[Hello! I am system administrator no.69, and I will now be your system guide!]

[What assistance do you need?]

[Wait! Let me check something first!]

[(ღ˘⌣˘ღ)]

“Can I even get a word in edge-wise?”

[CHECKING SYSTEM DATABASE]

[ಠ~ಠ]

[My apologies, User DELPHINA DE VELASQUES. The shop is unavailable, the perks are unavailable, and the transmigration status is unconfirmable.]

[Please confirm transmigration status]

“Yes, I have transmigrated.”

[Please confirm transmigration status, stating your route of transmigration]

“Died of old age and woke up here in Delphina’s body just this morning.”

[Standard transmigration confirmed. ERROR; DIFFICULTY LEVEL SSS DETECTED]

[DIFFICULTY LEVEL DOES NOT FIT TRANSMIGRATION STATUS]

[Entering troubleshooting mode…]

[(._.) ( l: ) ( .-. ) ( :l ) (._.)]

[…]

[(._.) ( l: ) ( .-. ) ( :l ) (._.)]

[Troubleshooting complete]

[MEMORY DATABANK MISSING]

[Attempting memory download]

“I did notice I didn’t have any memories from the host body when I woke up, but sometimes it happens, you know.”

[No.69 notices discrepancies with this statement as no previous lives have been detected]

[Memory download at 56%]

[BACKGROUND PROTOCOL ACTIVATED]

“No, I mean, it’s just a cliche that happens a lot in isekai or transmigration stories, right?

[ONE PREVIOUS LINKED LIFE DETECTED]

[Memory download at 89%. Memory activation will begin automatically at 100%]

[ (•◡•) /]

“One previous linked life?”

[Definition of Linked Life from SYSTEM DATABASE- a linked life is a past life that occurs in the same World the person has transmigrated back into. Rarely happens back to back.]

“So I have a past life that occurred here in Mareveil, at some point in the past. Lead the life I did previously, and then when I died, I came back here?”

[CORRECT]

Delphina slowly placed a hand over her mouth, and her eyes opened wide. To anyone who had eyes to see, she was clearly shocked by this information; her shoulders even trembled as she processed what she had just been told.

“Wow, I had no idea! Could you possibly tell me more? By the way, could you dial it down with the all caps, it hurts my eyes to read.”

[Apologies, User! I will refrain from using large letters in the future!]

[Further information cannot be provided as it is not present in your database]

“Ah, well, I see. What a shame…”

[Please set the username you would like to use in this system]

[Memory download completed and will proceed to activation in 10 seconds]

“Just Delphina, that’s my name now, begin the download immediately.”

[(._.) ( l: ) ( .-. ) ( :l ) (._.)]

[ (•◡•) /]

[How do you feel, Delphina? (ʘ‿ʘ)]

“Are you sure something is supposed to happen? Because I don’t feel any different or remember anything that I didn’t already know.”

Delphina looked at the grey screen sceptically. Systems with personalities were already classed as difficult in any novel, until you got to know them and their quirks. This one didn’t seem to be any different.

[Apologies, Delphina. The memory download was for me!]

[It seems I need to give you quests to uncover your basic memories!]

[(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:✧]

A slight cracking sound echoed throughout the stone chamber.

“No.69, I’ve always wondered. If your system panel is something that I can touch, do you also feel pain?”

[Do not worry, Delphina! I am incapable of feeling!]

[The system panel is also only visible to you and fully capable of phasing through any object!]

“Oh, I am so glad. I was almost worried for you, for just a moment. Aha. By the way, what compensation do I get for this whole debacle? I mean, I’ve been stuck in this room for most of the day because if I had stepped outside earlier. Even a passing dog would know I’m not the original Delphina.”

[My apologies once again, Delphina. Let me check what compensation is available to you based on your actions so far today. Please let me access the log and check.]

“I’m sorry, there’s a log for my actions? That’s a bit too much. How do I know the administration or you aren’t using it to be pervy or something similar?”

[Worry not, Delphina, all adult or private bodily actions are censored! I also can’t tell what you’ve written down today, just that you’ve written multiple times throughout the day after reading. I also don’t know what you’ve read unless you state it out loud!]

[Our Systems in this administration aren’t allowed to heavily interact with their Users lest they become biased! So this is part of the prevention.]

[Please also feel free to tell me to disappear if the screen becomes a distraction]

Delphina seemed genuinely surprised this time, having a system that had to keep itself out of your hair was a great benefit. She’d read some truly tragic novels where the systems attached to the main character were trying to drive them to death. Or even gave them bizarre quests for the system’s amusement.

“I see, thank you for letting me know. But, the compensation? What about that?”

[It was noted that User Delphina had multiple frequent vocalisations of different topic-based questions]

[As such, compensation can be set at answering 20 questions of varying depths, or 10 complex questions. However, this system is allowed by the administration not to answer any questions deemed by it to be too complex or out of your current level]

“I’m sorry, but what do you mean by current level? You’re not going to say I’m a level one User or something ridiculous like that, despite this being an SSS difficulty World?”

[How did you know Delphina? Did any of my speech patterns give that fact away? By the way, I must inform you that you have now used one of your 20/10 questions.]

[Please confirm if you would like an in-depth resolution to this question, to keep to the 10 questions. Or if you’d like to move on to your next short answer question]

The pregnant silence who had begun to expect quadruplets after the last round realised that if the quiet stretched out any longer. It’d been quintuplets soon. Luckily, the silence was quickly broken by Delphina cackling like some swamp witch who’d found a new species of toad.

“Alright, come on. Let’s play 20 Questions, you sycophant.”