2. Forbidden Territory

The system abruptly interrupted Daisuke's thoughts, capturing his attention. He was about to express his confusion when the system preemptively offered an explanation.

"I don't understand," Daisuke started to say, but the system promptly clarified, "Allow me to explain: The sadness you felt in your previous life, which led you to think about ending it, was mostly because of the bad choices you made when you were younger. So, I must ask, how much should I guide you to make sure you don't repeat those same mistakes?"

Daisuke wondered about the reason for his rebirth. How did this system have such deep knowledge about him? It was undeniably strange. However, if the system took control of his soul right after his death, there must be a purpose waiting for him. He longed for a life that went beyond the ordinary, aspiring to become something greater.

In front of him were different options, tempting him to make a choice. He almost went for the green option, which meant he wanted to be free from outside influence and enjoy the happiness of making his own decisions. Daisuke valued peace and the ability to choose for himself.

Yet, memories of his past miserable existence flooded back, where his bad choices had caused him pain and suffering. If he truly wanted a better life this time, he realized the importance of discipline and making wise decisions.

Therefore, he chose the red option instead. A warning message appeared, but he ignored it and clicked "agree." He had decided not to be a failure anymore, and the system wouldn't discourage him.

"Excellent choice, player," praised the system. "Even if you had chosen the safe option, I would have guided you toward this path."

Confused, Daisuke furrowed his brow and asked, "Why is that?"

"Out of all the young people who faced difficulties in your world, I brought you here because you had the greatest potential to undertake the important task ahead," explained the system.

"Young failures?" Daisuke questioned, puzzled. "Why would you be interested in someone who failed? Surely there were others—more motivated and assertive individuals—who could have been chosen. Why me?"

The system replied, "Even the most successful individuals from your world don't have the potential to face the enormous challenge that awaits you."

Curiosity aroused, Daisuke probed further, "And what exactly is this great task?"

"All will be revealed at the right time," replied the system.

A sense of unease started to settle within Daisuke. "Why does that make me feel uneasy?" he asked.

"In the world you're about to enter, comfort will be low on your list of priorities," responded the system.

Daisuke fell silent, contemplating the demanding life that awaited him in this new world. It could be even more difficult than the challenges he faced in his previous life. Doubts started to creep into his mind, and he began questioning whether he made the right decision. The once comforting voice of the system now seemed harsh, as if ready to punish him at any moment. Fear filled his thoughts, making him wonder if agreeing to this path was a big mistake.

"Now, let's evaluate your abilities," the system informed Daisuke, grabbing his attention. A tab appeared in front of him, showing different charts with statistics.

"Here, you can see your abilities categorized into physical, weapon, and magical attributes," explained the system. "Physical attributes include your strength, speed, durability, and agility. Weapon attributes measure the durability, poison, and bleeding effects of your weapons. Lastly, magical attributes cover your healing and elemental attack abilities. With significant achievements, you will unlock additional abilities and tools. If the rewards become too much to handle, you can store them in your inventory. Just remember, space is limited, so you might need to exchange items."

Daisuke nodded, feeling excited as he absorbed the information about the system's mechanics. It seemed very convenient and sparked his imagination about becoming a powerful superhero in this new world. The idea of living the fulfilling life he always dreamed of—having followers who admired him, a beautiful partner, and a luxurious home—accompanied by the system's constant praise, filled him with anticipation.

Lost in his daydream, Daisuke was suddenly brought back to reality as the system raised its voice. "Every day, you will receive 'Commission Quests.' These are simple tasks that guarantee rewards when completed," the system explained. "However, failing to complete these quests within the given time will have serious consequences."

"Serious consequences?" Daisuke asked, curious about what those consequences would be.

"Failure to complete your daily quests will be a valuable learning experience," replied the system.

Now the system's tone had become threatening. Moreover, upon reflection, Daisuke suspected that it could read his thoughts as well. How else could it accurately respond to his questions even before he asked them? Each revelation heightened his anxiety, and he felt apprehensive about what lay ahead. If everything the system claimed was true, he would face nothing but difficulties, and not facing these challenges directly would lead to dire consequences.

Seeking confirmation of his suspicions about the system's mind-reading abilities, he received an unexpected reassurance when he needed it most.

"Fear not," the system assured him. "You are not embarking on this journey alone; I will accompany you. Understand this—no matter how arduous the trials may become, I shall forever remain by your side. You belong to me now, and I will equip you with all you need to become successful, impart all necessary knowledge, and assist you in overcoming your weaknesses. Every step of the way, I shall be your unwavering support. So, do not be afraid."

Daisuke took a deep breath, pushing aside the unsettling notion of belonging to the system. He wondered if the comforting words he had heard were genuine or merely a temporary facade. Did the system possess a true personality?

"We have arrived," the system announced. "Prepare yourself for impact."

Daisuke contemplated what was about to unfold when suddenly, a brilliant light engulfed him. It was so dazzling that he instinctively closed his eyes, hoping to shield himself from potential blindness.

