Dealing with the Mundane

Light.

Ethan's vision swam as he felt solid ground beneath his feet, but this time, it was familiar. The quiet hum of city life beyond his apartment window, the faint ticking of the clock on his wall—everything was as he had left it. His heart pounded as he stumbled forward, bracing himself against the nearest surface.

I'm back.

His eyes immediately flickered to the digital clock on the table. The numbers glowed softly—barely an hour had passed since he had probably disappeared to the Explorer's Lobby.

A 1:1 time ratio.

He exhaled sharply. That was… useful information. At least he wouldn't have to worry about time slipping out of control while he was away. But that also meant whatever happened there, happened here in real-time. Or it could be different when going to realms, if the dilation remained 1:1 then he would really need to plan things with a lot of care.

Testing it, Ethan mentally called up the system.

Immediately, a translucent interface materialized before his eyes, its design noticeably different from before. Earlier the 'Waiver' notification was the only thing visible, now it was a proper game-like interface.

Name: Ethan Cross

Rank: Initiate(uninitiated)

Race: Human

HP: 100

MP: 100

[Stats]

Strength (STR): 5 → Attack (ATK): 2.5

Intelligence (INT): 7 → Magic Attack (MATK): 1.75

Vitality (VIT): 6 → Defense (DEF): 6

Mentality (MEN): 6 → Magic Defense (MDEF): 6

Dexterity (DEX): 6 → Critical Chance (CRIT): 6

Skills (Map, Appraisal, Inventory)

Explorer Shop (ExShop) – Locked

Quests

Ethan's brows furrowed as he scanned the new interface. The status itself was self-explanatory, but now there was a dedicated section for HP and MP. That meant he could take damage multiple times like a game character… and possibly use magic.

Below that, the Stats Section was significantly striking. Instead of ten separate values, there were five core stats, each tied to a corresponding combat stat.

His Strength influenced Attack. His Intelligence determined Magic Attack. His Vitality dictated Defense. His Mentality affected Magic Defense. And his Dexterity governed Critical Chance.

It was… efficient. Instead of having to manage dozens of separate values, his base attributes automatically calculated everything else.

The final section contained three key options: Skills, Quests, and ExShop. The Explorer Shop was locked, meaning it was either restricted to higher-ranked Seekers or required some form of activation.

Ethan exhaled, rubbing his temples.

"Alright… so the system is capable of evolution as well.

He stared at the glowing interface a moment longer before dismissing it with a thought. His mind was already overloaded, and right now, the only thing he knew for sure was…

This was real.

If this was going to be a part of his life now, he might as well figure out how it worked.

Let's start simple.

He thought of the word Map, and immediately a translucent, grid-like layout expanded in his vision. However, instead of a fully detailed cityscape, he was met with… a blank void with only a 100-meter radius of mapped streets around him.

Ethan frowned.

That's it?

A notification appeared.

[Explorer's Basic Map Skill only records areas you have personally explored. Expansion required for further data.]

Ethan groaned.

"So, I have to manually walk around to get it to update? What kind of outdated GPS system is this?"

Still, he had to admit it made sense. Exploration was literally in the OES name, after all.

No free handouts.

Scratch that, this entire system was a free handout.

Curious, he toggled the Radar option—but nothing unusual popped up within the range, in fact nothing changed at all.

That was… reassuring? Usually the game radars would show enemies or hostile forces as red dots.

Next came Appraisal and he glanced at his coffee cup on the table. A new window popped up.

[Item: Basic Ceramic Mug]

Contents: Coffee (Lukewarm)

Durability: 6/10

Ethan blinked.

That's obvious but the durability, I just got that last week.

He tried appraising himself and looked at his hand.

[Explorer: Ethan]

Rank: Initiate(uninitiated)

Class: Undetermined

Condition: Exhausted

Strengths: "You have the ability to breathe. Congrats. Other than that? Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Weaknesses: "Physically unimpressive and laughable. Combat ability? Oh please.

Okay, that was uncalled for.

His eye twitched. Somehow he couldn't help think of Galen.

Shaking off the insult from his own system, he opened Inventory. It opened a storage grid, there were 100 blocks, all currently empty except for a single item:

[Explorer's Initiation Pack – Can only open when on Initiation Quest]

Status: Bound to user. Cannot be discarded.

Ethan sighed.

Well, time to test the inventory.

He grabbed the coffee mug he'd just appraised and focused on the Inventory tab. With a thought, he imagined storing it.

[Item stored: Basic Ceramic Mug]

The mug vanished from his hand.

Ethan nodded.

So it works for all things. Probably not living things if we go by common sense and light novel knowledge.

A small icon of the coffee mug, neatly labeled. Feeling emboldened, he tapped on the item and willed it back.

[Item retrieved.]

The mug reappeared in his palm as if it had never left.

"Okay, this is officially the best feature so far," he muttered, tossing it between his hands.

The versatility of such a feature is amazing.

