Beep Beep Beep...
A sound rang continuously, resonating around the space like a heart rate monitor, increasing it's tempo with each second, before dying out seemingly non-existent in the last minute.
Just as anonymously as it left, a figure materialized standing. It's body not moving an inch, not in the slightest. It resembled a piece of hard wood rooted into the ground and left to wither away in the hands of nature. In the vast white space it stood like a spot of dirt in an immaculately clean surface, soiling its pristine appearance.
It began giving off energy in wisps of dark smoke, moving in a rather slow swirling motion, which were all soon absorbed by the white space producing what could be considered a floating translucent ball of light.
DING!!!
A sharp, loud sound once again reverberated across the whole area, sending ripples across the whole space.
{System Booting…
3%
45%
79%
100%
Welcome to The 'Villainess Justice System'}
A robotic voice thundered loudly across the area, announcing its presence.
"Nnngh...Shut it….Shut it now!" The once stark figure from which the dark energy was absorbed from, seemed to have life as it yelled in a domineering tone with its gaze on the white floor.
"Noisy." It muttered.
Resulting from dark matter being taken away from it, the figure now appeared to be a woman. She possessed long dark, flowing hair with the top part tied into a bun with a blue feathered ribbon. Holding a sword dripping with fresh blood, her whole body was also drenched in another person's blood, possibly a victim as her body harboured no major injuries, with just a few cuts and scratches here and there.
Her face and figure looked ethereal though covered in layers of dirty clothes and blood. She looked around the empty space without a hint of anxiousness on her face, trying to identify where she was. As she scanned the area she somehow felt like this place and situation was a bit familiar, though it seemed a bit vague.
She stopped as she glared at the floating orb raising her sword at it.
"Where am I?", She asked in a calm but deadly tone,"Who am I?"
The system who had keenly watched her behavior from her outburst till this very moment, thought she was very 'Interesting'. She didn't look scared or anxious, being able to hold one's peace in such a situation was a huge feat, worthy of applause. It grinned 'I might be lucky to have her as my host.'
Ignoring her questions, it replied.
{I am system 078, The Villanness Justice System. You are my host now as you have been chosen by the Superiors, after being ejected from your original world. We are a perfect match in both matrix, mind and potential so we are now in a soul bound relationship.}
"That doesn't answer my questions. Where and who am I?" She asked again coming closer to the orb, her bloody sword positioned for a swift cut.
'En.' The system thought as she moved closer what could such a low grade sword possibly do to a ball of energy, how does my host think? Has amnesia made her dumb.
{You are at the reception area of your soul space. Your second question would be revealed with time as we go on various missions, conquering worlds together.}
The system put quite simply.
"Missions?" She thought aloud, as her eyes beamed with curiosity.
{Yes. You and I would carry out various missions in different worlds. The goal being to ultimately change the unfortunate endings of the second female leads also known as the Villanness of their respective worlds according to their death wishes.}
"What if I don't want to?" She asked skillfully returning the sword back to its sheath strapped on her waist as she could perceive the system wasn't capable of harming her.
But could she really be harmed in this spirit form? She contemplated as her hand rested firm on the handle of the sword placed in its sheath.
The system was surprised at her question. Why wouldn't she want to go on missions with this esteemed being, wasn't it good enough for her?.
{If you don't, your soul would be sent to Oblivion to suffer for eternity without an option of reincarnation unless pardoned by the Superiors.}
"Who are these superiors you keep talking about?" She asked out of pure curiosity.
{Reply denied. Host doesn't have the right to know. Go on missions and you might be given the privilege to learn more about that.}
Was all it wanted her to do, missions?. It expected her to blindly follow it through worlds without being given, the most pressing information she needed. Hmph...dream on.
She smiled wickedly.
"A little pain won't hurt. I'm not interested in world hopping, you might as well skewer my soul then." She replied in a serious tone.
