You ever wake up, check your RPG status screen, and find a message that basically says:
"You're not supposed to exist"?
No?
Just me?
Great.
---
[Main Quest: Discover Your Race]
Hint: You're not supposed to exist.
Reward: ??? | System Stability - Pending]
I blinked at the screen, rolled over in bed, and mumbled:
"So I'm a bug. A literal walking bug."
Rina, who was half-asleep in the other bed, cracked one eye open. "That explains so much, actually."
"Rude."
"True."
---
We'd been resting at the inn after surviving two goblin raids, a mid-boss, and my own inability to tell left from right during 'Mirror Mode.'
The villagers had started calling me "The Lag Hero."
Which sounds cool… until someone says it sarcastically after watching you trip over a cat.
Anyway, today was the day.
Rina and I were heading to the nearby capital city – Aeronfall, where I could register as an adventurer, find some answers, and possibly get a sword that wasn't held together with spit and prayer.
---
[Quest Added: Reach Aeronfall Capital]
Distance: 3 hours on foot. Or 10 minutes if you steal a fast horse. (Not recommended.)
I equipped my travel gear:
Slightly less broken sword ✅
Cracked wooden shield ✅
Confidence held together by sarcasm ✅✅✅
We waved goodbye to the villagers. Borin tossed me a small pouch.
"For saving our village. Also… please stop falling into cabbage carts."
"…No promises."
---
Road to Aeronfall
The path was calm. Too calm.
Which, in isekai language, means boss fight soon.
I looked at Rina. "Hey. You ever wonder how I'm even alive with this glitch system? Like… seriously?"
She shrugged. "You're weird. But also weirdly lucky. And honestly? You make it fun."
I smiled. "Fun as in amusing, or fun as in 'Haha wow this guy might explode at any second'?"
"…Yes."
---
We were just approaching the main gate of Aeronfall when—
BANG.
A shockwave knocked dust into the air.
From the shadows stepped a guy in sleek black armor, glowing blue eyes, and a flowing cape that screamed "I play on max difficulty."
"Target acquired," he said.
Me: "I'm sorry—are we fighting now? Can I get a tutorial first??"
---
[New Encounter: Player-Class Rival Detected]
Name: Kael the Perfected
System: Divine Core – Perfect Type
Level: 9
Race: Arch-Human
Rina's eyes widened. "He has the Perfected System…"
Me: "I have… the Glitched System."
Kael: "One of us is a mistake."
Me: "Yeah, but I'm a fun mistake."
---
BOSS FIGHT – KAEL (KINDA)
Kael launched forward with a burst of light.
I activated Random Buff.
[Buff Activated: "Slippery Shoes" – Your dodge chance is increased. You are also… slippery.]
I dodged his sword strike by sliding accidentally under his legs like a wet bar of soap.
Rina: "Did you mean to do that?"
Me (still sliding): "Absolutely not!"
---
Kael growled. "You're mocking me."
"I'm surviving with style."
He slashed again. I used Lag Clone.
Clone appeared late again—but this time it copied my dodge roll and my slap.
[Clone Slap – 4 DMG]
Kael blinked.
"You just slapped me?"
"Technically, it was my delayed ghost version of me. But yeah."
---
Kael narrowed his eyes.
Then—
[Divine Core: Overdrive Mode Activated]
He exploded with light. Wind howled. Power surged.
Rina shouted, "He's going serious—MOVE!"
I panicked.
Used Skill: Rollback
[Rollback Activated – Rewind 5 Seconds]
Everything flashed.
Kael was powering up… again.
This time I did the one smart thing:
I threw my sword at him and ran in the opposite direction.
BONK.
[Critical Hit – Kael stunned for 2s]
Even Rina stared. "...Did that seriously work?"
"Glitch life, baby."
---
The guards finally stepped in, weapons drawn.
Kael frowned. "You're not worth finishing yet."
He turned and vanished into light, whispering,
"Enjoy your error while it lasts."
I sat down on the dirt, panting.
"Well. I almost died."
Rina patted my shoulder. "Yeah, but you did it your way."
"Glitched, chaotic, and semi-conscious?"
"Exactly."
---
[Quest Complete: Reach Aeronfall]
[System Updated: Race Unknown – Traces Detected: Code Fragment, Origin Locked]
[New Title Unlocked: "Bugged but Breathing"]
I stared at the message.
"…Is this game trying to roast me?"
---
To be continued...