Hero's Personal Log 026

It's been like five minutes now. I tried talking to Aster because, y'know, she's pretty and is also the best source of information I have right now, but she said something about needing to meditate. She was nice about it, though.

On the topic of information... I wonder if I can talk to my System. I know it communicated some earlier, but I'm getting a little bored. I could technically just watch Aster meditate, but that's kind of creepy and weird, so I'm not gonna do that. In that case, uh... System? You there?

P-System Log

Ah, fuck, human interaction. I didn't want that, and I still don't. Aside from my personal issues with socializing, I'm going to have issues if I reveal that I was originally human. If I act like a System, I can manipulate him because he thinks I operate on a different level from him. If I reveal myself as human, he'll know that I have emotions and all that shit, and he might learn that I don't actually have that much power over him. If that happens... I don't like the thought of losing even more of my agency. Also, I won't be able to follow his thought processes at all, since I assume he would realize that a person was reading his Personal Logs and thus stop using them.

But still... I'm not incredibly fond of talking to people, but I do want to do it every once in a while. Being alone in this state forever, treated only as a tool? Ugh, no thanks. That sounds really fucking boring.

I can try limited communication. If he gets too suspicious, I'll just cut it off. That should be fine, right?

P-System Message Message acknowledged. Hero's Personal Log 027 Oh, shit, it's listening! Hey, System, do you have, like, a less formal mode? It feels like I'm talking to a computer. I was told that my System is different. Does that mean different as in strong, or different as in intelligent? P-System Log

Uhhhh... shit, shit, how do I respond?

I mean, artificial intelligence can be smart without being human, right? I'm hesitant to even give him that much, but I feel like it might be necessary. Might be less awkward as well, if I'm able to communicate to him without pretending that I'm a computer interface. Still, I can't give the whole game away. Just a little bit, then.

P-System Message I am a moderately advanced intelligence positioned as your System. Yes, I can converse with you less formally. Hero's Personal Log 028

Poggers!

Uh, shit, you probably don't know what that means. Anyway, this is crazy! It's like I have an invisible Kyuubey floating around with me!

...I doubt you know who that is, either. Also, I probably don't actually want a Kyuubey with me.

Anyway, can you detect where the R Beasts went? You sent me an [Objective] indicating that I was supposed to kill them, but I can't follow through on it. Can I still get partial

P-System Log

The level of temptation I have to yell at this guy for unironically using the word "poggers" not once but twice is so damn high. I can't do shit about it, because he can't know I'm from Earth, but I am so damn tempted to lose everything to tell him off for it.

Bad Parker! Bad!

Also, he watched Madoka? Didn't seem like the kind of guy who would watch it, but I guess it makes sense on further reflection. Should've seen it coming when he used a Twitch emote as an exclamation, to be honest.

Aaaaaannnnd to the important part. There's actual content to be discussed here. I don't want to give him the extra rewards because, y'know, he kind of failed to actually kill the R Beasts. But I do want to give him something, at least. He followed what I wanted him to do, after all, and I want to encourage that kind of behavior.

P-System Message Rewards for the base level of [Objective] Clear the Maplecrest Dungeon will be meted out at full capacity. Partial rewards for the expanded level will be offered due to your attempt to complete it through adversity. Heros' Personal Log 029 Attempted through adversity... does that mean when I pushed against Aster's wishes earlier? I mean, if it gets me rewards, I'll take it. Do I need to clear the dungeon first? P-System Message In order to obtain the rewards for [Objective] Clear the Maplecrest Dungeon, you must first complete the [Objective]. Hero's Personal Log 030

Makes sense. I just need to get ready for the next phase of the dungeon, then, especially if the R Beasts are still there. Aster said they wouldn't be, though.

Do you know how I can regain mana?

P-System Message I am currently incapable of providing a method for mana regeneration. P-System Log

He's not saying anything else, but he seems to have accepted it. He's just sitting there now, waiting for the wall to disappear.

Also, I was totally bullshitting him there. I could definitely use some W Inertia to give him more mana, but I don't want to. As of now, I think that it would be a permanent boost to his maximum capacity rather than just a top-up of his own stats. I'm not going to start offering mana regen until I can be sure I'm not overspending and giving him too much of the carrot, so to speak.

He keeps on glancing over at Aster. I'm not even sure he realizes he's doing it, but he is. I mean, the woman is pretty, I guess, but it's not something that should be distracting him this much. Especially when he explicitly told himself earlier that he wasn't going to watch her.

Or maybe he's just that bored.

Hero's Personal Log 031

I am so bored.

I normally wouldn't feel like this, I'm pretty sure, but damn it, I was pumped up. That adrenaline rush felt crazy good, even if I did get absolutely blasted by that [Berserker]'s rush. I feel so frustrated right now. It was kind of nice to kill those monsters, and it was really nice to level up. Now, those R Beasts were human--or at least, kind of human--but they didn't say anything and they attacked us, so it was pretty justified.

I want to finish this dungeon so bad. I want to level up more. I need to improve. These were relatively low level enemies, even if their classes were rare, but they still kicked my ass. If Aster wasn't here, I would've been absolutely fucked.

P-System Log

Right. There's still a larger-scale conflict out there, one that Jerome is supposed to be dealing with eventually.

Oh, he's getting antsy. He finally decided to go over to where Aster is sitting with her eyes closed. She looks peaceful, but I can see the truth of things. W Inertia and mana are roiling around her. It doesn't look like an exact trade of one for the other, but her System is doing something to facilitate the mana restoration process. Or at least, that's what I assume it is.

Jerome: Do you think the R Beasts are going to be waiting for us?

Aster is opening her eyes, and the process behind her is fading away. I'm going to make a mental note of that process and see if I can replicate it later. Good information to have.

Aster: No. These were scouts.

Jerome: Scouts?

She sounds worried. More worried than someone should be for a group of scouts.

Aster: No true effort to overtake any Edge City would involve sending only scouts.

Jerome: How do you know they're scouts?

Aster: Their stats were too low. We often experience breaches of R Beasts at the Edge Cities closest to the Eternal King's domain, and when they breach through they are never below three digits in level.

Jerome: Wow.

Aster: As scouts, their doctrine is that unless they can guarantee a kill, they should flee after their first fight whilst burning the land behind them. Scouts lack the strength to take down even a relatively peaceful Edge City like ours.

Jerome: I could see where that would be a problem.

Aster: More importantly, Maplecrest is one of the furthest cities from the border. If a pair of scouts managed to get this far undetected...

Jerome: Does it mean that the other Edge Cities have fallen?

Aster: No. I am in constant contact with colleagues throughout the Edge Cities. These were simply exceptionally stealthy. But to go this far can only mean two things.

Jerome: What are they?

Aster: Either they are preparing for a deep push, or they're looking for someone.

Jerome: Who would they be looking for?

C'mon, Jerome, you got a [Legendary] class and incredibly good stats. Who else is notable here?

Aster: Reincarnators. People like you.

Jerome: Ah.

P-System Log And on that lovely note, the shield went down. My perception dome is back to encompassing the entirety of the room and a little more. No R Beasts left on the other side of my perception dome. I can't know for sure if they're all gone since I missed them the first time around, so I'll stay on my guard. Jerome and Aster look like they are too. Updated [Objective]: Clear the Maplecrest Dungeon

Details: Complete eliminating the monsters in the dungeon. Eliminate the R Beasts (attempted).

Rewards: XP, Skill XP, Dungeon Core Rewards, Mana Increase (partial),