Chapter 12

While Sora was deep in worry about crazy villains like the student council president, it seemed they had already arrived at her mansion in the imperial capital, as the carriage stopped; something it hadn't done even as they passed through the entrances of the two walls that separate the upper-class districts from the rest.

-Excuse me

And as if some kind of switch had been flipped, Franx Leumiere quickly moved away from her arms with those words and sat demurely in her previous spot, maintaining an expressionless face. It was as if her affectionate kitten demeanor from before had been a lie.

Sora just blinked.

You know what? I'll worry about this when I have time for myself. Whether it's male or female villains or whatever, it's more important to understand the system for now. 

The butler quickly got down from the driver's seat and opened the carriage door for him, waiting silently for his young master to emerge with his eyes closed.

Quickly grasping the situation, Arthur stepped out of the luxurious carriage, stared at the scene for a few seconds, and casually walked towards the entrance of the enormous Pendragon Mansion, with Franx following shortly after alongside the butler.

Sora looked ahead, sensing several not insignificant auras as he assessed the mansion.

Although it was called a mansion, the mansion in the imperial capital of Loveritia looked more like a vast and beautiful palace. Its design differed greatly from the buildings he saw along the way; somehow, it looked more like a huge, modern luxury home than a nobleman's mansion.

Well, it was described that way, but it still had a portico; a columned gallery attached to the main building in a rather noble style.

A large atrium could be seen with a large garden full of beautiful flowers and trees of different species, with different statues of beautiful ladies and gallant knights, as well as an imposing Lion in the center roaring majestically like a King.

Each of these plants in the gardens was a beautiful sight for anyone who could appreciate their natural beauty, and combined, they created a picturesque image that wouldn't easily leave people's minds. Especially with the golden butterflies that flew freely and gracefully through the air, one would be captivated by the sight they presented.

...I don't know anything about the original Arthur, but the current one could only describe him that way. Actually, does the [Aesthetic Appreciation] skill work?

That was a question for another time, he told himself.

The guards opened the large double doors at the entrance to the mansion to admit Arthur, Franx, and the butler, who walked softly and elegantly about three steps behind their young lord.

And when they entered, Arthur saw an elegant entrance hall with two staircases to the left and right leading them to the upper floor.

Beautiful chandeliers hung from the ceiling, each one possibly expensive enough for a commoner to live happily for a whole month, and above the walkway leading to the lower floors, a large portrait of four members of a very noble and prestigious-looking family was displayed.

The former Archduke, his late wife, and the two brothers who were forced to bear the burdens of the Pendragon name at a fairly young age were all gathered with happy smiles on their faces, reminiscing about a time long lost to the entire Archduchy.

This is quite a nice interior even compared to the anime...although for me it loses its beauty in front of this divine woman...Arthur thought with appraising eyes, as he looked at the woman with an incredible aura standing a few meters in front of him.

She was a beautiful woman in her twenties, elegant and mature in appearance, standing in the center of the entrance hall with a soft smile on her goddess-like face.

Her blonde hair, with a pretty ahoge sticking out near her forehead, was tied into a pretty black beret with gold embroidery, which, coupled with a surprisingly elegant and well-adorned dress for a maid, made it clear that she was at the top of all the maids in this mansion. The red dress with blue ruffles and gold embroidery significantly enhanced her seductive charm while also making her look very dignified and authoritative.

Her uniform featured a large apron and a long skirt made of the most luxurious fabrics that only a noblewoman of the highest class could afford; the combination of these two garments gave this maiden the impression of an extremely refined lady.

Her dress, designed with extremely elegant and well-crafted details, would be the envy of any aristocratic woman, and her apron, having fine embroidery sewn on it, was so beautiful that it was clear that the seamstress who made it knew how to skillfully use each of the materials required to create a work of art.

...and no wonder, for Arthur knew that the skilled seamstress was herself; a powerful Aspirant with the love of the nature spirits on her side, whose power could almost be felt throughout her uniform.

Any Britannia player would inevitably recognize this person, as they would see her in-game as one of the Sub-bosses who would face Lars in the final stages of the story... she was also one of the women in Arthur's original harem, the head of all the maids in this Pendragon-owned mansion.

