Reincarnated Jester: Taming Players

There was silence. No response was heard, and Jung's question was ignored.

"Why aren't you replying?" the boy asked and repeated the same question more than once.

After a brief pause and another unending silence, the answer came.

[Check Your Status!]

Jung obeyed and did exactly that.

««Archetype System V1.0»»

««Reward: Bonus Skill Based On Your Archetype.»»

"Wait, your version changed?" Jung asked and was ready for another stillness.

[You Are Correct!]

The boy was wrong, as the answer came right away. Yet, it wasn't enough. "Now you are sapient and gained consciousness? If you can talk, there is some uncertainty, and it would be great if you were so kind as to explain them to me."

Jung's previous talking manners were still present.

[I Am Not Your Companion, Nor Am I Trying To Help You. We Simply Have A Symbiotic Relationship. All I Want To Do Is Document You and Your Progress. If You Need My Help Beyond Your Current Status Window, Then You Need To Find Ways To Upgrade Me.]

The voice felt eternal, like a whisper from a loved one. It was peaceful, divine, and exquisite, and she continued.

[And Before You Say Something, No, I Am Not Going To Tell You How To Do That. Have Fun And Stay Silly!]

'That's strange,' Jung thought as he felt the system had gone to sleep, it was a foreign feeling, and listening to her felt familiar and defying.

'She said that if I want to get my first archetype, I need to kill the matching archetype.' Jung was in a tough spot as he barely knew anything about this new world. Yet he felt no anxiety.

On the contrary, he felt excited, he stood before immense opportunities that could provide him with new experiences.

'But it didn't say anything about monsters.' Jung saw the opening and speculated about it. 'It means I can get an archetype just by killing humans as well.'

After pondering for a few more minutes, Elara woke up. She was a cheeky little creature, like her older brother.

Elara had one of her eyes open, checking if her brother was watching. Seeing Jung beside her, she immediately jumped up and hugged him.

Elara's first word was "broder" as she could barely pronounce it. For Jung, it was one of the most memorable moments of his lengthy life.

Even thinking about that brought tears of joy to his young face.

'And here I thought nothing could faze me. Am I so weak?'

Sometimes he assumed that just seeing her happy and healthy was all he wanted. It was enough for him to enjoy his peaceful life with his loving family, and it wasn't always about grand adventures.

Jung hugged his newly awakened sister. It was apparent that she wanted to play, and as an older brother, he couldn't escape that duty.

"Wait, what is that?" the boy asked himself as he watched Elara. He saw an object that wasn't there before.

There was a sign or a mark above Elara's head. It was a light blue crown, dancing in the air as if it were representing something.

'I have seen it.' Jung immediately found the mark familiar. He knew what it was, but he ought to double-check it because if he was right, it would impede some matters.

The boy went to find the books he had read some time ago. He held Elara in his arms and had a hard time calming her down.

After some struggle and sweet-talking, he finally got the chance and found the book he was searching for. Jung flipped to a specific page, as he knew it by heart.

He went down the list and found the sign he was looking for.

It was the Mark representing the Ruler Archetype, and seeing that meant several things.

After the system went through its first advancement, he could see what archetypes people and possibly monsters had.

It was welcome news, an important and useful ability that would help him greatly.

But there was a caveat. Not a simple one at that. The Ruler Archetype was an irregular, rare, and difficult class that needed immense resources.

Elara's condition was hard in itself, and her having such a demanding archetype would complicate things.

'Fuck, fuck this shit.' Jung was angry and barely held himself not to curse aloud. He looked at his sister, who was waiting for his attention.

She had a hard time doing so, but she did it anyway.

The boy had an intrusive thought. He could kill his sister and easily gain an archetype. 

Of course, it was an uncontrolled thought, one that all humans have, with no exception.

What mattered was whether he was going to do that, though the answer was in his heart.

Jung's anger disappeared. But it created fear of losing someone he wanted to protect. The boy found a new resolution to gain strength and resources by any means necessary.

That was the day when he decided to use the system to the best of his abilities and help his sister save herself. He knew it wouldn't be an easy task.

Nevertheless, Jung was determined as he finally found someone he cherished. It wasn't only Elara. Lisa and Baki were great parents, and he wanted to make their lives peaceful as well.

He took his sister to another room. As much as he wanted to play with Elara, first, he had to talk with his father and mother.

The couple was busy making food for the family. "Oho, look who woke up!" exclaimed Lisa as she greeted her children.

'I can see them,' Jung thought as he saw the signs near his parents.

One was the Lover's Mark. It had the shape of a heart and a light red colour.

The second one was the Sage Mark. It was a green book with an eye on the cover.

"Mom, Dad, I have pressing matters to settle with you," Jung spoke nothing like a child, as per usual.

His parents were used to it and didn't have much of a reaction. Still, Baki opened his mouth with a warning. "If it's one of your pranks, I am going to spank your ass, and believe me, your mother can't stop me."

"Come on, Dad! You are still angry about the bucket of water I used to wake you up?" Jung considered carefully.

"No, wait, it's about that one time when I replaced the insides of your bread with my notes? No, I get it, you found out that I stole the orbs you had in your pouch."

"Wait, you robbed me?" Baki couldn't believe his ears and went to check his satchel.

"Jung, stop teasing your father and tell us what you want!" said Lisa and signalled to her husband to come back, as her son's statement was not true.

Somehow, she could always read him.

It was impossible to lie to her, but Jung swore that one day he would be able to deceive her.

Baki was back, with an angry and funny expression. He didn't say anything for quite some time.

Lisa was the one who initiated the conversation. "What do you want, Jung? You look troubled."

'Of course, she could tell.' The boy wasn't even surprised. "I want you guys to train me, teach me, instruct, guide, or anything, really. As long as you can make me strong and educated, I am ready for everything."

Hearing a five-year-old child talk like that wasn't a joyful occasion.

All parents, especially good ones, want their children to never have anything to worry about.

Yet, here they were. Listening as their carefree child talked about a topic so heavy and demeaning. It wasn't something they wanted, and there was no way they would help him.

"No, no, no and no! That is my final answer," said Baki as he clenched his fists. The frustration wasn't directed at Jung, he was genuinely annoyed.

"What is your reason?" asked Lisa and got an angry look from her husband.

"Why are you aski..." He wanted to question it, but Jung cut him short.

"I want to protect my family," answered the boy, and one could easily notice the commitment in his attitude.

"It is our job to protect you guys!" spat Baki, who looked even more—wait, what was this emotion? Was it sadness, pain, anguish?

Jung could easily read these feelings but had a hard time understanding them. They were emotions he never got to experience, and he was confused.

He was glancing around like a lost puppy.

'Why is he feeling that way? Is it something like what I feel for Elara? If it is, he should understand me and support me.'

"Your father is right. It is the parent's responsibility to protect their child. I don't know why you are in such a hurry, but we want you to live a normal, peaceful life."

This was the end of the conversation. It was a promise that was broken just two years later.

It happened soon after Elara was gone.