HellScribeQuill

Chapter 53: A 51% Chance

Chapter 53: A 51% Chance


"You ate what?" I asked Nexar, blinking twice to make sure I heard that right.


[Hehe.. I now possess features of the Merchant System.]


Ohh.. So he absorbed Elowen.


’Wait. Is that even possible? For systems to absorb each other?’ I asked, half in disbelief, half in curiosity.


[Not each other,] he replied. [Only a system of higher tier can absorb one of a lower tier.]


I sighed. Even systems have tiers, huh?


Quinn’s voice came from ahead. "Rune."


I turned toward her. She was standing near the cave exit with her usual calm expression, though I could see faint lines of laugh near her eyes.


"Commander Tugnier sent Sera to tell us he has things to discuss," she said.


I nodded. "Sure."


After all, the result of our upcoming showdown with Merin depends on how well we use these four days.


Sera walked a few steps ahead with Quinn, her pace quick and quiet.


I deliberately lagged behind. She seemed a little awkward having me close by... not that I could blame her.


It’s her first time in eighteen years... and my first in a hundred and twenty-three.


I sighed quietly, rubbing my neck. Things sure got complicated.


If she continues to behave like this, I will "talk" to her again tonight.


’So, how does your tier system work?’ I asked Nexar, using telepathy.


[We systems don’t have a clear distinction... but if I had to explain it, it’s similar to the divine gift ranking system.]



I hummed thoughtfully. "Like the S and S+ thing?"


[Exactly. Just like how gifts with "King" titles are S+ tier, systems also have that kind of hierarchy. There are three S+ tier systems, and just like S+ gifts, we three only appear after the previous user died.]


My brows rose. "Three? Interesting. Let me guess, you’re one of them, right?"


[Of course.] I could feel the smugness in his words. [It’s me, the Emperor’s System, and the Monk’s System.]


"The Monk’s System?" I repeated, snorting. That sounded... oddly peaceful compared to warlord’s system and the emperor’s system.


[Don’t underestimate it,] Nexar said, suddenly serious. [The Monk’s System isn’t something we should worry about, though. It’s extremely rare. It’s only appeared twice in the entire cosmos.]


I slowed my steps, blinking. ’Wait. Twice? Doesn’t that mean... only one user ever died since the origin of civilization?’


No way, that’s possible right..?


Nah, no way in hell.


[Yes.]


I frowned. ’You’re fucking with me.’


[No, I’m serious.]


[The Monk System detaches its user from worldly desires. It helps them find their inner self, complete peace, and makes them a buddha. They stay in meditative state until they reach enlightenment and ascend to godhood.]


My mouth went dry. I didn’t even know what to say for a second.


’So... the previous user actually ascended

?’ I asked, even though I already knew the answer.


[Yes. But of course, the course is of centuries.]


I let out a low whistle. ’The Monk System is fucking goated.’


[You cheating on me?]


I blinked once. "...Bro, that’s gay."


He didn’t respond. Probably sulking somewhere in my mental space.


We reached Tugnier’s chamber.


Lydia was already there, sitting to Tugnier’s right.


In the center of the room stood a huge round table, carved out of the same gray stone as the walls. Around it was a circular rocky elevation, not really chairs, but a rough ring meant for sitting.


Tugnier sat directly across from where I entered, his hands resting on a stack of papers that looked like they hadn’t left his grasp for hours. His eyes had faint bags under them. He’d clearly been working through the night.


We stepped inside. Lydia’s gaze lifted toward us... but lingered on me a second too long.


When our eyes met, she looked away quickly, her fingers reaching up to twirl a loose strand of her dark hair. She dropped her gaze the moment I looked back.


Quinn took her place to Tugnier’s left. Sera followed her closely, sitting almost pressed against Quinn. I thought about sitting beside her, but... seeing how stiffly she kept her shoulders straight, I changed my mind.


Guess she’s still feeling awkward about last night.


So I moved to the right side, beside Lydia.


She glanced at me once, then turned away again. Slowly, inch by inch, she scooted closer.


Her arm brushed mine for half a second before she pulled it back like nothing happened.


"I am sorry." I said, sliding sideways a little.


She turned her head away without a reply.. but I swear I saw her lips forming a pout just as she turned away.


She’s definitely acting strange today. Actually, everyone feels off today. Or maybe it’s just me being overly sensitive.


Tugnier cleared his throat. "Let’s begin."


His voice was steady, but I could hear the exhaustion beneath it.


So it was just us, the commanders and me... and Sera.


’Hey, Nexar, you said you gained Elowen’s features, right? What does that actually do?’


[Many things. But the best feature is it can calculate the probability of your desired future, and tell you how to increase it.]


I blinked. ’That’s actually... kind of useful.’


Honestly... why do I feel like even lower-tier systems have better utility than him sometimes? Of course, I didn’t say that out loud. He’d sulk for a week if I did.


’Alright, then tell me this,’ I asked him silently. ’What’s the probability of us defeating Merin?’


[93%.]


’Hmm..’


I hesitated, then asked the real question. ’And what’s the probability of defeating Merin without Lydia and Quinn dying?’


[Both of them?] Nexar asked.


’Yes. Both live.’


There was a short pause before he replied. [51%.]


Damn it. My hand tightened around my thigh.


[Focus on saving just Lydia,] he added. [Then the probability jumps to over 70%.]


’No,’ I said firmly. ’I’m saving both of them. Find a way to make that happen.’


[As you wish.]


Whenever he said those words, "as you wish", something in me always eased a little.


Maybe because he always delivered, no matter how arrogant he acted.


Tugnier’s voice brought me back. "Let’s first discuss the combat force," he said. "We’ll divide them into multiple units and assign each under a commander. Then we’ll move on to planning how to use the artifacts, both the ones we’ve gathered and the ones we’ll purchase from the black market."


All four of us nodded.


No matter what, I’m not letting Tugnier fall into despair again. He might have only known me for a few days, but I’ve known him for years, in my last life.


As I exhaled slowly, I caught a glimpse of black hair beside me. Lydia again.


did she slide even closer?


Her fingers were still playing with that same strand of hair, and her gaze stayed low.


I bit back a smile. She’s definitely acting weird today.