She was certainly an extremely beautiful woman of overwhelming charm, with hips curvy enough to tempt any man with movement and a pert rear end slightly contoured by her skirt. She was famous not only for her tremendous attractiveness, but also because, despite having a dignified and elegant bearing, she was respectful and kind in the eyes of both guests and maids.

...Although in reality, she was nothing more than a sex-hungry, sex-craving woman who hid her strong passion for her beloved young master in plain sight.

Luminia von Estreints, the illegitimate daughter of a count who somehow decided to live as a servant and now faithfully served Arthur both by day and in bed. She was one of Arthur's most prized lovers, as well as one of the sexiest sub-bosses in the game (although all the sub-bosses in Arthur's harem were as beautiful as the heroines of this world).

With beautiful facial features that formed a fair and gentle-looking face, enchanting sea-blue eyes, and a devilish figure that incited the lust of all men, Luminia was literally a woman with the face of an angel and the body of a succubus... Furthermore, in a world where reproduction between humanoid species usually ends with children being born with the race of the stronger parent, Luminia was a rare Half-Elf born of parents of similar strength, with cute pointy ears.

And that knowledge alone turned him on quite a bit, especially because of her magnificent H-cup breasts.

Thinking about how from today on he was going to enjoy that magnificent Sub-boss body (Which was honestly more powerful than many of the game's monster bosses), bury his face in those breasts and suck on her nipples while attacking her... Arthur felt grateful to the creator of the system that brought him into this world.

He was also partially thankful for his trait, [Dignity of a Noble], which had the power to correct unseemly behavior and seemed to have forcibly prevented him from getting an erection in public due to his fantasies....After all, that would be embarrassing.

He wasn't a virgin, and he wasn't shy at all... but the man once known as Shigaraki Sora wasn't so brazen as to walk around with a tent in his pants, in the middle of public or relatively private spaces.

As the distance narrowed, the two powerful servants following him left with an elegant nod, and Luminia gently approached him.

She greeted him with a small bow, her voice resonating as soft as velvet, tenderly caressing his ears while her eyes showed an obvious desire that she desperately wanted to hide.

"I am delighted to welcome my beloved Arthur-sama," the Half-Elf said as she bowed elegantly to Arthur, smiling softly and affectionately as she spoke. "How was the Academy's entrance ceremony?"

While she wondered how she should respond for a moment upon hearing a line very similar to that of an anime, to her surprise, her mouth opened on its own, "I'm back, Luminia. Nothing particularly important happened, apart from an annoying country noble who wanted to waste my time."

“Country noble…?” The half-elf maiden suddenly trembled, “Such an insignificant aristocrat… dared to try to take away my dear Arthur-sama’s valuable time?”

Luminia's eyes turned cold and ruthless, filled with murderous intent as she whispered to herself in a chilling voice, devoid of her saintly smile. This, in short, frightened Arthur quite a bit inside, though thankfully his current body didn't experience any obvious reaction to this behavior, which was quite different from his initial kind and divine impression.

Seemingly unfazed on the outside, Arthur continued the conversation with the characteristic calm of a refined nobleman, smiling with a hint of mockery in his slight, charming smile. “Yes, well, he was just a fool who didn’t know his place, someone rather inconsequential, so don’t bother with it, as it’s a waste of your precious energy… anyway, has there been any trouble at the manor that requires my attention in my absence? Or any news from Anna about the territory?”

He asked with a serious expression towards his attractive but seemingly yandere maid as his body continued to speak automatically against his will.

"There's no troubling incident she's reported that should concern the young master regarding the mansion or the territory. Everything is in order."

"I see. And what about the matter between the two villages, Ahrad and Tadrian? I trust they should have held the competition I proposed to end their stupid fighting once and for all."

He just kept talking out of control and letting himself go, because he didn't want to act out of place here; although, in the first place, it was a question of whether he could have stopped his new body from moving on its own.

-The cattle competition is taking place as you ordered, young master.

Arthur chuckled. "Like I said, I didn't order them, I 'suggested' them. You must remember that."

