The sun was just beginning to filter through the small window of my room, softly illuminating the stone and wood walls. I stretched beneath the sheets, feeling the pleasant sensation of being fully rested.
The house on the hill, which had taken so much effort to build alongside Tesline, always felt cozy in the mornings. The fresh air drifted in through the cracks, mixed with the scent of grass and damp earth.
I got up and headed toward the makeshift shower we had crafted. The system was simple, a wooden barrel outside, filled with water that we channeled from the nearby stream using bamboo pipes.
I stood under the stream of water, feeling the morning chill melt away with every drop that ran down my skin. I liked that feeling. It was something I had learned to appreciate since arriving in this world, the simplicity of the daily routine.
Considering that my previous routine involved waking up, playing on my computer, and going back to sleep, I must say it's a big change, especially since now I don't skip meals out of distraction.
Though, if I'm being honest, I'd give anything to have my computer back. 'Is there anything like the internet in this world?'
After dressing in my uniform, I headed to the kitchen. The old charcoal stove I had bought the day before still had some dust in the corners, but it had already proven useful.
I placed some charcoal in the compartment and lit it. As the fire gained strength, I took out the bread I would toast. It wasn't the first time I made breakfast, but today I wanted it to be special, as we would be returning to the academy.
I spread the jam we had made from forest berries on some thick slices of bread and placed them on the stove's grill. The sweet aroma began to fill the room, blending with the smell of burning wood and the fresh air coming through the window.
Meanwhile, I boiled some water in the potion cauldron I had bought long ago and planned to use later.
I heard Tesline's footsteps in the adjoining room; she was probably waking up by now. I smiled to myself, imagining her expression when she saw breakfast ready. When the bread was perfectly toasted, I placed it on a plate along with some cheese we had bought in town. It wasn't anything fancy, but I knew she'd enjoy it.
"Tesline, breakfast is ready," I called out softly, expecting her to show up any moment. "Don't forget to change, it's getting late."
I placed the breakfast on the wooden table that Tesline had made with her own hands. The imperfections on the surface, the small dents, and the rough edges gave it a rustic touch, but it was a work of art in its own way, something that reflected her strength and skill.
The toast with jam and the herbal tea were ready, so I stepped out the front door of our house, letting the fresh hill air fully wake me up.
As I took the first steps on the damp grass, I watched how the sun lazily rose over the hills, casting its golden light over the green, vibrant landscape.
I walked a few meters until I reached the edge of the stream that passed near the house, feeling the tranquility of the surroundings. But my mind couldn't stop turning something over. I had been in this world for some time now, and although I had adapted fairly well, there were still questions left unanswered.
I decided to speak to my system, as I often did when doubts overwhelmed me.
"System," I whispered into the air, even though I knew there was no need to say the words out loud. "I've been thinking about something. After all this time, why don't I have an inventory? Why can't I store things like when this was just a simple game?"
There was a brief silence before the familiar tone of the system echoed in my mind.
[-System-]
[The answer is somewhat complicated], said the system in its neutral tone, though with a slight hesitation, as if preparing for a longer explanation than usual. [Your arrival in this world was... a complete disaster. Things didn't go as they should have, and we had to improvise in many aspects.]
"Disaster?" I frowned, looking at the stream with a mix of confusion and frustration. "What do you mean by that?"
[For starters, we didn't have a proper body available when you arrived. We had to find the body with the weakest soul at the time and put your soul there. It was an emergency arrangement.]
My eyes widened upon hearing that. Everything was beginning to make a grim kind of sense.
"Wait, wait... Are you telling me this body wasn't meant for me?"
[Exactly, that's why you don't have certain things the original owner of the body had, like his memories, his inventory, and the magic element this body was supposed to have.]
"So that means the original Rurik had his body stolen. Can he get it back?"
[For now, both your soul and Rurik's are 'coexisting.' Thanks to an enchantment from Showman, your soul has full control of the body, but don't worry, eventually, the original Rurik's soul will either disappear or merge with yours.]
"Earlier, you mentioned a 'vessel body.' What the hell is that?"
[It's a body created by the other gods specifically so that a soul from your world can inhabit it. They're designed to handle the special abilities that you, the reincarnated, usually possess. Inventory, advanced skills, upgrades... everything you expected when you got here.]
I remained silent for a moment, absorbing it all. A custom-made body so I could make the most of this world... and I ended up in a second-hand one.
"Gods? What do you mean by 'other gods'?" I asked, feeling my frustration grow. "Is Showman one of those gods?"
