"Move it, you punk! Don't block the road!"
My shoulder got shoved hard.
A burly guy passing by glared at me like I was some bug.
From the pickaxe slung over his shoulder, he was clearly a miner.
And a real nasty piece of work, too.
Normally, I'd have bowed my head and said, "Sorry."
"..."
But I just stared him down.
In the real world, I'd have chickened out and looked away, but this was the world I knew.
And this guy? He was some Extra C-type thug.
Early in the comic, he picked a fight with the protagonist and got his jaw smashed in one panel, retiring on the spot.
After that, he barely showed up, just lurking in the background, envying and resenting the successful hero.
Basically, a total nobody.
And this nobody was messing with me?
"What're you staring at? Eyes down, punk."
He menacingly raised his pickaxe.
His ugly mug looked ready to swing it any second.
I smirked.
Then took a step back.
Not because I was scared.
My stats were all at 1 right now.
With a body this weak, even squashing an ant would be a chore. Starting a fight and dying here would be a dog's death.
It wasn't fear of him—it was a model of wise judgment.
"Sorry about that. I'm new here and don't know my way around."
I played it submissive for now.
Just you wait.
Soon enough, I'd smash that jaw so bad he couldn't eat solids.
"Tch, scrawny little shit. You even eat properly?"
He spat on the ground and walked off.
I heard him muttering crap behind my back, but I ignored it.
Self-respect pissing matches weren't the priority right now.
My eyes darted around busily.
Rough buildings made of gray bricks.
Hammer strikes echoing from everywhere.
Drunken miners staggering about, merchants hawking their wares.
It was straight out of volume 1 of Abyss Miner—Lumina Mine Village, exactly as depicted.
No, it was even dirtier and more real than the drawings.
The stench of sweat and iron stabbing my nose was downright nauseating.
Comics never captured the smell.
How the hell did that protagonist put up with a stinkhole like this?
"Hoo."
Still, my heart was racing.
This was real.
The stage where I'd become the protagonist.
I pushed through the crowd toward the biggest building.
One goal in mind.
The Miners' Guild hall.
That's where she was.
The one and only reason I'd stuck with that garbage comic Abyss Miner to the end.
Receptionist Luna.
Blonde hair, blue eyes.
A woman whose massive tits strained against her tight uniform.
Honestly, no clue about her backstory, but she was the village chief's daughter, so canonically a virgin.
Sweet personality, always healing the protagonist in his tough times—total heroine material.
Fuck, just thinking about her made my dick heavy.
A guy like me, whose only women were on monitors, was finally about to meet a real beauty.
And she was sweet to everyone, so she'd flash that pretty smile at me too.
My steps quickened without me realizing.
Wait for me, Luna. I'm coming.
I shoved through the sweaty stench of rough men and pushed open the guild door.
Ding-a-ling—
A clear bell chimed.
Inside was way cooler than outside.
Through the bustling crowd, I spotted the long counter.
And there she was.
"Whoa."
The awe slipped out loud.
She was a hundred—no, a thousand times prettier than in the comic.
Gleaming blonde hair, huge eyes that were hard to believe.
But above all, that overwhelming volume.
The buttons on her shirt were screaming in agony during the tough battle.
Too busty to contain.
Any second, they'd pop right off.
And the faint outline of her bra through the white blouse...
I swallowed hard.
Looking at Luna, the miners' stale body odor vanished.
All I could imagine was her sweet, fleshy scent.
She's smoking hot.
I straightened my clothes and tried for the coolest expression possible.
Sure, I was a stat-1 anchovy now, but this body would become an S-Rank hunter. No, EX or Transcendent.
Or even National Power level.
I needed the dignity to match.
I squared my posture and strode confidently to the counter.
Luna was bent over sorting papers.
Bent over, her cleavage plunged even deeper.
Fuck, I'd die happy with my nose buried there.
"Excuse me."
I pitched my voice low and called out.
She looked up.
Those blue eyes turned to me.
Man, she's fucking gorgeous.
Just as excitement was about to explode...
"...?"
Her brows furrowed hard.
Huh?
In the comic, she beamed at the protagonist right away: "Oh, a new face!"
What was this expression?
One I'd never seen in the comic.
Luna, who always blossomed into smiles for the hero.
Now she looked at me like roadside dog shit.
No, she'd look at actual shit warmer than this.
"What do you want?"
Ice dripped from her voice.
Sweetness? Healing vibes? Gone, like tossed to the dogs.
Pure business, laced with annoyance and disgust.
I panicked but forced a smile.
"Uh, I'm here to register as a miner."
"Haa."
She sighed openly.
Slammed her pen down and crossed her arms.
Her tits bunched up, looking even bigger.
Eyes feasting, mood tanking.
"You look like an outsider."
She scanned me head to toe.
Blatant disdain. Contempt.
"You gonna swing a pickaxe with that body? Lift a pebble?"
"Pardon?"
"Starved skeleton. This ain't a playground. Not for weaklings like you to mess around."
"No, wait. I'm pretty strong, actually..."
"Don't lie."
Luna cut me off sharp.
Her gaze lingered on my arms.
Skinny twigs.
I instinctively hid them.
"Dozens die here daily. Cleaning corpses is work too. Know your place and go home quietly."
Whoa.
Listen to her talk.
This the angelic heroine Luna?
Not just setting collapse—this was a different person.
A thought flashed.
The status window stats.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Charm: -20]
Fuck.
Right.
My Charm stat.
Minus 20.
