Baskara was currently standing inside a deserted boarding house. One of the rooms had its door wide open. There, on a bed without any sheets, lay a dingy white figure. He wasn't floating, he wasn't doing that creepy ghost laugh—he was just… lying on his side, hugging a bolster that smelled more "mystical" than incense. Actually, it mostly just smelled like dirty socks.
"Oi! Wake up! What kind of ghost are you?!" Kara barked. "How can a ghost be this lazy? You're embarrassing the entire ghost community, man."
The ghost, Rebahano, just curled up tighter. "Ugh… who's making all that noise? I'm too lazy for this… I'll just haunt people when it's time to check out… anyway, the person I was supposed to scare ended up falling asleep too… yawn—" The ghost let out a massive yawn.
"Damn, is this a ghost or a Professional Couch Potato?!" Kara stood there, dumbfounded.
[Info: Rebahano the Ghost. A spirit who died because he waited so long for a crush's reply that he literally forgot to breathe. Skill: Makes everyone nearby feel super lazy and want to nap forever.]
'Holy crap, he forgot how to breathe? That's embarrassing. Dude was so whipped it actually killed him,' Kara thought.
[That's what you call a 'human burden,' host. Luckily you have me—the kind, thrifty, non-gossiping system who always reminds you to be good. Without me, what would you even be?]
Baskara just let out an annoyed sigh. It was useless to argue with the System.
"Let me handle this, Mas!" Nyai Mangkududo stepped forward, pulling out a bottle of aromatherapy oil. "Oi, Rebahano! You waking up or what?! Don't make me rub this stuff right under your nose!"
"Aww, don't be like that," Rebahano grumbled, lazily floating up toward a dark cloud on the ceiling. "Just yesterday, the Ghost Elders gave me a mission to scare the villagers, but as soon as I passed by, they all just fell asleep. Don't blame me! If I go back to hell, they'll make me carry rocks all day. Too lazy for that. This has been my dream since forever—no work, no school, just rotting in bed all day."
Flashback...
Nyai Mangkududo had finally returned from Baskara's shack, her face beaming because of a "flying kiss" (which was 100% just her imagination). She saw Ki Mangkurondo still sprawled out, clutching his bloated stomach which was making a sound like a broken radio.
"I'm home, guys!!!" Nyai shouted as she kicked the door open—not very "aesthetic" for a high-ranking shaman.
"Nyai… how was it? Did Ki Kara Google agree to lift the curse? I can't take it anymore…" Ki Mangkurondo groaned from the sofa.
"Aki, stop being a baby. Here, I'll help deflate it a bit so you can at least walk," Nyai said as she slapped a jumbo-sized chili plaster onto her husband's belly.
"AWWW! IT'S BURNING, NYAI! IS THIS A CURSE OR ARE YOU MAKING SPICY SEBLAK?!" Ki Mangkurondo screamed. It felt like a plaster straight from hell.
"Shut up! I have business with Mas Kara. Be quiet or I'll add some nails to that belly of yours!"
Ki Mangkurondo shook his head frantically. "No, Nyai! Please!"
'Damn that Baskara... how did he turn my wife into this?' Ki Mangkurondo cursed in his heart. He definitely needed a new plan.
Back to the Present...
Just as Baskara was about to enjoy his cold fried tempeh, the patched-up black robe of Nyai Mangkududo appeared at the end of the road again. This time, she wasn't running flirtatiously; she was walking with a "professional" vibe (even though her lipstick was still a bit messy).
"Tem, is this the price I have to pay for being this handsome?" Kara sighed.
[Ugh, please. You're so full of it. I could look like that too if I wanted. Stop being so extra. The Little Monster is way more handsome than you, and don't even get me started on my boss—he's a 100/10.]
"Mas Kara!! Your 'pious' wife is back!!" Nyai smiled, approaching the shack.
Kara cringed. He was a bachelor! He wasn't married to this woman! Plus, he had to keep Cruel from becoming a villain. If he messed up, Cruel would definitely end him.
"Mas Kara! Don't run! I'm not here for 'husband duties,' I'm here to offer a partnership!" Nyai shouted from the gate.
"Tem, tell me if there's an option to move to another planet," Kara whispered.
[Planet-hopping is unavailable, but I can help you faking your death. Want a fake death certificate? It's only 500 Merit points.]
"Screw you! No!" Kara stood up. "What partnership? If it's about Aki's belly, the answer is still no!"
Nyai waved her hand. "Not that! The village next door, Sukamaju—though their ghosts are definitely not 'maju' (advancing)—is having a huge problem. Two ghosts are terrorizing the residents. If we fix it, the Village Chief will pay us big time!"
[Notification! Joint Mission: Sukamaju Expedition. Target: Rebahano & Resleting. Reward: Meatball soup aroma + 10 Sin points deduction.]
Kara's eyes lit up at the thought of reducing his sin balance, but he had to play hard to get. "Ahem… I don't know… I have a lot of high-profile international clients right now," he said, making his voice sound deep and raspy.
[Clients? International? Host, you're literally unemployed. Stop daydreaming, you're clearly hallucinating from being broke.]
"Oh? So Aki is busy with clients?" Ki Mangkurondo asked (who had somehow tagged along), looking worried. "Are they male or female?"
"Female—"
"I KNEW IT!!! AKI, YOU'RE SO MEAN! A female client?! You're cheating on me, aren't you?!" Nyai shrieked.
'Wha—?! Why is she acting like a cheated-on wife? Please, System, talk some sense into this woman. Her actual husband is right there!'
Cruel suddenly appeared behind Kara, clutching a shiny kitchen knife. "Stop making stuff up. My brother isn't married to you. He belongs only to me," Cruel said with a cold, sharp glare that made Nyai instantly shut up.
"So, Nyai... what's the deal with this neighboring village?" Kara asked, trying to change the subject.
"Right! The villagers are being haunted. Well, not exactly 'haunted,' but everyone has become super lazy. Even the Village Chief, who was all dressed up to go to his 'grandfather's father's' wedding, cancelled because he got too sleepy. The whole village has been rotting for a week!"
'Grandfather's father? That's just his great-grandfather, you idiot!' Kara thought.
Back at the Empty Boarding House...
Baskara was trying to think of a way to kick out this lazy ghost. He cleared his throat. "Hey... ghost man. You're always just 'rotting' here. Don't you get lonely?"
Kara looked at Rebahano, trying not to laugh. The ghost was wearing black boxers, a massive oversized white t-shirt, had huge dark circles under his eyes like a panda, and a bald head. He looked more like a tuyul (child spirit), but instead of stealing money, he stole people's productivity.
"Look, I get it... but just sleeping all day with no one to talk to is boring, right? How about I find you a ghost partner to haunt—"
"Ki, watch out! / Brother, look out!!!" Nyai and Cruel screamed simultaneously as...
WHOOSH!!!!!!!!!