True Immortal Heart-Chapter 37: Argument with the System

The sudden notification from the system left Dusk momentarily frozen. Within seconds, his mind exploded in a string of silent curses.

’Damn it! What did I do wrong? Paying the lowest price to gain the greatest benefit—how is that not the smartest choice? Does your idea of a supervillain mean some idiot who just loves to show off? Screw you. Do you even know how hard it is for a mere mortal to kill a demon?’

Viper noticed the strange expression on his face and blinked in confusion.

’What’s going on? Don’t tell me he’s shocked by my brilliance? But... this doesn’t feel right. Is this guy actually mentally unstable?’

These bizarre situations were truly a challenge for someone like her, who paid meticulous attention to detail.

Had she been even slightly careless, her mind wouldn’t be so exhausted trying to figure out a question she would never be able to answer.

[Master, your assessment is incorrect. You’re the one who doesn’t understand what a true villain is. What a pity... You have excellent potential as a villain, but your intelligence is sorely lacking.]

Being called stupid by the system out of nowhere left Dusk fuming with indignation.

’You think you’re smart? Fine, then tell me—what exactly is a villain?’

[If Master sincerely wishes to know, I shall answer with all my heart. A supervillain is someone undeniably badass who thrives on being flashy and dramatic. They commit cruel acts without reason, stir hatred wherever they go, possess a wildly unhinged personality yet exude a powerful aura, love fighting against hordes alone, recklessly charge into every trap, and ultimately lose to the power of friendship, love, and justice.]

Dusk was stunned.

’Isn’t that just... a total idiot?’

Don’t talk about him; even though Viper was crazy to him, she wasn’t as stupid as the system described.

’System, are you messing with me? You know what? Forget it. I don’t need you anymore. Go ahead—leave me. Find your perfect supervillain—or should I say, your perfect fool. I don’t even want your rewards anymore. I’ll live just fine as an ordinary person.’

In truth, Dusk didn’t rely too heavily on the system. He had his memories, his skills, and knowledge of where several spirit fruits would appear in the future.

It had started off quite promising. At first, the system even seemed helpful. But now, with the sudden and unreasonable spike in mission difficulty, Dusk’s satisfaction had quickly turned to frustration.

Viper watched him stare blankly into the void like a clueless idiot, completely ignoring her presence. Frowning, she stood up and smacked him on the head to check if he’d truly lost his mind.

"Ow! What the hell was that for?" He yelled, clutching his head.

"We’re having a serious discussion here, and you’re zoning out like that? What’s your deal? Are you looking down on me or something?" Viper raised her fist, her glare sharp and intimidating.

Dusk didn’t protest. He had indeed been distracted, too busy resisting the system’s attempts to drive him insane.

"I’ve got a stomachache. Give me a moment," he muttered before dashing off toward the bathroom.

Viper narrowed her eyes as she watched his odd behavior, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

"Weird... Why do I feel like he’s hiding something from me? Then again, even if I cracked his skull open, I’d never figure out what’s going on in that head of his. No point overthinking it."

With that, she sat back down, waiting patiently for Dusk to finish whatever strange ritual he was performing in there. She didn’t believe for a second that he was really having stomach issues—he didn’t look the part at all.

...

Inside the bathroom, a verbal brawl between Dusk and the system was already underway.

’System, when the hell are you going to leave? I don’t need you!’

[Haha! Master, go ahead and try to kick me out. I’m waiting~ Come on, you can do it! You’ve got this!]

Dusk’s eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn’t expected the system to be this damn cheeky.

’Then what do you want from me? I’m not accepting this demon hunt quest. Not only is it ridiculously hard, but if I remember correctly, demons aren’t even supposed to show up for a long time. Are you trying to make me fall behind Viper and her team?’

That was the real reason he objected so strongly to the mission. He currently had the mafia’s backing, so with some effort, it wouldn’t be impossible to obtain high-powered weapons to fight a demon.

But the problem was—demons were still sealed away. It would be a long time before any of them could break free. At best, he might run into avatars chosen by some higher-ranked demons.

[There’s no need to worry, Master. From the deepest layers of fate, everything has already been orchestrated in perfect harmony. The system is not your enemy—remember that, and all shall be well.]

Dusk fell silent. He hadn’t forgotten that his life had been interfered with—by one or perhaps several beings of immense power.

These entities were far beyond the limits of what he could comprehend, even at the peak of his previous life. He had no way of gauging their true strength.

Still, something in his gut told him they meant him no harm. On the contrary, they seemed... oddly beneficial.

"Well, if fate has already arranged things to unfold in a ’reasonable’ way, then all I can do is give it my best. I failed once, so it’s okay to fail again. What matters most is that I have no regrets on this path." Dusk let out a long sigh and stepped out of the bathroom.

"You’re back already? That was a pretty quick dump for someone with a stomachache," Viper said with a mocking grin.

"No need to be curious. I just had some issues to sort out," Dusk replied flatly. "You should really start shifting your mindset. Sooner or later, you’ll encounter things far beyond the limits of what you consider normal."

He spoke casually, almost as an afterthought, but Viper caught on onto his words instantly.

To her, that offhand remark was no throwaway comment—it was a potential clue, one he may have dropped either by accident or design.

’Looks like this guy still has secrets that go beyond human understanding. I’ll have to reevaluate his worth.’

As she thought that, her gaze toward Dusk shifted—now looking at him as though he were a walking treasure trove.

The look sent a chill down Dusk’s spine.

’Damn it... What the hell is she thinking now? That look is seriously making me uncomfortable.’

"If you’re done with your mysterious issues, then let’s get back to the matter at hand," Viper said briskly. "If we go with the plan I proposed, things will become much simpler. I can leverage my connections to send people to hospitals all over and quickly collect the required one hundred hearts."

Dusk had no objections. Honestly, he didn’t have a better idea anyway. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Then let’s go with that."