Natasha's Mansion – Bavaria, Germany
In the bathroom of her room, while washing her face and pausing to look at herself in the mirror.
This had always been her habit since her days in the special forces.
Keeping her face fresh before bed, focusing her concentration—it was her way of dealing with stress.
"Well... I'll have to go to Japan... No, I'm not sure if I can see him in that state."
Her gaze, her clinical expression reflected in the mirror. Water droplets still ran down her cheek until they reached the mole near her lip, but they didn't reflect the pressure she now felt in her chest. She was confused… an hour ago it was emptiness, now it was pain… the truth was, even she didn't know what she was feeling.
"What happened, where did I go wrong? Ah, that's right… I did that stupid thing."
Flashback – Tokyo, Japan – June 2026
Hotel Hariyama – VIP Suite – 3:04 P.M.
Brian rushed toward the suite's bed, throwing himself backwards and making it tremble from the impact. While loosening his tie, he looked at her. Natasha, in an elegant business dress that accentuated her neckline, stared at him and said:
—"Can't handle a two-hour meeting?"
—It's not easy planning the merger of several entertainment companies, you know.
—"This is what I do almost daily, Mr. Murphy."
—Lies… You've got Miriam, Caleb, Patrick, Hayoon, Peter, and Martha… you're not carrying the load alone.
—"I'm still publicly the President of the Mur Group… even if I only handle the security division. You have to admit what I do isn't easy."
—I know it's not easy… it's just that it's been a while since I was physically present at a meeting.
—"What I didn't expect was for you to line up such a deal for STM American. The Asian market is still tough to handle."
—The idea behind Sensation is fascinating… even if Martin is Marcus' father, he's still an industry veteran. The deal with Kawamuri not only secures a major idol group with various ethnicities, but also opens a huge door for a more globalized market.
—"We all understood your vision in the meeting… but isn't this too much for him?"
—Marcus has been my friend since I got back from here… he was there when I was basically disabled and heartbroken. This deal is a reward for our friendship.
—"You're so... sweet... I still doubt you're the same man who called me three months ago to take out González, Arteaga, and Sarandon. Or that same young guy who impressed me by throwing a man into a piranha tank."
Brian sat up on the bed, facing Natasha, locking his gaze on her.
—I'm loyal, not sweet… and you know that, Lissene… you know almost everything about me. I'm not exaggerating when I say I'm in your hands.
She approached him, playfully grabbed his tie, raised an eyebrow while eyeing his lips, and said:
—"Oh, so that means I'm the one in control now?"
He gently held her hands, his intense gaze never leaving hers. He stood up and said:
—No... it means what it means.
—"Brian, don't start now. You're ruining the moment."
—I don't want any more moments, Lissene. I'm 22... you have no fucking idea what I'm going through at university. It's time to make a choice.
—"Brian, there's a ten-year gap between us… you can't ask me to make a decision at a time like this."
—I know... but this is why I came here too. Today's the day the door closes.
—"What do you mean?"
—That this won't happen again. There won't be a next time.
—"Are you trying to pressure me?"
—No... that's not my intention.
—"Brian, I'm not ready for what you're asking."
—I know.
—"Then why do it?"
—Because Lissene… you're worth it.
Silence… those words from Brian hit something in her, but she didn't know what to say. The atmosphere was tense between them, but Brian grabbed his coat and she asked:
—"What are you doing?"
—I'm leaving.
—"You're not staying?"
—No, I've got things to do… some manga I have to translate.
And that's how Brian left the suite, leaving her confused, not yet processing that that was the moment that defined everything.
End of Flashback.
Now in her bed, trying to sleep, though she couldn't. That was the memory that echoed every time she reconsidered that situation. The exact moment where their relationship didn't move forward.Not because she chose it... but because he put an end to it.And she thought:
"I wasn't ready… all that stuff about feelings, being a couple… it was something I never imagined having… I knew you were frustrated with my indecision, but you should've waited for my resolution. You should've understood me and put yourself in my shoes."
Her head was a mess. Her serene face began to break. Her cold gaze now showed pain.
"That time I came back from Madrid and found you there… and you decided to end even our casual meetings, I knew it... I'd lost you... I even introduced you to Joshua to see if you'd get jealous, but you proved to me you were no longer mine."
She didn't want to break down over that feeling burning in her chest. For a moment, the thought of quitting the Mur Group crossed her mind, but:
"If I quit now... everyone will think I couldn't get over it. And if I leave while he's in that state, I'll be an even worse person... Oh damn, everything was simpler when I was behind a rifle."
From one thought to another, she slowly drifted off to sleep. But even as she sank into it... what tormented her heart wasn't the anguish, the pain, the nostalgia or the emptiness brought by remembering every moment with him.Her true torment...Was knowing she lost something that once belonged only to her.
***
Inside the Simulation
Lichstein Kingdom — Road near Mount Fanbell
Allan: —"And what are we going to do about the Weston family?"
Jessie: —"He's right, Fabián… what if they find out about this?"
