The first sensation that greeted Arin when consciousness returned wasn't pain, but warmth. The warmth of sunlight, filtered through leaves. He groaned softly, opening his eyes.
Above him stretched a sky far too blue, framed by trees that seemed impossibly tall. Their branches swayed, scattering glimmers of light across the mossy ground. The air smelled clean, tinged with dew and wildflowers, so unlike the recycled air of his cramped apartment.
Arin sat up slowly. His body felt lighter than usual, though stiff from lying on uneven ground. He looked down at himself, expecting his old hoodie and jeans, only to find he was dressed in a white tunic, a leather belt, and sturdy boots. He blinked.
"…Where the hell am I?"
The last thing he remembered was falling asleep at his desk, a mountain of tabs open, a half-eaten cup of noodles sitting beside his mouse pad. He'd muttered something about 'just one more chapter', closed his eyes for what felt like a second—then darkness.
Now this.
"Don't tell me…" he muttered. "…Did I actually get isekai'd?"
The words left his lips half-jokingly, half in disbelief. But before he could even begin to question it, a bell-like chime rang inside his skull.
[System Initialization Complete.][Copy System Activated.]Welcome, Host. All abilities, powers, and traits in this world can be copied. Copy speed varies by target strength.]
Arin froze. "…Oh no. It's real. I actually have a system."
He waited. Maybe he was hallucinating. Maybe if he slapped himself, he'd wake up in his chair, neck stiff, screen still glowing.
But no—the moss under his hands was too damp, the breeze too sharp, the chirping of unseen birds too clear.
"…Okay. Breathe. Don't panic." He exhaled, steadying himself. "Step one: assess surroundings. Step two: test the system. Step three: figure out what's trying to kill me in this forest."
He didn't have to wait long for step three.
A sharp snap echoed through the trees.
Arin's head jerked toward the sound. Shadows shifted, and out from the undergrowth came figures small and twisted. Green-skinned, yellow-eyed, carrying crude blades.
"…No way," Arin whispered. "…Goblins. Literal goblins."
Three of them. Barely up to his chest, but their jagged teeth and snarls left no doubt—they weren't friendly.
"Of course. Tutorial mobs. Classic."
The nearest one shrieked, rushing forward with a dagger raised. Arin's stomach dropped.
His body moved on instinct—arms rising to block.
[Ability Detected: Goblin Agility.][Copying in Progress: 12 hours until completion.]
Arin's breath caught. Suddenly, his limbs felt… sharper. His senses heightened, reflexes quicker than they should've been. The goblin's wild slash came at him—sloppy, but fast. Yet to Arin, it felt almost slow.
He twisted aside. The blade cut through empty air.
"…It works." His lips parted in disbelief. "Holy crap, it actually works!"
The goblin snarled, coming at him again. The other two spread out, circling.
Arin's eyes darted around. Weapon. Need a weapon. His gaze fell on a broken branch, thick enough to grip. He snatched it up, holding it like a club.
The first goblin lunged. Arin swung clumsily, the branch smacking across its face with a satisfying crack. The creature yelped, tumbling into the dirt.
"Ha! Eat that, you ugly—"
The second goblin came at him, stabbing low. Arin's body reacted faster than his thoughts. He dodged left, then rammed the branch forward, jamming it into the goblin's gut. The creature shrieked, doubling over before collapsing with a thud.
Arin stared, panting. I… actually hit it?
The last goblin hesitated, glaring at him, then at its fallen kin. It let out a guttural growl and charged, dagger raised high.
Arin braced himself.
The goblin swung. He sidestepped, heart racing, and brought the branch down with all the force he could muster. The makeshift weapon cracked against the goblin's skull. Blood spattered across moss. The creature dropped without a sound.
Silence fell.
Arin stood there, chest heaving, sweat dripping down his forehead. His grip on the branch trembled. His knuckles were white, his stomach churning at the sight of blood.
"…I… I just killed goblins." He exhaled sharply, then laughed—half delirious, half thrilled. "I actually fought monsters. And I didn't die."
A shaky grin spread across his face. "Light novel protagonist life, here I come."
But his celebration didn't last.
A faint sound reached him—light as a whisper.
He turned.
Not far away, standing among the trees, was a girl. Long silver hair shimmered under the sun, her skin pale as ivory, her eyes a striking emerald. Pointed ears peeked from her hair.
An elf.
And she had an arrow nocked, aimed directly at his chest.
For a heartbeat, neither moved.
Arin swallowed. "…Uh. Hi?"
The elf's eyes narrowed. Her voice rang out, clear and cold. "State your name, stranger. And tell me why you are standing over goblin corpses."
The arrow didn't waver.
Arin froze, branch still clutched in his hands, body slick with sweat. His heart hammered. The goblins had been terrifying, but at least they were dumb. This girl—this elf—her gaze was sharp, her stance flawless. She wouldn't miss if she loosed that arrow.
