"I've got to say, you really know how to pick your timing when you show up, System."
Narumi Tōru raised an eyebrow. Even though the system's sudden appearance caught him slightly off guard, the rhythm of his hands never stopped.
"If you'd popped in earlier—when I was stuck fighting for survival between several women—maybe I would've written you something nice in the user review section."
[Sorry. At the time, I assumed you were enjoying yourself, so I chose not to interrupt your refined pleasures.]
"Wow, how very 'thoughtful' of you."
[Detected a sarcastic emotional tone. Are you dissatisfied with my services?]
"Do I really need to spell it out for you?"
If this system had a concrete humanoid form and were standing in front of him, Narumi would absolutely roll his eyes straight at it.
"Putting aside the fact that the traits your system randomly gives me are never anything good—which I can tolerate, since I've played gacha games with a 0.7% drop rate before—pulling something like last time, where you didn't explain the rules beforehand and only brought them up after I'd gone through the entire experience… don't you think that's crossing the line a bit?"
If this were shopping or a contract, that kind of after-the-fact explanation would already count as deceiving the consumer.
[Well… considering that if post-simulation reality became too plain, you might sink into the virtual simulated world and find it hard to pull yourself out, I took the liberty of preparing a few surprises for you…]
"So not telling me in advance that things in the simulation could affect reality also counts as a surprise, huh?"
Yeah, there really ought to be a feedback channel where he could stuff the developer's inbox full of one-star reviews.
[Ah… that was me being too clever for my own good. Still, up to now, the impact your simulations have had on reality has been negligible—nothing serious, nothing serious. If anything truly irreversible were to occur, I would take responsibility and cover for you.]
For once, there was a trace of guilt in the system's neutral voice. He'd always assumed it would be like a machine, incapable of anything resembling human emotion.
Narumi didn't magnanimously wave it off with something like "Let it slide this time, just be careful next time." Once something like this happens once, there's no guarantee it won't happen again. Being soft now would only create dangerous uncertainty for his future self.
"If these were conditions you didn't explain beforehand, then the responsibility lies with you. Just like how a business needs to offer compensation to retain customers—shouldn't you be giving me something to make this fair?"
Expressionless, he continued typing while probing for leverage. The slight narrowing of his half-lidded eyes made him look every bit as sly as a fox.
"Otherwise, I can't guarantee I'll continue this simulation. We never agreed that I couldn't quit halfway through, did we?"
Turning someone's methods back on them at moments like this was the fastest way to seize control of the conversation. Besides, in this situation, he was clearly in the right.
[You seem quite confident, as though you believe this simulation cannot proceed without you.]
At first glance, the words sounded dripping with sarcasm, but the system's tone held no hidden mockery—it was simply stating what it perceived as fact.
"Isn't that the case? If not, you're free to replace me with someone else anytime."
Narumi didn't consider himself arrogant, but based on the circumstances, that was the most reasonable conclusion. He wasn't so self-effacing as to deny his own value.
"And there must be 'something' you need from me, or you wouldn't have come to me in the first place. While giving me rewards from the simulation, you're also expecting something in return from me, right? I'm not wrong, am I?"
[That is correct. You are very perceptive—and that is one of the reasons I have always treated you as the core of this simulation. I enjoy negotiating with intelligent individuals.]
"Whether or not I stay wary of you depends on whether you're willing to be honest with me."
This was the perfect opportunity to uproot everything the system had been hiding from him.
Calmly, Narumi continued outlining the framework for his new novel on the blank document page, quietly waiting for the system's voice to echo in his mind once more.
[I find it difficult to explain the specifics in detail… but what I can tell you is this: what I seek from you is to 'obtain,' not to 'take.' You need not worry that I will seize anything you cherish. And the statement I made last time is the only thing among what I concealed that could possibly have an unfavorable effect on you.]
"Trust is hard to regain once it's lost."
Even with the system's voice sounding unusually sincere, Narumi remained unmoved.
[I understand your suspicion toward me. This is the consequence I deserve. However, if we are to carry out future simulations, our cooperation requires absolute trust. In that case—during the third simulation, I will prepare especially generous rewards for you. Consider it my compensation.]
"Oh? Go on."
The curly-haired boy paused his typing at last, finally steering the conversation toward something that piqued his interest.
[Previously, rewards were selected based on your performance in the simulation—one or two random yet standout traits would be added to your real life. This time, however, all of your positive performances in the simulation can be refined into traits.]
In game terms Narumi could easily understand, it was like… double rewards during an event period, wasn't it?
[Furthermore, unlike the first two simulations, when initial attributes are rolled at the start of this one, your probability of rolling positive traits will be multiplied by five.]
"Hmm. That's actually a bit interesting."
Narumi raised an eyebrow as if reluctantly convinced, though inwardly he was already wearing a "just as planned" grin.
The system always compromised. If it refused to let you pry open a door, it might nod in approval when you tried opening a window instead.
"So what's the objective this time? At the very least, who's the key person, and what kind of ending am I supposed to reach—you should tell me that in advance, shouldn't you?"
[While I would very much like to tell you in order to regain your trust, doing so might compromise the enjoyment of the simulation. Please forgive me for keeping you in suspense. What I can guarantee, however, is that once you enter the simulation, you will know who the key person is.]
As expected, squeezing out more information wasn't going to be easy.
Even though Narumi still couldn't fully trust the system, he'd managed to negotiate quite a few positive buffs. At the very least, the third simulation wouldn't be boring.
Still, this system really knew how to push Narumi's buttons. His inability to suppress his curiosity toward the unknown was exactly why he'd never managed to walk away from this simulation game.
A brand-new life. Brand-new possibilities. Countless random, uncertain events… Compared to a dull, ordinary routine, the future simulation was irresistibly alluring.
[All preparations are complete. You need only wait for the third simulation to begin.]
Perhaps the system had seen that clearly—that was why it chose him as the protagonist of the simulation game in the first place.