I, the System Creator

Busujima Saeko: "Congratulations to Illya on growing 1 centimeter taller..."

Administrator: "Interrupting the repeat above, and congratulations to Illya on growing 1 centimeter taller..."

Haibara Ai: "Aren't you saying the exact same thing yourself, Administrator..."

Administrator: "I said 1 centimeter. What does that have to do with your 1 centimeter... It's like me calling you Miyano Shiho—what does that have to do with you, Haibara Ai..."

Haibara Ai: "..."

Yukino Yukinoshita: "..."

Busujima Saeko: "..."

Ilyasviel: "I'm so tired... Why do I have to suffer pain that someone my age shouldn't have to bear?!"

Illya felt like crying, but no tears came. System, get out here! Can't you give me a more normal reward?!

A 1-level boost in magical power—I can't even use it... A 1-centimeter increase in height—what use is that... And now my own teacher is teasing me about getting lazy... Illya felt so exhausted...

Yukino Yukinoshita: "I'm getting a little nervous too... Don't let it be another improper reward, or I really will go crazy!"

Ever since the daily check-in, she felt that the entire System's style had become somewhat abnormal.

"Well, I'll head in first. Don't stand outside for too long either..."

With that, Chu Chen was the first to enter the school, though he cast an amused glance at Emiya Shirou.

An idea gradually took shape in Chu Chen's mind. The two of them had come together—if he didn't stir something up, wouldn't that be a waste?

Quietly, Chu Chen opened his interface and silently issued Illya a task.

Illya, who had been about to quietly walk into the school, suddenly stiffened, and even the System Network fell silent.

Ilyasviel von Einzbern has triggered an event check-in: Strike an extremely cool pose and say: "Regarding Brother's confession to Illya last time, all Illya can say is, I'm sorry! Brother, you're a good person..."

Check-in time limit: 5 minutes

Check-in reward: 1 random single-use Magical Girl Transformation Card

A confession? When had Brother ever confessed to me... But Illya quickly realized that this was the System messing with her! Hadn't even Sister Yukino been tormented speechless by this System?

In an instant, Illya's cheeks flushed crimson. She was embarrassed, but even more than that, she was at a loss, because—

She swept her gaze across the students entering the academy. There were not many, but there were still people around. If she... if she said those words, Brother would probably suffer instant social death...

Her brother confessing to his own little sister... Though this had never happened in the first place, the System was clearly just trying to cause trouble!

And if Kiritsugu heard this, he would definitely break Brother's legs... And even if Kiritsugu did not return, Sella alone would be enough to make Brother suffer... But Sella was not here, so those words should not reach her, right...

Yukino Yukinoshita: "..."

Busujima Saeko: "..."

Haibara Ai: "...Illya, your brother is beyond saving. Just wait for death!"

Illya: I Didn't Want to Do This Either, But the System Offered Too Much...

"What's wrong, Illya?"

Emiya Shirou noticed that something was off with Illya, but he had no idea why her cheeks were so red.

That was only natural. After hearing such a task, how could Illya possibly stay calm so easily...?

Still, Chu Chen was a little curious. Why did the task of reaching Hohomihara Academy within ten minutes give Illya a 1-level increase in any attribute, while merely saying one sentence could earn her a random Magical Girl Transformation Card?

After all, a random Magical Girl Transformation Card had an incredibly high ceiling and an incredibly low floor. At the high end, it could be as powerful as Madokami, at the multiversal level. Even at the low end, Nanoha was exceptionally powerful, with her signature Starlight Breaker rivaling the King of Knights' Excalibur.

However, Chu Chen was not expecting Illya to gain another Magical Girl's powers.

After all, he had not opened up any other worlds. The only people Illya could probably draw from were herself, Miyu, Tohsaka Rin, and Luvia... the four people who had once transformed into Magical Girls...

But then again, did the System consider saying those words so difficult for Illya?

Catching sight of Illya's bright-red face, Chu Chen silently nodded to himself. It really was.

At the rate Illya was hesitating, the five minutes would probably be gone before long... Chu Chen inwardly complained.

