Haruto's heart pounded as the countless Monster Rabbits circled around him, their glowing red eyes unblinking, their teeth sharp in the dim forest light. Panic clawed at his chest, but he forced himself to calm down.
I need to check… my status.
He closed his eyes briefly, muttering under his breath.
"Status… open."
A blue, holographic window appeared before him, floating midair with a soft glow. He blinked at it, hoping for some miracle.
Status
Role: Background Character
Name: Haruto Kurosawa
Level: 2
Magic
Water Magic: -100 / 1000
Air Magic: -100 / 1000
Fire Magic: -100 / 1000
Earth Magic: -100 / 1000
Light Magic: -100 / 1000
Dark Magic:-100/1000
Special Power:
The words were blurred, glitching, unreadable… impossible to decipher.
Haruto's fists clenched. "Why… why did only my level go up? Why is everything else still negative?"
He took a deep breath, shaking with frustration. "That old man… the one who said he gave me power… he lied! He said he'd make me stronger, but look at me! If I don't do something now, they'll just eat me like I'm nothing!"
He stood up slowly, gripping his bow tighter, his eyes narrowing.
Now I get it…
"I understand now why this is happening," he muttered to himself, voice trembling but firm. "I'm a background character. That's why the system… why fate… wants to erase me. They're not supposed to survive long, not supposed to matter. Not supposed to exist."
Haruto's gaze swept across the dozens of Monster Rabbits closing in. Fear threatened to overwhelm him, but then a strange calm settled in.
"I… I won't give up. I'm a background character… yes. But even a background character can fight. Even a background character can survive!"
He raised the bow, arrow nocked, eyes blazing with a newfound determination. "If this is how it starts… then I'll show fate, I'll show the world… that I can't be ignored!"
The rabbits hissed and lunged, their sharp claws flashing. Haruto's grip tightened. He took a deep breath and focused, summoning all the courage he had.
This is it. My life. My choice. My fight.
With a swift motion, he loosed the first arrow, aiming straight for the glowing mana stone of the nearest Monster Rabbit.
Whoosh
The arrow flew, cutting through the tense forest air.
The arrow flew.
One Monster Rabbit collapsed as the arrow shattered the glowing mana stone in its body.
Haruto didn't stop.
Another arrow.
Then another.
Two rabbits fell… then three.
But it wasn't enough.
"There are… too many!" Haruto gasped.
Before he could nock another arrow, the remaining Monster Rabbits moved all at once.
They rushed him from every direction.
Sharp teeth sank into his leg.
"Gah—!"
Some rabbits bit into his flesh, while others rammed him with the small horns growing from their heads. Pain exploded through his body as blood spilled onto the forest floor.
His hands trembled violently.
The bow slipped from his grasp.
The arrows scattered across the ground.
"I—I can't…"
His legs gave out, and he fell hard onto the earth.
The Monster Rabbits swarmed him.
Pain flooded every part of his body as they tore into him mercilessly.
Haruto screamed, his voice cracking.
"I just… I just wanted to live happily…"
Tears streamed down his face.
"I was given a second chance in this life… a family… friends… a peaceful world…"
His voice weakened.
"But I was so arrogant… I thought I could live quietly forever… even when God warned me… I didn't listen…"
His vision blurred.
"I hate myself… I chose to be a background character… knowing I could die like this…"
Blood soaked into the ground beneath him.
"I understand now… God gives us everything… but we don't realize it… we complain… we waste it…"
His breathing became shallow.
"I don't want to die… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
His lips trembled.
"Please… someone… help me…"
Suddenly
Haruto's body began to glow with a faint blue light.
The Monster Rabbits froze.
Then
A calm, feminine voice echoed clearly in his mind.
「System… activated.」
Haruto's eyes widened weakly.
Above him, a large blue window opened in the air.
"H-how…?" he whispered. "I couldn't open my status before…"
「You have passed the trial.」
"…Trial?" Haruto coughed. "It doesn't matter… I'm dying…"
「Do you wish to live?」
His heart trembled.
"If it's… if it's possible…" he whispered desperately, "I want to live. I want to live more."
There was a brief silence.
「Understood. Leave it to me.」
In the next instant
The Monster Rabbits biting into his body exploded.
Blood splattered through the air as their bodies burst one after another.
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
The messages flooded his vision endlessly.
One rabbit died.
Then another.
And another.
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
The forest echoed with silent destruction.
Finally, the blue window reappeared.
Status
Role: Background Character
Name: Haruto Kurosawa
Level: 25
Water Magic: –100 / 1000
Air Magic: –100 / 1000
Fire Magic: –100 / 1000
Earth Magic: –100 / 1000
Light Magic: –100 / 1000
Dark Magic: –100 / 1000
「Congratulations. You have reached Level 25. Special skills have been granted.」
"…What…?" Haruto muttered.
His body wouldn't move. Only his mouth could.
「You have acquired: Healing Skill.」
"Healing…? How do I use it?"
「Think it.」
Haruto focused desperately.
Heal.
Warmth flooded his body.
In seconds, the pain vanished. His wounds closed as if they had never existed.
Haruto gasped and sat up, staring at his hands in shock.
"I'm… healed?"
「You have also acquired: Appraisal. You can now see the status and abilities of others.」
Haruto clenched his fists.
"I don't understand… You said I passed a trial. What trial? And why can you talk now? Why didn't you help me before?"
「I will answer. Listen carefully.」
「You were tested by God—to determine your true nature. I was created at the moment you passed that test.」
"…Created?"
「You alone can see and hear me. Other humans cannot. Even gods cannot perceive me.」
Haruto's breath caught.
"Then… my negative stats… were they a mistake?"
「Yes.」
…A mistake by God?
「Correct. I am a system created outside divine control. Your power does not increase in positive values. It grows in negative values.」
Haruto froze.
"That means… I have power?"
「Yes. You simply never tried to use it.」
"…So I can use magic?"
「Not destructive magic yet. The explosion earlier was my intervention. Your Healing Skill is currently Level 10. Train and level up to unlock more.」
Haruto swallowed.
"And… how far can I grow?"
「Others are limited to Level 100. You are not. If possible… you may even reach god-level.」
Silence filled the forest.
"From now on… can I talk to you anytime?"
「Yes.」
What should I call you? 'System' doesn't sound like a real name.
…You need a name."
There was a pause.
「I do not have one. You may give me one.」
Haruto closed his eyes.
A name surfaced naturally in his mind.
"…Sophia."
「Name registered. Sophia.」
For the first time
Haruto smiled.
The background character had survived.
And something far more dangerous had just been born.