Leonaut blinked in shock upon hearing Rugi's words, before letting out a cocky smirk. "Unfortunately, I have no say in that."

"...?!"

The shock was apparent on Rugi's face.

"You see, I am not actually Xue himself but..." Leonaut shrugged, still smirking. "I'll pass the message."

Xue: "Stop fooling around."

Xue: "Just tell him my answer."

Leonaut: "Haha, now where's the fun in that?"

Xue: "..."

The soul fragments were scratching their heads, helpless.

Now, they really weren't sure if it was a good decision to let Leonaut out.

It was exactly like Zasiok said.

Leonaut wouldn't do anything bad, but he wouldn't do anything good either.

"..." Rugi hesitated, coughing lightly. "Are you one of..."

"Yeah."

"Then where in the world is Xue?"

"Gone."

"Wha--"

"For a while."

"..."

"But like I said, I'll pass the message."

Rugi showed Leonaut a dubious expression.

Xue was sighing on the inside, his hand on his forehead.

Xue: "What the hell are you doing?"

"Well, I was just curious," Leonaut spoke aloud, smirking at Rugi. "You are just like a few of them, willingly giving up despite having an identity and life right here."

It was something Leonaut couldn't understand, because he himself couldn't accept what or who he was.

Rugi glanced away, his expression unreadable and he remained silent for a moment. His earrings glinted in the light as his sea-green hair created a shadow over his eyes.

"...I never felt that way."

"What?"

Rugi looked back at Leonaut, tilting his head as he lifted his leg up, the kimono sliding off his shoulder.

"Having an identity or a life, I have never once felt that way," Rugi explained. "Ever since I was born as an orphan, I knew who or what I was."

"..."

"At first, I rejected it, I wanted to be my own person, but over time...I felt empty."

"Empty?"

"It feels like I never belonged anywhere, even after becoming a leader of this town, owning a brothel and sharing my love with many different people."

Rugi pressed his hand against his bare chest.

"It still felt empty right inside me, no matter what I did. It just did not sit right with me," Rugi frowned. "Despite that I carried on, even when that evil soul fragment came looking for me and tried to forcibly absorb my soul by killing me."

On the inside, Xue furrowed his eyebrows at Rugi's words.

"We fought a few times, and each time, I barely survived and won," Rugi smiled wryly. "Moreover, I still had to maintain my role as a leader of this town that was an information centre in disguise."

Rugi glanced over to Cecil sleeping on the couch, his gaze softening. "One day, there I was standing on the roof of the house and wondering if any of this was worth it, or if I should just disappear and await my fate, and she somehow appeared in the air."

"It was...mystifying. When I saved her and carried her in my arms, it felt oddly familiar," Rugi walked over and observed Cecil softly. "That feeling grew when I saw her clearly for the first time."

"You can look, but you can't touch."

Rugi chuckled, lifting his head up and looking at Leonaut with his sea-green eyes.

"I guess we are all the same too," Rugi stated, giving a charming smile. "Xue."

"...what?"

"That's what she called me."

"So?"

"So that's when it all clicked for me. The emptiness inside me, and me questioning my purpose. It'll probably be answered if I fused my soul with my original one, no--it will be answered."

"She called you Xue?"

"She did," Rugi glanced back at Cecil, his expression gentle. "As she hugged me and laid on my lap."

"...!"

Rugi could feel a surge of murderous aura in the room. He lifted his hand up, and a huge ball of water suddenly rained down upon Leonaut.

Splash!

"..."

"..."

Rugi smiled slyly, looking at Leonaut who was entirely soaked.

One was wearing loose clothes, while the other was completely soaked with water droplets running down his handsome face, all the way down to his neck and chest.

"You should shower and change out of those clothes."

Leonaut stormed towards him.

"Don't come any closer," Rugi frowned. "It might get onto Cecil."

"You are the one who--" Leonaut halted, sighing in frustration, running a hand through his hair as he spoke menacingly. "Don't touch her."

"Despite my reputation of a heartbreaker, I can assure you I am a gentleman and will not do anything without her consent."

"..."

You were the one who did not push her away when she hugged you.

Leonaut paused.

Well, can't blame him, I wouldn't do that too.

Leonaut prepared to leave the room, before hearing Rugi speak once again.

"That request I said before, I am serious about it."

"I see."

"As promised, you'll pass the message down, won't you?"

"Well," Leonaut smirked. "He already heard it from the beginning."

"..." Rugi narrowed his eyes before sighing. "...so what's his answer?"

Leonaut paused, glancing to the side for a second before spinning around to face Rugi right in the eye. In that moment, his entire playful demeanour became indifferent and gloomy.

"If you insist, I'll accept it."

