Chapter 45 - 43

[System Tasks:

Main task

- Prevent the war between the Greatworld continent and the Phoenix continent (2%)

- Burn the Sphinx formula of Izi (0%)

- Solve the mystery behind the Xiu Royal family (0%)

Note: if failed to complete within two years time, punishment awaits.]

As Zero observed, the percentage suddenly appeared after he started his training in the barracks.

It was considerable to have 2% progress in the first task, knowing that he did not do anything big yet. He decided to cross the barrier now that prevented him from going to the main palace as he knew that he could now go out without the system's barrier.

Fortunately, nothing stop him on his way to his destination until the second princess came.

----

Main Palace.

The young man went his way to the throne room in order to see the King but while on it, the second princess halted him from proceeding.

"What are you doing?" Zero asked as he referred to the gripped of the second princess on his arm.

"Why are you here?" Xiu Jia whispered her words, carefully as she brought the young man to the corner where no one could see them.

"Umm? I'm going to inquire about my cousin's death."

The second princess frowned in confusion and said, "What cousin? You mean my sister?"

"Y-yes. I mean Xiu Ying," Zero as well was confused to the second princess acting as if she wasn't affected by the altered memories.

["System, is there any explanation about people who were excluded by your ability?"]

[The system had an ability to alter memories of the people that is included in the mission to make it easy for the host to adapt.]

["So she's not included?"]

[Except for higher beings or so.]

'You mean… ahh that's why she was fluent on the story of the immortal fairy.'

Realization dawned upon the youth as he glared at the second princess. The second princess with a knowing smile stated, "You have that strange ability called system. Don't worry I had already hidden your ability from the peering eyes of some deities."

"So you are the real ice p--," Xiu Jia covered his mouth immediately as he choke on his words.

"Greetings to you, my most dearest older sister!" The second princess greeted someone behind the youth as the young man tried to unclasped the hands of Xiu Jia on his mouth.

'Why is this woman so strong?'

He already had a 10 points of effectivity in his strength yet he couldn't overcome the tight gripped of the second princess.

"What are you doing with our cousin?" As the young man was still at the hold of Xiu Jia so he wasn't able to turn around to see the first princess yet he felt her nearness behind. What is that two peaks pecking on his back?

Xiu Jia eyed the youth for a minute as if communicating something and Zero just nodded at her. The second princess let go of her clasps as she sweetly smiled at the first princess. Zero immediately distanced himself from the first princess.

"Nothing, we're just talking."

Xiu Meihui coldly looked at the second princess and when she turned her sight at Zero, her eyes softened a bit as she blushed.

'Did I saw something wrong?'

["System, did my sight got infected?"]

[The system shop had eye drops sold, cheaply. 1 main task for 100 eye drops.]

Zero calmed himself as to not cursed the innocent system and he inquired again.

["Can you explain in detail the altered identity that I am wearing now?"]

[- The host altered identity is a good nephew of the Greatworld King and you're under the training of the General who will be leading the first platoon to annihilate the Phoenix soldiers.

- The host is good at war strategy.

- The first princess had a crush on you.]

["Are you sure you did not forget anything?"]

[The host is advised to stick on his identity or punishment awaits.]

'Truly, what was this so-called punishment anyway? The system loves to repeat it again and again' It made Zero curious what punishment was in-stored for him if he wasn't able to finish any tasks or stick to the rules of the system.

"Hello? Did you finish talking with that ability of yours?" The second princess whispered as the young man noticed that they were following the lead of the first princess.

"Where are we going?"

"Idiot! You are the one who agreed on joining my older sister's afternoon tea and now you forgot?!"

"I was busy so how did I agreed?"

"You nodded at her request."

'Might be I was busy talking to the system and unconsciously nodded at her.

----

They were now at the White Moon Palace which was the first princess' palace.

The three of them were under at a cherry blossom tree as they drank with their tea. There were maidservants serving them tea, while the youth enjoyed himself as he drank his tea, merrily.

"Zero, how was the training? You're participating at the war?" Xiu Meihui asked gently to the enjoying young man. The second princess kicked his leg that made him yelped in pain while glaring at the second princess.

Xiu Jia just smiled at him while she gracefully drank her tea.

"It's fine. The war will be just a piece of cake." 'Cause it will not happen.' Zero thought as he let a servant poured tea on his empty cup.

"Right, the war between the Phoenix continent will be happening next week so training must be hard," Xiu Jia spoke as she smiled sweetly at her sister and the choking young man.

Xiu Meihui used her handkerchief to dry the wet chin of the young man as the youth's tea spurred out his mouth because of the words of the second princess. Her care to the youth was seen by the other that made Xiu Jia widened her smile as she thought, 'So amusing.'

'Next week?!' He blamed again his defected system for not reminding him about it. Now, he was persistent of visiting that Circus organization once he finished his tasks here.

'Did my words choke you?' Xiu Jia gave a sweet smile at the young man that he returned it with a death glare.

'I'll get back to you later!' Zero gritted his teeth while looking at Xiu Jia, the second princess just ignored it as she continued to look smugly at the young man.

They were both communicating through their eyes that made the first princess cleared her throat as she was jealous to their interaction. She was surprised that Zero wasn't only closed to her youngest sister but also with her second sister, that made her doubt about something.

'How unfortunate they would be.'

Xiu Meihui grabbed the young man's sleeve as she spoke, "I have something to show you."

"Really! Can you show it to me, too?!" The second princess buŧŧed in that made her received an icy glare from the first princess.

"Okay, if you don't want to show me, my dearest sister. I'll wait here while enjoying my tea and the cherry blossom," Xiu Jia said as she wished her luck to the young man.

'Well, he will not die at the hands of a pawn though.' The second princess thought with a shrug as she looked at the retreating back of the two.

---

The young man observed the view of the beautiful arrangement of flowers on the pots as it was reflected by the clear water of the small pond.

"Did you plant all of this?"

"Umm… you forgot that we plant this together during we were kids?" Xiu Meihui stated as she had a confused expression on her face.

[System Warning: Host is out of character (1/3)]

And how would he supposed to know if he had a memory like that when he was just pretending here due to the illusion created by the system?

[If host is able to reach the maximum of 3 OOC, the system will give you a reward.]

Hearing the term 'reward' gave the youth an ominous feeling about it. His system was truly broken.

["What reward?"]

[A reward of relaxation in the punishment space in one year in system's time.]

'Does it sounds like being isolated in the punishment space for decades?'

Zero shivered from that thought as he smiled at the first princess.

"They've grown lovely. Did you took care of it?"

"Yes," Unexpectedly, the first princess displayed a bashful smile infront of Zero that made the young man scratched his nape in awkwardness.

"L-let's go back…" the youth trailed off but Xiu Meihui stopped him.

"Wait! I have something to tell you."

----

The darkness of the room engulfed an individual in the middle as hexes were inscribed on the ground, signs of strange symbols were around him as he was in crossed legs while cultivating. He had a blank expression on his face as he was in concentration to the world energy roaming around the place.

While he busied himself, suddenly he opened his eyes as a smirk was evident on his mouth and the black glinting of his eyes couldn't be hidden.

"He's here," stated by a dismal voice.