"Hey, System! This isn't fair. I finished the quest, but now I have to do another one just to get the reward. And why do I have to kill someone for it?"
Suddenly, a glowing screen appeared in front of me, displaying text in bold letters:
(Host, the person you kill, his face and every feature will be implemented on you. In simple words, you will look exactly like him.)
"Wait! Are you serious?" I asked, my voice rising in disbelief.
This has to be the most absurd and pointless reward I've ever come across.
Why would I want to look like someone else?
When I read "new body" as part of the reward, I assumed it'd be something powerful—maybe even an immortal or divine body. But this...?
Another screen popped up, confirming:
**(Yes, Host! Think of it as a different kind of transmigration. Instead of inhabiting someone's body, you're receiving their body as your reward!)**
I stared at the screen, totally bewildered.
But wouldn't that...?
**(No more questions, Host! If you want this reward, follow the instructions. Otherwise, you can decline the quest and I'll assign you a different reward—but keep in mind, it may not be as good.)**
Urghh, this is so confusing...
I might risk everything and still end up with a terrible reward.
I really want a better body than this, but...
The idea of killing someone to assume their identity made me feel uneasy.
I didn't want to commit murder, especially not just to complete a quest.
But, but...
If I look at it positively, wouldn't this one kill really make my life easier?
How?
I could imagine taking out the king or whoever rules this world and stepping into their place, becoming a powerful political figure.
No one would suspect a thing.
But wait! There's a good chance I'd get caught by their aides because of my strange behavior than the original king.
Then it hit me.
I have that memory quest, right?
If I can access the memories of the person I just killed, I might be able to avoid suspicion and live a much better life than I had before.
In my previous life, my parents weren't poor, but they weren't rich either; we were middle class.
But still...
I won't be making any moves just yet.
Resolving to avoid unnecessary violence, I changed my focus to my surroundings.
The room was dark, so I stepped inside and shined my torch around.
It was a room, not just more cave, which was a relief.
It looked like a large parlor from a fancy house, but it was a total mess.
Furniture was flipped over, curtains and paintings were torn from the walls.
Bookshelves were knocked over, with books scattered everywhere.
An ornate chandelier had fallen from the ceiling, its shattered crystals spread across the polished floor.
As I searched through the mess with my torch, I found an overturned couch in the middle of the room.
Underneath it, I discovered an unconscious man.
When I moved the couch off him, I saw he was lying in the middle of an elaborate pentagram made of brass or copper set into the floor.
The guy looked like he was about 20 or 21.
His intense hazel eyes had a mesmerizing depth that shimmered under the black liquid, matching his shiny black hair.
His strong, chiseled face had a well-defined jawline and a perfectly proportioned nose.
I had never seen anyone this handsome before.
Oddly, he was wearing what looked like ritual clothes.
'Is this guy an angel?'
Seriously, if he was born in my world, he'd already be a famous actor.
If I compare my looks to his, his face is like heaven while mine is like hell.
Sometimes, I really feel like heaven doesn't treat everyone the same.
I set down the torch to examine the man.
He had a strong pulse and regular breathing, but he was showing early signs of extensive bruising, and his body temperature felt way too high...
Who is he? Should I wake him up?
As I stood there, lost in thought, a virtual notification suddenly appeared before me.
(Host, Kill him!)
Wait, what?
I was taken aback by the message.
'System, why are you telling me to kill him?'
I asked in my mind...
[Host, this decision was made for your safety and to maximize your potential benefits.]
'Safety? So, is he dangerous? And what kind of benefits? I get that you're trying to protect me, but are you implying this guy is someone important or influential?'
My mind raced with questions, swirling with confusion and doubt.
I asked the system everything that crossed my mind.
But it didn't respond.
I asked again, 'System, are you even listening?'
No matter how many times I repeated myself, the system remained silent.
Now I was stuck in a moral dilemma.
Should I kill him or not?
Part of me resisted the idea, but the intrusive thoughts kept pushing me toward it.
What should I do?
Just as I was battling with the decision, I noticed his eyes beginning to flicker.
I quickly understood...
He was waking up.
Just then, another virtual message appeared in front of me.
[Host, do you want to make your miserable, shitty ass life better?]
Huh?
What kind of question is that?
Isn't the answer obvious? Who wouldn't want a better life?
