"Your current state is very bad."
As Shin watched a boxing video on his phone, the System spoke directly in his mind.
"You've been wearing the fantasy suit for too long. That fantasy suit is having too deep an impact on you. If this continues, you will eventually be assimilated by its mentality."
Shin paused his movement on the phone but spoke carelessly in his mind.
"And what if I am assimilated? Isn't it better to be a calm and realistic person? Or do you want me to get hot-headed and fall into your traps obediently?"
The System hesitated for a moment, then sighed helplessly.
"I've really never seen anyone like you. The company and I aren't rushing you; you have three chances to fail, and you have plenty of time. Why are you forcing yourself so urgently?"
"Because I don't want my fate to be controlled by others for a single second,"
Shin said coldly.
"I hate the situation where my fate isn't even controlled by me. I just want you to get out of my head as soon as possible, and I want to return to my world as soon as possible!"
The System was right. Shin's mental state was abnormal. Or rather, other aspects of him were normal, but he had an extremely strong mental fixation.
This obsession wasn't noticeable in everyday life, but it became extremely severe after the System entered him, especially after he used the Bondrewd set, which amplified his rational and psychological aspects.
The System fell silent. Regardless, this was the irreversible, massive issue that separated this intimate but unwilling partnership.
"...But no matter what, I suggest you don't be so aggressive," the System sighed helplessly.
"Your mind is not yet resilient and stable. If you are excessively invaded by the fantasy suit's mindset, you will eventually become incurable."
"That doesn't sound like something the guy who recommended that thing to me would say," Shin sneered.
"Although I appreciate you letting me 'rent' that thing with the few appraisal points I had so I could live more comfortably, the mental intrusion it brings is much higher than this suit."
The System didn't speak further, and neither did Shin. A long silence hung between the two, an intimate pairing born of reluctance.
"...Alright, I spoke a bit too harshly," Shin sighed inwardly, wearily.
"I've tried to trust you, but I can't... You say this world is safe, but all I feel is pervasive unfamiliarity."
"Every cell in my body tells me this is not the world I know; it's an unknown parallel world. You, who brought me into this unfamiliar domain, are the only 'person' I know best."
He quietly removed the Dawn Lord equipment hidden under his clothes.
The System was right. He was too tense and too worried. He felt uneasy and resistant towards everything unfamiliar around him, and he only felt safe when wearing the set that brought him extreme calmness.
Absorbing knowledge like a sponge, strengthening himself, was only to alleviate this indescribable anxiety. The intense anxiety made it difficult for him to maintain his rationality. He was unwilling to believe any extra sensibility generated in this world.
In other words, he was 'addicted' to that state of absolute rationality and calmness.
Today was also like that. If it were his original self, the meeting might not have been so advantageous to him, but at least he wouldn't have directly angered Utaha and made her leave.
While he didn't particularly like or dislike her, she was an acquaintance and had helped him. Emotionally and logically, he shouldn't have been so excessive.
As he lifted the absolute calm state brought by the Dawn Lord's fantasy suit, Shin was overwhelmed by deep exhaustion and insecurity.
"They are all very good works... Each one is of award-winning quality."
Machida Sonoko put down several manuscripts, sighing with emotion. She then pulled out one.
"Especially this one. The overall framework seems to be borrowed from the Harry Potter series. Although the protagonist is Foreigner, it's a rare and well-written work of modern urban fantasy."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Ms. Machida. Just let me know how you handle it."
Shin suddenly stood up, left the money for the split bill, and nodded slightly to Machida Sonoko before leaving. Machida Sonoko watched him leave, opening her mouth but saying nothing.
Strange, why did he suddenly look so exhausted?
She didn't know why, but it was impolite to pry into things people didn't want to talk about. Machida Sonoko organized the novels in her hands, holding the one she singled out, and murmured softly,
"The name is a bit strange, not very suitable for a light novel title..."
Shin returned home with a pounding headache and collapsed into sleep, unaware that a pair of eyes were quietly watching him return home.
"A lonely and restless soul," a pleasant boy's voice chuckled softly.
"A lonely and restless child."
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