[Yes, but Showman is just a nickname he uses,] the system said, its tone unwavering. [It's a mask, a fake name so the other gods don't know what he did.]
"What he did?" my voice grew more serious. "What exactly did he do?"
[You're not supposed to be here, Rurik,] the system replied, and its cold tone now seemed to carry a hint of a revealed secret. [Showman didn't agree with the choice of champion the other gods selected from your world. So, without them noticing, he summoned you in a... let's say, not-so-legal way.]
The cold morning air suddenly felt heavier. A chill ran down my spine.
"And why the hell did it have to be me?" I asked, frustrated. All of this was starting to weigh on me. "Why did they summon me and not someone else?"
[Actually, the other gods had considered you as their first option initially,] the system replied, almost indifferently. [But they changed their minds because of your lack of interest in this world's story. You weren't the ideal candidate in their eyes.]
I felt a pang of irritation.
"And what's so wrong with not being interested in the story? It was just a game. You don't have to watch every cutscene."
The system didn't respond immediately, but when it did, its tone felt almost like a gentle reprimand.
[The problem is that, for the gods, this world is not a game. The other gods chose someone who, while not the best player, had a deep appreciation for the story and always sought the best possible ending. They believed that person would be the key to saving this world from the impending catastrophe.]
I rolled my eyes, even though I knew the system couldn't see me. Great idea, I thought sarcastically.
"And let me guess, Showman didn't agree, did he?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
[Exactly, he thought you were the best option, so he summoned you despite the other gods' decision.]
I ran a hand through my hair, exasperated. I didn't know whether to feel flattered or even more frustrated.
"This all sounds... really complicated. But there's something I don't understand," I said, taking a deep breath to try to calm myself. "Why did a video game in my world tell the story of this place? That doesn't make any sense."
The system remained silent for a moment, as if searching for the right words.
[This world has been trapped in a loop for a long time. The gods created that loop to prevent the return of the Demon King, who was on the verge of becoming a god and bringing total destruction. The gods, unable to find a clear solution, decided to experiment with different methods.]
"And what does that have to do with my question?" I insisted.
[Eventually, one of the gods came up with the idea of summoning a hero from another world, but they only found your world, a place without magic or warriors. However, in their research, they discovered video games, and that's how they decided to turn the story of this world into one. The idea was sent as a dream to someone in your world, who developed it without knowing its true origin. And the rest, as they say, is history.]
I stood there, staring at the stream, as everything the system had just said echoed in my head. The pieces fit together, but in a way that I didn't like. I was an experiment, a pawn on a board manipulated by gods.
"Great," I muttered. "So I'm an improvised hero in a body that wasn't even supposed to be mine."
I returned to the house after my conversation with the system, my mind still full of the absurd revelations about the gods and my summoning. When I entered, I found Tesline already eating breakfast, chewing on a toast with jam as she looked at me curiously.
"Where did you go?" she asked between bites.
"I just needed to clear my head," I replied as I approached the table. Although I tried to sound casual, there was a shadow in my voice that I couldn't hide. The system's revelations still lingered.
She watched me for a second longer before shrugging and continuing to eat. I joined her, and we ate breakfast in comfortable silence.
After we finished, we got up from the table, cleaned up, and prepared for the day. I knew we were heading to the academy today, which made me a little anxious.
Despite the relative normality I had felt living here, the academy was a place full of rules and expectations. And, of course, there were the vague memories of my past life. I knew things would get complicated at some point.
As we walked toward the academy, Tesline, with her hands behind her head and her eyes on the clear sky, threw a question at me that I didn't expect.
"Hey, which class did you belong to before?" she asked casually.
That question stopped me in my tracks. Which class did I belong to? My memories of the game told me Rurik had been a troublemaker, but I couldn't recall the exact number of his class. I looked at Tesline, who raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't you get any notifications on your bracelet?" she added, noticing my confusion.
I frowned and looked at my wrist. The bracelet, that annoying device all students wore, was more useful than I had thought.
Up until now, I had ignored it, but I guess I should check it. When I activated it, several notifications began to appear in an endless list. Most of them were complaints and warnings about my past behavior. I skimmed through them with a sigh, skipping everything I knew I didn't care about until I reached the last notification.
"You've been reassigned to Class 1-F," I read aloud.
Tesline let out a small squeal of surprise.
"That's my class!" she said with a bright smile.
I felt a pang of irritation.
I stared at her, but my mind was elsewhere. Class 1-F... something in my memory told me that it was the class where the protagonist of the game started.
