System?

After Artemis and Zoë finished addressing the other eight members of the familia, Artemis turned to me with a small smile and gestured for me to step forward. My heart pounded as I complied, moving to stand before the group. Their eyes—filled with curiosity and confusion—followed me with barely disguised interest. It wasn't every day that someone unfamiliar, especially a male, entered their close-knit ranks.

"Everyone, this is Van Cranel. He'll be staying with us for a time. Treat him well," Artemis said, her tone both commanding and soft. Then she turned to me and nodded, signaling that I should introduce myself.

I took a deep breath. "Nice to meet you. My name is Van Cranel. I'll be in your care for the foreseeable future, so please—" I gave a slight bow, "—take care of me."

The silence that followed was palpable, but soon enough, they began introducing themselves one by one, each as unique as their divine leader.

First to step forward was a tall, graceful woman with long black hair tied back in a neat ponytail. She carried herself with a quiet dignity, her lightning-blue eyes sharp and discerning.

"Thalia, vice-captain of the familia, Level 3," she stated with a cool tone. "My alias is *Lightning Princess*." Her introduction was succinct, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of a black katana strapped to her side. After a moment, her expression softened, and she reached out, gently patting my head. "Nice to meet you, Van."

Next, a shorter woman sauntered over, her light-brown hair and striking red eyes standing out against the backdrop of the setting sun. She looked me up and down with a mischievous glint in her eyes before tousling my hair, an amused smirk tugging at her lips.

"Name's Phoebe. Level 3. They call me *War Princess*. Take care, kid." Her tone was playful, yet beneath it, I could sense the strength she possessed.

The third one approached shyly, her gaze flickering nervously between me and the ground. A beautiful young woman, perhaps in her late teens, with long black hair that hid one of her green eyes behind her bangs.

"U-uhm... I'm Celyn," she stammered, wringing her hands together. "Level 2... no alias yet." Her voice was quiet, and she seemed uncertain whether to follow the others in patting my head. After a moment of indecision, she retreated behind the next girl without doing so, her cheeks tinged pink.

Bounding up to me next was an energetic elf, her bright green eyes filled with life, and her black hair cascading down her back. She seemed to be around mid early twenties in age, but her exuberance was childlike.

"Hello! Hello! I'm Syrin! Level 3 and proud of it!" she declared with a wide grin. "Alias: *Forest Caller*! Let's be friends, Van-kun!" Before I could even react, she lifted me off the ground effortlessly, holding me at eye level as if I were a doll. I stared back at her, unimpressed, while the others watched in mild amusement.

*Sigh.*

"Senpai, please put him down," came a soft, exasperated voice from one of the other girls. Syrin giggled and finally set me back on the ground.

Two girls stepped forward together. The first, who had spoken, was a young girl with short violet hair and matching eyes. She wore a yukata, giving her an elegant, traditional appearance. The other, her companion, had long black hair tied into a high ponytail, and was dressed in ninja garb, her dark purple eyes observing me with calm precision.

The first girl inclined her head slightly. "I'm Naomi, a Level 1 healer. If you need anything—questions, help, advice—don't hesitate to ask." Her demeanor was formal but kind. Then, she gestured to the ninja beside her. "And this is Kurone."

Kurone bowed gracefully, her voice low and steady. "I serve Naomi-sama. Level 1, at your service, Van-san."

Following their introduction, another girl approached briefly. Her appearance was striking—short black hair, blood-red eyes, and a quiet, almost brooding air about her.

"Poly," she said curtly. "Level 2. Alias: *Battle Princess*." Without another word, she turned and walked away, her terse introduction leaving little room for conversation.

Finally, the last one sauntered forward, her steps lazy and unhurried. She was tall, with long black hair and dark eyes that seemed half-lidded from exhaustion or disinterest.

"Seph. Level 2, blacksmith. They call me the *Lazy Destroyer*." She crouched down in front of me, pinching my cheeks lightly before yawning. "Don't mind me if I sleep through most things." She rose slowly, stretching her arms as she moved back to her place, the image of indolence.

*Clap.*

Artemis, seeing that all the introductions were complete, clapped her hands. "Now that you've all met Van, let's start moving. We need to meet up with the others before nightfall."

