The group chat was buzzing with nonstop chatter.
Everyone was puzzled by this sudden screen that had appeared, visible only to themselves.
But before they could even begin to figure it out, the screen finally flickered to life.
Meanwhile, somewhere else...
As the simulation began, Bai Heng's system interface also started to change.
[Knife Simulation System activated...]
[Upon entering the simulation, you will select three out of five available talent traits. (Note: Trait tiers range from 1 to 5 stars, low to high.)]
[Upon completion of the simulation, you will receive rewards based on your performance rating.]
[Random talent traits have been generated.]
[Striking Presence (3⭐): You can alter your aura at will, and you're more attractive than the average person.]
[Shutterbug (2⭐): You know the basics of using a camera, though your skills need work. Maybe you can make a living with it in... other ways.]
[The Fair Youth (5⭐): Your charm would even earn praise from a Knight of Beauty. Should they meet you, they might offer this compliment: "Be it flowers or stars, all the beauty in the world exists only to describe you."]
[Left-Handed Shooter (1⭐): Nothing too special. To put it dramatically, you're the kind of legend who can, well, shoot with your left hand.]
[Intellectually Challenged (2⭐): In the IQ department, you're seriously lacking. Your left cerebellum isn't even enough to dip into a small order of KFC fries. But your endurance and strength are doubled.]
[Please select your talent traits. The simulation will begin once selections are complete.]
--+--
Looking over what the system had rolled out, Bai Heng felt a vein throbbing in his forehead.
It's not like he really had a choice, did he?
After ruling out the last option that would wreck his intelligence and the useless one-star trait, he was only left with the first three.
Still, gotta say, scoring a five-star trait on his first simulation roll—guess he'd gotten pretty damn lucky in a way?
Without a second thought, Bai Heng quickly picked the first three traits that actually did something without screwing him over.
[Ding. Traits selected. Simulation loading...]
[Simulation loaded.]
[You are one of the Star Children, a rare race among the endless cosmos. Blessed by the Aeon of Beauty, the Star Children possess breathtaking, mesmerizing charm—but like a shooting star, their lives are tragically brief.]
[Penacony has extended an invitation to the Star Children, and you, as their representative, have arrived at this "Planet of Festivities."]
[As an honored guest of Penacony, an attendant warmly receives you and kindly arranges for you to "enter the dream."]
[You descend from above, arriving in the dream-city of Penacony, right in the heart of its most vibrant district: the Golden Hour.]
[As a photographer, you're captivated by the surreal beauty of this dreamscape. Your camera shutter clicks again and again, capturing every beautiful sight before you.]
[Lost in the moment, you catch a scene that takes your breath away.]
[A silver-haired girl stands on the street. Her eyes are a mesmerizing blend of blue, purple, and pink—stunning and vivid. Her lost expression starkly contrasts with the bustling energy of the Golden Hour. To you, it's a scene rich with philosophical meaning. Almost instinctively, you press the shutter and capture it.]
[But the sound of the shutter draws the silver-haired girl's attention. She notices you and begins walking your way.]
--+--
When the girl's image appeared on the screen, the folks in the simulator group chat perked up with mild surprise.
「Silver Wolf: Well, well, starting off with someone familiar? @Firefly, you're on camera. Got anything to say?」
「Firefly: If I'm being honest... I'm so embarrassed I could dig through the floor with my toes.」
「March 7th: Stage fright—I get it! Taking selfies is one thing, but having someone else catch you in a moment just feels weird.」
「Stelle: Kinda feels like public humiliation, doesn't it?」
「Kafka: By the way, Firefly, does this boy look familiar to you?」
「Firefly: Not at all…」
「Kiana: So this is probably happening in another world, right? Like a parallel universe or something?」
「Elysia: Ooh, it all sounds so exciting!」
Everyone in the livestream chimed in with their thoughts, growing even more curious about what would happen next.
--+--
Meanwhile, the simulation continued.
[You explain to the approaching girl why you took the photo and show her the picture you just captured, apologizing for the intrusion. In your brief exchange, you learn that her name is Firefly.]
[After this simple introduction, you tell Firefly that you'd like to keep the photo and publish it on a photography platform so more people can see it.]
[This request seems to put her in a difficult spot. Personally, she doesn't mind, but she's in Penacony for something important. Worried that having her photo publicly shared might cause trouble, she politely declines.]
"I'm sorry... I'm really flattered that you, a photographer, would want to take and keep my picture. But I'd prefer it if my photo didn't end up somewhere public. If it's not too much trouble, could you please delete it?"
The girl looks at you cautiously, her stunning eyes filled with apology—enough to make anyone's heart ache.
[Your options are:]
[A: A beautiful lady's wish is my command. I'll respect your choice.]
[B: Try to persuade her. "We photography enthusiasts are decent people! I promise you won't get any harassment!"]
[C: Lie. Make a backup of the photo, then delete the original.]
[D: If you don't like any of the above, choose this option to freestyle.]
[Note: If you choose to freestyle, the system will no longer be able to predict outcomes. Choose carefully!]
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.