"Look at you, crying like a baby. Didn't I say? Boys never cry. Now go wash up first, then come for dinner. Okay?"
"Okay." The young man said.
The woman got up, gently caressed his head, then left the room.
Ronan stayed behind, still in a daze. "She reminds me of her. It's almost like she also transmigrated into her body." He whispered. "But I know she hasn't. And I won't be able to see her ever again." Tears rolled down the young man's cheeks as a memory flashed before his eyes.
Suddenly, the panel before him shimmered, bringing him back to reality from his world of memories. Or more like he fell asleep. Because the panel or whatever it was saying didn't feel real the slightest.
[Host, do you accept the system?]
The panel asked again.
"This world. It's totally different from my last one. Ronan whispered as he looked around. He was witnessing many strange things for the first time in his life.
A stage rectangular black object hung on the wall, a black rope-like thing emerging from its back and then entering a pair of holes in the wall.
In different corners of the wall, torch-like things were illuminating the whole room. But there was no fire doing the trick. Instead, it was as if those strange objects were glowing themselves.
Even the dress he himself was wearing, or the person who had just left, was totally different.
His eyes fell on the panel again.
"Eternal's Grace, wasn't it? So what's next? What happens if I accept the system? Will I become your slave and have to do anything you ask me to?"
[The system is designed to bring out one's true potential. You can accept the system's task and earn rewards for completing the task. You can deny a task, and there will be no punishments for that. But failing a task will initiate punishment.]
"But why me? How did I get selected as the player? Or does everyone get a system in this world?"
[The system is not allowed to disclose how a player is selected. Also, nobody else has a system like this.]
"You can't disclose? And I should just believe you?"
[The host can either accept the system or deny it. But if the host wants to awaken his power, there is no alternative other than accepting the system. The host's body is immune to trait awakening. Host was a peerless cultivator in his past life, but there is no spiritual energy in the present world. So the host can choose to stay as an ordinary being or accept the system.]
"What? There is no spiritual energy? Impossible." Ronan's eyes widened. The next moment, he sprang into a sitting position and then bent his knees into a lotus position. He closed his eyes next. A deep inhale. His chest rose slowly. And then a slow exhale. His chest slowly fell again. The young man repeated the cycle.
Then his eyes snapped open in frustration. "Damn it! There really is no spiritual energy. But how can that be?" Ronan once again fell into deep thought. "What should I do now? Should I remain as an ordinary human being? My past life was full of struggles and battles. For strength, I worked hard and always faced death without blinking. And where did it get me in the end? I lost my family, I lost my mother. This time, I should lead a normal life. An ordinary one. Yes. That's it." Ronan clenched his fist in excitement as if living an ordinary life was very thrilling.
"I don't accept. I want to stay ordinary in this life. So I don't lose anybody."
[Understood. The host will still have three days to confirm his decision.]
The panel shimmered and faded the next moment.
Ronan got up quickly and found the washroom. The washroom was also strange. A high commode that he saw for the first time in his life. The water taps, the basin... everything felt otherworldly. Except for the mirror and the toothbrush, he didn't recognize anything. Also, the moment he looked at the mirror, he froze. "Is this me? No wonder she called me young." Ronan touched his own cheek and squeezed it. "I look like a kid again, hahaha."
Next, he touched the tap and tried to raise its head. Nothing happened. But as he moved his hand, the head rotated, and suddenly water began to pour out. He took two steps back in surprise. "What the hell. Is this magic?" He whispered.
He started checking everything, and it took him almost 30 minutes to understand what each object in the washroom was for.
After freshening up, he quickly changed into a pair of clothes that looked odd, too. But he looked as if he were enjoying this strangeness. It was as if he found happiness in the newness.
Right after that, he came out of the room and was about to march forward. But just then...
Thud!
He bumped into someone.
"Useless prick! Have your eyes stopped working just like your brain?" Someone sneered.
Ronan looked up and found a boy of his age, accompanied by another boy and a girl.
"I heard you went to an alchemist looking for pills and lost twenty thousand. What a moron!" The girl giggled.
"Well, what else can you expect from a talentless nobody like him? But to think he is our brother, it disgusts me to my bones." The other boy from the side added.
The boy Ronan had just bumped into walked forward and grabbed his collar, pulling him up like he was a light sack of goods. "Listen, you dumbass, don't you dare tell anyone that I told you about that alchemist. It's your fault that you didn't check thoroughly before you got scammed. Got it? Or else....." He buried a punch in Ronan's or, currently, Leo's stomach without any warning. "You know what will happen."
He released his grip as Ronan fell to the ground. The group of three didn't waste another second and quickly left the place.
Ronan lay there sprawled. "This body is really weak. An ordinary life is worth enjoying, but I just hope I don't turn into a punching bag for bullies like them." Ronan spoke to himself and pushed himself up from the ground.