Chapter 2 —
Stepping out of the small, sterile apartment building, the world outside hit me like a wave. Savolin stretched endlessly in every direction — buzzing traffic, drifting spice-filled air, neon signs flickering against tall glass structures. Even though this wasn't my first time seeing a large city, it still felt… foreign.
People rushed past me in chaotic streams, wrapped in their own lives. Nothing here paused for anyone. Nothing cared.
I let my feet wander and let the noise fade into the background. My eyes skimmed over digital boards and flashing holo-posters — Hunter reports, dungeon alerts, guild rankings. The usual. But I needed something normal. Something human.
That's when I found it: a small cybercafé squeezed between a row of clothing shops and a street full of food stalls. The neon sign buzzed faintly.
PIXEL NEXUS
Perfect.
Inside, cool air hummed quietly, carrying the faint smell of fried snacks. Rows of PCs glowed in the dim lighting, each a small escape. I slipped into an empty seat near the corner and logged in.
One hour of gaming.
One hour without skills, ranks, or worrying about survival.
I launched a fast-paced combat arena game — something simple, where victory came from instinct, not EXP.
First match? Victory.
Second? Victory.
Third through tenth? All victories. Against the same opponent.
By the tenth win, I was barely focused, just relaxing.
Then a sharp voice cut through the air.
"Hold on— you're the one who beat me ten times?"
I turned.
The girl beside me glared at her monitor, then at me. Sharp amber eyes, sleek black hair tied loosely, and a posture that carried authority even in casual clothes. Someone used to winning. Used to being respected.
And I already knew her.
Meryll Steller.
A-rank hunter.
Guild Master of the Freedom Guild — a solid B-rank guild.
A major character in the original story.
Someone the protagonist, Eren, later joined.
Someone who wasn't supposed to meet me.
"You—" she started, pausing as her eyes studied my face. "You play too well for a rookie."
I smiled casually, pretending this truly was our first encounter. "Guess I got lucky."
Her suspicion sharpened. "Do you know me?"
I shrugged lightly, keeping the tone relaxed. "Of course. You're Meryll Steller. Guild Master of Freedom Guild. You're basically famous."
Her eyes narrowed. My answer was too smooth — too confident — and she felt it.
"I see…" she said quietly.
"Guilds are public info," I added. "I did my homework before becoming a Hunter."
Her brows lifted slightly. "You're a Hunter?"
"Yes," I answered without hesitation. "C+ rank."
She turned back to her screen, then back at me. "So why are you here, playing games instead of doing raids?"
I looked at my monitor. "I just became a Hunter. I don't have a team yet."
Meryll's expression softened — barely. "Oh. So you're a rookie."
"Yeah."
She crossed her arms thoughtfully. "Then… how about joining my raid? My team's missing one person anyway."
I grinned. Exactly what I came here for.
"Are you sure? I'm just a new Hunter. I have no real experience. Won't I drag you down?"
She tapped her desk lightly. "You have a point. But it's only a C-rank gate, and I'm an A– rank Hunter. It won't be a problem. You can join."
I already knew the real reason she was asking — but I had to play dumb.
"But why invite me?" I asked. "I'm not from your guild. And we don't even know each other."
Meryll's inner thoughts were practically written on her face.
How can I tell him I want to show off because he beat me ten times in a game I'm supposed to be good at…
She coughed lightly and spoke, "You look like you know how to fight. That's all."
Sure. Show off to me the same way you showed off to the protagonist.
Works perfectly for me.
"Alright," I said. "I'll join."
She stood up from the chair. "Give me your contact info. I'll message you in two days with the location. Don't be late."
We exchanged details, and she left.
I played a bit longer before logging off.
Night had settled over Savolin.
Still my first day here… and somehow, I was adapting to this world faster than I expected.
Even though I didn't know my Pulse Echo yet, a C+ rank body was still worth testing.
If I remembered correctly, there were training centers for that.
Well, I think I should visit the training center tomorrow. I still have many things to sort out.
I walked back to my apartment pretty quickly and began checking my account.
