A System That Won’t Let Me Breathe

The next day came, as always.

My mind was a mess in many ways.

〈I don’t like people who are too kind.〉

“……”

Occupation Rate

Northern Lord (Seolya)’s Territory: 30%

Southern Lord (Benzel)’s Territory: 18%

Western Lord (Jeok-o)’s Territory: 30%

Central Lord (OZ)’s Territory: 22%

“……”

From the previous quest, the item ‘Sangsabaem’s Skin’ has evolved into ‘Submerged Dragon with a Burning Heart.’

To cancel the evolution, please separate the item from your body.

The bound title ‘Lord (Central Count)’ is attached to the item ‘Sangsabaem’s Skin.’ You cannot use this bound title while it is in its evolved state.

The title ‘Lord (Central Count)’ is currently unavailable.

This title will be automatically deleted after a certain period of time.

Time remaining: 34:98

“……”

There is a seed bound to this candidate’s ‘Model Garden.’ Please prepare the ‘tax’ by the next turn.

Time remaining until next turn……

This was seriously too complicated.

“f*ck, is this even living?”

Other people get reincarnated and hog all the hidden pieces, living the good life… but me? Why the hell am I stuck carrying debt I never even signed up for and getting chased by collectors?

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Other people even get cute, fluffy beasts to accompany them… so why the hell am I stuck with something like a damn voice-phishing scam?

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No, this isn’t even voice phishing—it’s spam mail……

(Ad) Your ordered product (Seonjeonggong Caliburn / Color: Deep Blue / Cash on Delivery) is ready for shipment.

“What the hell is Deep Blue, anyway?”

I blurted it out reflexively—and immediately regretted it.

– Thank you for your order, valued customer!

A voice burst out from a jewel butterfly that fluttered over. Its elegant wings clashed completely with its noisy voice. Just listening to it gave me a headache.

– Hahahaha, your headache isn’t my fault. But Caliburn is devoted, so I’ll endure it as if it is. Oh my, Caliburn—so pure and pitiful.

Endure? Wasn’t that supposed to mean patience? Where the hell did this guy get patience from?

“If I keep looking at you, I feel like I’m taking damage.”

– Hahahaha, that won’t do. If you want to achieve greatness, you must learn to endure when needed.

“You’re saying that?”

– Oh please, I endured so much today! Even when the Lord treated me like that, I didn’t show a hint of displeasure! You saw it yourself!

“When did you endure anything? You kept sending spam and baiting me!”

I snapped. I’d planned to keep quiet today since everything already gave me a headache—and dealing with Caliburn felt awkward—but that plan didn’t even last an hour.

– Hahaha, now you’re finally acting like yourself.

His annoying historical-drama tone dropped back to normal.

– You were acting all serious since morning, I thought you had indigestion or something.

Not that his normal tone was any less irritating.

“You crazy bastard, if you were worried, why’d you act like that the whole time?”

– When someone behaves differently than usual, you’re supposed to show consistent attention.

“Then stop paying attention. Please.”

– Hahaha, everyone says that.

My head throbbed. Acting differently, my ass. If anything, it wasn’t me but…

“……”

– Darling? Knock knock. Darling?

“It’s nothing.”

I quickly pushed away the memory of last night. No point asking—it wouldn’t answer anyway.

“I was just doing something else.”

– Something else?

“Climbing the castle wall.”

That wasn’t entirely a lie.

I was currently in the central territory—formerly OZ’s domain. The place where I had destroyed the walls and lured in creatures after the neutral zone collapsed.

As expected, everything was a mess. Though, to be fair, it wasn’t exactly normal to begin with.

– You were in a hurry since morning—I guess you’ve got plans, darling.

Caliburn, who had been silent for a moment, finally spoke. Sharp bastard.

“Whatever it is, I need to act first. Especially if my stats suck.”

– Hahaha, for someone saying that, you don’t seem to be doing very well.

“Shut up.”

It was true, but I didn’t want to admit it.

“If I hadn’t acted first, things could’ve been even worse.”

To begin with, the player character had garbage stats. Most routes I’d seen involved tagging along as a support while another capture target became king.

Most—not all.

‘Yeah… not all.’

The rest were just dead ends.

– So who are you planning to stab in the back this time?

“I’m not stabbing anyone in the back—I’m taking initiative, asshole.”

– Hahaha, what’s the difference?

“It feels different to the person hearing it.”

– Hahaha, feels the same to the one getting hit though.

This bastard……

– Anyway, how’s the new feature?

He changed the topic right before I snapped.

