Chapter 1: Rebirth in Quarda
You won't believe it, but I... I was reborn in this world called Quarda. It's a bizarre place a modern world blended with ancient magic, where towering spires of enchanted steel pierce the skies alongside bustling markets filled with glowing runes and clashing swords. Naturally, I started as a nobody, scraping by on the ragged outskirts of society. Just a year ago, I was literally at the point of dying, huddled in a filthy alley, my body wracked with fever and starvation, the cold rain soaking through my tattered rags as I gasped for what I thought would be my last breaths.
But fate, or perhaps some twisted whim of the gods, intervened. I somehow managed to find work in this baron's house. The baron is a young lady Denorah, a third-circle mage named Lady seria , with sharp emerald eyes that seemed to pierce through souls and long raven hair that cascaded like a shadow over her elegant robes. She had lost her entire family in the brutal war against the Spirit of Doom a monstrous entity that had ravaged the lands, leaving scorched earth and shattered families in its wake. On her way home from the front lines, her carriage rumbling along the muddy road under a stormy sky, she spotted me: a pathetic, emaciated figure collapsed by the roadside, barely clinging to life. For reasons I still couldn't fathom, she took pity on me and offered me a job as a lowly servant in her sprawling mansion. Of course, I was but a useless guy unskilled, unremarkable, and utterly out of place among the polished halls and armored guards.
I do have a system, though. But it's a shitty one that doesn't even show a panel or anything; it just talks in my mind, like an annoying voice echoing in my skull during the quiet moments. It started right after my rebirth, whispering cryptic nonsense while I adjusted to this new reality.
Then, suddenly, as I was mopping the grimy stone floor of the training grounds, the voice erupted in my head: Master, you're so dumb. How dare you call me useless? You know I've told you to login to the game called Mytherra.
Leo stopped mid-swipe with the mop, the wooden handle creaking under his grip. Water sloshed from the bucket, pooling around his worn boots. He furrowed his brow, his face twisting in frustration under the dim torchlight that flickered against the high walls of the courtyard. "Hey, system, are you stupid? That costs a whopping 20k gold! And shit, I can't even fill my stomach properly. Even in that, I saved 19k in a whole year 19k! For that god-knows-what-my-cheat-is."
The system spoke back, its tone laced with exasperation, like a sibling tired of repeating the same advice. God damnit, I've told you many times to call me Mimi. And I tell you, when you log in to the game, you'll find out what really is your cheat.
Leo resumed mopping, the rhythmic slosh of the rag against the stone providing a mundane backdrop to the bizarre conversation unfolding in his mind. His muscles ached from the day's labor, his calloused hands gripping the mop tighter as he muttered under his breath. "Whatever. I will do that, but if I can't get my hard-worked 20k golds back, I won't hear shit from ya. Hear me?"
Mimi's voice returned with a hint of smugness, almost playful. Yea, yea, whatever. When you realize your cheat, don't come at me crying to explain.
He was bickering in his mind like this, lost in the internal argument, without noticing anything around him. The training grounds were empty now, the knights having finished their drills earlier, leaving behind scuffed dirt and the faint metallic tang of sweat and steel in the air. Leo's focus was inward, his lips moving slightly as if whispering to himself, oblivious to the approaching footsteps echoing softly on the flagstones.
Then, without warning, someone kicked him hard in the stomach. The impact was like a hammer blow, driving the air from his lungs in a sharp gasp. Leo doubled over, dropping to his knees on the wet floor, saliva dribbling from his mouth as he clutched his abdomen. Pain radiated through his body, a burning fire that made his vision blur. "Shit," he wheezed, the word escaping in a hoarse whisper.
The one who kicked him was Kaeil, a burly first-class knight with a scarred face and a perpetual sneer, his armored boot still hovering menacingly. His eyes narrowed in cruel amusement, the torchlight casting harsh shadows across his rugged features. "Did you just say 'shit'? The beating from yesterday wasn't enough, I see." He delivered another kick, this one to Leo's side, the force sending him sprawling onto the cold stone.
Kaeil was the only first-class knight in this mansion, a rare breed in Quarda. Knights were so scarce that even a first-class one like him was considered a treasure, comparable in power to a second-circle mage the kind who could single-handedly slay lesser spirits of doom on the battlefield. His presence commanded respect, or fear, depending on who you asked. To Leo, he was just a bully hiding behind his status.