But if I remembered correctly, he was transferred to another class after an event I couldn't clearly recall. My stomach twisted a bit at the thought. I was occupying a place that, in theory, didn't belong to me.
Suddenly, Tesline's smile disappeared. She looked down and whispered, "I hope I don't end up in the same class as Darius."
I turned to her, surprised by her gloomy tone.
"Is there a problem if you're in the same class?"
Tesline sighed, avoiding my gaze.
"No, there's no problem if I ignore him. As long as I don't pay attention to him, everything will be fine," she replied, although her voice lacked her usual confidence. "Besides, I have you. So I'll have someone to talk to, right?"
I smiled faintly, even though I still wondered if it would really be that simple. The tensions between her and Darius seemed deeper than Tesline wanted to admit. But I didn't want to press her further.
"Of course, you'll always have someone to talk to," I replied, trying to lighten the mood as we resumed our walk to the academy.
However, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Being in class 1-F, the place where the protagonist of this story started... Was this all Showman's doing?
In front of the door to class 1-F, my heart began to race. My hands were sweaty, and no matter how much I tried to calm myself, I felt a knot in my stomach. Everything felt so real, so tangible, and the fact that I was about to face a classroom full of people who knew the former Rurik made me want to run away. I swallowed hard, glancing at Tesline out of the corner of my eye.
"Yeah, I've changed my mind," I said hurriedly, taking a step back. "This is a bad idea. I'm going back to my cave; I'll be fine there..."
I couldn't finish the sentence. I felt Tesline's hand firmly grasp the back of my neck.
"Don't be a crybaby," she replied with a mix of exasperation and amusement as she started to drag me toward the classroom door.
My legs kicked uselessly against the floor as I tried to resist, but there was no way to win in strength against Tesline. With a resigned sigh, I let her pull me inside the classroom.
The teacher, a thin man with round glasses who barely got up from his desk, looked at us with a mix of curiosity and patience. He held a register in his hand and, after a brief glance, raised an eyebrow.
"Come in," he said in a neutral voice, although his eyes were fixed on Tesline's hand still holding my neck.
With one last tug, Tesline released me, leaving me standing in front of everyone. The silence in the classroom was overwhelming, and I could feel the stares of every student piercing into us. I wiped my hands on my uniform, still nervous about everything that was happening.
The teacher adjusted his glasses and stood up.
"Since you're new to this class, could you please introduce yourselves?"
Tesline, always full of confidence, stepped forward and assumed a firm stance.
"I'm Tesline Koizumi. My class is [Fighter], and I hope to become a renowned adventurer," she said with a proud smile.
Some students murmured among themselves, probably recognizing her last name. Tesline wasn't the type to go unnoticed, not just because of her character but also because of her skills.
The teacher nodded and then looked at me, indicating that it was my turn. I felt panic rise in my chest again, but I knew there was no escape. With my gaze fixed on the floor, I stepped forward.
"I'm... Rurik. My class is [Mage]," I said, pausing awkwardly. Curious eyes pierced through me, but I decided to continue before the tension became unbearable. "Right now... I have amnesia."
The silence in the classroom became heavier. I could feel everyone's eyes widening in disbelief. I raised my head slightly and awkwardly bowed.
"I want to apologize in advance for any trouble I may have caused you in the past. I know the former Rurik wasn't a pleasant person..." I paused, searching for the right words. "You can hate me if you want; I'll understand. I won't get angry because I know that Rurik, the one from before, was a despicable person. I probably deserve your contempt."
Some mouths dropped open, while other hands covered murmurs. I knew that the previous version of myself had been a complete disaster. A bully, an arrogant person who only flaunted his status. But now that I controlled his body, I had no intention of making enemies.
"I just hope to at least finish the academy," I added, trying to sound dignified, even though inside I felt like I was in the middle of a storm.
The silence that followed was almost unbearable. I could see looks of astonishment, confusion, and doubt on everyone's faces. No one knew how to react. The teacher cleared his throat to break the tension.
"Well... that was unexpected," he said with a small smile, though he didn't seem to be mocking. "Take a seat, Koizumi, Rurik. And don't worry; there will be time to get used to things."
Tesline gave me a small push to take a seat next to her, and although I tried to maintain my composure, I could still feel everyone's eyes on me. Even though the weight of my past reputation lingered, I felt that maybe, just maybe, this new beginning wouldn't be as impossible as it seemed.
