The sun was still high in the sky as Jay walked down the street, heading toward the blue zone.
'Aah… what time is it already?'
He had chosen a blue zone to properly test the system. It was safer there, especially for beginners. Fewer high-risk encounters, fewer chances to die instantly. At least in theory.
Jay glanced around and noticed a woman standing nearby, holding her phone.
"Excuse me, ma'am," he said, his voice a bit hoarse. "Could you tell me what time it is, please?"
The woman looked at him, then down at her phone.
"1:21 p.m."
"Thank you."
He continued on his way, his steps steady but his thoughts restless. Soon, he found himself standing in front of Danberra Academy. Several students were gathered outside, laughing, talking loudly, full of energy. Their uniforms were clean. Their expressions were relaxed.
"…"
Jay stopped for a moment and watched them in silence. No jealousy showed on his face, but something twisted in his chest. He looked away and resumed walking.
'It would be amazing if the system were real.'
His shoulders slumped slightly.
'No. I have to believe in myself.'
He exhaled slowly, trying to calm the frustration rising again. His hands clenched and relaxed at his sides, the habit of someone holding back a breakdown.
'Now that I think about it… I can't enter a zone without a card.'
To enter a zone, one needed a hunter card, which could be obtained by passing through an academy or receiving official authorization.
There were exceptions. If someone was over twenty-five years old and possessed a skill above Rank E, they could apply directly.
If an individual without a hunter card entered a zone, they would be tracked down and prosecuted.
'Damn it. I completely forgot that rule.'
Jay stopped walking. His heartbeat picked up. He looked around, his mind racing, irritation bubbling up again.
Was this it? Was he about to fail again before even starting?
Then his eyes widened.
'Wait. That's right.'
A short, sharp laugh escaped him.
'The system item.'
"Haha… yeah," he muttered under his breath.
The tension in his chest loosened slightly. His shoulders relaxed. For the first time since leaving his house, the frustration didn't feel like it was crushing him.
'I almost lost my nerve again.'
Jay straightened up and resumed walking, this time with more purpose. His steps were faster, more decisive.
Whatever awaited him in the blue zone, he would face it.
This time, he wasn't completely empty-handed.
He arrived near the red zone.
The air felt heavier there. Even the street seemed quieter, as if people instinctively avoided lingering too close. Jay stopped walking and swallowed.
'System, open the inventory.'
He hadn't spoken out loud. The thought came naturally, almost without intention. Yet the system reacted immediately, as if it had been waiting.
[Inventory]
[Items: Mask of the Unknown]
"Huh?" Jay frowned. "The system can read my thoughts? More importantly… does it understand me?"
A shiver ran down his spine. He hesitated, then slowly reached out and touched the translucent interface.
[Do you want to remove the item?]
[Yes | No]
"System," Jay said quietly, "do you understand me?"
There was no response. No confirmation. No message.
"Aaah…" Jay sighed and tapped Yes.
The mask materialized in his hands.
"Whoa… this is really real."
It was a white mask, smooth and cold to the touch, with a single black question mark painted in the center. Simple. Almost ridiculous. Yet it felt heavy in his hands, like proof.
'It really exists. Which means the system exists too.'
A sudden voice echoed inside his head.
[Of course, idiot.]
Jay froze.
"The system?" he whispered. "Wait… you can talk?"
Nothing happened.
The silence returned as abruptly as it had been broken. Jay stood there, staring at the mask, his heart pounding.
"…Guess I imagined it," he muttered. "I'm more stressed than I thought."
Still, his fingers tightened around the mask. He lifted it and put it on.
The world felt slightly different afterward. Not visually. Just… wrong. As if he were standing a half-step outside himself.
'Alright. No turning back now.'
Jay headed toward the blue zone.
He crossed a shallow stream, the water cold against his boots, and stepped beyond the invisible boundary. The scenery changed quickly. Buildings gave way to trees. Concrete to dirt.
A forest.
The sounds were clearer here. Leaves rustling. Insects buzzing. His own breathing suddenly felt too loud.
Jay walked deeper into the forest and then stopped.
He took a deep breath, forcing air into his lungs.
"Calm down," he told himself.
A short, nervous laugh escaped him.
'Yeah, great idea. Saying that just makes me more anxious.'
His hands trembled slightly. He clenched them, then released them, trying to shake off the tension. His chest felt tight, the same frustration from earlier clawing its way back up.
'This is it. If I mess up here, no excuses.'
Jay straightened his back and took another step forward, heart racing, anger and hope mixing into something sharp and dangerous.
This time, he didn't run from it.
As he pushed deeper into the forest, Jay encountered a group of low-rank hunters.
There were six of them. All young. Their equipment looked used but well-maintained, the kind that came from shared guild funds rather than personal wealth.
'Hmm. A hunter group. I bet they're already in a guild.'
One of them stepped forward, polite but cautious.
"Good evening, sir. Are you heading toward the red zone ten kilometers from here?"
Jay froze internally.
'Huh? Me? The red zone? Don't tell me they think I'm a high-ranking hunter because of the mask.'
For a split second, panic flared. Then instinct kicked in.
"Of course," Jay replied, keeping his voice steady. "Is there a problem?"
The group exchanged glances. That was enough.
They were now convinced he was a high-ranking hunter.
"No, sir," the one who had spoken said, letting out an awkward laugh. "No problem at all."
Jay gave no further response and continued walking past them, his pace calm, his posture straight. He didn't look back.
'Red zone, my ass. I'm not even sure I can beat a lower demon.'
He exhaled slowly.
'And they think I'm high-ranked just because of a stupid mask.'
A chuckle slipped out before he could stop it. It sounded hollow.
As he moved deeper into the forest, the light dimmed. The trees grew closer together, their branches blocking the sky. The air felt heavier, damp against his skin.
Then he heard it.
A sound. Wet. Uneven. Too close.
Jay turned sharply.
A lower demon stood there.
Its body was hunched, skin dark and rough, limbs slightly twisted as if poorly assembled. Its eyes locked onto him, bloodshot and desperate.
"Maaat… eat…" the creature rasped. "I… must… eaaat…"
Jay's breath caught. His grip tightened.
All the frustration from earlier surged back. The rejection. The insults. The looks. The helplessness.
'Great. Of course it's now.'
His heart pounded so loudly he could feel it in his ears. Part of him wanted to run. Another part burned.
'No. Not this time.'
He took a step forward instead, teeth clenched, hands shaking, anger and fear colliding inside his chest.
This wasn't just about survival anymore.
He was done being prey.