"Ha…" The system panicked. 'Did it get some masochist or psychopath as a host?. Why was it so unlucky?' It thought, saddened by its unfortunate plight but simultaneously it's interest in her increased greatly.
How was he going to get her stay without giving out any information?. It suddenly remembered, Ah yes why didn't it think of that.
{I don't think you would want to make that kind of a decision.}
Amused by the system's answer and nonchalant tone, she had thought she had put it in a tight spot but surprisingly it seemed indifferent at her threats.
"Why shouldn't I do that? Like I said, I'm not scared of pain."
{It isn't about you this time}
"En. What is it about then?"
{At your original world, moments before you were ejected, you promised someone on your swords honor. That if you were able to change their fate you won't hesitate doing so. Unless your honor and dignity as a swordswoman is worth nothing, and you are a person who goes back on their words, please do go into oblivion.}
Well, the Lords won't punish this insignificant being for letting out this bit of information right?. I can't let her go. How many more millennials would it take to get another host.
{And for the record I am not lying, a system is unable to lie to their hosts.}
Well he wasn't lying about the first phrase.
As the system spoke those words, the woman's heart strangely got heavier and heavier. Was this sadness she was feeling?.
{Is host alright, the heartbeat has increased by 35%} The system asked in a worried note. Maybe it had spoken too much this time.
Really? She reached for her chest, her heart rate had indeed gotten much faster. Weird...did this promise really mean so much to me? Why would I make such a vow? The past me must have been really selfless.
[Selfless my ass] The system mused quietly.
"What did you say?"
{Nothing (─.─||) }
Giving a look that showed she didn't trust the system yet, she regained her composure ignoring the loud pounding at her ribcage.
"Fine. We will do it your way." She surrendered, "How many missions do I need to pass to finish this charade?"
{Host, the number of missions aren't fixed. Although it might be shorter with high level difficult missions, that fact isn't guaranteed.}
"High level difficulty?"
{Yes host. The difficulty level of missions are ranked from the easiest to the hardest
F, D, C, B, A, S, SS. Would host like to run the optional tutorial world with F ranked difficulty?.}
"No, thanks" The last thing she wanted to do right now was to help people with their problems. She was still struggling with her new identity and not in the right mind for patience to deal with b*tchy people or she might just end up commiting murder.
{Tutorial Skipped. Does the host remember anything from her original world?} The system inquired following protocol.
"Nothing much. I think my name is Zhi Ruo, somehow that name is stuck in my head. And from my state and the weapon I possess, I might have been a swordswoman."
***"Nothing much. I think my name is Zhi Ruo, somehow that name is stuck in my head. And from my state and the weapon I possess, I might have been a swordswoman."{That's about right. I would put you through a two month lesson period to learn the culture and basics of most worlds. The curriculum includes intensive studying of selected fields, virtual and practical, from creche to postgraduate level, people's mannerisms and polishing your martial arts.}She had a raw personality, full of violence. It was afraid that if it's host was this rash she would definitely not spare a thought in killing every unlucky person that tried to cross her."Okay. Can we start now? I want to be done with this fast!" Zhi Ruo demanded getting even closer to the sphere.What maniac would be so eager to learn so many professions and complex species behavior under two months!? Won't she complain about how short the t
"Dad! Mom!!. Don't you see this daughter of yours kneeling!" Tae Rin yelled in despair trying to get her parents' attention.Pedestrians had started to gather now, evaluating the spectacle.'Ahh, it's really the Yang family, master and mistress, they are just as angelic looking as the web describes, the media really didn't exaggetate this time. Now that I've seen them in real life I can finally die with no regrets.''I know right, such beautiful silver hair. Kyaaa!, quickly, take a photo!''Isn't that Tae Rin the girl whose disheveled photos are all over the Media?''Wow, it's really that slut. What commotion is she trying to bring up now.''Her again? Quickly bring out your phone, everyone needs to see this, live!''This ought to be good''OMG claiming to be the young miss of the Yang family, such wishful thinking!'
