Urae's house from Small Town of Willowrest.
[Time 10:00PM]
Keeping up his grind, hours slipped by like nothing. Shanz lay flat on the floor, chest rising and falling as if he had just gone twelve rounds in a fight. His forearm draped across his eyes, his whole body drenched in sweat—from his messy hair all the way down to his trembling feet. The wooden floor beneath him was soaked, a small pool forming under his back.
"Would… you look… at… that," he muttered between ragged breaths, a crooked grin fighting its way onto his tired face. "So this is my body's limit, huh? Can't even… move it move it anymore…"
He tried pushing himself up, only managing to sit halfway before collapsing back down, groaning. His lungs burned, his arms felt like lead, but still he chuckled under his breath. "Sheesh… pathetic. I can't even crawl right now."
After a long pause, he sucked in another deep breath and shook his head. "Nah, if I don't stretch, I'm gonna regret it tomorrow."
Despite his trembling muscles, he forced himself through a series of stretches. Arms twisting, wrists rotating, neck rolling up, down, left, and right. His legs spread as wide as he could manage, ankles flexing and feet twisting like rusty gears. Every movement made him wince, but he still kept going.
"All done…" he exhaled, falling back against the floor again. His chest heaved, his face red from effort. He stared at the ceiling blankly before a curious thought crossed his mind.
"In all these hours… how much did I even achieve?"
-
[ATTRIBUTES]
Strength: 12 > 39 (+27)
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 1
Charisma: 1
Luck: ???
[ATTRIBUTE POINTS]
- Unspent Stat Points: 0
- Potential Ascension: LOCKED
...
Shanz's grin slowly crept across his face as he pulled the glowing display back up. His eyes widened, then sparkled with satisfaction.
"Twenty-seven points increased, huh?" he muttered, a small laugh slipping past his tired lips. "That's actually not bad at all… Not bad for breaking myself into a puddle."
He leaned forward, still panting, and wiped the sweat dripping from his chin. "I wonder if my strength can even—" He paused mid-sentence, eyes narrowing at the panel. "Wait… what's my level, anyway?"
-
[MAIN STATUS]
Name: Shanz Aelric
Age: 9
Class: None
Sub-Class: LOCKED
Level: 5
Health: 150 / 150
Mana: 100 / 100
Stamina: 100 / 100
...
"W-what? That's kinda weird…" Shanz tilted his head, frowning at the glowing screen. "Why is my level still 5 even though my attributes keep going up from physical work?"
He scratched the back of his head, staring harder at the display as if it might suddenly explain itself. "Hmm… that reminds me… there's no exp bar either. No quests. No numbers ticking up."
He let out a slow sigh, dropping his head back. "So what, I can grind strength all day, but my level's stuck? That's just… lame."
Dragging himself toward the window, he rested his arm on the sill, the cold night air brushing his sweaty skin. His gaze drifted toward the outside.
"Hmmm… maybe it only increases if I kill a monster. Or a rare beast… or maybe—" his lips curled into a crooked grin, "a human?"
As his thoughts lingered in the corners of his mind, Shanz paused, realizing something odd. Why am I only focusing on strength? He tilted his head, frowning. "Increasing levels… stacking strength… but what am I forgetting? Something's missing here…"
His memories suddenly flashed back to the time he fought that special goblin. The image of its claws, the pain, the helplessness—clear as day.
"Hmmm… fighting that goblin was a pain in the ass. I couldn't even defend myse—" He stopped mid-thought, eyes widening. "Defend… defend… Defense!"
He smacked his forehead, groaning. "Oh come on, how the hell did I forget that? Defense stats! Like resistance or durability… If I keep grinding strength alone, I'll just end up a glass cannon. Better start building some resistance before I get turned into goblin chow again."
-
[SYSTEM]
DEFENSE MECHANISM HAS BEEN UNLOCKED!
....
-
Showing Description...
