’Quest completed?’
I was rather surprised to see that.
Given everything that I had done, I expected myself to fail. However, it didn’t seem like the system was that petty.
’...I guess that makes sense. I did accomplish the goal, even though I did it in quite the unconventional way.’
DING—!
[Due to unanticipated host behavior, reward calculation exceeded the expected processing window. All variables have now been evaluated. Quest status: completed.]
[Host successfully evaded the demon entity and contributed to its capture. Additional rewards are being processed.]
[Reward 1:
Emblance Shard]
[Reward 2:
■■■■■]
[Reward 3:
200,000 SP]
[Reward 4:
End of Trial Period.]
"Hm?"
I imdiately grew confused upon seeing the rewards given to by the system. Of the three that I had received, the only one that I understood was the SP and the Emblance Shard.
The Emblance Shard in particular intrigued .
It was an item that I desperately needed.
’Added with the one that I didn’t use back in the Gate, I will have two.’
Despite having a ’new’ body, the problems with my nodes didn’t disappear. I still had the Cognitive Shard, and it was slowly consuming . It was also for this reason that I was still stuck in the Third Order.
The Emblance Shards would be useful for to finally move up a level.
’Its a pity that I used all my shards in the Gate, but it’s not like I can’t find new ones. I have the fax machine to help. Added with the SP that I just received, I shouldn’t have any problems reaching the Fourth Order.’
My main issue ca with the second and fourth rewards.
One... I couldn’t read.
The second...?
End of Trial Period? What did this even an?
’Wait, don’t tell that everything up until now was just a trail?’
My heart sank at the thought.
If this were rely just a trial period, then what was going to happen during the ’non-trial’ trial period? The more I thought about it, the more my heart sank.
DING—!
The system didn’t even give ti to process the situation.
[Trial period concluded. The host has advanced beyond the initial stage. Core system features will be unlocked shortly.]
[Please wait a mont...]
The notifications in front of rapidly shrank.
Subsequently, a wheel appeared.
One that was accompanied by a percentage bar beneath.
[0%]—[10%]—————[100%]
The progress bar advanced faster than I expected. In less than a minute, it reached one hundred percent, and the instant it did, a large panel materialized directly in front of my eyes.
─────
Ga Developer : Seth Thorne
Status : Third Order ▶ [See More]
▪ Basic Node : Containnt Vessel
▪ Basic Node : Trait Transfer
▪ Interdiate Node : Anamnesis
▶ Dreamwalker
▶ Mirille
▶ Mr. Jingles
▶ Conductor
▶ Kyle
Items :
▪ Blank Mask.
▪ Purity Enhancer
▪ Spectral Glasses.
▪ Quickstitch Outfit
[See More]
Shop : Open
Quests : Unlocked (Available : 0)
Developed Gas :
[Gentle Whispers] Rating : ⯪☆☆☆☆(0.5)
[A regular day in the office] Rating : ★☆☆☆☆(1.0)
[A Twisted ga] Rating : ★★⯪☆☆(2.5)
[Nightmare Hotel] Rating : ★★⯪☆☆(2.75)
Balance : 221,442 SP
[Ga Developer Mode]
[Locked!]
─────
The system interface looked exactly the sa as the one that appeared on my computer screen. There didn’t seem to be any changes to it. Was this the new feature? At least, that was until I discovered the last area.
’Locked?’
This...
Was this so sort of joke?
’Is this supposed to be the thing that I’m supposed to get at the end of the trial period?’
Then, there was almost no difference between then and now.
’How do I even unlock it?’
Curious, I pressed on it.
Ding!
[The feature is locked!]
No shit...
Thankfully, there was a chat box beneath. I started to imdiately type my question.
[How do I unlock the locked area?]
Because I wasn’t on my computer, it took a lot longer to type out the question. Especially since I didn’t want to look suspicious, as I had no choice but to lie on the bed and carefully tap on the holographic keyboard.
...The answer arrived in the form of a notification.
[Quest unlocked!]
• Difficulty: N/A
• Reward: Unlock New Feature!
• Objective: Reach three-star rating!
• Location: N/A
Description: Host has demonstrated developntal potential in ga creation, with asurable improvent across successive projects. However, a progression impedint has been detected. The most recent ga failed to et the threshold required for feature unlock. System assessnt concludes the host is currently unqualified to access the latest feature. Minimum requirent: Reach a three-star rating!
Increased pace recomnded. Delays will negatively impact progression.
Ti Limit: 1 month.
What?
I thought that my answers would be cleared the mont that I received an answer, but instead, I only grew more confused.
’A new quest? Create a three-star ga? Why is the requirent for unlocking the new feature to reach a three-star rating?’
Thinking about my latest ga, it did co quite close to reaching three stars.
[2.75]
It was quite a good score.
However, thinking about the [Twisted Ga], the rating increase wasn’t that much higher. It wasn’t so much that I didn’t try, but mainly because reaching the three-star rating was a lot harder than I had initially anticipated. Even when I went full VR and added all the extra features, it refused to climb up.
There was also the ti constraint that I needed to take care of. In the end, I had no choice but to upload.
But...
’I’m not supposed to create a three-star ga? In one month at that?’
Nonsense!
This was absolute nonsense!
’No, wait.’
Cooling my mind a bit, I looked back at the quest. I quickly realized that the quest was for to reach a three-star rating, not create a three-star rated ga.
’...So I just need to sohow upgrade one of my gas to three stars?’
I sighed in relief.
This felt a lot more accomplishable. If it was going to tell to create a new ga, then I was just going to ignore the quest.
I was already used to ignoring the system.
Still, while this mission was accomplishable, there was still a problem...
’I don’t have my laptop, nor do I know where I am. My team is also not here. Can I even upgrade my ga in the anti?’
The thought gave a headache.
However, beyond all of that, my eyes remained glued to the quest. Or to be more precise, towards the last sentence.
[Increased pace recomnded. Delays will negatively impact progression.]
What did this even an?
I didn’t hesitate to ask the system.
I half-expected the system to ignore , but contrary to my expectations, I received an answer not long after.
[You may be ahead in so aspects, but you’re lagging behind in others. The more you delay, the more you will fall behind.]
Ah...?
I didn’t know what to make of the answer. Without a second thought, I began to type once more.
But...
[What are you talking about?]
[What does it an?]
[Who are others?]
The system ignored each ti.
By the ti I realized it wouldn’t answer any longer, I didn’t even have it in to be angry.
Not when a certain thought entered my mind.
One... that made my body tense.
The system...
Was I the only one to have it?
***
Volu 1 has officially ended.
For those who are unaware, there will be a total of five volus unless I decide to make changes. The volus won’t be as long as this first one, of course.
What to expect in the upcoming volu?
- More World Building.
- More Horror. The start was more about an introduction to the world than true horror. The story is one that is supposed to grow progressively more ’horrific’ as it progresses. At least, I’ll try to make it more ’horror ’.
- Romance. This will be the volu it starts.
- Twists. Even more twists.
Thank you all for reading until now!
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