Novels2Search

Chapter 4

After booking a table at a nearby restaurant and buying a suit since he had already grown out his previous pair of suits.

John didn’t do anything but laze around the house since he was too tense to focus on something since he keeps thinking and worrying about his upcoming dinner with Sofia later tonight.

It’s understandable, since any man in their right minds would constantly worry or overthink if they’re going on a dinner date with one of the hottest women on the planet!

Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

The appointed time has finally arrived!

Ding!

[Your first Main Quest is being issued…]

[Main Quest I - Sony Pictures Entertainment!

Sign in at Sony Pictures Entertainment and be rewarded!

Rewards: Main Quest II, $1000 and x1 Biohazard: The Beginning Manuscript

Failure: No Main Quest Progression

Time Limit: None]

[Your Additional Quests (2) are being issued…]

Side Quest I - Power up!

You are so weak that I doubt you would even be able to protect yourself or even anyone!

Within 30 days, perform 50 push-ups, 50 squats, 50 sit-ups and a 5 kilometer jog everyday!

Skipping a day equals failure!

Rewards: 3 Years Boxing Experience and $200

Failure: A fine of $1000

Time Limit: 30 Days]

Side Quest II - Because You Are Poor, Help the Environment More!

Recycle 1 Ton of recyclable waste! It helps the environment a lot!

Rewards: A pair of Tommy Hilfiger shoes and $10,000

Failure: $5000 Fine

Time Limit: 60 Days

In his excitement, John read the following quests one by one with a huge smile on his face, but when he read the following rewards for the Main Quest, he couldn’t help but furrow his eyebrows when the words Biohazard: The Beginning caught his eyes.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Biohazard: The Beginning? Isn’t that Resident Evil? And I’m gonna be rewarded by its manuscript? No way, isn’t this just telling me to steal this work by giving it as a reward?!” John was shocked and uncomfortable at the same time, because he knows how much effort is put in when creating a story!

The world building alone is already hard!

Let’s not even talk about how you need to carefully flesh out the personalities of the protagonist and its supporting characters to make them resonate with the readers, just thinking about how much thought and process was put into creating a great narrative flow is already a head-inducing headache!

He has first hand experience about it since he had also written stories outside of his main job!

And now, this shitty [System] is actually rewarding him with stolen work!

[You shouldn't worry, User. The idea of the story still hasn’t been realized by its original writer. The [Universe] has always been fair and just, the original owners would be compensated an equal equivalent to their work]

Hearing those words that suddenly surfaced in his mind, John, with his eyes closed, started nodding with his arms crossed as he slowly felt at ease after hearing that the original owners would be compensated of something of an equal value.

“Wa..wait! You can actually talk!? Ackk!”

His eyes quickly snapped open when the realization that the [Systeam] had actually given a reply to his thoughts had hit him! He was so shocked that he had abruptly stood up, but he instead lost his balance and he fell down on the floor on the back of his chair.

[Yes, I do. I am your assistant, Athena. I will be assisting you in navigating this era. Since you are currently using the BETA Version of the System, I can only assist you through your thoughts. Nevertheless, you can be at ease since I don’t have the ability to read your mind unless you directly send your thoughts towards me] Once again, John heard a robotic female voice inside his head.

Staring at the ceiling, John let out a forced laugh, “No…freaking..way”

Letting out a forced laugh, John can only accept it since he would be the one benefiting at the end.

“But why are you only showing up now?” John asked.

[My existence came into being alongside the emergence of the Main Quest I] Athena answered.

“Well…I guess..I would be relying on you from now on. Then please take care of me” John said as he slowly picked himself up from the floor.

[It will be my pleasure to be of your assistance, user!]

“Then can you explain more about this equal compensation regarding the original writer of Biohazard: The Beginning?” John asked as he was still hung on this subject.

[Gladly! A great example would be if they have some health related problems that can’t be cured because of this era’s current technology. These health problems would be then slowly cured as a compensation, like a miracle like you humans call it] Athena answered.

“And that's equal compensation?” Just from his question, it was clear that John is dubious about this equal compensation.

[Certainly, since it could result in an early death. Getting healed from it is already rewriting their fate, and in view of the fact that they would receive an extended lifespan, this allows them to have more time to spend with their families, on their hobbies and many more. The same results also applies to you since your fate would be rewritten after receiving their fateful encounter] Athena faithfully answered his query.

“Ohhh! That..I can’t argue with that if you put it that way” John was only a tiny bit satisfied by Athena’s answer since stealing someone’s hard work still doesn’t really sit well for him.

Unless, the said person had done many heinous things. Since the feeling of guilt would at least lessen or maybe there wouldn’t even be one. After all, he ain’t some goody two shoes as he would immediately bite back till only bones are left on them if someone makes an enemy out of him.

“But this Boxing Experience as a reward certainly leaves an ominous feeling” John said, and as someone who had read novels that he can’t even count it anymore, it just feels weird.

“Receiving this kind of reward. This seems like there will be some “physical interactions” in the future. Though I hope not since I don’t like that kind of trouble at all! Any comments from you Athena?”

[...]

“Tsk! It seems like I need to prepare myself physically and mentally, just in case” John said after being ignored. Besides, fights are things that can’t easily be avoided, especially when in front of a woman!