"The world you will be assigned to is classified as contemporary urban romance. Scenario name: 'Roselind's Promise.'"
Philip raised both hands."Urban romance? Here we go."
Seravion continued, unmoved:"It is a standard plot. The protagonist is a cannon fodder girl destined to suffer until chapter fifty and then be run over so the male lead can realize his mistakes, experience emotional growth, and end up with his true beloved, the one known as the White Light."
Philip made a face."Wait. You're sending me into that kind of cliché? I didn't even hear everything yet and I'm already stressed."
Seravion opened a glowing screen with the protagonist's profile: a smiling, ordinary girl, clearly marked by the narrative to be treated like a doormat."The protagonist, Roselind… Roselind Red, is dating the male lead, Mac Lassen, a billionaire heir."
Philip rolled his eyes."Great. Rich, handsome, and stupid. Anyone else?"
"Yes. The White Light."Another screen appeared, showing a radiant young woman, her aura literally glowing."She was supposed to be a minor character — by chapter 2, she should have been dead. But there was an error."
Philip crossed his arms."Of course there was. Who could've guessed?"
"She was…" Seravion hesitated. "Transmigrated."
Philip froze."EXCUSE ME? A TRANSMIGRATOR?! THAT IS THE CLICHÉ OF ALL CLICHÉS—"
"Correct. She is not native to the world. She arrived with full knowledge of tropes, goals, archetypes, and traps of urban romance stories. And the system that should have guided her toward true love was instead manipulated by her."
Philip's mouth fell open."The system… got tricked?"
"Yes." Seravion spoke with the serenity of someone commenting on the weather. "Systems do not understand humans. We have no instinctive grasp of irony, resentment, emotional blackmail… or strategic manipulation."
"My God."
"The White Light quickly noticed the system's limitations and began using it to gain advantages: resources, status, information, predictions for favorable routes. She diverted the entire plot."
Seravion opened more screens:
Roselind being humiliated in cafés.
Mac ignoring her.
The White Light glowing and smiling.
The system floating beside the White Light with the expression of a confused emoji.
Seravion concluded:"The canonical protagonist should survive until chapter fifty. But currently… she is emotionally crushed by chapter eight. The plot is collapsing. And the main system continues serving the wrong person without realizing it."
Philip rubbed his face with both hands."So let me get this straight."
He raised one finger."Cannon fodder protagonist."
Another."Stupid billionaire."
Another."White Light who is, actually, a hyper-intelligent psychopathic transmigrator."
Another."A clueless system that doesn't understand human emotions and is working for the villain."
He took a deep breath."And I am the one who's supposed to fix this crap."
"Correct." Seravion confirmed with a gentle smile. "You are the first human immune to narrative influence. Therefore, the most suitable to deal with humans… and with emotions."
Philip's eyes widened, as if he'd just heard the most absurd thing in existence."BRO."
"Yes?"
"I can't even deal with MY OWN emotions!"
Seravion opened the portal."Regardless… it is your function."