-
[DEFENSE MECHANISMS]
-
Status Defense
Magic Resistance
-
— Damage Types —
Physical > bleed, acid, sonic, gravity
Elemental > fire, ice, lightning, wind, earth, water
Magical > light, dark, arcane
Status > poison, paralysis, disease, curse
Mental > fear, charm, mind control
...
Shanz's eyes widened as the display unfolded before him, his whole body stiffening. "T-this… this is way too detailed. Like, what the hell am I supposed to fight, a god? Tch, dang… that ain't even cool."
He rubbed his temple, half laughing in disbelief.
"Is my system just flexing on me right now? Unlocking all this heavy stuff but leaving me hanging with zero clue? What about my old traumas, huh? Oh my days… this grind's gonna be hell."
A new line popped up.
-
[SYSTEM]
Summarizing....
-
OVERALL
Physical = body durability.
Status = debuff/ailments.
Mental = psychological/illusion/mind-based.
Magic = all elemental/spell damage.
...
Shanz blinked at the simplified version, then tilted his head. "Oh… nevermind then. Guess it's basic after all. Physical, status, mental, magic. Easy enough. But hold up…" His eyes narrowed at the fractions.
-
[DEFENSE MECHANISM]
Physical : 0.5
Status : 0.2
Mental : 0.5
Magic : 0.3
-
He squinted at the numbers, frowning. "A fraction? Just half points? Bruh, how am I supposed to level that up? This ain't anime logic—it feels like Einstein himself coded this system just to mess with me." Shanz threw his hands up. "What kind of cracked balance is this?! Half points? Really?"
-
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Gaining by adaptation..
-
Shanz froze, then grinned like a maniac. "Oooh, adaptation, huh? That's… actually kinda OP. But fractions? Seriously? Balanced my ass. Watch this thing get patched in the next update or some shit. Just leave me alone, system—I'm not your beta tester!"
As the display faded away, Shanz pushed himself off the floor and flopped onto the bed, his eyes drifting toward the door. A sigh slipped out of him.
"Hah… why isn't Urae back yet? Still not home, still no sign of her…" His brows furrowed, unease crawling in his chest. "Now my instincts are acting up like crazy. Ugh, don't tell me something happened…"
He shut his eyes for a moment, exhaling through his nose. "No… I should put my faith in her. She'll come back safe. She always does."
His stomach suddenly growled, loud and sharp after the hours of workout. Shanz rubbed his belly, chuckling dryly. "Great… perfect timing. Starving to death after sweating my soul out. And to think—this is only my second day here.
Two more days and I'm supposed to step into an academy, Man… planning, training, learning… all this while nearly keeling over hungry. What a life."
Time ticked by. The dim glow on Shanz's left wrist display blinked 11:23 PM. His eyelids grew heavier with every second, each yawn longer than the last. His body, worn out from training, sank deeper into the bed.
Minutes slipped by as he waited for Urae. Still no footsteps. Still no knock at the door.
"This is… weird. Not like her at all…" he muttered, his voice slurred with fatigue. His eyes fluttered, fighting to stay open. "Maybe… I should just sleep this one out…"
With one last yawn, the world went dark. Sleep took him.
And once again, the nightmare came.
Blank at first, until the black fog crept in. Shadows stretched and curled around him, thicker and thicker, smothering everything. His body twitched, fidgeting. Sweat beaded on his skin. He couldn't escape it. Couldn't wake. Could only endure as the whispers coiled tighter around his mind.
-
[DEFENSE MECHANISM]
Physical: 0.5
Status: 0.2
Mental: 0.5 > 0.6 (Increased!)
Magic: 0.3
-
Hours blurred. When the morning finally arrived, the display read (7:47 AM) .
Shanz's eyes cracked open, staring at the ceiling in silence. He didn't move, frozen in place as a single thought echoed in his head.
"Now that's weird. She's still not back? Is she always like this…? Where the hell is she?"
Sunlight streamed through the window, washing the room in gold, but his gaze stayed fixed on the ceiling, then drifted to the door. Waiting.
"Well… at least that nightmare wasn't for nothing. Guess it came with a little perk…"
A small grin tugged at his lips, though his unease never faded.
