The crisp sound echoed inside Jin's skull like a hammer striking a bell. A shimmering blue window flickered before his eyes, bathing the dusty study in ghostly light. He stumbled back, clutching his bleeding hand, too afraid to even breathe.
[Gate Activation Complete]
You are now the recognized owner and bound to the Ancient Gate.
No other being may control it.
Jin froze. His round face twisted in confusion as he read the glowing words again and again.
"B-bound? Me?!" His voice cracked, his heart pounding so hard it hurt. "What does that even mean…?!"
The light pulsed as though responding to his panic. His hand shook, sweat dripping down his forehead, but curiosity burned hotter than fear. Slowly, he raised a trembling finger and tapped the floating screen.
The message vanished—only to be replaced by another.
[Status Window]
Name: Jin
Age: 16
Level: 1
Strength: 3
Agility: 2
Stamina: 4
Intelligence: 5
Charm: 1
Unallocated Points: 0
Jin's throat tightened. His breath came in shallow bursts.
"These… these numbers… are me?"
His stomach churned. Strength 3? Agility 2? Charm 1?! The words felt like cruel insults carved into stone. He had been called fat, useless, disgusting countless times—but seeing it written in cold numbers hit differently.
His knees weakened. For a moment, despair almost crushed him.
Then—beneath the shame—a spark lit inside.
But… if this can be measured… then maybe it can change.
His lips trembled, caught between laughter and sobs. "So this… this is real. I'm in some kind of game."
Behind him, the heavy iron door throbbed with light, calling to him.
He thought of his grandmother, her frail hand on his cheek, her soft words—enjoy life to the fullest.
"Grandma…" He clenched his fists. "If this is the chance you wanted me to find… then I'll take it."
And with that, Jin pushed forward.
The iron door creaked, then burst open with blinding radiance.
The world twisted. His stomach flipped as though he'd been tossed into a storm. A heartbeat later—
Thud!
He landed on wooden floorboards, dust swirling into his nose and throat. He coughed violently, waving his hands, and blinked against the dim light.
When his eyes adjusted, his jaw dropped.
He was no longer in his old house. He stood inside a small, wooden shed. The air smelled of soil and herbs, mixed with the faint musk of old wood. Thin beams of sunlight pierced through gaps in the walls, catching on floating motes of dust.
Before he could process it, another glowing window appeared.
[Title Acquired: Traveller of Another World]
All experience gained will be doubled.
[Special Bonus: First Transfer Completed]
First-time experience gains increased by x10 (one-time bonus).
Jin's eyes widened, his chest tightening with disbelief and awe.
"Traveller… of another world?" He whispered the words as though they might vanish if spoken too loudly. "This… this is real."
He staggered to his feet, heart hammering, and took in the room.
The shed was small but sturdy. Against one wall, shelves sagged under the weight of jars filled with dried herbs, powders, and strange glowing liquids. A rickety table stood in the corner, papers scattered across it. A single bed with thin sheets rested near the far wall.
On the desk, a folded parchment caught his eye.
He picked it up. Strange symbols crawled across the page, sharp and alien. His eyes crossed trying to make sense of them.
Then—
[Language Comprehension Unlocked]
You may now read and understand the native script of this world.
The letters shimmered, shifting until they became clear. Jin's breath hitched.
"To the one who finds this place first: it now belongs to you. Everything here is yours."
His hand trembled. "M-mine? All of this… belongs to me?"
Hunger, exhaustion, despair—everything seemed to fade. For the first time in years, Jin felt a pulse of genuine hope.
He searched frantically, eyes darting across the room. Beneath the bed, he noticed something heavy. Grunting, he dragged it out—a large chest bound with rusted iron clasps.
His palms sweated. His breath quickened. With one final tug, the clasps snapped open.
Inside…
Jin's mouth fell open.
A sword, sleek and gleaming, its blade faintly glowing as if forged from moonlight.
A bow, carved with intricate runes, accompanied by a quiver holding arrows of pure energy, swirling endlessly.
A long spear, polished to perfection, radiating an aura of dominance.
And a massive battle axe, brutal yet strangely balanced, its edge shining with lethal promise.
They were more than weapons—they were masterpieces, treasures from forgotten legends.
As his trembling fingers brushed the sword, a new window appeared.
[Bound Weapon Detected]
All weapons in this chest are now soul-bound to you.
No other being may wield them.
Jin stumbled back, gasping. "S-soul bound?! T-to me?!"
He stared again, half terrified, half thrilled. His life had been filled with nothing but mockery. Yet here, fate had given him something no one else could ever take away.
Beside the weapons, neatly wrapped packages of meat sat stacked. He touched one—it was cold, fresh, as if preserved by magic. His stomach growled loudly, reminding him he hadn't eaten since morning.
He set the food aside, forcing himself to stay focused.
With shaky legs, he stepped outside.
And froze.
The shed stood alone, surrounded by a towering, dark forest. Trees stretched impossibly high, their twisted branches clawing at the sky. The air was heavy, damp, filled with distant echoes.
Around the shed, a wooden fence enclosed a small yard. Within it grew a flourishing garden of glowing herbs and plants, their leaves shimmering faintly with colors he had never seen. Even without touching them, Jin could sense their strange vitality.
"This… this isn't just a shed," he whispered, awe filling his voice. "It's… a sanctuary."
Gripping the sword, he raised it tentatively and swung. The blade sliced through the air effortlessly, faster than he expected.
DING!
[Skill Acquired: Swordsmanship Lv.1]
Basic sword knowledge has been imprinted into your mind.
His arms jolted as knowledge flooded into him. His stance shifted unconsciously, his grip adjusted, his balance corrected. Techniques he had never learned now felt natural, like old instincts reborn.
Jin gasped, eyes wide. "I… I can feel it. I know how to fight."
Driven by excitement, he tested the other weapons.
The bow—its string hummed under his fingers.
The spear—its weight moved as if it wanted to guide his hand.
The axe—heavy, but each swing echoed with lethal strength.
Each time, a new message appeared.
[Skill Acquired: Archery Lv.1]
[Skill Acquired: Spearmanship Lv.1]
[Skill Acquired: Axemanship Lv.1]
By the time he lowered the axe, Jin's whole body trembled—not from exhaustion, but from exhilaration.
"I… I'm not powerless anymore," he whispered, staring at his hands. "This… this is my chance."
For the first time, he believed change was possible.
But then—
A sound shattered the fragile peace.
A deep, guttural roar.
The ground trembled. Birds exploded from the treetops in a panicked flurry. Somewhere in the forest, something massive was moving—branches snapped, trees groaned.
Jin's blood froze. He gripped the sword tighter, his palms slick with sweat.
The roar came again, closer this time, shaking the air itself. The fence rattled.
"Wh-what is that…?" Jin whispered, his voice trembling.
And then he saw them—two glowing eyes, burning red, glaring at him from the shadowed treeline.
Leaves scattered. The earth quaked.
With a thunderous crash, a massive creature burst into the clearing. Its body loomed like a nightmare—muscles rippling beneath thick fur, fangs gleaming, claws tearing into the soil.
It locked eyes with him.
Jin's heart stopped.
The monster roared—and leapt.
DING!