Reincarnated Jester: Taming Players-Chapter 119: Nero’s Reaction

Nero tried really hard to remember where she had seen the woman before her.

She was Vex, yes, but her appearance looked genuinely familiar.

"Where was it?" she repeated the question, talking to herself. "We met before, right?"

Shaking her head, Nira smiled at her cuteness.

"It’s good to see you again," she said mischievously.

Nero squinted her eyes, walking around the redheaded woman.

She knew it was the system, the mysterious, powerful being who became her friend, aided Jung, and even teased him with her.

But seeing her brought almost forgotten memories.

"It’s you!" the cat exclaimed. "The drunk woman who told me I would meet a lover archetype dude who would help me save my kin. I guess you actually predicted that."

Nira laughed and petted Nero.

"It’s me. Good job remembering me, but it wasn’t a prediction. I was only a god at that time, so it was more of a wish. I’m glad it came true, and congrats on fulfilling yours as well."

"Wait, you are a god?" the cat asked as surprise danced on her face.

"Not anymore. I had to become Archeon to bring Jung here," the woman explained, affection guiding her words. "I told you, he is my hubby from long ago, and we finally reunited."

"Wait! You are one of the Archeons?" Nero was startled yet again.

"Not one of them. There was only one, and it was me from the very beginning. The legends are far from the truth, and I had to leave that identity. And I needed to reach this place to get my memories and body back."

"Why would you do that for that asshole?"

Jung smacked the cat for interrupting their sweet time and for speaking rudely.

"But why would you prevent me from getting Arcs? And if you were Archeon, then what birthed archetypes in this world?"

He had questions of his own.

"Time is a complicated rule. It has its own principles, but to explain it simply, I created archetypes at a time when I wasn’t even born. To allow myself and the world to thrive, and of course, to meet you again. As for the Arcs, it was your subconscious manifestation, and I had no say regarding them. Unleashing and keeping them was your responsibility from the start."

Hearing her words, Jung hugged her again, not thinking about Nero’s presence.

The cat hid her eyes with her paws as if she didn’t want to see what they were doing.

"But when you said that we fought against Archeons, what really happened that time," Nero suddenly remembered how they both slept before Jung left Inbox City.

"Too many questions," Nira said, mixing voices. [It was about my siblings. I had to convince them to help him.]

"You are amazing." Jung caressed her long hair, constantly kissing her forehead and cheeks. "We can talk more with no distractions a bit later," he said, glaring at the cat. "Now let’s collect our losers and meet your brothers before we go back."

"Sure." Nira smiled; her positive attitude was contagious, showcasing her adorable dimple that made Jung’s heart skip a beat.

Then she waved her hand in front of him, suggesting Jung to hold it.

He wasn’t so dumb not to understand what she was implying, and held her hand, basking in her softness and warmth.

As they descended the stairs and Nira told her tales, she suddenly remembered something and went silent before announcing it in their heads.

[Both of you, please check your status windows.]

’Yeah, it’s back! Do I have everything maxed out?’

Jung pondered, but before summoning his panel, he wanted to see Nero’s first.

The cat wanted to argue, but he was quicker to act.

<Nero The Shadowpaw

<Archetype: Wizard

<Archetype Tier: X

<Archetype Progress: 99%

<Archetype Skills: Voidpaw [Active], Shadowborn [Passive], Duskveil [Active], Shadowpull [Passive], Catrage [Passive], Darkball [Active], Nofreez [Passive], Holebook [Active], 5Fire [Active], Voideath [Active]

There was nothing unusual about her status.

She even got more skills than ever, but Nero’s next words lowered Jung’s brows.

"It’s gone? But how? I thought it was impossible to revert to it once it had passed 40%?"

"What are you talking about? What is gone?" he asked but was ignored.

"I may not be Archeon and my abilities might be limited, but I know how to treat my bestie. You don’t have to worry; you won’t get permanently frozen."

An enormous hunk of news dropped on Jung’s head. "What the-"

Yet he was interrupted again.

"Really?" Nero exclaimed, jumping on Nira’s shoulders and tickling her cheeks. "I won’t die, right?"

