The Kingmaker System Chapter 3 - 2. Isekai’d (2)

Images flooded my mind, depicting a girl with long white hair and striking blue eyes.

Despite her tender age, her physical form was frail, confining her to bed each day. Her meals were modest, and she dressed in light garments to avoid taxing her delicate constitution.

Through her eyes, I saw the very individuals I'd encountered earlier, their faces alight with smiles yet shadowed by concern as they looked upon her.

She was clearly cherished by them.

The man with white hair was this girl's father, and the young boy, her elder brother.

The girl's name was Reina. Though physically delicate, she possessed a sharp intellect and spent most of her time immersed in books. Her only moments of genuine happiness were spent playing chess with her brother whenever he visited.

One fateful night, she suffered a severe seizure. Despite the constant presence of doctors attempting to stabilize her condition, her state only deteriorated.

Before dawn could break, her heart ceased its beating, and her breathing stopped entirely.

She was officially pronounced dead.

Yet, a mere ten minutes after her passing, her heart inexplicably began to beat anew, and her breath returned. While she remained unconscious, her revival was a profound shock to the medical staff and an undeniable miracle for her grieving family.

Nevertheless, consciousness did not return. Everyone around her held their breath, awaiting her awakening, but their vigil stretched on without end.

After three days in a comatose state, her soul departed, making way for another—myself—to inhabit her body.

It felt akin to watching a film unfold until my senses gradually returned. I could discern the sound of quiet sobbing and the sensation of a large, warm hand enclosing mine.

Attempting to open my eyes proved difficult, a mild headache causing me to let out a groan.

"Reina?! Reina, are you awake?" A torrent of voices assailed me. As I fluttered my eyes open, I saw their anxious faces.

The closest figure was the father of my new body, Duke Arthur Aurelius of the Kingdom of Sestia.

"Ugh..." My voice emerged raspy and hoarse, and his amber eyes welled with tears.

"Reina! Reina, how do you feel? Are you in any pain?" A youthful voice inquired, and I saw the face of a small boy.

This was Rune Aurelius, her older brother. His large eyes, a clear inheritance from his father, glistened with worry and unshed tears.

"No..." I managed to speak, and the two exchanged a look before releasing a collective sigh, presumably of relief.

A few minutes later, following a thorough examination by the doctor, who assured the concerned onlookers that I was fine and merely required rest and nourishment, the palpable tension in the room began to dissipate.

Duke Aurelius took a seat beside me on the bed, while his son occupied the other side. It seemed neither had any intention of leaving my side.

"I-I'm alright now. You two should go and get some rest," I urged.

Their faces were etched with fatigue; they had clearly not slept for days.

"We're fine, Reina."

"Yes, you need to rest more."

Both echoed, prompting another sigh from me.

A maid soon arrived with some soup, which I consumed before being gently compelled to sleep once more.

[Initiating orientation...]

Upon awakening, I found myself in an unfamiliar space – a circular white room. Glancing down, I saw I was in my original body and momentarily wondered if the preceding events had merely been a dream. But how had medical technology advanced so dramatically?

A colossal screen materialized beside me, flickering to life as if acknowledging my presence. A booming voice resonated through the chamber.

"Welcome, Host!"

"What the-" I gasped as blue lines began to trace across the screen.

"You have been chosen by the Goddess of Wisdom and Defender of Divine Glory to save the world."

"Huh?"

"You will be assigned quests, with rewards commensurate to their difficulty-"

"Wait, hold on a moment!" I interjected, causing the synthesized voice to pause.

"Is there an issue, Dear Host?"

"Yes, a significant one," I affirmed. "Where exactly am I?"

"This is your mind's space, Dear Host."

"My mind's space has this electronic equipment?"

"It is myself, Dear Host."

"This screen?"

"Indeed."

"Why are you here?"

"I am here to address you because you have been selected for a momentous task, Dear Host."

"Selected?"

"Yes."

"For what reason?"

"Because your skills and experience align with the criteria for the Chosen individual. You were the optimal candidate identified after years of extensive trials and errors."

"It’s a bit bewildering, but chosen for what specifically?"

"To save the world."

"The hell? Absolutely not! That sounds exhausting."

"...Are you refusing to be part of this system?"

"Yes, I have no desire to be a hero and endure all those predictable, clichéd hardships. Please, spare me the trouble! I've already experienced a similar fate. I'd rather slumber for eternity," I declared, waving my hand dismissively.

[Goddess of Wisdom requests reconsideration.]

[Defender of Divine Glory requests you to understand the situation.]

I glanced at the two screens that illuminated separately, a momentary frown creasing my brow.

"What kind of peculiar dream is this?" I mumbled, the scenario unfolding felt eerily similar to certain novels I'd devoured in my previous existence.

"This is not a dream, Dear Host. It is an orientation session," the synthesized voice responded, causing my frown to deepen.

"Huh?"

[Goddess of Wisdom pleads for your assistance.]

A goddess was actually pleading with me? The sheer audacity of it was startling enough.

[Defender of Divine Glory requests you to be the judge after grasping the situation.]

The urgency embedded in these messages was palpable, prompting a sigh from me. I wasn't so discourteous as to refuse a polite plea.