Testing further, he grabbed random objects—his keys, a pen, a half-eaten energy bar—and stored them one by one. Each disappeared effortlessly, appearing in the inventory grid. When he retrieved them, they popped back out instantly, exactly as they were.

He hesitated for a moment before eyeing his chair.

"Alright, I had to empty out the house anyways."

This was useful. Soon the house was bare and Ethan laid on a single mattress on the floor looking up at the bluish translucent screen.

Ethan opened the Quests tab.

There was a single entry, one he instantly recognized from his time in the Explorer's Lobby.

[Quest: First Steps of a Seeker]

Objective: Survive in an uncharted realm for 24 hours.

Utilize any available resources.

Complete at least one discovery report.

Failure results in death.

What was new, however, was the timer displayed in bright red text:

[Time Remaining: 5 Days]

Ethan narrowed his eyes.

Of course there's a countdown.

And right beneath the timer, a smaller disclaimer in gray font caught his attention.

[Note: If the quest is not voluntarily initiated within the time limit, it will automatically commence upon expiration.]

Ethan sighed.

So, in other words, I don't really have a choice.

Ethan exhaled sharply and dismissed the interface. The day had been long enough, and his mind was already juggling more than it was used to.

The reality of his situation was sinking in.

He had five days before the inevitable.

Five days before he would be forced into a completely unknown world, expected to survive on his own, albeit for 24 hours.

I'll need to get supplies, cold weapons will be useless since I probably won't be able to use them at all. Guns are expensive, but I do have a decent amount saved up for rainy days.

But there were things he needed to get done first.

Reaching for his phone, he scrolled through his contacts until he found the name he had been avoiding for weeks.

Claire.

Without hesitation, he typed out a short, direct message.

[Let's meet tomorrow and finalize everything. No need to drag this out any longer.]

He hit send, set the phone down, and exhaled. No emotion, no hesitation—just closure waiting to happen.

His thoughts drifted to Claire. Their final meeting was inevitable, but now? Now, it barely even mattered. His life was no longer tied to hers, and something told him it wouldn't be tied to the world he had spent years trying to build himself up in either. There was something far greater ahead of him.

Ethan let out a tired breath, shutting off the lamp beside his bed. The quiet hum of the city outside mixed with his steady breathing as he lay back, staring at the ceiling.

For once, his thoughts weren't just about what he had lost.

He was thinking about what came next.

Ethan woke up the next morning feeling like he had been hit by a truck—not the literal kind, but the kind that came from months of stress, sleepless nights, and way too many life-altering realizations crammed into one evening.

He groaned and dragged himself out of bed, trudging towards the bathroom. As he flicked on the light, his eyes met his reflection in the mirror.

Wow. I look like I lost a bet with life.

Dark circles had settled under his dark brown eyes, making him look even more sleep-deprived than he felt. His dark brown hair was a mess, strands sticking up in odd directions, a direct result of both neglect and the restless tossing and turning he had done last night. He rubbed a hand over his face, feeling the slight stubble on his jaw—he hadn't shaved in days, maybe even longer. His build, once somewhat athletic, had lost its edge, now leaning more toward lean and slightly underfed rather than fit.

"No wonder the System roasted me," he muttered, splashing cold water onto his face.

His gaze drifted back to his arm. The faint, intricate tattoo-like inscription was still there. 

He sighed. "Time to get on with it."

A shower, fresh clothes, and a half-hearted attempt to make his hair look presentable.

He wasn't dressing to impress—just to be done with things. As he buttoned his shirt, his phone buzzed on the nightstand.

A message from Claire.

[Let's meet at Marcus' Café at 11 AM.]

No unnecessary words, no attempts at conversation—just business. That suited him just fine.

With time to spare, he decided to head out early.

The bell chimed as Ethan stepped inside the warm, familiar atmosphere. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and toasted bread filled the air. At this hour, the place wasn't too crowded, making it the perfect spot for a conversation he wasn't particularly looking forward to.

Behind the counter, Marcus—with his build that could put professional bodybuilders to shame—glanced up from the espresso machine and grinned. "Hey, you're early. Not like you to be out and about this soon. What's the occasion?"

Ethan slid onto a stool at the counter.

"Finalizing some things with Claire."

Marcus' easy-going expression faltered slightly as he wiped his hands on a towel.

"You alright?"

Ethan paused for a moment, as if really considering the question. Then, he let out a breath and smirked.

"You know what? Yeah. I've got much bigger things to look forward to now."

Marcus raised an eyebrow at the unexpected eagerness in Ethan's voice. For months, he had seen his friend drift through life with a hollow expression, barely holding on. But now? There was something different.

A spark.

A purpose.

Marcus crossed his arms, nodding in approval.

"Good. That's the right attitude to have. Took you long enough."

Before Ethan could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and the air shifted. Claire walked in—with him.

Noah. His former best friend.

