"…Bullshit."
The word slipped out under my breath before I even realized I'd said it. I stared up at the sky, squinting against the light, as if something up there would respond. As if some god or cosmic being would suddenly descend and explain why my life had turned into this joke.
Nothing.
"…This isn't fair."
That part came out louder. Because seriously—wasn't there supposed to be a system to this? People die. Then what? They get reborn. Or summoned. Or reincarnated into some fantasy world filled with magic, swords, monsters, and ridiculously overpowered abilities.
I mean, that's how the stories go, right?
"…So where the hell is mine?"
I raised my hand, counting off the usual checklist on my fingers.
"Magic?"
Nothing.
"Special energy? Aura? Mana? Ki? Whatever?"
Still nothing.
"A unique body? Some rare constitution perfect for cultivation?"
I looked down at myself.
"…Yeah, definitely not that."
My hand slowly dropped.
"And of course… no system."
I let out a dry laugh, dragging both hands down my face.
"This is a scam."
Because seriously—if you're going to drag someone into another life, at least follow through properly. Where were the cat-eared girls?
The elegant goddesses, the busty dragon women?
"…I'd even settle for a normal girl at this point."
I turned slightly—
And caught my reflection in a nearby window.
…
"…Actually, never mind."
That answered that. Thin, narrow eyes that always looked half-lidded.
A large, pig-like nose sitting awkwardly in the center of my face. Round cheeks—bloated, swollen—covered in acne and freckles.
And my hair…
"…Wow."
I leaned in closer.
"Thinning already? Seriously?"
There were even small bald spots, at seventeen.
"…Whoever set this up really had it out for me."
Because this wasn't just bad luck. This felt personal this body—
It belonged to a kid.
Seventeen years old. And from what little I could piece together… He died getting beaten by bullies.
"…Yeah."
One kick too many. Lights out. And somehow—
I ended up here.
"…Lucky me."
But the real problem? I didn't even get his full memories. Just fragments. Broken pieces that didn't connect properly. Faces I recognized—but couldn't name.
Places I'd seen—but couldn't find. Which led to one very important issue.
"…I had no idea where I lived."
And that—
That was how I ended up under a bridge. For two days cold, hungry and hurting.
The cuts and bruises on my body weren't even mine, but I still had to deal with them. Every movement ached. Every breath felt heavier than it should've.
"…That sucked."
I remember curling up on the cold concrete, trying to sleep through the hunger.
Trying not to think about how ridiculous this situation was. Reincarnated?
More like dumped. If no one had come—
I probably wouldn't have made it, but someone did His grandfather. I still remember that moment. A shadow falling over me. A voice—old, rough, but not unkind.
"You shouldn't be sleeping here."
I looked up, half-conscious, barely able to process what was happening. And that was it no interrogation. No suspicion he just… took me in. Food, warmth. A bed simple things. But after those two days?
They felt like everything. For six months, I stayed with him. Learned the basics of this world. How things worked. What I needed to do to survive. He never pushed too hard. Never asked questions I couldn't answer. Just… let me exist.
"…He was a good man."
And then— He died.
"…Heh."
Funny how that works the one decent thing I got in this world didn't last. Now I was alone again walking back home. If you could even call it that.
In my hands—
A small urn, Light.
"…This is all that's left, huh?"
The house felt different now quieter. Empty in a way that had nothing to do with space. The days after that blurred together. Funeral arrangements. People coming and going. Faces I didn't recognize—
But somehow remembered. Fragments of this body filling in just enough to get by.
"…Weird."
They talked to me like they knew me. Like I belonged. And I just… played along.
Then came the lawyer. Middle-aged. Clean-cut. Professional. The kind of guy who looked like he'd never made a mistake in his life. He showed up with a briefcase and a stack of documents.
"We need to discuss your grandfather's estate."
"…Right."
That started a week of meetings, paperwork signatures. More paperwork.
I thought I was done for. Honestly, I thought this was where it all fell apart.
That I'd lose the house. Lose everything. End up right back where I started—
Under a bridge. But then, something unexpected happened.
"…Wait. What?"
I stared at the documents in front of me.
"Everything… is in my name?"
