Kim Yujin stared at the flashing options, his dislocated jaw still throbbing as a bitter anger grew up from his heart.
"The heck is wrong with this stupid system? Me? A trash character?"
"If you are going to drag me to some gad damned stupid world, at least give me a better character description!" Kim Yujin yelled as he showed the middle finger towards the screen.
[...]
[Well, we would have given you a better character if possible...]
'What does it mean? It's saying it had a reason for giving me a trash character?' Kim Yujin was stupefied at the mention of the reason, but the reply that came threw him off his leg unexpectedly.
[The reason we gave you a trash character setting is because of your students' satisfaction rating.]
"To hell with satisfaction rating! Who do you think you are to rate me?!" Kim Yujin was irked by this unexpected opinion rating.
[It's exactly this rude and impertinent behavior of yours that caused your students' frustration, resulting in such a low rating.]
The system didn't seem to be in a hurry, but it continued despite Kim Yujin's effort to dismiss the screen.
[You should work on your temper during your stay in this world.]
'The hell with working on my character?! What's wrong with my character? Huh?'
Even though Kim Yujin was frustrated, he couldn't find the proper words to put in a sentence to let the system understand.
As he looked around at the bizarre machines and notes scattered across the room, his heart began to pound with something other than dread. He was no longer just an ordinary material science professor from Earth. If this really was the world of the novel, a place with alchemy, engineering, magic, and medieval kingdoms, then maybe his knowledge could make this "useless plagiarist professor" into something greater.
"My character is just an extra, right? Why should I put some effin' effort here?" Kim Yujin clicked his tongue as he lounged back on his chair.
[You should take a look at your status window and your mission.]
The screen pulsed, shifting into a familiar format, like a character stat window from a game.
[Professor Reynard von Esteban]
Alias: Kim Yujin (Possessor)
Occupation: Associate Professor at Nirvana Academy
Title: Noble of the Empire (Baron's Heir)
Age: 24
Reputation: [Despised]
[Attributes]
Intelligence: A
Charisma: C-
Stamina: D+
Integrity: F (system-flagged)
Innovation: B+ (Locked, to be revealed through "Science & Engineering Background")
[Unique Trait Unlocked: Material Science Professor]
Allows reinterpretation of magical and alchemical formulas through the lens of modern science.
— Enables the crafting of "Scientific Artifacts," hybrid inventions fusing magic with engineering.
— Provides theoretical knowledge far surpassing this world's current era.]
Kim Yujin's eyes widened as his lips turned in a disdainful mockery.
"…So that's how it is. But so what?"
The original Professor Reynard may have been a greedy parasite doomed to fail… but he didn't have any obligation to do any better, did he?
And as fate would have it, the "protagonist" of this world, his supposed victim, was none other than his assigned research assistant.
Kim Yujin was sure that the protagonist would do his part even if he didn't do anything and just sat back, lazing around all day long.
Kim Yujin leaned back in his chair, despite the pain in his jaw, and started to laugh like a madman.
The system flickered, as if amused.
[System Log Updated]
New Objective: Guide the Protagonist.
Secondary Objective: Survive the Timeline.
.
.
.
Reynard stared at the window for a long time before leaning back on the chair again, folding his arms on his chest, and crossing his legs.
"I'm not doing it." He rejected without hesitation as he shook his head.
Since the system threw him into this world forcefully, he can just lounge around in his own way, right?
But the screen flashed before him once again, as if mocking him with the obvious.
[You should take a look at the main mission's objective before denying it.]
Reynard narrowed his eyes as he sensed a foul and nasty smell of dope.
This damned system is plotting something nasty for sure!
"Where is the mission?" Reynard asked, sitting up in right posture as not to get laughed at once again.
[Main Quest Assigned]
Objective: Assist the Protagonist, Arwen Luciel.Conditions for Success: Ensure Arwen's rise to greatness. Guide, protect, and mentor him as he develops his revolutionary research.
[Rewards:
— Wealth +1,000 gold (per milestone)
— Exclusive access to "Technological Blueprints" unavailable in the current world— Favorability with Imperial Court
Failure Penalty:
— Complete annihilation of the host soul.]
Kim Yujin stared at the text until his eyes blurred. Then he leaned back in his chair and let his head thump against the wall behind him.
"…Nope."
The system made a soft ding!
[System Alert]
[Mission refusal detected.]
[Please reconsider ♥]
"No! And what the heck is with that annoying emoji?! Remove it at once, you disgusting freak!" Reynard yelled as he made a bizarre expression upon seeing the love emoji from the system.
Ding!
[System Alert]
[Did you not read the "Failure Penalty" section? Complete annihilation, Host. Complete. Gone. Obliterated. Kaput. Zilch.]
Reynard groaned, covering his face with one hand. "You think I don't know what annihilation means? Do you think I'm stupid?"
[System Response]
[Given Host's current Integrity stat: F, and Charisma penalty:
–20 due to jaw dislocation… statistically, yes ♥]
Reynard's eye twitched.
"…You little—!"
He raised a fist toward the translucent blue text, but of course, it was like punching smoke. His knuckles just swiped through the glowing panel, accomplishing nothing but making him look insane.
He dropped his fist with a sigh.
"Listen here, you cursed Tamagotchi. I didn't ask to come here. I didn't ask to be shoved into some greedy idiot's body. And I definitely didn't ask to babysit some protagonist who's supposed to rise to greatness on his own! So forget it. I quit. Go find someone else."
The system made a small, deliberate beep-beep, like it was sighing.