Torina actually enjoyed reading system novels in her past life.

The system assigned tasks, guided leveling, gifted legendary gear—the protagonist just followed its rules. Readers felt safe; authors saved effort.

But now…

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Torina and Lachesis moved through the dusk-lit forest, Torina leading the way.

“You’ve always known where the Lord is? Even its weakness?”

“Call it… my own intel channel.”

Torina gave a brief explanation en route. Lachesis, though surprised, accepted it.

“So Mylora and Wenren Jixue challenged the Lord alone? Hmph… I wonder if we’ll recover even intact socks and underwear from their remains.”

“What weird talk… Anyway, Mylora must’ve overheard something she shouldn’t—or *someone* made her hear it! Hurry—hold tight!”

“Ah…”

Torina swept Lachesis up bridal-style. Ice runes flared beneath her feet, freezing the path into slick ice. Gliding smoothly and leveraging her route knowledge, she reached the swamp zone in moments.

“I never knew you had this skill,” Lachesis remarked, intrigued.

“Too lazy to use normally. Feeling dizzy?”

“Oh please—being princess-carried while ice-gliding? A rare privilege. *Someone* would be green with envy.”

“? Don’t get you… Anyway—found it! This way!”

Torina spotted the triangular mud pool and yanked Lachesis in without hesitation.

“Tsk tsk… secret passage? Looks gross.”

“Move. No forks here—straight to the boss room.”

“Careful now. Try keeping your socks clean of anything *but* your sweat.”

“What *are* you—ah, monsters incoming.”

Human-faced insects screeched as they swarmed. Torina unleashed a wide lightning burst—deliberately dialed down lethality, maximizing paralysis. Efficiency mattered; they weren’t here to farm mobs.

“Captain! These monster corpses… all cleanly sliced.”

“Must be them… Tsk! Lachesis! Your ‘Far Sight’ blessing—cast it on me!”

“Understood. You track them; I’ll clear.”

As a Holy Word Mage versed in divine and elemental arts, Lachesis tapped Torina’s forehead with an amulet. Vision shifted—consciousness soaring outward like an astral leap.

*There!*

Deep in the cavern’s heart, within the vast underground chamber: Mylora dueling the Lord, Ji Xue lying in wait behind a mushroom!

Mylora dodged every lethal strike by a hair—surely the system’s guidance?

“I see them! They’re holding on—hurry!”

“Roger.”

Torina raced onward, Far Sight active. The Lord, frenzied and wide open—if Ji Xue struck now, victory was possible!

*(Could they actually win?)*

Torina let out a slight sigh of relief—

Then froze in disbelief.

Mylora hesitated, tossed a smoke bomb *while* calling Ji Xue. That utterly pointless move ruined Ji Xue’s finishing blow. Mutual crippling ensued.

What a boneheaded move!

*(What…? Has she lost her mind!?)*

Ji Xue gravely wounded, the boss roaring toward her. Mylora should’ve rushed to help—but halted after two steps, clutching her ringed hand in agony, whispering to thin air. Those few seconds of hesitation sealed fate. Too late for redemption.

*(…DAMN!!!!)*

Torina finally understood.

*(You idiot!! Is the system your fucking mother?!)*

Reading system novels before, protagonists obeyed blindly—and it felt *normal*. But seeing it live? Unforgivably stupid!

*(It whispers doubt and you distrust me! It commands and you obey! Not one sincere word of mine got through! Why did I even try to win your trust?!)*

They burst into the chamber just as Far Sight merged with reality—witnessing the boss’s second phase ignition—

——————————

Present moment.

“T-Torina…” Mylora rasped weakly.

“Call me by name. Will your ‘friend’ get jealous?” Torina’s voice was ice.

“Eh…?”

The raw disappointment in Torina’s eyes sent chills through Mylora.

“I truly hoped you, as the protagonist, had *some* brain. Don’t fucking treat absurd demands like holy edicts… Lachesis, take them for emergency aid. Now.”

“Understood—but watch your language,” Lachesis nodded. “And you?”

“I’ll hold it. Return fast… or I’ll solo this thing.”

“Then I’ll take my time~”

Lachesis smiled sweetly, curtsied gracefully, and hoisted both Mylora and Ji Xue away.

Alone. Facing Phase Two: Fly Hero Gelailu… or “Warrior Hodagon”? Whatever. Gelailu it is.

“Huff… huff… ROOOOAR!!!”

Gelailu advanced, roaring thunderously.

Torina’s mood was foul.

Her past fondness for system novels had vanished.

She saw the truth now:

The system? A clique of refinedly selfish, control-freak conspirators with twisted humor.

The protagonist? A brainless puppet obeying every whisper.

No point trying to win them over. None.

Torina was rational.

She’d invested time, money, genuine care, even tried bonding close—but nothing changed. System remained a tyrant. Protagonist, a puppet. Innocent allies nearly died. Time to cut losses.

*(…Enough. To hell with protagonist and system. In the end, only I can rely on myself.)*

But first—handle the threat.

“Come on… I’ve had enough of formalities!”

“I’VE HAD ENOUGH OF THESE WILD MUSHROOMS!!!”

“DO YOU THINK I *ENJOY* EATING THEM?!!!!”