Pov: Vik
Louriel: "When we first met, you mentioned that you have expertise in Python programming. I knew you weren't from this world. This world doesn't have that computer language."
I never imagined that discussing a simple coding language would expose my secret. Still, I had my doubts, so I asked, "But Louriel, if this world doesn't have such things, how did you know it was a computer language?"
She smiled and replied, "Simple. Like you, I am also a reincarnated person from Earth."
I was stunned by the sudden surge of information. I tried to keep a neutral expression, but I was clearly surprised. After a moment to gather my thoughts, I said, "Louriel, you're from Earth."
Louriel: "Yes, I am from Earth."
Vik: "Wait, can you give me something to prove that you're a fellow Earthling like me and not some impostor?"
Louriel: "Sigh! We had a Covid pandemic in 2020, then the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. After that, many conflicts arose, like Israel-Palestine and Israel-Iran, America-Iran, and more. I don't know the current situation, but I'm sure it's getting worse. Do you need more confirmation?"
Vik: "Okay, that's enough. I'm glad to meet a fellow Earthling here. Where did you live back on Earth?"
Louriel: "Canada. What about you?"
Vik: "I'm from Delhi, India. I have another question. Did you also have a system?"
Louriel: "Yes, most Reincarnators have one."
While talking with Louriel, I also chatted with my system. "System, can you explain this? You said this world has at most two protagonists, but here I am meeting someone else with a system who is also from Earth."
System: "Host, I don't know anything about this. I've already told you that my connection with the main system space was severed. Maybe she's a rare case."
Shifting my focus back to Louriel, I saw she wore a serious expression. Without waiting for me to speak, she said, "If you've chatted enough with your system, can you focus on the topic at hand?"
Louriel: "I don't have much time. The blocking spell my summons are conjuring won't hold for long."
She pointed at the dome of spells covering us, then her expression turned longing. "Vik, I don't know much about you, but I had a family back on Earth, and I want to go back to them. I'm not supposed to die and reincarnate here; it happened because of a system failure. I don't know much about this error, but I need your help. You're a fellow Earthling, and together we might be able to open a portal to Earth."
Hearing her words, I finally understood her thoughts and her reason for bringing me here. But thinking about her purpose made me realize that I also want to return to Earth. The problem was that I don't have family to go back to.
Taking a deep breath, I said, "Louriel, I also want to go back to Earth. But unlike you, I don't have family there. Still, I will help you with your goal."
She smiled slightly, then her face turned serious again. "It's okay. Now let's talk about the main topic. The only clue I have about this situation involves many protagonists or chosen ones. I'm sure you know about the chosen ones. Your system has already told you about them."
I nodded and said, "I know about them. Currently, I'm at odds with one of them. You know about Lin Chen, right?"
Louriel: "Yes, I know about that. But Lin Chen is just the lowest level of protagonist. What you don't understand is that we are also chosen ones. We also have luck and a system to help us."
This information shocked me a bit, but I understood her reasoning. We both have systems and were reincarnated from another world. From a neutral perspective, I could say I am also a chosen one. To clarify, I asked, "Can you explain more about this error that created so many anomalies and made two reincarnated people appear at the same time?"
Louriel: "I don't know much about this error, but according to my system, a rogue system decided to hijack hosts assigned to another system. This created a chain reaction in which many systems became hostless, randomly choosing people for binding."
This is what I knew about the situation, but I needed more clarity, so I asked, "Do you know more about this error and that rogue system?" I asked, hoping it was the Greatest Devouring System I had rejected that caused this error.
Louriel: "I don't know much more, but the system's name was Greatest Teacher System."
Hearing this, I was stunned since that was the name of my system. Just as I was about to ask my system about it, it suddenly shouted.
System: "That damn Devouring system framed me!"
To understand more, I asked my system. It replied, "Host, I think that Devouring system approached you first and framed me. It's responsible for this anomaly in system selection. Because I can't contact the main system space, I became an easy target."
After hearing the system's explanation, I looked back at Louriel. This time I said, "So Louriel, now that you've shared your true intentions, can you tell me more about how we can accomplish our goal of returning to Earth?"
Louriel: "I don't have any correct method yet, but after meeting you, I got a clue. The first time you helped your disciple against protagonist Lin Chen, that action disturbed the fate of the chosen ones, which indirectly affected destiny and the systems."
Vik: "Can you elaborate further?"
Louriel: "Sure. You already know about chosen ones. Remember that every time a chosen one faces backlash in their story, the world helps them through destiny. For example, if Lin Chen faces death in a fight, the world will create a situation that allows him to escape with only minor injuries. But this also has its downsides. Chosen ones have levels and limited luck. Once that luck runs out, the protagonist becomes just another normal person. Generally, a protagonist's luck doesn't run out until they complete their destined story."