My 'System' Is Myself!?

Morning light had just begun to fall over Orario's North Gate, bathing the stone bricks of the city wall in pale gold.

Artemis stood in the plaza outside the gate, her long blue hair swaying gently in the breeze. Her simple hunting attire outlined her tall, athletic figure.

Behind her, more than a dozen Familia members stood ready to depart. Bows, daggers, and spears were strapped to their backs, while the exhaustion of their recently completed hunt still lingered on their faces.

"Captain, we only just returned. Why has the Guild already assigned us another mission?"

A young elf approached her, a trace of complaint in her voice.

Artemis did not turn around. She simply answered calmly.

"Because it is our duty."

Her voice was soft, yet carried an unquestionable resolve.

As the Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt, she had never refused a commission from the Guild.

Monsters that escaped from the Dungeon, beasts that rampaged beyond Orario, and creatures that threatened humanity's survival were all targets for her hunt.

This was her mission and the purpose of her existence.

Several days earlier, she had led her Familia on a long-distance hunt to eliminate a group of monsters that had escaped from the Dungeon and reached the northern mountains.

The battle had been intense. Several members had been injured, but no one had died.

Artemis had planned to spend several days resting in Orario, replenishing their supplies and treating the wounded before setting out again.

But the Guild's commission had arrived with such urgency that even she found it unusual.

"The Great Tree Sea Ruins..."

Artemis murmured the name, frowning slightly.

Of course she knew that place.

In ancient times, during the Dungeon's first great outbreak, countless monsters had surged from its depths and swept across the continent.

The most powerful among them had been Antares, a great scorpion whose power was sufficient to destroy an entire nation and make even the gods wary.

At the time, Artemis had sent a Spirit to seal Antares within the ruins deep inside the Great Tree Sea.

It was her responsibility and also one of her greatest regrets. She had failed to kill it herself and had only managed to seal it away.

Now that seal was weakening.

The Guild's commission stated the situation clearly. Abnormal fluctuations of magic had been detected around the Great Tree Sea Ruins, indicating that the ancient seal might soon fail. The Artemis Familia was being asked to investigate and, if necessary, reseal or eliminate Antares.

Artemis had no reason to refuse.

This was her responsibility, a debt she owed and had to repay.

"Let's go."

She turned and nodded to her Familia members.

The group set out.

They passed through the North Gate and followed the stone-paved road north.

Morning light fell across them, casting long shadows over the ground.

Artemis walked at the front with her back straight and her stride unwavering.

She did not know that she might never return from this journey.

Genichi stood atop Orario's city wall, hands in his pockets as he calmly watched the group disappear into the distance.

The morning wind swept past him, making the edges of his clothes flutter sharply.

The shadow beneath his feet writhed slightly, seemingly responding to some silent summons.

Artemis's figure grew smaller and blurrier until it finally disappeared into the distant forest.

Genichi stared in the direction she had gone and remained silent for a long time.

He knew the Artemis Familia was heading toward annihilation.

Antares's strength far exceeded anything they could imagine. One Familia member after another would fall, and their blood would stain the soil of the Great Tree Sea.

Artemis herself would be sealed within Antares and transformed into a cold crystal, waiting for someone to save her.

The corners of Genichi's lips rose slightly. His faint smile contained mockery, indifference, and a trace of indescribable guilt.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, too quietly for anyone else to hear. "But this sacrifice is necessary."

He raised one hand and lightly snapped his fingers.

A dark figure separated from his shadow and silently raced after Artemis.

It was one of his shadows, possessing all of his power and capable of acting and thinking independently.

Its mission was to ensure that Artemis would be sealed just as she had been in the original story, to prevent Antares from actually killing her, and to make certain Genichi could appear at the critical moment as her savior.

Genichi lowered his hand and turned away from the city wall.

His footsteps were light but steady, each step producing a dull sound against the stone stairs.

His heart remained undisturbed.

