CHAPTER 4: WELCOME BONUS, 2X MULTIPLIER!

Around Roy, the world environment finally materialized, and he found himself standing in a blue grid world.

[Welcome, Host.]

’This must be my Nullspace, there’s really pretty much nothing to do here,’ he thought, noticing there was a large zero floating in the sky. He had no clue what it could even be and just decided to wait and see.

[You signed in for the first time. As a welcome bonus, you have been rewarded with the passive skill, 2x Multiplier!]

"Now that’s what I’m talking about!" Roy said with joy.

But suddenly, another environment began materializing over the nullspace, and Roy soon found himself standing at the back of a bustling classroom.

He looked around at the formerly grid-patterned individuals who had now fully materialized and stepped closer to one.

Roy raised his hand and attempted to touch them, but it simply passed through them.

"Whoa, everything looks so real,"he voiced in awe.

Roy looked to his left and spotted the man of the occasion, Pierre, but the latter seemed not to have noticed him in return.

Roy stepped closer to Pierre’s face and waved, but there was no sign of shock or recognition.

"Huh. I’m invisible to him," he figured.

Just then, a virtual panel appeared before Roy, but passed right through his face as it was meant for Pierre. Roy was a bit startled by that but turned around to see what it displayed.

[Welcome back, Host to Highschool Re: Date to Live, Live to LOVE.exe! It’s another day to fall in love again!]

Roy frowned and glanced at Pierre with disdain.

’I can’t even imagine the type of skills Pierre got with this system. Jane might not have become his girlfriend on her own decision.’

Another message popped up before Pierre and was read in an enthusiastic feminine voice.

[Host, choose one of the following options to continue:

(A) Restart simulation;

(B) Continue from last checkpoint.]

Pierre eagerly rubbed his hands together and voiced, "Okay, let’s do this again..." and chose the second option.

[You have selected option (B), continuing from last checkpoint in 10...]

As the countdown began, a panel popped up for Roy this time.

[Would you like to view your status?]

"Finally, yes."

+

[User Data]

Name: Roy Mclloyd

Age: 16

Level: 1

EXP: 0/1000

Stat Points: 0.0

Number of Sign-Ins: 1

Skills: Link (Active), 2x Multiplier (Passive)

Linked Hosts: 1/1

Overall Stats:

Overall Stats:

Physical = 1.0

Willpower = 1.0

Attack = 1.0

Defense = 1.0

Chance = 1.0

Total = 5.0

Overall Rating: "A weak, edgy loser who was lucky to be granted a unique system."

+

"What the? I’m not edgy! And neither am I a loser!" Roy yelled into the air.

However, upon reading his data, he noticed an EXP bar, which wasn’t part of the knowledge available on the forum. Normally, Irregulars climbed floors, stages, dungeons, or levels, and gained rewards like stat points after defeating the bosses. There was no such thing as EXP for leveling up.

"But they do always say no system is the same, that even ones with the same name don’t have the same title. Anyway, my skills don’t look too bad. I need to see their info."

Roy sent the mental message, and another panel appeared alongside the current one.

+

Skill: [Link]

Type: Active

Tier: 1

Description: "Establishes a connection with the executable of a host within the same grade as you by touch, allowing access to linked host data and EXE environment. You can only sign in when the linked host is signed in. Can link to 1 host."

~

Skill: [2x Multiplier]

Type: Passive

Tier: 1

Description: "Multiplies the base value of rewards obtained from a sign-in instance by two. Can also multiply any effect when active."

+

Roy’s eyes widened, and a smile cracked up on his face. His starting skills held so much potential that it was almost unbelievable. Skills weren’t stagnant, as there were skill cards that upgraded the Irregular’s skills when applied.

"I just knew there was something different about my WTF.exe! Three characters must mean it’s more special than most. Thank goodness I haven’t told anyone about it yet. And speaking of anyone...

"Let’s see the skills this bastard Pierre used on my Jane," Roy said, sounding like a total creep.

His link skill allowed him access to the linked host’s data.

+

[User Data]

Name: Jean-Pierre Dubois

Age: 17

Highest Level Reached: 7

Stat Points: 0.0

Number of Sign-Ins: 32

Skills: Je T’aime (Active), Love Sensor (Passive)

Overall Stats:

Appeal = 3.0

Morale = 2.5

Social = 3.0

IQ = 2.5

Luck = 1.0

Total = 12.0

Overall Rating: "A perfect, handsome heartthrob who can do no wrong. Please let me have your kids, uwu~"

+

Roy felt his head was about to explode. Even the system was simping for Pierre, too!

’What on earth is going on? He’s not even that handsome, to be honest, and neither is he a good person! Okay, neither am I, but what the hell is this, my goodness. He has a system that makes him anti-single. Why is he living in easy mode?!’

Roy frustratedly thought and sent a mental message for the skills panel to open.

+

Skill: [Je t’aime]

Type: Active

Tier: 1

Description: "Je t’aime (’I love you’) makes anyone, regardless of gender, fall in love with you. Success rate: 5%."

~

Skill: [Love Sensor]

Type: Passive

Tier: 2

Description: "You possess a love meter that gauges the affection of an individual who has been around you for at least 60 hours."

+

’I just knew it! I was going to confess to her soon, but this bastard... this bastard...’

Roy’s face contorted with disgust as he stared at Pierre’s active and passive skills. For Pierre to use this skill to win Jane’s heart, a newfound hatred for the bastard settled in his chest.

"What am I even supposed to do? Watch and wait?" Roy muttered and rubbed his chin, and the system quickly responded.

[Yes. You gain sign-in rewards after the linked host gains their sign-in rewards, but their world must be running in Nullspace while you watch.]

"That’s it? Other irregulars fight demon lords in their systems, but I’m supposed to just watch Pierre win girls’ hearts?" Roy scrunched his face.

[That is correct, Host.]

"Dammit."

The countdown ended and the simulation began.