Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 74

Valencia cackled, "Dude, chill out! Your desires are totally valid, no matter what society says. But, like, they can also wreck you if you’re not careful."

Karl facepalmed, "So, I have to worry about Mr. Common Hero chasing me and this crazy energy that might drive me nuts? That’s too much!" Karl finally understood why he always felt the urge to get it on with women in relationships, wanting to be the common playboy.

"Bro, relax," Valencia reassured, giving him a pat on the back. "I got your back, but you gotta start reigning in those wild thoughts. This energy feeds off your desires, but if you can’t control them, you’re gonna spiral. And when that happens, I’m not sure if I can save you."

Karl took a deep breath, trying to process it all. "Okay. So, step one is... what? No dirty thoughts for two days?"

Valencia chuckled, "That’s a good start. But remember, it’s not just that. You gotta start owning up to what you truly want, Karl. Otherwise, you’ll just become a puppet to this power."

Karl nodded slowly, though his mind was still full of worries. He knew this was just the beginning of a much more complicated journey than he had ever imagined.

The Common Sense Hijack System he once thought was a gift, now felt like a foreign entity in his mind.

Karl ruffled his hair, gazing blankly at the ground. "So... I’m just a puppet. This system doesn’t give me control, just illusions. Everything I desire, everything I’ve dreamt of, is now a tool to destroy myself."

Valencia nodded slightly. "Not entirely illusions, Karl. You still have control—if you can master yourself. But for that, you need to know your limits, your true desires, and most importantly... know when to reject what the system offers."

Karl looked at Valencia puzzled. "But how? This system feels alive, Val. Sometimes I feel like it knows what I’m thinking. It knows my weaknesses."

Valencia gazed deeply at Karl, weighing something. After a moment of silence, she said, "I’ve met others with powers like yours. They’re the legends I told you about earlier. A man who could make his whole village obey whatever he wanted. At first, he used that power for good—to help people, protect them from enemies. But over time, his desires changed. He started enjoying the power. He made them worship him like a god... until he lost control. Common Hero came for him, and he had no chance."

Karl shivered. "Are you saying I’ll become like him?"

Valencia shrugged, "We’ll see."

Valencia retreated back into the campervan, leaving Karl in a state of confusion.

Karl stared blankly ahead, confusion swirling in his mind. "System, are you really misleading me?"

[ DING ]

[ Valencia’s understanding is totally off the mark. ]

Karl furrowed his brow. "What do you mean? She said this power comes from my desires, and that’s what’s messing everything up."

[ Partial information. Third-party subjective interpretation. System designed to maximize user potential through exploration of deepest desires. Damage stems from inadequate management. ]

Karl swallowed hard, feeling cornered. "So, this is my fault? You gave me this power without explanation, and now my life is a mess!"

[ Negative. System does not cause chaos. User’s failure to understand purpose and limits creates conflict. ]

"You told me not to have dirty thoughts for two days! That’s absurd!" Karl exclaimed, his voice rising.

[ Quest tailored to user’s dominant weaknesses. Identification: excessive reliance on external validation and impulsive urges to conform to social norms. Goal: enhance self-control. ]

Karl fell silent, the system’s words feeling like a hard slap. "So, is all of this just a way to make me aware of my weaknesses?"

[ Affirmative. This power is a tool. Its full utilization depends on the user. Greatest risk: uncontrolled misuse of desires. ]

Karl took a long breath. "So, what about Common Hero? Valencia said they hunt down people like me. Am I going to die?"

[ Likelihood: low. Main risk: degradation of user’s personality due to reliance on the system. Without self-control, the user may become an empty vessel merely obeying the system’s functions. ]

Karl shuddered at the explanation. "Empty vessel... does that mean I’ll lose myself?"

[ Affirmative. Loss of control over desires weakens mental and emotional integrity. Result: user no longer has autonomy over their actions. ]

Karl held his head, trying to understand it all. "So... I have to learn to control myself before it’s too late?"

[ Affirmative. Advice: focus on understanding core desires. Differentiate true needs from temporary impulses. ]

Karl took a deep breath. "Do you have a solution to this?"

[ Solution embedded in given mission. Completion of mission enhances mental stability and unlocks access to advanced control abilities. Note: the system cannot eliminate user’s free will. Actions remain the user’s full responsibility. ]

"So, it’s all up to me?" Karl sighed heavily. "In that case, what’s the first step I should take?"

[ Recommendation: complete active mission parameters. Additional advice: deeply reflect on user’s desires independently, without system intervention. ]

Karl gazed at the dark night sky, trying to process what he had just heard. Despite the lingering frustration, he knew one thing: if he didn’t change, everything would only get worse.

Karl paced back and forth outside the campervan, the cold night air piercing his skin. Chaotic thoughts filled his mind, spinning endlessly like a wheel out of control. "Deep reflection," he muttered softly, mocking the system’s words. "How can I reflect when my mind is constantly thinking about how good it will be to bang Angeline later?"

He stopped and looked at his faint reflection in the campervan window. His face looked tired, almost unrecognizable. "Layla," he whispered softly, recalling the initial purpose of all this mess. He thought about how it all started: a promise to help a woman seeking revenge. A simple revenge... or so he thought. But now, it all felt like a trap made by fate.

"I just wanted to help," he said, almost as if apologizing to his own shadow. But another part of him laughed cynically. Is that really your reason? the question echoed in his mind, stirring up long-buried guilt.

Karl heaved a deep sigh. "Am I a monster? I’ve banged two other men’s wives, and now I agree to use my power to humiliate others just to please someone?" The question hung in the air, without a satisfying answer.