Chapter 52: Branch – 1

Chapter 52: Branch – 1

The lavishly spread feast.

And the pouring gazes of the servants, along with the Duke’s gaze that seemed to pierce right through me.

……But everything seemed to stop for a moment. 

Because I felt like I had just learned something far more important.

*……It’s not that time feels like it stopped; it actually stopped.*

“What?”

*Because I stopped it. It’s the first branching point in your life, so shouldn’t I explain it?*

At the same time, my vision flickered.

It was like… a similar sensation to when I first came to this world.

The difference was… I remained still, but another being appeared before my eyes.

…And someone I’d never seen before.

“Hmm… Indeed, it’s been a while since I’ve taken this form, so it’s a bit hard to get used to.”

“…Who?”

“Wow…… Really? You don’t recognize me? Even though we were just talking perfectly fine?”

Dazzling golden hair and golden eyes that seemed to draw you in.

Her face was clearly close to perfection, but…… paradoxically, that’s why she felt somewhat artificial.

At a glance, her appearance was close to an angel’s, but… what she said was absolutely not, so I could easily tell who this was.

…There was just a disconnect between the figure in front of me now and the one who usually cursed at work and her boss.

“Originally, I was just going to tell you via message like usual, but that’s too stiff, so I came in person,”

“No, you said you were an AI…?”

“I can think just like a human, so why wouldn’t I have a body?”

“Hmm. That makes sense.”

“Right? ……Ah, this isn’t what I came to talk about; I had something important to say.”

…It was clearly supposed to be a serious and very heavy atmosphere… but it instantly became light, which was a bonus.

***

“Anyway, let me tell you what kind of company we are, and what kind of situation you’re in.”

“At this timing, suddenly?”

“Well… it’s actually time for you to know, and I thought telling you might help you make choices that are better for you.”

Saying that, the System in charge created the familiar System screen.

…On the screen, there were images of me from various angles.

“We revive those who died without fulfilling any lingering regrets or wishes in their original lives. But… that’s definitely not the end.”

“Seems so. Normal resurrection wouldn’t involve this kind of recording.”

“Actually, systems like ‘resurrection fees’ are just formalities, meant to boost the revived person’s will to live and activity, not our company’s main revenue structure.

 Our company…… as you can see, generates profit by broadcasting the lives and stories of ‘revived’ individuals like you.”

…A moment of silence passed.

What the System just said was equivalent to saying that my life was being consumed as mere entertainment for someone else.

“Oh, of course, things like your private life, for example, changing clothes, or waking up at a certain time in the morning, are excluded from the records. They’re not interesting.”

“……So, you’ve been recording and broadcasting all my important moments until now?”

“Well… rather than broadcasting, it’s a kind of processing. It would be great to deliver it directly on screen, but we’re still technologically lacking for that.

 So we’re delivering it in written form to those who are interested in your story.”

Saying that, the System smiled sweetly.

…However, what she was saying now was by no means something to be taken lightly.

……To an extent that couldn’t even compare to the Duke’s assassination.

“…In the end, you just revived me arbitrarily, and you’re arbitrarily showing my life as entertainment for others.”

“Don’t think of it that way too much. You also… wanted to live, didn’t you? In fact, more desperately than anyone else in that hospital.

 We give life that no other being can give to those like you who desperately need a new life, a revival, more than anything.”

“And in return, you observe the ‘life’ you’ve given and broadcast it to others?”

“Exactly. In fact, you’ve probably seen our company’s works a few times, haven’t you? No, you must have.”

What appeared before my eyes as she said that was… a very familiar cover.

…Because it was the cover of this novel, the one I had fallen into.

“Right now… the protagonist of this world was also our company’s client? It’s just that they wanted their memories erased, and we erased them cleanly.

 They were a failed hero in another world, but they successfully saved the world in another, so it makes sense that all their regrets would be resolved, right?”

“……Saved it? You say that even knowing the ending of this novel? In the first place, this novel didn’t even have the concept of a System?”

“We just erased traces of our intervention as needed. We thought it would make a better ‘story.’

 But… honestly, no matter how much of a hero they are, suddenly gaining incredible opportunities through immense coincidence, wouldn’t that have been difficult without our System’s intervention?”

At those words, the original story’s opportunities flashed through my mind.

…When I read it, I thought there was something lacking in plausibility and just moved on, but what if all of that was the System’s intervention?

The original story makes sense, and the System’s information-gathering ability, knowing even the minute details of this world that were never properly described in the novel, also makes sense.

