unexpected

The cozy warmth of the family home enveloped Ronnie as he stood at its heart, surrounded by his sisters and mother. His newly transformed presence—taller, more muscular, exuding a rugged masculinity—radiated an undeniable charisma that seemed to weave a spell over the women around him. Their eyes lingered, caught in the magnetic pull of his newfound allure, their glances a mix of awe and curiosity.

"What's your class?" Erza asked, her voice brimming with excitement, her eyes sparkling as she leaned closer.

"It's… Magic Knight," Ronnie replied, his tone measured. He couldn't reveal the full truth about his Guardian King class—not after the System's stern warning. For the first time, Ronnie sensed the System's gravity, its words laced with an urgency that sent a shiver down his spine. To avoid suspicion, he'd chosen a believable lie, one that matched his skills. But he hadn't anticipated that Magic Knight was a rare class, and his sisters' gasps filled the room.

"What?!" Erza exclaimed.

"You can use magic and a sword together?" Hela added, her jaw dropping.

Erza, a Knight-class herself with a promising future stifled by their family's poverty, was floored. She'd heard tales of the Magic Knight's prestige, a class that blended swordsmanship and sorcery in a way few could master. Yet, a pang of helplessness struck her. She and Hela, a budding mage, struggled to afford training, and now Ronnie, too, would need to study his class. The weight of their financial burdens pressed harder.

"You should register with the Hunters' Guild, brother!" Hela said, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "It's full of quests that pay well!"

Ronnie raised an eyebrow. "The Hunters' Guild?"

"Yeah!" Hela nodded vigorously. "You can earn good money there!"

Her excitement was infectious, though Ronnie knew their mother had forbidden Hela from joining due to the dangers. Elena had only allowed Erza to take local, low-risk quests within the province, even if they paid less. Ronnie felt a spark of resolve—this was his chance to step up, to provide for the family. But he didn't notice Elena's hands clench, her face clouding with worry. Having lost her husband under mysterious circumstances, the thought of her children joining the guild filled her with dread.

'I'll protect them, even if it means using my power again'

she vowed silently, her grip tightening.

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to the guild to register," Erza said, her voice buzzing with anticipation. She could almost see the day she'd be proud of her brother.

"Alright," Ronnie agreed, a grin spreading across his face.

"Awesome!" Hela cheered.

The siblings buzzed with hope, sensing their fortunes might shift if Ronnie harnessed his talent. They didn't see the anxiety etched into their mother's face, her heart heavy with unspoken fears.

In his room, Ronnie sprawled on his bed, the faint creak of the mattress grounding him as he stared at the glowing System window hovering above. The store's interface glimmered, an array of tantalizing items scrolling before his eyes. "What should I buy?" he muttered, his voice tinged with excitement. "Everything here is incredible."

Glancing at his balance—1000 Platinum Points—his grin stretched ear to ear. For the first time, he felt rich, like a kid in a candy store with endless coins. "Hey, System, what do you recommend?" he asked, his tone playful.

[The user has not yet mastered their class.]

[To avoid incoming dangers, it is recommended to purchase a Valier Sword.]

Ronnie blinked, confused. "Huh? I already bought one. I'm planning to sell it at the auction."

[Do you think the System's inventory would be depleted by a single ordinary Valier Sword?]

The words hit like a playful scolding, and Ronnie felt a twinge of embarrassment. He'd forgotten the System's power, rooted in the mightiest era of history.

[The Valier Sword may seem powerful and rare in this era, but in ancient times, it was less than ordinary.]

Ronnie's breath caught, his eyes darting back to the shop. There it was—the Valier Sword he thought he'd bought, listed again.

[Ordinary Valier Sword: 250 Platinum Points]

"That's insane!" Ronnie laughed, a wave of joy washing over him. He'd felt guilty about selling his first Valier Sword, a weapon that held sentimental value as his first System purchase. The chance to own another erased that regret. "Who'd say no to a Valier Sword? Buy it!"

Without hesitation, a beam of light erupted from the System, and a second Valier Sword materialized, wrapped in a deadly aura that whispered of countless battles. It floated into his System inventory, joining its twin.

"I've got two Valier Swords!" Ronnie cackled, watching them gleam in his storage. "One to sell, one for me."

"In just a week, my life's turned upside down," he said, still chuckling, unaware that his family downstairs could hear his glee.

"Now, what to do with the 750 Platinum Points left?" He rubbed his chin, scrolling through the shop until his eyes locked onto something that made them widen in shock.

[Ordinary Valier Sword: 250 Platinum Points]

"What the hell?" he gasped. "Since when are Valier Swords like vegetables at a market?"

For a moment, doubt crept in. Was everything he knew about the Valier Sword wrong? Was it truly common? He shook his head, dismissing the thought—everyone knew Valier Swords were rare. "What's going on? Does the System have an endless supply?"

A new window flashed, answering his unspoken questions:

[The System possesses nearly everything that survived the Last Age.]

The statement was cold, emotionless, but its weight could shatter worlds. If others knew, the universe would hunt Ronnie down.

"What?!" Ronnie collapsed to the floor, his scream echoing through the house. The Last Age wasn't just an era—it was the pinnacle of existence, where gods were born or slain at will, where logic bowed to the impossible. Its weapons, relics, and artifacts were legendary, and the System claimed to hold them all?

If this got out, Ronnie would be a dead man. The responsibility crashed over him like a tidal wave, fear gripping his heart. His Revealer ability, meant to uncover secrets, now felt like a beacon that could expose him.

A new window appeared, as if reading his dread:

[Do not assume this is enough.]

"Huh?" Ronnie's voice trembled.

[You are not permitted to know this information yet.]

[But do not think possessing this is sufficient to conquer the world.]

The words carried a cryptic warning, as if the System were bound yet desperate to alert him. Ronnie sensed a hidden message—a looming danger, or a hint that even these treasures weren't enough. "Maybe this is my fate," he murmured, a determined smile breaking through. "I accept it. I'll see it through to the end."

His fear dissolved, replaced by a steely resolve, bolstered by his Guardian King class. The old Ronnie would've panicked, but now power coursed through him, unwavering. He returned to the store, spending his remaining 750 Platinum Points with care, then admired his haul:

[Recording Crystal x4: 60 Platinum Points]

[Iron Armor: 100 Platinum Points]

[Healing Potion x2: 80 Platinum Points]

[Protection Bracelet: 50 Platinum Points]

[Vitality Potion x4: 80 Platinum Points]

[Remaining Balance: 380 Platinum Points]

Seeing his dwindled balance, Ronnie felt a pang of poverty, his earlier wealth fleeting. "I want to test these items," he said, itching to try them. "But there's nowhere safe to do it without being seen."

His paranoia, honed by his Revealer instincts, warned him of prying eyes. A new System window appeared:

[You can test these items in the Dream World.]

"The Dream World?" Ronnie echoed.

[By using the Dreamer skill, you will enter the Dream World.]

[There, you can test everything without fear of discovery.]

[The System will alert you to any danger, allowing you to withdraw.]

"That's incredible!" Ronnie's face lit up. "You're amazing, System bro!"

[ … ]

Ronnie nearly wept with joy, realizing his life would be nothing without this blue screen. "Alright, let's do this!" he declared. "Dreamer skill, activate!"

A mysterious purple aura enveloped him, and his eyes grew heavy. He collapsed into a deep sleep, the sun still high in the sky, unaware that night was far off. He awoke in a breathtaking world of lush meadows and vibrant flowers, instantly recognizing the perilous Dream World—and the enigmatic red-haired beauty who haunted it.

"Oh, crap," he muttered.

[ … ]