"I said hey, so Hana… do you wanna come with me? I'm thinking of buying a house."
Hana glanced up from her phone, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Ah, okay. Let's go."
We hopped into my Bambargine G1 and cruised down the boulevard until we arrived at the sleek, glass-paneled building of Orame Deals—the most talked-about real estate hub in town.
"I think this is the place everyone comes to when they want a house," I said, glancing at the massive showroom.
Hana nodded. "Yes."
Inside, a sharply dressed employee walked over with a tablet in hand. "What is your budget, sir?"
I answered confidently. "120 million won."
The employee's eyes lit up. "Right this way, sir. This is one of our finest high-class mansions."
He led us to a digital display showing a stunning black-and-white modern mansion. I turned to Hana.
"What do you think? Should I buy it?"
She pointed at the screen without hesitation. "This one."
I smiled. "Miss, I'll take that one."
The employee quickly brought out the paperwork. I signed without a second thought and transferred 119 million won. My account now read: ₩1,317,500.
"Let's go check it out, haha!"
We arrived at the mansion. It was even better than I imagined—tall glass walls, smooth marble flooring, and a quiet elegance in the air.
But then—thud!
I bumped into a low coffee table and stumbled forward, landing directly onto Hana. Our eyes locked. A long moment passed.
Then, we kissed.
One kiss turned into another. And soon, the night slipped away in a haze of laughter, warmth, and intimacy.
> [Hana] Interest value +2 | Current: 49/100
[Hana] Interest value +5 | Current: 54/100
The system chimed:
"Host, you have successfully completed your Girlfriend Mission. Rewards will be granted."
But I ignored the message. I was lost in the moment—with Hana.
> [Hana] Interest value +4 | Current: 58/100
[Hana] Interest value +2 | Current: 60/100
[Hana] Interest value +10 | Current: 70/100
[Hana] Interest value +2 | Current: 72/100
---
The Next Morning
Hana nudged me gently. "Hey, Alex, wake up."
"Mm? What's up?" I mumbled, still half-asleep.
She stood by the window, brushing her hair. "You know I'm a university student, right?"
"Oh—right. Wait a sec, I'll change and drop you off."
"Okay."
Ten minutes later, I emerged ready. "Let's go."
"Okay," she said with a warm smile.
I dropped her at her university gate.
"Bye! Don't worry—I'll pick you up later," I said, waving.
"Okay. Bye!"
Just as she walked away, a system notification flashed in front of me.
"Ding!"
Rewards Granted:
+7 Strength Points
+70 State Points
Ownership Acquired: sotty.channel.com (100%)
Hidden Reward: +15 Stamina Points
A glowing holographic screen appeared before me:
---
Status Panel
Name: Alex Gallardo
Age: 21
Strength: 24/100 (Soldier) [+]
Stamina: 20/100 (Normal) [+]
Mana: 0/100 (No Mana) [+]
Appearance: 10/10 (Attractive) [+]
Current State Pt: 121
Points available for ability upgrades. Complete missions to gain points. 10 pt = 1 Attribute.
As I watched Hana disappear into the university courtyard, the glow of the holographic screen slowly faded. I stood there a moment longer, my hands still in my jacket pockets, my thoughts racing.
Strength: 24
Stamina: 20
Appearance: 10
Mana: 0
Mana... It was still at zero. The screen offered a [+] option, but nothing happened when I touched it.
"Tch. Locked, huh?" I muttered.
Just then, the system chimed again:
> [Mission Alert]
Title: A Glimpse into the Arcane
Objective: Visit the hidden shop behind the old book café near Chamsil Bridge.
Reward: Unlock Mana Pathway | 1 billion in host account| +1 Unknown Skill
Time Limit: 6 hours
"Mana pathway?" I blinked. "So this is where it starts…"
I got back into the Bambargine G1 and set the GPS to Chamsil Bridge. The car's engine purred like a lion, and within thirty minutes, I was standing in front of an old, weathered book café called Leaf & Lore.
The air smelled like coffee and rain. A quiet bell chimed as I entered.
"Looking for the restricted section?" the barista asked, not even glancing up from her book.
I hesitated. "Uh… yeah?"
She pointed to a shelf near the back. "Push The Arcane Thread and step back."
I did as instructed. A soft click echoed through the room, and the bookshelf slid aside, revealing a dark stairwell.
"I swear this is some anime stuff," I muttered, descending the stairs.
---
Underground Shop – The Arcanum
Dimly lit with floating lanterns and books that turned pages by themselves, the place was a dream—or a nightmare.
Huh so this is crystal
I did. Without warning, a sharp crystal was jammed against my chest. Pain lanced through me like fire, and a message popped up.
> Mana Pathway Unlocked
Mana: 1/100
New Skill Acquired: Mana Pulse (Passive)
Ding!
Mission Complete. Rewards Granted.
+1 Unknown Skill: [Mana Pulse – Your presence now affects powerful entities. Passive aura activated.]
As I gasped, catching my breath.
But before I could react more, everything around me vanished—and I was suddenly back outside, in front of the book café.
My phone buzzed.
[Hana]: Done with classes. You said you'd pick me up, right? :)
I stared at the screen, torn between two worlds now—one of romance and one of awakening power.
"Yeah… I'll be there in 10."