Vestian’s night was anything but peaceful. When he woke in the dead of night to the incessant beeping sound, he thought, for one blissful moment, that it was his alarm clock back in Seoul. His eyes cracked open, searching the darkness for his old, familiar bedroom—the cluttered desk, the textbooks he never quite got around to reading and the posters of idols that his sister teased him about. But no. This wasn’t Seoul. The wooden beams of the ceiling loomed above him, and the smell of fresh hay from the stable outside mixed with the earthy aroma of his rustic home.
Vestian—no, Dae-Woong?—he blinked. A wave of dizziness washed over him.
Then came the message.
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Message: [New Mission available, think “open system menu” to see further details]
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Vestian stared at the blue screen in front of him. For a moment, his mind couldn’t process what he was seeing. It was like someone had cracked open a window between two worlds and let the wind through. Was he dreaming? Was he hallucinating?
He sat up, the coarse wool blanket slipping from his small frame. His small frame. That thought hit him like a punch to the gut. His hands darted out, grasping at his arms. Tiny. Delicate. Childlike. His heart thumped painfully in his chest as his memories scrambled for footing. He wasn’t supposed to be a kid. He was… Seventeen? Three? No, no, no. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to steady his breathing, but it only got worse.
“Open system menu,” he whispered, desperation lacing his voice, hoping it would give him answers. What else could he do?
A glowing blue screen popped into existence in front of him, bathing the room in soft light. He flinched, almost falling off his bed in surprise.
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Name: Vestian
Status: Commoner
Level: 01
Age: 3 yrs
Race: Human
HP: 100
MP: 0
Strength Framework: Level-1
Wealth Framework: Level-1
Title: (Reincarnator)
Missions:
* Undergo the System Tutorial [Reward: Knowledge regarding the system’s functions] (In your head say “Undergo the system tutorial” to begin)
Cultivation: (Mage cultivation: Level 0)(Martial arts cultivation: Level 0)
Skills: Insight Veil
Potential: Magic (9 stars), Martial Arts (7 stars)
Agility: 0
Intellect: 47
Strength: 0
System Points: SFP: 50, MFP: 50
System Store: Level-1
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His eyes darted over the words, but his brain refused to process them. Reincarnator? Age: 3? System? None of it made sense.
“System,” he muttered, his voice barely a whisper. “What… what is this?”
An emotionless, slightly robotic voice chimed in. “Welcome to the System, Host! I am here to aid you in your journey through life.”
“Journey?” he repeated, his voice rising. He swung his legs off the bed, his small feet dangling above the floor. “What do you mean, journey? Who are you? What is this?”
The System, unbothered by his panic, continued in its emotionless tone. “The System is an entity designed to assist certain beings, referred to as Hosts, in their endeavors. You are one such Host. Congratulations!”
Vestian pressed his palms to his temples, his thoughts spiraling. The memories of Dae-Woong—his life in Seoul, his struggles, his death—were vivid, too vivid to ignore. And yet, there were Vestian’s memories, too. Growing up in the Fern District, playing in the fields with his sister Alea, learning to milk a cow with his father. They were both him, but neither was whole. His mind felt like two puzzle pieces jammed together, edges grinding painfully.
“I’m going insane,” he muttered, half to himself, half to the System. “This… this isn’t real. This can’t be real.”
The System didn’t seem to care about his existential crisis. “Would you like to undergo the System tutorial? It will help clarify any questions you may have.”
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“Fine,” he spat. “Do it. Just do it.”
The screen flickered, and a new message appeared:
“The System is an entity that exists to aid certain beings called ‘Hosts’ with their various endeavors in their lives. Within each universe, there exists only one Host System. The System is tailored to suit the needs of each Host.”
As the words scrolled across the screen, the robotic voice narrated them. Vestian tried to focus, but his thoughts kept spiraling.
Was he Vestian, the son of Arthur and Isabella in the Fern District? Or was he Dae-Woong, the hapless teenager from Seoul who couldn’t seem to get his life together? Was he both? Was he neither?