[Then kill him now!]
But... I can't...
I hesitated. The good part of me was still saying no.
[Kill him, or he'll kill you!]
What?
My mind went instantly blank as I read that.
He's going to kill me...
But, for what?
Why would even kill me?
No, no, no, wait...
Now that I think about it, I don't even know who this guy is.
What if he's dangerous?
A serial killer, maybe?
A killer doesn't need a reason to take a life—that's a well-known fact.
He might even kill me just for the thrill of it.
If that's true, I'll regret not acting now, and this decision could end up ruining me.
The man's eyes suddenly flew open, his hazel eyes locking onto mine with such intensity that it sent a chill down my spine.
"Who are you? Why are you here—Arghhh!" he gasped, grabbing his throat in pain before he could finish his question.
I reacted without thinking.
My hand shot out and grabbed a blue fountain pen nearby.
The cold metal pressed into my palm as I tightly gripped it with my right hand.
Without thinking, without hesitation, I drove the sharp tip straight into his neck.
A sickening crack filled the air as the pen sank into his skin, causing him to scream—a wild, animalistic sound that echoed through the room.
"My neckkkkkkkkkkk!"
He flailed around, clutching at the pen stuck in his throat, his hands shaking as blood gushed between his fingers.
Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to step back, away from the scene, watching in horror as he writhed on the ground, desperately trying to stanch the flow of blood pouring from the wound.
His eyes were wide with terror, and his other hand reached desperately towards a cardboard box just a few feet away, something glinting inside it.
He was crawling, inching toward it, his movements growing weaker by the second.
My eyes flickered toward the box—inside, I could see it now—a row of small, glowing vials.
Healing potions.
He was trying to save himself.
I couldn't let him.
Sorry, buddy but I can't let you live..
Acting on sheer impulse, I lunged forward, snatching another pen lying nearby.
With shaking hands, I stabbed it into the back of his neck, plunging the tip deep into his spine.
"Arghhhh! You bastarddd, I will kill you!"
A insane scream tore from his throat, but it cut off abruptly as his body went rigid.
"You... Y..ou... Will... Be... Dea..."
But before he could complete his words...
His hands froze, inches from the potions, and then collapsed limply by his side.
His wide, hazel eyes stared up at the ceiling, lifeless and dull.
His body lay still, and an enormous pool of crimson blood oozed from the twin wounds in his neck, soaking into the floor.
Silence filled the room, broken only by my shaky breathing.
I...
I...
I stood frozen, staring at the lifeless body in front of me.
My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat, each beat making me feel like I might pass out.
I had done it.
I had killed him.
The reality of what I'd done hit me like a tidal wave, nearly knocking me off my feet.
The man who had just opened his eyes moments ago—those perfect hazel eyes—was now nothing but a lifeless body.
His flawless face, his strong jawline, and his sharp features were now still, drained of all life.
My hands were shaking, slick with his blood.
And yet… under all the nausea and fear, something unexpected stirred inside me.
Relief.
This was it.
I killed him...
I am so...
Fuck, wait, wait!
Why the heck am I feeling sad and crying?
I just killed a murderer and fought off dozens of monsters trying to take my life just a few hours ago. Now I'm shedding tears for a guy who literally threatened me and was deemed dangerous by the system?
He's no different from those monsters.
No, I can't cry or feel sorry now.
I took a deep breath and quickly gathered myself.
Suddenly, my system was flooded with notifications:
**(Congratulations, Host! Human Core (Uncommon) has been added to your inventory!)**
**(Congratulations, Host! Healing Potion (Iron) has been added to your inventory!)**
**(Congratulations, Host! 100 Human Essences from the killed victim have been added to your Character Interface!)**
**(Congratulations, Host! You've been granted the body of the person you killed!)**
**(Do you want to switch to your new body?)**
**(Congratulations, Host! You've met the conditions for upgrades!)**
**(Do you wish to advance to [Bronze] Rank?)**
Hmm... Everything seems fine...
But why hasn't the bonus quest finished?
Shouldn't it be done now that I've killed the dangerous person in the room?
If it's still open, that means...
There's someone else here who could potentially kill me.
I need to be on guard.
I quickly clicked on the upgrade rank option, hoping that leveling up would give me an advantage against any threats.
As soon as I clicked it, something incredible started to happen...