Shanz pushed himself upright on the bed, fingers running through his long black hair to fix the messy strands. He slid back into his long-sleeve shirt, pulling it over his shoulders with a tired grunt. Stretching both arms straight up, he let out a yawn as his neck cracked.
"Unexpectedly… this body can crack its neck too. Huh—"
Grrrrr.
His stomach interrupted with a loud growl, making him rub his belly with a flat look.
"Great. Now I'm starving. Guess that means I gotta head out of town and hunt something down to eat…"
He stood by the bed, stretching his legs, twisting his waist until it popped. Then, reaching to the side, he grabbed his katana and rested it against his shoulder.
Crossing the room, he placed a hand on the doorknob and gave it a turn. The door swung open, sunlight immediately spilling in, dazzling his eyes and casting a long shadow behind him.
Shanz squinted into the light, lips tugging into a grin.
"Alright then… wise morning, wise actions."
Shanz shut the door behind him with a soft click and lifted his gaze to the streets ahead. Three paths stretched out in front of him, each branching deeper into town.
He crossed his arms, scanning the roads like a general planning war.
"Hmmm… so, which way's outta here? Front gate? Back gate? Doesn't matter. Woods are the goal. Hunt some animals… or maybe monsters if I'm lucky."
His eyes lit up for a moment.
"Oh right! About the level thing—I still gotta experiment. Maybe hunting's the key to leveling up. And if not, at least I can boost agility while running around."
Nodding to himself like he'd just solved some grand mystery, Shanz cracked his knuckles and grinned.
"Alright then. Let's gow."
He kicked off into a jog, weaving through the morning bustle of the town. People carried baskets, chatted, or haggled at stands, but Shanz ducked, twisted, and sidestepped between them with the clumsy grace of someone half-training, half-trying not to get yelled at.
A few townsfolk paused mid-step, their eyes following the boy with the black hair and the sheathed katana at his waist. Whispers trailed behind him like faint echoes.
"Isn't that the child Miss Urae took in?"
"…he's carrying a blade… looks too heavy for him."
"Strange… I've never seen a kid move like that."
-
-
[DEFENSE MECHANISM]
Physical: 0.5
Status: 0.2
Mental: 0.6 > 0.7 (Increased!)
Magic: 0.3
-
-
But Shanz, too focused on his own thoughts, paid no mind. He kept jogging forward, shadows stretching behind him in the bright morning sun.
An hour had dragged by, the sun now high in the sky, blazing down with an intensity that made the stones underfoot radiate heat. Sweat trickled down Shanz's forehead, sliding to his chin before dropping onto his already damp shirt.
The fabric clung uncomfortably to his skin, every movement making it stick and pull. His breath grew heavier, the steady rhythm of his steps broken by the occasional pant as he wiped the back of his hand across his brow.
"Tch… what a hot day…"
he muttered under his breath, squinting ahead as the light reflected sharply off the rooftops and dusty paths. His katana rested on his shoulder, the tie swaying with each step like a small flag in the warm breeze.
He turned his head left, then right, frowning as he realized the streets weren't familiar.
The narrow lanes twisted, splitting in directions he couldn't remember taking. Wooden stalls lined the sides, merchants calling out to customers, their voices echoing over the noise of chattering townsfolk. Yet for all the activity, none of it felt like the way out.
He slowed, scanning the distant gates—or at least, where he thought they should be.
-
-
[ATTRIBUTES]
Strength: 39
Agility: 2 > 8 (+6)
Intelligence: 1
Charisma: 1
Luck: ???
[ATTRIBUTE POINTS]
- Unspent Stat Points: 0
- Potential Ascension: LOCKED
...
...
The numbers faded from his vision, leaving him to process the change. A grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
"So it really worked… my agility shot up. That explains why running feels so light now."
He tilted his head, considering.
Still, better not go all out. People might get suspicious if I show how fast I sprint around, I'll get called out instantly.
Jogging is only I can do... For now, then.
Adjusting his katana back into a comfortable position, Shanz set off again, weaving past people in the street, careful to keep his pace casual.
