Mystica: Reincarnated Into A Novel As A Villain With 3x Reward System
Chapter 43: A New Journey

Chapter 43: A New Journey

The young woman came back with a dish that Arvian had never tasted before; the scent of it was enough to temporarily take the edge off his fatigue, and the flavors—rich, slightly sweet, but spiced—were strangely comforting.

As he finished his meal, Astrea came up again, holding a stack of posters, and pulled out the chair opposite him, sitting down with a fixed look on her face.She asked boldly, "Could I get to know your name?"

Arvian hesitated for a second before responding. "It’s Arvian."

She pulled a smile to her lips and said, "Well, Arvian, my name is Veyra."

’Veyra?’ The name felt unfamiliar.

She slid one of the posters in his direction before he could respond."I would like to offer you a position here at my restaurant because one of my employees recently resigned, and you seemed like the ideal candidate," she said nonchalantly.

Completely unprepared, Arvian blinked. "Wait... what?"

She tilted her head and added, "I own this place. I do everything—owner, waiter, chef. Funny, huh? And I am still young."’She’s the owner?’

He attempted to take in the information, but she put a tiny black card on the table in front of him before he could react.

"Take your time deciding," she said. "But if you want to accept, call me at night because I am busy during the day with my academy."

Arvian could only nod, feeling overwhelmed by the situation.As he left the restaurant, rain had started to fall. The well-maintained road glistened under the streetlights, and steam-powered cars passed by in a steady rhythm.

Ahead, a modern city infused with ancient architecture stretched before him, illuminated by glowing lights.

He turned back to glance at the restaurant. Perched on the mountain’s edge, its red exterior stood out against the darkening sky. Above it, the mountain continued to rise, disappearing into the mist.

Strangely, there was no name on the restaurant.

"This place... it doesn’t feel like a fantasy world. But I haven’t explored enough to know for sure..."

Seeking shelter from the rain, he spotted a large tree a few meters away.

Leaning against its thick trunk, he exhaled deeply.

Then—

A translucent blue screen appeared before him.

> [Hey, Mortal.]

[You now have the choice to decide your role in this world. Your powers will be granted accordingly.]

1. [???] - A Villainous Pathway

2. [???]

3. [???]

4. [???]

[Time remaining: 1 minute.]

[System Update Notification]

[System will undergo a major update in 12 hours.]

As soon as Arvian selected the only available option, the system responded instantly.

> [Congratulations! You have unlocked a new pathway role - [???] — Further revelations will take place after the system update.]

[System Locked – 12 hours.]

Arvian stared at the floating text in frustration. "Seriously? What’s the point of giving me a ’choice’ if there’s only one option?"

He sighed. ’The system is just messing with me at this point...’

Before he could dwell on it any further, a shout pulled him back to reality.

"Hey, Arvian! Why are you just sitting there in this weather?"

He turned toward the voice and noticed a steam-powered car parked near the road, but this one was unique: sleek, well-designed, and reminiscent of an Earth sports car, but with an advanced steampunk aesthetic.

Inside, Veyra was leaning against the steering wheel, her black eyes amusedly studying him."Come on, get inside.

Arvian hesitated for only a second.

As he approached the car, Veyra said, "I can drop you off at home.

"Arvian stopped just short of the passenger seat and muttered, "I... don’t have a home."

For the first time, Veyra’s confident expression flickered. A hint of surprise crossed her face, quickly replaced by something else—understanding.

Then, without hesitation, she nodded, like this was what she had wanted all along.

"Then stay at my place for the night."

Arvian slid into the car. The seat was unbelievably comfortable, and the faint scent of flowers and something soothing filled the air.

Veyra glanced at Arvian while driving, her fingers casually tapping the steering wheel.

"You know, Arvian, you could earn money by enrolling in the academy. What do you think?"

Arvian raised an eyebrow. "The academy? Could you tell me more about it?"

Veyra blinked, almost in disbelief. "Wait... You don’t know about the academy? Have you really been living in this world?"

Arvian tensed. ’Shit. Think of an excuse...’

He quickly composed himself and forced a small, awkward chuckle. "Uh... actually, I was sick. Some kind of strange illness. I was hospitalized for years, and I... forgot a lot of things."

Veyra’s expression softened. "Oh... That makes sense."

She then continued, her tone becoming more animated.

"The academy is a place for Supernatural Awakened—people who unlock their hidden potential. They are also called Mages. Some are born with powers, gifted by the gods, while others have to awaken them through training and trials."

She glanced at him again before turning her eyes back on the road.

"The academy isn’t just about learning, though. You go on raids, missions, and dungeon expeditions, fighting monsters and earning money. And whenever danger threatens the world, it’s the academy-trained who protect it."

Arvian listened carefully. ’Supernatural Awakened... Mages... Raids... This world is a fantasy too and in a modern type...amazing...’

Veyra smirked. "There’s a lot more history and details, but I could teach you the basics in a few days. Are you interested?"

"Yess."

They traveled through mountain roads, downhill, and eventually entered a modern-style city that was both modern and ancient.... There were large buildings with glass and lights, some of which were ancient in design, as well as shops and various types of steam cars.

Arvian was amazed by seeing this... It was too

"Yes."

Arvian agreed without hesitation.

They drove down the winding mountain roads, heading toward the city. As they got closer, the view became clearer—a breathtaking blend of modern and ancient architecture.

Tall glass skyscrapers with glowing lights stood alongside grand buildings resembling those from an ancient civilization. Shops lined the streets, some futuristic and others resembling old marketplaces. Steam-powered cars of various designs lined the roads, moving in an orderly manner.

Arvian’s eyes widened as he took it all in. ’This... looks just like Earth. Almost too similar.’

Veyra smoothly navigated through the busy streets, passing different districts. Some areas were crowded with neon signs and massive digital billboards, while others had cobblestone streets with oil lanterns to illuminate the paths. It was a city where the ancient and modern mixed.

After driving for a while, they arrived at the city’s outskirts—a vast open area with a massive castle. The castle was enormous, with towering walls decorated with intricate patterns and symbols. It gave off a sense of royalty and power.

As the car approached the gate, it opened automatically, as if it recognized Veyra.

She casually glanced at Arvian and said, "I have a twin brother. You should become friends with him. His name is Malgrath."

Arvian, who was still awestruck by the castle, suddenly froze. His mind blanked for a second.

"Wait... What?"