The Villain's explosive return.

We arrived at a simple room, sparsely furnished but with an undeniable air of elegance. A low wooden bed, a desk covered with scrolls and ink pots, and a single window that looked out onto the serene forest. It was quiet—too quiet—and I found myself contemplating the fragile nature of the situation. I was a stranger in their home, one who had stumbled into a web of fate far larger than I had intended.

Kaela stepped aside, crossing her arms again as she leaned against the doorframe. "Stay here. Treyni won't be long. Don't even think about running or doing anything foolish." She shot me a hard look, then added, "We'll see if you're worth our time."

With that, she left, the door clicking shut behind her. I was left alone in the room, the weight of what was to come pressing down on me. The Spirit Humans—these ancient, powerful beings—were at the heart of the struggle I had seen in the future. They were not just mages, but the guardians of a legacy that stretched back centuries. If they fell, the balance of the entire world could be shattered.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, my thoughts racing. I had no real plan, no concrete way to stop Baki from destroying the temple.

As I sat in the dimly lit bed that the Spirit Humans had generously given me—a makeshift lab full of worn-out tools and old books—I tried to focus on my next batch of potions. My hands moved automatically, grinding herbs and mixing them with precision, but my mind wandered to the fate of this place. The destruction I had seen in the novel felt inevitable, but I wasn't here to let it play out unchallenged.

The idea of leaving everything to Rosalie, the Grade 4 mage who would eventually return with Baki's head, felt like an easy out. If I could keep her in the village, the Spirit Humans might have a fighting chance. But for now, my only plan was to create enough firepower to weaken Baki and buy time.

I reached into my satchel, retrieving one of my signature concoctions. The vial shimmered with a pale blue glow. With a resigned sigh, I threw it to the ground.

BOOM!

The sound echoed through the room, and a cloud of fragrant smoke filled the air. This wasn't an explosive; it was a mental clarity potion, a tool I used whenever my thoughts became too clouded. The smoke carried a calming effect, clearing away doubts and fears like a gust of wind scattering dark clouds.

As the haze settled, so did my mind. I grabbed a piece of parchment and began scribbling ideas for new potions, formulas that could slow a monster's movements, sever its limbs, or create barriers of fire and ice. The work was frantic but exhilarating—a race against time to prepare for the inevitable.

For the next few weeks, I found myself adapting to life among the Spirit Humans. They provided me with food and lodging in exchange for teaching alchemy to their children. Most of them showed polite interest at best, but one stood out—a girl named Miku.

Miku was bright, inquisitive, and surprisingly adept at grasping complex concepts. While the others hesitated to handle volatile ingredients, she dove in headfirst, her eyes lighting up with every successful reaction. If anyone could carry on the legacy of alchemy here, it was her.

"Master Vendel!" she called one afternoon, holding up a bubbling vial with excitement. "Did I do it right?"

I inspected her work, nodding with approval. "Not bad. Just don't spill it unless you want to turn this place into a swamp for the next three days."

She giggled, carefully setting the vial down. It was moments like these that reminded me why I couldn't let this place fall.

Ding!

A voice—no, a presence—echoed in my mind, smooth yet robotic.

"System initialization complete."

I froze, the world around me dimming as the system's interface appeared before my eyes. It was a translucent screen, faintly glowing, with strange symbols that quickly translated into familiar text.

Host: Venzel (Alias: Vendel)

Primary Objective: Save the Spirit Humans.

Completion Progress: 0.001%

Secondary Objective: Craft 5 potions capable of crippling a Class-A Monster.

Completion Progress: 0/5

I blinked, staring at the screen in disbelief.

A system? Here? Now?

"Finally connected with the host," the voice chimed again, its tone eerily cheerful.

"What—why now?" I muttered under my breath.

"The host's actions have aligned with a critical narrative divergence point. System synchronization was delayed due to... external interference. But worry not! The system is here to assist."

"Assist?" I asked, my voice laced with skepticism.

"Affirmative. The host's current quest is to ensure the survival of the Spirit Humans and prevent the destruction of the temple shrine."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "And how exactly are you supposed to help?"

"By providing guidance, managing objectives, and tracking progress. Please note, the system does not provide direct combat assistance. You're on your own for that part."

"Great," I muttered. "Just what I needed—another cryptic overseer."

The screen flickered, and a new line of text appeared:

"New Quest Added: Save the Spirit Humans."

Objective(s):

Retain Rosalie in the village (0/1).

Prepare sufficient defenses against Baki (0%).

Ensure survival of Miku and five other villagers (0/6).

Reward: ???

*****

As the interface faded from view, I felt a strange mixture of relief and anxiety.

Then I lay there wondering, why didn't the system arrived earlier , maybe I could have saved my family.

But I let the thoughts go to the back of my head , atleast this one's responsive unlike the ones I read in most of the novels I tried to give myself a laugh .

As the interface faded from view, a strange mixture of relief and anxiety settled over me.

For a moment, I lay there, wondering. Why didn't the system arrive earlier? Could I have saved my family if it had?

The thought gnawed at me, but I pushed it to the back of my mind. There was no point in dwelling on what could've been. At least this system was responsive—unlike the ones in most of the novels I'd read. That thought almost brought a bitter laugh to my lips.

Ding!

[Main Quest Assigned]

Objective: Obstruct the path of Aron, the hero favored by the gods.

End Reward: Revival of the host's family.

[System Directive]: Failure to progress this quest may result in irreversible consequences. Proceed with caution