– Is it working properly?

“I haven’t met anyone yet, so I’m not sure.”

CP: 3/100

CP points were a system Caliburn promised to add before things went south.

〈You said sometimes dealing with candidates suddenly puts you in a bad mood, right? I’ll make that gauge visible so you can handle it better.〉

Yeah, that.

‘Current value is 3…’

If max is 100, then 3 should be fine, right?

– Over 50 is caution, over 70 is danger, over 80 is critical. From critical onward, depending on your mental state, you may enter a berserker state, dear customer.

God, that tone was annoying.

“Berserker? Do I get stronger?”

That sounded kind of exciting.

– Hahahaha, what happens when you multiply zero by two? Still zero, darling.

“……”

– You might even lose what little brainpower you have left, so please be careful☆

That stupid star symbol—drop it, seriously.

“So what do I do when it gets dangerous?”

– There are several methods. Personally, I recommend eliminating the cause of your mental disturbance.

“So I should kill you?”

– Hahaha. In bed?

“Don’t you meet anyone? Please, go date someone.”

– Well, it’s not like what we do is only in bed.

“……”

– Conversation, I mean. Conversation. What were you thinking? Can you even function in daily life?

Talking to this lunatic was my mistake.

– Anyway, if the best option isn’t possible, go for the second-best.

“That method isn’t even the best—it’s impossible.”

– Then come to me.

I stopped mid-complaint.

– I’m not joking. Since the cause of your bug is data from this world, being near something outside it should restore your CP.

“……I don’t really trust that.”

Standing on the watchtower, I flexed my fingers and frowned. My heart was pounding strangely—but it soon settled.

Anyway……

CP: 9/100

“At least I know you’re not the one raising my CP.”

CP: 13/100

Caliburn fell silent.

– Huh, why’s it triggering so early these days?

Seems like he realized something too. I decided to ignore him.

Honestly, I didn’t think I had the luxury to care anymore.

CP: 14/100

It kept rising.

“I wish my stocks would rise this much when I get back.”

“What the hell are you talking about, idiot?”

A voice echoed from the air. Familiar. At the same time, I heard the sound of something flapping—like large wings beating.

‘Why does that bastard talk so much like me…’

I clicked my tongue and looked toward the sound.

“Come out already. You swore first—what’s the point of hiding?”

“f*ck.”

The silence didn’t last long. As expected, the sky tore open like paper.

CP: 15/100

I waved my hand.

“Long time no see, Jeok-o.”

A red-haired young man stood out vividly against the snowstorm sky, baring sharp, beast-like teeth.

“Shut up.”

Figures.

Most of my memories after ‘cultivating’ the Sangsabaem into a dragon inside my body were hazy.

Like moving in a half-dream state… or writhing in pain.

Despite making a dramatic entrance with a curse, Jeok-o didn’t speak for a while.

“You……”

He stared at me, then finally spoke. I shrugged and cut him off.

“Scared? That’s what you get for not behaving.”

His eyes sharpened immediately.

“You insane bastard—how dare you run your mouth…!”

“Well, since it’s open, I might as well use it.”

I cut him off again.

‘Ah… this feels great.’

The frustration that had built up dealing with Caliburn melted away.

Still, teasing Jeok-o too much wasn’t smart.

“Alright, jokes aside.”

I wasn’t strong enough to face him head-on yet.

‘Would be embarrassing if I got killed while messing around.’

Not impossible either, considering the dorm days.

“You came here to say something, so go ahead.”

Most of what happened after evolving the snake into a dragon was blurry.

Still, the major points stuck.

“You’ve probably got a lot to ask. You saw what happened to Imok, right?”

I remembered Seolya and Jeok-o being there.

“You also saw me wreck him.”

“And maybe something about OZ?”

The skin I’d worn as OZ must’ve peeled off by then.

‘…Snake skin, not human skin.’

“Explain.”

I tilted my head at his question.

“That’s too vague. I don’t have much time—so keep your questions clear.”

“What’s your relationship with that bastard?”

He cut me off—just like I had done earlier.

“Which bastard?”

I asked, genuinely baffled.

“Imok? Or OZ?”

I tested him—but his expression was strange. He bit his lips, ruffling his hair violently—a habit he had when overwhelmed.

“Jeok-o?”

He glared at me.

“Since when did you know Seolya?”

“…What?”

That name caught me completely off guard.

“Ha! Acting all innocent while secretly meeting someone from another city—and the Northern Lord’s second son at that!”

Wait—what the hell is he talking about?