Ray woke to an unwelcome sensation—the familiar mental chime that meant the system had something to say. He groaned, pulling his pillow over his head in a futile attempt to ignore it.
💠 [Morning Assessment Complete]
💠 [Player Strength: Insufficient for Projected Threats]
💠 [Status Window Updated - Review Recommended]
"Great," Ray muttered into his pillow. "Just what I wanted first thing in the morning."
He sat up reluctantly, rubbing sleep from his eyes as the translucent window materialized before him. The morning light streaming through his window made the interface seem almost ethereal.
SYSTEM UPDATEDVirtue System: Status Window — Ray
Basic Information
Tier: Novice
Level: 25 (+1 from attribute allocation)
Age: 10
Race: Human (?)
Blessing: None Registered
Affinity: No Magic Affinity
Title(s): [None]
Lineage Detection: Incomplete...
Soul Sync: 12%
Virtue Points (VP)
Total VP Earned: 181
VP Available: 88
Recent VP Gains:
+5 VP | Trust Building with Young Princess
Core Attributes(Upgrade Cost: 25 VP per point for Novice Tier)
Vitality: 10
Stamina: 12
Aura Capacity: 10
Aura Control: 5
Mental Focus: 9
Strength: 11
Agility: 11
Perception: 10
Skills & Techniques
[Focus Breathing — Beginner]
[Aura Awareness — Passive]
[Physical Endurance — Trained]
[Basic Meditation — Stable]
[Unknown Healing Pulse — Unregistered]
🔒[Reinforcement: Arms — 50 VP]
🔒[Reinforcement: Legs — 50 VP]
Ray blinked at the level increase. "Huh. So putting points into attributes actually makes me level up? That's... convenient, I guess."
The system responded immediately:
💠 [Correct. Balanced attribute growth triggers natural progression.]
💠 [Warning: Current power level remains inadequate for emerging threats.]
💠 [Quest Initialization Beginning...]
Ray's stomach dropped. "Oh, come on. It's barely sunrise. Can't this wait until after breakfast?"
💠 [Scanning local area for virtue opportunities...]
💠 [Target Detected: Lone Bandit Survivor] 💠 [Threat Assessment: Low-Moderate]
💠 [Quest Initializing...]
The familiar blue window expanded, filling with new information:
NEW QUEST: LONE WOLFObjective: Defeat the lone bandit before he joins a new gang or harasses locals. Quests will only count if accomplished alone.
Time Limit: 24 Hours
Reward: 10 VP
Failure Penalty: Increased criminal activity in region
Location: Marked on mental map
Additional Info: Target is sole survivor of recent gang dissolution
Ray stared at the reward. "Ten VP? Only ten VP?" He couldn't keep the indignation out of his voice. "The last quest gave me way more than that for basically just talking to someone!"
💠 [Reward reflects quest difficulty and moral complexity.]
💠 [This is a straightforward combat encounter.]
💠 [Higher rewards require greater virtue demonstration.]
"Right," Ray sighed. "Because apparently beating up bad guys is the easy part of being a hero."
He studied the quest details more carefully. A lone bandit survivor—that suggested his gang had been wiped out recently. Ray wondered what had happened to them. Disease? Internal fighting? Another, stronger group of bandits? Or perhaps they'd run afoul of actual soldiers or adventurers.
The mental map the system provided showed a location about two miles south of their manor, near the old trade road that connected their village to the next settlement over. It was a logical spot for banditry—plenty of travelers, limited patrols, and dense woods for quick escapes.
Ray considered his options. He could try to ignore the quest, but the system's penalties were never pleasant. And if there really was a bandit planning to harass locals, that could include his family's territory. Better to deal with it now than wait for it to become a bigger problem.
But first, he needed to prepare.
Ray opened his upgrade menu, studying his available options. With 88 VP, he had some real choices to make. The Arms Reinforcement technique caught his eye—50 VP would unlock the ability to channel aura through his arms for enhanced strength and durability. Given that he was about to face a bandit in combat, that seemed like a solid investment.
That would leave him with 38 VP—enough for one attribute upgrade with 13 VP to spare.
"Arms Reinforcement," he decided aloud. "Purchase."
💠 [Arms Reinforcement Technique Unlocked]
💠 [Cost: 50 VP]
💠 [Remaining VP: 38]
💠 [New Technique Available in Skills Menu]
Ray felt a warm tingling sensation flow through his arms as new knowledge settled into his mind. He understood instinctively how to channel his aura into his limbs, how to reinforce muscle and bone for enhanced performance. It wasn't complex—more like remembering something he'd always known.
He flexed his arms experimentally, then channeled a small amount of aura into them. Golden light flickered beneath his skin, and he felt his muscles tighten with increased strength. The effect was noticeable but not overwhelming—probably enough to give him an edge against an ordinary person, but not enough to make him superhuman.
