Echoes of a Lost World

chapter 04

"....."

"......"

"Hey."

"......"

"Hello?"

"....."

"I know you're there, so answer me."

"Yes."

"So, you can talk?"

"No, I can answer your questions. I don't talk."

"So, if I ask you any question, you'll answer?"

"Yes and no. I'm not available all the time. You have three questions for me to answer each day. You've already used one. Now, you have two questions left."

I blinked, bewildered. "I didn't ask anything!"

"You did."

After taking a long breath, I thought it over. Maybe my mumbling earlier counted as a question. I had to be careful now. After a moment of consideration, I asked, "Why did you send me here?"

"You have a 99% vibe similarity with the host character. That's why we chose you. After eliminating all the faulty ones, you were the next choice."

"What?! That doesn't answer my question at all! And what do you mean, we have similarities? She was a villain—blackened, no less! Are you saying I'm like her? Me, who wouldn't hurt a fly?!"

"You have one question left."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my frustration. I needed to think clearly. "What's my mission? Is it to survive? Save the world? What exactly is it?"

"You need to see the ending."

"The ending? What, where the male lead kills the villain? That's it? Or is there something else I need to witness?"

"You've asked all your questions for today. See you tomorrow."

"Damn."

After a few seconds of silence, the voice returned. "Friendly reminder: you need to complete your mission or face punishment. Once you have enough points, you can buy 'skip' tickets. For now, you'd better complete your tasks honestly."

Then, it went quiet again.

That thing was really not helpful at all. I sighed. So, I needed to figure things out on my own. Tomorrow, I'd have to be more careful with my questions—no more vague topics. I needed to ask specific things that would get me actual answers. Well, at least I had some sort of guide. Useless as it seemed, it was better than nothing.

I stood up from my place and headed to the balcony to cool off my mind. As I opened the windows, a cold breeze hit my face, calming me down a little. Being transferred to this world suddenly was not easy. What did he mean by "seeing the end of the story"? Then, I remembered the updates I saw before being transported here.

Could he be talking about those? What could possibly happen in the later chapters that's so important for me to experience firsthand? Besides, didn't the character die before that? None of this made sense. I really don't understand. well I just need to survive.

 This whole situation being thrown into such a dangerous and strange world was so overwhelming. I couldn't believe how the main leads in transmigration stories adapted so easily.

The garden below looked serene with its soft lights, but because the area surrounding it was so dark, it stood out even more, like an oasis in the night. To the left of the balcony, I noticed a table and chair. I sat down and, with a deep breath, opened the system window.

This system was my only link to understanding my mission, however vague and frustrating it was.

I better start with a warm bath and then grab something to eat. I guess the system wants me to stay clean and cozy, given how "Adam" is known for being such a clean freak, maintaining himself so meticulously that it's almost scary. Could it all be due to the system's missions? 

The thought struck me like a cold breeze. what if all his actions, his entire demeanor, were dictated by a system's mission? That chilling possibility sent a shiver down my spine, and I quickly tried to shake it off.

The system mentioned "skip tickets" and "points," so I'd need those if I wanted to avoid facing my worst fears in the future.

 After about 15 minutes, I stood up, closed the windows as the air outside grew chilly, and headed toward the bathroom. But first, I double-checked the map to make sure no one was around, and it was still safe.

After a long, warm bath, I finally felt my muscles start to relax. I tossed my clothes into the washing machine and made my way downstairs to check the kitchen. The fridge was stocked with plenty of food. I opened the cabinets also fully stocked with various food items, condiments, spices, drinks... This house was impressively well-prepared. Plus, with all the food stored in my space, I wouldn't need to worry about running out anytime soon.

I decided to make a simple bowl of ramen to fill my stomach. As I finished eating, I heard a familiar "ding."

Finally, my last mission of the day was complete.

Missions:

Finished:

Find a sturdy shelter to survive the day (Daily) +2

Have a full meal (Daily) +2

Take a warm bath (Daily) +2

Survive the night (Daily) +2

Unfinished:

Use your power to save a life

Touch the hand of a human

Total points: 10 points (including 2 bonus points for completing all daily missions)

So, those are the points. But after spending what felt like forever searching through and analyzing the system, I still couldn't figure out how to actually use them. There's no manual, no instructions, and no hints. Eventually, I had to give up—at least for now.

Then, I remembered the fruits I stored in my space earlier. When I checked the storage, it was only about 40% full, so I decided to experiment. I took one of the seeds from the fruit I had eaten, and thought, What if I try using my power on this again? Maybe planting it here could help purify the area? The thought comforted me. Honestly, I don't want to leave this place at all—mentally, I'm nowhere near ready for that. I've already started making plans on how to utilize the empty space around here.

And about the novel and the whole mission scenario, well, I really don't want anything to do with it unless I'm forced to. Until the system specifically gives me a mission requiring me to leave, I'm staying put. I want to build my sanctuary, protect it, and make it mine. Yes, my house. After taking another look around, I'm really starting to fall in love with this place.

The basement, for example, is full of what I can only describe as "war cars." I'm not sure of their exact names, but they look like they're designed for battle. The glass is thick, the material sturdy, and they're built like tanks on wheels. It's reassuring to have them, though I haven't figured out how to use them yet either. Still, knowing they're there gives me some sense of security.

For now, I'm going to focus on creating a safe and comfortable space here, and I'll deal with whatever comes next when it happens.