《My System is My Ex-Girlfriend》 Chapter 1 – Welcome to Hell, Yuuto [System Initialization¡­] [Welcome, Yuuto Kisaragi. Your System has been successfully bound.] [System Type: Ex-Girlfriend System] [System Administrator: Celia Nightshade] Yuuto Kisaragi blinked. His head throbbed as if someone had just smashed a brick against his skull. The last thing he remembered was crossing the street after buying instant ramen¡ªand now, he was waking up in an unfamiliar place. The sky above was an unnatural shade of deep purple, swirling with ethereal clouds. His body felt¡­ different. He was lying on cold, grassy terrain, and the scent of damp earth filled his nose. Where the hell was he? A sharp, mocking voice cut through his disoriented thoughts. "Hah! So it finally worked. I was hoping you''d stay unconscious forever, but I guess even you aren''t that lucky." Yuuto¡¯s blood ran cold. That voice¡ªhe knew it all too well. A voice he never wanted to hear again. Slowly, he turned his head, his mind still struggling to process what was happening. Floating above him, arms crossed, was a ghostly figure of his ex-girlfriend, Celia Nightshade. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! She looked exactly the same as he remembered¡ªlong silver hair cascading past her shoulders, piercing golden eyes that radiated superiority, and an ever-present smirk that made him want to punch a wall. But unlike before, she was slightly translucent, glowing with a faint blue aura, as if she were some kind of spectral being. "Celia?!" Yuuto gasped. "What the hell are you doing here?!" Celia sighed dramatically. "Ugh, why do you sound so surprised? Did you really think you could escape me that easily?" His stomach twisted. This had to be a dream. There was no way this was real. "Wait, wait, wait¡ªwhere am I?! Why are you floating?! Why do you look like a freaking hologram?!" Celia gave him a slow, condescending clap. "Wow. Only took you two minutes to realize something¡¯s off. Good job, genius." Yuuto gritted his teeth. Even in death¡ªor whatever the hell this was¡ªshe was still the same sarcastic, insufferable woman he remembered. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to focus. Panicking wouldn¡¯t help. He needed answers. "Fine. Just tell me what¡¯s going on." Celia¡¯s golden eyes gleamed mischievously. "Congratulations, Yuuto Kisaragi. You¡¯ve been transported to another world." Yuuto¡¯s brain short-circuited. "...What?" "You heard me." Celia smirked. "You¡¯re in a completely new world now. Magic, monsters, dungeons, all that fun stuff. Oh, and you have a System to help you survive. Sounds great, right?" A System? Like those things in isekai novels? [Status Window Activated.] A blue holographic screen appeared in front of him. ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ [Yuuto Kisaragi ¨C Level 1] Class: None Stats: Strength: 3 Agility: 2 Intelligence: 6 Endurance: 3 Luck: 1 Abilities: None System: Ex-Girlfriend System (Administrator: Celia Nightshade) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Yuuto blinked. Then blinked again. "...Ex-Girlfriend System?" Celia¡¯s smirk widened. "That¡¯s right. Your one and only support system in this world is me. Your ex-girlfriend." Yuuto felt like his soul left his body. "ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!" Celia laughed. "Oh, trust me. I wish I was." --- [System Tutorial: First Mission] Just as Yuuto was about to collapse from sheer mental exhaustion, another blue notification popped up. [Main Quest: First Interaction] Objective: Call Celia ¡®My Goddess¡¯ with genuine sincerity. Reward: 10 Exp, Minor Stat Boost. Failure: No System Assistance for 24 Hours. Yuuto stared at the quest. Then, he stared at Celia. Celia was grinning. "Well?" she said sweetly. "Go on, say it. Call me your goddess, Yuuto~" Yuuto clenched his fists. This wasn¡¯t a system. This was HELL. --- End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 – Survive Without Me? Good Luck, Loser. [System Tutorial: First Mission] [Main Quest: First Interaction] Objective: Call Celia ¡®My Goddess¡¯ with genuine sincerity. Reward: 10 Exp, Minor Stat Boost. Failure: No System Assistance for 24 Hours. --- Yuuto glared at the floating screen in front of him. His hands trembled¡ªnot out of fear, but pure, unfiltered rage. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.¡± Celia, floating smugly with her arms crossed, tilted her head. ¡°Come on, Yuuto~ It¡¯s not that hard. Just call me ¡®My Goddess,¡¯ and I¡¯ll give you a tiny little stat boost. Doesn¡¯t that sound great?¡± Yuuto¡¯s teeth ground together. ¡°I¡¯d rather die.¡± Celia shrugged. ¡°Your choice. Have fun suffering, then.¡± With that, a red warning message flashed in front of him. --- [SYSTEM ASSISTANCE DISABLED FOR 24 HOURS.] [ALL SYSTEM FEATURES LOCKED.] [GOOD LUCK, LOSER.] --- The notification disappeared, leaving only silence. Yuuto took a deep breath. It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t need a damn System to survive. He was in another world, sure, but people survived in medieval times without magic or Systems, right? If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. How bad could it be? --- Five Minutes Later¡­ It was bad. Really bad. ¡°I¡¯M GONNA DIEEEE!!¡± Yuuto screamed as he sprinted through the dense forest, lungs burning, heart pounding. Behind him, a monstrous giant chicken the size of a motorcycle was charging at him at full speed. [Feral Thundercluck ¨C Level 5] Status: Pissed Off ¡°WHY IS THERE A GIANT CHICKEN?!¡± he shouted as he dodged a swipe from the oversized bird¡¯s razor-sharp talons. Celia floated lazily beside him, completely unfazed. ¡°It¡¯s called a Feral Thundercluck. Pretty common around here.¡± ¡°COMMON?! THIS THING IS A KILLING MACHINE!¡± The chicken flapped its wings aggressively, sending a mini shockwave through the air. Yuuto barely managed to leap behind a tree before the attack obliterated a boulder nearby. He gulped. ¡°¡­That could¡¯ve been my head.¡± Celia stifled a laugh. ¡°Yep. And you¡¯ve got no System assistance, so¡­ what¡¯s the plan, genius?¡± Yuuto¡¯s mind raced. He had no skills, no magic, no weapons¡ªwait. He quickly glanced at the rock near his foot. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was better than nothing. Grabbing the rock, he took a deep breath and faced the massive chicken. ¡°Alright, you overgrown poultry! Come at me!¡± The Thundercluck screeched and lunged. Yuuto threw the rock as hard as he could. It hit the chicken¡¯s head with a pathetic thunk. The Thundercluck¡­ didn¡¯t even flinch. Celia, watching from the side, burst into laughter. ¡°Oh my god. Did you seriously think that would work?!¡± Yuuto paled. ¡°¡­I might¡¯ve miscalculated.¡± The Thundercluck¡¯s beak glowed with electricity, and Yuuto¡¯s entire life flashed before his eyes. --- [A Miraculous Rescue¡­ Or Not?] Just as the giant chicken was about to electrocute him into oblivion, a silver blade sliced through the air. SHING! With a single, elegant motion, a warrior cut the monster clean in half. Yuuto collapsed onto the ground, gasping. The Thundercluck¡¯s body twitched before disintegrating into a pile of sparking feathers. A voice, cold and sharp, spoke. ¡°You must be the dumbest adventurer I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Yuuto slowly looked up. Standing in front of him was a beautiful swordswoman, her long black hair tied into a ponytail, silver armor glinting in the sunlight. Her piercing blue eyes were locked onto him with a mixture of annoyance and disappointment. She didn¡¯t look much older than him¡ªmaybe in her early twenties¡ªbut her aura was overwhelming. Yuuto gulped. ¡°Uh¡­ Thanks for the save?¡± The swordswoman sighed, rubbing her temples. ¡°Seriously, who tries to fight a Thundercluck with a rock? Were you dropped on your head as a child?¡± Yuuto flushed. ¡°I¡ªIt was a strategic decision!¡± Celia, still floating nearby, snickered. ¡°Yeah, real strategic. I was almost impressed by how terrible it was.¡± The swordswoman finally seemed to notice Celia and frowned. ¡°¡­Wait. You have a System, don¡¯t you?¡± Yuuto hesitated. ¡°Uh, yeah. Sort of.¡± ¡°¡­Then why were you fighting like a peasant?¡± Celia grinned. ¡°Oh, because he refused to call me ¡®My Goddess,¡¯ so I locked his System for 24 hours.¡± The swordswoman blinked. Then she stared at Yuuto like he was the stupidest person alive. ¡°¡­You would rather fight monsters without a System than just say two words?¡± Yuuto crossed his arms. ¡°It¡¯s a matter of principle.¡± The swordswoman looked like she wanted to punch him. ¡°¡­You¡¯re an idiot.¡± Yuuto sighed. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m starting to realize that.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Whatever. I¡¯m Elara, a knight of the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. If you don¡¯t want to die in your first week, you¡¯d better start using your damn System properly.¡± Celia smirked. ¡°Told you.¡± Yuuto groaned. ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll use it. Just¡­ not like that.¡± Elara sighed. ¡°You better hope you survive long enough to learn. Come on, I¡¯ll take you to the nearest town before another Thundercluck shows up.¡± Yuuto quickly scrambled to his feet, not wanting to test his luck again. As he followed Elara, Celia grinned mischievously behind him. ¡°¡­Oh, don¡¯t worry, Yuuto. You¡¯re going to regret every second of this.¡± --- [End of Chapter 2] Chapter 3 – Welcome to Poverty, Yuuto! [Current Status: Broke & Humiliated] Location: Adventurer¡¯s Guild, Town of Silverbrook System Assistance: STILL LOCKED (23 Hours Left) Mood: Frustrated, Starving, and Regretting Life Choices --- After barely escaping death-by-giant-chicken, Yuuto followed Elara into the bustling Adventurer¡¯s Guild. The moment they stepped inside, he felt the weight of dozens of eyes sizing him up. The guildhall was filled with rough-looking warriors, mages, and archers, most of them nursing drinks or sharpening weapons. It reeked of sweat, ale, and broken dreams. Celia floated beside him, smug as ever. ¡°Wow, Yuuto. First time in a place where people actually do something with their lives?¡± Yuuto rolled his eyes. ¡°Shut up.¡± Elara, ignoring their bickering, walked straight to the receptionist counter, where a young woman with short brown hair and tired eyes greeted her. ¡°Elara! Back so soon?¡± Elara sighed. ¡°Yeah. Found this idiot getting chased by a Thundercluck.¡± The receptionist looked at Yuuto, who forced a smile. ¡°¡­You fought a Thundercluck? At Level 1?