[Quest completed.]
[Rewards acquired.]
[Shop unlocked.]
The moment I opened my eyes in bed, these things popped into my view.
Staring blankly, I waved my hand in the air to clear the window.
As I took in the unfamiliar ceiling, I let out a chuckle.
‘At least I didn’t end up sleeping rough.’
It was a thought that hit me right after the practical exam.
Seeing Noah and Ichinose Yui in person was nice, but now the problem was figuring out where to go.
My head was spinning, wondering how and where to spend the few days left until the semester started.
Just when I had no solution in sight and was even prepared to sleep rough…
After finishing the exam, I overheard a group of cadets flooding out of the gymnasium, talking about grabbing some food for the dormitory.
I fumbled with my phone and managed to find the guide sent by Orion Academy.
Then it was just move, move, move.
I made my way to the dormitory, which was a short distance from Orion Academy.
Whether it was from using a skill or the hidden tension from the excitement, I was exhausted.
The fatigue had rooted itself deep in my body, and as soon as I reached my room, I crashed into bed and fell asleep.
And so, after bidding farewell to the sticky dream, I opened my eyes.
Looking at the ceiling, I confirmed it.
‘This really isn’t a dream.’
From doubt to certainty.
I was still in the academy city of Elysium.
And I couldn’t be happier about it.
It was a mysterious time where waking up to find it was all a dream wouldn’t have been strange.
But facing the reality that nothing had changed even after a nap, I couldn’t help but laugh.
It felt good to finally put a period on it—this was real.
“Haa…”
Still groggy, I slowly rolled over and grabbed my phone from the corner of the bed to check the time.
‘February 26th, 8:40 PM.’
It was still the day of the placement exam.
I felt like I’d slept deeply, but since I’d dozed off early, the day hadn’t even passed.
‘I slept at such an awkward time.’
I sat up in bed and rubbed my face repeatedly.
Now it was time to get my act together.
I needed to sort out the thoughts I’d been putting off while having fun.
“Ugh.”
I got off the soft bed and stretched my stiff body.
After hanging my uniform on the chair, I looked around.
‘…This room feels lived-in.’
Things I hadn’t noticed when I dove straight into bed now came into view.
Opening the closet, there were a few worn-out but wearable clothes, and in the shoe rack, a pair of sneakers with worn-out soles.
On the desk, there were thick textbooks, a bag, and other basic items—pretty much everything I needed.
‘I guess my character must’ve stayed in the dorm at least once. They probably lived here right after enrolling, and on the way to the placement exam, ‘I’ took over?’
Something like that, I guess.
Overthinking this won’t get me anywhere, so I’ll just wrap it up here.
Though I’m curious about the time that passed without leaving any memories.
Right now, there was a mountain of things to think about regarding the present and the future rather than the past.
‘First.’
The most important issue.
Before making any plans, had I escaped the immediate crisis of death I was facing?
Had I pulled my neck out before the guillotine blade fell?
*Step. Step.*
As I moved to take a shower, I looked at my body reflected in the mirror.
The sense of alienation was at its peak.
No matter how I looked at it, it was a flawless, clean body.
That was the real important point, more than any dissatisfaction with a weak physical condition.
‘…The traces of necrosis are gone, and the scars have disappeared.’
The diseased blood vessels and scars that had spread like spiderwebs around my heart were nowhere to be seen.
Surely, this was thanks to being transferred to a new body.
‘I was clearly just waiting for the day I would die.’
If I had received expensive treatments like high-ranking Hunters, erasing wounds cleanly and extracting monster poisons or energies, it would have been fine.
But most Hunters like me were starting to struggle with the wounds left by monsters as their abilities weakened.
The day when abilities completely disappear and Hunters return to ordinary human bodies.
It seemed obvious to me that a significant number would die.
Even if it was years later, I was aware that the probability of me being included in that bloody storm was extremely high.
But now, there are no such shackle-like traces.
I am a free body.
‘Good! It’s fine!’
The unintended joy of escaping the crisis. My lips curled up frivolously with the lightened heart.
The steps I took to shower felt like feathers.
Although I lived pretending to be indifferent, enjoying the unchanged daily life, it was true that my mind was worn out by the reality of a limited time.
*Swoooosh───!*
Waiting for the hot water, I thought about the next issue.
‘Second.’
Where on earth is the protagonist character of Abyss City?
‘If meeting the main characters in the same class is the starting point, then I’ve already seen the placement, right?’
The protagonist’s gender changes according to the gamer’s choice, and the name also varies.
In this world, I don’t even know if it’s set as male or female.
I couldn’t find them among the cadets pouring out after the practical exam.
‘If this is the case, I might have to wait until the semester starts to find out.’
If time flows like in the game, from the moment the protagonist steps in, the academy city will experience unprecedented incidents.
For someone who loves calm times, it’s truly regrettable.
“…”
*Swoosh!*
By now, the stream of water had turned warm, pouring over my palm.
I stepped under it, letting the water hit me while catching the tail of contemplation and spinning my head around.
‘And next.’
