Divine Entanglements

**！*************，**********「Ciro Doyle」。***********： --- **Chapter 1** The Brighton Coast was always bustling during the summer. Ladies held their lace parasols high. Children built castles with the warm sand. Men’s eyes roamed restlessly, only to be captured by the slender figure standing by the shore. Her golden hair, like seaweed, cascaded down her back in soft waves, glistening under the sun. She wore a light blue silk gown, billowing like a layered cake, with delicate tulle rippling beneath. Her cheeks flushed with a lively, healthy rose hue. Her eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, exuded both innocence and allure, their breathtaking beauty almost otherworldly. Several flirtatious young men were already itching to strike up a conversation. But Ciro’s gaze remained fixed on the vast blue sea before her. The dry ocean breeze kissed her face, carrying with it the faint scent of salt. In her mind, the sea was supposed to be dark and murky, never this vibrant blue. A cheerful voice echoed in her thoughts, *“This is the Middle Epoch. Everything is as it should be. Of course, the sea is blue!”* Ciro furrowed her brow slightly. She was here because of this voice—the one that called itself System P, lodged deep in her consciousness. She came from a time 3,000 years in the future. Although technology had advanced, humanity still lived under the dominion of the gods. The God of Light was cold and ascetic, his lands governed with strict rules that forbade any romantic entanglements before the age of thirty. As a result, people on his continent lived as timid as quail. The God of Darkness, on the other hand, was bloodthirsty and ruthless, devoid of any trace of divinity. Even when watching his followers be torn apart by monstrous creatures, he merely rested his chin on his hand, lazily observing. His realm, consequently, was wild and untamed. As for the Sea God, he was the most lenient, with laws that were more humane. However, his behavior was a bit too... indulgent. Everything in the ocean, down to the smallest plankton, was his lover, which made humans reluctant to eat seafood. *Tsk. Unreliable gods.* These erratic deities had driven some of the people to the point of rebellion, which is why this system was bound to her in the first place. *“It’s not rebellion; it’s about dethroning the God of Light, reforming the God of Darkness, and making the Sea God a paragon of chastity,”* System P whispered cautiously. *“What’s the difference? It all sounds like blasphemy.”* *“As long as it solves the problem,”* System P chuckled, *“Look at this sea before you. Doesn't it just make you feel so much better? Now, think about the sea where you come from—how the Sea God’s negligence mutated the fish into monsters and stained the waters with dark magic. Wouldn’t you want to see waters as blue as this again?”* *“You have a point,”* Ciro nodded. *“So, that’s why you chose me?”* A faint smile graced her lips. As the top actress in her time, these three missions seemed tailor-made for her. To be entrusted with the fate of humanity… Suddenly being thrust thousands of years into the past didn’t seem all that bad. *“Lady Doyle—”* A slimy voice interrupted from behind. *“Miss Roberts is asking how much longer you plan to stare at the sea. Of course, I wouldn’t dream of disrupting your lovely experience. I understand you’ve spent your life in the southern countryside, far from the ocean. But the Duke and Duchess are awaiting your arrival at home. It wouldn’t be wise to keep them waiting.”* *Who is this now?* Ciro turned around to find a man with slicked-back hair, dressed in a tailored suit, his face full of disdainful pride. *“Doyle—that’s you, Ciro Doyle,”* System P chimed in, *“It’s the identity we arranged for you. This man is your uncle’s butler. Your uncle’s a count, and you’ve come to Brighton from the countryside to study. Your two cousins are waiting to pick you up, but they’re too proud to get out of the carriage.”* *“It couldn’t be helped,”* System P sighed, *“We needed to give you a noble status, something that allows you access to the gods without drawing too much attention. These people are just stepping stones on your path to success.”* Fine. “I’m coming,” Ciro replied indifferently to the butler. He nodded, brushing nonexistent dust off his sleeve before turning to strut away arrogantly. *Annoying pawn.* The road along the shoreline was lined with extravagant carriages. Thanks to System P’s guidance, Ciro found the one sent by her uncle. It was a pumpkin-shaped carriage adorned with rose crests. Two in total—one with its doors tightly shut, the other wide open and empty. It was obvious her cousins were in the closed carriage, refusing to share a ride with her. Ciro merely curled her lips, unfazed, and climbed into the empty one. The door shut, and the carriage began to move, trailing behind the other. “So, why are you called P?” Ciro asked, breaking the silence. “Uh…” System P’s voice wavered with hesitation. *“You’ve played games before, right? You know how cards have rankings—N, R, SR, and so on? Well, systems are ranked too.”