The lawyer adjusted his glasses, clearly not thrilled about it.
"Yes. Your grandfather left explicit instructions. Legally, there's nothing to contest."
"…Nothing?"
"Nothing."
For a moment—
I didn't know what to say.
Then—
A laugh escaped me.
"…Thank you, old man."
I meant it.
After that—
I made a decision.
If this was my life now—
Then I wasn't going to stay like this. Gym, running, cooking and dieting. Avoid school. Avoid people. Focus on myself.
"One step at a time."
My lungs burned as I pushed myself up the hill in Willow Park. Each breath came out rough and uneven. Too loud or too heavy.
Around me, people ran past like it was nothing. Smooth. Effortless.
"…Show-offs."
I muttered under my breath. But I didn't stop.
Three weeks ago—
I couldn't even last five minutes. Now?
I was jogging slow and messy. Probably looked ridiculous… but I was moving.
That was enough. As I passed the duck pond, an old man sitting on a bench raised his coffee.
"You're out here again."
I glanced over, wiping sweat from my eyes.
"…Trying."
He nodded.
"That's more than most people do."
Yeah maybe he was right so I kept going, one step.
Then another. Didn't matter how slow. Didn't matter how bad it looked. I wasn't quitting. And that alone—
Made me better than yesterday. I slammed the door shut behind me and dropped my bag to the floor. Everything hurt. My shirt clung to my skin, sweat drying in patches thanks to the broken A/C. I wanted to collapse. Really wanted to.
But I didn't. I walked past the fridge—
Ignored the leftover pizza calling my name—
And headed straight to the bathroom. The light flickered as I turned it on. And there I was.
"…Still ugly."
No surprises there. I leaned over the sink, turning on the tap and splashing cold water onto my face. It felt good. Too good.
For a moment—
I just stayed there breathing letting the exhaustion settle.
"…No."
I straightened up forced myself to stand. And then—
"…Huh?"
The wall behind me—
Moved slowly rotating like something out of a movie.
"…Wait—what?"
I turned too quickly lost my footing—
And suddenly—
I was falling.
"Ghh—!"
I hit the ground hard air blasted out of my lungs pain shot through my back and up into my skull.
"…Ow…"
I groaned, blinking up at the ceiling.
"…What the hell…"
After a few seconds, I pushed myself up slowly carefully and froze.
"…Where am I?"
A hidden room packed with objects strange ones. Ones I'd never seen before.
"…Gramps…"
I looked around in disbelief.
"…What were you hiding?"
Shelves lined the walls filled with items from all over the world artifacts, souvenirs. Things that didn't make sense just sitting together like this.
I took a step forward. Then another. Curiosity replaced caution masks and weapons. Strange floating stones hovering over a pedestal. A mannequin larger than me.
"…Okay. That's not normal."
And then—
I saw it a door. Standing at the very back of the room wooden carved an owl etched into the center. Trees curling along the edges.
"…That wasn't here before."
The moment I looked at it—
That strange feeling returned. Stronger this time. Pulling me in.
"…Don't tell me…"
I walked toward it slowly. Each step heavier than the last.
"…It's just a door."
Right? I reached out. Placed my hand on the handle hesitated.
"…Screw it."
And opened it.
"…Huh?"
Not a wall a room wooden interior like a log cabin. Weapons piled everywhere swords and axes more than I could count.
"…What the hell is this?"
My head spun trying—and failing—to make sense of it. And then—
[Ding]
A translucent screen appeared in front of me.
Skill [Appraisal] has been acquired.
Skill [Endurance] has been acquired.
Title [Master of the Door] has been acquired.
Title [Master of the House] has been acquired.
Title [Otherworlder] has been acquired.
Title [First-Time Visitor to Another World] has been acquired.
Silence. Then—
"…Ah."
My shoulders started shaking.
"…Ahahah…"
A laugh escaped me then another.
"…HAHAHA—!"
Tears blurred my vision after everything—
After all that frustration—
"…It's here."
I wiped my eyes, staring at the screen.
"…It actually showed up."
My voice trembled Bbut this time— not from anger.
"…A system…"
A grin slowly spread across my face.
"…About damn time."
[End of Chapter 1]