Apparatus

  This can’t be real. I began to touch my face and examine it.

  The man had tousled light caramel hair, with the back of it resting upon his neck.

  His golden eyes shimmered, and his skin had a glossy sheen.

  This can't be real. This cannot be real. This is not real, I repeated in my head.

  Calm down, Teotro... Breathe in. Breathe out.

  I managed to calm and compose myself, yet my mind remained perplexed, making me question why I was in a different body.

  My thoughts grew muddled. This wasn’t helping at all, in fact, it was making the situation much worse.

  I didn’t know what to do.

  I must escape from this pce.

  That’s right. I don’t belong here. I have many things to do.

  I need to change my fate, and I must avenge myself against the bastard responsible for my early demise.

  “This is so frustrating!” I yelled.

  I think I might have been driven to madness.

  Suddenly, I flinched when a blue screen appeared in front of me. What is it this time?

  As I approached it with caution, letters began to appear on the screen, forming a sentence.

  [ Welcome, Persona #012! You have been successfully transported to Gaia 312 to fulfill the duties of Divine Primary #101142119.]

  I gazed upon the blue magical box for quite some time, contempting its purpose.

  I rubbed my eyes, thinking perhaps they were deceiving me, but the message remained unchanged.

  It says that I had been transported.

  Does this imply I am not in the same world?! And what’s a Divine Primary? This makes no sense whatsoever.

  I took a deep breath.

  I had already witnessed things I wasn’t supposed to, yet here I am.

  I began to doubt, but maybe this thing knows how to get me back home, I muttered under my breath.

  I turned my attention back to the screen as it began to inscribe a new sentence.

  [ It is possible to return to your world. However, you must fulfill the quests assigned to you. Each time you complete a quest successfully, you will earn stars or gift boxes to enhance your status.]

  I can go back! But wait... What? Quests? I frowned in confusion.

  And what’s with the stars? Status?

  I began to question whether this thing was truly harmless.

  I clenched my fists and struck the blue screen, but my fists went through it, causing me to inadvertently hit the mirror and wave my hand in pain.

  Another fsh of blue light flickered in the air.

  As each letter appeared, it became increasingly aggravating.

  [ But if you fail a quest, there will be a PENALTY. ]

  I flinched upon seeing the word “Penalty.” Penalty? I scoffed.

  This must be some kind of jest, but it seems to be real.

  My heart began to pound. Whatever this thing is, it frightens me.

  I might even face death if I fail to complete these missions.

  I exhaled heavily and shook my head.

  I spped both my cheeks and they started to become red.

  I can’t back out now.

  I need to go back home to my world.

  And the only way to do it is, unfortunately, by following this thing.

  “How can I trust this thing?” I mumbled.

  [ I am an apparatus, a system designed to assist you and make your work more efficient. ]

  “What? You’re sentient?” I excimed.

  [Of course. I am not the same as the system, I am different from them.]

  I stared for a moment, still pondering.

  “I have so many questions,” I remarked, while pressing my hand to my forehead.

  All this information only served to confuse me further.

  What in the world is a system? I’ve never heard of any of these things.

  It feels as though all this responsibility has been thrust upon me.

  “I have no time for this,” I muttered, casting a scowl at the blue screen.

  [ If you skip any quests, you will receive a DEATH PENALTY ]

  I gritted my teeth. “So you aren’t even giving me any options?” I said, my tone fraught with anger.

  [ I am but following the commands of the Divinity. ]

  If I am not cautious, I might meet my end here and now.

  I am uncertain of what this apparatus is capable of.

  If it does have the power to kill a mortal, then I find myself with little choice. I exhaled deeply once more.

  “Fine, I’ll believe you then,” I said with hesitation.

  “So if I do this, will I be able to leave this world?” I added.

  [ That is, if you complete the main quest. ]

  “Yes, I understand. So, what is the quest?” I asked hurriedly.

  [ A new Sub Quest has appeared:

  Run 1000 ps. 0/1000

  Do 1000 push-ups. 0/1000

  Time Limit: 1 week

  (If the pyer does not complete the quest within the allotted time, there will be a penalty.)

  Accept or decline? (Penalty)

  Countdown: -]

  My brows furrowed. What? Is that all?

  This is so troublesome.

  This apparatus must be toying with me. I will complete this quest in no time.

  I paused as I read it again.

  "But wait, it says 'subquest'? This isn't a main quest." I said.

  [ The main quest will begin once the subquests have been completed. ]

  I smmed my palm against my face, hurting myself.

  Frustrated, I held my face in my hands.

  I let out a breath and slowly pulled my hands away from my face.

  That’s when it struck me.

  Why was I chosen for this? Why was I brought here of all people? I started to scratch my head, my thoughts racing.

  There are so many people—why me?

  “But why me?” I asked, hoping for some kind of answer.

  The blue screen vanished as though the apparatus did not wish to answer my question.

  “As I suspected,” I murmured to myself, pcing a thoughtful hand on my chin.

  I needed to be cautious.

  I don’t know what the apparatus, or even this so-called Divine Primary, might be pnning.

  Whatever their intentions, I need to be prepared.

  “I’ll accept the quest,” I decred firmly, bracing myself for whatever challenges awaited.