Of course, he had only issued this task because of his wicked sense of humor and wanted to mess with Emiya Shirou's head.

Besides, wasn't it fun to watch this as a bystander eating popcorn...?

And once five minutes passed, the check-in task would disappear automatically. It was not as though she had to complete it.

The Check-in System was highly flexible. This was not a mandatory task, and failure would not cause any problems.

Illya's face was flushed red, her little face full of hesitation as thoughts spun ceaselessly through her mind.

At that moment, it was as if an angel and a demon were fighting nonstop inside Illya's head. Even Chu Chen, standing nearby, was left speechless. Was Illya really this conflicted?

However, Chu Chen had underestimated Illya's desire and determination to become a Magical Girl!

Illya looked as though she had made up her mind. Her cheeks were crimson, and after her gaze lingered on the random Magical Girl Transformation Card for a moment, she seemed to give up entirely. She struck an extraordinarily chuunibyou pose and shouted loudly.

"Regarding Brother's confession to Illya last time, all Illya can say is, I'm sorry! Brother, you're a good person..."

This was so embarrassing, but there was no helping it... The System... offered far too much...

Ilyasviel von Einzbern has completed the event check-in. Reward: Takamachi Nanoha Transformation Card (first series era).

At that moment, Chu Chen's expression became exceptionally colorful. You actually shouted it...

Emiya Shirou: "(｀Д)!!"

Nearby students: "(｀Д)!!"

People in the System Network: "(｀Д)!!"

And even...

"Shirou~..."

A voice like an evil ghost emerging from hell slowly drifted over, jolting Emiya Shirou awake...

His head turned slowly and stiffly, as though gears had been attached to it, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Sella..."

That was right. The one who had arrived was Illya's family's professional maid—Sella!

At this moment, Sella was enveloped in a violet glow, her eyes filled with scarlet radiance. She looked as though she had been possessed by an evil spirit. Under that gaze, Emiya Shirou immediately felt that his end had come.

There was nothing wrong with that... After Illya said something like that, he had basically suffered social death at school already!

Sure enough, people nearby were already pointing at Emiya Shirou behind his back. He could even imagine how the students would spread this news more and more wildly until it became increasingly outrageous...

Student A: "Hey, hey, hey... I heard there's a student at our academy who made a move on his own little sister..."

Student B: "Your information is outdated. I heard they already got their marriage certificate..."

Student C: "No, no! What I heard was that after the student and his little sister got their marriage certificate, their parents refused to accept them, so they've already eloped..."

Emiya Shirou: "(╯‵□)╯︵┻━┻! Don't talk nonsense! I never made a move on my little sister!"

Sella, wrapped in an ominous aura, slowly approached Emiya Shirou. The lunchbox in her hand had already been crushed by her grip.

It seemed this maid had come to deliver lunch. Illya and Emiya Shirou had probably rushed out in such a hurry that they forgot to bring it.

Emiya Shirou did not dare move at all. His entire body was stiff as he glanced to the side, wanting to ask Illya for help, but...

Illya was not paying attention to Emiya Shirou at all. Instead, she stared excitedly at the card that had suddenly appeared in her hand, along with a box of tapes... As for where that box of tapes had come from...

Administrator has sent Illya a red packet. Please accept it.

Administrator: "Illya, you really are impressive. Consider this box of Magical Girl Tapes a gift from me. Go watch it... This is the anime DVD for the Magical Girl you transformed into. Good luck..."

It had to be said that Chu Chen had received far too many useless items in the early stages. This thing would just gather dust with him, so he might as well give it to Illya. Besides, he was genuinely stunned by what she had just done.

When it came to screwing over her brother, Illya, I acknowledge you as the strongest!

Overjoyed, Illya immediately cast aside her earlier embarrassment and ran toward the school without another word.

Of course, before leaving, Illya gave her brother an encouraging look. Hang in there! Hold out against Sella!

"Brother... I'll pray for you! Good luck!"

With that, Illya skipped toward the school, utterly unconcerned that Sella might come after her.

