ZZZ: Book Immersion System

Chao Yu exited the bookstore and started to look around for something to do.

Grumble

The sound of his stomach reminded him that he hadn't eaten or drunk anything all day.

"Noodles and water it is then," Chao Yu sighed, making a mental note to moderate his time with the system.

After buying a bottle of water, he headed to the nearby Waterfall Noodle shop. As he approached, he noticed General Chop deep in conversation with Enzo, the owner of the Bangboo Turbo Remodeling Shop.

"Enzo, still looking for that person's son?" General Chop asked.

Enzo let out a heavy sigh. "Yes, Chop. I owe him my life. I'll never forgive myself if I forget what he did for me."

"You've been searching for years now. I doubt you'll find him anytime soon."

"General Chop! Good afternoon." Chao Yu greeted them with a bright smile as he sat down beside Enzo.

"Oh? Did something good happen?" General Chop asked, amused.

Enzo, visibly annoyed by the interruption, turned to look at Chao Yu. His expression quickly shifted to shock.

"Yes, I finally finished a story that was difficult to complete," Chao Yu explained before turning to Enzo. "And you are?"

General Chop made introductions. "This is Enzo, the owner of Turbo Remodeling Shop. And this is Chao Yu, the owner of the new bookstore that recently opened."

Enzo, breaking out of his daze, coughed and extended his hand. "Ahem, nice to meet you." Behind his orange-tinted glasses, Enzo's eyes scanned Chao Yu's face as though recognizing someone.

He looks exactly like him.

"Ah! The owner of Turbo Remodeling Shop? I was planning to visit your shop to buy a Bangboo to assist with my bookstore." Chao Yu shook Enzo's robotic hand but as he scanned Enzo's face the more it felt he had seen him before.

Enzo, trying to confirm his disbelief, turned to General Chop. "Chop, how do you know this kid?"

"Well..." General Chop glanced at Chao Yu, seeking permission.

"Go ahead, General Chop. I'm not ashamed of my past."

General Chop nodded. "I found Chao dumpster diving in my trash can. After talking with him, I learned he was an orphan. I felt sorry for him and offered him a job in Lumina Square with my son. He earned a living until he decided to open a bookstore here."

"If it wasn't for General Chop, I'd still be homeless." Chao Yu scratched his head, embarrassed.

"You worked hard and learned from my son. I can't take credit for that," General Chop laughed.

"Still, I can't thank you enough."

"If you want to thank me, buy some noodles and visit more often."

"I'll take you up on that offer."

After lunch and lighthearted conversation, Enzo became convinced that Chao Yu was Mark's son. Chao Yu's mannerisms, speech, and humor were eerily familiar, reminding Enzo of his long-lost friend.

And Chao Yu who continuously studied Enzo's face made him slowly realized he was Zeno.

"Chao Yu, I think I met your father once," Enzo suddenly said, surprising both Chao Yu and General Chop.

"Really? What was he like?" Chao Yu asked eagerly, never having met his father.

"We met during the Hollow Incident on 2nd Street. He was an office worker trying to earn money for you. Despite the rough circumstances, we hit it off and became close friends," Enzo recalled fondly. His expression darkened. "But near the end, we were in a dire situation. He sacrificed himself to give us a chance to escape. He was a brave hero."

"I... see." Chao Yu recalled the simulation he had experienced in the system. Each action he had taken mirrored his father's decisions. He suspect Enzo who he met was actually him who was playing with the system.

"So the person you've been searching for all this time was Chao Yu," General Chop said with a hearty laugh. "What a fortuitous coincidence!"

"Indeed. I owe your father my life," Enzo said solemnly. He stared at his drink, lost in thought.

Seeing the somber mood, Chao Yu grinned mischievously. And remembered a certain promise he never fulfilled. "General Chop, bring us some beer."

"Who do you think I am? This is a noodle shop, not a bar!" General Chop snapped.

"Come on, I know you've got a brewery hidden below. Want me to tell your wife about it?"

Grumbling, General Chop disappeared into the back and returned with three cold glasses of beer.

"Though I'm not my father", care to drink with me?" Chao Yu asked Enzo.

