Chapter 04: Just Like Life

"Since it's up to me, I have some pretty 'positive' plans." Yuu said with a smile and added:

"Let's start by killing the protagonist."

Siara looked at Yuu in panic. [Host, please be careful. Remember, we are still at the beginning of the story]

"Bah. I love to turn things upside down. Imagine the readers' faces when I do something like... I don't know, kill off the MC in the first chapter!"

[Host, that would be too extreme!]

"Come on, it'll be fun. That way, I'll get the best reward for such a plot twist." Yuu laughed good-naturedly. "Hey Siara, are you afraid of breaking the plot? I thought you were the great Canon Breaker."

[... It's not a matter of being afraid or not, Host. Killing the protagonist will do the same thing that happened to you in the past].

Yuu frowned. "I thought you said I'm protected from these things now. Are you sure you're not something my enemy created?"

[I swear to you on my core circuit that the system was designed to protect you] Siara replied with a confident voice. [But even I have limits when it comes to manipulating the obstacles and traps set by the Plot Armor.]

Yuu stretched his legs lazily against the wall. "Then tell me clearly, can I kill the protagonist now or not? I want a straight answer."

Yuu firmly believed that with his current sealed power, he could easily finish Issei Hyoudou, the protagonist of this world. After all, he was still a simple pervert who was probably unaware of the Sacred Gear within him.

However, he knew firsthand how vengeful this bitch called Fate could be if you turned against her.

Therefore, he patiently listened to Siara's explanation.

[Host, I strongly advise you not to try this. With your current Fortune Value, you run a high risk of suffering disastrous consequences if you kill a protagonist whose Fortune Value is much higher than yours]

Yuu clicked his tongue. He inwardly cursed the author and his bastard world for putting him in this situation.

"Wait a minute... Fortune Value? Don't tell me you're from that cultivation system I read once.

[No, I didn't come from any particular novel. But when I analyzed the effective interactions between systems and protagonists, the Fortune Value method from that novel seemed the most suitable for facing protagonists, so I copied it].

Yuu listened to Siara's explanation of Fortune, which was divided into seven levels according to the novel he had read.

Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Purple.

Ordinary people got red, while some lucky protagonists like Hyoudou Issei wore green.

But Yuu was born with something worse than red. Dark Fortune. A curse that only brought misfortune.

Basically, his destiny was to be plagued by misfortune whenever he met a protagonist!

And what kind of misfortune? Anything could happen to someone with Dark Fortune, from accidentally choking on a bite of cake to being struck by lightning while walking in the park.

What was wrong with this crappy environment? Yuu suppressed the urge to curse.

[Host, if you want to kill the protagonist, you have to take your time and deplete their Fortune Value point by point.]

"I see. So that's what you meant when you said I'm not ready yet. So I can't kill the protagonist until I deplete his Fortune to a certain point... Too bad."

[That's right, host! Fortune is an elusive and unpredictable thing, so while it's not difficult to kill Hyoudou Issei with your current strength, it will certainly cause a number of variables and unexpected changes].

[And the biggest variable, Host, is... you!]

He had already been talking to System for a while, and Yuu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when he heard System's explanation.

"Hey Siara, could you stop blatantly quoting sentences from another novel for a moment?"

[Hmph! I'm still going to explain how the system works. So listen up!]

Yuu's system was a holographic interface similar to the status screens in games. It allowed him to see his attributes and other stats in real time.

He discovered that by reversing the protagonist's fate, he could earn Destiny Points. These points were the currency he used to improve his techniques or skills.

Unlike the novel on which the system was based, he could not buy skills, supernatural powers, talents, or bloodlines. Since it was only a copy and a newly installed system, Siara still could not have such an ability; that was according to her words.

But for Yuu, getting a method to deal with the protagonists' annoying Plot Armor was more than enough, and if it came with an extra to increase her understanding faster with skills, perfect.

'System!'

A translucent interface floated in front of him. His stats were listed on the screen:

×××

Host: Aegis

Fake name: Izumi Yuu

Race: Aeon

Identity: Aeon of the Beginning and the End. Ouroboros

Title: Strongest Aeon. One million year old virgin. Assassin of the Gods...

Bloodline: Aeon

Power: Tier 8 - Urban | City Block Level

Sealed Power: ?????

Abilities: [Sealed]

Destiny Points: 0

Fortune Value: 50 (Dark)

System Storage: [Empty]

×××

It was a concise interface with all kinds of useful information available at a glance.

Yuu was satisfied and continued to study his data when his eyes stopped at a certain title.