¡± Yuuto coughed. ¡°Define ¡®fought.¡¯¡± Celia snorted. ¡°More like he ran for his life and threw a rock at it.¡± The receptionist blinked. ¡°A rock?¡± Elara sighed, rubbing her temples. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s not talk about that. He needs to register as an adventurer.¡± The receptionist nodded. ¡°Alright. Name?¡± ¡°Yuuto Kisaragi.¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Age?¡± ¡°19.¡± ¡°Class?¡± Yuuto hesitated. Class? He didn¡¯t have one yet. Before he could answer, Celia butted in. ¡°Oh! His class is ¡®Pathetic Loser¡¯ with a specialization in ¡®Bad Decisions.¡¯¡± Yuuto¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°I swear to god¡ª¡± The receptionist tried not to laugh. ¡°You don¡¯t have a class yet?¡± Yuuto sighed. ¡°No. My System is¡­ complicated.¡± Celia smirked. ¡°Yeah. ¡®Complicated.¡¯ That¡¯s one way to put it.¡± The receptionist shrugged. ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll list you as an Unclassified Adventurer for now. You¡¯ll need to take a test to determine your rank. That¡¯ll be¡ª¡± She paused, then pulled out a parchment. ¡°Oh. That¡¯ll be 3 silver coins for registration.¡± Yuuto froze. ¡°¡­Money?¡± Elara sighed. ¡°You don¡¯t have any, do you?¡± Yuuto grinned awkwardly. ¡°Define ¡®have.¡¯¡± Celia burst out laughing. ¡°Oh my god, you¡¯re actually broke? This is amazing.¡± Elara facepalmed. The receptionist sighed. ¡°No money, no registration. Simple as that.¡± Yuuto groaned. ¡°Okay, fine! Is there any way to earn money without being an official adventurer?¡± The receptionist tapped her chin. ¡°Well¡­ there are odd jobs on the request board.¡± Yuuto turned to look. The massive wooden request board was covered with parchments. Some were official adventurer quests, but others were smaller tasks like: [WANTED: Someone to help carry heavy crates. 2 copper per hour.] [NEEDED: A stable hand for horse cleaning. 5 copper per day.] [HELP! My cat is stuck on the roof. 1 silver if you can get her down safely.] Yuuto¡¯s stomach growled. Celia grinned. ¡°Hah! Even your stomach knows you¡¯re a failure.¡± Yuuto ignored her and grabbed the cat rescue job. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do this one.¡± The receptionist nodded. ¡°Return when it¡¯s done, and we¡¯ll give you the silver.¡± --- [Mission: Save the Cat] Difficulty: [Dumb but Necessary] Objective: Rescue a cat from a roof. Reward: 1 Silver Coin Failure: A Cat Scratches Your Face. --- [A Battle Against¡­ Gravity?] Yuuto arrived at the job location: an old woman¡¯s house with a dangerously high roof. Sitting on the very edge was a fluffy white cat, calmly licking its paws, completely unaware of Yuuto¡¯s struggle. The old woman, standing below, looked worried. ¡°Oh, kind adventurer! Please be careful! My dear Lulu is very sensitive!¡± Yuuto smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, ma¡¯am. I got this.¡± Celia floated beside him. ¡°Famous last words.¡± Yuuto ignored her and started climbing up. He reached the roof without much trouble, but the moment he got close to the cat¡ª HIS FOOT SLIPPED. ¡°OH SH¡ª¡± Before he could react, he fell. CRASH! Yuuto landed face-first into a pile of mud. Celia howled with laughter. ¡°OH MY GOD. YOU CAN¡¯T EVEN CLIMB A ROOF? THIS IS AMAZING.¡± The old woman gasped. ¡°Oh dear! Are you alright?¡± Yuuto, covered in mud, groaned. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡± The cat, meanwhile, casually jumped down by itself. The old woman clapped her hands. ¡°Oh my! Lulu came down on her own! You¡¯re amazing, young man!¡± Yuuto stared. ¡°¡­Are you kidding me?¡± Celia wiped fake tears. ¡°That was the most useless thing I¡¯ve ever seen. Please, never change.¡± Despite doing absolutely nothing, Yuuto still got paid. One silver coin. --- [A Bitter Victory] Back at the guild, Yuuto slammed the silver coin on the counter. ¡°Register me.¡± The receptionist, trying not to laugh, nodded. ¡°Welcome to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild, Yuuto Kisaragi.¡± A new notification appeared. --- [System Notice] You are now a Registered Adventurer. New Features Unlocked: Adventurer Ranking, Guild Access, Combat Training. --- Yuuto sighed in relief. Finally, some progress. Elara patted his shoulder. ¡°Congratulations. You¡¯re officially the lowest-ranked adventurer.¡± Celia grinned. ¡°Heh. Fitting.¡± Yuuto glared at her. ¡°You¡¯re enjoying this way too much.¡± Celia smirked. ¡°Of course I am! Watching you struggle is the best entertainment I¡¯ve had in years.¡± Yuuto groaned. ¡°God, I wish I could uninstall you.¡± Celia winked. ¡°Too bad, loser. You¡¯re stuck with me.¡± As Yuuto mentally prepared himself for the suffering ahead, a new message appeared. --- [New Quest: First Combat Test] Instructor: Elara Objective: Survive a sparring match against her for at least two minutes. Reward: 10 Exp, Basic Combat Skill Failure: Pain. Lots of it. --- Yuuto¡¯s stomach dropped. Celia grinned ear to ear. ¡°Ohhh, this is gonna be good.¡± Elara cracked her knuckles. ¡°Alright, rookie. Let¡¯s see if you can last more than ten seconds.¡± Yuuto, realizing his hell was just beginning, instantly regretted everything. --- [End of Chapter 3] Chapter 4 – A Lesson in Pain (And Maybe a Little Concern?) [Current Status: About to Be Beaten Up] Location: Guild Training Grounds, Silverbrook System Assistance: STILL LOCKED (22 Hours Left) Mood: Nervous, Hungry, and Resigned to Suffering --- Yuuto stood in the middle of the Guild Training Grounds, staring at Elara, who was cracking her knuckles with a very concerning smile on her face. A small crowd of adventurers had gathered, clearly expecting entertainment. "Damn, Elara¡¯s gonna destroy this guy." "He looks weak as hell. How long do you think he¡¯ll last?" "Five seconds. Ten, if he runs." Yuuto gulped. Celia floated beside him, grinning ear to ear. "Ohhh, this is gonna be great. I haven¡¯t seen you get wrecked this bad since I dumped you in college." Yuuto sighed. "Can you not?" Celia tilted her head. "Nope! Watching you suffer is my new full-time job." Elara, holding a wooden training sword, pointed it at Yuuto. ¡°Alright, rookie. The rules are simple: survive for two minutes. You can run, dodge, or fight back. But if you cry, I¡¯m telling the whole guild.¡± Yuuto nodded slowly. "Sounds fair¡ª" "BEGIN!" Before he could even blink, Elara dashed forward. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. FAST. Yuuto barely raised his arms when¡ª CRACK! A sharp pain exploded in his ribs as her wooden sword slammed into his side. Yuuto staggered back, gasping. ¡°SON OF A¡ª¡± Elara didn¡¯t stop. She spun her sword and swept his legs. Yuuto¡¯s vision blurred as he collapsed onto his back. The onlookers burst into laughter. ¡°HAHAHA! He¡¯s already down?!¡± ¡°Pathetic! Even the goblins could beat him!¡± Celia, laughing harder than anyone, hovered above Yuuto. ¡°OH MY GOD. YUUTO, ARE YOU EVEN TRYING?!¡± Yuuto groaned, rolling onto his stomach. "F-Five seconds¡­ that was five seconds¡­" Celia wiped fake tears. ¡°This is better than reality TV.¡± Elara sighed. ¡°Get up. I won¡¯t count that.¡± Yuuto gritted his teeth. He pushed himself up, legs shaking. Celia hovered beside him, smirking. "Want me to call an ambulance? Oh wait¡ªNO HOSPITALS IN THIS WORLD!" Yuuto ignored her, taking a stance. Elara smirked. "Better. Let¡¯s go again." --- [30 Seconds Later] Yuuto was on the ground again. Covered in bruises. Breathing like he ran a marathon. The crowd was roaring with laughter. Celia? Still enjoying every second. "This is the best thing I¡¯ve seen all day." Yuuto groaned. "H-How much time left?" Elara, arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. "You lasted 47 seconds. Want to keep going?" Yuuto, still lying on the ground, gave a thumbs-up. "¡­S-Sure¡­ why not?" Celia snorted. ¡°Oh? No quitting? That¡¯s new.¡± Yuuto gritted his teeth. "I have to pass this. If I don¡¯t, I won¡¯t get any combat skills." For a brief moment, Celia¡¯s smug expression faltered. Just for a second. But then, she shrugged. ¡°Alright, idiot. Get up and get beaten again.¡± Yuuto forced himself to stand. The crowd cheered. ¡°He¡¯s got guts, at least.¡± ¡°Still gonna lose, though.¡± Elara smiled. "Good. You¡¯re not completely spineless. Let¡¯s finish this." --- [The Final 30 Seconds] Yuuto dodged. Barely. Elara¡¯s wooden sword whistled past his ear. Yuuto rolled to the side, barely avoiding another brutal strike to the ribs. Celia, watching intently, frowned. ¡°Wait. You¡¯re actually¡­ moving better?¡± Yuuto panted. "Shut up and let me focus!" Elara¡¯s attacks were still overwhelming, but Yuuto was starting to predict them. He dodged a second strike. Blocked the third. Then¡ª DING! --- [System Notice] You have survived for 2 minutes. Basic Combat Skill Unlocked! --- Yuuto¡¯s body felt lighter. His muscles, though sore, moved more naturally. ¡°I¡­ did it?¡± Elara lowered her sword. "Not bad. You¡¯re still terrible, but at least you¡¯re improving." Celia crossed her arms, pouting. "Damn. I was hoping you¡¯d get knocked out." Yuuto glared. "Wow. Such support." She grinned. "I¡¯m your ex. What did you expect?" Elara smirked. ¡°Alright. You earned your reward.