The system tricked me. I thought I had an entire week. Turns out, I had less than an hour.
'What bull— geez… I can't even curse right now.'
Looking around, I saw Flamebees drifting throughout the forest, their glowing bodies blinking softly between the trees like scattered Christmas lights.
The forest itself wasn't too dense or ancient. The trees stood apart from one another with enough space to breathe, their branches swaying gently beneath the cool night breeze. With the warm glow from the Flamebees and bioluminescent flowers, the place almost resembled a peaceful park more than a monster-infested forest.
[Warning! Target health points are below normal.]
[HP decreasing: 10,000 → 1,532]
Seeing that warning window again made my stomach sink. If my target was already losing HP, and I was already short on time… did that mean the tragedy had already happened?
And if it had, they had to be nearby.
That would explain why the system dropped me directly into this forest.
My eyes darted around rapidly.
Flamebees hated danger. More specifically, they despised foul smells—especially blood.
If blood had already been spilled somewhere nearby… then there should be one obvious sign.
An area without lights.
No insects.
No glowing trails.
Just darkness.
'Found it.'
The moment I spotted a patch of unnatural darkness deeper in the forest, my legs moved on instinct.
I sprinted toward it while scrolling frantically through the floating system window beside me.
If this thing operated like a game or RPG system, then there had to be an inventory.
'Aha—jackpot!'
Several items appeared before me.
Potions, an old cloak, and bags full of coins.
I quickly scrolled through everything, hoping for a weapon or at least something useful for self-defense.
Nothing.
'Tch. How am I supposed to save anyone with this?'
Hoping my stats would at least be decent, I opened my status window.
[ < STATUS > ]
NAME (Possessor): Ryzen Xarzos Gayagoy
OCCUPATION: Author
TITLE: ???
LEVEL: 1
SPECIES: Human
RANK: F-Class
HP: 1000 / 1000
MP: 2 / 2
(MAIN STATS)
STRENGTH: 1
AGILITY: 2
SENSE: 4
STAMINA: 2
(SUB-STATS)
INTELLIGENCE: 100
LUCK: 1
CHARM: 100
UNIQUE SKILL: Wanderer
REWARD POINTS: 0
'Horrible.'
Even a basic slime had over fifteen total stats. Mine didn't even reach ten.
I felt my blood pressure rise instantly.
At that moment, I genuinely wanted to grab the system by the neck, throw it into lava, then stomp on it repeatedly until my anger disappeared.
'If only I could.'
Then another annoying window popped up again.
And again.
Like a mosquito buzzing beside my ears.
[Warning! STAMINA dropped to zero.]
[Due to stamina depletion, side effects will take place. Losing health points with each increase in fatigue.]
[Fatigue: +1]
[Fatigue: +1] ....[ ]...
[HP: 1000 → 992]
[HP: 1000 → 950] ....[ ]...
'Holy meow!'
My feet abruptly stopped.
Only now did my brain fully process what the window meant.
It felt like my body and mind were running on terrible internet connection—delayed signals finally catching up all at once.
A crushing wave of exhaustion slammed into me.
I dropped to all fours, gasping desperately for air as my lungs burned.
'I can't even run far…'
Every step consumed HP. Forget running. This body could barely survive walking.
'I'm gonna lose my breath—no, my life here.'
There was no way the system gave me several health potions for no reason.
Leaning heavily against a tree, I forced myself to breathe while searching through my inventory again.
[Fatigue: +1]
[Fatigue: +1] ...
[HP: 1000 → 942]
[HP: 1000 → 930]... [ ]...
Then… something caught my attention.
An old muddy cloak.
[THE CLOAK OF NARDA #?? > (D)]
DEF: ??? → (150)
HP: ??? → (120)
STAMINA: 130
UPGRADE: 0
[ An item meticulously crafted by the Grand Archmage of L'yuziria. Due to its age, its effects have deteriorated.
The effects will take place immediately when worn. ]
'No wonder this body's owner survived this long.'
Carefully, I pressed my arm against the inventory window.
Instead of hitting a solid surface, my hand slipped into an endless cold space. Goosebumps spread across my skin.
The moment my fingers touched fabric, I quickly grabbed the cloak and pulled it out.
Without hesitation, I threw it around my shoulders.
[Health Points and Stamina Points Have Increased.]
[Side effects due to Fatigue have been neutralized.]
Instantly, my body felt lighter.
The burning pain in my lungs vanished almost immediately, as if invisible chains had been removed from my body.
Relief flooded through me. For exactly one second.
Suddenly, a sharp chill crawled down my spine. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
A scream echoed through the forest.
It was loud.
Too loud.
Close enough to make my ears ring painfully. My body turned toward the source instinctively and froze.
Only a few trees away, a horrifying scene unfolded before my eyes.
A young man was pinned against a tree, a sword embedded deep into his torso.
Fresh blood dripped slowly down the silver blade.
A massive brute held him up by the throat with one hand like he weighed nothing.
Nearby, women and children sobbed helplessly, their cries trembling through the cold night air as they begged for mercy.
The young man coughed violently, blood spilling from his lips.
Yet even then, his dull bluish eyes searched frantically toward the captives beside him, filled not with fear for himself… but worry for them.
Then, his cracked lips slowly curved into a faint smile.
That expression…
That look…
It matched the exact scene I had written.
"NOOOOOOOO!"
I screamed instinctively, but midway through it, I realized something.
My voice… shouldn't exist. I was still muted.
Yet somehow, the scream echoed across the entire forest.
Everyone turned toward me.
The slavers.
The captives.
Even the dying young man.
Our eyes met.
Ba-dump.
The world seemed to stop breathing.
[Congratulations! Your punishment 'Temporarily Mute' has been lifted.]