Quest rewards and the shop.
It’s time to check the cheeky skill that took about 5 hours to update.
*Whirrr─!*
A semi-transparent window appeared in front of me, large in size, typing out letters as if being typed.
The stream of water from the showerhead poured through the window and onto my body.
< Shop ─ Lv.1 >
◇ Random Skill Book – 500P (Can be purchased once)
◇ Status Window – 100P (Can be purchased once)
◇ High-Protein Jerky – 3P
◇ Cloud Bread – 2P
◇ Coral Jelly – 2P
◇ Energy Drink – 2P
◇ Bottled Water – 2P
··
··
[Remaining Points – 100P]
“Oh!”
A short exclamation echoed through the cramped shower booth.
My mouth watered at the sight of the items in front of me.
While vigorously scrubbing my head with shampoo, I double-checked the list.
‘What are the chances of the shop leveling up and selling equipment?’
Since skills are already being sold, there’s plenty of potential.
Currently, the shop only offers food and drinks, except for the top two items.
But the anticipation of growth is at its peak.
“Phew! Refreshing!”
After quickly finishing my shower and sacrificing a towel,
I put on comfortable clothes and stared intently at the shop window.
‘If I buy food, how will it be delivered? Will it just drop out of thin air?’
I was feeling hungry and curious, so I thought about buying a 1P food item.
But then…
‘The status window…!’
The remaining points and a tempting item perfectly matching the price stopped me in my tracks.
I couldn’t resist the temptation.
[The status window has been unlocked.]
In gaming terms, it’s like pressing the C key.
I can endure hunger, but curiosity? No way. I’m satisfied.
I eagerly pulled up the status window.
『Name: Rohan
Health: 100%
Mana: 87%
Affiliated Nation: Southern Ruins’ Echo
Affiliated Organization: Orion Academy
Attributes: [Physical] [Fire]
Status: ─
Remaining Points: 0P』
‘Fire!?’
I expected the physical attribute, but the other one? No way.
Why do I have the fire attribute?
“Hmm…”
I paced around the room, thinking, but no clear answer came to mind.
During my Hunter days, my ability was the epitome of simplicity, far from anything flashy.
So, naturally, it had nothing to do with fire.
After walking in circles and racking my brain,
“!”
A plausible guess finally popped up.
‘Maybe it doesn’t mean anything?’
Recalling the attribute cycles of new characters released by Abyss City, I could almost nod in agreement.
The community had already speculated that my slot would likely be fire-attribute.
Having accepted this predetermined outcome,
I put on my sneakers to satisfy the lingering curiosity.
*****
Meanwhile, Ichinose Yui was walking down the street after leaving the dormitory.
Leaving behind her spacious home, starting a life without a chauffeur or bodyguard.
Every time she called her parents, she was overwhelmed with emotions, vowing to stay strong for just two more years.
Today, after finishing her training, she was about to pick up a pen.
Since late-night studying required something sweet, she headed to the convenience store near her dorm.
And so, I set out to explore the cafes.
By the way, I also had to check out the beauty store for cosmetics.
It was February, and the night breeze was still chilly.
The sparkling night view of the academy city, Elysium, was quite different from the atmosphere of my homeland, Samhwa Kingdom.
It was dazzlingly glamorous and more prosperous than I had imagined.
‘Not bad.’
Just walking around seemed like it would keep me entertained for a while.
It felt like this path would be perfect for a post-meal stroll.
Of course.
If only I knew where I was.
“…”
Everything was perfect up until I bought snacks and left the convenience store.
There were so many new snacks I had never tried in Samhwa Kingdom, so I was secretly excited.
With snacks in one hand and a smartphone in the other.
And in the other hand, holding Yoru (夜), which was practically my soul, I was on my way back to the dormitory.
At some point, I realized I was walking down an unfamiliar path.
Bzzz—.
The smartphone in my hand vibrated.
Ichinose opened her eyes, which had been closed, to look at the screen.
[Noah: Why aren’t you in the room? Did you get lost again? ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]
I had repeatedly told Noah not to come over because I was going to study in the evening, but she didn’t even listen with half an ear.
On top of that, the content of the message was infuriating.
‘Who’s the one getting lost here…!’
I should give her a proper warning about treating people like they’re lost all the time.
“Hmph!”
Ichinose walked confidently.
She was confident she wasn’t lost.
‘If I can find my way back, then I’m not lost, right?’
There were many ways to get back to the dormitory.
I could ask for help from the Elysium Security Bureau or use the map app installed on my smartphone.
But using those would feel like admitting I’m bad with directions.
My pride just wouldn’t allow it.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Ichinose aimlessly walked through the night streets, feeling like she was on a stroll.
How long had she been walking straight?
A strange presence caught her attention, and Ichinose stopped in her tracks, slowly opening her eyes.
Golden eyes glanced to one side.
‘That guy?’
In a dark alley where not a single ray of light reached, there was a vending machine.
Someone was staring at the vending machine with a serious expression.
‘…Number 99?’
It was definitely the guy who had split the test golem in half.