Enzo accepted the glass, a smile breaking across his face. "Haha, alright, kid. From now on, call me Uncle Enzo. If anyone gives you trouble, come to me, and I'll teach them a thing or two." He raised his glass high. General Chop and Chao Yu joined in.

"To Chao Yu's father."

"To my dad."

"To a close friend."

After finishing their drinks, Chao Yu and Enzo headed to the Turbo Remodeling Shop.

"So, you wanted a Bangboo to assist your bookstore, right?" Enzo asked.

"Yes, is that possible?"

"Well, my shop doesn't usually sell Bangboos, but I'll make an exception for you." Enzo retrieved a key from his pocket and disappeared into the back. He soon returned with a deactivated Bangboo.

The Bangboo wore a green jacket that covered most of its body. A quiver full of arrows hung at its hip, and a folded bow was strapped to its back.

Noticing Chao Yu's curious expression, Enzo explained, "This is a fully custom-built Bangboo. Normally, customizing them is illegal, but I had some connections to get this one registered."

"Uh, Uncle Enzo, I just need a Bangboo to assist with my shop. I don't need a combat model." Chao Yu eyed the intimidating design, certain it would scare away potential customers.

"Don't worry. You can detach the bow and quiver, and it'll look like a regular Bangboo. But if you're ever in danger, it will switch to combat mode and fend off most threats."

Chao Yu's eyes lit up as he imagined battling Ethereals.

Seeing through Chao Yu's thoughts, Enzo sternly warned, "That doesn't mean YOU can recklessly venture into Hollows."

With a gruff sigh, Enzo pressed a button on the Bangboo's back. Its eyes glowed to life.

"Ennnen enna ha! (Model number M4RK-M3N at your service!)"

"M4RK-M3N?" Chao Yu repeated.

"It's the official registered number, but you can call it whatever you want."

"Then let's call it Mark. It's simpler." Chao Yu patted the Bangboo's head and was reminded his simulation name was Mark as well. "Right, little buddy? From now on, you'll help me with the store."

Hehe, I can just lie in bed and do immersive stories while you handle everything in the store.

Sensing Chao Yu's mischievous intent, Mark shuddered as though he had just signed up for a black-collar company with endless overtime and no extra pay.

Mark turned to Enzo, who gave him a thumbs-up and a bright smile.

"Good luck," Enzo chuckled before turning to Chao Yu. "At first, I was ready to take you in after finding you. I knew you were an orphan because your dad talked about your family situation. But seeing you standing on your own two feet in society..." Enzo smiled and patted Chao Yu's shoulder. "It must have been tough, but I'm sure your dad would be proud of you."

Not wanting to break Enzo's belief, Chao Yu made no effort on explaining it, and if he did he had no way of explaining he has a magical system that alter the past and let him live infinite lives 

~~

With the bangboo in his possession for free Chao Yu cheerfully returned to his shop.

"Alright mark, your job is to stay here and sort out the incoming customers who visit!"

"Enn-ha ha ennha! (Sir, my core program is for combat, I do not know how to be a shop helper!)"

"You'll be fine, a couple of encounters with customers will shape you into a perfect receptionist" Chao Yu patted Mark's head before disappearing into the back.

"System, you never told me you can alter reality." He turned to the floating bar.

[Host, this system in fact did, searching through the history you completely ignored the Terms & Agreement which state "Some simulation will alter reality to some degree to recreate realism."]

"..." Remembering how he did skip reading the T&D he found no fault in the System's argument.

After a short contemplation Chao Yu decided to brush it off for now as the system is not intended to hurt him and was instead rewarding him for virtuous action.

"System! Show me the shop"

[Intelligence within the steel]

[Chival-

Scrolling through the options Chao Yu found most of them confusing, most titles were vague and there was no synopsis to help which one to pick.

After a few minutes, Chao Yu gave up and decided since it was a dice roll by the name he decided to call the system.

"System pick one story for me!"

[Understood]

[Remaining points: 50]

[Thank you for purchasing "Chivalries Never Dies"]

[Synopsis: This tells the story of a boy who was captured by the fairytale that history has told a true knight who never wavers in his beliefs, be it from finding a lady whom you wholeheartedly be devoted to or fighting evil even in the face of death]