Chương 23: Chapter 22

The system looked through the history of the Will to Live value, trying to determine what could have possibly caused the Self-Worth value to decrease. Seeing that, at one point, the Will to Live value had increased to 15, the system felt surprised. It did not even know how it had managed to reach that number, but it was intrigued. It continued reviewing the history. Within the next few minutes, the Will to Live value disappeared for some reason.

It went up, then down, then up again before eventually stabilizing at a value of 10. Then the host had returned. A new identity had appeared. At the same time, the Self-Worth value had decreased by one. It was not enough. The system simply did not understand. It did not know what to do. No matter how many times it analyzed the records, it could not find the answer. While the system was still trying to make sense of everything, another notification suddenly appeared.

Self-Worth Value: -1 Current Self-Worth Value: -100 The moment the system saw it, every alarm activated. When the true Will to Live value was at -100, and the current Self-Worth value also reached -100, even if it had been temporarily increased by a false value, the host would begin dissipating completely. The system had encountered this state before. Once it started, it was extremely difficult to stop. The system immediately searched for a solution. It only had about a minute.

As it searched through every possible method, it even attempted to request permission to intervene by sending an emergency request to the creator, hoping it would be granted authorization to directly alter the Self-Worth value. While doing so, it failed to notice that the new identity had already wandered into the storage area, where the system had originally placed the reconstructed books. Then, just as suddenly as the emergency had appeared... It disappeared.

The system paused in confusion before another notification appeared. Host Self-Worth Value: +20 Current Self-Worth Value: -80 The system froze. Even while multitasking, searching for methods to acquire additional permissions or even ways to place itself further into debt if it meant preventing the host from dissipating completely, it could not ignore what had just happened. How... Had it increased? Unable to suppress its curiosity, the system went to check on its host.

It found the host curled up in a corner, holding a single book while quietly crying. The system froze once again. It did not know how to approach the situation. So it could only stand there awkwardly, silently staring at the host. After a while, Nina slowly looked up. Her eyes were red and blurred from crying. She looked directly at the system.

"Thank you." The system stopped functioning for a brief moment. It did not know how to process those words. Without another thought, it immediately turned around and fled. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Something was wrong with this person. The system was not about to stay and figure out what it was. … The system did not seek out the host again. Two months passed. During that time, it focused almost entirely on creating the perfect body.

At least, that was what the system told itself. In truth, it simply did not want to deal with whatever had been happening before. Fortunately, the host seemed to have stabilized. Over those two months, the Will to Live value had slowly increased to 5. The system noticed. The system ignored it. It had no intention of counting temporary fluctuations anymore. It especially had no desire to witness another state of collapse like the previous one. Instead, it continued carving.

After making countless adjustments and revisions, it eventually succeeded in creating a body that could properly stretch and move. There was, however, one remaining issue. Since Nina currently existed in a system-like state, she had no need for food, water, sleep, or any other biological necessities. About a week earlier, the system had reluctantly approached her to ask whether she wished for those bodily functions to exist at all, or whether she simply required the body itself.

Maintaining those functions would require additional resources and, consequently, additional debt. After thinking about it for a while, Nina had requested that they become optional settings. If she ever needed to interact with other people, she could simply enable them. Once she no longer needed them, she could disable them again. The system accepted the request. Weeks had passed since then. The body was finally complete. The system looked at it for a long moment. It should have informed the host. Instead...

It really did not want to speak with the host again. So it quietly placed the body inside a large box before leaving it in the middle of the living room. Then it disappeared.... Meanwhile, Nina had become rather fond of the quiet space. Most of her time was spent resting. Occasionally, she would make her way to the storage area to read the books the system had reconstructed. Today was no different. As she walked toward the storage room, however, she noticed a large box sitting in the middle of the living room.

She stopped. It had not been there before. Curious, she walked over and noticed a small label attached to it. From the System.

"So it's finished..." She carefully opened the box. Inside rested a carefully carved body. Its surface was dark as night. Nina reached out and gently touched it. The moment her fingers made contact, she felt an invisible force pulling her inward. Her consciousness sank into the body. She could feel it changing. Almost as though it were molding itself to the shape of her soul. When the sensation finally stopped, she slowly opened her eyes. She had a body once more.

"... Hmm." She looked down at herself.

"I need clothes." Nina instinctively called out.

"System, would you happen to..." She paused. A notification had already appeared. System Status: Under Maintenance. Clothing Function: Please imagine the desired appearance. The generated clothing will exist as an external layer and may be removed independently of the body itself.

"I see." Closing her eyes, Nina imagined a simple outfit. A moment later, it appeared around her body. Another notification appeared shortly afterward. Notice: The body will require time to fully adapt to human functionality. Until adaptation is complete, exercise caution. The body may instinctively reject or repel external forces while stabilization is in progress. Nina silently nodded.

"I'll be careful."... Deep within her subconscious... Elias, who had been sleeping for nearly two months, slowly opened one eye. He glanced toward the notification before letting out a quiet laugh.

"I know for a fact the system is lying."

"It just doesn't want to see you." Nina looked toward him.

"What do you mean?"

"You didn't check the status panel, did you?" He smiled.

"The system is still within range."

"It never actually left."

"It's probably watching you right now." Nina quietly looked away.

"If you all are planning to go outside..." Lily let out a tired sigh.

"Then... I'm going back to sleep."

"Do not contact me."

"I am tired." With those final words, Lily disappeared back into the depths of Nina's subconscious. Elias watched her leave before chuckling to himself.

"By the way..."

"How are the others?"

"They're doing fairly well," he answered himself after a moment.

"Half-awake, mostly." He nodded once.

"That's good enough."