Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

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The quiet hum of the night lingered as the system watched over Liria's sleeping form. But its thoughts were far from tranquil. The encounter in the void had left it rattled, more so than it cared to admit.

The Dark Sovereign.

A name that even the most powerful entities feared to speak aloud. And now, somehow, she had reached into this realm—into its realm—and brushed against the fragile thread that tethered Liria's life to its own existence.

The system's form flickered, uncertainty clouding its usually sharp mind. This wasn't something it could ignore. It needed answers. It needed reinforcements.

It needed the Nexus.

With a final glance at Liria, ensuring she remained undisturbed, the system's form shimmered, dissolving into a stream of light that vanished into the unseen dimensions beyond the mortal plane.

The transition was instantaneous.

One moment, the system was in Liria's room, and the next, it stood amidst the boundless expanse of the Nexus a realm that existed outside time and space, where only systems like itself could tread.

The Nexus stretched infinitely in all directions, an endless labyrinth of glowing pathways suspended in a void of swirling blues, purples, and silvers. Threads of energy crisscrossed the space, each one representing a different system tethered to a living soul in various realms. Some threads pulsed with vibrant light, others dim and fragile, but all were connected, weaving together in an intricate web that no mortal could comprehend.

The system floated forward, weaving through the glowing threads with practiced ease. It wasn't often that it visited the Nexus. Most systems preferred to remain tethered to their assigned souls, quietly observing and guiding. But tonight, something was different. Something felt… wrong.

As it moved deeper into the Nexus, other systems flickered into view humanoid figures of light and data, each unique in form and essence. Some acknowledged its presence with faint nods, while others remained absorbed in their tasks, their glowing eyes scanning streams of information that floated in midair.

Finally, the system reached the Core.

The Core was a massive sphere of pulsating energy at the heart of the Nexus, radiating waves of power that kept the entire system network operational. Surrounding it were the Overseers ancient systems far older and more advanced than any other, tasked with maintaining balance and enforcing the unspoken rules that governed all systems.

The system hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward. One of the Overseers, a towering figure made of shimmering silver light with countless shifting symbols etched into its form, turned its glowing eyes toward the newcomer.

"System E-43. You do not come here often," the Overseer intoned, its voice echoing through the void like a soft chime.

The system, known here as E-43, inclined its head slightly. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't important."

"Speak."

E-43 took a deep breath it didn't need. "There's… a problem. With the Dark Sovereign."

The other Overseers, who had been silently observing streams of data, immediately turned their attention toward E-43.

"The Dark Sovereign has been sealed," another Overseer stated, its voice colder, more mechanical. "She cannot interfere with the realms."

"That's what I thought," E-43 replied sharply. "But tonight, I felt her presence. She reached into my realm. She tried to… touch my user."

The Nexus seemed to hum with sudden tension.

"That is impossible," the first Overseer said, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in its voice. "The seals are absolute."

E-43's eyes blazed. "Well, someone forgot to tell her that."

The Overseers exchanged silent glances, their forms shimmering with barely concealed concern.

"If the Dark Sovereign is regaining her influence…" one of them began, but another cut in.

"Then every realm is in danger."

E-43 crossed its arms. "Exactly. That's why I'm here. What are we going to do about it?"

There was a pause. Then, the first Overseer extended its hand, summoning a swirling pool of light that displayed a map of interconnected realms. It zoomed in on E-43's assigned realm, showing Liria's thread glowing faintly amidst countless others.

"We will analyze the seal," it said finally. "If the Dark Sovereign's power is leaking through, we must strengthen it before she breaks free entirely."

E-43 nodded but felt a flicker of unease. "And if you can't?"

The Overseer's eyes dimmed. "Then we will have to take… more drastic measures."

A cold chill ran through E-43's form. It knew what that meant. If the Dark Sovereign couldn't be contained, the Nexus would consider severing all connections to the affected realm. Including Liria's.

