The Goblin Base...
...was alive.
The floors cleaned themselves.
The walls repaired themselves.
Even the torches lit on their own.
I stood there, completely dumbfounded.
"Okay..."
"What the hell is going on, Rex?"
"It is quite simple," Rex replied.
"Every Base possesses its own spirit."
"It functions much like I do."
"So you're telling me..."
"My house has a System?"
"Correct."
"This is System World."
"Nearly everything possesses a System."
Before I could respond, another voice echoed through the fortress.
"Hello, Sam."
"I am Base 101."
"..."
"...It's kind of weird talking to my house."
"It should not be."
"Your previous world had already begun blurring the line between fiction and reality."
I shrugged.
"I guess you're right."
Back on Earth we had flying cars.
Artificial intelligence.
Weapons capable of leveling cities.
Technology had advanced so much that almost nothing seemed impossible anymore.
Maybe talking to my house wasn't that strange after all.
"Base," I asked, "can you give me missions like Rex?"
"Yes... and no."
"I can issue missions related to the Base."
"But Rex is a higher-order System."
Before I could ask what that meant—
Rex interrupted.
"You will learn in time."
"For now..."
"Show him the missions."
A blue window appeared.
BASE MISSION
Recruit 5 Followers
Travel south to the nearest town and recruit five people willing to join your Base.
Rewards:
Mounts
Food Supply
Skill Shop
Failure:
Loss of Base
Loss of Reputation
Hint: Travel South.
I laughed.
"Wow."
"The Base gives me two punishments if I fail."
"The Base takes survival very seriously," Rex replied.
"Fair enough."
"What about your missions?"
Another window appeared.
MISSION 1
Recruit a Captain and build your first army.
Rewards:
Rare Sword
12 Basic Swords
12 Sets of Basic Armor
Army System
Failure:
Base Annihilation
MISSION 2
Eliminate 20 Goblins.
Rewards:
Magic Book
Cooking Book
Goblin Weakness Guide
Failure:
Death
I rubbed my forehead.
"So..."
"I've got three missions now."
"This world really doesn't believe in taking breaks."
Instead of leaving immediately, I spent the rest of the day resting.
For the first time since arriving...
I actually slept.
The next morning, Rex and I prepared the Base before my journey.
We set traps around the entrances.
Sharpened stakes.
Hidden pits.
Simple defenses.
"The Base can eventually defend itself," Rex explained.
"But those functions remain locked."
"So the Base has levels too?"
"Correct."
"It evolves by completing its own missions."
"What level are you?"
"I am currently Level 80."
"I was once Level 100."
Silence filled the room.
"What happened?"
"I... became weaker."
It was obvious Rex didn't want to talk about it.
I decided not to push.
"Level 80 still sounds ridiculously strong."
"I am a Legendary System."
"My maximum level is 500."
I blinked.
"So I really hit the jackpot."
Rex laughed quietly.
"You could say that."
Something else had been bothering me.
"Why does the Base have the same number as you?"
"When a Base bonds with a System..."
"It inherits that System's identification number."
"So both of you are System 101."
"Correct."
It still felt like Rex was hiding something.
"You were reincarnated for a reason."
"That is all I can reveal."
"If you want the truth..."
"We must become stronger."
I sighed.
"One mystery at a time."
"What else should I know about the Base?"
"It is the center of your future kingdom."
"As it evolves, new facilities will unlock."
"The Laboratory."
"The Forge."
"The Barracks."
"The Kitchen."
I smiled.
"Good."
"I actually have a Cooking skill now."
"Skills may also be taught to your followers."
"As Chief..."
"You may pass knowledge to your people."
"Just remember..."
"Trust must be earned."
"Many followers eventually betray their leaders."
I nodded.
"I'll remember that."
After saying goodbye to Base 101, I headed south.
The forest stretched for miles.
Hours passed.
Along the way I encountered several wandering Goblins.
They barely had time to react.
Instant Slash.
One strike.
One kill.
35 XP
36 XP
37 XP
Running Level Up!
Running Level Up!
Three hours later...
The forest opened.
A breathtaking river flowed across the land.
The crystal-clear water reflected the sky like a giant mirror.
Colorful fruit hung from nearby trees.
I climbed one.
Picked a bright blue fruit.
One bite...
Sweet.
Then sour.
Then something that tasted like strawberries, peaches, and mangoes all at once.
My eyes widened.
"This world has amazing food."
I stuffed a few more fruits into my pockets.
"I seriously need a backpack."
"Agreed," Rex replied.
"You will also require money."
"Guess finding a job is now on my to-do list."
Beyond the river...
Stone walls rose into the sky.
A bustling town stood proudly on the opposite bank.
Merchants.
Travelers.
Guards.
Real civilization.
I crossed the bridge and walked confidently toward the main gate.
Just as I reached the entrance—
A spear blocked my path.
"HEY!"
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"