As the kicks rained down, Leo curled into a fetal position, his mind racing with rage and helplessness. Shit, shit, shit. This bitch is beating me today again. If I was strong, or at least if my fucked-up mana hole was open, I wouldn't even care for the cheat shits. But this bitch this ugly bitch just beats me because I'm handsome. Shit, just you wait, Kaeil.
Kaeil landed a few more blows, his boots thudding against Leo's ribs with sickening cracks, before finally stepping back. He spat on the ground, wiping his mouth with the back of his gauntleted hand, a satisfied smirk twisting his lips. Without another word, he turned and strode away, his heavy footsteps fading into the night.
Mimi's voice piped up in Leo's head, soft but edged with sympathy. Master, just wait until you make one gold more. Then see how you'll beat that ugly shithead.
Leo pushed himself up slowly, wincing as fresh waves of pain shot through his body. He leaned against the wall, his breath coming in ragged gasps, surprise flickering across his bruised face. "Hey, Mimi, are you really a system? How the hell does a system talk like that?" He groaned, the beating still throbbing in every muscle, making even the act of speaking an effort.
Mimi responded gently, almost coaxing. Master, you should visit her again. If not, it will hurt more.
Leo nodded weakly, his eyes squeezing shut against the pain. "I know, fuck, I know. But you know she scolds like hell, and I can't even use my money. Shit."
Gritting his teeth, Leo grabbed the mop again and resumed his work, each stroke sending jolts of agony through his battered frame. The training ground seemed larger now, the shadows longer under the flickering torches, as if mocking his suffering. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he finished, the floor glistening faintly in the low light. Exhausted, he staggered to the corner of the courtyard, slumping down against the rough stone wall. "Shit, it's hurting," he muttered, his voice barely audible, his head lolling back as he tried to catch his breath.
Mimi's voice echoed again, persistent. Master, let's just use the money. We can get more in the future.
Leo shook his head stubbornly, his fists clenching despite the pain. "No, no. I'm so close. I don't know if you're telling the truth or not. I will try that if it fails, I guess that's my fate." His words trailed off, his vision swimming as the cumulative toll of the beating and the day's labor overwhelmed him. Darkness crept in at the edges of his sight, and with a final, shuddering breath, Leo fainted, his body slumping lifelessly against the wall. He had already gotten beaten, but he had even had the work to finish such was the relentless grind of his new life in Quarda.
The loud voice pierced through the fog of unconsciousness, growing sharper and more insistent with every repetition.
"Hey, Leo! Get up quickly! Are you hearing me? Hey, Leo… Leooo!"
Leo groaned, his eyelids fluttering open. "Stop it, Mimi…"
The words slipped out before he could stop them. His vision cleared slowly, revealing the familiar dim ceiling of his small servant's room. The rough wooden beams overhead, the single flickering mana-lamp on the wall, the threadbare blanket pulled up to his chest. He blinked, realizing he was no longer slumped against the cold stone of the training grounds. Someone had carried him here. His body ached dully, but the sharp, burning pain from Kaeil's boots was… gone. He shifted experimentally, pressing a hand to his ribs. The bruises were still there, purple and tender under his thin shirt, but the broken feeling had faded. Someone had treated him again.
Before he could process it, a new voice cut through the quiet room, sharp and exasperated.
"I told you not to provoke that pig, didn't I?"
Leo's head snapped toward the sound. Sylis stood at the foot of his narrow bed, arms crossed, her maid uniform crisp despite the late hour. Her silver-blonde hair was pulled into a tight bun, but a few strands had escaped, framing her worried, heart-shaped face. She was only a few years older than him, but the way she carried herself always made her seem like the responsible older sister he never had.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" she snapped, stepping closer. "And you're still daydreaming about… Mimi? God knows who that is. Hey, Leo!"
Her hand cracked across his cheek not hard enough to hurt, but sharp enough to jolt him fully awake. The sting bloomed across his skin.
"No, sister, I… I'm hearing you," Leo stammered, rubbing his face. Inside, he cursed himself. Shit. Why do I forget again and again that Mimi is not visible to them?
Sylis huffed, her expression softening despite the scolding tone. "Hm. So here take this." She tapped the sleek band on her wrist, and a soft chime echoed in Leo's ear. "Your hard-worked 1.3k gold for this month. I've transferred it to your account."
Leo glanced down at his own wrist. The faint, ethereal glow of his neuron watch shimmered into view visible only to him and other bonded owners. A small notification floated in his vision:
Payment Received: +1,300 gold
Current Balance: 2,300 gold
Sylis watched him check it, then added with heavy sarcasm, "Check the payment is done. Happy now?"
