Just then, something unexpected happened.
A transparent screen blinked into view in front of both of us. This one wasn't like the others. It wasn't part of the temple's ceremony.
It was the system—my system.
---
> [Loser's Lie Activated]
You have convinced another soul of something you don't fully understand yourself.
[Effect: Your family can undergo a second awakening once it is full—9 members total.]
---
I stared at it.
Vhim stared at it too.
Then we looked at each other.
His eyes were wide. He was still too young to understand what was going on—but smart enough to know it was important.
Me?
I felt something between dread and opportunity.
This wasn't my story.
But the fact that this system had acknowledged my lie... and rewarded it?
That terrified me more than anything.
Because it meant the world wasn't fixed.
.
.
.
"What is this Loser's Lie?"
Vhim and I asked in perfect unison.
I glanced at him, half amused, half unsettled. He looked just as puzzled as I felt.
But I shook my head.
"Ok. Whatever it is…" I exhaled slowly, focusing on what we could control. "Right now, we need eight more members. If I'm right, there are more people who didn't awaken during this ritual. We need to find them."
Vhim turned to me sharply, his eyes already lit with anticipation.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" he said, nearly jumping to his feet.
But I reached out and caught his shoulder.
"Oi, I want a promise from you first."
He blinked, surprised. "What?"
I looked him in the eyes, serious now. This wasn't a game anymore.
"Until I tell you to speak the truth… you will tell everyone in our future family that you are the head."
His mouth opened, confused. "But why?"
I smiled, though it didn't reach my eyes.
"Because I want you to be the hero. And I'll be your loyal right-hand man."
It sounded strange even to me. But I meant it. If this world had roles to play, then I didn't mind stepping into the shadows—if it meant I could control the stage from behind the curtain.
Vhim was quiet for a moment. He was thinking, deeply. I could tell. Then he slowly nodded.
"Okay. I promise."
We shared a look that was more than just agreement—it was the start of something.
Right then, we turned to leave, ready to begin our search.
But before we could take even three steps toward the exit—
Someone else stepped out from the inner hall.
A boy.
Roughly our age. His head was low. His steps were heavy, dragging with every movement. His aura was… hollow. Like someone who just lost everything.
His expression was blank—but there was something strange in his eyes. Something deeper. Something still burning.
Suddenly, a golden ripple appeared in front of me.
---
> [Hero Rank Candidate Detected!]
---
I froze.
So did Vhim.
I looked at the boy.
Then at the message.
Then at Vhim.
His mouth was already half open. "That's our—"
"Shh." I whispered. "Let's not scare him off."
And deep inside, I wondered…
Just how many pieces were scattered on this board?
*
*
*
As we were about to leave, I noticed another boy stepping out of the temple. His head was down, and he looked completely defeated.
[Hero Rank Candidate Detected.]
"What the—?" Vhim blinked in confusion.
"Wait a minute," I said, narrowing my eyes. "He's a Hero Rank candidate… but you're King Rank. There must be a difference in level between them."
"Then what should we do?" Vhim asked, glancing at the boy.
"I have an idea. Try adding him to the family," I said.
Vhim hesitated. "Don't you think we should tell him first?"
"No," I shook my head. "It's better if they don't know we're the ones doing it. Just like how you were added. Let them suspect. I have a feeling it'll be more interesting that way."
"Alright. I'll try."
Vhim reached out mentally, focusing on the system.
[Error. A King-level candidate cannot create a family or add members before awakening.]
Vhim frowned. "So I can't add anyone until I awaken. Makes sense."
I nodded. "Which means I can choose the nine members. And they can be any rank between Hero and King… but looks like Hero is weaker than King."
Vhim tapped his chin thoughtfully. "A king is a king, after all… but can a hero eventually become a king?"
I shrugged. "Who knows? That might be something the story hasn't told us yet."
We both stared at the boy for a few moments, watching him walk away alone.
"Let's go home," I said finally.
Vhim gave a small nod. "Yeah…
.
.
.
.
I woke up at dawn, body aching and mind heavy, but this time—there was purpose.
My greatest rival wasn't anyone out there. It was my own body. Weak. Pathetic. Undisciplined.
Before, I didn't bother with training. I had no hope, no future. But now… I had a system.
And legends say—if you have a system and train like hell every day, even gods can't stop you.
I stepped out of my hut, the cold air stinging against my skin. No warm-up. No hesitation. I just ran—straight toward the mountain.
The dirt path turned steep quickly. My legs burned after only a few minutes. My breath grew shallow. It felt like I was suffocating. My limbs trembled like jelly.
"Just a little more. Just a little more. Don't stop now…"
I tried to motivate myself. But I stopped.
I couldn't go on.
"Damn this useless body… no matter what I do, it holds me back."
But then, a thought struck me.
"If I can't run… I'll walk. At least see the sunrise."
So I walked. Step by step. My sweat poured like a stream, soaking my shirt and pants. My heart pounded, each beat screaming at me to turn back. But I didn't.
Eventually, I reached the peak.
The sun hadn't risen yet. The air was unbelievably clean. Cold and refreshing. It felt… sacred.
I found a flat rock, sat down cross-legged, and focused.
"Let's try that breathing technique I always imagined."
Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Hold. Rapid breath. Hold.
Again.
And again.
At first, it was calming. But then, my stomach churned. My body tensed. A bitter taste crept up my throat.
Sweat drenched my body like I was under a waterfall. My head spun.
And then—I vomited.
Black blood. Undigested food. Strange green bile. The stench was awful, like death and poison mixed together.
But afterward…
I felt light. Too light. My body… it wasn't just exhausted—it felt cleaned.
† ★‡
Target 🎯 50 Power stone -2 ex chapter