The teacher stood up from his desk, crossing his arms while looking at the students with a thoughtful air. The atmosphere in the classroom changed immediately, and the hushed conversations faded away as everyone focused their attention on him.
"Well, now that the introductions are over, we'll start with today's topic. Dungeons—many of you have probably heard of them, but today we will focus on the difference between artificial dungeons and natural dungeons."
Instantly, several students straightened their backs, intrigued. The topic of dungeons always generated excitement, as they were the center of the most epic adventures in the world. I mentally took notes, trying to maintain my concentration, although I still felt nervous from the occasional glances I received.
"Let's start with artificial dungeons, also known as 'created dungeons.'" The teacher began to walk slowly around the classroom. "These dungeons are not simple natural formations or makeshift shelters for wild creatures. No, an artificial dungeon has a unique characteristic. These dungeons act almost like a living being."
The teacher paused for a moment, looking at his students to ensure they were following the thread of his words.
"How is that possible?" he continued. "Instead of being just an empty structure, the artificial dungeon has the ability to regenerate and reproduce. And most importantly, the monsters that inhabit its interior are not ordinary beings. They are creatures created by magic."
Murmurs among the students began to grow. I was surprised as well. Tesline leaned a bit forward, clearly interested. I had never questioned the science explaining why in the seven main dungeons, monsters respawned after resting in a safe area.
"These creatures, instead of having a heart like any living being, possess a magical stone within them. This crystal is the core of their existence. If an adventurer defeats a creature and destroys its magical stone, the dungeon can generate a new creature to replace it. It's like an eternal cycle of creation and destruction."
I would like to remember the reason why you had to clear all the dungeons; I remember it had to do with the return of the demon king, but I still don't know why.
"There are seven of these artificial dungeons in the world that have been recorded," the teacher continued. "Each one presents unique challenges, and so far, no adventurer has managed to complete them entirely."
A wave of astonishment swept through the classroom. I was also perplexed. Nobody had completed them... Was there a reason why only the protagonist and his group could complete them?
"What makes these dungeons so difficult is not just the monsters. These dungeons also contain incredibly complex puzzles designed to challenge the minds of adventurers. Solving these enigmas is crucial to advancing to deeper levels."
The teacher paused again to gauge the class's reactions before continuing with a more serious expression.
I remembered the puzzles and their answers from all the times I passed through that area, but I knew each one had a reason that had to do with the story. I had only focused on remembering the patterns, codes, and illusory walls.
"Nobody knows how these dungeons originated or what they truly hide in their deepest levels. What lies on the last floor? What secrets do they hold? That is a question that, so far, remains unanswered."
The tension in the classroom was palpable. The possibility of exploring one of those dungeons someday felt like a fascinating but terrifying idea.
"Now, let's talk about natural dungeons. These are completely different from the artificial ones. Natural dungeons form over time and are mostly inhabited by creatures that have adapted those places as their home. They are not created by magic but by natural evolution."
The classroom was completely silent as everyone listened attentively.
"Unlike the artificial ones, natural dungeons do not generate new monsters. When adventurers eliminate a creature in a natural dungeon, it does not respawn. There is no magical regeneration. Instead, creatures that fall in battle are usually replaced by their descendants, maintaining the ecosystem's balance."
This was new to me. I had never considered that natural dungeons were something like small ecosystems. Considering I almost always spent my time taking shortcuts and killing everything in my path, I suppose I never thought to stop and appreciate those areas I always skipped whenever I had the chance.
I admit it was an interesting concept, but it also implied that exploring these dungeons could affect that balance if care wasn't taken.
"It is crucial that adventurers understand the difference between these two types of dungeons. In artificial ones, combat is constant, and the enemy can always respawn, making them endless challenges. But in natural dungeons, any intervention could profoundly alter the balance of life in that place."
I found myself reflecting on what I had learned. Could I sell the information I knew about the puzzles in the dungeons? How much would I earn? Would that cause me trouble?
The teacher stepped back, taking chalk to draw a diagram on the board.
"Well, that covers the theory. Now we'll discuss some concrete examples of each type of dungeon in our kingdom. Remember that after this, you have a practical session waiting for you, so I hope you've brought your weapons."
[-System-]
[Greetings Rurik, Showman has come up with a new feature to make your experience in this world even more interesting. We have decided to include quests. You will receive tasks with rewards such as coins, forging minerals, rare items, and, occasionally, skill points. However, if you do not complete the assigned quests, you will receive a penalty.]
[Do you accept the inclusion of quests in your system?]
[Yes / No]