"…Name," she repeated, her voice cool as ice.
"Arin!" he blurted, too quickly. His tongue stumbled over itself. "Arin Valen! I'm… uh… just a guy. Not dangerous. Totally not dangerous!"
Her eyes narrowed further. "You are armed. Blood stains your hands."
Arin glanced down at the branch in his grip, at the red smeared across it. He winced. "Okay, yes, but—look, those goblins jumped me first. I just defended myself."
The elf didn't lower her bow.
Arin raised his free hand slowly, palm out. "If I was dangerous, would I really be standing here trying to explain myself instead of, I don't know, running away or charging you? I'm not a bandit, alright?"
Her lips pressed into a thin line. For a moment, the silence was so tense Arin swore he could hear his own heartbeat echoing in his ears.
Then, at last, she eased the bowstring, lowering the arrow—but not by much.
"…Very well. I will not kill you. Yet."
"Wow," Arin muttered, "such hospitality. I feel so welcome."
The elf's eyes flicked up, sharp again.
"I mean—thank you! Thank you for sparing my totally innocent life," he corrected quickly, hands raised higher.
She studied him, eyes scanning his figure. Then she said, "You are not of this forest. Not of this land, even. Your clothes, your speech… they are strange."
Arin's smile froze. Crap. She's sharp.
"…Yeah, about that." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Let's just say I'm… not from around here. Like, really not from around here."
The elf tilted her head. "Another realm?"
His eyes widened. "…You believe in that?"
"In this world, one learns not to doubt what seems impossible," she said simply. "But such matters are not spoken of lightly."
Arin blinked, then muttered under his breath, "Huh. Easier than explaining parallel universes and reincarnation clichés."
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing! Nothing." He coughed into his fist.
The elf finally lowered her bow completely, though she didn't put it away. Her posture remained stiff, ready.
"…You may walk with me," she said at last. "If your words are true, the elders will wish to see you."
"Elders?" Arin echoed. Oh boy. Am I about to get interrogated by fantasy village chiefs?
Before he could ask, the elf turned, stepping lightly through the trees.
"Wait, wait—hold on!" He scrambled after her. "At least tell me your name first! It's, like, basic introduction etiquette, right?"
She glanced over her shoulder, silver hair shimmering in the sunlight. "…Lyanna."
"Lyanna," he repeated, testing the name. "Alright. Nice to meet you, Lyanna. Please don't shoot me."
Her lips twitched—not quite a smile, but close.
They didn't head straight to her village. Instead, as night began to fall, Lyanna stopped in a small clearing.
"We will rest here. The woods are not safe after dark."
Arin exhaled in relief. His legs ached from walking. Fighting goblins plus nearly getting skewered by arrows had drained him.
Lyanna gathered dry wood, and with a simple flick of her fingers, a small flame burst to life. Arin's eyes widened.
"…You can use magic?"
She arched a brow. "Of course."
He gawked openly. "Like… just fire out of nowhere? Without matches or anything? That's so unfair!"
Her expression was unreadable. "…You are a strange man."
"Strange? Please. Where I come from, people spend their whole lives just wishing for this kind of thing." He gestured at the flame. "And you just—snap!—like it's nothing."
Lyanna tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "…Truly, you are not of this land."
He hesitated, then sighed. "Yeah. I guess I should be honest. I'm… not sure how I ended up here. One moment I was in my world, the next… I woke up under that tree. And then goblins tried to turn me into minced meat."
She listened quietly, face calm, though her gaze softened ever so slightly.
Arin stared into the fire, lowering his voice. "…I don't know if I can ever go back."
For a moment, the only sound was the crackle of flames and the whisper of wind through leaves.
Then Lyanna said, softly, "You survived. That is proof enough of your worth. The forest does not forgive weakness."
Arin blinked, then chuckled. "That's… actually kind of motivational. Thanks."
She nodded once.
They ate a simple meal—berries and dried meat Lyanna carried. Arin tried not to grimace at the taste. He was used to instant ramen and fried chicken, not bitter fruit and tough jerky.
Still, under the starlit sky, with the fire crackling and the elf sitting silently across from him, he felt a strange calm.
For the first time since waking, he thought: Maybe I can survive this world.
And somewhere deep inside, the Copy System stirred again.
[Observation Complete: Elven Archery Detected.]
[Copy in Progress: 3 days until completion.]
Arin nearly choked on his berry. Wait, I can copy her too?!
His grin spread, sharp and eager.
Yeah. He was going to be just fine.
The forest at night was beautiful—if you ignored the part where it wanted to kill you.
Arin walked a step behind Lyanna, eyes darting to every sound. Owls hooted in the distance, leaves rustled, and somewhere far off came a guttural roar that made his skin crawl.