The doors flung open as Tae Rin Stepped into the school's hallway. She felt a hundred pairs of eyes on her, mostly malicious, some confused and a few sympathetic. If looks could kill she'd probably be dead over a hundred times by now."I can't believe she came back here after all she had done, so shameless!""You saw the video too?. Hmph, an insignificant fly claiming to be the heiress of the Yang family!""It's just the effects of a fool's bravery.""Yeah, hell's the only place suitable for her.""Gosh, what's that smell. I feel like I'm gonna puke my guts out.""Ugh, I think it's coming from Tae Rin.""Has she gotten so crazy, that she can't do something as simple as taking a bath?"Hushed voices spoke in the background, not daring to say it in the face of Tae Rin, who looked like she was ready to commit murder.
{Transfer complete} A mechanical voice said, distorting the silent room.Zhi Ruo found herself in a small, poorly lit room. Looking around she could deduce this was a female's room with lists of celebrity posters and glitter everywhere, the girl power was a bit suffocating.She was lying on a decent wooden bed, with neat blue beddings, holding a phone over her face. The picture of an uninterested guy in his late teens, and a girl in all smiles stared back at her in a selfie angle."System what's going on?" Zhi Ruo asked, calmly.It took her to its system's space. She sat casually on her blood red seat waiting for a reply.{You have been transported to a sma
"Poor daddy was the first to suffer the aftermath of his daughter's stupidity. Thank God she priotised him as she should or I might have quit this mission, she can't be dumb at the point of death, then what was the whole charede for?" Zhi Ruo spat tapping impatiently on the arm rest.{You can't do that, host}"Do what?"{You can't leave the mission unfinished after accepting it.}"Sigh. Fair enough."Zhi Ruo was taken back to the small world. She sat up from the bed and moved off the screen with the picture bumping into a series of unread texts."Good day, Min Seok (pleading eyes, heart emoji)"
{Host I didn't know you had such fetish.} The system said in a hushed tone.Zhi Ruo couldn't tell if it was being judgemental or was just appalled by the thought."Get your head out of the clouds, I don't have mania for men simping over me. I don't think those who work there have that too, it's just a marketing strategy."{I'm sorry host, this system apologies} It said, but didn't sound like it believed one word she had said.Zhi Ruo simply ignored him, she wasn't going to waste time explaining what it would soon experience practically."I'm going for the Maid Cafe. Let me prepare an application letter."
It was a typical maid dress, aside from the fact that it had a huge pink bow on the chest area and another equally big bow on the head wear.The dress was a good fit though it was a bit bigger than her actual size, if she gained a few more pounds it would be more than perfect.It seemed Bora, did put a lot of work and thinking into this outfit, to be able to arrange such a good piece in little time, she was talented.{Host looks nice in this costume.}'Are you done crying?'{...}Moved the cloth-curtain to the side stepping into Nora's view."It fits well big Sister B. I like it so much!" She praised her efforts."Of course you do after all this big sister but her heart to it" Bora replied not shying away a compliment for her hard work."Come,come, let me show you your other big sisters." She beac
"Good morning, masters!" Zhi Ruo greeted with the sweetest, cutest, ice melting, honey coated, fluffiest, sugar sprinkled, hello kitty, carb addicting voice that sends heart emojis flying in the air."Welcome to Chowkitty Cafe! This lowly maid would be serving your highnesses." She bowed slightly and smiled like the morning sun.{Too...Cute….wahhhh...my poor digital heart}The system babbled.While the other two looked like they had been struck with Cupid's arrow, only Ye Jun remained unfazed, he simply stared at her as if all the answers to his problems were written on her face.'As expected of the second male lead, even with my perfect performance he didn't even send a smile my way.'She places the beautifully folded the coloured serviettes, the cutlery and ketchup on the table."Would you like to take a look at our menu my princes, the rice omelette