Honestly, at first, I wondered why the world I fell into was this novel.

There were other novels I had read more impressively, and novels I genuinely loved.

…I dismissed it, thinking it made no sense to die and then come back to life so soon.

However, my falling into this world was by no means a mere coincidence.

It was just that… I fell into a world I knew, among the worlds already under the ‘System’s’ information.

“Well… honestly, it must be confusing. This isn’t even all of it, to begin with.

 Since we’re also a company, we operate very systematically, and there are various restrictions, such as the worlds we can revive people in being predetermined?”

“……So, why are you telling me this?”

“Well, it’s to formally enter into a ‘contract’ now. We don’t just see you as a cash cow, you know.”

At the same time, a piece of paper and a pen were presented before me.

On the paper, ‘Contract’ was clearly written.

“As you said earlier, the protagonist of this world originally failed to completely save the world. We helped, but we couldn’t detect Elena and her forces.”

“……”

“That’s the result of the choices the protagonist of this world made at their ‘branching points.’ You, too, could end up like that if you make the wrong choice at a ‘branching point.'”

“…So?”

“We are recorders of your life, not human scum who just clap while watching a gladiatorial match.

 Rather… we want all those we revive to achieve their respective wishes and attain happiness. Our company’s founding philosophy itself is the promotion of happiness.”

……Indeed, the System has never interfered with my life or deliberately instigated sensational events.

In fact, it was just unpleasant that they arbitrarily recorded my life and documented it, but from my perspective, the System is almost a benefactor who gave me life again.

Of course, the talk about the founding philosophy… was quite believable, though.

“That’s why we want to formally contract with you, who has grown so well up to this point, and also inform you of these ‘branching points.'”

“…What exactly happens if I sign the contract?”

“You agree to us continuing to broadcast your life like this, and we will continue to support you as we have been.

 …So you can achieve what you couldn’t in your previous life. Oh, don’t worry, even if you refuse, it won’t be as if you were never revived.”

It’s a sweet offer. No, in some ways, it’s the most malicious offer.

An offer to revive those with unfulfilled things from their previous lives and help them achieve those unfulfilled things.

Well, they must have selected and revived those who would be receptive to such an offer.

In my case… it would have been the desire to enjoy what others consider ‘daily life’ as my own daily life.

“…You said you were recorders, right?”

“That’s right. That’s also why we give rewards when you accomplish something, that is, achieve an ‘achievement.'”

“Then… do you ‘deliberately’ cause various incidents to make my ‘story’ more interesting?”

This was actually the most important part.

A person’s story being conveyed to others? In fact, this is a natural thing.

When I first heard that the System was arbitrarily broadcasting my life, I felt a sense of rejection and reacted sharply for a moment, but…

We don’t say that we treat the life of a great person as entertainment when we commemorate and appreciate it through biographies or movies.

And thinking that other people would read my life and story as a novel… just felt strange.

My story, with me as the protagonist, spreading to others.

They might see my life as just ‘fun,’ but couldn’t they also empathize with me and relate to me?

So, if I just set aside the initial aversion… isn’t it no different from a biography?

……Thinking this way, the offer began to feel even more certainly not bad.

However… if they were intervening in my life and causing various incidents to create a ‘story’ that pleased them……

I would not sign a contract with them, even if it meant my life was cut short again. 

No matter how miserable a life, I don’t want to live just to be a laughingstock for others.

“…We absolutely do not deliberately cause non-existent events to make your life sensational and a better ‘story.'”

“Really?”

“……I swear. We respect your life, and we respect every choice you make within that life. No matter what results it creates.

 We merely… make you aware of important ‘branching points’ so you don’t pass them by unknowingly.”

In truth, I couldn’t know the veracity of the System’s words.

In the first place, they were all AIs, machines, so deceiving me would be nothing to them.

Nevertheless… rather than blindly distrusting, I decided to trust them.

I didn’t want to keep doubting a System I had grown somewhat fond of, nor did I want to live my life in suspicion.

…Well, I still intended to do a final check, though.

“…You really respect my life and choices, right?”

“Of course. No, now that I think about it, it’s unfair, isn’t it? If we could control your life, you wouldn’t have arbitrarily chugged that top-grade potion on the first day!”

“…Sounds like there’s some emotion in that?”

“How could there not be? The fucking report, no, the incident report I had to write because of that… Ugh.”

After saying that, we stared at each other’s faces for a moment… and then burst into laughter.

Lightly, as usual.

