The days that followed the system's warning felt… strange. No new domains had opened, no beasts had clawed their way into reality, and no shadowy figure like Dr. Armand had appeared to nearly claim his life again. Everything seemed quiet—eerily quiet.
Yet that silence didn't mean inaction.
The system began handing Arkan a string of small quests. Simple errands. Harmless chores that had little to do with fighting. Compared to the life-and-death battles he'd endured, they felt ridiculous—almost insulting.
At first, he brushed them off. This was the real world, after all. There were still lectures to attend, assignments piling up, and the part-time job that kept his wallet alive. But slowly, almost reluctantly, Arkan began to realize something: the quests weren't meaningless. Each one carried a purpose buried just beneath the surface.
That morning, Banjarbaru breathed with crisp air. A soft sky stretched overhead, pale blue streaked with drifting cotton clouds. Arkan trudged alone toward the bus stop, a backpack heavy with textbooks weighing down his shoulders. His steps were sluggish, his mind foggy from a night of forced studying.
Only a few meters from the stop, a faint glow shimmered before him. A translucent blue panel materialized in midair.
[Daily Quest: Help carry the old lady's luggage]
Reward: +20 EXP, +5 USD
Arkan froze. His lips parted, disbelief plain on his face.
"…Seriously? What kind of quest is this? Am I a porter now?"
But the world wasted no time answering. Just ahead, by a battered green minibus, an old woman wrestled with a suitcase far too large for her frail frame. Her hands trembled as she tried to lift it, her back bent under its weight.
Arkan swallowed hard.
No need for further explanation.
He strode forward. "Let me give you a hand, Grandma."
The old woman turned, her face etched with lines of age, yet her eyes shone with relief. "Thank you, dear… these arms don't have the strength they once did."
With practiced ease, Arkan lifted the suitcase. It was heavy—fifteen kilos at least—but nothing compared to the iron blade he had once swung in the domain. He set it carefully onto her trolley.
"There you go. Please, walk carefully."
Her lips curled into a smile, eyes glistening faintly. "May kindness return to you a thousand times over, child."
A soft chime echoed in his ears.
[Quest Complete]
+20 EXP
+5 USD
Arkan let out a slow breath, the corners of his mouth tugging into a faint smile.
"Alright… maybe it seems small. But it actually makes a difference."
By noon, classes were over, and Arkan headed straight to the café where he worked part-time. It was a modest place—wooden tables, warm lights, and the comforting haze of coffee that never left the air.
He had just slipped on his apron when the familiar glow flickered to life.
[Quest: Complete your shift without complaining]
Reward: +20 Permanent MP
Arkan raised a brow. "Permanent mana… just from working?"
At first, he laughed it off. But the shift unraveled into chaos almost instantly.
One customer demanded three remakes of the same latte. Another complained loudly over a misprinted order that took nearly twenty minutes to fix. And when the cash register froze, a line of impatient customers stretched to the door.
Normally, Arkan would've muttered curses under his breath or let the frustration slip into his expression. But this time, he forced himself to endure. For the quest, he swallowed his temper, bowed politely, and kept smiling even as his nerves screamed.
Every minute stretched long, like a trial by fire. But he endured.
And when the final customer left and his shift came to an end—
[Quest Complete]
+20 Permanent MP
Arkan stiffened. A warmth spread through his chest, flowing like liquid energy. His breathing steadied. His body felt… lighter, stronger, as though he carried a reserve of power he hadn't possessed before.
"If I'd run out of mana back then… I would've died a dozen times over," he thought. His jaw tightened. "Even this—part-time work—makes me stronger."
That night, Arkan sat at his dorm desk. A notebook lay open, pen in hand. His phone sat far away, out of reach, a temptation he couldn't afford.
As he drew in a breath, the system's glow returned.
[Quest: Study for two hours without distraction]
Reward: New Skill — Focus Lv.1
Arkan blinked at the panel. "…Studying? With a combat skill as a reward?"
He sighed, flicked his phone off, and switched on his lamp. Across the room, Elara sat silently in her corner. The girl with an aura of frost watched him quietly, her gaze calm and measured, as though she were appraising every move he made.
Two hours. It dragged like an eternity. His eyes grew heavy, thoughts scattering. Twice he pinched his arm to stay awake. But he endured, forcing his focus back to the textbook again and again.
When the alarm finally rang, relief hit him like a wave.
[Quest Complete]
New Skill Acquired: Focus Lv.1 (Passive)
Effect: Heightened concentration. Reduces external distraction. Attack accuracy +5% while unflinching.
Arkan's eyes widened. "You're kidding… even studying becomes a combat skill?"
From her corner, Elara finally spoke. Her voice was cool, yet a flicker of intrigue lingered within it. "Your system… it is unusual. It does not grant you strength all at once. It builds you piece by piece. Every small action, every choice—you are being forged."
Arkan shot her a flat look. "So basically… I'm grinding from level one. Just like an RPG."
Elara tilted her head, brow furrowed. "I do not know this 'RPG.' But one truth is clear—OSBO is testing you. I have never seen another interdimensional being shaped in this way. The system is preparing you for something greater."
Arkan leaned back, staring at the glowing stats in front of him. His attributes, his skills—all of them had shifted, all because of these trivial quests.
Carry a suitcase. Endure a shift. Study two hours.
And yet, he was undeniably stronger.
________
[Status Host: Mile Arkan]
Level: 8 (EXP 905/2.200)
HP: 610/610
MP: 350
STR: 39 | AGI: 35 | VIT: 29 | INT: 30 |
Free Stats: 0
HIT Defense: 17%
Skill: Dash Lv.1, Appraisal Lv.1, Shadow Bind Lv.1, Energy Burst Lv.1, Focus Lv.1
Bond Skill: Elara — Healing Light Lv.1
Item: Expert's Sword [Lv.1]
Bank Balance: $252
________
Closing his notebook, Arkan fell back onto his bed. His body ached, but his chest pulsed with quiet satisfaction. Even the smallest quests, once dismissed, left real marks on him: sharper focus, steadier strength, deeper reserves of mana.
But deep in his chest, one truth settled like a stone.
This was only the beginning.
The system would not assign meaningless tasks forever. It was shaping him, layer by layer, for something looming on the horizon.
Something far greater than an old woman's luggage, a busy café shift, or late-night study marathons.
And when that moment came—he had to be ready.