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So, uh… can I leave no-
Update complete. Changes have been made.
You can now use pearls as a form of currency at trading booths. Each pearl is worth 25 karma points. You can also absorb pearls to add to your personal karma points.
Being interrupted by the system I grow shocked.
'What?! I can use pearls for something else now?! Something actually useful?!?'
Before I can think any further about this change the system continues.
Due to finding a bug in the system you can ask 1 question. Any question. Ask wisely.
My thoughts of excitement are halted. Hearing that I can ask any question I want, I feel the system message was more… personal…
…
As if it spoke right to me.
'So, I can ask anything I wa-
Oh shit I almost asked a question! Shut your mind off joseph! Inner thoughts!
…
Hearing the system not react in any way I calm down, that was close…
…
I start seriously thinking… I can ask anything want… like how the system works… how to grow stronger… how to gain karma points more easily… why am I here, also why was I isekaid in such a shitty world…
Those are all good questions, they really are.
…
But slowly, one question pops into mind. A question that's been gnawing at me ever since I first opened my eyes as a slugcat. Asking this question will honestly be a waste. But…
This may be my only chance at closure.
Besides… I'm sure I'll figure all that other stuff out anyway. I could honestly care less why I'm here.
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…
After readying myself to ask the question, I speak.
"What happened to my family after I died"
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In silence, I wait for the system to answer.
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Growing uncomfortable from the silence, I wonder if my question was processed. Did I say something wrong?
Right as I'm about to ask the same question again the system starts speaking.
On November 20th, 2023. Joseph Sprot was killed in a hit and run by a drunk driver. The drunk driver sped off to never be found. Only leaving a deceased corpse and a small family to mourn.
'H-huh? A drunk driver? W-why-
Your mother missed you every day. Coming to your grave any time she could. Until her very last breath. When she passed, her final wish was to be buried next to you. Hoping she could see you again. I'm sorry she would never get that wish fulfilled.
'W-wha
Your brother, driven by rage and sadness, went to hunt down the person that killed you. After several fruitless years of searching. He turned to politics, becoming the senator of your state. He fought every day to prevent another tragedy such as yours. He served until his dying breath. His final wish was to be buried next to you. Hoping to tell you his achievements when he saw you again. I'm sorry he would never be able to tell you.
'W-what ar-
Your father, being the stoic man he was, silently grieved for you. Keeping a strong facade for his wife and child. Deep down wishing he could have prevented such an accident. As the final one to pass, his final wish was to be cremated and buried on top of you. He hoped to tell you he was sorry for not being there for you when you needed him the most. I'm sorry you will never hear his apology.
'S-stop! STOP IT! DON'T SAY ANYMOR-
Your family missed you, Joseph Sprot. Every single day. Until their final moments.
I'm sorry you will never see them again.
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grabbing my head. I feel my mind turning blurred. The only thing filling my vision being my tears.
Not able to come to terms with what I just heard I can only do one thing.
Something I haven't done for thousands of cycles. I scream out into the void. Feeling my mind torn that I will never see my family again. Knowing that they are dead. That I will never get to see them again. That I will never talk to them again. That I will never hug them again.
The only thing keeping me going, the small hope that I could see them again. That I… I… I have nothing to go back to.
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I'm alone.
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There's no point anymore.
Curling into myself in the abyss I cry. Knowing that everything I've done up to this point has been meaningless.
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System update has been completed. Your question has been answered. You can leave the soul space when you want.
I ignore the system's message. Not caring any more. The only thing I can do is pathetically cry to myself.
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After an unknown amount of time. I find myself just floating. Staring blankly into the abyss. The only thing keeping me somewhat conscious is the throbbing and burning pain I feel on my injured arm.
Amongst the pain however… I also feel a gentle warmth still surrounding me…
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…
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No… I'm not alone… I'm not alone anymore…
'Inv… I have Inv' slowly, I start becoming more awake.
This entire time, I have been wrapped in the comforting feeling of Invs fur… how could I forget so easily?
How could I just think that everything was pointless so fast?!
Widening my eyes I stop the last of my cries.
…
My family… they may be gone… I now know I will never see them again… but that's better than never knowing!
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There's no point in going back. I know that now. What I need to focus on now is…
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'Inv'
The only other being who has accepted me.
…
'I think it's time to go. I need to see him'
Despite ignoring the system's message earlier. I'm pretty sure it said I could leave anytime I want. Now how do i-
'W-what the hell?!' Suddenly, I feel as if my injured arm has been exposed to open air.
I had gotten used to it being covered so for it to suddenly be exposed like this makes my arm start burning more.
'D-did Inv take the cloth of my arm? Did my arm get worse?'
Before I can start panicking and exit this strange place, I feel something… cool touch my arm.
Slowly the feeling starts completely wrapping around my injured arm. It doesn't hurt, in fact… it feels really good…
Feeling the burning in my arm start to cool down I can only wonder what Inv is doing. And should I even care? I haven't felt this good in… so long…
…
Drowning in the feeling, time passes until I suddenly feel myself become weaker.
Checking my stats. I see what the issue is.
ⵔⵔⵔⵔⵔⵔ|
'Great… I'm starving now… I completely forgot that I still needed 2 more food pips…'
Deciding that it's now time to wake up. I suddenly feel what I need to do to get out of this space. As if I just need to pull on something.
As if I knew how to do this the entire time, I pull.
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..
.
—------------
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..
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Feeling my conscience slowly stir, I start weakly opening my eyes.
When my blurry vision finally clears. All I see is Inv's face. In front of mine, his mouth opened wide with… chewed up batfly?
Before I can question what is going on even further, Inv moves his head back slightly, looking at me with excitement in his eyes and I can hear his tail start thumping on the ground behind me.
"Roey! Yawr ewak!" I hear Inv say, his speech jumbled by his mouth being full of batfly.
Seeing him again with his face so close. Seeing him happy to see me. It makes me feel… at peace.
Quickly, I piece together what Inv was about to do.
'Was he… about to feed me?'
Seeing the chewed batfly in his mouth and him opening my mouth up the way it was. This is the only conclusion I can come to.
…
Before Inv can move any further away I stop him.
"Inv…" I weakly say his name, the starvation making my voice weak.
Despite this, Inv stops on the spot, his head still looking at me. Our faces still so close to each other.
…
What I'm about to do may be a bit… soon… but I can't miss this chance. Not when we're so close.
"Stay still" I say to Inv, slowly grabbing both sides of his head with my paws.
Despite the weakness from my starved state. I can feel my heart racing the highest it's ever gone.
Moving my face towards his, he stays still. Listening to me.
With one last burst of confidence. I move my mouth towards his…
And press my lips against his.
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A/N: can you guess what happens next :)