-I apologize

"Don't worry so much about it," Arthur waved his hand dismissively, then walked over to her, who had bowed apologetically, and said gently with a hand on her shoulder, "I don't have anything important to do tonight since, as you know, I just came back from participating in the entrance ceremony to practice my Alchemy a little in my room, so be sure to come tonight."

Luminia's eyes lit up as she nodded with a pleasant smile and a sweet voice. "Yes, my dear love."

I literally told him to come visit me late at night for sex, as casually as if we were talking about breakfast. Seriously, what a guy I've become... I'm not complaining, though.

With a smile, Arthur intended to continue on his way when Luminia called him again, saying softly as she approached him.

"Ah, Arthur-sama, I'm very sorry I forgot, but I'm supposed to inform you that Lady Nava successfully obtained a tax reduction on the alchemical products we sell in the Loveria Trade District. It seems it was a good idea for her to use Count Murban's fraud against the Archduchy as leverage to reach an agreement with the Minister of Commerce."

"That's great," Arthur laughed. "My little sister really is as cunning as a fox... Despite her tendencies, she really knows how to grow a commercial organization's surplus, doesn't she?"

-Well, it probably would have been a lot harder for her if it weren't for the fact that the alchemical products Arthur-sama designed are not only very useful for adventurers, but also for knights.

-That's natural.

A thrill of pride, joy, and satisfaction suddenly swept over him upon hearing this shocking news. These emotions weren't his own at all.

Somehow, it seemed as if he and Arthur coexisted in a single existence. Or rather, it was as if the system had turned the original into a kind of AI that acted semi-automatically in specific situations, preventing him from making mistakes that didn't fit his personality in the form of [Character Traits].

But, in a way, he was still there... Existing as if he were the same old Arthur.

Perhaps... Instead of saying that Arthur von Pendragon was an IV controlling him, would it be more correct to say that Shigaraki Sora possessed him? Something like those stories about spirits that possess a person's body and subtly influence their behavior, without ever taking over completely. Only for them to eventually take over the body entirely.

Although it didn't seem exactly the same...it was more like how the player influenced a character's behavior in the game, only in a more invasive way.

Anyway, was it a real transmigration or a simple possession? The only way Sora could find out was to ask the system.

But making alchemical products... Now that I think about it, the original Arthur was actually more talented in alchemy than in pure sorcery or even swordsmanship. And since alchemy wasn't considered a skill like sorcery, but rather a technical skill derived from sorcery itself, it didn't appear in the status, so I forgot about it.

No, even in the game, that aspect of Arthur was rarely highlighted as alchemy was an extremely boring process, even more complex than real-world chemistry, as it involved sorcery; something only eccentric individuals would enjoy, so it was only natural for him to forget about it.

The original Arthur controlled several businesses with the help of his younger sister, who was a genius in all things commerce, including marketing, to finance various civilian and military projects within the Pendragon territory.

However, he didn't expect him to actually create items to sell himself... This world was full of things he didn't know.

As he bid Luminia farewell with those thoughts, Arthur allowed himself to be swept away by the feeling of familiarity as he casually nodded to some of the servants and maids who bowed to him in respect.

He had to walk several ways to get to the third floor, but finally entered what he felt was his "room."

His chambers, though larger than his previous life's room, were unexpectedly small compared to what he imagined nobles lived in anyway. Arthur estimated that the floor here, at least, might be covered by at least 18 or 22 tatami mats.

There was a king-sized bed with a red canopy embroidered with gold, a two-door wardrobe made of a rather striking fine wood, a chestnut-colored dresser, and some bookshelves, nothing else; apart from a balcony overlooking the mansion's entrance and the capital city of Loveria, if that counts.

Arthur sat down on the bed with complete familiarity and began to focus on the matter that mattered most to him now: the system. Whether it was the night sex section, business matters, or his new little sister, that would be for later. He had to see how much information he could glean from the system.

-Alice, what is your origin? No, who created you?

<The Master has too little Authority to obtain that knowledge. You need Level 7 Authority to obtain that knowledge. Requirements: 10,000,000 SP to reach that authority level.>

"What?!" Sora exclaimed in complete disbelief, both at the price and, oddly enough, at the fact that the system didn't care to react to the name Alice.