"Fine, I'm listening. Tell me," I conceded.

The system paused for a beat before delivering a somber declaration.

"The world you inhabit will face destruction in fifteen years."

"What?"

"The world where Reina Aurelius resides will be annihilated after fifteen years."

"Why?"

"The arrival of 'them' will bring about the world's demise."

"And who are 'they'?" I inquired.

"I cannot disclose that information at present, but you are the sole individual capable of averting this catastrophe."

"So, I'm going to be a Hero, fighting monsters and such?" I asked, my voice tinged with weariness.

"Not precisely."

My attention was immediately captured. "Then what?"

"You will fulfill a critical function by operating from the shadows."

"What does that entail?"

"You will be required to perform the very same tasks you excelled at in your past life."

A thoughtful frown surfaced as I processed this. The activities of my previous life predominantly involved being integrated into an intelligence organization.

"You will be instrumental in establishing a new King for the Kingdom, who will in turn aid in preventing the world's destruction."

"That's not what I did in my past life."

"Surveillance, Strategic Planning, and Execution. These are your forte, and these are the skills that will be essential for you to accomplish your objectives in this lifetime."

I absorbed the system's words with rapt attention. The annihilation of the world was no trivial matter, and if I truly possessed the capacity to prevent it, an immense burden of responsibility would fall upon my shoulders. Even if I were to refuse now, my conscience would forever plague me for not even attempting to save it.

[Defender of Divine Glory thinks positively of you.]

[Goddess of Wisdom says she will do all she can to help.]

"And who are these individuals?" I inquired.

"The Goddess of Wisdom and the Defender of Divine Glory have selected you for this mission and bestowed their blessings upon you," the system replied. I let out another sigh.

So, these were the very entities responsible for my unforeseen predicament.

"What compensation will I receive for undertaking your task?" I asked.

"Anything that your heart desires."

"Anything at all? If I wished to become the proprietor of a planet, would that be achievable?" I queried, half in jest.

[Goddess of Wisdom asks if that is really something you wish for.]

"It can be arranged," the system stated. My eyebrows shot upwards in surprise.

"What?"

[Defender of Divine Glory asks you to think of the reward you want carefully.]

[Goddess of Wisdom trusts that you make a good choice.]

"You may articulate your wish once you have successfully completed the quests, Dear Host," the system informed me. I sighed again.

"Very well. Setting that aside for now, what is my mission?" I asked.

"You shall become the Kingmaker."

"Eh? What are you talking about?"

"You will select the King for the Kingdom of Sestia and assist him in uniting the strength of other Kingdoms, so that when 'they' emerge, the world can be preserved."

"That's..." I lacked an adequate term to encapsulate the sheer magnitude of the challenge this mission presented. It was a task of god-like difficulty.

Confronting adversaries was one thing, and monitoring their activities was manageable, but this? This was pure political maneuvering, a domain in which I had little expertise.

[Goddess of Wisdom believes that you will be the one to save the world.]

These beings certainly possessed an abundance of optimism.

"Heavens above!" I exclaimed, massaging my temples.

"The system will provide assistance in every conceivable way."

[Goddess of Wisdom says she will help you too.]

[Defender of Divine Glory asserts that he will lend his strength as well.]

My gaze fell upon the vast interface of the system, as well as the two other screens displaying the messages from the two entities reputed to be deities.

This was entirely unexpected. I had envisioned enjoying a leisurely existence in this fantasy realm, accumulating wealth, perhaps finding a strikingly handsome partner, and living out my days in blissful happiness. This, however, deviated drastically from my prior expectations.

[Goddess of Wisdom says you can still do all of what you were thinking of.]

It appeared these entities possessed the ability to read my thoughts as well. I pondered whether the concept of personal privacy was even recognized in this setting.

[Defender of Divine Glory says you are the hope of this world.]

Hope for the entire world, you say... I ran my fingers through my hair. It seemed there was no other alternative in this situation. Everything, even my newfound life, came with a price tag.

"Alright, I agree to it," I declared, and instantly, two messages materialized before me.

[Goddess of Wisdom is pleased with your choice.]

[Defender of Divine Glory is proud of you for stepping up to be a world savior.]

"I just truly hope you two don't end up screwing me over."

[Goddess of Wisdom bestows upon you blessings for victory.]

[Defender of Divine Glory encourages you to hold onto your faith.]

"So, I'll be gaining some sort of magical abilities, correct?" I inquired.

"Your attributes will be presented for your viewing upon request."

"Do I get any awesome magic?" I asked, remembering the incredible magical powers typically wielded by protagonists in stories.

"Yes, you possess remarkable magic." The screen responded, and I paused, its tone felt peculiar.

"Regardless, my task is simply to pick a king, ensure he maintains favorable diplomatic ties with other rulers, and then stand by when 'they' arrive, right?" I summarized my understanding.

"Correct."

"Okay, then. I suppose I'll have to put in some more effort, but since it's only for a few years, I can let it slide." I let out a sigh.

"Do you accept the mission, Dear Host?"

"Yes," I confirmed.

The system flickered, and a progress bar appeared on the display, showing the word 'loading.' A synthesized voice announced:

"Initializing the Kingmaker System."