¡± --- [Rewards Earned] 10 Exp Basic Combat Skill (Lv.1) Respect (Slight) from Guild Members Celia¡¯s Entertainment (100%) --- The crowd clapped half-heartedly. "Not bad, rookie." "You still suck, though." "Eh, he¡¯s got potential." Yuuto wiped sweat from his forehead, grinning. Celia, floating beside him, stared at him quietly. For a brief moment, her expression softened. Like she was¡­ impressed? Or maybe¡­ concerned? But then, she rolled her eyes. "Well, congratulations, loser. You survived your first ass-whooping." Yuuto smirked. "Jealous?" Celia scoffed. "Please. I could still beat you with one hand t ied behind my back." Elara smirked. "Well, let¡¯s see how you do against real monsters next." Yuuto¡¯s grin vanished. "¡­Wait. Monsters? Already?!" Elara clapped his shoulder. "Yep. Time to put that new combat skill to the test." Celia grinned. "Ohhh, this is gonna be even better than today!" Yuuto felt a chill run down his spine. ¡­He had a very bad feeling about Chapter 5. --- [End of Chapter 4] Chapter 5 – A Goblin’s Welcome (Or Yuuto’s Nightmare Begins) [Current Status: About to Fight Actual Monsters] Location: Forest Outskirts, Outside Silverbrook System Assistance: STILL LOCKED (12 Hours Left) Mood: Terrified but Trying to Act Cool --- Yuuto stood at the edge of a dense forest, gripping a rusty iron sword that looked one swing away from breaking. A cold wind rustled the trees, carrying a scent of damp earth and something¡­ rotten. Elara, standing beside him, checked her gear. "Alright, rookie. First mission. Kill three goblins." Yuuto forced a smile. "Sounds easy enough." Elara raised an eyebrow. "You say that now, but goblins are nastier than they look. They bite, they cheat, and they love ganging up on weaklings." Yuuto gulped. "Wait, what was that last part?" Celia floated beside him, smirking. "Ohhh, this is gonna be great. You struggling against goblins? Priceless." Yuuto sighed. "Can''t you be supportive for once?" Celia pretended to think. "Hmm¡­ Nope." Yuuto groaned. Elara ignored them, scanning the forest. "The goblins usually set up near clearings. Stay close, move quietly, and¡ª" This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. SNAP! A branch cracked. Elara froze. Yuuto turned pale. Celia? Smiling like she was watching a horror movie. A low growl echoed through the trees. Then¡ª RUSTLE. RUSTLE. RUSTLE. Three goblins stepped out of the brush, each holding crude weapons. Their beady yellow eyes locked onto Yuuto. Their sharp teeth glistened with saliva. One of them¡ªslightly taller than the others¡ªgrinned, brandishing a rusty dagger. "Heh. Fresh meat." Yuuto¡¯s heart dropped. "Wait¡ªTHEY CAN TALK?!" Elara sighed. "Some of them. The smart ones." Celia snorted. "Too bad you got the smart ones. Bad luck, loser." The lead goblin licked his lips. "You look weak. Maybe we take our time, yes?" Yuuto gripped his sword. "Screw that! Bring it on!" Elara grinned. "Alright. Show me what you got." Yuuto exhaled, steadying his stance. Then¡ª The goblins charged. --- [Yuuto¡¯s First Fight] The first goblin lunged, swinging a club at Yuuto¡¯s head. Yuuto ducked. The club missed by inches, slamming into a tree. BARK EXPLODED EVERYWHERE. Yuuto countered, swinging his sword. SHNK! His blade sliced the goblin¡¯s arm. The goblin screeched, stumbling back. "Oh damn. I actually hit something." DING! --- [System Notice] You have landed your first successful attack! 5 Exp --- Celia blinked. ¡°Wait. You¡¯re actually fighting back?¡± Elara smirked. "Not bad, rookie." Yuuto grinned¡ªonly to get PUNCHED IN THE FACE. "GAAAH!" He stumbled backward, stars in his vision. The second goblin grabbed his leg, yanking him down. Yuuto hit the ground HARD. "Oof¡ªDAMN IT!" The goblin jumped onto his chest, snarling. It raised a rusty dagger, ready to stab¡ª "NOT TODAY!" Yuuto grabbed a rock and bashed its head. CRACK! The goblin yelped, rolling off him. Yuuto scrambled up, panting. "God, this is terrifying." Celia, hovering above, giggled. "You¡¯re like a baby deer learning to walk." Yuuto wiped sweat. "Less commentary, more support!" Celia pretended to think. "Mmm¡­ No." Yuuto groaned. "You suck." Elara laughed. "Alright. Enough playing around. Time to end this." --- [Elara Gets Serious] Elara rushed forward, sword flashing. The lead goblin barely reacted before¡ª SHNK! Her blade sliced through its throat. Blood sprayed. The goblin gurgled, then collapsed. The other two froze. Elara cracked her neck. "Next?" The goblins screamed¡ªAND RAN. Yuuto blinked. "Wait, they can do that?" Elara shrugged. "They know when they¡¯re outmatched." Yuuto stared at his bloodied sword. "So¡­ I killed one, right?" Elara smirked. "Nah. I did." Yuuto groaned. "Damn it!" --- [System Notice] Mission Update: Goblins Killed ¨C 0 --- Celia cackled. "HAAA! You still didn¡¯t get a kill!" Yuuto sighed. "¡­I hate this world." Elara sheathed her sword. "Alright. One down. Two more to go." Yuuto groaned again. "Of course." Celia patted his head. "Good luck, loser." Yuuto sighed, bracing for another round. His first hunt was far from over. --- [End of Chapter 5] Chapter 6 – The Goblin Slayer’s First Kill [Current Status: Getting Closer to Becoming a True Adventurer] Location: Goblin Clearing, Silverbrook Outskirts System Assistance: STILL LOCKED (10 Hours Left) Mood: Determined but Terrified --- Yuuto¡¯s grip tightened on his sword. He had no choice but to fight¡ªagain. The world didn¡¯t care about his fears or his inexperience. In fact, it seemed to relish in watching him struggle. The first goblin had been an accident¡ªa stroke of luck. The second had been a close call, but now, with two more goblins lurking nearby, Yuuto knew he had no time for excuses. Celia floated beside him, watching with a smirk. "You gonna get serious now, or what?" Yuuto shot a glare at her. "How about you stop mocking me and give me some advice?" Celia fluttered her ethereal hands, brushing away his frustration. "Advice? Oh please, where¡¯s the fun in that? Just swing your sword, idiot!" Yuuto resisted the urge to yell. Instead, he took a deep breath, stepping into the clearing. The goblins had scattered for a moment, but two of them had stayed behind, lingering just out of sight. "Let¡¯s make this quick," Elara said. She unsheathed her blade, her eyes sharp as ever. "I¡¯m not babysitting you all day." Yuuto nodded, more determined than before. "Right." --- [The Goblin Ambush] Yuuto stepped forward cautiously, trying to make as little noise as possible. The last thing he needed was to alert the goblins early. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The forest around them was eerily silent, only the occasional rustle of wind in the trees breaking the stillness. Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes caught Yuuto''s attention. His heart skipped a beat. He gripped his sword tighter. "They''re here," Elara whispered, her voice calm, but there was a hint of excitement in her eyes. Yuuto could see the first goblin, a small, rat-like creature with jagged teeth and a wicked grin, creeping out of the foliage. Its eyes locked onto Yuuto, and the goblin¡¯s mouth stretched into an evil grin. The second goblin appeared from the opposite side. It was slightly bigger, with a crude club in hand. It moved with an unpredictable, jerky gait, making it clear that it wasn¡¯t afraid to fight dirty. Elara took a step back, positioning herself to watch from a distance. She didn¡¯t say a word, but the look in her eyes told Yuuto everything. This was his fight. Yuuto swallowed hard, trying to ignore the lump in his throat. "I can do this," he whispered to himself, "I have to." --- [Yuuto¡¯s First Kill] The smaller goblin lunged first, screeching as it brandished a rusty dagger. Yuuto¡¯s heart nearly stopped. His body moved before his mind could catch up, and he instinctively raised his sword to block the attack. The clash of metal was deafening. Yuuto staggered back, the force of the goblin¡¯s attack sending a jolt through his arms. But he didn¡¯t back down. His sword was still in his grip. He was still standing. He swung at the goblin, his movements clumsy but desperate. The goblin tried to dodge, but it was too slow¡ªYuuto¡¯s sword cut across its side with a sickening thud. The goblin howled in pain, its grip on the dagger weakening. "Not today," Yuuto muttered under his breath, "This time, I¡¯m winning." Before the goblin could react, Yuuto lunged forward, his sword aimed for the creature¡¯s throat. THWACK! The blade pierced the goblin¡¯s flesh, and the creature let out a final, gurgled cry before slumping to the ground. Yuuto stood frozen, staring at the dead goblin. The rush of victory mixed with a wave of nausea. "I did it¡­" --- [Elara¡¯s Approval] Elara¡¯s voice broke the silence. "Well done." Her tone was cool, but there was no mistaking the genuine approval in her eyes. "You¡¯ve got the basics down. But don¡¯t get cocky¡ªthere¡¯s still the other one." Yuuto turned, his heart still pounding, his hands trembling slightly. The second goblin was watching him from the side, its yellow eyes burning with fury. The goblin raised its club. Its guttural growl filled the air as it charged. This time, Yuuto was ready. "Let¡¯s finish this!" --- [The Final Showdown] The goblin charged with unnatural speed, swinging its club in a wide arc aimed straight for Yuuto¡¯s head. Yuuto barely had time to react. "Shit!" He ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air as the club missed by mere inches. Without thinking, Yuuto countered, slashing horizontally at the goblin¡¯s legs. His blade cut deep, and the goblin screamed, its knee buckling as it staggered back. "Now!" Elara shouted. Yuuto, hearing her command, pushed forward with every ounce of energy he had left. He drove his sword into the goblin¡¯s chest. The goblin gurgled, its eyes wide with surprise and rage, before it collapsed, lifeless. Yuuto stood there, panting heavily, his sword dripping with goblin blood. He had done it. --- [System Notice] You have killed a Goblin! You have leveled up! 10 Exp You have completed your first quest! --- Yuuto blinked at the System Notice. "I actually did it. I killed two goblins. I¡¯m not completely useless." Celia floated beside him, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, wow. Two whole goblins. Maybe you¡¯re not the worst adventurer after all." Yuuto rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the encouragement, Celia." But inside, he felt a sense of accomplishment. For the first time, he wasn¡¯t just some guy lost in a game world. He was a fighter. Elara approached, wiping the blood from her sword. "Not bad. You might actually survive this job." Yuuto gave a nervous grin. "I hope so." --- [Celia¡¯s Surprise] As the three of them began to head back to Silverbrook, Celia suddenly looked at Yuuto with an expression that was¡ªalmost¡ªgenuine. "You¡¯re not completely useless, huh?" Yuuto raised an eyebrow. "Wait, did you just compliment me?" Celia scoffed. "Don¡¯t get too excited. It¡¯s still just a goblin kill." Yuuto couldn¡¯t help but laugh. "I¡¯ll take it." --- [End of Chapter 6] Chapter 7 – A Warrior’s First Reward [Current Status: A Step Closer to Becoming Stronger] Location: Silverbrook Adventurer''s Guild System Assistance: PARTIALLY UNLOCKED (Abilities Still Locked for 6 Hours) Mood: Proud but Exhausted --- The sun had already begun to set by the time Yuuto, Elara, and Celia returned to Silverbrook. Yuuto''s body ached, every muscle sore from the tension of battle. But despite the exhaustion, he couldn''t wipe the small smile off his face. He had done it. His first real battle. His first kills. And the best part? He had survived. As the three of them stepped through the wooden doors of the Silverbrook Adventurer''s Guild, Yuuto let out a deep breath, feeling a strange mixture of relief and