Now for the attribute upgrade. He had 38 VP, enough for one 25 VP upgrade. Given that he was heading into combat, he needed to think tactically. His Aura Control was still relatively low at 5, which might limit how effectively he could use his new Arms Reinforcement technique. On the other hand, his Agility was decent but could be better for dodging attacks.
After a moment's consideration, he chose Aura Control. Better technique execution seemed more valuable than slightly faster movement, especially with a new ability to master.
"Upgrade Aura Control," he said.
💠 [Aura Control increased from 5 to 6] 💠 [Cost: 25 VP]
💠 [Remaining VP: 13]
Ray immediately felt the difference. The aura flowing through his arms became more stable, more responsive to his will. He could maintain the reinforcement with less concentration, leaving his mind free for other tasks.
A knock at his door interrupted his experimentation.
"Ray? Are you awake?" His mother's voice carried a note of concern. "I heard you talking to someone."
"Just... practicing some exercises Dad taught me," Ray called back. "I'll be down for breakfast in a few minutes."
"Alright, dear. Don't be too long—the porridge is getting cold."
Ray waited until her footsteps faded before accessing the quest details again. The mental map showed the bandit's location clearly—a small camp hidden in a grove of trees just off the main road. According to the system's assessment, the target was alone and likely desperate.
The additional information intrigued him. "Sole survivor of recent gang dissolution."
That suggested a story worth knowing. What had happened to the rest of his gang? And why was this one still alive?
Ray dressed quickly in his sturdiest clothes—leather boots, thick pants, and a long-sleeved shirt that would provide some protection against branches and minor scrapes. He considered taking one of his father's training swords but decided against it. He wasn't trained enough to be effective with a blade, and carrying a weapon might escalate the situation unnecessarily.
Besides, if the Arms Reinforcement worked as advertised, his fists should be weapon enough for a single bandit.
At breakfast, Ray ate quickly and efficiently, ignoring his family's attempts at conversation. His mind was focused on the upcoming encounter, running through possible scenarios and strategies.
"You're quiet this morning," his father observed, settling into his chair with a cup of hot tea.
"Just thinking about training," Ray replied, which wasn't entirely untrue.
"Good. Your aura control yesterday was impressive, but you'll need to practice regularly to maintain that progress."
If only you knew, Ray thought. "I'm planning to do some practical exercises today. Maybe head out to the woods for some real-world training."
His father nodded approvingly. "Smart thinking. Controlled environments only teach you so much. Just stay within a reasonable distance of the manor, and take some supplies with you."
"I will."
Kira appeared in the kitchen doorway, looking much better than she had the previous day. She'd combed her amber hair and was wearing one of Mira's dresses that actually fit her properly. Her fox ears were alert and her tail swished gently behind her.
"Good morning, everyone," she said softly.
"Morning, Kira," Ray replied, genuinely pleased to see her looking more comfortable
"Sleep well?"
"Yes, thank you. Your family's hospitality is... more than I expected."
Ray's mother smiled warmly. "Nonsense. You're welcome here as long as you need to stay. Ray was just telling us he's planning some outdoor training today. Perhaps you'd like to help the girls in the garden instead?"
Kira's eyes lit up. "I'd like that. I know quite a bit about plants—my mother taught me."
The conversation continued around him, but Ray's attention was already drifting to his upcoming task. He finished his breakfast quickly and excused himself to gather supplies.
From the storage room, he took a small pack, a water flask, some dried meat, and a short rope—basic supplies for what should be a brief excursion. He also grabbed a handful of clean cloth strips, just in case injuries were involved. He also grabbed a small dagger just in case unlike the big swords his dad might not notice this being gone and it would be easier to use as and even surprise the enemy as a sneak attack.
The system chimed as he prepared to leave:
💠 [Quest Active: Lone Wolf]
💠 [Recommended Approach: Non-lethal subdual preferred]
💠 [Warning: Target may be desperate and unpredictable]
💠 [Timer: 23 hours, 15 minutes remaining]
Ray paused at that. Non-lethal subdual preferred? That was interesting. Most of the system's combat-related suggestions had been pretty straightforward about eliminating threats. This felt different—more complex.
Maybe there was more to this bandit's story than simple criminality.
Ray set out from the manor just as the morning mist was beginning to lift. The walk to the bandit's location would take him about an hour through familiar woods and along paths he'd explored many times. The mental map the system provided was remarkably detailed, showing not just the target's location but also optimal approach routes and potential escape paths.
