Lucas braced himself for what was about to come.
He had no idea why he was being summoned to meet the chief, what his role in this village was, or even what to say when he got there. The system, as usual, had entered its favorite mode—complete radio silence.
Now he stood before a huge stone hall, its wooden doors towering over him. The gray kobold beside him, apparently—snorted and told him to "get in line." Then, with all the grace of someone allergic to helping, the gray kobold left.
Lucas still lost in system functions asked in his mind "Hey can I only my window or others too? And can I see the grade of weapons and potions? Like the ones in anime"
System replies with confidence "Ofcourse, you can living, non living, barely living, never living. you can see each and every info window."
Lucas sighed, he really wanted to test this function on gray kobold but system only revealed it now.
The line he was standing in wasn't long, but for such an early morning, it was annoyingly busy. As he waited, his eyes scanned the crowd—and then froze.
He was looking for someone to get information and as if gods have granted his wish.
There he was. The same kobold who'd banged on his door earlier that day.
"Bingo," Lucas muttered. "My one and only source of info."
He nudged the system mentally. 'Hey, can you show me his profile?'
Amazingly, the system actually replied.
> [SYSTEM ACCESS GRANTED]
"What a shock, huh? Mark this day on your nonexistent calendar."
Lucas ignored the jab and watched as a shimmering blue window appeared before him. It wasn't like his own numeric one. This screen had icons instead of numbers — a completely different format.
---
┌─────" IDENTITY MATRIX "──────┐
│ NAME : Roran Stonehand
│ RACE : Kobold (Miner Class)
│ OCCUPATION : Tunnel Digger / Ore Carrier
└────────────────────────┘
════════════════════════════
┌──────" STATUS TABLET "──────┐
│ STRENGTH : ⛃✩✩✩✩✩✩
│ AGILITY : ➶➶✩✩✩✩✩
│ SKILL : ⚒✩✩✩✩✩✩
│ MANA : ☯✩✩✩✩✩✩
│ STAMINA : ▰✩✩✩✩✩✩
│ WILLPOWER: ⚘⚘✩✩✩✩✩
│ LUCK : ☘☘☘✩✩✩✩
└────────────────────────┘
════════════════════════════
┌────" SYSTEM ANALYSIS"───────┐
│ Not the sharpest pickaxe in the mine,
│ honestly is it even a pickaxe.
│ Somehow still manages to hit the rock and not himself.
│ Tries hard. Fails occasionally. Adorable,
│really. (Actually no since he is ugly like you
│host)
│ Current Bond: 31% (good trust, moderate confusion)
└─────────────────────────┘
---
Lucas blinked. "Hmm, it's different from mine. But I have a feeling he is weaker than me and also can you turn the 'Analysis' thing off? I feel like you enjoy doing it the most." he said in his mind.
System replies instantly "Yes, be glad he is weaker than you and by the way, I will never turn that function off it's the only pleasure i have in scanning this ugly creatures"
'Ugly my foot, atleast we have a face. You text window.'he retorted.
Then continued asking 'But hey why those icons on his info do they mean something? And why is my window so ordinary'
"Hmm. First of all my presence is far above you ugly ones. And secondly the icons represent 10s" system replied.
System continued "Meaning each stat has seven empty stars [✩] and each fill means 10 points"
"When you reach 20 points 2 star will be filled till then only 1 star is filled"
[NOTE: 1 star is always filled. Even if user has less than 10 points 1 star fill will be shown until they reach 20 points. Only then will 2nd star be filled, But 70 points(7 filled stars) is not maximum after that even if you get 100 points it will only show 7 filled stars]
'Why so complicated? Just give them digits. You are just making it troublesome for me.'
"This is just how it works" system replied flatly.
'haah so basically he can have stats anywhere from 1 to 19, and 7 filled stars can mean 70 to infinite. Thank god atleast mine is normal.' he said than remembering he asked 'Hey, then is there any way of finding actual stats.'
System replied confidently "Ofcourse there is, Can you see that BOND in status window?"
'Yes that 31% before your bracketed commentry'
System said as if pleased "YES, that BOND will do. Once you complete 50% you can see stats in digits."
' Wow so I am playing a kobold dating sim after transmigrating and with wrong gender at that.' lucas blurted angrily.
"Oh come on, no need to get so tense, let me tell you a good thing."
"Once you increase to 100% you can get 20% of their max stat" system said round of its function.
'Yep so it's a dating sim with unigender'
'BTW how to increase Bond percent?'
"It's one sided, as long as they get closer to you it will increase, until 100 where they can completely trust you with their everything"
'good thing it's a one sided.'
Just then he saw Roran was about to leave the area.
So he picked up a small pebble, aimed carefully, and thwack — landed it right on Roran's head.
"Ow—what the—?" Roran turned around, rubbing the spot, only to spot Lucas waving like an idiot. Instead of glaring, Roran sighed and walked over at a pace slower than a turtle napping.
The system snickered. "At this rate, your beard will grow before he reaches you."
Lucas clenched his jaw but said nothing. He needed info, not pride.
By the time Roran arrived, four others had already lined up behind him. Lucas, trying to buy time, subtly slipped to the very back of the line. Risky move, but worth it—at least until that gray kobold came back.
