"Good intentions in this world may require a reason, but malice never does."
Alhaitham's expression was stern, eyes filled with determination.
And really, if you thought about it objectively—
One day, a mysterious system suddenly appears, claiming that it will help you realize your dreams. It promises to take you across worlds, to help you become a king, and bestows upon you countless powerful abilities... all for no reason.
How could that not be suspicious?
It was practically the sci-fi version of a telecommunications scam—except this time, the bait was just too tempting for most to refuse.
But in truth, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
A pie that falls from the sky is almost certainly poisoned.
This so-called system? It didn't feel like a benefactor—it felt like a threat. Like a virus stealthily installed into a computer. No matter how harmless it pretends to be on the surface, it's always a foreign object parasitizing your soul.
"I once speculated about you with the utmost kindness," Alhaitham murmured coldly. "Maybe you had no malicious intent. Maybe you were just an accident. Maybe the one who created you treated me like a beloved son. But… it's just too hard to believe that now."
He shook his head with a wry smile, scoffing at his own former naivety. Even a three-year-old wouldn't buy that story—let alone a seven-year-old like him.
And since good intentions couldn't be reasonably explained, then there was only one conclusion: malicious intent.
The moment he accepted that premise, everything became crystal clear.
Alhaitham couldn't help but imagine—
What if all the system's goodwill was just a façade? What if its true purpose was to wait until he sat on the throne, until he truly ruled this world... and then seize everything from him?
Would the system then reveal itself to be a virus?
A tool of some [God], turning him into a puppet?
System: "You—You have no proof!"
Alhaitham: "Proof? What's the point of proof? Don't forget—I'm the one who's going to be king! I'd rather kill by mistake than let someone suspicious go! With so many red flags around you, what does evidence matter anymore?!"
After all, evidence is for the weak. For an absolute king—if you're guilty, then you're guilty!
With a thunderous roar, the crimson light of the deviant sword EA surged forth, slamming into the system's defenses. It was like the world itself had erupted with rage. The land twisted under the immense power—terrains shattered and reshaped with every blast of energy.
Alhaitham's black hair danced in the storm of raw magic. Despite his young age, his face was now marked by a sense of arrogance and composure far beyond his years.
In that instant—past, present, and future seemed to converge.
It was no longer a child who stood here.
It was a monarch. A peerless ruler from a not-so-distant future, cloaked in majesty and dominance.
[Plan confirmed! Plan passed!]
Alhaitham's heart surged with joy. This was what he had been waiting for.
From the experiences of his previous life, he knew: even a powerful system would enter a vulnerable state after a time jump. The deviant sword EA—a weapon of destruction—was built precisely for moments like this.
Under normal conditions, when the system was at its peak and capable of tearing open world barriers, it would've been untouchable.
But now, drained and freshly rebooted…
It was the perfect moment.
"Die, system!" Alhaitham roared.
System: "Requesting negotiation! Let's talk! If you destroy this system, your dream will never be realized! We are willing to offer terms—"
Alhaitham: "Oh? Begging for mercy now? Hah! How pathetic. Louder! Cry harder!"
He laughed heartily, a cruel satisfaction surging through his chest. He might just be the first time traveler to ever force a system to beg for its life.
But mercy?
Why would anyone show mercy to a cancer?
Cracks began to spider across the system's interface.
System: "Impossible! This can't be! Analyzing anomaly—how can a mere host defy us like this?!"
Alhaitham: "Haha! What's wrong? Dropped your mask at last?"
For something that was supposed to be an emotionless program, the system was now clearly panicked. It had begun to develop emotions—shock and confusion.
That only confirmed what Alhaitham had suspected all along.
This system was no guide.
It was a virus—one that used "travelers" as its carriers, a tool forged by some twisted god to corrupt and conquer other worlds.
When the traveler reached their peak glory, the virus would awaken—converting them into a divine puppet.
And in that moment, the world they ruled would become the property of a god.
Even now, the system struggled to understand:
System: "Why are you resisting? How dare you rebel?! This isn't right! Time travelers can't function without systems!"
It was true. Some clever travelers had once guessed the true nature of the system. But even then, none resisted. They all chose to accept their fate.
Because reality was cruel.
What is a time traveler without a system?
Most were pampered young masters or over-sheltered ladies from the 21st century. Thrust into unfamiliar, often brutal fantasy worlds—what could they possibly do without help?
How many of them knew how to make soap?
Could anyone produce paper from scratch?
How many even remembered poetry to use for charm or status?
Without cheats, they wouldn't survive a fight with a goblin—let alone a slime.
Time travelers were just slaves waiting for a leash.
But Alhaitham… he was different.
Alhaitham: "Hmph. Ridiculous."
His smirk widened.
No one could see it—but a faint crimson glow flickered in his eyes.
It was the sign of a curse—of Geass, gifted to him by the witch known only as C.C.
And no one but her knew this secret.
After receiving the ability of Absolute Obedience, the first thing Alhaitham had done… was find a mirror.
Then, he used the Geass on himself.
Yes. Geass could work on the caster too.
And the order he had given himself?
"I give this order in the name of Alhaitham: I will never lie to myself! Even if I deceive the whole world, I will never deceive myself! This is my principle!"
This was the root of his rebellion.
He had the strength to doubt—because he had forced himself to be honest.
Even if the truth was painful, even if it turned everything against him—he would never lie to his own heart.
That was his unbreakable law.