Chapter 6: The Result of Hard Work
'System.'
And at that moment, a transparent screen appeared before me:
======= STATUS =======
Name: Ren Ozawa
Race: Human (???)
Age: 9 years
Level: 8 [200/800 EXP]
Mana Core: (locked)
Blessing: ???
Technique: Martial Arts (LV.3)
Skills: Imagination (???), Universal Language (LV.MAX)
Stats:
Strength: E [12/40]
Endurance: D [0/50]
Agility: D [0/50]
Intelligence: B [2/70]
Stamina: D [15/50]
Luck: — [???/???]
Mana: —
Charm: B [???]
Points: 3000 | Stat Points: 30
Missions:
Main:
Survive
Side:
Daily:
Completed
=======================
All my exhaustion vanished the moment I saw this. My stats had increased rapidly—an incredible achievement for someone my age.
When I turned six, daily missions appeared. The missions looked like:
[Daily Mission – Basic Body Training]
▪ 20 push-ups (completed)
▪ 25 sit-ups (completed)
▪ Run around the orphanage 10 laps (completed)
▪ Breathing meditation (10 minutes) (completed)
▪ Minimum 6 hours of sleep (not yet)
Reward: +20 EXP | +5 Stat Points
---
I chuckled softly. "Looks like the system knows I always stay up late."
Even though this body is still small, with discipline like that, the results are real. My muscles began to form—not large, but firm and flexible. I stared at my small yet sturdy hands.
"Not bad for a nine-year-old," I muttered while clenching my fist.
Even my movements were much faster now. Before, I could only lift one bucket of water—now two felt light.
I still didn't know why there were so many question marks in my system. But I decided to ignore them… for now.
I closed the system window by blinking twice. I discovered this when I felt sleepy one night as a kid.
Yawn~
"I'm really sleepy… I should go to bed."
I closed the window and went to sleep. That night, I dreamed someone sneaked into my room.
---
Abel's POV
My name is Abel Montain. I'm nine years old and I live in Stella Orphanage.
The orphanage isn't very big, but it's comfortable enough for all of us. Sometimes the roof leaks when it rains, or the floor creaks at night—but… I still like it here.
I've lived here since I was four. My parents brought me here and then vanished. I don't know where they are, and I don't care anymore.
And it was here that I met Ren.
From the moment I first saw him, I couldn't look away.
His hair was white like snow—not dull like old age, but soft and glowing whenever light touched it. Under the sun, it felt like looking at a living fragment of light.
And his eyes—ah, those eyes. Blue like crystal, with tiny shimmering dots inside, like stars in the night sky.
Sometimes I couldn't look at him for too long. It felt like he was staring back into my soul.
Yet strangely… I also couldn't look away.
Ren didn't talk much, but when he explained something, his tone was like an adult's.
Calm, neat, and… sometimes funny, as if he had lived through everything he talked about.
When I was six, he and I became best friends until now. But suddenly a new kid came to the orphanage and kept sticking to Ren for days.
At first, I didn't mind. I thought he would stop eventually. But he didn't. He got even bolder. My heart hurt watching it.
'How dare he get close to my Ren!'
'Ren is mine. Mine. Mine!'
'REN belongs only to me!'
'My doll…'
Feelings I had buried deep inside burst out all at once.
.
.
.
Tonight, I couldn't sleep.
I kept thinking about him. Ren who always trained alone, read strange books, and stared at the sky every night.
Unable to endure it anymore, I decided to sleep in his room—if he was already asleep. I got out of bed, put on my little slippers, and walked down the hallway.
The night air was cold, and only the ticking of the old clock in the living room could be heard.
"This time, I'll definitely sleep with him!" I whispered with determination.
I stopped in front of Ren's door. It wasn't fully closed—there was a small gap, and from there, I could see him.
He was asleep. His white hair spread over the pillow, reflecting a soft blue glow from the window. His face was peaceful—almost like a porcelain doll that was too perfect.
'He's asleep…!'
I took a slow breath and carefully pushed the door open so it wouldn't creak.
The door opened just a bit, and I stepped inside. My footsteps made almost no sound on the cold wooden floor.
Ren slept quietly on his bed. His white hair spread over the pillow, slightly messy, making him look… human. Moonlight from the window fell on his face, revealing the calm expression he rarely showed while awake.
I took a few more steps forward.
'He's really cute…!'
I knelt beside his bed, staring at his face for a long time. No matter how many times I saw him, the feeling was always the same—a mix of awe and tightness in my chest.
Suddenly, that strange feeling returned. As if there was a barrier I couldn't break, even when I was right in front of him.
"Can I sleep next to you?" I whispered softly.
Of course, he didn't answer. Only his slow, rhythmic breathing filled the room.
I took a deep breath, then unconsciously sat on the edge of the bed. The mattress was soft, and I could hear my heartbeat.
'Just for a moment,' I thought.
'I just want to stay here for a moment.'
I leaned closer, observing Ren's face from very close. His eyelashes were long. The corners of his lips curved slightly. Even asleep, he looked like a doll.
"Ren…" I murmured.
No reaction.
I smiled faintly and lay down beside him, facing the same direction. My body stiffened at first, but the warmth from Ren slowly calmed me down.
"Just for tonight," I whispered with closed eyes. "Tomorrow… I'll pretend this never happened."
Before I knew it, I inhaled the scent of his blanket—soft, clean, and somehow… comforting.
The scent of the orphanage's soap mixed with something uniquely Ren. Warm, light, but hard to describe.
'This smell… like flowers,' I thought as I closed my eyes.
My body slowly relaxed. My racing heartbeat calmed, syncing with Ren's gentle breathing.
Without realizing it, the space between us grew smaller. My shoulder nearly touched his.
"For today… just let me sleep with you…" I whispered.
Enjoying the moment, I drifted into sleep…