If it weren't for the fact that the room is completely soundproof (this is an assumption based on Arthur's nightly parties) some servant would have come to see what was wrong with him to make him scream like that.

Anyway, Sora didn't expect that amount of SP to reach millions. 

He knew there was no easy way to reach a higher authority like before, but he almost felt like the system was telling him, "It's an impossible mission, so forget it."

Sora took a deep breath and continued with the next question: Alice, what am I in this world for?

<The Master's goal is to survive until the Final Chapter of the Last Game>

And that's important because...?

<For a new world to be born based on the World of History in which the Master currently lives. Only when narrative causality loses its power will conception occur, and this is only possible with the presence of the Master.>

What is a Story World? Is it born from the imagination of normal humans?

<The Master has insufficient authority. You need Level 5 Authority to obtain that information. Requirements: 1,000,000 SP to reach that authority level.>

Lars!

Sora cursed in his heart and then asked through gritted teeth, "What do you mean by Conception? And what is the Reality Lens?"

The answer was practically the same as before. With that, Arthur realized he wouldn't gain any valuable information with his current level of authority, so he delved deeper into his thoughts and formulated theories.

According to previous system announcements, there was an "Eterniun Interdimensional Network" that it was having trouble connecting to properly for reasons it didn't understand, causing delays in its ability to collect and analyze data such as characters' respect and intimacy levels.

Wasn't it basically a network between multiple realities? Does that mean the system had trouble connecting to the hyperdimensional Wi-Fi network or something, and its processes were delayed as a result?

What was up with this super technology? It was a world apart from anything manufactured in Neo Tokyo or obtained from Nao's alien technology!

That was simply astonishing to him, who had already thought the Nao were a highly advanced race from the scraps collected from their ships after the "Fallen Star" incident.

He also mentioned the "Final Chapter" and the so-called "Conception of a New World." According to this, after completing all the game's episodes and safely reaching the Final Chapter, something would happen that would make this world a true World.

At least that is, assuming this world isn't a reality yet given its apparent submission to the 'Original Story'. Based on various Marvel and DC anime, manga, games, and series he had watched with his deceased grandfather, Arthur concluded that some Celestialsapiens- or Beyonder-like entity in power brought him to this 'Story World' as the system called it to allow him to be reborn as a true reality in what he assumed was the 'Omniverse'.

It's even possible that an entire civilization is responsible for this, given the use of technological terms like the "Interdimensional Web." Although gods aren't ruled out.

But then... Why not use their cosmic powers to take care of the Conception themselves? Isn't it too complicated to use an ordinary human like me to interfere in this anime-based world?

Or... perhaps there are restrictions on how much they can interfere with the natural processes of the Omniverse? Something like a very powerful entity like the Celestials or the Living Tribunal keeping them in check, or perhaps more direct interference that causes this world to collapse?

<System Notice: It appears the host has deduced part of the Administrator's objective, as well as a portion of her current limits. The system gladly grants you 50 SP for your imaginative mind.>

¿Oh?

Sora was surprised by the message.

I hadn't thought there was an administrator, or that this system administrator was aware of my thoughts.

Honestly that was disturbing... but there was something more important than that.

From the looks of it, Sora seemed to be pretty close to the truth, and the system itself seemed to confirm it with this message. Of course, blindly trusting this message would be unwise, and even then, he should consider it all as nothing more than speculation.

Assuming I'm right... why do they need to interfere to achieve this "Conception"? Perhaps to acquire new resources? New knowledge, or perhaps to gain different kinds of experience?

Naturally immortal beings or civilizations that have conquered death might want to experience new forms of entertainment to pass the time, right?

....Maybe right now I'm being watched with interest by millions of immortal aliens as if I were another one of those jungle survival shows.

<System Notice: Once again, the host deduces part of the Administrator's objective. The system has undergone a minor update as per the Administrator's directives in case this should happen, applauding how quickly you figured out that you're a buffoon. The host can now use the new [Chapter List] feature.>

Did this damn system just insult me ​​on the directive of its Administrator?