As he walked, Ray practiced channeling aura into his arms. The sensation was still new, but he was getting more comfortable with it. The golden glow beneath his skin responded to his will, strengthening his muscles and reinforcing his bones. He experimented with different levels of reinforcement, from a barely perceptible enhancement to the maximum he could currently maintain.
At full reinforcement, his arms felt incredibly strong—not supernaturally so, but definitely beyond normal human capacity. He tested his grip on a fallen branch and was amazed at how easily he could crush the thick wood.
The forest was peaceful, filled with the sounds of birds and rustling leaves. Ray found himself relaxing despite the serious nature of his mission. This was nice—being outdoors, moving with purpose, using abilities he was still discovering. Maybe there were worse ways to spend a morning than hunting bandits.
The thought made him chuckle. In his last life, the idea of voluntarily seeking out dangerous criminals would have been absurd. But then, in his last life he'd been a different person in a different world, struggling just to survive each day.
Now he had family to protect, abilities to develop, and apparently a divine mandate to perform good deeds whether he wanted to or not.
As he neared the location marked on his mental map, Ray became more cautious. He moved quietly, staying off the main path and using the dense undergrowth for cover. The system's map showed the bandit's camp in a small clearing just ahead, screened by thick trees but close enough to the road to watch for potential victims.
Ray crept to the edge of the clearing and peered through the bushes.
The camp was simple—just a bedroll, a small cold fire pit, and a canvas tarp stretched between two trees for minimal shelter. A single figure sat on a fallen log, staring morosely at the dead ashes of his fire.
The bandit was younger than Ray had expected—maybe late teens or early twenties. His clothes were torn and dirty, and he looked thin, like he hadn't been eating well. A rusty sword lay across his knees, but his posture suggested dejection more than readiness for violence.
Ray studied him carefully. This didn't look like a dangerous criminal planning his next raid. This looked like someone who'd lost everything and didn't know what to do next.
The system provided additional information:
💠 [Target Analysis Complete]
💠 [Name: Marcus Thorne]
💠 [Level: 32]
💠 [Status: Malnourished, Demoralized]
💠 [Background: Former Merchant's Son, Fell in with Bandits After Family Tragedy]
💠 [Recent Event: Gang wiped out by monster attack 3 days ago]
Ray blinked at the additional details. A monster attack? That explained why he was the sole survivor—and why he looked so traumatized.
The system continued:
💠 [Recommendation Updated: Rehabilitation preferred over punishment]
💠 [Alternative Quest Objective Available: Recruit for Village Defense]
💠 [Warning: Subject suffering from survivor's guilt and desperation]
Ray considered his options. The original quest was to defeat the bandit before he caused trouble, but the system seemed to be suggesting a different approach. Maybe this Marcus could be turned away from banditry entirely.
It was worth a try and better than fighting he had never killed anyone and didn't want to. Also he could have just ran away if the bandit attacked he looked to drained to chase Ray and once he stopped chasing Ray could just come back and do a sneak attack.
Ray stood up slowly, making enough noise to announce his presence without seeming threatening. The bandit—Marcus—jumped to his feet, raising his sword defensively.
"Who's there?" Marcus called out, his voice cracking slightly. "Show yourself!"
Ray stepped into the clearing, hands visible and empty. "Easy. I'm not here to fight unless you make me."
Marcus was indeed young—probably no more than twenty, with sandy brown hair and hollow eyes that spoke of too many sleepless nights. His sword trembled in his grip, whether from weakness or fear, Ray couldn't tell.
"You're just a kid," Marcus said, confusion replacing some of the wariness in his voice. "What are you doing out here?"
"Looking for you, actually." Ray kept his tone calm and non-threatening. "I heard there was a bandit in the area, but you don't really look like what I was expecting."
Marcus's face flushed with anger. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you look like someone who's lost rather than someone who's dangerous." Ray took a careful step closer. "My name's Ray. What's yours?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because I'd rather talk to a person than fight a bandit. There's a difference."
Marcus lowered his sword slightly. "Marcus. And I... I'm not really a bandit. Not anymore. Not since..." He trailed off, pain flickering across his features.
"Since your gang was killed by a monster?" Ray guessed.
Marcus went white. "How did you—who are you?"
"Someone who might be able to help," Ray said simply. "But first, why don't you tell me what really happened?"
Marcus was quiet for a long moment, studying Ray's face. Finally, he seemed to reach some internal decision. He sat heavily back down on the log, his sword clattering to the ground beside him.
"Three days ago," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "We were camped about ten miles north of here. It was supposed to be an easy job—a merchant caravan with light guard. But when we got there, it wasn't merchants at all."
Ray moved closer, settling cross-legged on the ground to seem less intimidating. "What was it?"