excitement. --- [The Guild''s Reaction] The guild was lively as usual, with adventurers drinking, laughing, and boasting about their latest conquests. But the moment Yuuto and Elara entered, a few adventurers turned their heads. "Hah! The newbie''s back already?" one man with a scarred face chuckled. "Did he even make it out of the village?" Another adventurer¡ªa burly man with an axe¡ªgrinned. "Probably ran away at the first sign of a goblin!" Yuuto clenched his fists, but before he could say anything, Elara spoke up. "He didn''t run." Her tone was cool, but firm. "He killed two goblins today." The room went silent for a moment. Yuuto felt all eyes turn to him, some filled with mild surprise, others with skepticism. Then, a woman in a black cloak, sitting near the bar, let out a low chuckle. "Two goblins, huh? Well, at least you''re not completely useless." Celia snickered. "See? Even the drunk adventurers don''t think you''re a complete failure. That''s progress." Yuuto shot her a glare. "Shut up, Celia." --- Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. [The First Reward] Elara led Yuuto toward the guild reception counter, where a young woman with short silver hair and bright green eyes stood. She looked up and smiled. "Welcome back, Elara. And¡­ Yuuto, right? I see you completed your first quest?" Yuuto nodded. "Yeah. Two goblins down." The receptionist flipped through some papers before nodding. "Great! As a first-time quest reward, you''ll receive¡­ ten silver coins." She placed a small pouch of coins on the counter. Yuuto picked it up, feeling the weight of the money in his hands. It wasn''t much, but to him, it felt like proof that he had truly begun his journey. "Ten silver, huh?" Yuuto muttered. "I thought killing monsters paid more." Elara smirked. "Not when they''re goblins." "Damn economy." Celia sighed dramatically. "Looks like you won''t be buying a mansion anytime soon." Yuuto rolled his eyes. "I''d be happy with a decent meal first." --- [A Warrior''s Growth] Just as Yuuto was about to leave the counter, the receptionist spoke again. "Oh! Before you go, there''s something else." Yuuto tilted his head. "Huh?" The receptionist handed him a small badge. A simple bronze plate, with his name engraved on it. [Yuuto ¨C Bronze Rank Adventurer] Yuuto stared at it, running his fingers over the cold metal. It wasn''t anything fancy, but¡­ it was real. He was an adventurer now. Elara crossed her arms. "Don''t let it go to your head. Bronze Rank is the lowest. You still have a long way to go." Yuuto chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. But it''s a start, right?" Elara didn''t say anything, but Yuuto could see the small, barely-there smile on her lips. --- [A Night to Celebrate] After collecting his reward, Yuuto followed Elara to a nearby tavern. The place was rowdy, filled with adventurers drinking and feasting after a long day of quests. The scent of roasted meat and ale filled the air, making Yuuto''s stomach growl. They took a seat at a corner table, and Yuuto finally allowed himself to relax. "Man, I thought I was gonna die today," Yuuto admitted, stretching his sore arms. Elara took a sip of her drink, her amber eyes watching him closely. "You did better than I expected." Yuuto raised an eyebrow. "Wait¡­ was that a compliment?" Elara smirked. "Take it however you want." Celia floated beside them, arms crossed. "Pfft. You''re still leagues away from being strong. I bet you''ll struggle again tomorrow." Yuuto sighed. "Can you stop being my worst critic for one second?" Celia gave him a smug grin. "Nope. That''s part of my job." Yuuto groaned, but deep down, he knew Celia wasn''t entirely heartless. She had been watching over him the entire time. And despite her teasing, she still cared¡ªin her own, twisted way. [A Night to Celebrate ¨C Extended Scene] After a night of eating and drinking at the tavern, Yuuto found himself stumbling back to his room at the inn. His head was light, his body sluggish from the alcohol, and it was only thanks to Elara that he even made it to his bed in one piece. She sighed as she helped him sit down, her amber eyes filled with mild exasperation. "You''re heavier than you look, you know." Yuuto chuckled lazily. "You''re just weak." Elara shot him a look but didn''t argue. Instead, she shook her head and walked toward the door. "Get some rest, idiot. You''re going to regret drinking this much tomorrow." Yuuto groaned. "Yeah, yeah¡­ mom." Elara paused for a second, but then just let out a small huff before leaving, closing the door behind her. For a moment, silence filled the room. Then, a familiar voice spoke up. "Hah. Look at you, already acting like a lost puppy when she leaves." Yuuto grunted, shifting on the bed. "Shut up, Celia." She floated above him, her ghostly figure glowing softly in the dim candlelight. Her usual smug grin was on her lips, but there was something gentler in her gaze tonight. "You really can''t handle alcohol, huh?" Yuuto let out a slow breath, his vision blurry as he turned his head toward her. "Celia¡­" His voice was quiet, almost slurred. "Why¡­ why do you have to be a system?" Celia''s smirk faltered for a second. Yuuto barely noticed. He kept talking, his words slow and heavy. "Why was I summoned here¡­? Why me?" He let out a weak chuckle. "I don''t belong here¡­ but at least¡­ I''m not alone." He swallowed, his throat dry, and in a voice so soft it was almost a whisper, he mumbled: "Thanks for being here, Celia." Celia didn''t speak right away. For once, there was no sarcastic reply, no teasing remark. She just stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, in a slow, almost hesitant motion, she reached down and pulled the blanket over him, covering his body. Yuuto let out a small, tired laugh. "You do care, huh¡­?" Celia rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Don''t get the wrong idea. You''d catch a cold and make my job harder. That''s all." Yuuto smiled, eyes half-lidded. His mind was foggy, but there was one last question lingering at the back of his head. "Celia¡­ how did you die?" His voice was soft, barely above a whisper. "And¡­ why was I summoned?" Celia''s expression changed. For the first time, she looked¡­ distant. Her lips parted slightly, and she whispered something. But Yuuto couldn''t hear it. His body gave in to exhaustion, his consciousness slipping a way before he could ask her to repeat it. And in the dim candlelight of the quiet room, Celia stood there, staring at him for a long moment before letting out a soft sigh. --- End of Chapter 7 Chapter 8 – Unheard Words The first thing Yuuto felt when he woke up was pain. A dull, throbbing headache pounded against his skull, his mouth felt like dry sandpaper, and his stomach churned with discomfort. "Ugh¡­" He groaned, burying his face into the pillow. "Never¡­ drinking¡­ again¡­" A mocking laugh rang through the air. "Oh? The great Yuuto can''t handle a little alcohol?" Yuuto winced, his head pounding harder at the sound of Celia''s voice. He blindly reached out, waving his hand as if to swat her away. "Not now¡­ Celia¡­ my head¡­" She didn''t let up. If anything, she floated closer, her voice taking on a sing-song tone. "Awww, is my dear Host in pain? Maybe next time you won''t get drunk like an idiot and blabber nonsense before passing out." Yuuto stiffened slightly at that. His mind was still foggy, but snippets of last night slowly pieced themselves together. Elara¡­ carrying him to his room¡­ Celia teasing him as usual¡­ And then¡ª Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "Why do you have to be a system?" His fingers curled slightly against the bedsheet. Yuuto sat up slowly, blinking away the dizziness. He turned his head toward Celia, who was floating near his bedside with her usual smug expression. "Did I¡­ say anything weird last night?" He asked cautiously. Celia smirked, tilting her head. "Oh, you said plenty of things." Yuuto felt a sense of dread. "Like what?" Celia''s smirk widened. "Wouldn''t you like to know?" Yuuto rubbed his temples, already regretting asking. "Celia¡­" She laughed, twirling mid-air. "Relax, you just got all emotional and started thanking me." Yuuto froze. "I¡­ thanked you?" "Yep. Said you were happy I was here for you, blah blah, super touching." Yuuto''s face heated up in embarrassment. "Tch. I was drunk." Celia grinned. "Drunk words are sober thoughts, you know." Yuuto clicked his tongue, looking away. He suddenly felt too self-conscious under her gaze. But then, another memory surfaced. Something fainter, softer. "Celia¡­ how did you die?" His breath hitched slightly. His fingers curled into fists as he glanced back at her. She looked the same as always¡ªsmirking, teasing, acting like nothing ever bothered her. But he knew better now. "Celia." His voice was quieter this time. She raised an eyebrow. "Hm?" Yuuto stared at her, as if searching for something beyond her spectral form. "Last night, when I asked you how you died¡­ you answered, didn''t you?" For the first time, her smirk faltered. It was quick¡ªbarely noticeable¡ªbut Yuuto caught it. Celia turned away, crossing her arms. "You were too drunk to hear it, weren''t you?" Yuuto''s eyes narrowed slightly. "I was. But you still said something, didn''t you?" Silence. Celia didn''t immediately reply, and that alone made Yuuto more certain. His fingers tightened against the blanket. "Celia. What did you say?" Still, she didn''t look at him. Her form flickered slightly, her ethereal glow dimming just a bit. Then¡ª "Forget it, Yuuto." Her voice was softer than usual. Yuuto felt a pang in his chest. "Why?" Celia let out a mocking chuckle, but it sounded forced. "Because it doesn''t matter. You''re here now. I''m your system. That''s all there is to it." Yuuto''s heart twisted at that answer. She was avoiding it. Hiding something. And that alone made him more determined to find out. But for now, he knew pushing her wouldn''t work. With a small sigh, Yuuto let his body fall back onto the bed. "Fine. I won''t ask¡­ for now." Celia gave him a side glance, her expression unreadable. "Good." Yuuto let out a tired chuckle. "Still¡­ thanks for the blanket." Celia rolled her eyes. "Again, don''t get the wrong idea." But this time, Yuuto swore he saw the faintest hint of something else in her gaze. Something almost like¡­ guilt. --- [End of Chapter 8] Chapter 9 – A System’s Duties and a Teasing Ghost Yuuto finally dragged himself out of bed, still feeling the lingering effects of last night''s