DEB 4

Even though his vision had already improved several times better than ordinary people’s.

For a moment, Huiyun doubted his eyes.

“…A quest?”

Clearing gates too? Is this system insane?

Huiyun immediately sent a look of betrayal towards the system window. 

It was common knowledge even among ordinary people that the system would issue quests to help hunters become stronger and provide guidelines for them to climb higher.

That’s the key word, for ‘hunters’.

But isn’t the intention in giving me that quest too obvious? 

There was no effort to hide it.

Well then, with a look of resignation, Huiyun glanced at the system window and pushed the invitation aside. 

The invitation flew away for a moment before stubbornly unfolding again. 

It was persistent and started being a nuisance.

I must be crazy when I accepted that proposal. 

“Since I’ve been rewarded, let’s just forget about it.”

[What… Why?]

The system seemed genuinely puzzled by the cold response. 

Huiyun frowned in bewilderment at the sudden change from the past three years of quietly displaying notifications like “The power of the honorable savior has manifested in you across the ages. Would you like to awaken?”

They say when a person suddenly changes, it’s time for them to die. 

But what does it mean when the system changes?

Does it mean it’s time for me, the one looking at the system, to die? 

The thought alone was dreadful. 

Even if that’s not the case, there’s certainly some ulterior motive. At times like this, it’s better to receive nothing at all.

“It’s suspicious. I won’t do it.”

As Huiyun responded curtly, the system became flustered.

[…Once you’ve received the invitation, it cannot be voided!]

“Well then, I guess I’ll just lie here for 24 hours.”

[If you don’t complete the quest within the time limit, you’ll receive a penalty!]

“I didn’t agree to this, so why should I be penalized? Earlier, you said it was an aftercare service for the savior. What a blatant lie. How can I trust this?”

[The Aftercare service for the savior is indeed correct!]

“So, you can’t harm me with this?”

Upon closer inspection, the aftercare service for the savior seemed like a benefit given to Huiyun for Yasha who sacrificed himself for the world in his past life. 

If it was something obtained by that merit, it didn’t seem like a bad service. 

So, he decided to gamle, Huiyun pressed on, testing the system, and the system window trembled. It seemed like it was the right move.

[…Of course, the penalty can’t prevent you from receiving the rewards, but are you really okay with that? This might be the only way to quickly treat mana sensitivity without elixirs!]

“…Treat what?”

Huiyun’s gaze, which had been indifferent while observing the system all this time, changed. 

Only then did Huiyun reconfirm the quest reward that he had been half-dismissed at the mere mention of a quest.

[Reward: Obtain a mana sensitivity treatment progress bar, 5% advancement in mana sensitivity treatment progress.]

He was certain that the system had made up a meaningless remark to get him, but the reward clearly stated treatment for mana sensitivity.

This changes things. 

It’s getting somewhat interesting.

“What do you mean by giving me a progress bar for mana sensitivity treatment?”

As Huiyun raised the question, the system responded as if it had been waiting.

[It means we’ll provide you with a status bar that allows you to visually see the progress of your mana sensitivity treatment! If you possess this status bar, you can increase the treatment progress through the progress given as a quest reward. When the progress reaches 100%, your mana sensitivity will be cured! Of course, you’ll feel your mana sensitivity easing as the progress increases! Sounds good, right? Say yes please!]

Normally, the system displayed lengthy notifications in separate windows, but this time it seemed quite urgent as it quickly typed out its message. Huiyun carefully examined the lengthy notification and held his breath.

It doesn’t seem like a lie.

Judging by the system’s response, it seemed genuinely possible to cure mana sensitivity. 

This means that I can erase from my life this horrible disease that I have lived with since I was born. 

The mana sensitivity syndrome has no treatment other than being hospitalized in a mana-impermeable room and receiving painkillers.

If that were the case, Huiyun wouldn’t have to strain himself as a hunter anymore, and his bleak future would be somewhat resolved.

It would be a lie if he said it wasn’t tempting. 

Anyone would be interested if they could get rid of the chronic illness they have been carrying their whole life.

Huiyun pondered the reward once again and threw a question.

“Why suddenly offer something like this? Does performing the quest mean I become a hunter or something?”

[Awakening as a hunter is impossible unless you directly consent through the awakening window!]

“Then why give me this?”

[I told you. It’s an aftercare service for the savior! That’s what it is!]

