Year: 2007
City: Next Westwork
Location: Street No. 12, Bucklewood Region — Old Central Town
Apartment No. 07
Tucked inside a small, worn-out building sat a collection of college students, most of whom barely scraped by financially. They were enrolled in the College of Art and Production—a top choice for the current generation, thanks to the meteoric rise of social media, indie filmmaking, and online platforms. The entertainment industry was booming, offering chances to become an idol, short film director, content creator, or digital editor.
Despite the run-down look of the building, Apartment 07 stood out. It was well-kept and rented at a higher price—thanks to Alex's generous aunt, who had footed the bill for his stay.
"Alex! It's morning!"
The voice called out cheerfully, but Alex had already been awake. His eyes remained shut, yet his mind was racing.
The reason? A surprise that had jolted him awake long before the call—the chime of a mysterious system interface.
[Ding!]
[Idle Reward System Activated.]
A surge of excitement coursed through him as adrenaline spiked and his thoughts fired at lightning speed. He hadn't slept a wink after that.
Eyes closed, he silently explored the details of what had appeared in his mind.
System Name: Idle Reward System
Function: Grants $1 for every passing minute.
Additional Features: Periodic quests with rewards based on difficulty. Also offers real-time rebates on purchases related to the user's personal interests. (Note: Rebates are situational and not guaranteed.)
It was unbelievable. Every passing minute earned him money—just for existing. And the quests? They could skyrocket his wealth and change his status overnight.
This was no ordinary morning.
"Coming..." Alex called back, his eyes flicking to the system interface.
It had already been two hours since the Idle Reward System activated. At $1 per minute, that meant he had $120 waiting. The money didn't transfer automatically; it accumulated in a virtual account accessible only to him. A simple thought was enough to claim the funds.
No one could hack it. No one could trace it. It was his alone.
The thought brought a grin to his face.
This... this was the gift he had waited for. A divine reward in a world he had been reincarnated into. The system hadn't appeared overnight—it had taken two whole years to fully install itself. But now, it was live and already proving to be worth every second of patience.
If there was a rating system for divine blessings, he'd give this one five stars without hesitation.
Still, a part of him wondered—could he increase the earning rate?
According to the system's description, the amount could be increased by leveling it up. That was something worth looking into. Maybe a bit of research would reveal the path to turning $1 per minute into $10... or even $100.
And when that day came, he wouldn't just be living comfortably.
"Still... that jerk really punched me hard."
Alex winced as he stood up, rolling his right shoulder. A dull numbness lingered in his arm—a souvenir from the fight with Denis. The guy was a central figure in their class: tall, rich, and arrogant. A second-generation heir who thought his money gave him the right to treat everyone like trash. In just the first week of classes, Denis had already bullied several students.
Alex had managed to stay under the radar—until the welcome party.
That night, he'd ended up sitting next to the class belle, Mira Everheart. One conversation. That's all it took for Denis to lose it.
"That bastard's going to pay," Alex muttered under his breath, stepping out of his room. "With this system backing me, I'll take everything from him. Including his girl. No way that guy's better looking than me."
He headed toward the kitchen, where Anna was already bustling around. In her twenties, with a slim figure and chestnut-brown hair tied up casually, she radiated energy. Her flexible, lively personality made her the soul of any gathering she attended. Beauty seemed to run in the family—she was Alex's cousin on his mother's side, and their shared features showed.
"Good morning, handsome," she said with a wink.
"Take a seat—the food's ready."
At that moment, another girl stepped out of her room—Elara Vance, around the same age as Alex. Her damp hair clung softly to her skin, a towel draped loosely over her shoulders. She glanced at Anna, who was busy in the kitchen, then turned her attention to Alex, who seemed free.
"Help me dry my hair," she said quietly.
Alex, not doing much anyway, nodded and followed her without question.
As he gently began to towel her hair, he spoke up. "By the way... help me out with the group project, will you? That bastard Denis is messing with me again."
Elara raised an amused eyebrow at first, but when her gaze dropped to his arm—still trembling slightly from the earlier fight—her expression darkened.
"He hit you?" she asked sharply.
"He's ignoring me now," she added, her voice colder. "I asked him what happened, and he just brushed it off."
"I just talked to Mira, that's it!" Alex said, frustration lacing his voice. "She asked me something, and before I could even answer, he started cursing me out. Then... things got physical."
His jaw tightened.
"If it were just one-on-one, I swear I'd have kicked his ass. But with his little pack of trained mutts backing him up..." He shook his head, bitter. "They ganged up on me. I managed to shield my face well enough—thank God Anna didn't notice."
Elara's eyes narrowed, concern flickering behind them.
"Join my group," she said firmly. "Mostly girls, a couple of guys. With me around, Denis won't dare pull anything. He's not stupid enough to provoke me in public."
She paused, then looked him over again.
"But if he keeps pushing it... I'll handle him myself."
Alex gave a faint smile. "It's fine. Just help me with the project. As for that bastard... once I catch him alone, I'll make sure he remembers the beating of his life."
Elara narrowed her eyes slightly, seeing right through him—but she understood what he was trying to do. He didn't want her involved, not in the mess between him and Denis.
"Sure," she replied, giving a small nod. "If that's what you want to do."
She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair. It felt smooth, silky—thanks to Alex's gentle, practiced hands.
"Your touch is still as good as ever," she said with a teasing smirk, the tension between them lightening just a bit.
They'd grown close in just a matter of days.
Elara, with her charm, quick wit, and easy confidence, was a favorite among the guys on campus. But for Alex, it was more than just her looks—her way of speaking, the way she made people feel seen and heard—it naturally pulled him in. Living under the same roof only made their friendship grow faster.
He wouldn't lie to himself—he was definitely attracted to her. But still, he kept a respectful distance.
Because more than anything, he cherished the bond they had now. And he didn't want to risk losing it by pushing for something more… at least not yet.
"Food's ready! Let's eat," Anna called out from the kitchen.
Alex and Elara joined her at the table, the warm aroma of freshly cooked breakfast filling the small apartment. As they settled into their seats, the conversation naturally shifted—right to Alex.
"So..." Anna began with a sly grin. "Heard you were chatting up Mira Everheart last night."
"Oh, here we go," Alex muttered, already sensing where this was headed.
Elara smirked, nudging him with her elbow. "Troublemaker. Making moves on the class belle, are we?"
The two girls burst into laughter as Alex groaned and buried his face in his hands.
"I wasn't making a move. She just asked me something!"
"Mm-hmm," Elara said, clearly not buying it. "Sure, Casanova."
Despite the teasing, the air was light, and for the first time that morning, Alex found himself smiling again—genuinely. Even with bruises hidden beneath his sleeves, breakfast with these two made it easier to forget the mess for a little while.