"Hm…"
As I brought up my status window with a flick of thought, a subtle smile crept across my face.
[Name: Kim Sugil]
[Level: 5]
[Race: Human]
[Titles: None]
[Character Description: A simple student—]
[Stats:]
[STR: Rank-F ★★☆☆☆]
[INT: Rank-F ★★★★★]
[END: Rank-F ★★★★☆]
[AGI: Rank-F ★★★☆☆]
[CHA: Rank-F ★☆☆☆☆]
'Not bad. Not bad at all… I've definitely gotten stronger.'
Even if all my stats were still technically in the bottom ranks, when compared to where I started—clueless and barely surviving—they were clear proof of progress. Tangible growth. And honestly, in this world, that's all that mattered.
I slowly turned to glance at the now lifeless, mangled corpse of the Grand Red Goblin. Its body had been battered so thoroughly that calling it a "corpse" felt generous.
That thing—my other self, the one that had taken over through The Path to Victory—had absolutely wrecked it.
'Still… that ability activating on its own, and the system literally hijacking my body… Something's wrong. Something's definitely not normal about this system.'
Just as my thoughts began to spiral again, a new system message abruptly popped up in front of me, replacing my stats:
[Information: Due to reaching the required level before completing the main quest, the system will now generate an alternate quest.]
[Generating New Quest: Pending…]
'Ah, right… the main quest. I almost forgot about that one.'
I exhaled lightly and scratched my cheek.
'Now I'm really curious what kind of mission it's going to assign me… But for now—'
I dropped my schoolbag to the ground and took out one of the fruits I had harvested from the glowing tree earlier.
'This is it. Time to become even stronger.'
Holding the fruit in one hand, I admired its radiant glow for about half a second—
Crunch!
—and then bit into it without hesitation.
"Haah… That was juicy."
I licked the remnants of its sweet juice off my fingers, savoring the taste a little longer.
"My belly's full now… but what comes next?"
'In the original novel, when Sae-jin ate this fruit, its effects didn't show up immediately. But after a few battles, his growth became insane. His level skyrocketed, and his rank began rising faster than anyone else.'
'At the start of the Apocalypse Arc, he was ranked A-. By the end, he was already closing in on SS.'
'Sure, some of that was natural talent and his unique skill set—but that fruit? That fruit was the core reason.'
I scratched the back of my head and sighed, then opened the system menu again.
"Well, whatever. Let's check the new card I obtained —"
But before I could even finish that thought, an overwhelming sensation surged through my body.
Click.
It was like something inside me had snapped loose. A cold tremor ran up my spine. It was subtle, but unmistakable.
An invisible weight I hadn't even realized I was carrying suddenly vanished—as if a chain I'd worn my whole life had just shattered.
And then… white steam began to rise from my skin. Thin tendrils coiled softly around my arms, my neck, my chest. It was surreal. Like a dream. Yet somehow, I knew it was real.
My body temperature rose, but not in a painful or uncomfortable way. It felt… clean. Refreshing. As if my very cells were being washed from the inside out.
My muscles tensed and relaxed all on their own. They felt lighter. More responsive. My senses exploded with clarity—each strand of hair catching the breeze, the gentle rustle of leaves falling above, the faint perfume of the fruit still lingering in my throat.
"…It's already working?"
'Haah… This is insane. I feel like I've been reborn.'
The sensation was almost addictive, like sitting in a perfectly heated sauna. My whole body was resonating.
After a few minutes, everything slowly settled. My temperature returned to normal. I flexed my fingers, looked at my arms, checked my reflection in the system screen—
"…Nothing?"
No major changes. No visible upgrades. Not even a glimmer of aura or a new title.
"Seriously?! All that drama for this?!"
Sure, I knew the fruit worked. It had to. But I expected some crazy transformation or a stat boost right on the spot. Not… nothing.
"Ugh… Fine. At least the quest reward for killing that ogre better be worth it—"
I opened the system again, groaning in frustration—but what I saw made my jaw tighten, this time with excitement:
[Name: Kim Sugil]
[Level: 5]
[Race: Human]
[Titles: None]
[Character Description: A simple student—]
[Stats:]
[STR: Rank-F ★★☆☆☆ ×2]
[INT: Rank-F ★★★★★ ×2] [Next Level!]
[END: Rank-F ★★★★☆ ×2]
[AGI: Rank-F ★★★☆☆ ×2]
[CHA: Rank-F ★☆☆☆☆ ×2]
"…Whoa."
'Now I get double the experience in everything…'
'And INT is finally about to break through to F+…'
I clenched my fists, a satisfied smirk spreading across my lips.
'After five long hours trapped in this damned floor, I finally hit my goal.'
I slowly looked up at the deep red sky above. It was quiet. Calm. And for the first time since arriving here, I felt genuinely content.
"Haaah… It's time to head back."
I'd give half of the loot to Ho-Bong, just like we agreed. Then I needed to get back to training with Eve and Sae-jin.
That practical exam wasn't going to wait for me.
"Yaaaawn…"
'Still, I should get some rest too. The next few days are going to be brutal…'
But just as I relaxed—
Shiver.
A violent chill ran down my spine.
"Hiik—?! What the hell was that…?!"
'Wait…'
'I feel like I forgot something really important…'
——-
[Meanwhile in the simulation room…]
"WAAAAAHHH! SUGIL'S DEFINITELY DEAD NOW… WAAAAH!"
In the middle of the simulation room, Eve was on her knees, crying her heart out. Piled up around her were the mangled remains of ten training dummies, each one looking like it had been destroyed in a fit of emotional rage.
"Haah…"
'I… probably shouldn't step in. This is his mess to clean up.'
From the far end of the room, Sae-jin looked on with wide eyes, completely unsure of what to say.
All he could do was silently send his thoughts and prayers toward Sugil.
[Quest creation: In progress…]