Leonaut reverted back, shrugging. "That's what he said."

Without waiting for Rugi to respond, he left the room.

The faster he finished his shower and changed his clothes, the faster he could return and keep watch over Cecil like a guard dog.

On the inside, some of the soul fragments were teasing Xue for showing an inch of consideration for others for once.

Xue felt his face twitching in anger, and he ended up kicking them.

***

Rugi commanded the guards scattered throughout the town to guide the civilians back to their homes. After all, in the first place, the civilians were escorted away to not get caught up in the war between Rugi and Ephert's spies.

The crew finished their tasks smoothly and cleanly.

The innocent civilians would not be involved in any conflicts.

Masaru and Tsuki helped in the process.

Meanwhile, Rugi sent some help as promised to inspect the ship. Fortunately, it could be repaired but it would take almost three weeks to repair it completely.

Also, unfortunately, Rugi had no other ship to spare. Hence, the entire crew would be stuck here on this island for a month. At least, they would be able to handle the matters with the auction house without rushing.

Haru, Kiyae, Ryo and Yun decided to help in repairing the ship, afterall, it belonged to them. Hana and Xue remained behind to care for Cecil, with the latter keeping a watchful eye on Rugi.

"...you...you want to help?"

K'xug nodded.

"How surprising." Haru blinked in shock before he grinned, smacking K'xug on the back. "Thanks, buddy!"

K'xug decided to join Haru and the others and switched places with Hana from time to time.

Just like that, five days passed.

***

A beautiful raven-haired woman was hovering in the air, her surroundings were a complete white space and she was wearing nothing but a plain, white dress. Her eyes were closed, and a moment later, her eyelashes started fluttering, brushing against her fair skin.

Her onyx eyes lifted open, it was as pellucid as ever.

Somehow, she felt as if she was unconscious for a while.

"...mmmh..."

Cecil groaned, squeezing her eyes close and she felt her body floating higher. The next second, she felt herself being placed gently on the ground, her bare feet touching the smooth ground that felt neither warm or cold.

A window popped out in front of her without warning.

[ Your soul is finally awake. ]

[ Welcome back. ]

"...you are being awfully polite now."

[ Would like me to be more polite, oh lowly plebeian? ]

Cecil inhaled sharply before she sighed in frustration.

"You said my soul is awake, but my consciousness isn't?"

[ Do not worry. ]

[ You'll wake in a moment. ]

[ It seems like the pressure from that greedy soul is fading, your soul has began to strengthen. ]

"What is that supposed to mean?"

[ ... ]

[ Due to the restrictions placed by our system, I am afraid I am unable to answer that question at this moment. ]

"You...!"

"You are clearly lying! Quit switching back to speaking like a robot, you are speaking more and more like a person now!"

The system in her mind went completely silent.

Cecil suspired yet again, sitting on the ground and hugging her knees to herself. She narrowed her eyes at the empty, white space.

"AI500, will you really not tell me who you are?"

[ That's simple. ]

[ I am a system, and you are my...owner~ ]

This system was really shameless.

"In the first place, you were the one who picked me and threw me into this world. I didn't choose to be your owner."

[ ... ]

Cecil smirked slightly.

She knew she won in that argument.

"Why did you pick me anyway? It simply can't be me reading the novel too many times."

[ It has been stated previously when you first entered this space. You are the tester for the program "Novel" created by the Transmigration World System and-- ]

"Don't give me that bullshit," Cecil interrupted curtly, her expression a deadpan. "I know there is some other reason behind it, and those strange memories you showed me..."

She could remember them clearly.

They were all memories of her and Xue.

In different lifetimes and worlds.

The memories would either be their first meeting or their tragic parting.

It didn't matter if they had different appearances or personalities.

In the depths of heart, inexplicably, she knew it was definitely the two of them.

...yet, at the same time, she had no memories of them.

I can't tell if they are real or not.

What am I supposed to believe?

Why was I brought here? Who exactly am I? What is this system that is bound to me?

"Hey, will you really not tell me?" Cecil asked, irked. "How long are you planning to maintain this facade?"

She was running out of patience, especially since AI500 kept dodging the most important questions. In addition to that, the answers she received to her questions were extremely vague.

Just then, she felt her eyelids growing heavy without any warning.

[ Your consciousness will return as well. ]

[ Your friends and your...beloved has been waiting for you. ]

"...wait...you still haven't..."

[ Once again, welcome back...♦♦♦♦♦ ]

Cecil frowned deeply.

Even when the system spoke in her mind, the censored word couldn't register. It was as if someone had blocked her ears and all she could hear was the humming of someone speaking.

"What the hell..."

Her eyes closed.

This time, she did not see the silhouette of the small child she kept seeing lately. However, she knew that small child would appear once again.

