Peaceful Life System: I only need to live peacefully-Chapter 109: Completing the System’s mission

Lord Malakor?!

"Does this ring a bell, Lady Clara?" Riku asked mentally.

"No, I don’t think I have heard of anyone like this," Clara replied.

"I see." Riku nodded. "Did you happen to get any further information?"

"No, they quickly took my body away, and I only caught the name. However, the meeting was after a fortnight, so there should still be.... some.... time.... left...." Thomas

At this point, Thomas’s soul started flickering heavily and became translucent.

"Thomas, your soul is weak," Riku said quickly. "I can’t restore you. But I swear to you, I will bring the Vaynes to justice. And I will see that your wife and son are cared for."

"Master.. as long as you can keep my family safe and well, I am okay. Maybe it is time I left this world..." Thomas said, his voice now incredibly soft and form about to disappear.

"Your job is not done yet. You have to stay here and see this to the end."

Riku quickly dug a shallow grave with a shovel he’d brought, placing the tattered, bloody remnants of the uniform and rotting body parts inside. It was a crude, symbolic burial, but it was all he could offer.

Soul Tether.

He cast the spell, and a thin, dark thread of energy shot from Thomas’s soul, anchoring it to the burial site. It would not dissipate now, at least not immediately. He would be here when Riku returned. Unfortunately, he did not have another artifact that he could tether Thomas’s soul to.

The spirit of Thomas gave a final, grateful nod, and then its form became quiescent.

"Poor Soul..." Clara spoke mentally, her voice slightly melancholic.

Riku just stood before the crude grave.

Damn it all. How come there is such a large-scale conspiracy? Did no one care about human life anymore?

Ding!

[Emotional instability detected. Requesting the Host to calm down.]

How can I stay calm after knowing that all of the Crimson Creep is something that was planted by someone just to escape scrutiny? There is so much pain and suffering everywhere. It is all because of you and your stupid restrictions.

[You are not wrong, Host. The creep is indeed a problem in this world. But the bigger issue is something else.]

Huh? What do you mean, system?

[It is you, host.]

What?

[Let me explain. While inside the game, the character was bound to the commands of the player. Though the character grew power levels outside the realm of possibility due to the Devs not putting any caps on power levels, it did not matter as much, as you had full control over it.]

[But in this world, without anyone to control him, he is the most dangerous thing that could potentially wipe out everything. For you, the most important thing is to be able to get rid of the personality and gain absolute control over your own powers and self. You might not understand, but it is like a ticking time bomb.]

Then how..how can I deal with it? Riku asked, once again devastated by this new revelation. It suddenly felt like he was the most helpless protagonist ever, and it would have been better if he had reincarnated as a normal character.

The system, sensing Riku’s anguish, spoke in a slightly comforting voice.

[The system can give you a hint, host. It is the goodwill that others feel for you that binds you to this world, makes you care for it, and ensures that you are ready to take on the Grand Maximus personality when it is finally time. That is the only way for you to truly defuse this bomb. And at that time, you would truly be able to do whatever you want.]

System...

[So, please continue to work hard, dear Host. The system sends its thanks in advance.]

Hey, System.. looks like it left again.

Riku came out of his internal reverie, but this time, his mood was much better. Every time he spoke with the system, it left him refreshed and motivated, willing to continue to grind again....

.... grind again....

WAIT A MINUTE!

WASN’T IT JUST LIKE THAT MODERN WORLD BOSS WHO ONLY TOLD YOU HONEYED WORDS BUT MADE YOU WORK LIKE A DOG FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT?! AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, HE WOULD GO BACK ON EVERYTHING AND START WITH FRESH MOTIVATION ONCE AGAIN.

DAMN IT! SYSTEMMM...

----------------------

Riku and Clara returned to the inn, and the next few days passed uneventfully.

Riku did not really confront the System with his previous theory. It was clear that the system was trying to help him, so it did not matter that much. He did, however, want to go and investigate Lord Alaric and the Vayne family.

Ding!

[It is suggested to complete the quest "The People’s Panacea" before going inside the inner city. That would make the trip a more fruitful endeavour.]

As you say, dear boss.

Riku chided, jokingly.

There were still more than seven days till the meeting with Malakor, so RIku was not in a hurry. He spent his time crafting more healing talismans for the people, even going beyond the requirement of 5000 that the system had asked for. After all, there was a lot of demand for this talisman, and the extra goodwill never hurt.

He even crafted a few different talismans with the help of the dwarves and infused them with undead energy to help keep Thomas’s soul strong. RIku could tether Thomas’s soul onto another talisman with dark energy, but he did not feel the need to do that.

Finally, after six more days. Riku got the notification.

Ding!

[Quest: The People’s Panacea]

[Objective: Bring tangible relief and earn the genuine goodwill of 5000 individuals afflicted by the Crimson Creep. As the Host alleviates suffering and builds trust, hidden knowledge and pathways to a true solution may be revealed. The collective hope and gratitude of the people can illuminate the darkest blights.]

[Current Progress: 5000/5000]

[Rewards unlocked: 5,000 Goodwill Points, Mysterious Key - Who knows what it can open.]

[New Quest issued]

[Quest: Ending it]

[Objective: Use the Mysterious Key to unlock the source of the creep in the heart of the city. Destroy the source to end the creep once and for all.]

[Rewards: System Upgrade Level 3]

Finally!