"Yes, Artemis-sama!" The girls responded in unison, their movements quick and efficient as they gathered their belongings and prepared to move.

As we began walking, Artemis slipped her hand into mine, her touch light but firm. "Let's go, Van-kun—no, just Van. Is that alright?" she asked with a gentle smile.

I nodded, her casual warmth catching me off guard. "Of course, Artemis-sama."

She chuckled. "Good. Let's keep up with the others." Ahead of us, Zoë and Thalia led the group through the dense foliage, their eyes scanning the path ahead.

"Artemis-sama, where are we going?" I asked after a moment of quiet, still unsure of our destination.

"Oh, I forgot to mention earlier," she said, her tone shifting slightly. "We're heading to regroup with my other girls. The recent increase in monster attacks forced us to split into two groups to cover more ground. It's gotten much worse lately, especially in the villages outside Orario."

Her expression darkened as she continued, "We also need to prevent the Dark Factions from recruiting the victims of these monster attacks—victims they themselves have created. I've also heard from Zeus that they're using terrible methods, including forcing their followers to explode themselves. I've also had to cancel our plans to stay in Orario for a month. The danger outside the city is far greater, after all, Orario has thousands of adventurers to defend it."

She clenched her jaw, frowning as she thought about the worsening situation. The fall of the two greatest Familias—Zeus and Hera—had given rise to the Dark Factions, who were previously suppressed by those powerful forces.

Artemis briefly glanced at me, her thoughts drifting to the idea of giving me her *Falna* despite the risks. Breaking the rules she had set for herself was not something she took lightly, but with the danger to my life—and the lives of her familia members—she couldn't help but consider it. If something happened to me, the Silence would come down on them like a storm.

But first, she needed to discuss it with her girls after they regrouped. Only then could she decide.

With her mind made up, Artemis calmed herself and continued walking.

---

Hours later, we reached Milles Village, a modest settlement nestled in the foothills to the south. The second group of the Artemis Familia had already arrived, swelling our numbers to 20. After a brief exchange, the girls from the second group introduced themselves in much the same manner, though their interactions were briefer.

Once we regrouped, we moved swiftly northward, offering aid to villages as we went. Some of the girls, seasoned adventurers, took it upon themselves to guide me in basic survival skills, teaching me as we traveled.

By the time dusk fell, the sky ablaze with the fading light of the setting sun, we had reached the edge of the Alf Mountains. My legs ached from the journey, my stamina long since depleted. Noticing my exhaustion, Artemis and Zoë took turns carrying me without complaint.

When night descended fully, we set up camp, hunting small game for our evening meal. After eating, I wandered off toward a nearby pond hidden among the trees. The cool evening air and the still water offered a rare moment of peace amidst the growing chaos of the world.

I took a deep breath, my nerves tingling with anticipation.

*System, are you still there?* I called out in my thoughts, not wanting anyone to hear me talking to thin air. A split second later, a mechanical voice responded inside my head.

*Yes, Host?*

*Care to explain why it took three whole years for you to show up? And please, just call me Sir. Being called 'Host' makes it feel like I have a parasite attached to me.*

*Understood, Sir. The reason it took three years for the System to respond is due to the complexity of attaching itself to your soul and taking root within it. Think of it as connecting a nervous system to a body, but more complicated.*

*Ah, so you really are a parasite, then,* I thought, shivering at the mental image. *Why do you need to attach yourself to my soul?*

*First, yes, the System is indeed like a parasite, Sir. It functions as a medium that connects to something necessary for your progression, such as quests, rewards, skills, and bound-type items. Skills, in particular, reflect a person's essence—it's part of their soul. Without the System, it would take years for these skills or items to integrate fully. In short, the System is like the USB port that allows those skills and items to be 'plugged in' and used instantly.*

*So... skills and items are like USBs? Does that mean they can be removed from my soul, too?*

I frowned, suddenly more concerned.

*Yes, Sir, but some items and skills will be locked to you permanently. Most will require your permission or a special condition to be removed.*

The system responded in an eerily calm tone as if this information were completely normal.

*Sigh.*

I rubbed my temples in frustration. There was no point in arguing with a machine—or at least, I didn't think so.

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A/N: There's some pics on the COMMENT SECTION, also, Chapter 10 will be an INFO DUMP