"Ding! Host's emotional fluctuation has reached the activation threshold. Lie-Flat System bound."
I sprang to my feet and looked around, making sure no one was nearby.
"Lie-Flat System?" I tentatively called out in my mind.
"This System is designed to help the Host acquire skills while in a 'giving-up' state. Each time the Host maintains this state, progress accumulates by the second, and a random skill is awarded."
"Giving up? Random skills?"
"That's right, Host. The rules are as follows: First, to be in a giving-up state, the Host must abandon all active thinking, learning, and effort, and maintain a 'good-for-nothing' mindset. Second, each second spent in this state adds 1% progress. Third, whenever progress reaches 100%, the Host receives a random skill, with no limit on skill level."
I fell silent for about ten seconds.
Then I laughed.
I actually fucking laughed.
After three years, had I become such a complete loser that even a System couldn't stand it anymore?
"Fine," I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and emptied my mind. "I'll fucking show you how to give up."
One second.
Two seconds.
I thought about nothing, did nothing, and stood there pretending I was dead.
"Ding! Giving-up state maintained for 3 seconds. Progress: 3%."
"Ding! Giving-up state maintained for 5 seconds. Progress: 5%."
"Ding! Giving-up state maintained for 10 seconds. Progress: 10%."
My mind gradually relaxed. I thought about nothing and cared about nothing.
Forty seconds later...
"Ding! Progress at 100%. Drawing random skill..."
I held my breath.
"Congratulations, Host. You have received a C-rank skill: Chef's Touch."
