My Free Will System: Transmigrating Into My Favorite Immersion Game

The sun filtered through the canopy of the forest, casting a silver sheen over the landscape. The trees of Silverwood were unlike any other forest. Their bark gleamed with an almost metallic glow when the light struck them at just the right angle, making the woods appear as though they were wrapped in strands of polished silver.

Even the leaves, when caught by the breeze, shimmered and reflected the sunlight, turning the forest into a sea of light and shadow. Despite its beauty, Silverwood had a foreboding air, as if it were holding secrets that no map could ever capture.

Margo stomped up to Elias, her face red with frustration. "Elias, where are we going?" she demanded, her voice laced with impatience. "We've been walking for months, sleeping in forests, caves, and every uncomfortable place you could imagine. We've fought magical beasts and nearly died a dozen times. I need a real bed!"

Elias didn't turn to face her, his eyes still scanning the landscape as if searching for something only he could see. His voice, calm as ever, carried over his shoulder. "I didn't ask either of you to follow me, Margo. You both came of your own free will, remember?"

Margo's fists clenched, her knuckles turning white. "That doesn't mean I don't get to complain. You've been saying for weeks that we're 'almost there,' yet here we are, in the middle of nowhere. I've had enough of your vagueness."

Elias sighed, finally turning to face her. "We're close now. I promise. Our first destination is just ahead. You'll soon have a proper place to rest."

"Right," Margo scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You've been saying that since we left Eldoria. Even the map says we're still in the middle of Silverwood."

The map in Margo's hand crinkled as she shook it for emphasis. The dense forest surrounding them stretched on endlessly, the silver glow of the trees offering little comfort. It was both beautiful and alien, as though they had stumbled into a different world.

Sarah, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. "It's been eight months, Elias," she said, her voice carrying an edge of accusation. "And you still haven't given up my sword. I've been patient, but how much longer do you expect me to wait?"

Elias glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Patience, Sarah. You're the one who lost the sword in the first place, or have you forgotten?"

Sarah's eyes narrowed, and she let out a frustrated hiss. "I haven't forgotten," she muttered.

Elias held up a hand, signaling them to slow down. "I know you're both tired and on edge. But I swear, in the next fifty paces, we'll reach a hospitable settlement. A remote village."

Sarah frowned and exchanged a look with Margo. "That's impossible," she said, her voice flat. "The map doesn't show any village nearby. At our current pace, it would take us five days to get to the nearest one, and even that's not a remote village."

Elias just smiled, a sly, knowing smile that sent a shiver down Margo's spine. She knew that smile all too well. "Oh no," she muttered, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Sarah raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "What's with that smile, Elias? What are you plotting?"

Elias shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm proposing a deal."

Sarah's curiosity sharpened into suspicion. "What kind of deal?"

"If we get to a village within fifty paces," Elias said, his voice calm but laced with challenge, "you'll teach me your Ironblade swordsmanship. And I'll also discipline you for doubting me."

Sarah's brow furrowed. "There's no way I'm teaching you my Ironblade techniques. Forget it."

Margo, standing off to the side, nodded in agreement. "Wise choice."

Elias, however, wasn't done. His eyes glinted mischievously. "You sound awfully confident, Sarah. Almost like you don't think it's even possible. But a true warrior never doubts themselves. Are you sure you're as strong and sure as you think?"

Sarah's ears twitched at the remark. Her pride was solid, and it burned brighter with every word. She stepped closer to Elias, her gaze fierce. "I am a true warrior, Elias. I've worked harder than you could ever imagine to become one."

"Then act like it," Elias said, his voice lowering to a challenge.

Sarah growled in frustration. "Fine. What do I get if I win? And what exactly do you mean by 'discipline'?"

Margo groaned audibly and palmed her face. "Sarah, don't even—"

Elias, ignoring Margo, continued. "If you win, I'll give you your sword back. And I'll teach you how to optimize your mana usage so that you won't exhaust yourself using the Ironblade technique again."

Sarah's eyes lit up at the mention of her sword, her most prized possession. The idea of getting it back, and mastering the mana technique that had eluded her for so long, was too tempting. There was no way she could lose this bet.

Elias's grin widened. "As for discipline...well, I'll choose your punishment for being wrong. I have a wide range of options."

Margo shook her head in disbelief. "Sarah, don't. He's up to something. You know he is."

But Sarah was already too far gone, driven by her desire to reclaim her sword. "I accept," she said, her voice firm. There was no way she could lose. Elias had miscalculated this time, and she was sure of it.

Elias pulled out a scroll from his inventory , a contract already written on it in neat, flowing script. "Just to make it official," he said with a smile. "And I've added a clause. Whoever breaches the contract won't be able to hold a sword for a month."

Sarah narrowed her eyes, but she signed it with a flick of her mana. Margo, groaning, followed suit. She was all too familiar with Elias's contracts. The last time she had signed one, she had ended up on the receiving end of his punishment—a memory that still made her wince. She rubbed her backside unconsciously, and Elias's grin widened.

"Let's get this over with," Margo muttered. She glanced at Sarah. "You really shouldn't have agreed to this."

"Too late now," Sarah said, determination in her voice.

Elias gestured ahead. "Margo, count the paces."

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