It was not indifference, but composure.

He was long past the stage when guilt could keep him awake at night. He no longer hesitated over necessary sacrifices or questioned himself because of morality.

He only knew that he needed power.

He needed divine authority.

He needed to survive.

As for the price, he was willing to bear it.

When Genichi stepped off the final stair, he suddenly felt an intense gaze fixed upon him.

It felt as though someone were trying to burn a hole through him with their eyes. The gaze was scorching and focused, filled with a longing so powerful that it threatened to spill over.

Genichi stopped and raised his head, following the gaze to its source.

Ais Wallenstein.

She stood in the shadows beneath the city wall, dressed in light combat gear. Her long golden hair gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.

Her eyes, normally as cold and tranquil as ice, now burned with a restrained flame she could barely contain.

Her fingers clutched the hilt of the sword at her waist so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, and her entire body resembled a bowstring pulled so taut that it might snap at any moment.

Genichi looked at her, the corners of his lips curving upward slightly.

The fish had finally taken the bait.

Several days earlier, Genichi had asked Ouranos to spread word that he possessed resurrection magic and could bring the dead back to life, even heroes who had died decades ago.

The news had traveled so quickly that even Genichi found it surprising.

But he knew Ouranos had been deliberately helping it spread.

The ancient god wanted as many people as possible to learn about Genichi's ability. Only then could he attract more allies and ensure that the plan to resurrect the heroes of the Zeus and Hera Familias proceeded smoothly.

Ais had heard the news.

Of course she had.

Her father, Albert Waldstein, and her mother, Alicia Waldstein, had both died during the campaign against the Black Dragon decades ago.

She was their daughter, the descendant of heroes, and a girl who had lost her parents as a child and grown up alone.

She dreamed of seeing them again, of hearing them call her name once more, and of feeling their arms around her.

Now she finally had that chance.

"Genichi."

Ais's quiet voice trembled slightly.

"Can we talk?"

Genichi looked at her and nodded.

"Follow me."

He turned and walked toward a secluded alley.

Ais hurried after him, seemingly afraid she might lose sight of him.

They entered the alley, leaving the noise of the street behind.

Sunlight streamed down from above, casting mottled patterns of light and shadow across the ground.

Genichi stopped, turned around, and looked at Ais.

"What do you want to discuss?"

His voice remained calm, as though he were asking about something perfectly ordinary.

Ais drew a deep breath and tried to compose herself.

Her fingers released the hilt of her sword and fell to her side, trembling slightly.

She looked at Genichi, her golden eyes filled with pleading.

"I heard you can resurrect people who have died."

Genichi nodded.

"I can."

Ais's breathing quickened.

"Then can you resurrect my parents? Albert Waldstein and Alicia Waldstein died at the Black Dragon's claws. If you can bring them back, I'll do anything."

Her voice choked slightly, and her eyes turned red. Still, she refused to let the tears fall.

Genichi watched her in silence for a moment.

He knew how desperately Ais wanted her parents back and what their resurrection would mean to her.

It was not about power, status, or anything material.

It was about love.

The love she had lost as a child, longed for all her life, and never been able to replace.

"I can."

Genichi's voice was quiet, but every word was unmistakably clear.

"But I have a condition."

Ais's eyes lit up.

"What is it? If it's something I can do, I promise I'll do it."

Genichi looked at her, the corners of his lips curving upward slightly.

"Tell Loki to come negotiate with me."

Ais froze.

Of course she understood what he meant.

Genichi did not want her promise. He wanted Loki's.

Loki was her patron goddess, the leader of the Loki Familia, and the one capable of making decisions on behalf of the entire Familia.

Genichi wanted Loki's divine authority, her cooperation, and a favor from her.

Ais was merely the bait.

Loki was his true target.

"I..."

Ais hesitated briefly before nodding.

"I'll speak to Loki."

Genichi smiled.

"Good. I'll wait for the good news."

(End of Chapter)

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