The glowing screen hovered before Ren, its faint hum filling the cabin with an otherworldly presence. The words shimmered as though alive, waiting for his answer.
---
[Choose Three Beginner Skills]
[Basic Swordsmanship] → +20% efficiency with blades. Unlocks Sword Techniques.
[Basic Fire Magic] → Grants Fireball Spell. Increases Mana Control.
[Basic Appraisal] → Ability to analyze items, creatures, and magic.
[Basic Archery] → +20% accuracy with bows. Unlocks Quick Shot.
[Basic Stealth] → Reduces noise while moving. Enemies detect user less easily.
[Basic Crafting] → Increases efficiency in creating tools, weapons, and gear. Unlocks Simple Recipes.
[Basic Vitality] → Increases natural recovery rate of HP and stamina. Small resistance to poison/disease.
[Basic Cooking] → Meals restore more stamina, may grant temporary buffs.
---
Ren stared at the glowing list, his brow furrowing.
"Three choices… huh?"
He tapped his fingers on the wooden bedframe, weighing carefully.
"Archery sounds nice, but I've never held a bow in my life. Stealth… maybe useful, but I'm not exactly a thief.
Cooking's… well, I can burn rice even with a rice cooker." He chuckled bitterly.
His gaze sharpened on the top three. Swordsmanship. Magic. Appraisal.
Swordsmanship was practical, a way to fight directly.
Magic… that one made his heart race just thinking about it. Fireballs? Mana? It was everything he'd only read about.
And Appraisal… knowledge. The ability to identify what was dangerous, what was valuable. In an unknown world, that was survival.
He clenched his fist. "Yeah… these three. They'll give me a foundation."
The moment his decision settled, the system responded.
---
[Skill Selection Confirmed]
Acquired: [Basic Swordsmanship], [Basic Fire Magic], [Basic Appraisal]
[Bonus Reward Granted]
→ +10 to All Stats
---
[System: Dual Realm System]
[Status]
📜 Ren – Lv.1 (0 / 100 EXP)
Race: Human
Title: None
Rank: F (Gray Core)
HP: 350/350
MP: 150/150
Strength: 15
Agility: 16
End:18
Vit:20
Intelligence: 17
Charm: 15
Skills: [Basic Swordsmanship], [Basic Fire Magic], [Basic Appraisal]
Inventory: Empty
---
Warmth surged through his body, like invisible threads stitching new instincts into his bones.
His grip tightened unconsciously, his stance shifted, and deep inside, a spark of flame flickered in his chest. His vision even sharpened slightly, as though the world had grown clearer.
HP also got increased.
Ren gasped softly. "It's… real. I can feel it."
Suddenly, his stomach lurched. Heat boiled beneath his skin, and then—black grime seeped out of his pores, dripping like tar. The stench was overwhelming.
"Ugh! This—this is disgusting!"
His instincts screamed to escape. Without hesitation, he dashed back through the portal into the modern world. His new agility sent him flying across the village path at terrifying speed.
Unfortunately, fate had a cruel sense of humor. On the way, he ran into the same two aunties from before.
The women froze, their eyes widening as the smell hit them.
"By all the gods—what on earth happened to you?!" one shrieked, waving her hand in front of her nose.
"You smell like a sewer exploded!" the other gagged.
Ren's face flushed red. Embarrassed beyond belief, he sprinted even faster, his sudden burst of speed leaving the two women gaping.
"Did he just… vanish like wind?" one muttered.
"No… he ran… that fast?"
Ren didn't wait to hear the rest. He bolted straight to the river.
The cold water washed over him like salvation. As the black grime peeled away, he caught sight of his reflection. His jaw dropped.
"…That's me?"
The man staring back wasn't the same Ren. His features were sharper, refined—handsome enough to put even elves from fantasy novels to shame. His body, once average, now bore defined muscles and faint abs. His skin looked healthier, his eyes brighter. He looked… extraordinary.
"It's the stats," he muttered, stunned. "Even a small increase… made me into this?"
After scrubbing himself clean, he changed into fresh clothes, washing his old ones in the river.
When he walked back toward the village, the transformation was so striking that the same aunties almost didn't recognize him.
"That… that's the same boy?!" one gasped.
"He looks like he walked straight out of a painting…" the other whispered in disbelief.
Ren ignored their stares this time, though his lips twitched in amusement. He had more important things to do.
---
The sun was already leaning west when he stopped by the old general store. Behind the counter, the village uncle raised a brow at him.
Ren simply offered a polite nod. "Uncle, do you have any seeds? Just simple ones. Grains or vegetables will do."
The old man blinked, as if surprised at the sudden request, then shuffled to the back. "Seeds, eh? Planning to start farming, boy?"
"Something like that." Ren smiled faintly, sliding a few coins across the counter.
With the seeds bundled neatly in a sack, Ren thanked him and left, heading back home.
His small house creaked faintly when he pushed open the door. After setting the seeds aside, Ren moved toward the storeroom, curiosity gnawing at him.
Dust puffed into the air as he opened the wooden chest tucked in the corner. Inside lay forgotten relics—an old rust iron sword , a sword manual bound in frayed leather, a set of rusty tools, and a few other odds and ends.
Ren's hand lingered on the sword manual.
"…Looks like I've got more than just seeds to work with."
A quiet determination flickered in his eyes as he gathered the items.
Tomorrow, he would test everything.
---