"One million year old virgin?!" He shouted loudly. The students passing by on the other side looked at him curiously.

"H-hey System, you better change that! I don't need everyone to know these details!"

While it was technically true that he was an immortal Aeon, the title felt too personal. He wondered if System enjoyed embarrassing him.

He tried to calm down and regain his composure, coughing nervously. "J-just keep showing the relevant information. And none of my personal business, all right?"

Of course, the system didn't react. Yuu could have sworn that if she had a physical form, she would have laughed at him. He mumbled and cursed his System for having given him such a title...

"Hey..."

[Pfft- Uhum! Host, I regret to inform you that titles are permanently bound to your soul. They have been given to you by others throughout your existence and are now part of your identity]

Yuu wisely ignored the part where his system laughed at him. "Who the hell thought it would be a good idea to put this on me?"

It was one thing to be a virgin at 40, but a million years?! If anyone found out, it would be really embarrassing.

[It was the other Aeons who instituted it, although some enjoyed being gossips. Then it was spread throughout the cosmos, and your fame of being pure, immaculate, and incorruptible has lasted to this day]

Yuu was already starting to mentally curse those stupid, boring Aeons when the door next to him opened. Tsubaki's head popped out.

"Izumi-kun, the president has finished preparing for the meeting. Please come in."

"I'm coming, I'm coming. I was just talking to my... virtual assistant." Yuu smiled and showed her his phone with a fat Pou.

[Hey! I'm not that ugly, fat thing! Don't compare me to an egg!]

Normally, Tsubaki was stoic and wouldn't offer her smile to just anyone, but at that moment, her lips parted slightly. "I didn't know you liked these games. Though I must admit, that amount of coins is almost impossible to come by."

'Well... Having so many years to live gives you a certain advantage.'

With a resigned sigh, Yuu followed the stoic Tsubaki into the student council room. Once inside, he sat down in the chair in front of the desk where Sona was reading a piece of paper.

"Thanks for coming, Izumi-kun. Tsubaki, please pour the tea."

Tsubaki nodded and went to a small table in the back where a teapot was steaming. Yuu watched her carefully as she poured the liquid into the delicate porcelain cups.

"It's nothing. I'm also interested in why the President called me here." Yuu told Sona with a smile.

Tsubaki brought one of the cups to him. "I hope you enjoy your tea, Izumi-kun."

Yuu nodded and raised the cup to his lips, tasting the tea at his leisure. A subtle flowery scent flooded his senses. With the first sip, he noticed the transition from the initial sweetness to the bitter aftertaste.

"Mmm. It's sencha, no doubt." He savored it slowly, letting the liquid slide into his mouth. "It has notes of jasmine and good herbs, with a hint of licorice. From the creamy texture and pale yellow hue, I'd say it's from Shizuoka Prefecture. Right, Kaichou?"

Sona looked away from the papers with arched eyebrows, wondering why this strange boy was analyzing the tea. Even Tsubaki looked puzzled.

"The final touch is the citrus scent on the exhale. An excellent vintage, if I may say so." He smiled slightly with closed eyes.

Tsubaki looked at him in surprise, stepped behind Sona and nodded slowly. "It is indeed a sencha leaf from Shizuoka. Izumi-kun, your knowledge of tea impresses me."

"Wow. Your perspective is... unusually expert," Sona said and looked at him curiously. "I didn't know that you were so interested in this drink. Especially when you've been abroad your whole life."

Yuu let out a sigh of satisfaction and placed his cup carefully on the desk. He opened his eyes. For a few seconds, they seemed to glow like a clear sky and he smiled calmly.

"Tea is an art that I have learned to appreciate in my spare time. Finding peace in small pleasures is what has kept me alive all this time."

His words came out serenely. But both Tsubaki and Sona seemed to see someone else for a moment. This confused them, but since it disappeared after the blink of an eye, they dismissed it as an illusion.

"Just like life itself, tea is all about finding harmony: balancing the various nuances so that they flow in perfect synchrony. Each region gives it subtle touches due to the climate, the soil... It's in these small variations that the beauty lies."

Yuu paused, and with a slight smile, his gaze swept over the faces of the two girls in front of him. It was a soft yet sharp look that made Sona narrow her eyes.

"I enjoy appreciating these details. They remind me that despite the passing years, fragments of peace can always be found in everyday life. It's something I treasure."

Yuu coughed sardonically. He felt the "younger" part of him start to cringe at his words.

"By the way, President, thank you for the invitation, but I must ask... to what do I owe the pleasure of this pleasant meeting?"