Planning

He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering confusion from earlier. The vast emptiness of the house beckoned him to explore.

Maybe he could uncover more about this place and figure out what was going on.

He climbed the grand staircase, its marble steps cool beneath his feet. Each step felt like a small adventure.

At the top, he paused, scanning the hallway lined with elegant doors. He pushed open the first door on the left, curious about what he might find.

The room was spacious and bright, flooded with sunlight streaming through tall windows. His eyes were immediately drawn to a sleek desk that held an impressive laptop—the latest model, no doubt, with a shiny surface that looked brand new.

Next to it was a gaming mouse and a pair of high-quality headphones. Altogether, the setup probably cost around $3,000, and he couldn't help but admire the sophistication of it.

His gaze shifted to a large closet that caught his attention. He opened the doors and was met with an array of outfits that screamed celebrity style—sparkly jackets, tailored suits, and trendy accessories.

Each piece looked like it was plucked right from a fashion magazine. He felt a mix of excitement and curiosity; what was all this for?

Turning back to the desk, he spotted the latest phone model resting beside the laptop. He picked it up, feeling a sense of anticipation.

After unlocking it, he quickly realized there were no contacts saved. That was odd and slightly unsettling.

He pushed through his unease and explored the apps. One of them was a banking app, and he was surprised to find a balance of $2,000.

He blinked at the screen. Where had that money come from? It seemed like a nice little bonus, but it raised more questions than it answered.

Next, he discovered an official KuzTube account under the name Ariana Vi Demeria. The app was filled with vibrant thumbnails and lively videos from a variety of influencers—not just idols but content creators from all walks of life.

There were vlogs, makeup tutorials, travel diaries, and, of course, idol performances. It felt like a glimpse into a world full of energy and creativity.

Then he opened the Twilia app, also under his name. This was where idols shared advertisements, selfies, and behind-the-scenes moments.

The posts were casual yet charming, giving off a fun vibe that made him smile. It was hard not to feel a little envious of the carefree lives these influencers seemed to lead.

As he took in all this information, he couldn't shake the mix of emotions swirling inside him—curiosity, excitement, and a hint of apprehension.

The system had provided him with all these tools, but it made him wonder about the expectations that came with them.

"Hey, System," he called, feeling a mix of curiosity and irritation, "where did all this stuff come from?"

Unfortunately, I cannot provide that information due to insufficient authority, the system replied coolly.

To unlock further details, you must become a celebrity with a following of at least 20 million on KuzTube.

"Are you serious? That would take me years of blood, sweat, and tears! That's nearly impossible!"

Affirmative. The requirement is set by the parameters of the system, it responded, unfazed by his protests.

"Ugh, great. Just what I needed," he grumbled. "I need to do at least something to gain a little popularity before I can even think about that."

Beginning beginner quest: Gain 10,000 views on any type of video related to you.

He stared at the screen, a mix of disbelief and annoyance washing over him. "This is the quest? That's a lot of effort for a first quest!"

This is the initial quest provided by the system, it reiterated, maintaining its cold tone.

"Yeah, well, it doesn't feel fair," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I need a plan. If I'm gonna get views, I should probably focus on something that shows off my talent. I need to work on my vocals first."

He paced the room, his mind racing. "What if I sing somewhere public? Maybe I can draw a crowd, and if people record it, I could have them upload it for me. The video just needs to be related to me, right?"

Plan initiated: Sing in public to gain attention, the system noted, almost as if it were taking inventory of his thoughts.

"Okay, that's a start. I just need to find the right spot and time," he murmured to himself, already formulating his next steps.

"Maybe I could practice a bit first, get my confidence up. Then, once I'm ready, I'll find a busy area—like a park or a plaza—where people gather."

"Hey, System," he asked, pausing for a moment. "How do I actually improve my skills?"

Skills are improved through various factors, the system replied. This includes the amount of practice put into the skill, the number of positive comments based on your performance, and the effort put into evaluating each demonstration.

He nodded, intrigued. "So if a beginner has a breakthrough during a performance—like a really emotional moment—the system would bump up their skill level?"

Correct. However, consistency is crucial for an idol, so fluctuations can occur based on performance quality.

He frowned slightly at that. He couldn't help but think about how hard it would be to improve skills in the short term.

But then the system added, Even at the beginner level, your skills are on par with an average professional. By regular human standards, they'd be considered quite good.

"Alright, that's not too shabby," he said, feeling a flicker of satisfaction. "You're actually kind of useful."

Acknowledgment received, the system replied, its tone unchanged.

"Wait, what about skills listed as 'Nobody'? What's that all about?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Skills labeled as 'Nobody' are judged against the average person on the street. Any skill with this designation requires you to perform as you usually would, so you will receive no additional help from your skill level.

He blinked, a bit deflated. "So that means I'm just...average? Well, that's just great."

You're entitled to your opinion, the system noted flatly.

"Thanks for the reassurance," he mumbled, feeling a bit annoyed again. He had to find a way to work with what he had, and he couldn't afford to let frustration hold him back.

With a deep breath, he stepped out of the lavish villa, the door clicking shut behind him. The sunlight hit his face, warm and inviting, and he found himself blinking against its brightness.

The neighborhood stretched out before him, a sea of manicured lawns and elegant houses that screamed wealth. Each property seemed to be more extravagant than the last, with towering gates and fountains that sparkled in the light.

He felt like he had stumbled into a scene from a movie—one where he didn't quite belong.

As he walked toward the driveway, his gaze landed on a pair of keys hanging in the door. He leaned closer to inspect them—a house key and what looked like a car key.

He couldn't help but chuckle. "Really, system? You couldn't manage to keep the keys organized?"

He shook his head, finding a strange humor in the situation. "What a lack of foresight."

He glanced down the driveway and spotted a sleek black car parked there, its surface gleaming under the sun. He took a moment to admire it before walking over and climbing inside.

The interior was as pristine as the exterior, everything untouched, except for a girl's wallet resting in the glove compartment. Curiosity piqued, he opened it to find a bank card, ten crumpled twenty-dollar bills, and a driver's license.

He frowned, grumbling under his breath. "I guess I just ate my words. You can really do anything."

His mind raced as he marveled at the system's capabilities. "How in the world do you pull this off?" he asked aloud, a hint of admiration slipping into his tone.

Such is my duty as the system, it replied, the usual detached tone grounding his soaring thoughts.

Shaking his head, he put the wallet back, feeling a mix of annoyance and wonder. He had to remind himself that he was in a totally new world—one where he was supposed to become a celebrity, somehow.

"Hey, Mya," he said, activating the new MotPhones AI on his phone. "Save my location as home and direct me to the nearest park."

Location saved. Calculating route to the nearest park.

As the directions popped up, he couldn't help but think about how he was going to gather a crowd.

He needed attention—lots of it if he was going to get anywhere. He started the engine and pulled out of the driveway, his mind racing with plans.