The following morning, Riku approached the innkeeper with a newfound determination. He’d made his decision—he’d help out around the inn in exchange for his stay. “I’d like to work off my debt,” he told her, the words feeling unfamiliar in his mouth. “I can do odd jobs, whatever you need.”
Her expression remained unreadable as she studied him. After a long moment, she nodded. “Fine. Start with the stables. They need cleaning, and the horses could use some extra care. If you do a good job, I might consider it.”
Riku felt a flicker of relief. Having a purpose, no matter how small, was a step in the right direction. He set to work without hesitation, finding a certain comfort in the physical labor. The repetitive motions allowed his mind to wander, and soon he found himself lost in thought. What was it about this place that felt so real? The smell of the hay, the warmth of the horses, the way the sunlight slanted through the cracks in the stable walls—it was all so vivid. And yet, the knowledge that it was a game lurked at the back of his mind, a constant reminder that this was not his world.
But it didn’t feel like a game. Not here.
The tasks before him were simple but required effort: cleaning out the stalls, filling the troughs with fresh water, brushing down the horses, and sweeping up the hay. There was something oddly calming about the work. In the past, Riku had often chosen to level up by fighting monsters or completing quests, but today, he was learning a new way. This method felt different. It was slower, almost meditative, but the rewards were there—visible and tangible.
He grabbed the rake and began sweeping the hay into a pile. It was hot work, and by the time he finished the first stall, his arms were already starting to feel the burn. But he pushed on. He had made a choice, and now he would follow through. As he worked, his muscles began to ache in places he hadn’t noticed before. His fingers felt raw from gripping the rake, but the pain was oddly satisfying. It was the kind of pain that came from progress.
What was it about this world that made everything feel so real? Riku found himself asking the question more and more. Sure, he understood the mechanics—the leveling system, the stats, the rewards. But in this moment, none of that mattered. What mattered was the feeling in his bones as he worked, the satisfaction of seeing something completed with his own hands.
He paused, wiping sweat from his brow. A soft notification popped up in front of him, the words floating in the air as if waiting for him to notice. His eyes flicked over it, and he grinned slightly.
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Ding!
+1 Strength
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It was subtle but significant. He hadn’t even been trying for it—just working, letting his body do the work it was meant to do. But here it was, the first real sign that this world operated the way he knew games did. It wasn’t just about fighting. It was about the effort, the actions, the training that came with it.
He glanced down at his stats, checking his progress for the first time since waking up.
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Username: Riku
Level: 1
Strength: 2
Magic: 1
Defense: 1
Stamina: 1
Speed: 1
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It wasn’t much, but it was something. A single point of strength. The first step toward the person he hoped to become in this strange new world.
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He didn’t waste time dwelling on it. He moved to the next stall, determined to get more done. The physical labor had a rhythm to it, and once he got into the groove, the motions became automatic. The familiar click of the rake, the soft sounds of the horses shifting in their stalls—it all blended into the background, and Riku let himself get lost in it. He didn’t need to think about what was happening. It was just… happening.
Hours passed in a blur of work. By the time the sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the stable yard, Riku’s body was sore. His shoulders ached, his back protested every movement, but the satisfaction of a job well done was worth the exhaustion. The stalls were clean, the horses well-cared-for, and the sun was setting on a day that felt different from all the others.
He didn’t expect the next notification, but when it came, it brought with it a surge of accomplishment.
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Ding!
+1 Strength
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The second notification was a reminder of the world’s rules, the way it worked. Strength didn’t come just from fighting, from battling monsters or completing quests. It came from effort. From putting in the time and work, however mundane the task might seem. The more Riku worked, the stronger he would get. It was the kind of system that rewarded persistence. And it suited him just fine.
He glanced at his stats again:
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Username: Riku
Level: 1
Strength: 3
Magic: 1
Defense: 1
Stamina: 1
Speed: 1
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He felt a surge of pride. Three points of strength, just from a few hours of work. It wasn’t a huge increase, but it was progress. Real, tangible progress.
A sudden thought crossed his mind—what would happen if he kept going? What if he trained until he couldn’t move anymore? Would his stats keep improving? The idea was tantalizing. In most games, grinding could be exhausting, but here, it felt… different. More rewarding. And it wasn’t just about strength. The other stats—stamina, speed, defense—were just as important.
Riku moved to the next task: grooming the horses. He picked up the brush, his fingers stiff from the day’s work. The task was simple, but the slow, steady motion of brushing down the horses allowed him to reflect. He’d always been a bit of a loner, someone who preferred the virtual world to the real one. But now, in this strange place, he was starting to feel the weight of his choices. His decisions. They mattered here.
As he finished brushing the last horse, the innkeeper appeared in the doorway of the stable. Her expression was as unreadable as ever, but there was something in her gaze that Riku couldn’t quite place.
“You’ve done a good job,” she said, her voice clipped but not unkind. “You’ve earned your keep for the night. We’ll see about more work tomorrow. For now, you can rest.”
Riku nodded, a bit surprised by the praise. “Thanks.”
He could feel the exhaustion settling into his bones, but it was a good kind of tired. The kind that came from real effort. The kind that meant something.
As he walked back to the inn, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of the day. It wasn’t much, just some odd jobs here and there. But in a world where survival often depended on strength and endurance, every little bit counted.
That night, as he lay on the bed in the small room the innkeeper had provided, Riku reflected on his progress. It was slow, painfully slow at times, but he could feel it. Feel the changes in his body, in his strength, in his mind.
This wasn’t just a game. Not anymore.
It was real.
He stared up at the ceiling, his mind racing with possibilities. What would tomorrow bring? More work, more training? Or perhaps a challenge, a fight that would test the limits of what he’d learned?
For the first time since waking up in this world, Riku felt a flicker of hope. Whatever came next, he was ready. Step by step, swing by swing, he would grow. Stronger. Faster. Smarter.
Tomorrow would be a new day, and it would bring him closer to the person he was meant to become.
The next morning arrived far too soon. Riku had barely gotten a good night’s rest before he was up again, ready for whatever tasks lay ahead. The ache in his muscles was a reminder of his hard work the day before, but it was a welcome reminder. It meant he was making progress. Slowly but surely, he was becoming stronger.
And as he stepped out into the early morning light, the world seemed just a little less daunting.