Marcus shot Ethan a glance before stepping away. As he walked past, he gave Ethan a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"I'm here if you need me."

Ethan gave a small nod, then turned his attention to the two people who had turned his life upside down.

"Ethan," Noah greeted with a nod.

His voice wasn't smug or arrogant—just… neutral. He wasn't acting like a man who had won something, but he also wasn't apologetic.

Ethan returned the nod.

"Noah. Claire."

Claire blinked, slightly thrown off. She had expected resentment, bitterness, or at least some kind of broken expression. But what she got instead was calm indifference.

If anything, Ethan seemed impatient, like he had better things to do.

Noah took a seat across from him, Claire beside him. "It's good to see you. We—"

"Let's just get this done," Ethan cut in. "No need for pleasantries."

Noah sighed but nodded. "I understand. But before we settle things, I wanted to offer you something." He met Ethan's gaze. "A position at the company. A high-ranking one. You built the damn thing, and there's a place for you if you want it."

Ethan almost laughed. "So you take everything and then offer me a piece like some charity handout?" His tone was sharp. "I don't want scraps from the person who usurped what I built."

Claire narrowed her eyes, irritation flashing across her face. "Ethan—"

"No point in rebuilding bridges that were burnt to ash," Ethan cut her off smoothly.

"So let's just finalize this and be done."

Claire exhaled through her nose, clearly displeased, but didn't push further. "Fine. The house. I assume you know that it is a property that is legally declared as mine?"

Ethan leaned back in his seat and lazily pointed toward the corner of the café. There, sitting neatly against the wall, was a small pile of symbolic luggage.

"I already emptied it," he said simply.

Claire blinked, momentarily speechless. "You—"

"The keys to the house, and the car." Ethan reached into his pocket, pulled them out, and placed them on the table.

"They're yours."

Claire seemed to hesitate for a second, then smirked. "I suppose you don't have anywhere to go now, do you? You can stay at the house for a while if you need."

Ethan's expression remained neutral. "I'll pass."

Noah, sensing the tension, finalized the last bits of paperwork. Ethan signed where needed, never once hesitating. When it was done, he stood, nodding once. "That's that."

He turned toward the counter where Marcus was, but before he could take a step, Claire spoke up.

"Ethan, don't hate me for this," she said suddenly. "Love doesn't mean much in the end. I just made a decision to secure my future."

Ethan stopped. He let out a quiet sigh before turning around, a small smile tugging at his lips. "No worries, Claire. Thanks for making me realize that in the most unforgettable way possible."

And with that, he walked away.

 __________________________________________________________________________________

Claire stepped out alongside Noah, but something made her pause. An odd feeling crept up her spine, an instinct she couldn't quite place.

On impulse, she turned her head and looked through the café's glass window. Inside, Ethan was sitting at the counter, chatting with Marcus. He looked… relaxed. Not just that—he looked completely unbothered.

Her fingers tightened slightly around her purse strap.

That's… strange.

The very same instinct that had once told her she was making the right decision choosing Noah over Ethan was now whispering something different.

Something unsettling.

You just lost something bigger than you can comprehend.

The thought made her brows knit together slightly. What did that even mean? It wasn't like she regretted her decision.

Right?

Noah, beside her, glanced at her when he noticed she wasn't moving.

"Claire? What's wrong?"

She blinked, snapping out of it.

"Nothing, love," she said smoothly, slipping into the passenger seat with practiced ease. "Let's go."

 __________________________________________________________________________________

Marcus leaned against the counter as Ethan slid back onto his stool. The older man smirked. "Handled that like a pro, kid. Didn't let them get under your skin."

Ethan shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. "Wasn't much worth mentioning. Just tying up loose ends."

Marcus chuckled. "That's one way to put it. Still, you carried yourself better than most would in that situation."

The conversation eventually drifted into more casual topics—random café gossip, Marcus complaining about suppliers, and Ethan half-listening while enjoying the simple comfort of normalcy. Somewhere in the middle of it, without really thinking, he activated Appraisal.

The results made him choke on his coffee.

[Marcus]

STR: 14

DEX: 3

Ethan coughed violently, setting his cup down.

What the actual hell?!

He'd expected something decent, but 14 in Strength?! Didn't that mean that Marcus was superhuman?

The System had made it clear—10 was the upper limit for peak condition humans.

But 14? That was ridiculous.

Meanwhile, his Dexterity was 3.

Ethan barely held in a laugh.

So Marcus can probably punch through a brick wall, but he'd trip over his own feet trying to dodge something?

Marcus raised an eyebrow at Ethan's sudden reaction. "You good?"

Still slightly stunned, Ethan blurted out, "What's your workout routine and diet?"

Marcus blinked, then a wide, amused grin spread across his face. "Ah, so you've finally seen the light, huh? Good, good. I've been telling you for months that you need to hit the gym. Let me tell you, it's all about meat, weights, and absolutely no cardio."

Ethan snorted. Yeah, no kidding.