drinking. His head had stopped pounding, but his body still felt sluggish. Celia, as usual, floated beside him, arms crossed and smirking. "So, what''s the plan for today, my dear Host? Gonna lie in bed all day and cry about your hangover?" Yuuto glared at her. "I swear, one day I''m gonna figure out how to turn you off." Celia gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. "Yuuto! How could you say that? I''m your precious system! Your guardian angel! Your one and only ex-girlfriend-turned-voice-in-your-head!" Yuuto rolled his eyes. "More like a demon haunting me." Celia grinned. "Well, I do enjoy watching you suffer." Yuuto ignored her, finally standing up and stretching. His body ached slightly from the previous fight, but nothing too serious. Then, a familiar ding echoed in his ears. [New Quest Available!] Yuuto sighed. "Let me guess¡­ more monster hunting?" Celia appeared beside him, her fingers flicking through an invisible system screen. "Ding, ding! Correct! You''ve officially been assigned a new quest, Host!" A glowing blue system window popped up in front of him. --- [System Quest ¨C Cleansing the Forest] Difficulty: C-Rank Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Objective: Eliminate the corrupted beasts in the northern forest (0/5). Reward: 1,500 EXP, Minor Stat Boost, and ??? --- Yuuto rubbed his chin. "Corrupted beasts? Sounds like a bigger problem than regular monsters." Celia nodded, for once serious. "Yeah. These guys aren''t your usual weaklings. They''ve been infected by some unknown force, making them stronger and more aggressive." Yuuto frowned. "And the mystery reward?" Celia shrugged. "I dunno. The system decides that on its own. Maybe it''ll be gold, maybe it''ll be a new skill, or maybe¡ª" she smirked, "a kiss from me." Yuuto immediately scowled. "If that happens, I''ll refund the reward." Celia pouted. "Wow. Rude." Yuuto dismissed the system window and grabbed his gear. His sword was sharper than before, thanks to the innkeeper''s blacksmith son who had helped him repair and polish it after his last fight. "Alright. Time to hunt some corrupted beasts." --- [Outside the City ¨C The Northern Forest] The forest was quiet, unnervingly so. Yuuto had accepted the quest at the adventurer''s guild before heading out, gathering some information from other adventurers. Apparently, the corruption in this part of the forest was recent. Normal monsters were becoming twisted, their bodies covered in dark veins and their eyes glowing an eerie crimson. "Hey, Celia. Any idea what''s causing this?" Yuuto asked as he walked. Celia floated beside him, arms crossed. "Nope. But whatever it is, it''s not natural. Be careful." Yuuto tightened his grip on his sword. Suddenly¡ªa rustling noise. His body tensed. He slowly turned his head toward the source. A pair of glowing red eyes stared at him from the shadows. Then, with unnatural speed, the creature lunged. Yuuto reacted instantly, raising his sword just in time to block. The impact sent a shockwave through his arms. The monster¡ªwhat once was a wolf¡ªhad jet-black fur, its veins pulsing with dark energy. Celia whistled. "Damn. That thing looks nasty." Yuuto gritted his teeth, pushing back against the beast. "Less commentary, more help!" Celia smirked. "Fine, fine. Activating system assist!" A blue glow enveloped Yuuto''s body, and a familiar ding echoed in his ears. --- [System Boost Activated] Strength +10% Speed +15% Reflex Boost: Active for 30 seconds --- Yuuto felt power surge through his muscles. His movements became sharper, his reactions quicker. The beast lunged again, but this time¡ªYuuto was faster. He sidestepped, his sword slicing cleanly through its side. The corrupted wolf let out a distorted howl, black mist seeping from its wound. "Tch. Even their blood is weird," Yuuto muttered. Celia hovered above, watching curiously. "These things don''t die easily. Finish it before it regenerates." Yuuto nodded, gripping his sword tighter. The wolf snarled, preparing to lunge again¡ª But Yuuto was already moving. With a powerful swing, his blade cleaved through the wolf''s neck, severing it in one clean strike. The beast shuddered, black mist pouring from its body, before collapsing into a lifeless heap. A familiar ding echoed. --- [Enemy Defeated!] Corrupted Beast Slain (1/5) EXP Gained: 500 --- Yuuto let out a slow breath, wiping his blade clean. "One down, four to go." Celia floated closer, grinning. "Not bad. Maybe you''re finally learning how to fight without embarrassing yourself." Yuuto gave her a flat look. "Oh, shut up." Celia giggled, but then, her eyes briefly flickered with something¡­ different. Yuuto didn''t catch it, but she mumbled under her breath: "Something''s wrong with these monsters¡­" --- [End of Chapter 9] Chapter 10 – Whispers of the Corruption Yuuto took a deep breath, his grip tightening on his sword as he surveyed the fallen corrupted beast. The black mist rising from its body slowly dissipated, vanishing into the air like smoke. Even after the battle, something about this entire situation felt off. "One down, four to go," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. Celia hovered beside him, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. "You should be more concerned about what''s causing these things to mutate like this." Yuuto shot her a glance. "You''re unusually serious." Celia scoffed, floating a bit higher. "I just don''t want my dear Host getting killed before I get to tease him properly." Yuuto sighed. "Of course." He turned his attention back to the forest. The atmosphere had changed¡ªthe air felt heavier, the distant sounds of birds and insects had completely disappeared. It was as if the entire forest was holding its breath. Yuuto took a cautious step forward, scanning his surroundings. He could feel the lingering presence of something¡ªsomething unnatural. Then, a low growl. His body tensed as two pairs of glowing red eyes appeared through the thick fog ahead. More corrupted beasts. --- [Battle ¨C Corrupted Beasts] The first creature lunged at him¡ªa twisted stag, its antlers pulsing with black energy. Yuuto barely dodged, rolling to the side just as its jagged horns slashed through the air where he''d stood. The second enemy, a corrupted panther, pounced from the side, its claws extended toward Yuuto''s exposed back. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. "Tch!" Yuuto twisted mid-roll, barely raising his sword in time. The panther''s claws raked against the steel, sparks flying. The force pushed Yuuto back, making his feet slide against the dirt. Celia''s voice chimed in his head. "Need some help, my struggling warrior?" Yuuto gritted his teeth. "Less sarcasm, more system boosts!" --- [System Boost Activated] Agility +15% Strength +10% Reflex Boost (30 seconds) --- The moment the system enhancement kicked in, Yuuto felt the change. His body moved faster, lighter. The stag charged again, its corrupted antlers glowing with eerie power. This time, Yuuto didn''t just dodge¡ªhe countered. With a burst of speed, he sidestepped the charge, pivoting mid-motion. His sword swung in a precise arc, slicing through one of the stag''s legs. The creature stumbled, howling in pain, black mist spilling from its wound. But Yuuto wasn''t done. Using his enhanced speed, he closed the distance instantly, thrusting his sword deep into the stag''s throat. A sickening squelch. The corrupted beast shuddered, its body convulsing before collapsing lifelessly. A ding echoed. --- [Enemy Defeated!] Corrupted Beast Slain (2/5) EXP Gained: 600 --- Yuuto barely had time to recover before the corrupted panther struck again. Its movements were erratic, unpredictable. It dashed in zigzag patterns, forcing Yuuto to constantly adjust his stance. Celia clicked her tongue. "It''s faster than you, Yuuto. Play smart." Yuuto took a deep breath. "Got it." Instead of chasing the panther''s movements, he focused on its patterns. Left. Right. Left. Fake-out. Right¡ªTHERE. Yuuto moved. The moment the panther lunged, Yuuto dropped low, swinging his sword upward in a brutal arc. His blade sliced through the beast''s underbelly, black mist pouring from the wound as the creature howled in pain. But Yuuto didn''t stop. He spun his sword in a fluid motion and delivered the finishing blow, stabbing through the panther''s heart. The creature jerked, then collapsed into a motionless heap. Another ding. --- [Enemy Defeated!] Corrupted Beast Slain (3/5) EXP Gained: 700 --- Yuuto let out a slow breath, standing over the fallen beasts. Celia clapped her hands sarcastically. "Look at you, becoming a real warrior! I''m so proud." Yuuto wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Can''t you just say ''good job'' like a normal system?" Celia grinned. "But where''s the fun in that?" Yuuto shook his head, sheathing his sword. Then¡ªhe froze. The ground beneath him felt strange. Slowly, he kneeled, brushing aside the dirt. His fingers grazed something¡­ cold. A symbol¡ªetched into stone. Ancient-looking, covered in faded runes. Yuuto''s breath hitched. "Celia. What the hell is this?" Celia''s teasing expression vanished. She floated closer, her golden eyes narrowing at the markings. Then, for the first time, Yuuto heard something in her voice that unnerved him. A hint of fear. "Yuuto¡­ we need to leave. Now." Yuuto''s stomach dropped. Before he could react, a cold wind rushed through the forest¡ªand the ground began to shake. From the shadows of the trees, something stirred. Something big. A deep, unnatural growl echoed through the air. Yuuto''s grip on his sword tightened. "...Shit." --- [End of Chapter 10] Chapter 11 – The Awakening of the Forgotten One A low growl echoed through the dense forest, reverberating through Yuuto¡¯s bones. The ground rumbled, cracks forming around the ancient runes he had uncovered. The air felt wrong. Heavy. Cold. Unnatural. Yuuto took an instinctive step back, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his sword. His heartbeat quickened, his instincts screaming at him to move¡ªto run. But then he noticed something even more disturbing. Celia was silent. She, who always had a sarcastic remark, a teasing jab¡ªwas now staring at the runes with a frozen expression. "...Celia?" She didn¡¯t respond. Then, her voice finally came, but it wasn¡¯t her usual mocking tone. It was tense. Cold. ¡°Yuuto¡­ whatever you do, do not move.