"Relax," Lyanna said softly, not even looking back. "That one is far away."
Arin forced a laugh. "Far away? Lady, in my world, if I heard that noise, I'd be hiding under my bed with a baseball bat."
She gave him a puzzled look. "…A strange form of weapon."
He coughed. "Right. Different world. Don't worry about it."
The Copy System pinged in his head.
[Ability Detected: Lesser Nightwolf Senses.][Copying in Progress: 6 hours until completion.]
Arin's eyes flicked toward the direction of the roar. I can even copy monsters? This system is busted.
As they walked, he studied Lyanna. Her movements were silent, graceful. She seemed to glide over roots and stones without effort. Her bow was always ready, her ears twitching at the faintest sound.
Arin's stomach growled loudly.
Lyanna stopped, glancing back with the faintest arch of her brow. "…Hungry?"
Arin flushed. "I mean, yeah. Sorry. My last meal was, uh… not great."
Without a word, she knelt near a bush, plucked a few glowing fruits, and handed them to him.
Arin hesitated. "…This isn't going to kill me, right?"
Her gaze was flat. "…If I wished you dead, I would not waste arrows."
He swallowed nervously, then took a bite. Sweet juice flooded his mouth, like honey mixed with citrus. His eyes widened. "Whoa. Okay, that's actually amazing. Way better than convenience store sandwiches."
Lyanna tilted her head. "Con… what?"
"Never mind," Arin said quickly, cheeks heating. Note to self: stop saying random Earth things.
Hours later, the trees began to thin. The air grew cooler, filled with faint whispers of magic. Arin blinked as faint lights appeared in the distance—not fire, but glowing orbs suspended in the air like lanterns.
As they drew closer, his jaw dropped.
The Elven Village wasn't a village at all. It was a city woven into the forest itself. Enormous trees stretched skyward, their branches shaped into platforms and bridges. Houses were carved directly into the trunks, glowing with soft light. Vines formed stairways, flowers glimmered like stars, and the air itself seemed alive with power.
"…Holy crap," Arin breathed. "It's like Rivendell on steroids."
Lyanna shot him a sideways glance. "…I do not know this 'Rivendell,' but I assume it is a place of beauty."
"Yeah. Exactly." He grinned sheepishly.
At the gates—if they could be called that—two elven guards stepped forward, bows raised. Their armor gleamed silver under the moonlight, their expressions cold.
"Lyanna," one said sharply. "Why do you bring a stranger? A human, no less."
Arin raised his hands immediately. "Hi. I come in peace. Please don't shoot me."
The guards didn't lower their weapons. Lyanna, however, stood firm.
"He slew three goblins with only a branch," she said. "He is… unusual. The elders must see him."
The guards exchanged wary looks before grudgingly stepping aside.
Arin exhaled shakily as they walked past. "Do elves just default to 'shoot first, ask questions later'?"
"Yes," Lyanna said flatly.
"…Good to know."
They crossed a great wooden bridge into the heart of the city. Elves paused in their activities to stare. Arin felt the weight of their gazes—some curious, some hostile. Children peeked from behind their parents, whispering. Older elves frowned openly.
"…I get the feeling I'm not exactly welcome here," Arin muttered.
"You are not," Lyanna said without hesitation.
Arin winced. "…You could've sugarcoated that."
"Sugarcoating is for those who fear truth."
"Okay, philosopher queen. Point taken."
They reached the largest tree in the city. Its trunk was massive, wider than a mansion, with glowing runes etched into the bark. A grand stairway wound upward, leading to a hall carved directly into the wood.
Lyanna led him inside.
The hall was dimly lit, the air heavy with incense. At its center sat three elves, their robes long and flowing, their hair pale as moonlight. Their eyes were old—centuries old.
Arin swallowed hard. Great. Fantasy elders. I'm about to get grilled like a suspect on trial.
Lyanna knelt. "Honored Elders, I bring a stranger. He claims no allegiance, yet he wields unusual strength. I thought it wise to present him to you."
The eldest of the three opened his eyes, gaze sharp as daggers.
"Human," he said, his voice like the rustle of ancient leaves. "Speak. Who are you, and why do you trespass in our sacred forest?"
Arin's throat went dry. All eyes were on him.
"…Uh. Hi. My name's Arin. And the thing is… I may have gotten a little lost."
The silence stretched like a blade across Arin's neck. The three elders fixed him with gazes so piercing he felt as though every lie he could ever tell would be stripped bare before them.
Arin's instinct screamed: Don't say "I'm a reincarnated guy with a cheat system." That would go down like a lead balloon.
So he smiled nervously. "Like I said… I got lost. One moment I was, uh… in my own homeland, and the next—bam! Here I am, in your forest. I don't mean any harm. I'm just… trying to survive."
