13 What Should We Open?

"Well, there have been some up and downs, but now we can truly start our new life, Si."

"Yay!"

Shou looked at the desolate store. The only thing left were empty shelves, leaning against the moldy wall, and a creaking floor. The rest, the kid and his parents took away.

"I will have to do a lot of cleaning." He sighed, as he grabbed for a broom and cleared the numerous cobwebs.

"Yes, but before that, there is something more important, though."

The cobwebs stuck to the broom, making it even harder to clean now. "Huh, what do you mean?"

"Come on, you know," Si said, "what type of shop are we opening?"

"Well, isn't that obvious?"

"Uhh, no, not at all."

"The reason we got this shop is to meet special people. The previous owner turned this place into a herbalist store, but there comes little interaction with it, so I don't plan to follow his footsteps. What we need is something that engages our costumers, and make them stay for a long time. Thus, I have been thinking." He smiled brightly. "Let's open a hotel."

"Absolutely not."

"Huh, why?" Shou stopped cleaning and asked in surprise.

"First of all, I think your reasoning is based on faulty logic. What do you mean 'special people'? We obviously want to earn money, you hear me? Money!"

"You know, life isn't just about money," Shou reminded her.

"No sorry, but my life is literally about money. Don't you get it? I will die if I can't operate and create quests."

"Huh?" Shou tightly clutched the broom and glared at the sky. "Are you trying to brag?"

Si immediately faltered. "Not at all. I'm sorry, [bows down]."

"If it is money you want, I can give it to you. I still have a lot saved up." He closed his eyes and continued cleaning the place; The dust rose up from his movements.

"Oh, where is it?"

"In a different space," he said nonchalantly.

"Damn it, that's like it not being here at all! Also, don't just casually talk about high-level stuff like space! While I am at it, I don't want to open a hotel!"

Shou sighed in resignation. He rolled up his sleeves to properly collect the dust. "Didn't you say I can choose my own path? Don't you keep your promises? Where's your pride as a system?"

"Now that we've gotten this far, I'm willing to forgo my pride for profits."

"That did not take much," Shou said, "but now I understand why you systems can't speak with your true voice."

"Oh really, why is it," Si asked, curious about what discovery he might have made.

"It's because the host will lose all respect for you. If you'd only shut up and let that mechanical voice talk, I probably would still think systems are very suave. But seeing you... ah, forget it."

"'Seeing you' what! 'Seeing you' what! Come on say it, I dare you! [stomps feet]," she shouted and felt her tears welling up again (though she had no eyes). "It's just because you are a weirdo. How am I supposed to talk normally with you?"

"Really? I think it's because you are a bit pathetic, though," he blurted out.

"Uwah~ I hate you," she cried out, as she couldn't hold it anymore.

Shou promptly covered his ear. "All right, all right. I am sorry, it just kinda came out my mouth, no need to fret. So, tell me what you are planning, maybe we will reach an equilibrium."

"Sniff." She gradually calmed down. "Then... I want to open a pawn shop."

"Absolutely not."

"I knew it, you are just trying to bully me!"

"Whoops, just blurted it out again," Shou covered his mouth, "but don't you think that is boring? What's the point of selling old items?"

"But that is the easiest way to earn money. I can't say I am the best of all systems, but I do take pride in my collection. While everyone went outside training with their hosts, I used my free time to amass many things. If you complete the quests, I can give you some."

Was that something to brag about?

"I do have a collection on my own, though it's in a different space."

"Do... doesn't it mean I'm useless then," Si asked timidly, her voice shaking.

Shou's eye twitched when he heard her. Talking with that girl was like walking through a field full of mines; he could never be sure when he tears may flow. 'Ah, this is rather annoying.'

"No, no, not at all. You are, uh... yes, you're emotional support."

"Emotional support?"

"Yes, an utmost crucial role. Without it, no matter how far someone goes, they'll feel like something's missing in their life."

"Uhh, I don't get it, but it doesn't sound too bad."

Safe.

"Well, setting our differences aside, I think we shouldn't forget our end goal here. System, open Main Quest."

[Main Quest - Help Host to finally perish!]

"Oh, I see," Si said and marveled at the transparent window, "we should try something that helps us end your life. So, something like an execution ground?"

"If thing's would be so easy, I would have perished a long time ago."

"That is true [nod nod]." She paused. "But there has to be something, right? I mean, every being in this world lives to survive, so how hard can it be to do the opposite? Let us collect our thoughts, we want to earn money [underlines the word money], meet special people and also edge you closer toward death, something dangerous." She stopped talking to think hard. "So a brothel."

Hearing that, Shou almost choked while breathing. "Do you ever think before talking?" He glared at the sky.

"How rude, then how about you try think of something?"

"Honestly, I'm open with almost anything, you just give bad suggestions. How about this, what do you specialize in?"

"Specialize?"

"Yes, what are you good at? Let's work from there."

"Collecting things," Si answered succinctly.

"Talents! I mean talents!"

"You know, I have never heard of a host asking his system about his talents," Si commented.

"It's not like our relationship is such ordinary one. Just tell me, what did you do your whole life? Especially after that one failure of yours."

"Uhh, I don't know, after that near-death experience, I spent all my life holed up in my room lazing around."

Shou, who had to listen to hear sad life, cupped his hands around his mouth and felt tears welling up his eyes. "Don't worry, things will get better."

"Stop it, pity will only make me feel worse," she shouted, "and it wasn't like I wasn't doing anything. I spent time collecting stuff over the many realms, so compared to other systems, I have a lot more stuff. Also, we have this technology which enables us to envision a different reality, that is where I lived my life, so you can't say I didn't do anything. For real, I kind of miss these times. I remember that one—ah!" She suddenly stopped. "I know what we can do! Oh I got it, I am a genius!"

Shou, the most attentive listener, jumped out of fright, as her shrill voice pierced his ears. "You have an idea? What is it?"

"hehe listen well [puffs out chest], we will—"

"Chain mission started, first Chain Quest will be issued shortly."