He glanced down at his hands again, tiny and pale in the moonlight. They were trembling. His breath came in short, shallow gasps. He wanted to scream, to cry, to claw his way back to reality—whatever that was. But instead, he sat there, paralyzed, as the tutorial droned on.
“The System can be interacted with in two ways: the System Chat and the System Screen. The System Chat allows the Host to communicate with the System telepathically or verbally. The System Screen provides information and amenities to the Host.”
“Shut up,” he snapped, his voice cracking. “Just shut up!”
The System paused, as if processing his outburst. Then, in the same cheerful tone, it said, “Would you like me to continue the tutorial?”
“No!” he yelled. “I don’t want any of this! I want to go home! I want to be…”
He trailed off, his voice faltering. Go home? To where? To Seoul? To the Fern District? The realization hit him like a wave, pulling him under. There was no home. Not anymore. He didn’t belong in either world. He was trapped in between, a stranger in his own skin.
Tears welled up in his eyes, but he angrily wiped them away. “This isn’t fair,” he whispered. “This isn’t… how it’s supposed to be.”
The System, oblivious to his turmoil, chirped, “Shall I save your progress and remind you of your first mission?”
“Fine,” he muttered, too exhausted to argue.
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Mission: Undergo the System tutorial [Reward: Knowledge regarding the System’s functions]
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“Great,” he said bitterly. “I’ve already failed that.”
The System didn’t respond, and the screen faded away, leaving him alone in the dark. He lay back down, staring up at the ceiling. His mind churned, replaying fragments of both lives. His mother’s warm smile as she served dinner in the Fern District. His sister’s teasing laugh as she ruffled his hair back in Seoul. His father’s calloused hands holding his as they walked in the fields. The blinding headlights of the drunk driver’s car.
Which memories were real? Which were dreams?
He didn’t know anymore. And that terrified him.
The next few days went in a daze, as he tried to make sense of what had happened. In the end, he concluded that he was now Vestian, and that he had memories of his past life in a world called earth, and that the being called system was something akin to a magical being that wants to help him in this world. Later that night in his room, while the entire city slept, Vestian thought in his mind “Undergo system tutorial.”.
Almost immediately, the dull voice greeted him.
“ Is the host ready to complete the system tutorial?”
Vestian replied: “... yea”, with a hint of embarrassment
The system then spoke:
“ As I mentioned earlier, the system is an entity designed to assist individuals like yourself, known as 'Hosts,' in their endeavors. Each universe possesses a unique host system, tailored specifically to the host.”
“You can interact with the system in two ways. They are …”
As the voice went on the screen flashed with the information being explained.
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Methods of interaction:
System Chat: Communicate with the system telepathically or verbally by saying "system" followed by your thoughts.
System Screen: Think "Open system" to access the system menu.
The system menu comprises two sections:
1. Host Information: This section displays your current status and attributes:
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Name: Your name.
Status: Your social standing.
Level: Your overall progress.
Age: Your current age.
Race: Your race.
HP: Your current health (out of 100).
MP: Your current mana reserves (initially 0, with a maximum of infinity).
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2. System Features: This section provides access to various system functionalities:
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Strength Framework: This subsystem helps you develop physical strength. It tracks your progress and provides guidance.
Wealth Framework: This subsystem assists in accumulating wealth. It tracks your financial progress and offers insights.
Title: Any titles you acquire throughout your journey.
Missions: Tasks you can undertake to earn rewards.
Cultivation: Your current level in both Mage and Martial Arts cultivation.
Skills: A list of the skills you possess.
Potential: Your inherent aptitude in different areas.
Agility: A measure of your speed, reflexes, and overall agility.
Intellect: A measure of your intelligence and cognitive abilities.
Strength: Your current physical strength.
System Points: Currency used within the system.
SFP (Strength Frame Points): Used to purchase items that enhance your physical strength.
WFP (Wealth Frame Points): Used to purchase items that aid in wealth accumulation.
System Store: A store where you can purchase various items using points.
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After all of the explanation was over, the system voiced
“This concludes the system tutorial."