He knew that as long as this issue wasn’t resolved, he would be the target of ridicule. So, he chose to stay in the lab, lost in the digital world, as if nothing else mattered.
With the headset blocking half his face, others might have thought Alaric was just focused on playing. But in reality, behind that intense concentration was a heart that was shaken, a mind that was unsettled, and a soul struggling to hold on by the only ans it could.
He had no idea what tomorrow would bring. What he did know was this: for now, he just wanted to be alone and put off facing the reality as long as possible.
Alaric’s fingers, which had been dancing over the keyboard, started to slow down. His focus on the ga had long since faded, leaving only the still image of his character in the corner of the arena. He hadn’t moved it in a while. His head felt heavy, as if his heart was being squeezed from all sides.
"What am I supposed to do...?"
He had already tried searching for the source of the docunt, weighing who might be behind all of this, and even let himself forget it for a while through the ga. But still, the answer didn’t co. He was at a dead end.
The young man rubbed his face with both hands, then leaned back into his chair. His gaze lifted toward the white, sterile ceiling of the computer lab. Around him, the rhythmic clacking of keyboards from other students filled the air, occasionally broken by quiet laughter from those imrsed in their own projects.
And that was when it ca—
kring...
A sound echoed again in his mind. A sound that usually only appeared under certain conditions.
[SSS System Activated]
> "ntal stress level detected: high. Offering temporary relief options."
Alaric’s eyes widened. The air he breathed seed to flow faster through his nose. Reflexively, he glanced to his right and left, though he knew full well that the voice didn’t co from the outside. It was from within the system that was embedded in him, the one that often helped him.
In an instant, a holographic light appeared above his head. Semi-transparent and glowing softly, it contrasted with the harsh white glow of the computer screen in front of him. Lines of text floated in midair, shimring gently like specks of dust catching the sunlight.
[New feature unlocked: Temporary mory Eraser]
> "This feature allows those around the subject to temporarily forget events related to the subject. Their mories will reset to a point before the incident, while the subject retains full mory. Use this opportunity to search for evidence and uncover the truth without social pressure."
Alaric froze. His hand, which had been resting on the table, slowly lifted as if he was about to touch the hologram. But then it stopped. Doubt was evident on his face.
"A temporary mory eraser...?"
He frowned. When he thought about it, the feature sounded like magic. Just imagine... if everyone who had thrown accusations at him, looked at him with scorn, and expressed disappointnt. If they all could forget about it, even for a little while.
He could walk through campus without feeling the weight of those stares, without the biting whispers in his ears, as though all the humiliating events had never happened.
But...
That didn’t an the problem would be gone. In fact, it could beco even more ssy if he couldn’t use it in a clever way. Because doesn’t this help make things easier on the one hand but also make it more difficult because no one else rembers the problem?
Alaric swallowed hard. He knew well that the reality would still be there. The accusations had been made, and the docunt had appeared. It was just that people’s mories of it would be wiped away.
In short, he would be given a breather. But if he didn’t find evidence soon, if the truth wasn’t revealed, everything would eventually return to normal and resurface.
The young man clenched his fists in his lap. "This is just... a temporary solution. But if it helps move more freely, maybe it’s worth trying."
The hologram above him glowed again, brighter this ti.
[System Notification]
> "Press this button if you agree."
A virtual button appeared in the air, glowing a brilliant blue.
Alaric stared at it for a long ti. His eyes didn’t blink, as if he were testing whether the decision he was about to make would be the start of disaster or his salvation.
Seconds ticked by slowly. Around him, the real world continued on, students typing away at their assignnts, so chatting quietly.
Finally, he took a deep breath, exhaled slowly. "Alright... if this is the way forward."
Carefully, he lifted his hand and moved it toward the holographic button. He touched it.
Click.
The mont his finger made contact, the button grew even brighter, then vanished, shattering into thousands of tiny shards of light that seed to absorb into the air, like dust carried away by a breeze.
Alaric held his breath. His heart raced faster. He waited... eager to see what would happen next.
He then removed the headset hanging around his neck, his hands pulling away from the keyboard, leaving behind the ga that had once been his escape.
"If the system really works... I should see the difference now," he muttered quietly.
He took slow steps toward the door of the computer lab. As soon as he pushed the door open, the voices of students leaving their first class filled the air. Sunlight poured in from the overhead windows, blinding him for a mont, casting long shadows on the stairwell he was about to descend.
Alaric started down the stairs.
But after only a few steps, sothing caught his eye, causing him to slow down. A group of students were walking across the lower courtyard, so sitting in groups. Others were leaning against posts near the field’s edge.
They were all staring at him. Just like before. With scorn. So raised their eyebrows in mockery, while others wore tight-lipped smiles, as if holding back sarcastic comnts.
Alaric froze on the stairs, gripping the tal railing. His brows furrowed.
"Why is it still like this? Didn’t I activate the system?"
Confusion crept over him. But before things could get worse, a voice echoed once more in his head, as impersonal as ever.
[SSS-Rank AI System]
> "Warning: Feature has not yet begun. Activation process will begin in countdown mode."
Alaric’s eyes widened. "What?"
> [Countdown begins: 3... 2... 1...]
His body instinctively froze in place. His breath caught in his chest. The world around him seed to slow down. The chatter of students, once loud, faded into a soft hum, replaced by a faint buzz in his ears.
Then, as if an enormous button had been pressed... everything changed.
The scornful glares that had once burned into him slowly softened. The mocking expressions turned into brief confusion before settling into their usual, neutral faces. As though nothing had ever happened. Their mories of him, of the incident, had been erased.
Alaric moved his foot to the next step. He continued down, passing a few students who were now climbing the stairs.
"Hey, Ric," one of them greeted him casually, just like any other normal greeting, without any trace of hatred.
Alaric froze for a mont. He quickly checked the face of the student. Yes, this was the sa person who had mocked him so loudly just a few hours ago. But now, it was as if none of that had ever occurred. They were speaking to him like nothing had changed.
He nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "G-good morning."
His pace quickened as he descended further. Below, he passed several other students sitting on the campus steps. One girl, who had once shot him a judgntal glance, now smiled faintly when their eyes t.
"Hey, Ric, you’re joining the basketball team eting later, right?" another male student asked suddenly.
Alaric stopped for a mont. The irony of it all hit him. Just hours ago, these sa people wouldn’t even spare him a glance, let alone speak to him. But now\... it was as if none of it had ever happened.
He walked past the crowd, disbelief written all over his face. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"So far... it ans this system is reliable although it still requires my own intervention as well."
"Ah... thank goodness."
The suffocating weight on his chest that had pressed so heavily earlier began to lift, like a heavy burden being released from his shoulders. He could walk without the haunting stares. He could breathe without feeling scrutinized.
For a brief mont, he glanced up at the clear blue sky stretching over the field.
"So... this is the power of the system. Not a final solution, but at least it gives room to move. Ti to act freely."
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