Ling Xiaoxiao helped me dry my body and change my clothes, her mouth still nagging away: “How could you be so careless? I noticed that spot was a bit slippery this morning, but I hadn’t had time to put up a warning sign yet… But you’re being too much, sliding that far and knocking over the bucket so precisely…”
My ears drooped as I let her fuss over me, with only one thought in my mind: It wasn’t the floor! It was that broken system!
After finally managing to fool Ling Xiaoxiao by saying I just hadn’t stood firm, I hugged my exhausted and humiliated body and shrunk back into the corner of the room. Once I was sure no one was around, I lowered my voice and questioned in my mind, practically through gritted teeth:
“Hey! Just now… was that your doing?!”
【Host, please refer to this system as the ‘Causal Picture Scroll,’ or more affectionately, ‘Scroll’ is also fine.】 That mechanical yet mocking voice immediately rang out. 【Additionally, please note that it was your creation that guided the causality; this system is merely the executor and prompter of the rules.】
“Guided the causality?! I just drew a picture!” My tail fur showed signs of bristling again from anger. “I draw one picture and I get drenched in water and fall so hard my tailbone still hurts?! What kind of devilish rule is this!”
【Rules are rules.】 The system’s voice was completely flat. 【Since the host is experiencing this for the first time, this system will provide a more detailed explanation for free: When you create a work highly relevant to yourself, especially one infused with strong negative emotions like ‘despair,’ ‘shame,’ or ‘grievance,’ or… er, ‘certain’ strong positive emotions, the trigger probability and effect intensity will increase significantly. Core elements in the drawing, such as ‘getting wet’ or ‘falling down,’ become anchors in the causal chain, realized through reasonable coincidences in reality.】
“Re-reasonable coincidences?!” I recalled that eerie slip and the bucket that seemed to be waiting for me to knock it over. “How was any of that reasonable!”
【Statistically speaking, there may have been undetected grease or water on the corridor floor, and the bucket’s placement carried a risk of being hit. The combination of the two led to the host slipping and getting soaked, which is a low-probability event chain that conforms to physical logic.】 The system explained solemnly. 【The greatness of this system lies in its ability to turn such low-probability events into a one-hundred-percent certainty.】
“This isn’t great at all! This is perverted!” I roared internally. “Does this mean I can’t just draw whatever I want anymore?! I’m an artist!”
【You can draw.】 The system said slowly. 【You just need to choose your themes carefully. For example, I suggest you draw more scenes of ‘wearing dry, warm clothes in a safe and comfortable environment.’ Or…” It paused, its tone carrying a hint of obvious instigation, “…how about challenging a higher difficulty of creation? For instance, drawing scenes that make your ‘wishes come true’?】
“Only a fool would believe you!” I was almost losing my mind. “You’ve been digging a hole for me since the start! And ‘create happily’? How can I be happy!”
【Host, negative emotions are not conducive to healthy creation.】 The system spoke in an almost earnest tone. 【Please accept reality as soon as possible. Also, a reminder: once the law of causality is triggered, it is irreversible. I suggest you properly store or destroy the original draft of that ‘wet and fallen’ drawing to avoid residual causality attracting more… ‘coincidences.’】
More coincidences?!
I snapped my gaze toward the “evidence” on the screen that had caused my misfortune. My paws trembled as I moved the cursor, quickly dragging it into the recycle bin, then fiercely clicking “Empty.”
That should do it!
【A wise choice.】 The system “praised.” 【Then, I look forward to your next creation. Remember, the stronger the thoughts, the swifter the causality.】
Its voice, carrying a hint of satisfaction, gradually faded away.
I slumped on the tatami, staring at the empty canvas, feeling like I had fallen into a bottomless pit.
I can’t draw myself being unlucky… do I really have to draw myself being lucky? But what if this broken system misinterprets my meaning again and realizes it in an even weirder way?!
And… what the hell does ‘certain strong positive emotions’ mean!
Thinking about the system’s malicious tone, I felt like the future was pitch black. This so-called “Causal Picture Scroll” isn’t a cheat at all; it’s a disaster star specifically meant to screw me over!
Ugh… how am I supposed to live my life from now on…
I slumped on the tatami, staring at the empty canvas, feeling like I had fallen into a bottomless pit.
However, that mood didn’t last long. I quickly reacted—I can’t draw myself being unlucky, so… drawing something good should be fine, right?
A thought flashed like a life-saving straw.
“Hey! System!” I called out in my mind again, with a hint of experimental hope. “If… if I draw myself having a huge pile of money, the kind that’s piled up like a mountain! Would I really become rich?”
【Ding! Host’s request detected.】 The system’s voice rang out, still with that damn mechanical feel and a trace of undetectable banter. 【Performing feasibility assessment…】
It deliberately paused, making me hold my breath involuntarily, the tip of my tail curling up slightly in anticipation.
【Assessment complete. Conclusion: Unattainable.】
“Why?!” The bubble of hope burst instantly, and I couldn’t help but cry out.
【Supplementary explanation of rules:】 The system explained unhurriedly. 【The realization of the law of causality must be established on the basis of being ‘reasonable’ and ‘having potential possibility.’ Creating massive wealth out of thin air seriously violates the economic laws and physical rules of the current world. It falls under ‘absurd’ events and is not within the business scope of this system.】
“Bu-business scope?!” I was choked by its choice of words.
【Yes.】 The system’s voice even took on a bit of inexplicable self-righteousness. 【The primary function of this system is to guide the causal relationship between ‘states’ and ‘events,’ rather than creating something from nothing. To put it simply, this system is better at making you ‘unlucky’ or ‘suffer social death’ rather than making you ‘rich overnight.’】
It paused, adding like a concluding statement, 【Please keep your feet on the ground, Host, and do not fantasize about reaching the sky in a single bound.】
“You’re just targeting me!!” I was so angry I slapped the floor with my paws, my ears standing up like radar. “I can’t become rich, I can only become unlucky?! What kind of broken system is this! You’re just here to screw me over!”
【Host, please watch your phrasing.】 The system’s voice had no ups or downs. 【This system operates strictly according to the rules. ‘Sudden wealth’ cannot be achieved, but ‘finding money’ can—】 For example, finding a coin on the ground. Of course, along with the process of picking up the money, some small ‘coincidences’ might occur, such as… falling down while trying to pick up the coin, or the coin falling exactly on the edge of a sewer grate.】
“…Then what if I draw myself being healthy and immune to all diseases?” I asked persistently.
【Achievable. But the method of realization might be: through thirty consecutive days of the common cold, eventually producing antibodies.】
“…Drawing myself getting a perfect score on an exam?!”
【Achievable. The method of realization might be: precisely sitting behind a top student during the exam and seeing the other party’s answers through a series of high-difficulty, high-risk ‘coincidences,’ while simultaneously carrying the risk of being highly scrutinized by the proctor.】
“…Drawing me… being popular?” I asked the last question with a trembling voice.
【Highly achievable!】 The system’s voice seemed… a bit excited? 【This system strongly recommends this direction! There are various ways of realization, including but not limited to: being bullied by more people, being fed by more people, being watched by more people during a social death scene… Host, would you like to start brainstorming now?】
Brainstorm your meow-meow hammer!!!