"It appears you will be landing right before the commencement of a battle," the system informed him.

"Landing?... Battle?" Daisuke questioned, his confusion evident. "I thought you said I was being reincarnated, starting anew—a fresh beginning!"

The system remained silent, leaving Daisuke in a state of panic, his mind racing with apprehension about what awaited him. Even though he had just been granted near-superhuman abilities by the system, the concept of engaging in combat still filled him with terror. The thought of plunging headfirst into a fight was daunting, especially since he had never experienced a real confrontation in his entire life.

"Dammit!" he exclaimed in frustration, bracing himself for the worst.

************

In another location...

Two elven women traversed the expansive grasslands, far away from their homes. One was noticeably taller than the other, and both were armed with swords and shields, though they wore no armor. They ascended a steep hill, gradually growing weary from the arduous climb. While technically they could have circled around the hill, they knew it would only result in wasted time.

Their objective was to find whelp eggs. They had been searching all morning, yet their efforts had yielded no results. Now, under the scorching midday sun, sweat poured down their bodies, fueling their mounting frustration at their lack of success.

"Damn it! What a scorching day!" one of them exclaimed. "We've been at this since morning and haven't come across a single nest nearby. Isn't this supposed to be whelp mating season?"

"Yes, it is, Asuka," the younger elf named Aya responded to her sister. "Perhaps we simply have not been fortunate today. We could attempt again tomorrow. After all, there's no rush to acquire an egg today, is there?"

"We don't have to, Aya," Asuka replied, her determination unwavering. "But we will. The last thing I want is to go to bed on an empty stomach because my sister decided we should try again tomorrow."

Aya frowned slightly and retorted, "Well, forgive me for offering a sensible suggestion, Asuka. Look around you—on a good day during this season, we should easily spot male whelps either searching for mates or engaging in territorial battles."

Their activities would have made the female's nests easy to locate. But since dawn, we have been walking about, searching hard, and we haven't even spotted a single whelp anywhere, let alone a nest of eggs."

Asuka, who was walking ahead of her stopped moving. She looked back at her sister and replied, "Then we just have to look harder."

"Look, Asuka", Aya said to her. "Why don't we just get back home? We could hunt for pheasants and rodents in the small bushes on our way back and prepare a good-enough meal to strengthen us for the next day."

"Are you not tired of eating rodents?", asked Asuka. "Why can't you think of better ways to take care of yourself?"

"I'm just being grateful for the little things, sister", Aya replied. "It is only then that I can think clearly about getting the big things."

Asuka furrowed her brow, thoroughly perplexed by her sister's words. "What on earth are you talking about?" she inquired, seeking clarity. Aya simply responded with a knowing smile.

"We press forward. Once we catch sight of the setting sun, we will turn back," Asuka declared.

"Forward? Towards the north?" Aya questioned.

"Yes, Aya," Asuka affirmed.

"You do realize that we are venturing into forbidden territory, don't you?" Aya pressed further.

"Yes, sister," Asuka acknowledged. "Are you coming with me?"

"Do you have a death wish, Asuka?" Aya exclaimed. "I just warned you that we are entering forbidden grounds, and yet you insist on moving forward! Is the sun's heat affecting your judgment?"

"Listen, if we cannot find what we seek out here, then perhaps we have a better chance in other territories. Besides, it holds more significance than you think," Asuka explained.

"You speak as if one egg can bring us a lifetime of fortune," Aya retorted.

"It's not just any egg," Asuka sighed, shaking her head. "So, are you coming or not?"

Aya grew increasingly frustrated. "Are you even listening to yourself, Asuka?" she exclaimed. "You're willingly venturing into Jinro territory just for the sake of obtaining an egg. Consider the risks, for goodness' sake! If we are discovered by them, we could be killed, assaulted, arrested, or even kidnapped."

"You overestimate them," Asuka dismissed. "And once again... It's not just any egg!"

"Look, I'm only respecting the boundaries agreed upon by our elven race and the Jinro. Breaking those boundaries would have dire consequences," Aya reasoned with her.

"Yes, and it's precisely because we conform that they take advantage of us," Asuka countered.

Aya let out a sigh, not wanting to engage in a heated argument on that particular subject. "Please, I beg you. Let's return to our regular hunting. We can resume your quest tomorrow. It's simply too dangerous. This mission is typically entrusted to the high-ranking Hunters of our race, and even they have the wisdom to know that hunting during this time would yield no fruitful results, despite it being the mating season. It's too early to search for whelp eggs, and, as far as your safety is concerned, it's too risky."

"You're right," Asuka conceded.

"What?" Aya asked, taken aback by her sister's sudden agreement.

"You're right—it's too dangerous," Asuka affirmed. "Head back home ahead of me, and engage in your usual hunting along the way if you wish. But as for me, I won't return until I find what I'm looking for."

Aya slapped her forehead in exasperation, bewildered by how Asuka could have misunderstood the situation so gravely.