Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
.
.
.
“Ugh! What’s with this weird ringing sound inside my head?” a man covered with bandages on his right foot and head opened his eyes and mumbled in a grunt.
He was currently at the hospital, receiving medical treatment. As for the cause, it happened days ago when a sack of cement landed on his head while in the construction site. Thankfully, he managed to survive.
“Huh? What is this thing?”
He asked in confusion, grasping his hand in front of him trying to determine whether it’s tangible.
“Weird, I can’t even touch it. Is it a hologram? How could a system window appear here when I’m not even playing any VR?”
The man looked intently at the system window in front of him. What’s in there are buttons such as Profile, Notification, Shop, and Inventory. Among the four, the Notification button had (4) small red number in it.
Out of curiosity, he first clicked the profile button as it’s what he always do when he play games. Then just like in any Virtual Reality games, the information in the system window changed.
[Ran Datu] F rank (0/100)
HP: 140/140
MP: 150/150
Title: None
Innate Ability: Replication
Money: 0
STR: 14
AGI: 10
INT: 15
VIT: 14
Undistributed points: 0
Skills: None
When he saw the changes, his eyes opened wide in shock.
“F*ck it!”
Ran cursed loudly. A moment earlier, he was a bit excited and full of expectation. However, all of it disappeared the moment he saw the F rank written next to his name.
In today’s world, awakening as an F rank is no different from not awakening at all. The only difference between the two was that awakened F rank was slightly superior in terms of strength. But inside a dungeon, they were nothing but a lowlife porter.
Shaking his head, Ran clicked the notification button with pitiful eyes. Hoping that there’s something there that could help him reach his peak. He had been a loser long enough, can’t he just receive something better?
[Congratulations! You have awakened the Replicator System!]
[As a gift, you are given 100 copper coins, 3 health potions, and 2 mana potions!]
[The host is advised to explore the system on his own. Please work hard for the both of us!]
[I wish you luck!]
“What the...? Shouldn’t there be a tutorial or something? Hey!” Ran asked with wide eyes.
Unfortunately for him, the system didn’t reply and just stayed silent. “Ah whatever! I have played a lot of games and watched tutorial of professional players, this will be easy.”
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With his newly generated confidence, he opened the inventory and took out one health potion. Just like magic, a bottle filled with glowing red liquid appeared in his hand. Staring intently at it, he could tell no difference between a red wine and the health potion.
[Health Potion]
- Can heal wounds.
Warning: Can’t be replicated!
When he saw the description provided by the system, his mouth couldn’t help but twitch. It seems like the system was a lazy boomer and a stingy old geezer.
“Well, I hope it taste good.”
Ran uncorked the bottle then drank all the contents in one shot. He could feel a tingling sensation spread through his body, but the most noticeable was his right foot and head as they started emitting a green light.
A while later, a surprised expression appeared on his face. The potion was really effective and he can now move his right foot. Even his head feels a bit more clear. All his doubt has immediately disappeared and was ecstatic to know that everything that’s happening right now is real.
“Doc, how’s my grandson doing?”
“He’s fine. It’s just some minor injuries and nothing serious. However, we still need to observe him for a few days.”
While Ran was in a great mood because of the system, he suddenly heard his grandfather’s worried voice outside with the doctor. He quickly stored the empty glass bottle in his inventory before closing his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
Creak…
The sound of the door being opened was heard and an old man in his mid sixties showed up. His body were big and muscular unlike Ran who looked like a thin wood. He had white long hair and a short beard that made him look like a warrior. Next to him was the doctor in a white lab coat.
“Seems like he’s still not awake.”
Ran’s grandfather didn’t reply and went to the chair next to his bed. When the doctor saw him did that, he decided to excuse himself thinking that the old man wants to spend some time with his grandson.
When there’s only the two of them left inside the room, his grandfather spoke, “Do you think you can fool me? Get up or I’ll hit your face.”
“D*mn it! Can’t you just wake me up properly? You see my head and foot?!” Ran angrily yelled while pointing at his bandaged body parts.
“Well, it feels great hitting you.” His grandfather replied with a huge grin on his face. “Ahem… Are you fine now? Tell me so we can get out of this money sucking hospital together.”
“I don’t think…”
“The medical bills are really expensive. I checked it earlier and the accountant said that I have to pay $2,000 if you stay here for another day.” Ran’s grandfather whispered with a trembling voice.
With his job as a blacksmith, it would be hard to pay such a big amount of money. Even with the help of the compensation they received from the construction company. “But since you’re still not fine, I have no other choice but to sell our house.”
“Who said I’m not fine?!” Ran asked with eyes open wide as he sprang up to his feet. Jumping up and down on the floor like it was nothing. “See? I’m fine. I’m not hurt at all.”
He had already drank a health potion and all his injuries and wounds were healed. There’s no need for him to stay in the hospital, it would only suck their money dry until they become beggars.
“Gramps! We can leave now!”
“H-how?! How did you recover so quickly?”
A few days ago when the accident happened, it was his grandfather who brought him to the hospital. At that time, his right foot was dislocated and his head were bleeding nonstop.
“That’s not important anymore. I am now fine, alive and kicking! I can even go back to work after I’m discharged.” Ran lied, he wouldn’t go back there anymore. Even after working everyday, his salary were still not enough to sustain them.
He would rather become a porter. It’s dangerous but the pay is high. There’s also a basic benefit given by the association to awakened people. An F rank like him is expected to receive $50 every month.
“Ah… you can’t go back to the construction site anymore. The manager has already fired you.”
“What? When?!”
“Just today.” His grandfather scratched his head with a sheepish smile on his face. “He said that he’ll double the compensation if you resign but I disagreed. How could he make you resign just like that?”
“Sighs… You should’ve just accepted the double compensation.” Ran replied with a deep sigh. The only job he could find after many years of efforts was now gone. He wasn’t sad or anything though.
“Don’t worry about it. Now we have the money to pay the medical bills.”
“How much?”
“It’s a secret.”
“...”
Ran was speechless. When it comes to money, his grandfather would act slyly. Even keeping the amount a secret to him.
“Fine. I’ll just rest here for a bit.” He said and laid back to his bed before turning on the television.
[Breaking News! A new dungeon has appeared in the Province of Batangas, town of Mabini. According to the data collected by the Hunter Association, it was found out to be a C rank dungeon. Guilds and the Hunter Association in the area had already made an agreement and dispatched their members to raid the said dungeon...]
[Next, let’s talk about the new super rookie who has awakened as an A rank hunter. Guilds from all over the country are sending their representative to recruit the said hunter…]
“Sighs… I wish it was me.” Ran muttered in jealousy. Back when he was still a young, becoming a great hunter was his dream. It even came to the point that he would wish about it everytime he saw a falling star.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you’ll be able to awaken someday.”
Ran just stayed silent at his grandfather’s comforting words. Hiding the fact that he had already awakened. Not because he didn’t want to tell him, just that he was embarrassed to say that he awakened as an F rank.
After some time passed, he then turned off the TV and got up. “Let’s go grandpa Jamal. I want to return home already.”
“Alright.” Jamal smiled faintly, his grandson has finally mentioned his name.