The bell above the door jingled as Ren stepped inside. The bookstore smelled like old paper, wood polish, and over-roasted coffee from the café next door.
He clocked in at the back, tied on his name tag, and stepped out onto the floor.
The store was quiet—mid-morning lull. Soft indie music is playing. Sunlight slanting through tall windows and catching dust motes in the air like lazy fireflies.
"You're early," called a voice from behind the counter.
Melissa, his co-worker, mid-20s, smart, brunette, in charge when the manager's out. Black-rimmed glasses and that always-too-big cardigan.
She leaned over the counter, blinking at him like she'd never seen him before.
"...Did you change your shampoo or something?"
Ren raised an eyebrow. "No."
"Hmm."
She stared a beat longer, then looked away, cheeks just slightly pink. "Well. You smell… different. It's nice. Just—kinda spicy?"
"Great. I smell like lunch."
"No," she said quickly, then bit her lip. "Like… I don't know. Warm. Like someone I'd want to curl up on."
Ren gave her a look. "You okay?"
"Yeah! Totally. I just—never mind."
She spun away and all but sprinted into the back room.
Scene: A Delicate Customer – Sheep Girl Enters
A half-hour later, the door jingled again.
Ren looked up from sorting a new shipment—and locked eyes with a young demi-human girl near the doorway.
She was soft in every way—downy white wool tucked under a floral hoodie, pink cheeks, fluffy ears pressed flat to the sides of her head. Late teens, maybe early twenties. She clutched a small canvas tote like it might blow away.
She took one step in.
And froze.
Her ears twitched. Her nose wrinkled.
"O-oh…"
Ren blinked. "Hey, can I help you find something?"
She stared at him—not in the eyes, but at his chest, like something unseen pulsed from inside him.
"You… smell…"
She trailed off, voice barely above a whisper.
Then her eyes widened—and she turned, flustered, ears flicking back hard.
"N-no, sorry—I—I think I forgot my wallet!"
She nearly dropped her tote as she backed out, the bell jingling behind her like nervous laughter.
Ren stood there, books in hand, completely still.
Later Quiet with Melissa
Melissa returned from the back, frowning slightly. "Did that girl run out?"
Ren nodded. "She said, she forgot her wallet."
"She looked terrified," Melissa muttered, glancing toward the door. Then her eyes flicked to Ren again. "You're sure you're okay?"
He didn't answer right away. The soft smell of herbs and warmth still clung faintly to him—Mazra's scent, but mixed with something new.
Something his.
"Yeah," he said finally. "Just a weird day."
Ren stepped out of the bookstore, the late summer sun casting long gold shadows across the pavement. His hoodie hung low over his shoulders, earbuds in, hands tucked into his pockets as he walked the familiar route toward Kai's family gym.
Just another day.
He felt a little more grounded, despite Melissa's lingering glances and the sheep demi-girl bolting like he was a predator. But no weird scents now. No odd glows. Just… the hum of the city around him.
A distant car horn. Someone was laughing across the street. The light breeze carries the scent of food stalls and warm pavement.
He was halfway down the street—near an alley he usually cut through—when something hit his senses like a wave.
Pressure.
A tightening.
Like the air itself was clenching around him.
He pulled out his earbuds.
"...what the hell?"
There was a crackling pop—like static tearing through concrete.
The ground beneath his feet shivered.
The shadows in the alley twisted, pulling inward like a whirlpool forming in a black lake.
And then—
It split.
A shimmering violet rift tore through space—vertical, jagged, not even a clean oval like the ones on the news. No announcement. No sirens. No warning. Just raw, hungry magic ripping through the alley air like a wound.
Ren barely had time to turn before the pull began.
"wait!"
Ren woke with a shuddering breath, cold stone pressed against his palms.
The walls were dim brown stone, rough-cut, and the air stank of wet iron and old breath. Amber crystals pulsed faintly along the edges of the ceiling, casting long shadows down a corridor that looked hand-carved by something with claws.
The place hummed.
Not with magic, but with awareness.
Then the voice came.
Not glitched. Not broken.
Cold. Smooth. Final.
[Welcome, Ren Ishikawa]
[System Connection: Stable]
[Core Status: UNINTEGRATED]
Integration pending. Class, traits, and stat access locked.
[Personal Data: Null]
[Combat Protocol: Provisional]
Name: Ren Ishikawa
Age: 18
Species: Unknown
Class: Not Assigned
Alignment: Unregistered
System Note: Subject is in testing phase. Eligibility pending.
Ren blinked. "What the hell is this?"
Clean gold text hovered in his vision before fading to a faint shimmer in the air.
He stood slowly, heart pounding. No weapon. No HUD. No idea how the hell he got here.
And then, like a blade sliding into his thoughts, came the first directive.
[TASK: SURVIVE THE INITIATION]
Location: Tier 0—Feeder Tunnel
Objective: Kill 3 Goblins.
Dungeon Threat Rating: F
Time Limit: 00:10:00
Reward:
— Core Synchronization
— Basic Stat Unlock
— Trait Initialization
No Escape
Ren turned—saw a heavy stone door behind him, glowing with red runes.
[Exit locked. Task in progress.]
His hands balled into fists.
"You've got to be kidding me."
A screech echoed down the tunnel.
Sharp.
Animals.
Too close.
He turned toward the noise, breath shallow, legs tense. The shadows ahead shifted, and then he saw them:
Three forms, short, wiry, hunched, with mottled green skin and crude bone weapons.
Eyes yellow and wild.
Jaws slackened with hunger.
Goblins.
But not like the ones from games. These moved like cornered dogs, erratic, fast, hungry.