In Remedy's sparse room—a simple futon on the floor, a worn-down desk, dumbbells scattered everywhere, a jump rope, and boxing gloves.
Like he'd just finished an intense workout.
Remedy's body lay on the floor, in the center.
He opened his eyes slowly, confused.
What happened to me?
Then the memories rushed back—bare, raw, no filter.
Loss of control. Suffocation. Pain, pain, pain.
Then… Devour.
He jolted up, panic flooding his eyes.
That was what terrified him most. His interface—
Without waiting a single second, he summoned it.
"Status window."
His eyes lit up.
The interface slowly formed before him.
It was no longer blue.
It was green.
[SDR ACTIVATION…]
[CONGRATULATIONS, REMEDY. YOU ARE NOW THE HOST OF SDR.]
He understood immediately.
His old interface was destroyed. A new one had taken its place.
Even though he was scared—shaken by this new interface that had nearly traumatized him—it was fear tangled with hope. After all, his old interface was already gone.
[ACTIVE ROLES: CREATOR – INJECTOR – BINDER]
[DOMAIN: CONCEPT VIRUSES]
Create, inject, and bind? And… Concept Virus?
He grasped the essence, if not the details.
His power was to write his own rules instead of following the ones imposed by reality.
Remedy froze.
Hope?
Him? A failure with no class, no skills, no talent?
He was going to bend the rules of the world now?
The very same rules that hadn't even deemed him worthy of a class?
He didn't know whether to laugh or tremble.
So he did neither.
He stared at the green interface. And breathed.
[WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLAIM THE WELCOME PACK?]
[PACK CONTAINS: 1 FREE CONCEPT CREATION – 3 FREE INJECTIONS INTO ANY TARGET]
Me, a nobody… I still have a chance to defy my fate?
"Claim."
[WELCOME PACK CLAIMED SUCCESSFULLY]
[3 FREE INJECTIONS INTO ANY TARGET.]
[CONCEPT CREATION IN PROGRESS…]
[CONCEPT CREATED: FEATHER'S WEIGHT]
[DESCRIPTION: THE TARGET'S WEIGHT WILL BECOME THAT OF A FEATHER FOR BOUND USERS.]
For bound users, the target weighs as much as a feather. For everyone else, it keeps its real weight.
"So basically… I could use a weapon that weighs several tons and swing it like it's nothing."
He nodded, satisfied.
Then—
Knock knock.
"Remedy… Remedy. You in there?"
"Yeah. One sec."
He cut off his exploration and opened the door.
"Sora?!"
"What are you doing, Remedy? You said you were going to buy a weapon."
His eyes widened. He finally remembered.
"Ah, right. You're right. I accidentally fell asleep."
"Don't tell me you're overtraining the day before the exam."
She turned around, as if about to leave.
"I'm telling Mom."
"Huh…? No… Wait!"
Remedy grabbed her hand, panicking, genuine fear on his face.
If Flora found out Remedy was exhausting himself before the exam? He'd definitely say goodbye to it.
"I-It's not what you think. Warm-up… Yeah, that's it. Pre-exam warm-up. Warm-up. Haha…"
He was so panicked he could barely improvise.
Now that he could finally see a way out, of course he was panicking.
"Hmph… Liar."
"I won't say anything. So you better not overdo it."
Then she murmured, just barely audible:
"I don't want you to die…"
"What did you say?"
Remedy asked, completely lost.
"Nothing…"
She turned away.
"You should go get your weapon now…"
"Also, those contacts are kinda creepy."
She left, leaving him alone with his questions.
Remedy went back to his room. He grabbed his cloak, was putting on his shoes, when his gaze drifted to the mirror.
"My eyes…? They're green?"
He pulled his eyelids apart to get a better look.
"So that's why she mentioned contacts."
Must be from the system. Since it's green too.
He angled himself to admire his reflection.
"But creepy? I think they're kinda pretty…"
---
Remedy made his way through the slum alleys.
A hooded cloak concealed him from head to toe.
Guilds were way too expensive. Even for a starter dagger.
So he hadn't needed to think long.
He stopped in front of a massive door, hidden between two crumbling buildings.
The black market.
Shady transactions. Stolen goods resold. Basically—a market with few restrictions. Few rules.
Remedy tried to enter.
The two guards at the door blocked his way.
"Stop. Where do you think you're going?"
"This isn't a place for kids. Go home."
Remedy slowly raised his head and met the guards' eyes.
His gaze was calm. Cold. Devoid of hesitation.
"What am I doing? I'm here to shop. Does it not show?"
Silence.
Their eyes locked. A brief, silent standoff.
It was a test.
A test to see if he really had what it took to enter the black market.
Then—
"Ahem… Of course, honored customer."
The guards stepped aside.
"Our apologies. Enjoy your shopping."
Remedy said nothing.
He stepped through the door.
To his surprise, the inside looked more like a speakeasy than a "black market." A long counter dominated the center of the room, staff standing behind it.
He approached the counter.
"Welcome! What can I do for you?" an employee asked.
"Show me the E-rank equipment list."
"E-rank (level ≤ 15)? One moment, please."
The employee walked off to fetch what he'd asked for.
Remedy observed his surroundings while waiting.
This is the black market? Completely different from what I imagined…
Then his gaze stopped on a figure, alone at a table in a dark corner.
A girl.
Her face was familiar. Vaguely. Like a memory just out of reach.
She wasn't looking at anything. She wasn't looking at anyone.
Yet when Remedy's eyes lingered on her—
—she turned her head toward him.
Slightly. Slowly.
As if she knew he was watching.
As if she could see him.
Remedy blinked.
She had already turned away.
Before he could dwell on it, the employee returned.
"Here you are, honored customer."
He handed Remedy a tablet.
Remedy took it and scrolled through the list.
Venom-Edge Dagger — Poisoned Dagger — Level 7
Moonlit Bow — Bow — Level 8
Twilight Saber — Saber — Level 9
…
There were good beginner weapons on the list.
But what Remedy was looking for was a heavy weapon.
Then his eyes stopped on a listing.
Great Hammer
Type: Heavy Blunt Weapon
Rank: E
Level: 9
Length: 2.11 m
Weight: ≈ 1 ton
Durability: 900 / 900
Description:
A massive, sturdy hammer that deals heavy blunt damage.
It was the perfect weapon for Remedy.
He smiled beneath his hood.
He could already see himself injecting his Concept Virus into it.
But his smile died when he saw the wall standing in front of him.
"That's… 25,000 credits?!"
Remedy's heart nearly leaped out of his chest.
He was nowhere near that price.
It seemed his fate wasn't going to let him go that easily.
Like an inseparable couple.
---
Chapter 2 – End