To my surprise, it had 100,000 Creds. That was a pretty big amount. With that much, a normal guy could live for a year.
Well… it would be spent anyway, since I was a Hunter now.
I checked the wardrobe, looked through my things, then scrolled through my phone for about an hour before finally falling asleep.
---
The Next Morning
The sun was up early. Time for me to go to the training center.
It wasn't far, so I walked. According to the location, it should only take a little while, and I reached it in around twenty minutes.
Savolin's main Hunter Training Center stood like a steel fortress at the edge of the commercial district, its glass walls reflecting the hazy afternoon sun. I paused at the entrance, watching the flow of Hunters entering and leaving.
Newbies in cheap armor.
Veterans walking confidently.
Staff shouting names.
The smell of sweat and mana in the air.
Exactly how I remembered it from the novel.
Only this time, I was inside it.
I stepped to the counter.
A bored-looking receptionist lifted her gaze.
"Name?"
"Nyx Arden."
She typed, her bracelets clinking. "New trainee? Provide ID."
I handed it over. She scanned it, blinked once.
"Hm. Hunter aptitude confirmed. You passed the basic evaluation yesterday?"
"Yeah."
I see, so it's the same day I transmigrated, huh.
"Good. Daily training fee is 40 Creds. Weapons trial is included. Sparring area is on Level 2. Don't start fights unless you sign the waiver."
I nodded.
A buzzing sound, and a plastic card slid out onto the table.
"Welcome to the Savolin Training Center."
"Thanks."
The moment I scanned the card at the gate—
the noise hit me.
inside the senter.
Clashing steel.
Mana bursts.
Instructors shouting commands.
Trainees groaning.
A thousand footsteps echoing on polished floors.
A real place. Loud. Crowded. Dangerous.
Hunters sparred inside glass arenas.
Beginners trained in basic zones — striking dummies, running tracks, mana flow channels.
I walked deeper, scanning everything.
The weapon trial area was crowded and full of clashing metal. Rookies tested swords too heavy for them, some tripping. Advanced Hunters tried mana-infused spears. Supervisors walked around with clipboards, judging silently.
I stepped inside, handed my card to the supervisor. He gestured lazily.
"Try whatever you want. If something breaks, you're paying."
If I remembered correctly, the protagonist used a sword.
I needed a weapon too. Let's see what fits.
At the weapon division
I tried them one by one — nothing felt right.
Longsword:
I lifted it, swung once. The weight dragged my wrist.
Too heavy. Too slow.
Spear:
Good reach, but my stance turned stiff.
One misstep and it would be ripped out of my hands.
Daggers:
Fast and light, but too short.
Not suited for long fights.
Mace:
Nope.
One swing and my shoulder complained.
Dual blades:
Stylish, but my balance went off immediately.
Ughhh… why do these feel like this? Should I just fight with bare hands?
I continued browsing casually — until something at the far end of the rack caught my eye.
A katana.
Simple. Unadorned. Clean.
I picked it up.
The moment my fingers wrapped around the grip, a faint shiver ran up my arm.
Not mystical.
Not destiny.
Just perfect balance.
Whoa… this feels kinda refreshing.
I drew it — smooth, quiet, no resistance.
The blade aligned naturally with my arm.
My stance wasn't great, but it settled.
My center of gravity shifted as if I had trained for years.
The supervisor, who had been watching silently, raised his brows.
"Well damn… beginners don't usually handle those like that."
I gave a small smile.
"It just… feels right."
In my mind: Damn, uncle, I don't know either.
I swung once.
The air split cleanly with a sharp sound.
Even a few nearby trainees glanced over.
The supervisor scratched his beard.
"You found your weapon, kid. Most rookies take weeks. You found it pretty quick."
I smiled lightly.
Inside, I thought: How can I tell you it just fits? Not like he'll believe me anyway.
"So, mister, where do I practice with this?"
He gestured toward a room.
At the Training room .
I walked inside.
There were already several people using dummies to train.
I started practicing too.
And that's how my next two days went —
constant training, striking, adjusting my grip, learning the katana's weight, and getting used to my C+ rank body.
Finally, the day came when I had to join the raid.