CHAPTER 2 - A Strange Job Selection
Hideo stood still, his eyes darting around the luxurious room. High ceilings, lavish furniture, and a bed far grander than the simple mattress he was used to. Nothing about this place made sense. Not the scent in the air, not the silence that stretched too long, and definitely not the strange screen hovering in front of him.
"This... where even is this?" he muttered under his breath, hoping the sound of his own voice would ground him somehow. But all he received in return was silence—and more confusion.
His gaze fell on the transparent screen again. It hovered gently, glowing faintly as if it were a part of this strange world's logic.
"Please Select Your Job"
› Warrior
› Mage
› Assassin
› Acolyte
› Archer
› Alchemist
› Summoner
A system menu? Like something from a video game? Hideo stared blankly at it. It looked real, but also... absurd. Why would something like this exist in real life?
"Job? What the hell is going on?" he whispered, eyes scanning each option. It felt like a prank. Or a dream.
He rubbed his face in frustration. "If this is some kind of game world, then I guess... Assassin suits me best," he said dryly, barely believing the words himself.
He tapped Assassin.
Zzt—
The screen flickered... and reset to the job selection menu.
"What?" Hideo blinked. "It didn't work?"
Brow furrowed, he tried again. Mage. Reset. Warrior. Reset. One by one, he selected each job, only for the screen to return to the same menu again and again—like it was mocking him.
"Why won't it let me choose?!" he growled, fists clenching.
Just as he was about to give up, the screen suddenly changed.
"Congratulations! Job Selection Complete"
"…Wait, what?" Hideo's confusion deepened. "So… which one did I pick?"
Another prompt appeared, even stranger than the first.
"Would You Like to Accept the Blessing?"
› Learn
› Memory
› Giving
› YES / NO
"Blessing?" Hideo raised a brow. The more he stared, the less sense it made. But exhaustion had begun to eat away at his alertness.
"…Whatever. Yeah, sure. Let's just go with it," he mumbled, tapping YES.
The screen disappeared instantly, leaving only the eerie quiet of the ornate room.
"...That's it?" he asked the empty air. No answer.
But a moment later, a new screen appeared. This one looked different. More complete. More… final.
"Status Screen"
Name: Hideo Takumi
Race: Human
Age: 17
Job: Warrior (F) | Mage (F) | Assassin (F) | Acolyte (F) | Archer (F) | Alchemist (F) | Summoner (F)
Current Stats:
• Mana: F
• Strength: F
• Intelligence: S
• Speed: F
• Endurance: F
Skills: Learn (~), Memory (~), Giving (~), Hide (~)
He stared.
"…F?"
His thoughts stalled. "F as in... Failed?" he muttered. "Are these... failed jobs?"
He let out a dry, bitter laugh, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration.
"This can't be real. This can't be how it starts..." His voice trembled—half-laugh, half-growl.
With a hollow sigh, he slumped to the edge of the bed, shoulders sagging.
"Stupid world…" he whispered, eyes fixed on the ornate ceiling above.
But deep in his chest, something stirred. Restlessness. Dread. And an unshakable sense that this world had only just begun to test him.