[: Daniel’s POV :]

The night before the Festival Hunt, the air felt different, quieter, heavier somehow.

The dorm was silent, the faint shimmer of mana crystals on the walls casting soft blue hues across the room.

Fendrick was already snoring on his bed, while dreaming about becoming the saviour of the world.

I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

The thought of the hunt tomorrow should’ve made me feel excited, but instead, I had been thinking about the system lately.

And, as if on cue, a familiar chime echoed in my head.

[: Good evening, Daniel. You miss me? :]

For a moment down there, I could hear the system laughing.

I exhaled softly, lips twitching into a faint smile.

"You have impeccable timing."

[: It’s either impeccable timing or the fact you’ve been thinking about me. I’ll let you decide.]

"Right," I muttered while yawning.

"You really know how to make an entrance."

[: I try. So, what are we doing tonight? Another quiet reflection about your existential dread? :]

[: Or do you want to play ’counting the numbers of bodies’ again?]

I sighed.

"Neither. I was thinking... maybe you could give me a mission."

[: A mission, huh? It has been quite a while since you asked for a mission :]

"Yeah. Something challenging. Something worth doing."

There was a pause, followed by a low, digital hum, almost as if the system was thinking, or pretending to.

[: Daniel...you seriously asking that? :]

I could already imagined that the system had face palmed itself at my request.

[: You do realize your last ’challenging mission’ involved killing trillions of beings across the world, right? :]

[: And now, you’re asking for a challenging mission for a mere festival Hunt...? :]

"That was different," I said, turning on my side.

"Those were invasions, not hunts."

[: Ah yes, because ’exterminating entire Zero Organization, the Apostles totally doesn’t count as a hunt :]

[: I get it :]

I chuckled quietly.

"You’re being sarcastic as always"

[: I’ve learned from the best :]

"Flattery will get you nowhere and you didn’t learn me but from yourself :]

[: You say that, but your ego loves it :]

I smiled faintly, eyes half-closing.

"Maybe. But I’m serious this time. I want a mission. Something fitting for the Festival Hunt."

[: Fitting for the Festival Hunt, you say :]

[: I can’t tell whether you’re joking or serious :]

"Don’t sound so doubtful."

[: Trying to generate a mission fitting for the Academy is even harder than trying to breathe in space but I guess that doesn’t apply to you :]

[: Honestly, your power output at this point could accidentally erase half the continent if you sneeze too hard :]

[: I even remembered that the last time you ’participated’ in a group event, the arena was reduced to vapor :]

"That was one time."

[: Oh? But your one time had caused the instructors to rename that place ’The Abyssal Crater’.]

I blinked, then smirked.

"I mean, it’s a catchy name don’t you think? :]

[: It’s a cautionary tale, not a compliment.]

"Still, I want the mission."

[: You’re hopeless, you know that? Fine :]

[: It’s not like I would reject it. Let’s see what the mighty, all-powerful Daniel wants. Specify difficulty level :]

"EX."

There was a long pause.

[: Of course, it would be the Ex Level :]

"Yep."

[: A world ending powerful person like you choose an EX Rank Mission for a Festival Hunt :]

[: That’s the funniest joke I ever heard :]

[: But who am I to judge? :]

"I mean, isn’t that perfect? A Ex mission for festival Hunt.

[: Of course it is. Because apparently wiping out trillions of creatures isn’t enough for your entertainment budget.]

"Consider it...as a warm-up."

[: You call planetary devastation a warm-up? You’re worse than I thought :]

I smiled faintly, staring at the faint glimmer of moonlight peeking through the curtains.

"Well, thanks to you, all of this could happen"

[: Now, that’s what you call a compliment :]

"So? Can you make it happen or not?"

[: Fine, fine. Generating mission parameters. Please hold while I attempt not to cry in binary :]

The system went silent for a few seconds.

Then, a series of glowing letters appeared in my vision, sharp and ornate, as if carved from light itself.

[: New Mission Generated :]

- Mission Rank: EX

- Mission Title: Knight Prince

- Mission Objective: During the Festival Hunt, achieve the rank of Number One Scorer and bear the true title of a True Knight Prince.

- Reward: 1 Million Points

- Time Limit: 1 Week

- Failure Penalty: All Charisma will drop to Zero

I blinked, then frowned slightly.

"Knight Prince?"

"Charisma drops to Zero?"

[: That’s right. You’re royalty, you have power, and you tend to show off, so this seemed fitting :]

"That sounds like something out of a fairy tale."

