[ORDINARY SYSTEM]
He couldn't take his eyes away from it.
A system.
A real system.
Vash had read dozens of novels about them.
The main character would awaken a system, receive incredible powers, defeat enemies, become rich, and eventually stand at the top of the world.
Sometimes there were even legendary bloodlines.
Ancient inheritances.
Divine abilities.
Infinite strength.
Vash's heart began beating faster.
Is this really happening to me?
He looked around the room.
His grandmother was speaking with the doctor.
Nobody could see the screen.
Vash smiled.
For two years, he had been trapped in darkness.
Now he had awakened with something impossible.
Something that could change his life.
He looked at the interface again.
System.
[Yes.]
Vash almost jumped.
You can actually talk to me?
[Yes.]
Amazing.
He looked around excitedly.
Do you have a shop?
[Shop function: Locked.]
Vash's eyes lit up.
Skills?
[Available.]
Inventory?
[Available.]
Quests?
[Available.]
Vash's excitement increased.
Status?
The screen appeared.
[STATUS]
Name: Vash
Age: 14
Level: 1
Strength: 6/10
Agility: 5/10
Endurance: 4/10
Reaction: 5/10
Intelligence: 6/10
Memory: 7/10
Comprehension: 6/10
Concentration: 4/10
System Points: 0
Vash stared at it.
His excitement slowly disappeared.
That's it?
[Clarification required.]
Where are my superpowers?
[No superpowers detected.]
Vash blinked.
What about a legendary bloodline?
[No unusual bloodline detected.]
Divine physique?
[No.]
Infinite strength?
[No.]
Vash's face became blank.
Immortal body?
[No.]
Special eyes?
[No.]
Vash stared at the system.
"...Are you even a proper system?"
There was a short pause.
[System classification: Ordinary System.]
Vash covered his face.
"Of course."
He had imagined himself becoming the strongest person of his generation.
He imagined standing at the top while everyone looked up at him.
He imagined saying something cool like—
I have returned.
Instead, his system had given him Strength: 6/10.
Even worse, the average was ten.
He wasn't powerful.
He was weak.
Vash sighed.
System.
[Yes.]
Can you at least give me some points?
[System Points: 0.]
Can you give me a skill?
[No.]
Can you increase my attributes?
[No.]
Vash stared at the screen.
Then what exactly are you useful for?
The system responded immediately.
[Measurement.]
[Analysis.]
[Learning assistance.]
[Skill development.]
[Progress tracking.]
Vash became quiet.
That's all?
[Current functions.]
He frowned.
"You're useless."
For the first time, there was a longer pause.
Then:
[Statement noted.]
Vash blinked.
He wasn't sure if the system had feelings.
Probably not.
He opened the skill window.
[SKILLS]
Cooking — Basic
Mathematics — Basic
English — Basic
Observation — Basic
Physical Rehabilitation — Beginner
Vash looked at Cooking.
Why is cooking already here?
[Host possesses practical experience.]
So you record what I already know?
[Correct.]
And if I learn something new?
[The system will recognize the acquired knowledge and organize it into a skill.]
Vash's expression slowly changed.
That was actually interesting.
He remembered the novels he had read.
Some systems simply gave characters skills.
But this system seemed different.
It didn't give him knowledge.
It measured what he knew.
And it could show him what he didn't know.
Vash selected Cooking.
Another window appeared.
[Cooking — Basic]
Knowledge: 24%
Understanding: 18%
Practical Ability: 31%
Weak Areas:
Temperature control
Knife efficiency
Seasoning balance
Food presentation
Vash stared.
"Wait..."
This was different.
The system wasn't simply saying Cooking: Level 1.
It was analyzing him.
He selected Mathematics.
[Mathematics — Basic]
Knowledge: 37%
Understanding: 29%
Problem Solving: 24%
Weak Areas:
Algebra
Geometry
Complex calculations
Vash smiled.
So you're basically a teacher?
[Partially accurate.]
"That's not very impressive."
[Assessment: Host expectations are influenced by fictional literature.]
Vash froze.
"What?"
[Host has consumed fictional stories involving systems.]
Vash's eyes widened.
"You know what I've read?"
[The system can analyze memories.]
Vash immediately became embarrassed.
His grandmother had no idea how many hours he had spent reading novels instead of studying.
He coughed.
"Forget that."
[Unable to delete memory.]
Vash groaned.
"This system is annoying."
[Statement noted.]
He couldn't help laughing.
For the first time since waking up, he felt genuinely happy.
Maybe the system wasn't what he had imagined.
Maybe it wasn't going to make him invincible.
But it was something.
A tool.
A way to understand himself.
A way to measure his progress.
Vash looked at his status again.
Strength: 6/10
He clenched his fist.
Six today.
But maybe seven tomorrow.
Eight after that.
Eventually—
ten.
Then perhaps higher.
His smile returned.
"Fine."
He looked toward the system.
"I'll make you useful."
[Correction.]
Vash raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
[The system does not become useful.]
[The host becomes capable.]
Vash stared at the message.
Then slowly smiled.
"You're pretty arrogant for something I called useless five minutes ago."
[Statement noted.]
Vash laughed.
Maybe this ordinary system wasn't so bad after all.
But one thing was certain.
He wasn't going to remain at 6/10 forever.