The reason was simple. In everyone else's eyes, it was her brother who had made a move on his little sister...

Silently offering a moment of mourning for Young Master Emiya, Chu Chen also slowly entered the school, a faint smile on his face.

"Good thing I always keep recording mode on. I recorded every word Illya said... Hehe..."

Chu Chen was full of smug satisfaction as he quietly headed toward his office.

Good luck, Young Master... I'll be taking my leave first... With that thought, Chu Chen quietly left.

"I only came to bring lunch to you and Illya, Shirou... I never expected that you, Shirou, would actually make a move on someone you should never have touched... Though Illya really is adorable, and I can understand why you would be tempted, but..."

"Wait, wait, wait! Sella! I'm innocent... Illya suddenly..."

"As her brother, you not only made a move on your own little sister, but you're so irresponsible that you won't even admit it? Shirou!!!!!"

"Wait, wait, wait! Sella, where did that weapon in your hand come from...?"

"Die, Shirou! I'll clean house for the mistress right now!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Emiya Shirou's screams echoed in the ears of everyone on campus, making every brother at the school who harbored improper thoughts toward his own little sister instinctively clamp his legs together and immediately snuff out those bad thoughts.

If those screams had happened at night, they might even have become a horror legend on campus...

Illya Is a Ruthless One...

Haibara Ai: "Illya, you really are... too ruthless..."

With a bitter smile, Haibara Ai could already imagine how miserable Illya's brother would be in the days to come.

Administrator: "She's a real savage! I originally thought Illya wouldn't choose to complete that task!"

Honestly, although Chu Chen had issued the task, he had only wanted to watch Illya's embarrassed reaction. He truly had not expected Illya to actually complete it... It was terrifying...

This taught Chu Chen a lesson: you could never imagine just how powerful someone's love for their hobby could be!

Yukino Yukinoshita: "We still underestimated the allure Magical Girls held for Illya!"

Yukino, who had been working on the Huanggang Secret Scroll, stopped writing, her expression extremely subtle.

Busujima Saeko: "This has reached the level of obsession, hasn't it... Terrifying..."

Busujima Saeko, who was practicing swordsmanship at the moment, could not help but smile bitterly. Illya truly was frightening...

Illya, meanwhile, had entered the classroom afterward with her face flushed red. Hearing her brother's screams, she felt a little guilty too. Why had she actually said it? Still, fortunately, none of the classmates she knew were around...

Otherwise, if they had heard it, then... Illya could not even imagine it.

Illya: "I don't know why I actually shouted it out. It's just that the System..."

Haibara Ai: "Offered too much?"

Illya: "..."

Administrator: "At the end of the day, it was still the charm of Magical Girls... For Illya, anything related to Magical Girls is a bonus. How could Illya, who had always yearned to become a Magical Girl, possibly resist their temptation?"

Illya: "..."

Haibara Ai: "By the way, Administrator, what exactly is that Transformation Card Illya received?"

Quietly, Haibara Ai steered the topic back. If this continued, Illya would probably die of embarrassment.

Though Illya's stunt had indeed left Haibara Ai and the others dumbfounded, a little teasing was enough. There was no need to keep talking about it. Illya had her pride too...

Illya: "Right, Mister Administrator, what did you mean when you said that DVD was about the Magical Girl I transformed into? Does that mean this Magical Girl is from some anime DVD?"

Illya was grateful that Haibara Ai had changed the subject, and she immediately followed along.

Administrator: "It's simple. There are so many worlds—can you be certain that the anime you watch is definitely fictional rather than a real world? Can you be certain that your own world isn't anime in someone else's world? Information from some worlds always unintentionally leaks into other worlds, and then it becomes what you call anime..."

Administrator: "The Transformation Card Illya received belongs to a Magical Girl from a certain world. Hmm... that world's level isn't low, so Illya, you're quite lucky. And the anime DVD I gave you is related to that world. You can go back and watch it. Once you finish, you'll more or less be familiar with all her moves."

Illya: "(^▽^)!"

Haibara Ai: "Jealous..."

Busujima Saeko: "Jealous +1..."