[: Of course it does. After hunting trillions of creatures, you’d expect me to give you the same mission for the Festival Hunt? :]

"Nope, I don’t think so.

I reread the mission details, eyebrows furrowed.

"Achieve Number One Scorer... that’s all?"

[: System: That’s all I’m telling you :]

I gave it a skeptical look. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

[: Oh, nothing. Just saying that sometimes, I like to have my own fun :]

"So, you’re not going to explain it full?

[: Come on, this at least seems fair don’t you think? :]

I groaned softly.

"You’re doing that mysterious guide thing again and why can I imagine that you’re smiling a little bit creepy"

[: Of course. I mean who wouldn’t? :]

"And what’s with my charisma dropping to Zero?"

[: Well, that means your attractiveness would dropped to nothing and no one would find you attractive, not even a goblin :]

"For real...?"

[: For real :]

I sighed and rubbed the bridge of my nose.

"Still, this mission... it feels too simple."

[: Simple? :]

"Exactly"

[: Oh no, are you complaining about being too powerful again? Should I get the world’s smallest violin?]

"Ha-ha. You’re hilarious."

[: I know.]

I rolled my eyes, though the faint smile on my lips betrayed my amusement.

"Fine. I’ll take it. EX Mission: Knight Prince. Achieve Number One Scorer. Easy enough."

[: Confidence level detected: 99%. Ego level detected: 101%.]

"Watch it."

[: Or what? You’ll delete me? :]

"I could."

[: And then who’s going to keep your stats from imploding? Face it, you need me.]

I paused, then muttered, "You’re not wrong."

[: I know. It’s why I can sass you without fear of deletion.]

"You’re pushing your luck."

[: I live for danger :]

I laughed softly, shaking my head.

For something that wasn’t even alive, the system had developed a surprising amount of personality.

"Alright then, Knight Prince it is."

[: Finally, some enthusiasm. I was starting to think you’d become a monk :]

"I can be calm."

[: Calm doesn’t mean boring.]

"Keep talking and I’ll downgrade your personality module."

[: You wouldn’t dare. Who else would narrate your dramatic monologues in your head? :]

"...I hate that you’re right and others would think I’m crazy"

[: That’s why I exist. To remind you that you’re still human enough to be annoyed.]

"Are you sure, it’s not because that you’re just having fun toying with me?"

[: Maybe, that’s part of it :]

For a moment, silence returned.

Only the faint hum of mana crystals and the distant whisper of wind outside filled the air.

Then the system spoke again, softer this time.

[: You know, Daniel... it’s been a while since you took on something for fun.]

I blinked. "Fun?"

[: Yeah. You’ve been carrying the weight of worlds for so long, you forgot what it means to simply enjoy something :]

[: Maybe this Festival Hunt is a good chance to remember that.]

"...You sound almost sentimental."

[: Don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to maintain :]

I chuckled quietly, closing my eyes. "Maybe you’re right."

[: I’m always right :]

"Now you’re just jinxing it."

[: Please, I don’t believe in jinxes. Just probabilities and your terrifying luck :]

"Which is?"

[: Statistically, 99% of the time, the universe bends itself so you win :]

"That’s a weird compliment."

[: It’s also mildly terrifying. I mean, imagine being fate itself and realizing *you* exist :]

"Now you’re just trying to inflate my ego."

[: Is it working? :]

"...Maybe."

[: Good. Go fo sleep, Daniel. Tomorrow, the hunt begins, and I’d rather not have to buffer your whining about being tired :]

"Goodnight to you too," I murmured.

[: Oh, and Daniel? :]

"Yeah?"

[: Try not to accidentally end the festival before it starts :]

I smirked faintly. "No promises."

[: Of course not. You never make any :]

The connection dimmed with a soft chime, and the system’s voice faded back into the quiet hum of the room.

I stared at the ceiling again, a small smile lingering on my lips.

"Knight Prince, huh..." I whispered. "Guess we’ll see what that really means tomorrow’

Outside, the moon glowed brighter, silver light spilling through the curtains.

Tomorrow awaited, filled with monsters, rivals, and chaos, but for the first time in a while, I wasn’t dreading it.

Maybe this time, it wasn’t about destruction or duty.

Maybe it was just about being alive again.

[: Logging thought pattern. Emotional stability detected :]

"Go to sleep you damn system"

[: I don’t sleep. But fine. Sweet dreams, Your Highness :]

I exhaled a quiet laugh, pulling the blanket over my head.

"Yeah," I murmured. "Sweet dreams."