Chương 52: Chapter 51

Nina found herself back in the endospace, similar to the first time she had met the system. She did not feel much about being here, which was rather suspicious. A moment ago, she was certain that something had affected her. Something had happened. Yet now, she felt strangely calm. Carefully, Nina walked through the endless space. No matter how far she traveled, nothing changed. The scenery remained the same. The silence remained the same. The emptiness remained the same.

"Truly..." She looked around.

"This place might actually be endless." As she continued walking, she eventually noticed something in the distance. A faint flicker. A beautiful night sky. Nina stopped. She recognized it. The system. Rather than calling out or speaking to it, Nina simply walked closer toward the cosmic being. However, when she reached it, she did not say anything. Instead, she stopped. Then she slowly laid down and looked upward. The endless night sky stretched above her.

Occasionally, faint purple light drifted across the outer layers, resembling an aurora borealis. It was strangely calming. So calming that Nina found herself wanting to remain there. For once, she did not feel pressured. She did not feel like she had to perform. She did not feel like she had to become someone else. She could simply exist. Notification. Will to live value has stabilized. Will to live value +1. Current will to live value: 1. Immediately, Nina's thoughts returned to the other personalities.

She wondered if they had considered her words. That event... It was not something anyone should have survived. She remembered the original story. The banquet incident had been a major turning point. Furen, as one of the main characters, had passed that point, but the Holy Nation had suffered a significant weakening afterward. Nina frowned. If everything had not been slightly different...

If the event had been discussed as the flower-viewing banquet it was supposed to be, with people gathering outdoors to present flowers rather than turning it into something closer to a social event for potential partners, she would have realized immediately. It could not be that someone from the Anti-Holy Nation group had returned. No. That did not make sense. They were not active at this time. And according to the original story, there should not have been anyone attempting to summon something onto the stage.

That person did not exist. But... It did not matter. Will to live value -1. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Current will to live value: 0.

"I have twenty lives anyway..." Nina stared at the sky.

"Even if everything dies, with the system, I can come back.".... Time passed. Eventually, Nina felt calmer. Then she felt it. A strange sensation. Something being taken away from her. At first, she thought it was simply a mistake. A system error. A coincidence. So she ignored it. She continued waiting. Eventually, the system would bring her back. After that, she would find another way to earn the money. Maybe... She could steal. Would that work? Self-worth value -2. Current self-worth value: -82.

"It's not like my life has any value." Self-worth value -2. Current self-worth value: -84.

"I could just continue stealing until I pay back everything." Self-worth value -2. Current self-worth value: -86.

"That sounds like a good plan." Nina stared blankly ahead.

"Even if I use my skills, this world is still..." Self-worth value -4. Current self-worth value: -90. She stopped. The feeling returned. Nina frowned. This feeling... she is now sure something is actively being taken away from her. It had happened three times now. She could no longer ignore it. But she did not understand what was happening. Slowly, she looked toward the system's cosmic body. Her hands clenched. She did not want to interfere. She did not want to cause problems.

But something deep inside her warned her. If she did nothing... She would regret it.

"System." For the first time, Nina called out.

"What is happening?" The system did not answer with words. Instead, information flowed into Nina's mind. Everything that had happened. The battle. The dragon. The barriers. The personas. The danger they had faced. Nina watched everything as if she were an outsider. Her expression slowly changed. Her hands tightened. Will to live value +10. Current will to live value: 10.

"How dare they?" Will to live value +1. Current will to live value: 11.

"How dare they!!" The anger continued growing. Will to live value +6. Current will to live value: 17. Nina stood.

"System..." Her voice trembled slightly.

"I know this is a lot to ask." She looked toward the cosmic figure.

"But can you help Lily?" She lowered her head.

"I don't want anyone else to get hurt." Her expression hardened.

"And we need to get rid of those people."

"How dare they?" Self-worth value +1. Current self-worth value: -85. Her voice grew stronger.

"It's one thing for them to try and hurt everyone else." Her hands clenched.

"But how dare they hurt my family?" Self-worth value +5. Current self-worth value: -80.

"How dare they?" Self-worth value +10. Current self-worth value: -70.

"That is my family." Her voice became firm.

"And that creature dared to harm them." Nina looked directly at the system.

"I don't care what you need to do."

"I don't care what price I need to pay."

"Please."

"Help them." The system paused.

"Are you sure, host?"

"I'm sure."

"If you do this, the wheels of cause and effect will return to affect you." The system's voice remained calm.

"Once again, I ask..."

"Are you sure, host?" Nina's expression changed.

"That's my family!" Self-worth value +20. Current self-worth value: -50.

"And no one can hurt them." She paused.

"Even if that includes the personas I created because of them." Self-worth value +50. Current self-worth value: 0. The system looked at Nina. For the first time, there was something different in the host's eyes. The system had always understood that Nina valued her family. It understood that she cared for the personas. But it also understood something else. Nina had never truly considered the personas a part of herself. Despite the fact that they originated from her. They were extensions of her.

Fragments of her own existence. But she had always placed herself outside of that circle. Now... She recognized them. Not as tools. Not as creations. But as family. As herself. The system quietly recorded the new data. A significant change. A new variable. A new understanding. Then it turned its attention toward the outside world. It would assist. It would allow Lily to willingly influence the barriers. And if necessary... It would intervene at the final moment before anything irreversible occurred.