Fabián: —"Don't worry... they might be rich merchants, but they won't say a word if they think she's dead."
Lucas: —"I don't get it, why not just ask for ransom?"
Jessie: —"You idiot. You know the Westons won't sit still after a ransom."
Fabián: —"That's why we're selling her as a slave."
—Well, well... look at the scum I just found.
Lucas: —"Who the hell said that?"
—I did, dumbass.
Fabián: —"Who the hell are you, brat?"
—A conscious citizen.
Jessie: —"Hahaha, this little bastard's funny."
Allan: —"What do you want, brat?"
Fabián: —"Wait… look at that stigma on his chest."
Lucas: —"So this little shit's a slave too."
...
I hadn't even noticed it until these idiots pointed it out.The slavery stigma is only visible to those who don't have one.In simple terms: only the free can see it… not other slaves.
And then I got it… Neil-senpai and the others… they're free people.Because they saw my mark.
I stopped thinking. I replied to the bastard:
—So what? The real shit here… is what you'll become once I'm done with you all.
Allan: —"Check out this funny bastard! I'm Allan Mouyan, rank B adventurer, dumbass."
Jessie: —"I'm Jessie Sullivan, dual-constitution, fourth-circle mage."
Lucas: —"I'm Lucas Nigris, rank B tank."
Fabián: —"And I'm Fabián Kress, rank A swordsman."
—I don't care about your names, dumbasses.Rank only measures how strong the weak are.And you… are weak. (I know I sound arrogant, but these bastards really think they're strong. They're just frogs at the bottom of a well...)
There'll be truly powerful people in the future.Players. Real monsters.They don't know it yet… but they're destined to be irrelevant.
As soon as I finished speaking, I made the first move.
The one I wanted to smash the most was Allan.
That hypocrite caused this whole unfair situation.
I lunged at him, but the tank got in the way with his shield.I was ready to break him, but…
Jessie started chanting a fireball spell.Her voice caught my attention more than the fire itself.
Jessie: —"Ia iT Fuh Ye THuHa."
What the hell was that...? What the fuck did she just say? — I thought.
But I didn't have time for stupid thoughts.I dodged the attack to save my clothes.
Fabián took advantage of my distraction. The bastard came at me with his swords. He was good... so I tried to check his status window.
Nothing.
Just question marks. Level and stats unknown.
What? Afrodita's a level 4000 goddess and I could see EVERYTHING... but this low-level idiot blocks me?
And then it hit me: I forgot about the time difference.
For me, it's been almost seven days. In reality... maybe two or three.
But one thing was clear...Something was happening to my skill, System Window.
No. It can't be. Must be a glitch... yeah, that's it. I can't lose my only real source of information.
My mind was chaos, running theories while I dodged attacks, so I just asked Quincy:
—Quincy, what's happening with the System Window?
[It's deteriorating, master (⊙.☉)]
—What do you mean deteriorating?
[Master, that skill will slowly disappear...]
...
I thought it through calmly.The System Window is everything.I can't afford to lose it.
—Quincy, can you download the window's data into yourself?
[I think so, master… but I need an update NOW.]
—Fine, but first… max out all my stats to 100%.
[Adjusting… Adjustment complete.]
[Basic skill "Infinite Speed" activated.]
...
Now all their attacks were useless.
I was too fast. I could kill them with a flick.
But that wasn't my priority.
I activated another skill.
[Basic skill "Systematic Transcendental Omniscience" activated.]
I needed Quincy to absorb the essentials: Navigation, NPC database, scenarios, key characters…EVERYTHING the System Window had.
I never backed it up. Never fully read it. I already have enough trouble managing my enhanced emotions…I can't afford another mistake.
[Starting update...
Adjusting…
Downloading data...]
[ERROR]
[Data download incomplete.]
[System Assistant Quincy update: COMPLETE.]
—WHAT!? What happened? Quincy, how much data made it through?
[Sorry, master… only 60% of the information was saved.]
—Well... something's better than nothing.
[Ding]
[System Notification: The (Ex) rank skill "System Window" has disappeared. As compensation, the basic skill "Transcendental Eyes" has gained a limited data extraction function.]
—What a crazy system… it takes away my lifeline and gives me some random substitute.
[Master, even though it was an (Ex) rank skill, the System Window was priceless.]
—I know, Quincy… I know.
[It was total access to reality. Losing it… is like losing the map.]
—Yeah… I was hoping when the players arrived, I could connect…Figure out what the hell really happened.
[I'll hold a minute of silence (ಥ_ಥ)]
—No one died, Quincy.
[Doesn't matter… still sad ( ༎ຶ ‿ ༎ຶ )]
—Alright. New plan… I'm gonna blow off steam by beating the shit out of these idiots.
[That's a great idea, master (^.^)]
—Lower my stats enough so they don't die, Quincy.
[Alright, setting to 8%.]
[Adjustment complete.]
[Basic skill "Infinite Speed" deactivated.]