Loid's hands trembled slightly as he shoved his keys into the lock. He had been carrying grocery bags from his part-time job, not with food but with cleaning supplies his boss made him pick up before clocking out. His back ached, his arms felt like lead, and every step up the stairs to his tiny apartment had felt like a punishment from the universe.
The door finally gave way with a dry creak, revealing a space barely large enough to count as an apartment. One bed shoved into the corner, a table with one leg shorter than the others, and shelves stacked with cheap instant noodles and canned tuna.
Loid didn't even bother with the light. He set the bags down by the door, pulled off his shoes, and collapsed onto the bed with a heavy thud.
"God, I'm dead," he muttered into the pillow.
The mattress was thin, the sheets smelled faintly of detergent that never fully washed away sweat, but he didn't care. Complaining would take energy, and he had none left.
His eyes slid shut almost immediately, his breath heavy, his mind empty. The thought flickered briefly 'another day wasted' but even that faded into the darkness of sleep.
---
When Loid opened his eyes again, something was wrong.
There was no cracked ceiling above him, no ceiling fan lazily spinning. Instead, he saw branches swaying under the sky, sunlight filtering through green leaves. He blinked, sat up, and felt grass beneath his hands. Damp, fresh, alive.
Birdsong filled the air. A breeze brushed his cheek. The air was clean, crisp, the kind of clean he hadn't breathed in years.
Loid froze. His heart thumped. "What the hell?"
Before panic could rise, a chime rang out in the air. Something flickered in front of him, glowing faintly. A translucent panel hovered in midair.
[ Mercenary System Activated ]
Loid's mouth fell open.
[ Reputation Coins: 0 ]
[ Reputation Points: 0 ]
[ Units Owned: 0 ]
[ System Level: 1 ]
Then another line scrolled across the screen.
[ Summoning Rights Available: 1 Mercenary ]
For several long seconds, Loid just stared at it. Then, slowly, a grin tugged at his lips.
"No way," he whispered. "No way. This… this is just like those novels I used to read."
He laughed once, shaking his head. "Okay, either I'm having a fever dream, or I finally snapped at work. But hell, if I'm gonna hallucinate, this isn't half bad."
The panel pulsed faintly, waiting. Loid swallowed, then pressed the summon option with his finger.
---
Light erupted before him, swirling into a shape. It grew taller, more defined limbs, hair, a face. When the glow faded, a woman stood there.
She was stunning. Long hair black as night spilled past her shoulders, catching the sunlight with a strange shimmer. Her eyes were silver, sharp yet calm. She wore dark leather armor fitted close to her body, simple but practical. Her posture was perfect, her expression composed, and she looked at Loid as though he were the center of her world.
Loid's heart skipped. "Oh, damn…"
Another panel popped up.
[ Name: Selvara ]
[ Strength: 1 ]
[ Endurance: 1 ]
[ Agility: 1 ]
[ Spirit: 1 ]
[ Available Stat Points: 5 ]
"Selvara," Loid read aloud.
The woman inclined her head gracefully. "Yes. I am Selvara." Her voice was clear, smooth.
Loid coughed into his hand. "Right, uh… who are you exactly? Like, why are you here?"
"I am your mercenary," Selvara said. "I exist to serve you."
Loid blinked. "Hold on. Exist to serve me? You mean… literally?"
"Yes. I was created for this purpose. My blade, my life, my being belong to you."
Loid rubbed his face. "That's… wow. That's a lot to process."
He chuckled weakly. "But, uh, fine. Whatever. If this is a dream, might as well enjoy it. If not, even better. Guess I finally get to play main character in one of those stories."
Selvara tilted her head, waiting silently.
Loid looked back at the stat screen. "Strength, endurance, agility. Okay. Classic RPG stuff."
He glanced at her. "So, what are you good at? Do you have a specialty?"
Selvara's lips curved into the faintest smile. "Speed. I prefer to move fast."
Loid raised an eyebrow. "Speed, huh? Alright. Let's test it."
---
He stood, brushing off his pants, and gestured. "Okay, run to that tree and back."
Selvara nodded and sprinted forward. Except… she didn't sprint so much as jog. Her movement was light, but no faster than an untrained person.
Loid frowned. "That's… kinda disappointing."
The stat screen blinked faintly. He tapped agility once.
[ Strength: 1 ]
[ Endurance: 1 ]
[ Agility: 2 ]
[ Spirit: 1 ]
Selvara adjusted her footing, then dashed again. This time, her movement was quicker, her steps sharper, about as fast as a trained athlete.
Loid's eyes widened. "Oh, crap. That actually worked."
He rubbed his chin, thinking. "Okay, let's push it."
He dumped three more points into agility.
[ Strength: 1 ]
[ Endurance: 1 ]
[ Agility: 5 ]
[ Spirit: 1 ]
Selvara blurred, vanishing from her spot for an instant before reappearing by the tree. She reappeared at Loid's side almost as quickly, her hair swaying in the aftershock of her speed.
Loid staggered back. "Holy! That's not just fast, that's inhuman! You're like… damn, you could outrun cars with that."
Selvara exhaled softly, a trace of fatigue on her face. "It is… taxing."
Loid blinked, then noticed the sweat on her brow, the slight strain in her breathing. "Wait, you're already tired?"
"My endurance is insufficient," she admitted calmly. "Speed burns strength quickly."
Loid cursed softly. "Right, makes sense. No point being fast if you gas out in seconds."
He glanced back at the panel, one point left. He slid it into endurance.
[ Strength: 1 ]
[ Endurance: 2 ]
[ Agility: 5 ]
[ Spirit: 1 ]
Selvara straightened, her breathing evening out. A faint glow rippled across her frame. "Better. I can maintain this level of speed longer now."
Loid exhaled in relief. "Good. That's more balanced."
He stared at the numbers again, then back at her. A grin tugged at his lips. "This… this is insane. I'm actually managing stats. Like, a real system. Like those power-up novels I wasted my nights reading."
Selvara stepped closer, her silver eyes steady. "If this pleases you, then I am glad."
Loid chuckled and shook his head. "Pleases me? Hell, I feel alive for the first time in years."
He stretched his arms out to the forest around them. "I don't know if this is real or not, but… Selvara, let's see how far this goes. If we can summon more mercenaries, grow stronger… maybe this really is my chance at something better."
Selvara bowed slightly, her voice soft but resolute. "Then I will follow, wherever you lead."
Loid smiled faintly, letting himself sink onto the grass. For once, the crushing weight in his chest wasn't there. Instead, there was a spark, a beginning.
And so, his first mercenary stood ready, stats glowing faintly in the air.
[ Selvara – Strength: 1 | Endurance: 2 | Agility: 5 | Spirit: 1 ]
The start of something new.