Not just ugly—my existence was repulsive.
The comic's protagonist had a "refreshingly handsome" passive cheat.
Me? I had the true loser aura that pissed people off on sight.
So of course her reaction was like that.
Too logical to argue.
Rage boiled inside.
Spread legs for hotties, deny jobs to uggos?
Fucking slutty bitch.
Dirty world.
Comics or reality, pretty girls played the same.
"Hey."
I hardened my face.
Grinning more would just earn mockery.
Time to push forward.
"Whether I live or die is my business. Any physical exam in the rules? Guild regs say register anyone with working limbs, right?"
Luna's eyebrow twitched.
Arrogant prick face.
But she couldn't retort.
I knew the comic's lore cold.
In Abyss Miner, the Miners' Guild was desperate for manpower—they took anyone, even criminals.
An anchovy like me? No way they'd kick me out.
"...Tch."
She clicked her tongue.
Whoa, is this real? Never saw Luna act like this.
My illusions shattered.
Angelic Luna?
Bullshit.
Just a bitch with a nasty temper.
"Fine. You're in. But sign this—you won't blame the guild if you die."
She shoved a paper at me roughly.
You bitch. Just wait.
I ground my teeth inwardly.
Right now, I was guild fodder, so the disrespect.
But when I powered up and came back? She'd be sucking my toes.
I'd make that haughty face twist in ecstasy till it broke.
I snatched the pen and signed boldly.
[Name: Lee Jun]
I handed back the papers. Without looking, she yanked an old tag from her drawer and tossed it.
Clang—
The metal tag clattered loudly on the counter.
"F-Rank Miner Apprentice registered. Get a pickaxe from the warehouse yourself. Bunk in Zone 4 dorms. You stink—hurry up."
She waved me off like a bug.
"Thanks. So kind of you."
I tossed the sarcasm and grabbed the tag.
Ignored her retort and turned away.
Mood sucked, but goal achieved.
Right then.
Ding-!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Condition met: Miner Apprentice registration complete.] [Reward 1: 'Stat: All Stats +10' granted.]
Okay.
Here it comes.
Electricity surged through my body.
"Mmph!"
The sudden change made me clap a hand over my mouth.
Hot energy raced wildly through my veins.
Withered muscles swelling.
Bones cracking into place.
The transformation ended quickly.
Status window: Strength and Agility at 11 each.
Charm from -20 to -10.
Visually... not a huge difference.
But not bad.
Just +10 each, but from 1? Elevenfold boost.
Average adult male stats were 5-6.
Now I had double a normal person's physique.
Proving how trashy my original body was.
Whatever. Didn't matter anymore.
I clenched and unclenched my fist.
Power filled my grip.
That burly miner who dissed me? I could grab his collar and lift him now.
Is this an Awakened's power?
Bit weak for Awakened level, honestly.
Average human maxed at 12-15 with training.
So, standout for a normie.
Still, stronger was stronger.
And I'd get way stronger.
A grin tugged at my lips uncontrollably.
I squared my shoulders and left the guild.
Felt Luna's gaze on my back.
Now to mine 1,000 iron ores.
Reward 2: [Trait: Steel Body].
Grab that, and I'd be a real monster.
Surpassing initial Awakening gimps, true hunter physique.
Mine first. But before that...
I veered toward the warehouse.
Piles of battered pickaxes like mountains. Old caretaker dozing off.
Grabbed any one.
Decent weight.
At stat 1, I'd have struggled to lift it.
Now at Strength 11? Like picking up a chopstick.
Pickaxe over my shoulder, headed for the mine.
Soon, the sunlit mine entrance appeared.
Black maw waiting.
Normal folk would fear it.
To me? EXP and loot.
"All fucked now."
I whistled a tune.
Luna you bitch, wash up and wait.
Big bro's powering up quick.
Near the entrance, barbed wire like a camp. Two mean-looking guards frisking entrants.
"Hold up."
A massive arm blocked me.
The guard eyed me and sneered.
"Newbie? Tag."
Handed over the worn tag from Luna.
He checked it against the ledger, snorted.
"Lee Jun? F-Rank apprentice? Hah, look at you."
Tossed the tag at my chest.
"Hey, this ain't a picnic. Don't go crying for mommy. No confidence? Pack up and go home now. Last anchovy like you got slime-eaten—bones barely scraped out."
The other guard cackled agreement.
"Boss, don't bother. Can't even swing a pickaxe. Tripping on rocks and cracking his skull'd be lucky."
Fucking pricks.
Listen to their shit.
Normally, face burning, head down.
Not now.
Strength 11.
Could smash their pots with the pick handle.
But hold it.
Piss off guards? They'd squash me.
No dying lame like this.
"Thanks for the concern. Must be busy."
Sarcasm dripping, I passed the barricade.
Nearby, veteran miners lounging, smoking, waiting shifts.
"Hey, kid!"
A miner with yellow teeth called.
Leaning cockily on his pick handle.
"You know how to work that? Pick looks heavier than you."
"Won't snap your back?"
"Hey, bet? Loser buys drinks—he bolts in an hour."
They laughed, making me their booze snack.
Stale smoke wafting over.
Assholes.
I scoffed inwardly.
Wanted to kill 'em all.
But slip in quiet, farm sweet rewards.
Real power? For the clutch moments.
I'll remember when I leave, you fucks.
Ignored their jeers and stepped forward.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Entered: 1st Floor of the Abyss Mine.]⚠️ WARNING ⚠️[This is not a safe zone.]