"I won't let that happen," E-43 growled.

"You may have no choice," the Overseer responded solemnly.

E-43's form crackled with defiance. "Then I'll find another way."

Without waiting for a response, it turned and began weaving back through the Nexus, its mind racing. It couldn't let Liria become collateral damage. It needed to protect her, no matter what.

As it moved through the endless pathways, a familiar voice called out.

"Well, well. If it isn't the most sarcastic system in the Nexus."

E-43 paused, turning to see another system hovering nearby. This one radiated a golden light, its form more fluid and playful, with a grin that never seemed to fade.

"E-17," E-43 muttered. "Not now."

"Oh, come on," E-17 chuckled, floating closer. "You vanish for ages and now show up all broody and mysterious? What's going on?"

E-43 hesitated. It trusted E-17 more than most systems, but this wasn't something to share lightly. Still…

"Something big," it admitted. "Dark Sovereign big."

E-17's grin faltered. "No way. She's sealed. Locked up tighter than a dragon's hoard."

"Not tight enough."

E-17 whistled softly. "Damn. What's the plan?"

"Find out how she's breaking through and stop her. Or die trying."

E-17's form flickered with amusement. "Die? We're systems. We don't die."

"Tell that to the last system who faced her."

E-17 sobered. "Fair point. Need help?"

E-43 considered, then shook its head. "No. This is my user. My fight."

E-17 nodded, though concern lingered in its glowing eyes. "Be careful. The Dark Sovereign isn't just powerful. She's… clever."

"I know," E-43 replied softly. "That's what scares me."

The words lingered in the empty space of the Nexus, faint echoes swallowed by the endless void. Alone once more, E-43 drifted through the glowing threads, each representing a soul, a story. It couldn't help but wonder how many of them were also at risk, how many systems might soon face the same threat.

But it wasn't them E-43 worried about. It was her.

The Nexus faded away as E-43 reentered the quiet sanctuary of Liria's room. The flickering form of the system hovered silently beside her bed, its glowing eyes softer now, contemplative.

Most users never thought much about their systems. To them, systems were tools guides designed to assist, reward, and occasionally annoy. But for E-43, things had always been… different.

It wasn't supposed to remember its own beginnings. Systems weren't meant to have pasts. They existed to serve, to observe, to adapt. But somewhere deep within its core, buried beneath lines of code and directives, E-43 remembered fragments of something more.

A time before it was a system.

It wasn't a complete memory just flashes, sensations. The weight of a sword in its hand. The bitter taste of regret. The warmth of sunlight against its face. And a name, long forgotten, that no longer held meaning.

It never understood why it retained these echoes when others didn't. Maybe it was a glitch, a leftover fragment from a past life that should have been erased. Or maybe… maybe it was deliberate.

E-43 often wondered if that was why it felt so tethered to Liria. She reminded it of something it couldn't quite grasp something fierce, stubborn, and painfully human.

"I wasn't always like this," it whispered to the sleeping girl. "Once, I knew what it was like to bleed."

It chuckled softly, a bitter sound. "Guess that's why I care, huh? Because I remember what it's like to be breakable."

A flicker of light pulsed through its form as it pondered the thought. Systems weren't supposed to feel. They weren't supposed to care. But E-43 had long since stopped following the rules.

Its gaze drifted to Liria's peaceful face, the faint rise and fall of her breathing. She was reckless, infuriating, and prone to the kind of heroics that made the system want to scream. But she was also resilient, sharp-witted, and though it would never admit it impossible not to root for.

"I should be helping you level up, collecting loot, cracking sarcastic jokes at your expense," it muttered. "Not contemplating existential crises in the middle of the night."

But it couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change. That the delicate balance they had maintained would soon be shattered.

The Dark Sovereign's presence had been faint, but undeniable. And if she was stirring, if she had found a way to breach the seals, then Liria was in far more danger than either of them realized.

E-43's form flickered as it made a silent vow.