ease, flanking the girls. One of them, a lanky kid with an arrogant grin, stepped forward. Their ties, blue and yellow which told Kyle that they were a part of the [Vanguard] class.
'Just brilliant, some of the hidden heroines that I never got to see are in that class if I remember correctly.'
"Hey, ladies," he drawled, blocking their path. "Why the rush? The night's young. Spend some time with us."
Another thug, shorter but stocky, chuckled. "Yeah, don't be shy. We don't bite. Unless you want us to."
The girls exchanged uneasy glances, their pace slowing as they tried to manoeuvre around the group. "We're just heading home," one of them said firmly. "Please let us pass."
'Really?' He laughed internally. 'This is their definition of charming someone? Let's end this charade and get the quest started already.'
Pulling the hood of his cloak over his head, he leaped silently from the rooftop, landing on the opposite side of the street in a crouch. The girls gasped, the thugs turning their heads at the sudden noise.
"What the hell?" the stocky one muttered, squinting at the shadowy figure emerging from the dim light.
"I'd expect no less from students in [Vanguard]." Kyle spoke out from the shadows, his voice distorted. "I wonder how the principal will feel about this? three male students harassing female students that were on their way home. I am sure she wouldn't be pleased." He finished, emerging from the shadows with his arms under his robe.
The lanky thug snorted, trying to mask his unease with bravado. "And who the hell are you supposed to be? Some kind of hero?"
Kyle couldn't help but let out a sigh. "Not necessarily. I need you to pass on a message to your boss once I'm finished with you."
Without waiting for a response, he lunged forward, his movements swift and calculated. His first connected with the lanky thug's jaw, sending him stumbling back with a yelp. The stocky one swung at him, but Kyle ducked, delivering a sharp kick to his knee that sent him crashing to the ground.
'The difference in strength and speed is so much more than this morning even!'
Kyle appreciated the differences he was feeling now that he had applied the stat points he earned from his previous quest.
The third thug hesitated, his confidence faltering. "You're dead, you hear me?" he shouted, pulling a switchblade from his pocket.
Kyle didn't respond, sidestepping the wild slash and twisting the thug's wrist until the knife clattered to the pavement. A quick jab to the gut doubled him over, and Kyle finished with a sweeping kick that sent him sprawling.
The girls watched in stunned silence as the thugs groaned, struggling to crawl away.
"I want you to tell your boss that the plan of his had been leaked and that he should expect a visit very soon." Kyle stood tall over the second thug.
"T-T-This isn't over!" The first thug said as he managed to get to his feet, signalling for his friends to run for the hills.
Kyle turned to the girls, who were still frozen in place. He nodded curtly; his voice softer now. "You should head home. Stick together."
One of them found her voice, stammering, "Th-thank you… Who are you?"
Kyle hesitated for a moment. "Who I am is not important. You ladies should stick together. It is not safe out there. You could get seriously hurt." Kyle said finally as he stepped back into the shadows.
"W-wai-"
Before the first girl could speak, Kyle had completely disappeared into the shadows. Leaving the ladies dazed and confused as the moon illuminated over them.
Disappearing quicker than he had arrived.