Morning arrived with sound.
Footsteps echoed along the stone streets outside the inn. Merchants shouted greetings as they prepared their stalls, and the distant clang of metal rang through the air. Those noises slowly pulled Akira from sleep.
"…Already morning?"
He shifted beneath the blanket, then opened his eyes.
Wooden beams stretched across the ceiling above him. The faint scent of polished wood and dried herbs lingered in the room.
"So… I really am in another world," he whispered.
For a few seconds, he simply lay there, letting the reality sink in. No alarms. No traffic noise. No concrete buildings.
Only a fantasy world.
Akira pushed himself up and walked toward the window. He opened it carefully, and cool morning air flowed into the room.
Outside, the sun was just beginning to rise. Golden light washed over the rooftops as people moved through the streets, beginning their day as if magic and monsters were the most normal things in the world.
"…This is Terra," Akira said quietly.
After closing the window, he glanced down at his clothes—simple tunic, trousers, boots, and a cloak folded nearby.
"Thank you for this," he said, half joking. "If I'd woken up in Earth clothes, I'd look like a walking circus."
Understanding His New Power
Akira sat on the bed and took a deep breath.
"Alright… time to see what I've got."
"System."
A translucent blue window appeared before his eyes.
Lines of text scrolled down smoothly, displaying his information.
When his gaze reached one particular line, he froze.
Age: 17
"…Wait."
He blinked once. Then twice.
"I'm… seventeen?"
Akira jumped up and rushed to the small mirror hanging on the wall. He leaned in close, examining his reflection.
"…No way."
His face was youthful, his features sharp but soft at the same time. His hair looked fuller, his eyes brighter.
"…Damn," he muttered. "I really am young again."
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"Thanks, God. You really delivered on that part."
He returned to the bed and continued checking his status.
Strength, agility, endurance—nothing extraordinary. Perfectly average.
Then he reached mana.
"…This is insane."
The number was far beyond anything listed in the reference books he'd skimmed yesterday.
"So this is why creation magic is even possible…"
As he explored the rest of the system—inventory slots, storage space, basic system commands—he slowly began to understand the limitations.
"I can't just create things out of thin air," he muttered. "I need materials. And knowledge."
That realization grounded his excitement.
"…Which means I need to study."
The Library and the Passing Days
After getting dressed, Akira went downstairs and ordered breakfast.
As he ate, he listened to nearby adventurers talk about quests, monsters, and dungeon rumors. Eventually, he gathered enough courage to ask questions.
"There's a library in town?" he asked the innkeeper.
"Aye," the man nodded. "Open to anyone who can pay the fee."
"That's perfect."
After finishing his meal, Akira thanked everyone and headed out.
Walking through the town felt surreal. Magic lamps glowed faintly even in daylight, blacksmiths hammered enchanted steel, and armored adventurers laughed loudly outside taverns.
At the library, a young receptionist greeted him politely.
"You may read any public collection after paying the entrance fee," she explained.
"I'm looking for books on magic, alchemy, and crafting," Akira said.
"Those sections are on the second floor."
For the next several days, Akira barely noticed the passage of time.
He studied mana theory, enchantment circles, material compatibility, potion basics, and spell construction. Whenever he found something important, he carefully memorized it and stored copies in his system.
"Magic really is about logic," he murmured one evening. "Different rules… but still rules."
By the time he looked up from his books again—
"…A whole week?"
His heart sank.
"My temporary documents only last ten days."
He closed the book and stood.
"…I can't put this off anymore."
Tomorrow, he would go to the Adventurers' Guild.
The Alley Incident
The next morning, Akira stepped outside with determination.
"I'll register today. No excuses."
As he walked toward the guild, he passed through a narrow alleyway—
"Please, stop!"
Akira froze.
That voice—
He turned and rushed toward the sound.
Three rough-looking men stood before two young girls.
"Two gold coins," one of them sneered. "Today's the deadline."
"We just need more time!" one girl cried.
The thug grabbed her by the hair and slammed her into the wall.
"You don't have time. I'll sell both of you if you don't pay."
"Let her go."
The thug turned.
"…Huh?"
Akira's hand tightened around the man's wrist.
"Let. Her. Go."
The man snarled. "You want to play hero?"
He swung.
Akira barely blocked the blow and struggled to restrain him.
"Listen," Akira said, breathing hard. "You want money? I'll pay you. Just leave them alone."
The thugs burst into laughter.
"You? Pay us?"
Akira reached into his inventory and pulled out two gold coins.
"Here."
The laughter stopped.
"…Tch."
The men grabbed the coins and left.
The girls collapsed to the ground.
Akira exhaled. "You okay?"
One of them looked up.
"Thank you," she said. "I'm Emma. This is my sister, Chloe."
Chloe clenched her fists.
"We borrowed the money for our mother's medicine," she said quietly. "She didn't survive."
Her voice cracked.
"And now… we owe you."
Akira shook his head.
"You don't owe me anything."
Chloe stared at him. "No one does that without wanting something."
"…Are you adventurers?"
"…Yes."
"Then help me register."
Chloe stiffened, pulling Emma back.
"What do you want from us?"
Akira smiled gently.
"Nothing. I just want to become an adventurer too."
After a long pause, Chloe sighed.
"…Follow us."
The Adventurers' Guild
As they walked, Akira felt something odd.
Emma's mana… it's unstable.
When they reached the guild, Chloe fixed Emma's hair, kissed her forehead, and smiled bravely.
Inside, the guild buzzed with noise.
"Find yourself a man already, Chloe," the receptionist teased.
"Shut up, Lana!"
Lana laughed and turned to Akira.
"And you are?"
"Akira. I'm here to register."
After filling out the form, Lana brought out a crystal.
"Place your hand on it."
Akira did.
The crystal exploded with light.
"Wait—!"
Crack.
Silence.
"…That's not normal," Lana muttered.
She disappeared and returned with a silver card.
"Congratulations. You're registered."
"Rank C."
"What?" Chloe whispered.
"That's the highest starting rank," Lana explained. "Anything above requires a special exam."
Akira accepted the card, excitement bubbling inside him.
"Pick a D-rank quest," Lana advised.
Chloe selected one.
Hunt: 6 Red Horn Wolves
Akira smiled brightly.
"I can't wait."
He turned toward the exit—
And Chloe froze.
Her body stiffened.
Akira followed her gaze.
"…Who is that?"
Fear filled her eyes.