* “So you’re a low-rank system?” Ciro’s face darkened instantly. “Heheh,” System P chuckled nervously, *“Don’t say that. My rank depends entirely on you. As you earn affection points from the gods, I can level up. The higher my rank, the more I can assist you.”* *How strange…* Ciro thought. *If this mission is so crucial, why would they assign me such a low-level system? Shouldn't they have sent an SSR from the start?* She narrowed her eyes. *“Are you hiding something from me? If you don’t tell me the truth, I’m not doing this mission.”* *“No, no, please don’t!”* System P panicked, and under pressure, confessed, *“Actually, you weren’t the original person meant for this mission. To ensure success, they created two systems. The one who completes the transfer correctly gets upgraded to SSR. But I… I made a mistake and bound myself to you by accident. So, here I am… still just an N.”* Ciro blinked in disbelief. *“How could you mess this up? Was I even close to your intended target?”* *“Not exactly… You were just living in the same neighborhood as them,”* System P muttered awkwardly. *“I’m sure the other system is now with the correct person.”* Ciro’s heart sank. She racked her brain for anyone significant living nearby. *“Do you know who it is?”* *“No idea.”* Ugh. Useless system. *“Do you think they’ll team up with us?”* Ciro asked. *“Unlikely,”* System P said confidently. *“SSR systems consume a lot of affection points. Their host is far more likely to self-destruct than you. So, they’ll compete with us for resources. For example… you know what’s happening now, right?”* *“I don’t.”* *“It’s the War of the Gods! The gods are at their weakest right now. The God of Light has fallen to the mortal realm, the God of Darkness is in hiding to heal his wounds, and the Sea God… well, his whereabouts are unrecorded.”* System P puffed out his chest. *“Anyway, I may be an N, but I know the coordinates of the God of Light and the God of Darkness. Let’s hurry to the God of Light first! Oh, and the SSR system knows too.”* *“Why didn’t you mention that earlier?!”* Ciro almost jumped up in panic. Outside the window, another carriage sped past them. A sharp, urgent feeling gripped Ciro’s heart. The first to find the God of Light would gain the ultimate advantage. When the injured god fell to earth, he lost consciousness and withdrew his divine radiance, taking on a human form. Though he wouldn’t remain in this state for long, just a brief encounter would be enough. Leaving a lasting impression as the god’s savior would provide the perfect opportunity to get close to him. That’s why System P had chosen this exact moment to send her here. Once the God of Light returned to his divine seat, approaching him would become nearly impossible. “Host, by the way, you’ve yet to open your starter gift pack. And there’s a teleportation function available too, but it’s a one-time use feature. You’ll need to upgrade me to R if you want to use it again.” “Got it,” Ciro said, determination glinting in her eyes. “Once I’ve helped the God of Light, I’ll level you up. Now, teleport me. I’m not letting that SSR get there first.” She had to act fast—she had to find the God of Light before the other system’s host did. “I understand your family is eager to see you, but I wouldn’t dream of interrupting your delightful experience,” the steward continued, an air of superiority lingering in his voice. Lyra offered a polite smile, “Then let us proceed.” “Of course, my lady,” he responded, gesturing for her to follow. With a silent sigh, Lyra obliged, her thoughts swirling with mixed emotions. The steward led her to a lavish carriage, adorned with golden accents glinted in the sunlight, symboling grandeur and privilege. “How tiresome,” Lyra thought, concealing her true feelings behind a gracious facade. “By the way, why do you go by Nova?” she asked, intrigued. “Well, I’m a Level N guide, similar to ranks in many games,” Nova explained, a hint of resignation creeping into its tone. “Why not adopt a more prestigious title?” Lyra pressed further. “I was meant to be linked to another soul, but a mix-up led me to you instead,” Nova admitted sheepishly. “I mistakenly bound to you during the transition.” “Who was the original candidate?” Lyra’s pulse quickened. “I have no knowledge of that,” Nova replied candidly. Lyra contemplated this revelation; if Nova were truly a lesser guide, she couldn't lean on it too heavily. “Do you think the other person would ally with us?” “Unlikely. The gods are at their most vulnerable right now. This is our moment,” Nova reassured her. “I have the coordinates of the God of Radiance; we must act quickly.” “Then let's set our plans in motion,” Lyra declared resolutely.