Roran leaned close. "Why didn't you open your door earlier? Sir Ryan was furious. I thought he'd break it down."
He did, Lucas thought grimly. Out loud, he just chuckled weakly. "Ah… yeah, about that."
"You know the chief was calling for you, right?" Roran continued. "When I came back, Sir Ryan said to drag you by the tail if needed. Honestly, I was worried, lucas. "
Roran leaned closer and whispered, "After all, Sir Ryan talks with his hands more than his mouth, if you get me."
Lucas almost laughed. Hands, huh? More like a club.
The system butted in, "You could've known that earlier if someone wasn't too busy ignoring my 'dual system reveal' moment."
Lucas rolled his eyes. "You didn't even tell me your full functions!"
"Grateful as always," the system replied sweetly.
Roran blinked. "You okay? Talking to yourself again?"
Lucas coughed. "No, no. Just… uh, thinking out loud."
Roran frowned. "Hmm. Why'd you call me over, anyway?"
Lucas put on his best lost puppy face. "Actually… I think I've lost my memories."
Roran's eyes went wide. "You what!? Lost your memories? Really?? Is that why you were gone from the mines for days? Why didn't you tell me before? When did it happen!?"
Got you, Lucas grinned inwardly.
"Generic," the system muttered, unimpressed.
"Shut up," Lucas hissed mentally.
Out loud, he said, "I don't even remember the chief's name. Or Sir Ryan's. You're the only one I remember, Roran. Please… can you help me?"
Roran's tail wagged slightly. "You forgot everyone but me? I still can't believe that you lost your memories. But I guess your really think of me as friend, huh? Remembering no one but me" Roran said as he felt important to lucas.
Lucas nodded solemnly. "Absolutely."
"if you lost memories than we should get you to a healer. But..." he knew healers were hard to get to and with their status as low miners it was almost impossible but Roran didn't want to break the hope for lucas who rememberwd him.
"Okay... I'll talk to Sir Ryan," Roran said, determination shining in his eyes. "Maybe he can explain things to the chief. He might even get a healer for you!"
Lucas smirked. Perfect. Everything's going smoothly.
The system's voice dripped with sarcasm. "You're not a mastermind. You're lucky the universe handed you a gullible friend."
"Yeah, yeah," Lucas muttered.
"Come on," Roran said, motioning him to follow. "We'll see Sir Ryan."
They slipped out of line and circled around the right side of the hall to the back, where the faint thwack of wood against hide echoed. There stood Sir Ryan — a towering gray kobold with a club in hand, barking orders as a group of soldiers practiced combat drills, the same who has barged in and took lucas out.
When his crimson eyes caught Lucas and Roran approaching, Ryan stopped mid-swing. "Stand still," he ordered his trainees before turning his gaze toward them. Roran visibly shrank.
"Sir Ryan!" Roran began nervously, "This one—Lucas, I mean—he seems to have lost his memories."
Ryan crossed his arms, expression unreadable.
While Roran spoke, Lucas focused on Ryan's system profile.
---
┌────" IDENTITY MATRIX "───────┐
│ NAME : Ryan Copper
│ RACE : High Kobold
│ RANK : Drill Captain
└─────────────────────────┘
════════════════════════════
┌────────" STATUS TABLET "─────┐
│ STRENGTH : ⛃⛃⛃⛃✩✩✩
│ AGILITY : ➶➶➶✩✩✩✩
│ SKILL : ⚒⚒⚒⚒✩✩✩
│ MANA : ☯✩✩✩✩✩✩
│ ENDURANCE: ▰▰▰▰✩✩✩
│ WILLPOWER: ⚘⚘⚘⚘✩✩✩
│ LUCK : ☘☘✩✩✩✩✩
│ POTENTIAL: ⬢⬢⬢⬢⬢✩✩
└─────────────────────────┘
════════════════════════════
┌──────" SYSTEM ANALYSIS "────┐
│ Definition of 'muscles before manners'.
│ Shouts first, questions later.
│ Still, loyal to a fault — a reliable brick wall.
│ Bond: 0% (please don't die to him in bullshitting)
└─────────────────────────┘
---
Lucas's eyes widened. Four stars in strength, skill and endurance… and five in potential? Jackpot.
'Hey, system, I have been thinking for a while' he whispered mentally, 'why do they have mana stats but I don't?'
> "Because you, my scaly genius, don't have mana. Never did."
Lucas groaned. Figures. 'guess I will have to get close to someone with high mana to get their 20% mana'
Ryan finally spoke, voice deep and steady. "So, you lost your memories? kind of unexpected but I guess that explains your strange behavior."
Lucas nodded meekly. "Yes, sir."
Ryan studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. You'll come with me. The chief can decide what to do."
As Ryan turned, Lucas's lips curved into a small, mischievous smile.
Five-star potential, huh? How much will be its 20%. Guess my new goal is making this walking wall my best friend.
> [SYSTEM NOTE]
[Goal: Befriend the gray rock with anger issues.]
[ Reward: Not dying.]
Lucas rolled his eyes. "I'm starting to think you want me to suffer."
> "Correction," the system replied cheerfully.
"I live for it."