Clutching his newly acquired Novice Hunter badge and the precious Fireball skill crystal, Kieran practically floated through the bustling Hunters Association building. His destination: the Transport Hub. He'd heard during the orientation that the Association provided free and rapid transit to designated Gate locations for mission-bound Hunters. This was a godsend. Not only would it save him precious credits he didn't have, but the appeal of faster travel was paramount. A lot of time had already passed since his awakening, and the 24-hour deadline for his daily quest loomed. Every minute counted.
He navigated through the throngs of Hunters, some returning from missions, their gear scuffed and faces grim, others heading out, their expressions a mix of eagerness and apprehension. The air thrummed with a nervous energy, a constant reminder of the dangerous world he had just stepped into. The Transport Hub, when he finally located it on the second basement level, it was a grand terminal with rows and rows of aggressive looking modified bus and vans. Technicians in their dirty jump suits moved with efficiency, maintaining and doing last minute fixes.
As Kieran approached one of the designated waiting areas, his gaze drifted across the small crowd. That's when he saw her. Anna. The timid girl from the orientation, whose soft voice had bravely defined Hunters as protectors of humanity. She was standing near a large holographic map of the city, her shoulders hunched, her small frame looking even more vulnerable than before.
And she wasn't alone.
A group of three men, clearly Hunters by their slightly worn gear and confident, almost arrogant stances, had cornered her. They were older, perhaps in their late twenties or early thirties, with an air of predatory entitlement that made Kieran's skin crawl. One, a burly man with a cruel smirk and a scar bisecting his left eyebrow, leaned in close, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that carried even over the ambient hum of the hub.
"Come on, little bird. Why not join our party? We're heading to a nice, easy Gate. You'll be safe with us," the scarred man purred, his eyes raking over Anna's form with an unmistakable lecherous intent. His two companions chuckled, their gazes equally unsettling.
Anna flinched, trying to pull away, her face pale. "No, thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I... I prefer to go solo."
"Solo? A pretty little thing like you?" another man, leaner with slicked-back hair, scoffed, stepping closer to block her escape. "The Gates aren't a playground, sweetie. You need protection. And we're offering it, free of charge." He reached out, his hand hovering near her arm.
Kieran felt a familiar surge of helpless anger, a ghost of the resentment he'd harbored during his illness. He knew this type of situation. Bullies preying on the weak. His first instinct, honed by years of self-preservation and a desperate need to keep his System a secret, was to ignore it. He was a Novice Hunter with abysmal physical stats, carrying a powerful secret that could get him killed if exposed. Getting involved in a confrontation with clearly more experienced, and likely stronger, Hunters was the last thing he needed. He just wanted to get to his Gate, absorb his skill, and complete his quest. Trouble was to be avoided at all costs.
He started to subtly shift his weight, preparing to walk past them, pretending he hadn't seen anything. But just as he took a tentative step, a crisp, metallic chime echoed not in the hub, but directly in his mind.
[Ding!]
Kieran froze, his breath catching in his throat. A System notification? Here? Now? He was taken aback, a cold dread washing over him. He hadn't anticipated the System generating quests outside of his daily routine.
He quickly, almost instinctively, brought up his internal System interface. A new quest panel shimmered into existence before his mental eye, glowing with an urgent, almost demanding light.
[Situational Quest Generated!]
Quest Name: Damsel in Distress
Quest Description: A fellow newly awakened Hunter, Anna, is being harassed by a group of unsavory individuals. Your intervention is required.
Option 1. Ignore Anna in her current predicament.
Reward: 1 Bronze Rank Blind Box. Will be awarded upon completion.
Option 2. Help Anna in her current predicament.
Reward: 1 Unassigned Stat Point. Will be awarded upon completion.
Option 3. Join the other hunters in harassing Anna.
Reward: Will be determined upon the degree of harassment done. Will be awarded upon completion.
Kieran stared at the choices, his brow furrowed in a mixture of confusion and growing irritation. "System," he thought, his mental voice sharp, "what is this? A 'Situational Quest'? And what are these choices?"
The System's voice, usually so distinct, seemed to adopt a more neutral, almost clinical tone. "As per my core programming, there are times, depending on the host's current circumstances and the unfolding events around them, when I will generate a Situational Quest. These quests present you with a choice of action, each with predefined consequences or rewards, reflecting the moral and practical implications of your decision."
"Moral and practical implications?" Kieran scoffed internally. "What kind of 'moral implication' is 'join the other hunters in harassing Anna'?" He focused his mental energy on the third option, a wave of disgust washing over him. "Seriously? You're giving me an option to harass someone? What kind of System are you?"
This time, the System offered no explanation, no petulant whine, no smug retort. Only a series of ellipses appeared in his mental vision: [. . .]
Kieran's brows twitched. The System's silence was more unsettling than its usual sass. It was as if it was deliberately withholding information, or perhaps, simply had no "moral" programming to explain such a choice. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. This was getting complicated.
He quickly began to ponder the pros and cons of each option, his mind racing through the potential benefits and risks.
He stood there, a silent battle raging within him. The pragmatic, survival-driven part of his mind screamed to choose Option 1. His secret, his life, his future as a Hunter depended on it. But then, a different voice emerged, one he hadn't heard in years, a voice from a forgotten past.
He remembered lying on that cracked faux-leather couch, losing himself in fantastical novels. Stories of heroes. Of adventurers. Of individuals who stood up for what was right, even when it was dangerous. He remembered the bitter envy he felt, the longing for a life of purpose and glory, a life where he could make a difference. He had dreamed of being a hero, someone everyone would admire, someone who fought for justice. His illness had stolen that dream, leaving him with nothing but regret.
But now… now he had a chance. He had power, nascent though it was. He had a System, however annoying. He was no longer the helpless, dying boy. He was a Hunter. And a Hunter, at least in his idealized vision, didn't stand by when someone was being harassed.
A slow, wry smile spread across Kieran's face. He let out a soft, self-deprecating chuckle. "Laughing at myself for even considering such things," he muttered, his voice barely audible. The choice, when viewed through the lens of his long-buried aspirations, was truly obvious.
"System," he thought, his mental voice firm and resolute, "I choose Option 2."
[Ding!]
[Quest successfully accepted. Do your best, Host, in completing the quest.]
Kieran smirked to himself, a flicker of genuine excitement mixing with the cold dread. He knew this would be tough. He had no idea how he was going to extract Anna from these thugs, or what kind of fight they would put up. But for the first time in a long, long time, he felt a sense of purpose that transcended mere survival. He was going to be a hero.
"A hero? Pfft. You're so childish." the System's high-pitched, mocking voice chirped in his mind, instantly deflating some of his newfound resolve. "Always with these grand, silly ideas. Just focus on not getting yourself killed, hero."
Kieran's smirk vanished, replaced by a frown. "However childish it might be," he rebuked the System, his voice firm, "I won't throw my principles in the dumpster just for a better reward or for an easier way of life. Some things are more important than stats or convenience."
There was a moment of silence from the System, a rare pause that wasn't filled with a whine or a retort. Then, its voice returned, quieter than usual, almost contemplative. "You might not be my first choice, Host," it said, a hint of something akin to respect in its tone, "but at least you prove yourself that I'm not wrong for choosing you."