Let me set the scene.
I just survived:
Two goblin raids ✅
A glitchy tutorial ✅
A random boss fight against a guy named Kael who literally glows when he's angry ✅
And the terrifying realization that I may not actually be a "real" race ✅✅✅
So, naturally, the first thing I did when I walked into the great capital city of Aeronfall was…
Trip over the guild's welcome mat.
Rina facepalmed. "You okay?"
"Yeah," I muttered from the floor. "Just testing gravity. Still works."
---
Aeronfall Adventurer Guild – First Visit
The place was massive.
Sword racks on the walls.
A mission board glowing with quests.
Adventurers in cloaks, armor, and suspiciously dramatic hairstyles.
And behind the counter?
A cat-eared receptionist drinking tea like she's seen everything—and hated all of it.
"Welcome to Aeronfall Guild," she droned. "Name?"
"Yuto Kurogane. Possibly human. Possibly software."
She didn't blink. "Cool. Race?"
"...Still pending."
Her eyebrow finally twitched.
---
[Race Scan Initiated…]
[Race Unknown – System Fragment Detected. Race Tag: "NULL"]
[Status: Pending Identification – ERROR: Unstable Code Found]
I looked up. "So… do I qualify for a health plan or…?"
She sighed. "You qualify for the 'What the hell are you?' plan. Go see the Guildmaster."
---
Meeting the Guildmaster
Guildmaster Rhogar was a 7-foot tall dragon-man with glowing red eyes, a scar over one horn, and muscles that made my muscles hide in shame.
He stared at me for a long moment.
"You're the glitched kid."
"Yes, sir."
"You beat a goblin boss?"
"Somehow."
"You slapped a Divine Core user?"
"…That's also true."
He let out a rumbling laugh.
"I like you. You're weird. And dangerous. Join the guild."
---
[Quest Completed: Join Aeronfall Guild]
[Reward: Starter Badge, Basic Adventurer Gear, Access to Guild Quests]
[System Bonus: Skill Upgrade Token x1]
Ooh! A shiny token appeared in my inventory.
I opened my skill tree.
SKILLS:
- Glitch: Random Buff (10s)
- Lag Clone (Lv2) → [Upgrade Available]
- Rollback (1x/day)
- Sound Lag
- Packet Skip (1x/day)
I hovered over Lag Clone, hit upgrade...
[Lag Clone upgraded to Lv3: Clone mimics up to 3 actions. Now acts independently when glitch activates.]
Wait. Autonomous lag clone?
I had a second me now. A dumb, delayed second me.
What could possibly go wrong?
---
Meanwhile, at a Shadowy Castle…
Kael stood before a mirror-like screen as robed figures watched.
"He dodged your Overdrive?" one asked.
Kael clenched his fists. "By accident. And somehow… it worked."
Another figure leaned forward. "We cannot allow a bug to become a threat. Especially one not bound by System Law."
Kael's eyes burned.
"I'll erase him myself."
---
Back in Aeronfall
After checking in to a tiny room upstairs, I flopped onto the bed.
"So," Rina said, brushing her hair. "You feeling okay? You've been kind of… extra weird lately."
"I think I'm fine. I mean, I fought a glitch boss, got a second me who slaps people, and my system keeps calling me an error."
She blinked. "That's your definition of 'fine'?"
"Yup."
She smiled. "You're getting stronger though. Even if you're buggy as heck."
"Thanks. That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."
---
I opened my system one more time before bed.
Name: Yuto Kurogane
Race: NULL (?)
Level: 5
Title: Lag Warrior, Bugged but Breathing
HP: 21/21
Strength: 9 | Agility: 8 | Intelligence: 9
Skills:
- Glitch: Random Buff (10s)
- Lag Clone (Lv3 – Independent)
- Rollback (1x/day)
- Sound Lag
- Packet Skip (1x/day)
Inventory:
- Skill Upgrade Token (used)
- Guild Badge
- Glitch Token x1
Just before I fell asleep, a new alert pinged.
[Warning: A rival is watching you.]
I groaned.
"Can I get one day off in this world?!"
---
To be continued...