"U-Useless?"
"YES! USELESS! YOU'RE THE LOWEST OF ALL!"
The man appeared to be in his fifties, perhaps nearing sixty. His sharp, weathered wrinkles weren't sagging, his eyes gleamed with the sharpness of youth, and his hair and beard had long since turned white with age.
A crown rested on his head, its weight barely matching the fury etched across his face. His clenched teeth ground together, his anger palpable as he glared at her, clearly enraged by the outcome.
"Throw her out!"
The guards at the massive door behind her moved swiftly, hauling her away without hesitation. She didn't flinch or protest. Too many events had unfolded too quickly from the blinding flash of light, the sudden shift in her surroundings, and now, being called "useless" the moment she arrived.
It was all too much to process.
"Another failed soul attempt?" one knight muttered to the other as they dragged the girl along.
"Seems like it. The king, after all, is... weak," the other knight responded with a shrug.
Soul attempt?
The king's weak?
What in the world was happening?
"Tch, you're too loud! She'll probably snitch on us!" one knight hissed.
"Just throw her out already!" the other snapped.
They marched her through the castle, its towering stone walls looming over them, adorned with ancient tapestries that whispered of long-forgotten history. It smelled like old wood and stone, and the faint echo of their footsteps bounced off the cold, unfeeling walls.
Finally, they reached the massive gates of the castle. They tossed her out, leaving her to tumble onto the ground as the heavy gates slammed shut behind her.
One of the knights unsheathed his sword. "If you snitch on us, we'll kill you!" he threatened, pressing the blade just enough into her cheek to draw blood.
She didn't even flinch. Just stood there like someone mildly inconvenienced by a papercut.
When they finally marched off, she dusted herself off and walked away on wobbly legs, her thoughts trailing far behind.
Her body still felt wrong like a rental she hadn't agreed to. Did they really mean her soul got stuffed into someone else's body?
Wandering down the cobblestone path, she found herself weaving past trees until a quiet river came into view. She plopped down beside it, staring into the gentle current.
Man… what even is my life right now?
As she pondered, a sudden DING! echoed above her head.
No, it can't be...
⬧︎[] System Notification []
⬧︎[] Welcome, New User! []
⬧︎[] Congratulations! You've been chosen to embark on your new journey in this world! []
⬧︎[] Unfortunately, based on the system's evaluation, you have not been destined for anything particularly... grand. []
⬧︎[] You are not the hero, the villain, nor anything in between. In fact, it appears your fate lies somewhere far more... ordinary. []
⬧︎[] Please adjust your expectations accordingly. []
There's no doubt about it. I'm living the most clichéd scenario ever. A system, really?
She'd hoped this was just a dream, the kind of nonsense she'd read about in far too many ridiculous novels. In an attempt to snap herself out of it, she pinched her cheek. but the sharp sting that followed made it painfully clear.
This wasn't a dream. This was a nightmare turned reality.
What did I do to deserve this?
⬧︎[] If you're curious, you may command "Status!" to open up. []
Truly disgusting... fine then...
"Status!" she groaned, practically choking on the word. It was, after all, the most overused line in every garbage-tier novel she'd ever suffered through.
Just saying it made her want to gag.
⬧︎[] Welcome to the System! []
⬧︎[] User Status: []
⬧︎[] Name: Liora [???] []
⬧︎[] Age: 18 Years Old []
⬧︎[] Race: Human []
⬧︎[] Rank: F-Rank (Background Extra) []
⬧︎[] Level: 1 []
⬧︎[] Formancy: Apatheia []
⬧︎[] Buffs: None []
⬧︎[] Skills: None []
⬧︎[] Affiliation: None []
⬧︎[] Current Objective: None []
⬧︎[] Note: You are among the lowest of the low—the background extra. Don't expect any special treatment or heroic moments. []
If she had to guess, this was going to be some typical level-up nonsense. "How do I level up?" she asked aloud, not that she actually cared. Honestly, the idea of grinding for stats made her soul itch.
⬧︎[] Due to your F-Rank System, your growth is... minimal. []
⬧︎[] EXP Gain: +1 EXP per day (only if you successfully avoid all attention). []
⬧︎[] Penalty: Any form of recognition, attention, or the discovery of your identity will nullify EXP gain for that day. []
⬧︎[] This passive experience is granted by your assigned Formancy: Apatheia – the Path of Indifference. []
⬧︎[] It is extremely challenging to get out from the Background Extra rank. Barely anyone can. []
⬧︎[] You have no quests, no missions, and no guidance. []
⬧︎[] Your only objective: Stay out of the spotlight. []
⬧︎[] Good luck, and may you find peace in your underwhelming existence! []
"Are you serious?..." she paused for a moment.
"THAT SOUNDS LIKE A DREAM!"
Forget about dealing with attention, corrupt politicians, or the endless parade of tragedy she'd had to manage in her previous life as a lawyer.
She only became a lawyer because her family had insisted, desperate to boast about having a "gifted" daughter. Now? All that weight had disappeared. No more expectations, no more endless stress.
She could just... be.
It felt like a weight had been lifted.
"I should clean my wound," she hummed happily, standing up and heading toward the river, only to freeze when she saw...
Gone?
"What?..." She touched the spot where the knight's blade had left a mark, but instead of a wound, there was nothing. Only a smooth, scarless skin. The dried blood remained, but the injury itself had vanished.
Frowning in confusion, she bent down, grabbed a rock, and sliced her hand, wincing at the sharp sting. She watched in disbelief as the wound began to fade before her eyes.
"Why did it... heal?"