***

The next second, her eyes burst open.

All she could see was darkness, and her onyx eyes started to adjust, she found herself staring at a ceiling. She could hear the soft breathing of two people beside her, and she was lying on a comfortable futon.

The night breeze blew in from the opened window, the clouds blocking out the moonlight.

Cecil turned, coming face to face with a familiar red-haired beauty. She curled up beside Cecil, her hand lightly holding onto Cecil's fingers.

Hana.

There were dark circles under her eyes, and Cecil glanced up, noticing a damp cloth placed on her forehead. She grabbed the cloth, noticing the bowl of water beside Hana.

She placed the cloth back into the bowl, smiling at Hana.

"Sleep well, Hana."

Adjusting the blankets around Hana with her free hand, Cecil flinched when she felt someone wrapping their arms around her waist.

The owner of those muscular arms started to hug her tightly against their chest.

Cecil gasped, reacting quickly when she heard a familiar, low voice in her ear that made her halt.

"You are finally awake."

"...Xue."

"You...have been asleep for almost six days..."

Cecil widened her eyes in shock.

Six days?!

Looks like the dark magic really took a toll on me this time.

Just then, Xue tilted her chin towards him, planting a kiss on her lips.

"...!"

Cecil hastily pushed him away, flustered.

"I can't even kiss you?" Xue asked as if he was pouting.

His jealousy was evident.

"You can't!" Cecil hissed, glancing hurriedly to the side. "Hana is right beside us."

"She's asleep."

"What if she wakes--"

"Do you know how these six days have been for me?"

At that moment, the clouds from outside the window began to clear. Moonlight streamed into the room, reflecting the haggard appearance Xue wore.

He seemed to be in a worse state compared to Hana.

Cecil faltered.

"And the first thing you do when you wake up after these six days, is to tell Hana to sleep well."

Xue switched their positions smoothly, his body on top of her, supporting himself with his hands on either side of Cecil.

Cecil recalled the man in front of her coughing out blood incessantly not too long ago, before collapsing onto the ground. The expression he wore on the face was pain, however, he forced himself to smile and insisted he was doing fine.

The helplessness she felt when she couldn't do anything to elevate his pain, or to prevent it...it was exactly what Xue felt.

She felt her heart ache.

Raising her hand, she caressed his cheek.

The man instantly leaned into her touch, his eyes closed.

"Are you okay?"

"No."

His grey eyes slowly opened, and Cecil could see the hurt and anxiety in them.

Xue turned his head, giving her hand a soft peck.

"I'm not okay."

Cecil stroked his cheek gently, smiling apologetically.

"I'm sorry, it seems like all I've been doing these days is getting hurt and causing trouble."

"Don't say sorry."

Xue leaned closer, nearing her lips until the both of them heard a strange squealing noise beside them.

"Eep--!"

The two of them swivelled their heads.

Hana covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes wide in disbelief.

The expression on Cecil's face mimicked hers.

Meanwhile, Xue blinked indifferently.

"..."

"..."

"..."

At that moment, Cecil suddenly remembered the cliche scenes of an older sister making-out with her lover, and getting caught by her siblings.

That was what she felt right in this moment.

Cecil wanted to cry in embarrassment.

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

One day.

Two days.

Three days.

....it has almost been six days now.

I am finally back in this body...and yet...

Why won't you open your eyes?

I want to see your smile.

I miss you.

If there's no you...

What am I supposed to do?

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

I did say it was a few days.

A few days indeed.

...but it has almost been six days.

I am sure I removed it completely.

I did it perfectly.

However, if she doesn't wake...

What will Xue do?

How will Hana react?

What...what am I supposed to do?

Yet again.

Did I hurt a friend?

Yet again.

Will I...lose a friend?

Cecil Lan, I pray with all my heart.

Please wake up, my friend.

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 3

《 start 》

Cecil...

Cecil won't wake up.

K'xug said it would be a few days.

Why...

Why is it so long?

I want to talk to Cecil again.

I want to laugh with her.

I miss her.

Cecil, why won't you wake up?

Please wake up.

Ah, I'm crying again.

《 stop 》

***

Author's Note: Not sure if I said this before, all my chapters are completely unedited. If there is any weird spelling mistakes, disconnected dialogues, grammatical errors, character inconsistencies, yada yada...yep.

Just thinking of making a second draft of this novel, and editing it all over makes me wanna faint and puke. It's such a daunting task for one single person, I don't wanna think about it, LOL. 

 ...and that's where people come in and say, how about getting proof readers and editors? Well, I don't want to, for many many reasons. Heck, I'm not planning to become a professional published author anyway, thinking about it just gives me goosebumps because it just doesn't suit me, blergh.