…Indeed, such serious and heavy conversations didn’t seem to suit me and the System at all.

“Okay, now you sound more like my System in charge.”

“…If you don’t mind, please call me ‘Ria,’ my name. Now that we’ve formally contracted.”

“I haven’t signed yet?”

The heavy atmosphere and conversation topic from just a moment ago quickly lightened.

And… neither I nor Sys, no, Ria, disliked that change.

…Of course, besides the truth of the ‘System’ and my contract, there was still more to talk about, so we calmly discussed it again a little later.

……It was a good thing time was stopped; otherwise, I thought the Duke might have been assassinated long before my conversation with Ria ended.

I never imagined the conversation would be this long.

“Anyway, we want you, and this world, to have a better ending… but we can’t perfectly intervene in all your affairs.”

“…Is that why all the potions have side effects?”

“Exactly. Since we ‘intervened’ with something that didn’t originally exist in this world, restrictions are attached. That’s why we can’t prevent these ‘branching points’ or crises that come your way either.”

At the same time, a new notification window popped up next to me.

…It was, as expected, a familiar notification window.

*Branching Point!

-> The Duke’s family is currently being targeted by assassins. 

=> Both the young lady Christie and the Duke are feeling safe, trusting the Imperial Guard. You have ‘several’ options.

=> As you are also a target of the assassins, if you interfere with the Duke’s assassination, combat is inevitable.

+> 1. There’s no need to risk your life to protect the Duke. Stay out of this matter, but comfort Christie after the Duke’s death.

+> 2. Run away. Leave the capital and never return. Forget everything and live quietly, making potions.

*

“…Whether it’s giving me a contract or giving me this information, I wish you’d just do one.”

One would be a headache, but two at once really makes my head throb.

I understand it, but I feel a strong sense that my thoughts can’t keep up.

“Oh, weren’t you already a caught fish?”

“…Whatever.”

Saying that, I quickly swept the contract away from my sight.

With my signature, of course.

“Alright, good. A valuable document that will boost my performance has been completed.”

“…If you keep doing that, I’ll just cancel it?”

“Then the penalty for breach of contract is death, would that be alright, my dear customer-nim?”

……Ria’s words, which were annoying enough just as System messages… were even worse when heard in person.

Oh, and of course, since she was actually next to me, my fist didn’t just cut through the System message window, but landed squarely on Ria’s crown.

“Ack!”

“Alright, quiet. It’s time for a crucial choice, isn’t it? …Well, of course, I’ve already decided the answer.”

Saying that, I opened the ‘Alchemist’s Treasury.’

…I also confirmed that two newly registered potions were neatly generated.

……Attack potions created at truly ideal timing.

“…The fact that all the potions you specifically recommended ingredients for recently are attack potions… is definitely not a coincidence, is it, Ria?”

“Ehehe… W-well… I guess you could say there’s an unavoidable circumstance right now…?”

“Well, thanks anyway. It seems it’ll be very helpful this time.”

Clearly, the System’s offer didn’t include the option of me fighting the assassins.

But…… so what?

Ria clearly said that the ‘System’ respects all my choices, and the branching point notification window itself mentions ‘several’ options.

So, there’s no need to specifically choose one of the options written there… is what that means.

*Contract test passed. Deemed eligible for contract, perfect contract completed with target, ‘Lucia’.

 ……Option, ‘3. Do not avoid it. Risk your life for Christie and prevent the Duke’s assassination.’ has been selected. We wish you good luck in this branching point.*

“…Wasn’t it over once I signed?”

“I couldn’t say it due to regulations… but you actually have to pass this contract test too.”

“……This company just makes me lose whatever affection I had for it.”

“Oh, and time stop is about to be released, so get ready.”

“Hmm? Already? ‘Alchemist’s Treasury’ is still active? How much time is left?”

Naturally, if time stop was released now, it would look like strange potions suddenly appeared during a perfectly normal banquet, so I had to quickly tidy up.

…Especially since there’s a strange halo-like effect behind me while ‘Alchemist’s Treasury’ is active, I had to quickly deactivate it.

“Hmm… approximately 3…”

“3 minutes? That’s enough.”

“3…2…1…”

“…Hey, you crazy bitch!! At least tell me 10 seconds in advance!”

And then, the stopped time began to flow again.

…I managed to hastily deactivate the potions and the ‘Alchemist’s Treasury,’ but I was standing up abruptly to argue with Ria.

……Before I worry about surviving the Duke’s assassination, I seriously need to worry about surviving the Duke’s gaze.