Dust settled over the academy yard.
Students stared at lee like he was a ghost.
Some stepped back.
Some trembled.
Some clenched their fists in jealousy.
A dead C-Rank Wolf Monster lay at Lee's feet—
killed by a boy who couldn't even activate a basic skill minutes ago.
Lee breathed heavily, sweat dripping down his face.
The 5-year-old girl he saved clung to his clothes, crying softly.
"Th-Thank you… mister…"
lee kneeled down and patted her head gently.
"It's okay. You're safe now."
Her tiny hands grabbed his sleeve tighter—
"Please don't leave…"
lee, felt something warm in his chest.
No one had ever held onto him before.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
A blue screen flickered into existence.
[GOOD KARMA +10 — Saving an Innocent Child]
[CURRENT KARMA: 16]
[AVAILABLE SHOP ITEMS:]
Strength +1 → 10 Karma
F-Rank Skill: Energy Slash → 20 Karma
C-Rank Skill: Wind Step → 80 Karma
A-Rank Perception Boost → 90 karma
..
Lee, swallowed nervously.
"This… is real."
He wasn't dreaming.
He wasn't hallucinating.
He wasn't useless anymore.
He had a system.
He had a path.
THE CROWD GATHERS
Instructor Han, who always mocked lee, ran over with a shocked face.
He stuttered:
"Y-You… you awakened?!"
Students murmured:
"No way…"
"He was useless…"
"Is he pretending?"
"Maybe the monster died by accident?"
One jealous boy stepped forward—
Kwon Tae, a D-rank with a big mouth and small brain.
He pointed at lee.
"This is impossible! He must've cheated! Or— or his traitor father gave him something!"
Lee stayed silent.
He was used to accusations…
but this time, Mira Seo stepped forward.
Her voice was sharp:
"Enough. He just saved a child's life. You didn't."
Kwon Tae froze.
Students stared.
Mira rarely spoke up for anyone.
She never defended anyone.
Lee blinked at her.
He didn't know why…
but he felt grateful.
She looked away quickly.
"...Whatever. Don't misunderstand. I just hate loud idiots."
But her ears were red.
THE PRINCIPAL ARRIVES
Heavy footsteps echoed.
Principal Soo Jin, an S-Rank hunter, appeared with a serious expression.
He looked at the dead monster, then at lee.
"You killed this… alone?"
Lee nodded slowly.
Soo Jin's sharp eyes locked onto him.
"Show me your status."
Lee hesitated.
But the System responded automatically:
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Lee ji- ho
Rank: F
Strength: 3
Agility: 2
Endurance: 3
Mana: 5
Skill: Energy Burst (F)
Karma Points: 16
Students gasped.
"He's still F rank?!"
"But he killed a C-rank monster??"
Principal Soo Jin frowned deeply.
"Your stats are too low. This shouldn't be possible."
He stepped closer.
"What… are you?"
Silence.
Lee lowered his head.
"I'm… nobody."
But the Principal whispered:
"No normal F-ranker can kill a C-rank like this. Your father… were his experiments done on you?"
Lee stiffened.
His fists trembled.
Students smirked.
"See? I knew it!"
"He's a monster experiment!"
"Just like his father!"
Mira frowned, looking uncomfortable.
Principal Soo Jin raised his hand—
silencing everyone.
"Enough."
He looked at Lee.
"From today onward… you will receive special monitoring."
Lee's chest dropped.
Special monitoring = treated like a threat.
Watched day and night.
Restricted movement.
Less freedom.
He bowed slightly.
"Yes… sir."
He was used to living with chains.
LATER THAT DAY — BEHIND THE ACADEMY
Lee, sat alone on a bench.
The sun was setting.
Students walked far around him, avoiding him like a plague.
He felt the cold breeze.
His body hurt from earlier beatings.
His clothes were still dirty.
He whispered:
"Why does power feel so heavy…?"
Suddenly—
THUD!
Someone sat beside him.
Lee, turned.
It was Mira Seo.
She didn't speak.
Just sat quietly.
After a long silence…
"…You okay?" she asked softly.
Lee, blinked.
No one had asked him that…
for years.
"…Yeah," he lied.
Mira sighed.
"You're really bad at lying."
Lee, laughed weakly.
She turned to him.
"You did good today. Saving that girl… that takes courage."
Lee, felt embarrassed.
He scratched his cheek.
"I just… couldn't let her die."
Mira smiled slightly.
"…You're not like your father."
Lee,'s chest tightened.
Those words…
He had wanted to hear them his whole life.
Before he could answer—
ROOOAAR!
Another monster cry echoed.
Both stood up in shock.
A gate opened near the academy.
A glowing crack in reality.
A small dungeon gate—
Rank: C-Grade RIFT
Students screamed.
Teachers panicked.
Mira grabbed Lee's arm.
"We need to go!"
But Lee, didn't move.
Something inside him—
…pulled him forward.
Not fear.
Not recklessness.
Resolve.
He looked at the glowing system window.
[NEW QUEST UNLOCKED]
"ENTER YOUR FIRST GATE."
Reward: +50 Karma
Bonus: Unknown Skill"
Mira froze when she saw his expression.
"...Don't tell me you're thinking of entering?"
Lee smiled slightly.
"I need to get stronger."
Mira's eyes widened.
"You'll die, idiot!"
Lee stepped forward.
"No… I finally have a chance to live."
He entered the gate.
The light swallowed him whole.
Mira reached out helplessly—
"Lee—!!"
But the gate closed behind him.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Lee ji-ho stepped into his first dungeon…
…as the whole world stared in fear and confusion.
Chapter 2 Complete.