He didn't need to admit it out loud…
It was enough that every morning he saw himself leaving the camp, moving between the trees, staring deep into the wilderness for long moments…
Searching for prey worthy of a single bullet.
The bullet.
The bullet he chose instead of a permanent skill.
A decision he did not regret…
Yet.
But the long silence of the forest over the following days made him feel as if it were mocking him.
Nearly three days of barren hunting.
The first day…
A few hedgehogs.
Their points were low, but they were all he found.
The second day…
One rabbit… barely.
As if it knew he carried the "sacred bullet" and was testing his patience.
The third day…
A wild cat…
A demonic wild cat that made Renji chase its shadow for hours, only for it to vanish into the bushes.
He wasted his ammunition on it for nothing.
And the cat circled from afar as if it were… laughing.
After all that effort?
Only 20 Vital Points.
He swallowed his frustration.
Opened the system.
And saw what he had been dreading:
For Level Five…
The required points had jumped obscenely.
After only 90 points being required for Level Four, the number had now become 150.
All at once, without any logic or reason.
A leap that could not be objected to.
And could not be cursed at the system for.
"Of course… of course this would happen."
He said it like someone acknowledging a destined truth.
And yet… today carried a glimmer of light.
Just minutes ago, he had completed the last of his daily tasks.
A notification appeared:
[Daily Performance Evaluation Complete]
● Running: A
● Strength Training: A
● Static Targets: C+
● Moving Target: C-
● Wind Challenge: D-
● Mental Focus: B+
Overall Daily Rating: B-
Renji paused after reading the results.
The rating wasn't amazing… but it was higher than usual.
Then a faint, small smile formed on his face.
He was happy for two reasons:
First—
His performance had genuinely improved, especially with moving targets and the wind challenge.
It wasn't a coincidence.
The effect of the Perception Elixir was clear—it had raised that stat by a full grade.
"Good… very good."
He muttered, remembering what his Perception rating used to be:
F+.
A grade resembling the pulse of a dead man.
His confidence returned—temporarily.
And in the end, he didn't regret not choosing the Wind Mastery.
After all…
Once he used the Duplication Bullet, he would know the truth:
Would he receive the grand prize?
Or would he receive… "the middle finger to his face."
The second reason:
Today marked the end of the second week of daily missions—the entire second phase.
Seven days of evaluations, struggle, aiming, and cursing.
Seven days that weren't pleasant… especially his shaky beginnings.
"Anything above a C would be great…"
He said as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
The weekly evaluation appeared before him:
[Comprehensive Evaluation — Phase Two]
● Running: B
● Overall Strength: A-
● Sniping Stability: C
● Moving Target Accuracy: C
● Wind Assessment: E-
● Mental Endurance: B
● Mission Commitment: B-
Overall Phase Two Rating: C
Renji raised his head toward the screen.
He felt neither shock… nor disappointment… nor pride.
He felt only one thing:
"Fairness."
Renji opened the rewards window, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and indifference.
Nearly the same components as always:
● 3 Elixirs
● 50 Coins
● 40 Vital Points
● Bronze Bullet
"Nice… but not nice enough to make me cry."
He said to himself sarcastically as he stored the items.
He didn't linger.
He knew that all rewards—no matter how abundant they seemed now—would vanish like steam on a hot rock the moment he faced something larger than a dog.
But before he closed the screen—
Ding!
A new window appeared, glowing with a calm blue light… as if the system were preparing for something important.
[Phase Three Begins]
● Running: 3 km in under 14 minutes
● Strength:
- 150 push-ups
- 150 pull-ups
- 20 minutes Sniper Stance
● Static Targets:
- Hit 30 targets (100m – 300m – 600m)
● Moving Targets:
- Hit 2 moving targets at different speeds (20 rounds)
● Wind Challenge:
- Wind estimation at 400m+ (3 attempts only)
● Mental Focus:
- Breathing session and pulse-control exercises
- Calm recovery test after a deliberate error
■ Note:
Automatic penalties will be applied upon failure of any task.
Renji froze.
"…Penalties?"
They hadn't written what they were.
And that alone made his chest tighten.
Imagination is always worse than reality.
And since the system loved humiliating players… he was certain the "penalties" weren't something simple like point deductions.
Maybe shocks?
Ability restrictions?
Or—
Stat reductions?
"No. I don't want to know… and I don't want to try."
He swallowed.
Pressed the close button.
But the next window was another surprise:
[Side Quest — New!]
● Objective: Hunt 10 Capybara
● Reward: Network unlocked for one hour
He raised an eyebrow.
"The Network…?"
It was the only tab that had remained locked since his arrival.
He had tried everything else… except this.
It felt like a backdoor in a game, or a hidden room.
And now…
A "relatively" simple mission to unlock it?
"Maybe… information? Maps? Other players?"
The thought of "other players" made his skin crawl.
If they existed… were they living through something similar?
Even the possibility of returning to his original world crossed his mind.
But one hour wouldn't be enough to learn everything.
So he would have to use it as intelligently as possible.
But…
The reward wasn't free.
Capybaras looked cute…
But they were fast, lived in groups, and ran like rockets.
And the biggest problem:
He hadn't seen a single one since arriving.
Even so…
"The Network… is worth breaking my bones for."
He sat on the edge of the bed, took a breath, then asked the virtual girl:
"How much time do I have to complete the side quest?"
She answered in a cold voice—but slightly different this time:
"There is no deadline… but hesitation may cause you to miss an opportunity that won't repeat."
He froze.
That wasn't a preset system line.
It was… closer to advice.
Or a warning.
"You… haven't said things like that before. What's going on?"
She raised her virtual head slightly:
"We need every player."
A chill ran down his spine.
"…Why?"
She replied after a heavy second:
"Because players… are decreasing in number."
The silence that followed her words was like a stone falling into a bottomless well.
"…How many players have died?"
She didn't answer.
Perhaps the system didn't allow it.
The screen disappeared.
And Renji was left alone…
But for the first time, he didn't truly feel alone.
Something was moving behind the scenes.
Something bigger than hunting.
Bigger than missions.
Something that changed with every phase.
He lifted his rifle, gripping it tightly.
"All right…"
A small, charged smile formed on his lips.
"Let's go look for capybaras."
________
Author's Explanation:
Capybara:
The capybara is the largest rodent in the world, a semi-aquatic animal native to South America that lives near rivers, lakes, and swamps. It is known for its calm temperament and excellent swimming ability, as well as its peaceful coexistence with many other animals, making it a symbol of tranquility and gentleness.