Leo managed a weak smile. "Yes, sister. Thank you."
She sighed, her worry breaking through the stern mask. "Now your payment is done. Don't get more hurt, okay?" Her eyes lingered on the fading bruises peeking from his collar, concern etching lines around them. "I mean it, Leo."
Leo nodded, forcing conviction into his voice. "Yes, I won't get hurt. Don't worry, sister. I've told you many times I will become a knight didn't i."
Sylis rolled her eyes, but there was no real mockery in it. "Yeah, yeah." She'd heard that promise in his sleep-talking, in his fevered mumbles after every beating. She turned toward the door. "Rest. And stay out of Kaeil's way tomorrow."
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving the room in near silence. It was a small, cramped space: just a single bed with a lumpy mattress, a rickety table, a tiny kitchen corner with a stove that barely worked, and a narrow window that looked out onto the mansion's back wall. No decorations. No luxury. Just survival.
Then Mimi's voice erupted in his mind, gleeful and triumphant.
"Hooo, finally! She left! Leo, now I finally have 20k!"
Mimi laughed loud, manic, delighted. "Hahahahah! Finally, the time is here! The time you stop calling Mimi useless! Hahaha! Now quick buy the game! Quick and log in!"
Leo sat up slowly, wincing as his ribs protested. "No, wait." He stared at the wall, voice low. "You're telling the truth, right? If I log in… I'll finally get my cheat? Like those transmigrators in novels and animes?"
Mimi's tone turned smug. "Yup. It's not less than those. So get the game already."
Leo narrowed his eyes. "Wait. Why are you so excited about it, though?"
"What do you mean 'excited'? If you get stronger, I can get a body! I can eat things too, you know!"
Leo gave the empty air a flat, disappointed look. "Huh. Is that the reason you're excited?"
"Whatever. Let's buy already."
Leo shook his head. "No, wait."
Mimi groaned dramatically. "Now what, god "
Leo pushed himself fully upright, sitting on the edge of the bed. His hands trembled slightly not from pain, but from the weight of the decision. "You're telling the truth, right?"
"God, I'm telling the truth! Why are you so worried?"
Leo exhaled roughly. "Fuck. This 20k cost me a whole year of work. Half of it was getting beaten up by that pig Kaeil."
Mimi's voice softened, just a fraction. "I will tell you one last time: you'll get what you want in that game. So login already."
Leo stared at his wrist for a long moment. Then, with a decisive breath, he tapped the neuron interface.
The online store materialized in his vision clean, glowing icons. He navigated straight to Mytherra. The purchase confirmation appeared:
Mytherra – Virtual Reality Edition
Price: 20,000 gold
Confirm?
His finger hovered. Then he pressed.
Purchase Complete.
Download & Install initiated.
The game was a full-dive VR experience. With the neuron watch already embedded like a second nervous system, there was no need for headsets or pods just lie down, close your eyes, and dive.
Leo lay back on the bed, heart hammering. A brilliant white flash engulfed his vision.
When it cleared, a sleek character menu floated before him.
Please choose your class:
- Mage
- Assassin
- Knight
- Summoner
- Swordsman
- Priest
Leo swallowed. These are all actually real-world classes…
" of course I'll choose Knight," he muttered.
Class selection confirmed: Knight
Transferring to beginner village…
The world loaded in.
"Mimi? Can you hear me? Mimi? Hey, Mimi!"
Panic surged instantly. The system the voice that had been in his head since the moment he woke up in this world was silent. No snarky reply. No laughter. Nothing.
Then, without warning, a new panel appeared.
Unlike the standard blue game interfaces, this one shimmered gold rich, radiant, almost alive.
Detected: Leon the Doom
has entered Mytherra.
Distributing beginner reward…
1st Class Knight has been added to the body.
Leo's breath caught.
Huh? Leon the Doom…? Is that my full name?
The golden words hung in the air, burning themselves into his mind as the beginner village materialized around him wooden houses, dirt paths, distant mountains under a perfect blue sky.
But inside his real body, lying on the narrow bed back in the mansion, something was already changing.
The bruises on his ribs began to fade faster. His muscles felt denser, heavier with untapped strength. A faint, electric hum coursed through his veins like the awakening of something long sealed.
Somewhere deep in his soul, a door had opened.
And the voice that had once called itself useless was smiling.