The middle elder, a woman with hair the color of frost, narrowed her eyes. "Your aura… it is strange. Not entirely human."
Arin's heart skipped. Oh crap. Can they detect the system?
He forced a shrug. "Guess I'm built different?"
The youngest-looking elder—a man who appeared no older than thirty, though Arin suspected he was centuries—snorted. "Your tongue is glib. Do you take this council for fools?"
Arin's palms sweated. Okay, I need to give them something. Something half-true.
He dropped his gaze. "Look… I don't remember much. Only fragments. Waking in the forest, being attacked by goblins, nearly dying until I picked up a branch and fought back. If it weren't for Lyanna, I'd already be a corpse."
At that, Lyanna bowed her head slightly, as though confirming his words.
The eldest elder leaned forward. His voice was like the groan of ancient wood. "You slew three goblins with a mere stick?"
Arin coughed. "More like… they tripped into my stick while I panicked, but yeah. Pretty much."
A ripple of murmurs passed between the elders. Even Lyanna's lips twitched, though she quickly masked it.
The female elder raised a hand. The whispers died. "Unusual… but not impossible. Still, your arrival is ill-timed. Darkness stirs in the east. The barrier weakens. And now… a human appears, unbidden."
Her gaze sharpened. "Coincidence? Or omen?"
Arin forced a grin. "Hopefully the good kind of omen?"
The younger elder scoffed. "Your flippancy offends me."
The eldest raised a hand, silencing him. His gaze returned to Arin. "You will remain in our village until we decide your fate. Be grateful we grant you even that."
Arin bit back a sigh. "Better than being skewered, I guess."
Later, Arin found himself escorted to a small wooden lodge near the edge of the village. Lyanna accompanied him, silent as ever.
He flopped onto the bed—a mattress of woven leaves, surprisingly soft. "Well… that could've gone worse."
Lyanna's lips curved in the faintest smirk. "You still live. That is an achievement."
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence."
As she turned to leave, Arin sat up. "Hey, Lyanna… why'd you vouch for me back there? You could've let them toss me out."
She paused in the doorway, silhouetted by moonlight. "Because the forest guided me to you. That is reason enough… for now."
And with that, she was gone.
Alone, Arin exhaled and brought up the system screen.
[Abilities Copied:]
Goblin Agility (Complete)
Goblin Ferocity (Complete)
Lesser Nightwolf Senses (3 hours remaining)
Lyanna's Archery Instinct (Copying in Progress: 12 hours remaining)
Arin blinked. "Wait—what?!"
He hadn't even touched Lyanna, and yet the system was copying her skill.
[Passive Effect: Prolonged Observation of Target grants partial synchronization.]
His jaw dropped. "I can copy skills just by… hanging out with people?"
A wild grin spread across his face. This system is even more broken than I thought.
For a while, he lay back, mind racing with possibilities. If I play this right, I could learn anything. Magic, swordsmanship, even… kingdom building?
The thought was intoxicating.
But then reality crashed in. The elves don't trust me. One wrong move and I'm toast.
He exhaled. "Guess I gotta earn their trust. Somehow."
The next morning, Lyanna returned. "The elders summoned you again."
Arin groaned. "What, already? Don't they sleep?"
She ignored him. "Do not speak lightly before them. They will test you."
"…Test me how?"
Her expression was unreadable. "You will see."
Back in the great hall, the elders awaited. The eldest elder spoke: "Human. To remain among us, you must prove your worth. Words mean nothing—only deeds."
Arin's stomach knotted. "Okay… what kind of deed are we talking about here? Please don't say dragon-slaying."
The youngest elder sneered. "A simple task. A nest of goblins festers near our borders. Slay them. Alone."
Arin froze. "…How many are we talking?"
"Five. Perhaps seven," the elder said with deliberate cruelty.
Arin's brain screamed. Seven goblins? I nearly died against three!
But then he glanced at the system screen.
[Abilities Available:]
Goblin Agility
Goblin Ferocity
Nightwolf Senses (complete)
Archery Instinct (ongoing)
Slowly, a grin spread across his face.
"…I'll do it."
The elders exchanged faintly surprised glances. The eldest nodded. "Very well. Prove yourself… or perish."
Outside, Lyanna approached him. "You agreed too quickly."
Arin shrugged, though his heart was hammering. "I've got… a few tricks up my sleeve."
She studied him for a long moment, then said softly: "If you die… I will not forgive you."
Arin blinked. "Wait—what does that even—?"
But she was already walking away, leaving him with the strangest warmth in his chest.
That night, as he prepared to set out toward the goblin nest, Arin whispered to himself:
"Alright, Copy System. Time to show me what you can really do."
And somewhere deep within the forest, goblins howled, unaware that their hunter was coming.