Chapter 7 — Steps into the Unknown
The sunlight filtered in through the window, soft and golden, but Rei wasn't looking at it.
He sat at his desk, fidgeting with the corner of his notebook, eyes flicking to the glowing blue text hovering in the corner of his vision—visible only to him.
[Quest Complete!]
Task: Maintain top-10 class standing — Success
Reward: +20 Charm, +10 Intelligence, +100 CC
Bonus Unlocked: Business Toolkit Phase II — Activated
New Quest Available: [Build Business Reputation – Phase 1]
Earn $100 in pure profit through your new business (no side rewards or direct CC conversion).
Time Limit: 6 Days
Conditions: All income must come from real human clients. No illegal or shady methods.
Bonus Reward if Completed in 1 Day.
Reward: +150 CC, Business Toolkit Upgrade, Unique Passive: "Trusted Vendor"
Rei blinked. Slowly. Then stared again.
"I'm not a miracle worker, System.""You went from asking me to comb my hair… to becoming a full-on entrepreneur in less than a week."
[System Notification: Challenge promotes growth. Would you like an easier task instead? Like breathing manually?]
"…You developed a personality, huh?" he muttered under his breath.
From the side, a girl glanced at him, confused. Rei quickly cleared his throat and looked away.
The test results had changed something—he could feel it. People who used to ignore him now paused when passing by. A few even whispered.
"Hey, is that…?"
"No way. Didn't he…?"
He didn't need to hear it all. He'd spent enough of his life being invisible to recognize the weight of attention.
And yet… it didn't bother him. Not today.
Today, he looked different. New, clean uniform. Neatly styled hair. Even his posture had changed. He didn't slump in his chair anymore.
A few girls in the back row stole glances his way. One leaned in and whispered to her friend.
"He looks kinda different today, doesn't he?"
"Yeah. It's the vibe. Something's… confident."
Even the teacher glanced his way a moment too long before continuing with the lesson. But Rei wasn't focused on the board.
His mind was spinning. Business. Real clients. One day?
The System gave him the tools, sure. But this felt like a leap off a cliff.
Still, something inside him stirred. Not fear—excitement.
A trial worth chasing… finally.
Lunchtime came quickly.
Rei stood and stretched, his body still sore from the push-ups he'd done that morning. Not for fun—he was grinding Strength stats now. That's what the System had told him. Physical exercise pushed the stat slowly, but steadily. Especially when he trained past his limit.
Ding!
[Status Update: Strength +1]
Condition: Muscle fatigue detected. Efficiency optimal.
"Thanks for reminding me I'm sore, System.""Truly, you're the motivation every aching limb dreams of."
Would you like a cooldown guide? I also have one for dramatic revenge arcs.]
"…I'm going to pretend I didn't find that funny."
As he walked past the hallway windows, a quiet voice caught his attention.
"She smiled just now…"
A couple of guys stood by the lockers, gawking.
Rei followed their gaze.
She was sitting alone at her usual desk by the window, her long hair catching the sun. Her eyes were unreadable as always—except for a brief, barely-there curl of her lips.
"She's usually so serious. What's with that smile?"
"No clue. But it was right after she looked at him…"
They looked toward Rei.
He ignored them.
She smiled? Because of me?
He didn't stop walking.
He didn't even glance back.
But that smile lingered in the back of his mind longer than he expected.
[System Notification: New Side Quest Available!][Mission: Launch Your First Business - Recruit 1 Ally]
"Every king needs a team. Every empire starts with trust."
Reward: Business Foundation Pack (Marketing + Logistics Tools)
Bonus if recruited ally is gifted.
"Right… One step at a time."
Rei found an empty bench in the courtyard and pulled out his tablet. The new Business Toolkit shimmered open with sleek interfaces—pricing, product design, and client tracking.
"Now all I need… is an idea." He mumbles.
The system buzzed again.
[Hint: Check trending small business requests in your region.]
Hearing this, Rei clicked it open.
Requests flooded in. Essay writing. Dog walking. Game coaching. Product reviews. Even rare item sourcing for collectors.
Some were weird. Others were promising.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Hiring someone to queue for game release night?""...People pay for that?" Some students walk past Rei, taking to themself.
Suddenly, an idea formed in his mind. His eyes narrowed slightly.
"System, can I set up a flexible service portal?"
[Approved. Would you like to call it something edgy and ominous? Like 'Order of Chaos'?]
"…You know what? I like that."
By the time the bell rang, his account was live. He had no clue how he'd reach $100 in one day—but the hunt had begun.
That Night
Rei lay in bed, eyes on the ceiling, body sore but mind racing.
The breeze rustled his curtains slightly. Outside, the city moved like a slow heartbeat, unaware of what was coming.
He rolled over, closing his eyes.
Then, he heard it again.
A voice.
Distant.
Faint.
Yet warm.
"Child of Chaos… Your first step is done.""Soon, you'll remember."
His eyes snapped open. But there was no one. No message from the system. No light. Just the sound of his breath.
"…What the hell was that?"
He closed his eyes again.
But now the silence felt different.
Alive.