Chapter 5 Terms and conditions

"More than that, I want to activate the Villanous Young Master System in you so that you can replace that kid on the contract!"

"What contract?" I asked. I don't like the sound of that.

"Let me start with the system. I beg you to listen to me. You need power, and the system can give it to you."

"Well, I'm all ears. Get started." I can feel my anger boiling up again at this whole situation. The anger I have just suppressed. MeiMei starts stuttering again, apparently seeing my glowing eyes.

"Y-yes. From the most basic of features, the system allows you to track your skills and evaluate others. It translates all of your hard-to-evaluate and fluctuating metrics into a numerical equivalent. The biggest advantage of this feature is that natural development takes a lot of time and effort not just to get to the next stage, so to speak, but to simply stay at your previous level. This is the law of life, everything that can go up must fall down. The system completely solves this issue and freezes your stats every time you reach a new peak."

I can't help but hide my shock. How is this even possible? What about all the laws of physics and nature? Conservation of energy? It's like a perpetual motion machine. No, the host of this system becomes a perpetual motion machine. Who could be so powerful as to give out such might? And for what purpose? That's when MeiMei continued her explanation.

"But that's not all, the system has a number of very handy features. There is a built-in map, indicators of the physical well-being of the host, upgradable inventory, a level system that allows you to increase the indicators not through training but through points given for achieving each new level, built-in store, as well as a mission system."

"Stop, halt. What kind of missions? Who gives them, what is their nature, and what are the rewards? Are there penalties for not completing them?"

"As a newbie, I honestly have little knowledge of who actually issues these missions. According to official protocols, the system is run by еру supreme intellect. I cannot be held responsible for the veracity of this information."

"Hmmm, I thought the higher beings are higher beings because they're far removed from the mundane."

"You've seen it for yourself, having been in two universes. The desire to get around and be on top, by any means necessary, is inherent in all sentient beings aware of their own existence."

"I have heard you. Regarding my other questions?"

"There are no penalties. Look at it more as a missed opportunity. As for the nature of the mission – based on the title, you're the Evil Young Master, and your job is to hunt down heroes."

"Heroes? Who established your organization, a five-year-old kid? Given the way you look, it's quite possible he's even younger. Don't take me for a fool..."

"W-wait, hold on! Don't get heated! Let me explain what this organization is all about. The thing is, our job is to maintain the balance."

I felt my insides twitch at the mention of that word.

"But it's not a balance between ephemeral good and evil, it's about the balance of energy used and how it affects the stability of the world. In your current world, there are people called the chosen sons and daughters of the heavens, people with incredible luck. Just yesterday they had nothing, but today they are peerless geniuses. Don't be fooled by the title of "hero". They don't necessarily choose the path of righteousness, half the time they become demonic cultivators. The Evil Young Master System's job is to play the role of their main enemy, and destroy them, thus reducing their numbers. The system itself points out who the young master is. For completing tasks, you will be rewarded, most of which is in internal currency."

So we talked until the dead of night. Even with a qi-saturated brain, such a huge flow of crucial information gave me a headache. The benefits are indeed many, but the question of who stands behind this does not give me comfort. There is no way there is no price to pay for this. A soul? No, too cheap. Eternal service? For the sake of what? No, no, too little information…

"What happens if I refuse?"

"Don't be in a hurry to do that, because then they'll come after you when I leave and erase your soul as an error. There were computers in your past world, you know what is done with viruses, and you are the virus in the system right now."

"What's your benefit?"

"Ehhh, like I said before, I don't want to die. After you die, your soul will continue on its way. What awaits me is complete non-existence."

"Huh, I feel like there's something you're not telling me. But, well, I won't bother you with any more questions. That's enough for today." I said and went out to the balcony of my room.

"I have to process all of this. Give me three days."

"I hope you make the right choice..."