"Bait," Marcus said bitterly. "A trap set by some kind of shadow beast. It looked like a normal caravan from a distance, but when we got close..." He shuddered. "It tore through my gang like they were made of paper. Twelve men, dead in minutes. I only survived because I was watching the horses and ran when I heard the screaming."
Ray felt a chill run down his spine. A shadow beast using illusions to lure victims? That was significantly more dangerous than ordinary bandits.
"Why didn't you go to the authorities?" Ray asked.
Marcus laughed, but there was no humor in it. "And tell them what? That I was part of a bandit gang that got eaten by a monster? They'd hang me for the banditry and call me a liar about the beast."
"So you've been hiding out here instead."
"I don't know what else to do," Marcus admitted. "I can't go home—my family disowned me when I left to join the gang. I don't have any other skills besides fighting, and I'm not even good at that. I thought maybe I could rob some travelers, get enough coin to start over somewhere else, but..." He gestured helplessly at his meager camp.
"I can't even bring myself to do it. Every time someone comes down the road, I just think about what that monster did to my friends."
Ray studied the young man carefully. The system's analysis had been accurate—this was someone who'd made bad choices but wasn't fundamentally evil. He was scared, alone, and desperate, but not malicious.
"What if there was another option?" Ray asked.
Marcus looked up sharply. "What do you mean?"
"I mean what if you didn't have to choose between banditry and starving? What if there was a third path?"
"Like what?"
Ray stood up, extending his hand. "Come with me. My family lives nearby—we're always in need of extra hands for security and general work. It's not glamorous, but it's honest work, regular meals, and a chance to start over."
Marcus stared at Ray's outstretched hand like it was a foreign object. "You're serious? You'd trust a bandit around your family?"
"Nope I would not but a bandit who wants to leave it I would and the family has security you will just be given another job and why do you have to say you were a bandit you can be a fugitive, you don't look like a bandit, I am the barons son here well even if it is very small and we have low amount of soldiers, this means my words can mean a lot," Ray corrected. "The question is whether that's really what you want."
For a moment, Marcus didn't respond. Then, slowly, he reached out and took Ray's hand.
"I don't deserve kindness from strangers," he said quietly.
"Maybe not," Ray agreed, pulling him to his feet. "But you might earn it, if you try."
The system chimed softly:
💠 [Quest Complete: Lone Wolf]
💠 [Method: Recruitment/Rehabilitation]
💠 [Bonus Objective Complete: Prevented Future Criminal Activity]
💠 [Rewards: +15 VP,]
💠 [New Achievement: Mercy Over Justice]
Ray blinked in surprise. Fifteen VP instead of ten, plus bonus karma points? The system seemed pleased with his approach.
💠 [Marcus Thorne Added to Potential Allies List]
💠 [Current Status: Grateful, Cautiously Hopeful]
💠 [Recommendation: Provide structure and purpose to prevent relapse]
As they walked back toward the manor, Marcus carrying his few possessions, Ray found himself feeling oddly satisfied. This had been different from his usual system quests—more complex, requiring actual judgment rather than just following instructions.
"Can I ask you something?" Marcus said as they navigated through the forest.
"Sure."
"How did you know about the monster attack? I haven't told anyone about that."
Ray considered his answer carefully.
"Let's just say I have good sources of information. What matters is whether you're ready to leave that life behind."
Marcus nodded slowly. "I think I am. I hope I am. Those men who died... they weren't good people, but they were the closest thing to family I had after my own parents cast me out. I don't want their deaths to be meaningless."
"Then make sure they're not," Ray said simply. "Use this chance to become someone they would have been proud to know."
Instead of approaching his family manor Ray went to one of the towns guards, someone who worked to defend his family and the town.Ray would say that he vouched for him and that the guard should ask his parents what to do but he react. But somehow, he thought they'd understand. His family had already taken in one stray—what was one more?
Besides, something told him that Marcus Thorne might prove more valuable than anyone expected. The shadow beast he'd described was still out there, and having someone who'd encountered it before could be useful information.
The system seemed to agree:
💠 [Strategic Asset Acquired]
💠 [Marcus possesses firsthand knowledge of regional monster activity]
💠 [Recommendation: Debrief regarding shadow beast encounter]
💠 [Warning: Shadow beast remains active threat to local area]
Ray sighed. Even his successes seemed to lead to more complications. But as he watched Marcus straighten his shoulders and walk with something approaching hope for the first time in days, Ray decided that some complications were worth it.
After all, turning enemies into allies was probably the most efficient form of heroism possible.
And if it kept him from having to fight more battles in the future, well, that was just good strategy.
Lazy strategy, but still good strategy.
The quest counter in his vision now read:
VP Available: 28
Not bad for a morning's work. And with Marcus's information about the shadow beast, Ray had a feeling he was going to need every point he could get.