[Monarch System Activated]
Han Seojin flinched backward, blinking as the blue screen glowed in front of him.
He stared at the floating letters, mouth slightly open.
"…What the hell is this?!"
[Daily Random Box available]
[Do you want to open it? Y/N]
Seojin rubbed his eyes. The system screen was still there. Floating. Real.
"Argh… Whatever it is. I've got nothing to lose. So yes... Open."
A flash of white light burst from the screen. Seojin instinctively shielded his eyes.
When the light faded, new text appeared.
[Skill: Regressor (?)]
Description: After you die, you'll be sent back 24 hours into the past.
Seojin froze.
His eyes widened. He leaned closer, as if staring harder would make the words change.
"…Huh… If I die, I'll go back to 24 hours in the past. Then what's the difference between that and immortality?"
His fingers trembled as he reached toward the edge of his desk and pulled out a small utility knife. He turned it slowly in his hand. Its dull edge caught the flickering light of the room.
He held it to his neck.
"Should I give it a try?"
For a moment, the silence in the room deepened. A breath held.
Then—
Seojin's expression twisted into disbelief.
He dropped the knife onto the floor like it had burned him.
"Am I crazy? How can I believe in that strange thing? If I really die, then it's finish."
He glared at the system window as if it were mocking him.
"Hey... System... Open another box."
[It's a daily random box.]
[You don't have any random box today.]
[You'll need to wait until tomorrow morning.]
"I see… So I need to wait until tomorrow, huh. No problem… I'm best at waiting."
He said it confidently—almost smugly.
And yet…
As night fell and the air grew colder, Seojin lay on his creaky bed, wrapped in a threadbare blanket, eyes wide open.
He stared at the ceiling.
Time passed.
He checked his phone.
1:00 AM
"Alright... Just a few more hours."
More time passed.
He checked again.
1:13 AM
"...That's it?"
He sighed. Rolled over. Closed his eyes.
Opened them.
Checked again.
1:30 AM
"AARGH! WHY THE HELL IS THIS NIGHT NOT PASSING?!"
He sat up in bed, hair a mess, face distorted by sleep-deprived rage. He glared at the clock as if it were personally responsible for time itself.
The entire night became a war.
A battle between Seojin and the seconds that crawled like snails.
He cursed. He rolled. He flailed.
Eventually, without realizing it…
He fell asleep.
---
"AHHHHHHHH—!"
Han Seojin shot up from his bed, screaming.
"How did I end up sleeping?! Hey, system… System… Fast… Open the box!"
[Ding]
[Daily Random Box opened]
A flash of light burst again—and when it faded:
[Skill: Guide of the Tower (A)]
Description: ???
Seojin frowned.
"What do you mean by that question mark on the description?"
Before the system could respond, a voice echoed beside him.
"Uhhhh... What's with this shitty place?"
Seojin's head whipped to the side. He leapt to his feet.
There—standing in his room, somehow glowing faintly like a spirit—was a man.
He was dressed in deep red martial robes, his arms crossed over his broad, muscular chest. His hair was tied back, and his presence radiated strength, authority… and irritation.
They both locked eyes.
Both jumped back.
And both screamed.
"Aaaaaaaaa!! Who are you?!"
Seojin pointed wildly at the stranger.
The man raised a brow and fired back, "Hey… It's my house. So I have the right to ask you the question."
[Ding…]
[He is the Guide of the Tower]
Seojin blinked.
The man turned back to him with a nod of realization. "Ohhh… So you're the host of the system."
He examined Seojin with a tilted head. "I don't see anything special in you. So what did he see in you?"
Seojin narrowed his eyes. "So you know about the system?"
"Yeah… Of course I know," the man said proudly, puffing his chest.
"Then tell me everything about the system." Seojin stepped forward, face full of curiosity.
"No."
"…Huh? Why not?"
"Because that's not my task," the man said matter-of-factly. "My task is only to guide you to climb the Tower."
Seojin frowned. "Then at least tell me if the things or skills it gives me are real or not."
The man scoffed. "Of course it's real. If it wasn't real, why would I be in front of you?"
Seojin's jaw slackened.
"Uhhh… That's true."
The man let out a long sigh. "Uhh… Boy… You don't have any manners, do you? If you meet someone for the first time, you should greet them. Anyway, what's your name?"
"I'm Han Seojin."
"I'm the Martial Emperor Jong Ryo. You can call me Master Ryo."
"Huh… Ok, Ryo. So, how will you guide me to climb the tower?"
The man scowled. "I told you to call me Master. Master Ryo."
"Huh… Whatever. Just tell me how you'll guide me."
Ryo turned his back to Seojin, pouting slightly. "You hurt my feelings. I won't tell you."
"Okay… No need. Just guide me properly."
---
4:00 AM – The Next Morning
Han Seojin was buried under his blanket, breathing slowly, enjoying what little warmth he could trap in the freezing room.
And then—
"Hey… Zombie… Hey… Wake up… It's morning! Wake up already!"
"Mmm… Let me sleep more, old man…"
A beat.
And then—
"WAKE UP… ZOMBIE!!"
A scream exploded next to his ear like a bomb.
Seojin jumped up like he'd been electrocuted. "HUF—! HUF—! YOU—!"
His eyes burned with rage. "Why are you screaming in the middle of the night?! Just sleep and let me sleep!"
"What do you mean by 'middle of the night'? It's morning!"
Seojin snatched his phone and squinted at the time.
4:00 AM.
His face twisted in disbelief. "You crazy old man! It's only 4:00 AM! Even the sun hasn't risen! You call this morning? Just say that you couldn't sleep, got bored, and decided to ruin my life!"
"Ahem," Ryo coughed proudly. "Who do you think I am? This is for your own good. If you wake up early, you can exercise. Then you'll get healthy. With that body of yours, you can't even kill an insect. How will you climb the Tower, huh? You'll die in an instant!"
"So what?"
"What do you mean by 'so what'? If you die, then it's all finished, isn't it?"
"Argh… I should've told you earlier. Even if I die, I'll just come back. I have a skill that allows me to go back 24 hours in the past when I die. So it's not a problem. I became like… some immortal."
Ryo blinked.
"…Huh. Is that so? Then sleep. I won't bother you anymore."
To be continue...