A soft chime rang in Beom Seok's ears. His status window flickered again, new lines carving themselves across the glowing surface.
Push-ups: 0/100
Sit-ups: 0/100
Squats: 0/100
Run: 0/10 km
[Warning: Failure to complete tasks will result in punishment]
Beom Seok blinked. His jaw went slack. "…You've got to be kidding me."
One hundred push-ups? One hundred sit-ups? Ten kilometers? That wasn't training, that was a death sentence.
He leaned back against the bed frame, staring at the floating text as if it might change if he glared hard enough. Of course, it didn't.
After a long silence, he muttered, "Yeah, no. Not happening."
Sure, the system said "punishment," but how bad could it really be? Maybe a stiff neck. Or a slap on the wrist. Maybe the thing would even reduce his already pitiful stats. What difference would that make?
He sighed. "Forget it. I'm not breaking my back over imaginary numbers."
Curiosity tugged at him instead. He tilted his head and whispered, "Status window down." The screen vanished instantly, like it had never been there.
"…At least that works," he muttered.
He rummaged through his drawers until he found a battered pen and a pad of paper. If he was stuck in this ridiculous novel, then step one was figuring out exactly where in the story he had landed.
Scribbling furiously, he wrote down everything he remembered: dungeon breaks, the rise of guilds, the main character's tragedies and triumphs. His mind drifted back to the news broadcast earlier that morning—the Lion Guild, Baek Hyeon front and center, his face splashed across the screen after clearing an S-rank raid.
The Roman Island raid. He remembered that arc well. The guild had won glory, but dozens of hunters had died, their sacrifice neatly erased in the coverage. The media only praised Baek Hyeon, shining the spotlight on him while blood dried in the shadows.
"Middle of the story, then," Beom Seok muttered, dragging a line across the paper. "He's already at the top."
When the timeline was done, he stretched his arms above his head with a groan. His pen dropped from his fingers, clattering across the desk.
A yawn broke free, sharp and weary. "That's enough homework for one lifetime."
He wandered downstairs and nearly froze.
Iseul stood in the foyer, clad in gleaming golden armor that hugged her tall frame. Even her boots were plated, heels clicking against the polished floor. A white cape fanned lightly behind her as if a spotlight followed her everywhere.
She spotted him at once, smiling as she lifted a gauntleted hand to wave. "Dungeon expedition. I'll be gone a week. Oh, and Mom went to visit her friend—she'll be back in a week too."
Before he could reply, she was already halfway out the door, her presence like a gust of wind that left the house emptier in her wake.
"…So I'm home alone." His lips curled into a small grin. "Perfect."
Exploring the mansion killed the hours. Most of it was too polished, too neat, more like a museum than a home. He opened grand doors expecting secrets, only to find a pristine office with shelves lined in order.
"Exciting," he muttered, voice dry.
A photograph on the desk caught his eye. A man stared back at him, black-haired and red-eyed, the resemblance undeniable.
"My father, huh." Beom Seok lifted the frame, tracing the edge with a finger. His voice softened. "Where did you disappear to?"
The silence offered no answer.
With a sigh, he returned to his room.
By the time the clock struck half past ten, exhaustion dragged him toward the bed. He collapsed onto the sheets, sprawling like a king without a crown. A soft laugh escaped him.
"This is the life. No school. No work. Rich family. Food on the table. If this is punishment, I'll take it."
His eyes drifted closed, peace wrapping around him at last.
The mansion was silent. The night grew deep.
And then, as the hands of the clock reached midnight, the voice returned.
System: Daily task incomplete. Host must be punished.
The words echoed in his skull, cold as steel, sharp as a blade.
Beom Seok's breathing hitched in his sleep.
The punishment had begun.