¡± --- [Emerging Threat ¨C ???] A sharp, bone-chilling wind swept through the forest, making the trees groan. The black mist that had leaked from the corrupted beasts coalesced, twisting in the air above the runes. Yuuto swallowed hard as he saw something rise from the darkness. A hand. But not a normal hand. Its flesh was decayed, a skeletal frame wrapped in ancient, tattered bandages, pulsating with a sickly dark aura. The fingers were elongated, the nails sharp like daggers. Then, with a sickening crack, a second hand emerged, pushing against the earth. Yuuto felt his breath hitch. Something was climbing out. And it was huge. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. A massive, emaciated figure slowly pulled itself from the ground, its glowing violet eyes locking onto Yuuto¡¯s own. Its face was partially skeletal, the exposed jaw revealing rows of unnaturally sharp teeth. A deep, guttural voice rattled through the air. ¡°A¡­ mortal¡­?¡± Yuuto¡¯s instincts screamed at him to move, but Celia¡¯s words echoed in his mind. ¡°Do not move.¡± But why? What was this thing? --- [The Forgotten One] Celia finally spoke again, her voice still unnervingly serious. "Yuuto. That thing is a remnant¡­ a fragment of an ancient entity that should have been erased from existence long ago." Yuuto¡¯s jaw clenched. "And you''re telling me this just now?" "I didn''t expect you to dig up a cursed seal containing one of the oldest monstrosities to ever walk this world, dumbass!" she snapped, but there was no humor in her voice. The creature¡¯s gaze bore into Yuuto, studying him, analyzing him. Its decayed jaw shifted, producing a grotesque, rasping chuckle. "You¡­ are not of this world¡­" Yuuto felt his muscles tense. The creature knew. It knew he was summoned. A chill ran down his spine. "You reek of¡­ Celestial interference¡­ So, the gods still meddle¡­" Yuuto¡¯s breath caught. Celestial interference? Did it mean Celia? Celia¡¯s presence flickered beside him, her normally golden eyes dimmed, her form more transparent than usual. "...Celia?" "Shit," she muttered under her breath. "This is bad." The Forgotten One¡¯s gaze snapped to Celia, its lips curling into something resembling a grin. "Ah¡­ I see now¡­ The Forsaken Soul¡­ You are the cursed one, aren¡¯t you?" Yuuto¡¯s eyes widened. What the hell was it talking about? Celia visibly tensed, her usually carefree demeanor completely shattered. The Forgotten One laughed, a deep, echoing sound that made Yuuto¡¯s skin crawl. "Then tell me, Cursed One¡­ what will you do now?" --- [FIGHT OR FLIGHT] Yuuto gritted his teeth. He had fought monsters before, but this? This was different. This thing wasn¡¯t just some corrupted beast. It was ancient. Powerful. A being that even Celia seemed terrified of. His instincts screamed at him to run. But¡­ Something in him refused to back down. If this thing was dangerous¡ªif it could threaten the world he was now living in¡ªhe had to fight. Yuuto slowly lifted his sword, its blade glinting under the eerie light. "I don¡¯t know what the hell you are¡­ but I¡¯m not just going to stand here and let you do whatever you want." The Forgotten One¡¯s grin widened. "Bold¡­ But foolish." --- [BATTLE ¨C THE FORGOTTEN ONE] The moment Yuuto moved, the Forgotten One attacked. A shockwave of dark energy burst from the ground, forcing Yuuto to leap back. The earth cracked and shattered, jagged stone erupting upward. The creature lunged, its massive claws slicing through the air toward Yuuto. Yuuto barely had time to react¡ªhis body moved on instinct, twisting out of the way. But he wasn¡¯t fast enough. A sharp pain tore through his side as the Forgotten One¡¯s claws grazed his ribs, sending him crashing into a tree. "Tch¡ª!" Yuuto coughed, tasting blood. Celia¡¯s voice rang in his mind. "You idiot! You are NOT ready for this fight!" Yuuto gritted his teeth, pushing himself up. "I don¡¯t care! If I run now, this thing could¡ª" "IT''S NOT AT FULL STRENGTH!" Celia suddenly shouted. Yuuto froze. Celia¡¯s voice was urgent, desperate. "It''s still sealed! It hasn¡¯t fully awakened! That¡¯s why it¡¯s testing you instead of instantly killing you!" Yuuto¡¯s breath hitched. If that was true¡­ then once it fully awakened¡ª He wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. The Forgotten One tilted its head. "You hesitate. Do you fear the truth?" Yuuto¡¯s mind raced. He had two choices. 1. Keep fighting¡ªrisk his life, and possibly learn more about what Celia was hiding. 2. Retreat¡ªfind out what the hell was going on, then return stronger. His grip on his sword tightened. His legs burned. His side ached. But his mind was clear. He made his choice. --- [SYSTEM COMMAND ¨C ESCAPE ROUTE] Celia¡¯s golden light flared, her energy wrapping around Yuuto. The Forgotten One¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Hmph. Running away? How disappointing." Yuuto felt his body lurch backward, his vision blurring as Celia forcefully t eleported him away. The last thing he saw¡­ was the Forgotten One¡¯s twisted grin. And the last thing he heard¡­ was its whispered words. "You cannot run forever¡­ Cursed One." --- [End of Chapter 11] Chapter 12 – Celia’s Past and the Cursed Truth The world lurched. Yuuto¡¯s vision blurred, his body feeling as if it were being yanked through space itself. The sensation of falling, twisting, pulling¡ªit was almost unbearable. Then, with a violent jolt, he landed on his back. The air rushed from his lungs, and his body ached from the wounds he had sustained in the fight. He was drenched in sweat, his breathing ragged. He had escaped. But he felt no relief. --- [Hidden Refuge ¨C Safe Zone Activated] The moment the system notification flashed before his eyes, he felt a warm, golden light wash over him. The pain in his body dulled, his wounds slowly closing. "You absolute idiot!" Celia¡¯s voice rang in his head, sharp and angry. Yuuto groaned, forcing himself to sit up. "Celia, not now." "Not now? Not now?! Do you even understand what just happened, dumbass? You almost got yourself KILLED!" Yuuto ran a hand through his sweat-drenched hair, his heartbeat finally slowing down. "But I didn¡¯t." He exhaled. "So that means I did something right." "Something right?! You faced a goddamn fragment of an ancient entity! You were lucky it was still sealed, or your ass would be dust!" Her voice was louder than usual, filled with a mixture of frustration¡­ and something else. Yuuto frowned, wiping blood from the corner of his lips. "You were scared." Celia froze. For a moment, she didn¡¯t say anything. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Then, after a brief silence, she scoffed. "Scared? Me? Ha! As if. I was just annoyed that my host is a reckless moron who doesn''t listen to my advice." But Yuuto wasn¡¯t buying it. For the first time since he was summoned into this world, Celia had sounded¡­ genuinely afraid. --- [The Cursed Connection] Yuuto exhaled, his back leaning against the cool stone wall of the cavern. He glanced around. The place Celia had teleported him to was a dimly lit cave, its walls covered in faintly glowing runes. A hidden refuge, the system had called it. "Alright," Yuuto muttered, finally looking at the glowing figure beside him. "Talk." Celia crossed her arms. "About what?" "You know exactly what," he said sharply. "That thing¡­ it knew you. It called you the ''Cursed One.'' What the hell was it talking about?" Celia''s expression shifted. Her usual mocking smirk faded, replaced by something more serious. More guarded. "Drop it, Yuuto." "No." Celia sighed dramatically, floating beside him. "Tsk. You¡¯re persistent." "And you''re hiding something." Yuuto narrowed his eyes. "How did you die, Celia? How did you end up like¡­ this?" Her gaze darkened. For the first time, Celia didn¡¯t have a comeback. --- [A Past Shrouded in Shadows] The silence stretched between them. Then, finally, she spoke. "I was betrayed." Yuuto stiffened. Her voice was low. Cold. It lacked her usual sarcasm¡ªno teasing, no insults. Just raw, bitter truth. "I was once¡­ a warrior. A protector of this world," Celia said quietly, her eyes fixed on the flickering rune-light. "I had power. Strength. I fought against the very creatures you now face." Yuuto¡¯s fingers tightened around his knees. "Then what happened?" Celia¡¯s lips curled into a bitter smile. "I trusted the wrong people." The air around them chilled. "The gods I swore to protect turned against me," she whispered. "They called me dangerous. A threat. My power was¡­ unnatural, they said. It defied the balance of this world." Yuuto¡¯s breath caught. "And so¡­ they sealed me away. Killed my body. And left me to rot in nothingness." A tense silence followed her words. Yuuto didn¡¯t know what to say. What the hell was he supposed to say to that? She had been a warrior¡ªsomeone strong, someone who fought for this world. And yet, she was betrayed. Cast aside. Killed. And now, she was a system. His system. "...That thing we fought," Yuuto finally said. "It recognized you. Called you ¡®Cursed One.¡¯ What does that mean?" Celia¡¯s golden eyes dimmed. "It means that whatever happened to me¡­ whatever the gods did¡­" she paused, her voice barely above a whisper, "it was never truly erased." Yuuto clenched his fists. "So the gods lied." Celia let out a humorless chuckle. "When do they ever tell the truth?" --- [A War Yet to Come] Yuuto felt something shift within him. He had assumed Celia was just¡­ some AI-like being¡ªa sarcastic system with a twisted sense of humor. But she was real. She had lived. Fought. Died. And now, she was trapped in this form, bound to him for reasons he still didn¡¯t understand. He looked at her. Really looked at her. For the first time, he saw more than just an annoying system. He saw someone who had suffered. Someone who had lost everything. "...Celia." She turned to him, her usual smirk returning, though it didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. "What, getting soft on me now?" Yuuto exhaled. "We¡¯ll find the truth. Together." Celia stiffened. For a moment, she just stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, with a scoff, she floated away. "Tch. Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself, Yuuto. You¡¯re still a dumbass." But even as she mocked him, there was something different in her tone. Something almost¡­ grateful. --- [System Alert ¨C New Quest Unlocked] Quest: The Forgotten One¡¯s Warning ?Discover the truth about Celia¡¯s past. ?Unravel the secrets behind the gods¡¯ betrayal. ?Prepare for the war that is yet to come. Reward: ??? Yuuto¡¯s grip tightened on his sword. This world wasn¡¯t just about monsters. It wasn¡¯t just about survival. Something bigger was happening¡ªsomething connected to Celia, to the gods, to his ver y presence in this world. And now, he was right in the middle of it. "...Let¡¯s get stronger." Celia smirked. "Now you¡¯re talking." The war was coming. And Yuuto was done running. --- [End of Chapter 12] Chapter 13 – Training Begins: Strength in Hardship A New Challenge Yuuto groaned as he pulled himself up, his muscles screaming in protest. His body was still aching from his battle with the entity, but he had no time to rest. His first real fight had exposed all of his weaknesses. His attacks were too slow. His stamina too low. He relied too much on Celia¡¯s system guidance, and if she hadn¡¯t forcefully teleported him away, he would¡¯ve died. That wasn¡¯t acceptable. If he wanted to survive in this world, he had to get stronger¡ªon his own. --- [System Announcement] New Quest ¨C Self-Improvement Arc Train to increase your strength, stamina, and swordsmanship. Complete system training exercises. Survive in the wild for one week without outside help. Reward: Basic Combat Skills Unlock + ??? --- Yuuto stared at the quest. "A self-improvement arc? Seriously?" he muttered. Celia¡¯s voice sounded amused in his mind. "Well, considering how pathetic you looked in that last fight, I¡¯d say you need it." Yuuto sighed. "Thanks for the encouragement, Celia." "Anytime, dumbass." --- The Training Grounds Yuuto found himself in a vast forest, located on the outskirts of a town Celia had marked as the nearest safe zone. It was a secluded area, perfect for training. Celia hovered beside him, arms crossed. "Alright, listen up. You have three major weaknesses." If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Yuuto raised an eyebrow. "Only three?" "Shut up and let me finish," she said, rolling her eyes. She held up a glowing finger. "First, your stamina sucks. You run out of energy too quickly in fights. If you fought someone stronger, they¡¯d just dodge until you collapse." She raised another finger. "Second, your swordsmanship is garbage. You swing like some isekai protagonist hoping the world will carry him. Spoiler: It won¡¯t." Yuuto sighed. "And the third?" Celia smirked. "You hesitate. A lot. You¡¯re always second-guessing yourself. In battle, thinking is fine, but overthinking will get you killed." Yuuto frowned. She wasn¡¯t wrong. He had hesitated against the entity, waiting for a perfect moment that never came. That hesitation could¡¯ve cost him his life. --- Basic Training Begins Celia snapped her fingers, and a translucent interface appeared before him. --- [Training Module Activated] Physical Training (Endurance, Strength) Swordsmanship Training (Speed, Accuracy) Battle Awareness (Reaction Time, Combat Instincts) --- "First lesson: Running," Celia said, grinning maliciously. "Get moving, rookie." Yuuto felt a weight drop on his back. A sudden system-generated gravity effect pressed him into the ground. "Wha¡ªwhat the hell?! This is way heavier than before!" he gasped. "Oh, did I forget to mention?" Celia said sweetly. "I increased the gravity by 50%. You need to get used to fighting in worse conditions." Yuuto glared at her. "You¡¯re enjoying this, aren¡¯t you?" "Immensely." With a groan, Yuuto started running. --- Hours of Hell The forest became his training ground. One hour turned into three. Yuuto ran laps around the area, his body screaming in protest under the increased gravity. Whenever he slowed down, Celia zapped him with an energy pulse. "Move it, slowpoke!" Whenever he tried to cheat and use the system¡¯s auto-assist, Celia disabled it. "No shortcuts. You train properly or not at all." By the time he finished the first part of the training, he collapsed onto the grass, panting hard. His clothes were drenched in sweat. His legs felt like lead. Celia floated over him, unimpressed. "That was pathetic." Yuuto glared at her. "You try running under gravity enhancement!" "Oh, I did. And I was way better than you." Yuuto groaned. "I hate you." "Good. Now get up." --- Sword Training ¨C The Basics Matter Once Yuuto could stand without falling over, Celia moved on to swordsmanship training. A holographic target dummy appeared, moving in erratic patterns. "Your job? Land ten clean hits without missing." Yuuto raised his sword and took a stance. The moment he swung¡ª The dummy dodged at the last second. "Missed!" Celia announced. "Try again!" Yuuto swung again. The dummy twisted, avoiding the blade. "Missed again! Wow, you suck." Yuuto gritted his teeth, adjusting his stance. The dummy kept moving unpredictably, dodging everything. Minutes passed. Then an hour. Every time he thought he had it, the dummy would sidestep, duck, or twist. His frustration grew. His grip tightened. He needed to stop thinking too much. Then, suddenly¡ª A spark of realization. He closed his eyes for a second, focusing on the dummy¡¯s movements. Instead of chasing it with his sword, he waited¡ªpredicting its next movement. When the dummy lunged left¡ª Yuuto moved first. Slash! A clean hit. The dummy flickered, registering the damage. Celia raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You finally learned something?" Yuuto grinned, panting. "Yeah. Stop thinking, start feeling." "Huh. Maybe you¡¯re not completely hopeless." --- [System Update ¨C Skill Unlocked!] Basic Swordsmanship (Level 1) Accuracy +5% Attack Speed +3% --- Yuuto exhaled sharply, sweat dripping down his forehead. One clean hit. He just needed nine more. --- A Step Forward By the time night fell, Yuuto was utterly exhausted. His body ached, his muscles burned, but he felt different. Stronger. He wasn¡¯t a master swordsman yet, and his stamina was still lacking. But he had improved. Celia hovered beside him, her usual smirk softer than before. "Not bad, Yuuto." Yuuto, barely able to keep his eyes open, muttered sleepily. "You¡¯re not so bad yourself¡­ Celia." For a second, her expression changed¡ªa flicker of surprise. Then, she snorted. "Don¡¯t get attached, idiot." Yuuto chuckled tiredly, pulling his blanket over hims elf as he lay under the open sky. As sleep took over, Celia watched him silently. She didn¡¯t say it aloud¡­ But for the first time in a long time, she felt something strange in her chest. Something she had long forgotten. Warmth. --- [End of Chapter 13] Chapter 14 – A Rival Appears The Morning After Yuuto woke up to sore muscles and an aching body. His entire body felt like lead, and even lifting a finger was a struggle. The past day of training had taken a heavy toll on him. He groaned, rolling onto his side. The morning sun peeked through the trees, its warm glow casting golden rays over the forest clearing where he had collapsed after training. "Ugh¡­ everything hurts." A familiar voice scoffed inside his head. "Of course it does. That¡¯s what happens when a lazy newbie actually trains for once." Yuuto groaned louder. "Celia, can you, for once, not insult me first thing in the morning?" "Where''s the fun in that?" Still, despite her usual sarcasm, Celia had been a little different yesterday. She had actually encouraged him a little¡ªeven if she quickly covered it up with her usual teasing. Yuuto shook his head. "Alright, time to get moving." He pushed himself up, forcing his sore muscles to work, and stretched his stiff limbs. Today was another day of training. He needed to build his endurance, refine his swordsmanship, and push himself further. But before he could begin¡­ --- An Unwanted Guest As Yuuto stood up, dusting himself off, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from the forest path. Turning toward the source, he spotted a figure casually strolling into his training area. A tall young man, probably in his early twenties, with short silver hair and sharp, arrogant blue eyes. He wore fancy adventurer armor, clearly high-quality gear that a newbie like Yuuto couldn¡¯t afford. A rapier hung at his waist, its polished blade gleaming in the sunlight. The guy looked too clean, too refined, as if he had never struggled a day in his life. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Yuuto already didn¡¯t like him. "Well, well," the man said with a smug grin, "what do we have here? A weakling trying to train in MY territory?" Yuuto blinked. "Huh? Your territory?" "That¡¯s right." The man flicked his silver hair dramatically. "This place is a well-known training ground for low-rank adventurers, but I¡¯ve claimed it as my personal area. And I don¡¯t recall giving a no-name rookie permission to use it." Yuuto raised an eyebrow. "So you just¡­ decided you own the whole damn forest?" The man smirked. "Exactly. Now scram." "Wow, what a grade-A asshole," Celia muttered in Yuuto¡¯s head. "I kinda respect his confidence in being a total jerk." Yuuto sighed. He had just started training, and now this guy was causing trouble. --- System Analysis Yuuto discreetly used Celia¡¯s system to analyze the guy. --- [Target Identified] Name: Rainer Doran Level: 15 Class: Swordsman (Intermediate) Strength: 38 Speed: 45 Mana: 30 Skills: Rapier Mastery (Intermediate) Quick Step (Evasive Skill) Precision Strike (Increased Attack Power on Weak Points) --- Yuuto stiffened. This guy was leagues ahead of him. Yuuto was only Level 6 after his recent training, and his stats were nowhere near as high. Celia clicked her tongue. "Yeah, you¡¯re screwed if you fight him head-on. That rapier skill will tear you apart." Yuuto knew she was right. He had only just started learning proper swordplay. Rushing into a fight against someone nine levels higher would be suicide. But something about Rainer¡¯s smug attitude pissed him off. He had encountered plenty of arrogant jerks back in his world, but none of them had tried to claim an entire damn forest. So Yuuto didn¡¯t move. Instead, he smirked. "Nah. I think I¡¯ll stay." Rainer¡¯s eyebrow twitched. "What did you just say?" "I said I¡¯ll stay. You don¡¯t own this place, so I¡¯ll train here as much as I want." Celia whistled. "Bold move, dumbass. I like it." Rainer laughed. "Oh? And what exactly do you think you can do to stop me? A weak little brat like you?" Yuuto knew he was outmatched. But this wasn¡¯t just about strength. It was about not backing down. So he raised his sword. "Why don¡¯t we find out?" --- The Duel Begins Rainer¡¯s smirk widened. "Fine. I¡¯ll play along. But don¡¯t cry when you lose." He unsheathed his rapier, the thin blade glinting in the sunlight. Yuuto tightened his grip on his sword. He needed to be smart. He