Sothing feels warm...
A soft pulse of energy flows through my veins, nding from the inside.
It’s so dark... I can’t seem to open my eyes. What happened to ? What is this energy? Hello?
"Finally awake?" A familiar voice reaches my ears—or maybe it’s only in my head. I’m not sure.
Big Boss... are you the one healing ? That power is still working its way through , my strength rising—but too slowly. Far too slowly.
"No, it’s soone else. Soone you’ve never t before,"it answers with a chuckle.
What’s so funny?
"You’ve truly outshone yourself, Quill—enough to beat the protagonist. Right now, the both of you need a good rest and so ti to think about how the story will move forward, because it seems you’ve ssed up big ti this round. But maybe it’s for the best. Glorius was ant to be humbled later in the story, to lose his overconfidence. Now... he’ll grow stronger. Good job."
I take a mont to let it all sink in, my mory slowly piecing itself back together. A swell of pride rises in my chest, but it’s weighed down by a dread so heavy it feels like it could drag to the bottom of a lake.
I see... Seriously, is that all I can say right now? But the words slip out on their own. I can’t think of anything else to say in this situation.
"Don’t worry about it too much. At least the book won’t end here, so you’re safe."
Those words lift a boulder off my chest.
"But you should know there are so problems you need to address. While you were unconscious, the seventh day has co in the outside world. Do you understand what that ans?"
I search my mind, trying to think of anything that could be a problem. Seven days... huh. Ti really does pass differently for than for them.
Then it hits . Oh! The reader quest, right? So... what’s the problem? I got so weird ability or sothing?
I try to joke, but there’s a weight in the air that makes it feel heavier than that.
"I don’t know how to tell you this, Quill... but... the readers haven’t left a single comnt. You will not receive any powers at all."
Huh?
That has to be a joke, right? There’s no way nobody ca up with anything good for to use.
"I’m here to announce to you that the reader quest to co up with powers for you has failed, and the punishnt will be no Chapters for a whole week."
I sit with my thoughts for a mont. On one hand, I’m a little sad. I expected sothing... yet maybe it was a bad idea after all. The system had placed the readers in a position it shouldn’t have. But still... it was aweso. What a pity.
Big Boss,
"Yes?"
Let take the punishnt for them. I don’t feel like it’s their fault, and cutting them off from Chapters for a week is too harsh. I’d rather sacrifice myself instead. Can we do that? Please?
Silence. Big Boss doesn’t reply for a long ti. I can’t even tell how much ti passes...
"Fine. But are you sure about it?" The voice finally returns, and with it, a flicker of hope.
One hundred percent! I’ll take any punishnt you give .
"Admirable... yet so stupid."
Excuse ?
"You’re excused. Now..." Big Boss sounds annoyed. "After you’re healed and recovered, your punishnt quest will begin. You will have one day to complete it. Further information will be given to you after you recover. Just... don’t perish, alright?"
A shiver runs through , even though I can’t feel anything else. What does that an? How difficult is this punishnt quest?!
"You have received a new comnt from a new reader, Spicy_Lasagna: Looking forward to being your number one hater."
Suddenly, a system voice cuts into my ears. Really? Even when I’m unconscious, you’re still reading comnts to ?
Wait... hater?! What did I do? I almost feel tears welling up. But... doesn’t that an my book is great? Every book needs soone who loves it and soone who hates it. Hmmm... sounds like a challenge. How about I convert you into a true fan with my book? If I can’t, I’ll eat my own shoe. I’m not kidding.
Hahaha... feels good to get comnts. That reminds —once I’m better, I should answer each one directly. I could even use the deceased author’s account to do it. Should be fun. I bet my comnt count is at least over a hundred by now... if not two or three hundred. Does that make a popular author?
Hey, readers, how popular is my book right now? Am I a bestseller yet? Let know—and spread the word. Let’s start a new religion: Quill’s Followers! No?
...
At least that helped take the edge off the dread I feel about the punishnt.
Ah! So bright! My eyes twitch, and I finally manage to open them, only to see flowing golden hair spilling across my face.
Peh! Pew! It’s in my mouth! What the hell is going on!?
"Haaa!" A sharp rush of cold air fills my lungs as I sit up, only for a sudden pain to shoot through my forehead when I slam it into sothing solid.
"Quill!"
"My Quill!"
Powder’s and Roxy’s voices reach my ears as I rub my forehead, feeling a bump swelling. In front of , a girl about my age is also rubbing her head. She’s sprawled on top of —right on my crotch. She’s beautiful, her eyes watery from the hit, but completely white. So—mysterious... Her hands rest on my chest, glowing crimson, and I feel my body slowly knitting itself back together.
Wait. Why is she sitting like this?!
"What are you—?"
"Quill, relax. She saved your life, and you greeted her with a headbutt. You dare call yourself a man?" Powder’s smug tone draws my eyes to him. This cheeky bastard... I might have misjudged him. He’s not innocent at all.
"I-I... I’m sorry. If this makes you uncomfortable, I-I can stop the procedure..." Her voice is soft and gentle—cute, even. Now that I look closer, her face seems completely recovered from the headbutt.
"It’s... fine. Just... why are you sitting there?" I’m not sure what to say. Should I apologize first? There’s more than one problem here, and where she’s sitting is... well... one of them. A rising problem.
"It’s absolutely necessary!" she declares, pressing her body against . Her hands sink deeper into my chest, forcing a sharp breath out of . "This is my healing technique! If you don’t let finish, you’ll die from hidden injuries!"
"That... is... fine... I’ll die from not breathing... haaa..." I feel myself on the edge of passing out, but that strange warm energy keeps conscious.
"Leave this to and relax!" Her golden hair spills over my face again. What kind of treatnt is this!?
"I’m Anna, the traveling priest. I will either heal you or kill you today, but I’m not giving up on your life!"
Great... it seems I’m dying today.
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