At dawn, very early, even before the sun rises, the chickens stir, flustered, at the rooster's first crow. At the same time, two out of three children wake up and open their eyes.
Jenny yawns, rubbing her eyes with one hand, still half-asleep. Aron, not much different, gets up and puts on his shoes. Both of them begin getting ready to go out and start the day — working from the crack of dawn. As they leave the room, they notice that Twig is still snoring, sleeping like a rock. They wonder if they should wake him. Jenny doesn't want to — she doesn't like the idea of interrupting his rest. Aron, however, decides to try, but the boy won't wake up.
"Get up, Twig. Come on, man. If you don't get up and start your chores, my father's going to come here, and you'll get scolded again. For the second time. Come on, man, get up!"
No matter how much he tried, Aron couldn't solve the situation and eventually gave up. He went off to do his chores and look for something to eat for breakfast, together with Jenny. There was nothing else he could do — he'd tried everything. Now Twig was left to his luck.
But, as the saying goes, fortune favors the early riser. Twig wasn't lucky — he immediately got smacked on the head. BAHM!
"What are you still doing in bed, boy? Everyone's already up and working! Even the guests have left for their trips! What are you still doing here?" Saul scolded.
"Ah!" Twig yelped, panicking. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm getting up right now!"
"Are you sick or something? What's wrong with you? This is the second time you've overslept. What's going on?"
"I'm fine! Healthy as a bull, strong as— well, I mean, not sick!" Twig said, trying to sound confident, but quickly gave up, since he was clearly a skinny weakling.
"Oh, so you're healthy, huh? Then get to work, Sir Healthy! You think I've got all day? I've got things to do too! Now move! Out of my sight!" Saul barked before turning away to his own tasks.
Twig quickly gathered his few belongings, got dressed, and went outside. His memories told him that every morning his routine was to chop wood — same as the day before.
As he went off to find Aron, he realized he had completely forgotten about the system. By now, it should've been up and running, active and configured… or so he thought.
"System, are you there? Answer me!"
He remembered that, probably, he'd need to say some magic word, or password, or something like that to activate the system. He'd seen that kind of thing in plenty of fiction, light novels, and fanfictions.
After several failed attempts — and looking like a lunatic muttering near the inn — he finally got a response from the system.
[Ding!] User, the system recognizes your intention. To activate appearance functions, focus your thoughts. Do not speak aloud. With your mind, access will be granted.
Phew, what a relief — but what a stuck-up system! Couldn't you have said that earlier? I've been here talking nonsense out loud like a madman! Someone could've heard me!
Following the instructions, Twig focused deeply and thought clearly: Activate system.
[Ding!] User, you fell for a prank. There is no need to think "activate system," nor say anything at all. Simply think "Status." Your window will open automatically with all the necessary menus.
What kind of joke is this? Damn system! You think I'm an idiot?
Twig thought: Status.
[USER STATUS]
Name: Robert Nilig (Twig)Age: 11 (+21) [Original Age 32]Title: NoneRace: HumanJob: Novice – LVL [1/10] | Exp: 0/10Level: 1 | Exp: 0 / 10HP: 40 | MP: 12
Attributes:STR: 2 | VIT: 2 | AGI: 2 | DEX: 2 | INT: 10 | LUK: 1
Resources:Stat Points: 0 | Skill Points: 0 | Zeny: 0
Equipment:Nothing useful, but at least not naked.
My goodness… what awful stats. Twig's eyes widened; his throat tightened.
"System, explain to me why my stats are so bad! I remember in the game you start with points to distribute. Why don't I have that option?" he asked, desperate.
[Ding!] User, the answer is simple. In the game, you begin with a character who is, theoretically, an adult — and therefore has the stats of an average adult, about 5 points. You, however, are still a child in this world, and a malnourished one at that. Naturally, your attributes are low. You also have no extra points because you are still Level 1. To increase your stats and grow stronger, you must earn experience points.
"I see. So, just farm EXP like in any game and I'll get stronger. Easy enough," Twig said, momentarily relieved.
[Ding!] User, that statement is inaccurate. You must defeat enemies to gain experience. However, you are too weak — you will most likely die before achieving any positive result.[Ding!] The game Ragnarok Online was originally developed by an Asian company. At that time, developers favored mechanics based on grinding — that is, defeating monsters repeatedly to level up.
System, how am I supposed to do that? I'm small and weak. How am I going to kill anything? I don't even have a knife!
[Ding!] User, indeed, you are in a precarious situation.
"System, for the love of the gaming gods, help me out here! How am I supposed to level up if I can't kill anything? Isn't there a starter pack or something? Usually there's one! Why didn't you give me that? Tell me you have something!"
[Ding!] User, the system was not designed to favor you or hand things over easily. You must work for your success. However, let's make an adjustment. Since you lack strength and we do not wish the user to die so soon, the first levels will proceed as follows: until Level 5, you will receive quests that grant experience points. These quests will be based on hard work. You must work to evolve.
"Well, it's not exactly what I wanted, but… work is one thing we have plenty of around here. At least I'll get something out of it. Finally, I'll get a reward for working so hard — not just laboring for a bed and a bowl of thin soup."
[Ding!] User, you sound very ungrateful. In the world you inhabit, few people even have the bare minimum. You have much to be thankful for.
You're not wrong, System. I really do have a lot to be grateful for — especially Jenny and Aron, for taking care of me and being so kind. Even in the fragmented memories of this body I now inhabit, their mother was kind to me too. Or to him. Or to us. It's… confusing.
[Ding!] User, you must be grateful to your friends and to those who treat you well. But you must also be strong — and punish those who harm you. Do not fear growth or change. Move forward — always forward. Only then will you survive in this harsh, cruel world. And when you are stronger, you can protect your friends if needed.
Twig pondered the system's words. They struck him deeply, resonating with beliefs he'd already held in his past life — and with a growing desire now taking root in this new one.
I must grow stronger. I must work hard. I must earn my place. And I must repay my friends, even if they've never asked me to. It's the least I can do for everything they've given me.
"You're right," he said aloud, nodding.
"Hey, System, I just realized something. There aren't any other functions yet. I can only see my status window. Isn't there anything else you can give me to help me get stronger?"
[Ding!] The user's level is too low to unlock other system features. Work hard, get stronger, and level up. Then new functions will become available.
[Ding!] Initializing development procedures for 'Weakling-Friendly Quests.' I mean— to enable the user's growth. Scanning nearby region: inn, routine activities.[Ding!] Scanning… 10% — Potential EXP sources detected: chickens, manual labor (woodcutting). 35% — Furniture organization, inn cleaning services. 80% — Sword training, physical exercise, potential for strength increase… 100% — Scan complete.
[Ding!] Daily Quests Available
Quest: Hunting & GatheringProgress: 0 / 25 logsReward: 2 EXP
Quest: General ServicesProgress: 0 / 5 rooms cleaned & organizedReward: 1 EXP
Quest: Physical TrainingProgress:0 / 50 push-ups0 / 40 squats0 / 30 sit-upsReward: 3 EXP
Quest: Combat TrainingProgress: 0 / 150 sword swingsReward: 4 EXP
"Damn, System, that's a lot! You don't want to make me stronger — you want to kill me!"