couldn¡¯t match Rainer in speed or technique, but he had something Rainer didn¡¯t¡ª Celia¡¯s system. "Alright, Celia," Yuuto muttered in his mind, "I need every advantage I can get." Celia chuckled. "I thought you''d never ask. Activating System Assistance Mode." --- [System Assistance Activated] Reaction Speed Boost: +10% Prediction Mode: Enemy movement tracking enabled Warning: Overuse may cause exhaustion --- Yuuto felt his body react instantly. The world slowed down slightly. Rainer lunged forward, his rapier aiming for Yuuto¡¯s chest. Yuuto dodged¡ªbarely. The thin blade grazed his side, cutting through his shirt. He countered. He swung his sword at Rainer¡¯s exposed side¡ª CLANG! Rainer parried with ease, smirking. "Too slow." Yuuto gritted his teeth. He needed to keep moving. He adjusted his stance, keeping his weight balanced. His system-assisted senses allowed him to anticipate Rainer¡¯s next attack. Rainer lunged again¡ªthis time, Yuuto sidestepped and swung downward. SLASH! A shallow cut appeared on Rainer¡¯s arm. It wasn¡¯t deep, but it was enough to make him pause. Rainer¡¯s smug expression darkened. "Hah. So you¡¯re not completely useless." Yuuto smirked. "Surprised?" Celia laughed in his head. "Damn, I actually enjoyed that." Rainer gritted his teeth. He tightened his grip on his rapier, his eyes narrowing. "Playtime¡¯s over." Yuuto tensed. --- To Be Continued... Chapter 15 – The Duel’s Turning Point The Pressure Increases Yuuto¡¯s heart pounded in his chest as he locked eyes with Rainer. The silver-haired swordsman¡¯s smirk had disappeared, replaced by a sharp, cold gaze. He was done playing around. Yuuto¡¯s grip tightened on his sword. His system-assisted reaction boost was still active, but the moment he overused it, exhaustion would hit him like a ton of bricks. "Celia, any advice?" "Yeah, try not to die." Yuuto gritted his teeth. "Thanks, very helpful." "I aim to please," Celia said smugly. "But seriously, don¡¯t try to match him in speed. His Quick Step skill gives him insane mobility. Instead, try countering when he overcommits." Yuuto nodded slightly. He had to play it smart. Rainer shifted his stance. His feet positioned lightly on the ground, his rapier pointed forward like a needle waiting to strike. Then¡ªhe vanished. "Shit¡ª!" Yuuto barely had time to react before Rainer¡¯s rapier shot toward him like a silver blur. He dodged, but not completely. A sharp sting cut across his shoulder as Rainer¡¯s attack grazed him. Blood dripped down his arm. "Tsk. Still standing?" Rainer muttered. "Fine, let¡¯s turn it up a notch." He blurred again. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Yuuto braced himself. --- Fighting Back Rainer attacked from the left¡ªYuuto barely sidestepped. Then from the right¡ªYuuto ducked. Each strike was lightning-fast, precise, and lethal. Yuuto¡¯s system helped him react, but it wasn¡¯t enough. He needed a way to break Rainer¡¯s rhythm. "Celia, give me a scan of his attack patterns!" "Finally using me properly? About time!" Celia snickered. "Processing... Got it! He favors three-strike combos before repositioning. His footwork leans slightly before his final thrust." Yuuto grinned. That was exactly the opening he needed. --- The Moment of Opportunity Rainer lunged again¡ªthree quick strikes. First¡ªYuuto parried. Second¡ªYuuto sidestepped. Third¡ªYuuto ducked. And then, just as Rainer pulled back to reposition¡ª Yuuto struck. BAM! He twisted his body, bringing his sword down hard against Rainer¡¯s wrist. CRACK! Rainer¡¯s grip loosened. His rapier wobbled. "You little¡ª!" Before he could recover, Yuuto followed up with a kick. His foot slammed into Rainer¡¯s chest, sending him stumbling backward. Rainer¡¯s eyes flared with rage. "You dare¡ª" Before he could charge again¡ª --- An Unexpected Interruption "ENOUGH!" A powerful voice boomed through the forest. Yuuto and Rainer both froze. From the trees, a figure emerged. A young woman in knight armor, with long auburn hair and piercing green eyes. She carried a silver longsword, her expression stern and commanding. "Elara?" Yuuto blurted out in surprise. Elara strode forward, glaring at Rainer. "What is the meaning of this?" Rainer clicked his tongue, brushing dirt off his armor. "Just teaching this weakling his place." Elara¡¯s eyes narrowed. "I don¡¯t recall giving you permission to start brawling in the middle of an official training ground." Yuuto¡¯s mind clicked. "Wait, this area actually belongs to the knight order?" Elara nodded. "This is a designated training ground for recruits and adventurers under Avaloria¡¯s protection. Rainer, you have no authority to claim it." Rainer scoffed. "I was merely ensuring that unqualified amateurs don¡¯t waste resources." "That is not your decision to make." For the first time, Rainer looked uneasy. He clearly didn¡¯t want to go against Elara directly. He clicked his tongue again and sheathed his rapier. "Tch. Fine. He¡¯s not worth my time anyway." He turned to Yuuto. "Consider this a warning. Next time, you won¡¯t be so lucky." With that, he walked off, vanishing into the trees. Yuuto let out a breath. --- Aftermath Elara turned to Yuuto. "You alright?" Yuuto wiped sweat from his forehead. "Yeah. Just a few scratches." Elara frowned. "You shouldn¡¯t be fighting opponents like him yet. You¡¯re still too inexperienced." Yuuto sighed. "Yeah, I figured that out the hard way." Celia snickered. "At least you didn¡¯t die. I¡¯d call that progress." Yuuto rolled his eyes. Elara studied him for a moment, then crossed her arms. "If you really want to get stronger, I can help." Yuuto blinked. "Wait¡­ are you offering to train me?" Elara nodded. "You¡¯ve got spirit, I¡¯ll give you that. But spirit alone won¡¯t keep you alive. If you¡¯re serious about becoming a proper adventurer, you need proper training." Yuuto hesitated for a second¡ªthen grinned. "Alright. Let¡¯s do it." Celia groaned. "Oh great. More training. Wake me up when something interesting happens." Yuuto smirked. "Jealous I¡¯m spending more time with Elara?" Cel ia scoffed. "Please. Like I care." But her voice sounded a little too quick. Yuuto chuckled. Training under Elara¡­ this could be interesting. --- To Be Continued¡­ Chapter 16 – Training Under Elara The Morning After Yuuto groaned as he sat up in bed, his muscles aching from the previous night¡¯s duel. His arm was wrapped in light bandages, and his body felt like it had been run over by a carriage. "Damn¡­ that bastard Rainer didn¡¯t hold back." He glanced at the window. Sunlight filtered in, signaling the start of a new day. "Finally awake, lazy bum?" Yuuto turned his head slightly. Celia¡¯s smug voice echoed in his mind. "I was wondering if you died in your sleep. Would¡¯ve been a shame, considering all that effort you put in." Yuuto rolled his eyes. "Good morning to you too, Celia." "Oh? You¡¯re in a good mood. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re excited to be bossed around by Elara all day." Yuuto stretched, feeling the soreness in his shoulders. "Actually, yeah. If I don¡¯t train properly, I¡¯ll keep getting my ass kicked." Celia snorted. "Well, at least you¡¯re self-aware." Yuuto sighed and stood up, getting dressed. He was still new to this world, but he had no intention of staying weak forever. Today would mark the beginning of his real training. --- Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. The Training Grounds The training field behind Avaloria¡¯s barracks was larger than Yuuto expected. It was a wide, open space surrounded by stone walls, with multiple sections dedicated to sword practice, archery, and mounted combat. Wooden dummies lined the edges, and the ground was covered in fine sand to absorb impacts. Yuuto spotted Elara waiting for him, her arms crossed, a stern expression on her face. "You¡¯re late." Yuuto scratched his cheek. "Well, I just woke up¡ª" "No excuses. Training starts now." She tossed him a wooden sword. "First, show me your stance." Yuuto held the wooden sword up, trying to recall what he learned from his previous fights. Elara frowned. "Your grip is too tight. Relax your wrist. And your stance¡­ too stiff. You¡¯ll tire yourself out in a real battle." She stepped forward and adjusted his posture. Yuuto felt her hand on his arm as she repositioned his sword. "Hold it like this. Keep your center of gravity balanced. Don¡¯t overextend your reach." Yuuto nodded. Elara stepped back and drew her own training sword. "Alright, let¡¯s begin with basic strikes. Follow my movements." --- The Training Begins For the next hour, Yuuto practiced swinging, blocking, and countering. Elara moved with fluid precision, demonstrating each motion before making him repeat it over and over. At first, it felt simple. Then it became grueling. Each time he thought he got it right, Elara would correct him. "Too slow. Do it again." "Your footwork is sloppy. Again." "Don¡¯t swing wildly. Aim with purpose. Again." Yuuto¡¯s arms burned with exhaustion. Sweat dripped from his forehead. But he kept pushing through. He remembered Rainer¡¯s speed, his precision, his deadly accuracy. If Yuuto ever wanted to stand a chance against fighters like that, he had to become stronger. --- Celia¡¯s Commentary As he trained, Celia¡¯s voice continued chirping in his head. "Wow, this is painful to watch." Yuuto gritted his teeth. "Not helping, Celia." "I mean, come on. You¡¯re getting beat up by a girl. Should I call this a romance story instead?" Yuuto sighed. "If you have time to make fun of me, why don¡¯t you give me actual advice?" Celia snickered. "Fine, fine. Here¡¯s a tip: Watch Elara¡¯s movements carefully. Her precision comes from efficiency. Don¡¯t just copy her¡ªunderstand why she moves the way she does." Yuuto paused. He took a deep breath and focused not just on Elara¡¯s form, but on her flow. She moved with purpose, every action economical, nothing wasted. Yuuto adjusted his own movements, imitating not just her technique, but her control. --- A Small Breakthrough Elara noticed the shift. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Hm. You¡¯re improving." Yuuto exhaled, gripping his sword with renewed confidence. "I think I get it now," he muttered. Elara smirked. "Good. Now let¡¯s put it to the test." She raised her sword. "Try to land a hit on me." Yuuto¡¯s eyes widened. "Wait, already?!" Celia burst out laughing. "Oh, this is gonna be fun ." Elara didn¡¯t wait. She charged. Yuuto barely had time to react as she came at him with blinding speed. "Shit¡ª!" --- To Be Continued¡­