The Lazy Genius With 999x System

Jay was still lying flat on the cratered floor when the dorm doors slammed open.

"JAY ARKWELL!"

A burst of regal mana swept through the room, brushing debris aside like paper.

Standing in the doorway—arms crossed, eyes sharp—was Alicia Renvale.

Royal uniform slightly disheveled, expression caught between concern and fury.

Jay waved lazily from the floor. "Yo, Princess. Room service?"

Alicia walked over the wreckage without missing a beat and loomed over him.

"Your mana output last night triggered the Headmaster's defense grid. You ruptured two magical wards. And there's a hole in the ceiling large enough to fit a wyvern."

Jay looked up at the sunbeam streaming through the roof.

"Natural lighting's in this year."

Alicia didn't smile. "Who attacked you?"

Jay shrugged. "Just two creeps trying to uninstall my brain. Nothing serious."

She knelt beside him, voice lowering. "Jay… two Class-S agents were found unconscious. One with a cracked reaper dagger. That's royal-grade anti-system gear. Do you have any idea what this means?"

Jay turned his head slightly, a flicker of real thought in his half-lidded gaze.

"I think it means I'm not just some lucky loser anymore."

---

Later – The Headmaster's Tower

Jay stood outside the obsidian double doors, still wearing his wrinkled uniform. His tie was now completely missing.

> [System Notice: Aura Sensors Active. Suggest Casual Bluff Skill.]

"Already doing it," Jay muttered.

The doors opened with a whisper.

Inside sat Headmaster Varxus—an ageless being wrapped in a scholar's robe that shimmered with constellations. His eyes glowed like twin moons.

"Jay Arkwell," he said, voice calm yet echoing, "you've made quite the mess."

Jay shuffled in and slouched into the nearest chair. "Guilty. Want me to pay in cafeteria credits?"

Varxus didn't smile. Instead, he slid a file across the table.

The cover was marked:

> TOP SECRET – SYSTEM BREACH 0039-A

Jay's smile faded.

He flipped it open.

Inside were pictures of him. As a child. In a facility.

Surrounded by machines.

One picture showed him screaming as blue light entered his spine.

Another—far worse—was labeled:

> "Subject Z-99: System Host Compatibility – 999x Result Achieved."

Jay swallowed.

"I thought... those memories were gone."

Varxus looked at him quietly. "They were. But Tier 2 rewrote the rules."

Jay closed the file. His voice was barely above a whisper.

"Why me?"

"Because someone," the Headmaster said slowly, "wanted a genius who never wanted to be one. A system built for apathy. That's why it's dangerous."

Jay stood.

"You're going to expel me, aren't you?"

Varxus shook his head. "No, Jay. I'm going to promote you."

Jay blinked. "Come again?"

"You're now part of the Independent Anomaly Observation Class. Congratulations. You're officially... a walking problem."

---

Back at the Dorm – That Evening

Jay sat atop the roof again, legs hanging lazily over the edge.

Alicia joined him, holding two drinks. She handed him one.

"I read the file too," she said softly. "I'm sorry."

Jay stared at the magical city skyline, a slow breeze tugging at his hair.

"I'm not."

She turned to him, surprised.

He smirked.

"If I wasn't this broken, I wouldn't have met you. Or Miho. Or survived midterms."

They sat in silence.

Then:

> [System Alert: New Side Mission Available]

"Find the Other 999x Hosts."

Jay raised an eyebrow.

"Other hosts? You mean I'm not the only lazy cheat code out there?"

> [Confirmed.]

> [First Target Located: Codename – Echo.]

Jay took a long sip from his drink.

"Let me guess. They're worse than I am."

> [Affirmative.]

He grinned.

"Let's go say hi."