"No, you won’t. I am here, my dear. No harm will come your way."

Her deep voice reverberated in the hall, sending pulsing waves of pleasure to Jung.

As he understood their little secret and was relieved that Nero was protected from harm, he heard the cat speak, as her words made his fist clench.

"Why are you with this ass? Tell me if you are threatened, and I will smack him to death."

Listening to her fierce statements, Jung was about to hit the cat, but Nira smiled mischievously and kissed him forcefully, stunning Nero and closing her mouth.

"Stop doubting our love," she added, letting emotions dictate her comments.

Embarrassed, Nero lowered her head.

Still, she glared at Jung, startling him as if sending a death letter.

Not minding her business, he let the happiness overwhelm his being and the more he observed the woman before her, the more love he felt towards her.

But he was guilty of something.

He was so lost in her loss that he had never considered the possibility that he could meet her again.

Not even god-like power was enough for that, but Nira didn’t give up.

Her love differed from his, and she fought to the end until her wish was fulfilled, and it was because of her dedication and struggles they could unite.

’I knew she was cooler than me. But now I don’t even stand a chance.’

Thinking deeply but cheerfully, Jung checked his status window, hoping to see something new and exciting.

Thankfully, the system didn’t disappoint.

««Archetype System»»

<Name: Jung (Vani) (Balatro)

<Archetypes: [Rebel] [Hero] [Wizard] [Keeper] [Explorer]

<Archetype Tier: XI

<Archetype Progress: 99%

<Attributes: [I’m not giving you]

<Arcs: [Shifting Cloud]; [Heroic Barrier]; [White Beard]; [Keeping Mask]; [Deep Merge]; [Keep Corpse]

<Archetype Monsters In Your Care: Nero the Shadowpaw; Entire player base; Cats

<Quest I: Save Elara and bring her back — Completed!

<Quest II: Slay the Ruler god, help Nero unite with her beloved family, and save cats from going extinct across the universe — Failed! Completed!

<Quest III: Create your personal, completely new archetype

<Quest IV: Torture and eliminate Walt

<Quest V: Unleash those merged archetypes by killing humans with the same archetype.

<Quest VI: Get back to the Maskera before the apocalypse hits. —Completed!

«Rewards: Unknown; Unknown; Finding yourself; Ruler Archetype and Three Arcs; Unlocking everyman, caregiver, and innocent archetypes and gaining their boost to your capabilities; My final evolution.

Not much was changed.

The most noteworthy was the system’s evolution and Nira’s comeback.

No version tab showed her progress as she got her memories back while Jung advanced even one more tier.

He had a hunch that until he got every other archetype, it would be impossible for him to increase his progress.

His old name was added as well, as well as a fake attribute panel.

Jung shook his head, noting the completed quests that still lingered in his window, as no rewards were delivered just yet.

According to his calculations, he would get them when he reached Maskera.

Just because his strength skyrocketed, it didn’t mean he could slack off, and until he met Elara, Baki, and Lisa, and introduced them to Nira as well, his heart would beat in elation.

Yet he was calmer than ever.

Holding a hand and basking in her smoothness, Jung felt like he could solo every god in existence.

Of course, it was nothing but wishful thinking.

But his heart was scorched, and nothing could freeze it.

They strolled through halls before Nero stormed, gathering players and cats around him.

Everyone displayed confusion after seeing the mature, goth woman, who didn’t look like the albino girl they were searching for.

HugeP wanted to ask, but Jung was the first one to disclose.

"Familiarize yourself," he said proudly. "She is my wife. I wasn’t expecting to meet her again, but here we are."

"She is our boss!"

"Quickly, show some respect!"

"Balatro is so lucky. What a fine shawty he rizzed."

"I am jealous of his game. Even NPC is happier than me."

"She looks intimidating, just like Balatro. They look good together."

One after another, players mumbled in excitement, talking nonstop about Jung’s love life.

"Get ready. We are going back to Maskera," he announced, creating another wave of chaotic uproar.

Whispering in his ear, Nira still held his hand, not letting it go.

"Let’s go and see my brothers. It’s been ages since we met. I want to see their confused faces when they see us together."