“So, why offer it to me now, of all times?” 

He was frustrated because the situation doesn’t make any sense. 

The system must have understood what I meant only after it was too late

“…!” 

He let out an exclamation as a notification window popped up.

[We’re just actively reflecting your opinion. We heard that the service was lacking, so we created a new service! So, if you experience it and think it’s okay, you can awaken… You can challenge the world… What do you think…? 100% treatment progress can only be obtained by clearing countless gates, but when you awaken as a hunter, it is immediately 100% without any string attached! The faster you awaken, the better!]

“…Aha!”

Seeing the notification pop up as if it were selling goods on a street corner, Huiyun understood.

Isn’t that what I said when I passed out due to anemia the other day? 

So the system heard it and reflected on it?

In short, it was a bait product. 

Give a progress bar, induce the feeling of relief from mana sensitivity through progress, make him thirsty for it, then urge him to awaken if he want to quickly get treated.

It was akin to giving a drop of water for free to someone wandering in the desert and then coaxing them into buying additional water.

Realizing the deception behind the flashy sales pitch and the pressure to act, Huiyun snapped back to reality.

“What are you?”

[Me?]

“I don’t need to know what you are to receive or refuse aftercare services. What are you? A god?”

There have been various argument about who the administrator operating the system is, but the claim that it’s a god has been the most dominant. 

However, if it really were a god, it wouldn’t act so petty or behave like a peddler, so Huiyun became curious about its identity and asked. 

Unexpectedly, a response came back.

[Me? I’m… I’m the administrator Z1, prisoner number 1718….]

“…What?”

[This is insane! What should I do! I accidentally blurted it out because of the atmosphere… I’ll be disciplined… I’ll be back later!]

[The system administrator has deactivated “Communication” mode.]

[Automatic operation mode has been reactivated.]

“…What, what’s going on?”

Suddenly, as if the screen had been turned off, the golden system window disappeared, and the usual stiff and formal blue notification window reappeared. 

The ringing notifications that had been buzzing loudly in his ears also disappeared, leaving silence all around.

“What is this…”

Huiyun, unable to hide his confusion, calmed down and reflected on the situation. 

Analyzing the context, it seemed that the mode where freely conversing with the system like today was possible was the “Communication” mode, activated by the administrator directly operating the system, while the mode where only stiff automatic responses like notifications were displayed was the automatic operation mode.

So, if an automatic response notification popped up just now…

“Did they really get disciplined for accidentally revealing their name while talking to me?”

Given the circumstances, there seemed to be no other logical conclusion.

Feeling dumbfounded and speechless, Huiyun closed his gaping mouth and pressed his lips together. 

One thing was certain: the administrator wasn’t a god. 

Otherwise, they wouldn’t act so foolishly, they even cursed, and wouldn’t received a discipline.

Seeing the issuance of discipline meant there was a higher authority responsible imposing it. 

Perhaps the administrator was a being akin to a servant of a god. 

However, the term “prisoner number” mentioned by that entity was troubling and kept bothering Huiyun’s mind. 

Despite this, the quest, still in the format of an invitation, fluttered in the air, urging him to complete it quickly. 

His mind still a mess, but realizing he were dealing with an impatient entity, Huiyun decided to accept it for now.

“…Since accepting it doesn’t seem to be particularly harmful, might as well give it a try.”

It seemed like a bait was thrown to lure him, so if that was the case, he would just take the product and run away. 

That way, the problem would be solved. It was a simple plan, and Huiyun reached out for the invitation after some final deliberation, and an alert popped up indicating the quest had been accepted.

Checking the wall clock, it was 01:30 PM. 

Huiyun’s brother, Huigang, finished work at 08:00 PM, so he had to return before then to avoid unnecessary suspicion. 

Looking out the window, Huiyun descended from the bed, dressed in hospital gown with a black windbreaker, put on a mask to cover his face, and leaped out of the window.

“Clearing a gate is a first.”

It was his first time actively clearing a gates. 

Nurses… I apologize!

The nurse who came to check on Huiyun would probably panic upon seeing the empty bed and make a missing person report. 

However, leaving behind a note saying he would be out for a while might buy him a few hours.

Huiyun apologized silently once again to the nurse and dashed away.

Mana sensitivity treatment.

It was time to pursue that spark of hope.