The Caffeine System: Critical Heart Protocol

Chapter 6: Social Inequality Between Species

"Come on."

Without thinking, Raka snatched the goose that was grooming its feathers again and ran as fast as he could. He ignored the goose's soft "quacking" sound because he saw the emergency stairs directly across the dead-end street.

They reached the other side of the street safely. A rusty emergency ladder made Raka wince. He released the goose he was carrying onto the rung above his head.

“Get on,” he said to the goose.

The goose turned to Raka and pecked his head once as if to say, "Don't you see my short legs?"

“Ouch,” Raka complained, rubbing his aching head. “I asked you to get on, not peck my head.”

The goose pecked Raka's head again.

"Okay, okay," growled Raka then grabbed the goose excitedly and put it on his shoulder. "Stay there. I'll go up."

After struggling to climb to the roof of the three-story shophouse, Raka leaned against the parapet. His breath was rising and falling rapidly. Carrying the weight of the goose on his shoulders and having to climb the stairs to the roof of the shophouse slowly to avoid falling or being smelled by Sleeper was an adrenaline rush for him.

The goose got off Raka's shoulder and walked back and forth arrogantly in front of him.

“We… succeeded,” Raka said half-whispering between his still heaving breaths.

The goose just glanced at him, then let out a soft quacking sound that sounded like, “Of course it worked. I did it.”

Before Raka could sarcastically reply to the goose, a bright blue panel appeared displaying cheerful virtual music and animated fireworks.

wooden

[Congratulations to the Host and Swan for surviving!] 

[The Anomaly Team Members' Outstanding Performance has captured the Netizens' Attention!] 

[It's Time for the Prize Distribution! The First Loot Box has arrived!]

Raka had almost forgotten about the prize. He had almost forgotten to scold the system for being unfair, giving a prize to a bird.

Two virtual boxes appeared in the air. One, a simple, worn-looking wooden box, floated in front of Raka. The other, a gleaming golden chest adorned with blue gems, floated gracefully above the swan's head.

Raka stared at the two boxes, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. “Wait a minute. Why are our gifts different?”

[Rewards are based on contribution and popularity. Open your box, Host.]

With a growing sense of unease, Raka finally touched the virtual box. It opened with a soft creak and a faint flash of light. An item appeared before him.

[Reward Received: Used Socks (Common Item)] 

[Description: Slight hole in the toe but still wearable. Maybe.]

A sad gray sock lay on the floor in front of Raka. He stared at it in disbelief.

“I risked my life, ran like crazy, had my head pecked until a lump formed, and all I got was a pair of holey socks?!”

Meanwhile, the goose pecked at the gold chest above him with a happy expression. The chest opened with a majestic bang and a burst of golden light.

Raka, who saw this, immediately rolled his eyes. “That’s not fair,” he grumbled.

A titanium necklace with a blue crystal pendant floated down from the chest and magically settled around the swan's slender neck.

[Anomaly #001 Obtained: Titanium Regeneration Necklace (Rare Item)] 

[Description: Provides a minor defense boost and passive health regeneration. Also looks very stylish.]

The Goose stretched its neck as if showing off its new jewelry. The blue crystals sparkled beautifully.

“This isn’t fair!” Raka repeated himself and jumped to his feet. He pointed angrily at the hologram screen. “This is interspecies discrimination! I do all the hard work! I run! I think!”

[Oh yeah? Correction,] the System replied. [You ran into a dead-end alley. Your team members eliminated the threat. Data never lies, Host.]

“He’s just a bird!” Raka still couldn’t accept it.

[He is the MVP. The audience loves him.]

As if to prove it, the chat window in the corner of his vision began to flood with messages.

[User666: HAHAHAHA socks! The admin is savage!] 

[PecintaAnimal12: The goose is so cool! What's its name? Name it!] 

[RajaKomen: Agreed! Name the hero!] 

[User12345: I suggest the name 'Gooseinator'!] 

[PecintaAnimal12: No! It's too fierce. How about 'Mr. Graceful?]

A voting window appeared in the center of the screen, further irritating Raka.

[Netizens Start Voting for Anomaly #001! Cast Your Votes Now!] 

A. Gooseinator 

B. Mr. Graceful

C. Baginda 

D. Overpowered Duck

Raka stared at the choices in despair. “You guys voted on that goose name? I don't even have a nickname! I'm called 'Host' or 'Mr. Tempe'!”

[You don't deserve to be nicknamed,] the System retorted mercilessly.

The system really annoyed Raka but he couldn't do anything.

The one-way debate continues.

Raka paced back and forth on the roof, ranting at length at the hologram screen that only he could see, while the swan calmly cleaned the new necklace with its beak.

“Listen, Admin or whoever you are!” Raka shouted, brandishing the crowbar he carried around as a weapon. “I’m the main character! This is my story! The journey of a scared barista who becomes a hero! That goose was supposed to be just a supporting character! A pet!”

[According to the current popularity poll, Anomaly #001 is leading with 98% of the audience vote. You're at 2%, and that's because someone pressed the wrong button.]

The statement hit Raka like a slap. He immediately stopped walking, the crowbar in his hand feeling incredibly heavy.

He slowly looked up at the swan, which was now staring back with its intelligent black eyes. Then Raka stared at his reflection in the puddle on the roof. His face was dirty, his clothes torn, and his expression sad.

Raka sighed softly. After a moment of thought, he understood. The system didn't care about him. Even the audience didn't care about him.

He's not the main star. He's just a cameraman who can run and scream. Someone whose job is to follow the real star, an arrogant mutant goose.

“I realize… I’m just a supporting character,” he muttered. Suddenly, a deep sense of exhaustion washed over him.

[Voting Complete! Anomaly #001's Official Name is… Baginda!] 

[Congratulations, Baginda!]

The goose then let out a long, triumphant “KWEK!” as if it understood everything.

Raka simply sighed in resignation. He flopped back down onto the hot rooftop. He didn't care anymore. He had now been defeated by a voting system and a bird.

Raka closed his eyes and tried to ignore the world. The sun began to set westward, turning the Jakarta sky a shade of orange and purple. If the world were still normal, it would be beautiful. However, the beauty of the sky now felt wrong in this shattered world.

It was then, in the midst of the heavy afternoon silence for Raka, that a voice broke his reverie.

GROOOOOK… GRUUUUUK…

Raka immediately opened his eyes.

“What is that sound?” he whispered.

His brow furrowed, as the voice wasn't coming from outside. Then the voice came again, this time accompanied by a slight ache in his stomach.

Raka clucked softly, the sound coming from his own stomach. He hadn't eaten anything since yesterday and had only drunk bitter coffee. The sound of his stomach rumbled again. A great hunger was now upon him.

He pressed his stomach to muffle the embarrassing growling sound. “Shut up, idiot. Not now,” he cursed under his breath.

But it was too late.

The sound, although not too loud for humans, was enough to attract unwanted attention.

At the edge of the roof, above the parapet, a pair of pale, thin hands appeared. Their fingers were long and twisted like spider legs, gripping the edge tightly. Then a head emerged.

It resembles a regular Sleeper, but its body is slimmer and designed for crawling. It has no eyes. However, its entire skin twitches as if it can sense the slightest vibration.

'What is that?' thought Raka.

The creature looked up at the source of the sound. More specifically, at Raka's stomach. With fluid, terrifying movements, it began climbing the wall, its body clinging to the brick surface like a giant lizard.

'Oh, shit,' he thought and swallowed.

Raka froze in horror. He couldn't even speak or scream. He had just realized that in this world, even the most basic bodily function could be a death sentence.