Yet beneath that calm jog, he could feel it—the temptation to test just how fast he had truly become.
Shanz kept his pace steady, his jog carrying him past the familiar sights of the town—the guild with its open courtyard, the lines of houses stacked closely together, the shops that were just beginning to stir with business, and finally the towering structure of the academy.
His breath came lightly, sweat clinging to the edges of his collar, though he kept his expression calm, as if the run were nothing more than a casual exercise.
As he passed the academy's side street, his shoulder brushed past someone in the crowd. He barely noticed it, intent on keeping his rhythm, until the faint sound of his name rang out behind him.
"Shanz!"
The voice was warm, carrying a note of surprise. He slowed, turning his head, and there she was—Landrea.
She stood just a short distance back, her hand raised in a friendly wave, a smile playing at her lips as her eyes followed him.
For a moment he blinked, then recognition lit across his face. Landrea? The thought clicked in his head, bringing with it a small grin.
Well now… that familiar old beauty. Didn't even realize I'd passed her by.
He lifted his hand, waving back with a touch of boyish awkwardness that softened his usual composure.
"Oh, Miss Landrea—hello!"
His voice carried across the space, casual and friendly, though a little rushed from his jog.
Slowing his steps, Shanz turned fully and walked back toward her, the light sheen of sweat on his forehead catching the sun as he approached.
For all his hurried pace, he carried himself with the ease of someone slipping into an unexpected but welcome meeting.
Landrea's eyes softened as she caught sight of him, her lips curving into a smile. She tilted her head slightly, curiosity written across her face as she called out,
"Good morning, Shanz. How are you?"
Shanz slowed his jog, a bit startled but quick to cover it with a grin. He straightened up, raising his hand in a light wave.
"Good morning, Miss Landrea! I'm alright—ah, still staying strong! Ready for the academy too, hehe…"
He scratched the back of his head, playing up a lighthearted act as if nothing were out of place.
Landrea arched a brow, leaning down slightly so she could study him more closely.
"Well, good and ready, I see… But why are you running around town like this? Is something wrong?"
Caught off guard, Shanz instinctively shifted his katana behind his back, making sure the blade wasn't too obvious. His smile didn't falter.
"Nothing at all, just… jogging around the town. Exploring each corner, you know?"
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, suspicion flickering in her eyes, though her tone remained warm. "Hmm… be safe on your way around then."
Shanz hesitated, the thought tugging at him before he spoke up again. "Miss Landrea?"
"Yes?" she answered, tilting her head.
"Where's the way out to the gate? I—I want to see what it looks like."
His voice carried a hint of curiosity, though beneath it sat the small lie he hoped she wouldn't catch.
Landrea paused, her smile fading just a little as she thought it over. Through the exit gate? What exactly is he planning to do out there? She studied him quietly, then finally gave her answer.
"If you go back to the guild's plaza, there are two paths at its side. One will lead you straight to the front gate, and the other to the back. Take whichever you like… Now, good luck on your little 'exploration,' hm?"
Shanz bowed politely, his tone filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Miss Landrea!"
Without waiting for more, he turned back toward the guild, lifting a hand in parting as the two of them went their separate ways.
Landrea watched him for a moment longer before resuming her own path, her brows still faintly furrowed.
As Shanz hurried off toward the guild, Landrea lingered for a moment, her smile fading into something more contemplative.
Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she replayed the scene in her head.
Why did he hide that katana behind his back? she wondered, pressing a finger lightly against her lips. It wasn't just casual… he did it on purpose.
Almost like he didn't want me to notice he was carrying it.
Her gaze trailed in the direction he'd gone, a quiet sigh escaping her.
And asking about the gates too… where exactly is he planning to go? Jogging around town doesn't quite match that story.
She crossed her arms loosely, the thought nagging at her even as she tried to brush it off.
"That boy…"
she muttered under her breath, shaking her head softly.
Finally, with one last glance over her shoulder, she turned back toward the academy, her steps steady but her mind unsettled.
I'll keep an eye on him. Better safe than sorry.