In a school gymnasium, somewhere in the city.
The school gymnasium was large, with high ceilings and benches that folded into the walls. The floor, marked with lines for basketball games, seemed almost too normal compared to what was happening.
A few students had been left behind after extracurricular activities, still wearing their club uniforms—some with soccer jerseys, others in cheerleading outfits, and a few with band instruments slung over their shoulders.
They had gathered around the merchant, who looked nothing like the others. His skin was a pale, almost translucent gray, giving him an odd glow under the harsh gym lights.
His large, black eyes blinked slowly, and his face had an elongated look, with a thin, sharp nose. His clothes were a strange mismatch of rags and fine fabrics, like he had pulled garments from different centuries.
Yet, despite his strange appearance, there was something oddly calm about him—his presence didn't provoke fear, just an unsettling curiosity. He didn't move much, his long, bony fingers occasionally twitching when he spoke, as if he wasn't quite used to having hands.
Among the group stood Kai, his wiry frame and tousled brown hair making him look slightly out of place. He wore a plain white shirt and jeans, with round glasses and a notebook tucked under his arm.
While others were cautiously asking about possible weapons, Kai took a different approach. He stepped forward, looking directly at the merchant. "You know what we want. But what about you? Do you wish for anything?" he asked, his tone genuine.
The merchant blinked, clearly caught off guard. "What do I wish for?" he repeated, his voice raspy. "That's not something people usually ask."
Kai smiled softly. "I like to know the people I deal with."
The merchant stood silent for a few seconds, smiling strangely, before speaking. "Ahaha... You are a strange one... Well, I won't lose anything by telling you. We merchants, only have one goal, to buy our freedom from the Game. Enough coins to be free .That would be my wish."
Kai's mind raced. So, the merchants weren't just part of the system. They were trapped, too. Probably separate entities from the Game with their own desires.
"I see..." Kai muttered, scribbling a note in his book. "So, can we really buy anything from you?"
The merchant's wide grin spread across his face. "Anything and everything, as long as you have the coins to pay for it, you can have it."
Kai didn't miss a beat. "How much to bring someone back from the dead?" he asked with a calm tone. Yet, his words caused a stir among the crowd. People glanced at him, whispering. Kai was asking things they hadn't even considered.
"True! The Game said that we could buy anything, right?"
"But can it really bring back the dead?"
"I don't know, maybe?"
The merchant's smile faltered for a second before returning, now tinged with amusement. "You don't have nearly enough coins for that, my friend. Not even close. But to answer your question... Yes. You can bring back the dead with enough coins."
Kai's grip on his notebook tightened as his eyes widened. "That means I if I gather enough coins ... I could..."
But before he could ask more, the merchant leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You should focus on surviving the tutorial first. Buy something before midnight—it's the best advice I can give you, free of charge."
Kai didn't respond immediately, his mind already working through the merchant's words. In front of him, a glowing red system window hovered in the air, displaying a list of available weapons, each one marked with its price in coins. The interface was clean and simple, without any extra information
Kai's eyes narrowed as he examined the list of weapons. Something caught his attention—a small star symbol next to each price. He hesitated before turning to the merchant.
"What does the star next to the weapon price mean?" he asked, genuinely curious.
The merchant's large, black eyes sparkled with amusement as if he had been waiting for someone to ask that. He leaned forward slightly, speaking in a low, raspy voice. "Ah, good question. The star rating shows how powerful the weapon is. Normal weapons, the kind without any stars, won't be able to hurt creatures from the Game—or other players, for that matter. A weapon with at least one star is needed to even scratch them."
Kai nodded slowly, processing the information. "And how do the stars work? What's the highest?"
The merchant grinned widely, clearly enjoying the moment. "Stars range from 1 to 10. One star is basic, ten stars are the most powerful. The more stars, the stronger the weapon. But don't expect to see a 10-star weapon—it costs more than most can imagine. In fact, the highest I've seen is a 6-star weapon, and I don't even know the price of anything higher."
After a moment, he turned back to the merchant. However, instead of asking for more about a weapon, he asked something surprising "I want all the information you can give me about the tutorial with the coins I have. Put it in a book."
The merchant's grin widened, his strange eyes glinting with amusement. "Ah, a thinker, are you? Well, if it's the knowledge you seek... 10 coins."
[Game merchant "Dull" is asking you to pay 10 coins.]
Kai, without hesitation, flicked his wrist, transferring the coins. The merchant's eyes gleamed, satisfied, as he clapped his hands. From nowhere, a small book materialized, floating gently into Kai's open hands.
"The Merchant's Basic Guide to Surviving the Tutorial," Kai read aloud, the corners of his mouth twitching with curiosity.
Around him, the small group of students, who had been silently watching the interaction, began to murmur. Whispers filled the gymnasium. It was quiet except for their faint shuffling, a few of them casting glances at each other, clearly hoping for some kind of handout.
"So… are you going to share that?" one of them asked hesitantly, their voice light but holding a tinge of expectation.
Others nodded in agreement, stepping closer to Kai. "We're all in this together, right? No need to be stingy."
Holding the book to his chest, Kai glanced at them with a thoughtful expression. Then, with a light chuckle, he shrugged and smiled warmly. "Of course, I'll share it. But let me read it first—it's not going to help if we all try to squint on the same page."
The tension broke, and some students exhaled in relief.
"You're right, Kai," one of them said with a grin. "Top student for a reason."
Others nodded, grateful and now eagerly turning their attention back to the merchant. A few began asking more questions or tried to bargain for items.
Kai sat down cross-legged on the floor, his fingers tracing the edge of the book. The gym felt oddly cold. His focus shifted entirely to the book as he opened it.
As he read, his light-hearted expression gradually darkened. His eyes moved quickly across the pages, absorbing the details, but his brows knitted closer with each passing line.
The book was more than just a simple guide to surviving the Tutorial. It summarized a few things about the Game itself, things they would soon face.
One of the female students noticed his change in demeanor. "Kai? What's it say?"
Kai snapped the book shut and forced a small smile. "Ah, you're Tanyia, right? There's a lot… more than we expected." He stood up, brushing off his jeans as he straightened. "We should focus on getting what we can from the game merchant and then prepare for what's coming next."
Tanyia didn't say anything right away but nodded, her soft features thoughtful. She was petite, her cheerleading uniform slightly too big, making her seem younger. She had long, blonde hair tied in a ponytail, and her blue eyes, though hesitant, were sharp as they watched Kai.
She had bought a light shield and a spear from the merchant. Although she did ask for a gun, she didn't had nearly enough. So she could only settle for a spear and a small shield.
After a moment, she tilted her head slightly and asked, "So, what exactly are we surviving against? I mean… what's going to attack us?" Her voice was calm but there was an easiness in her tone.
Kai sighed and glanced at the book. "It doesn't say exactly what's coming, just that we'll need to survive. Killing whatever it is won't matter because there's no reward for it." He shrugged. "But there'll be these… Easter eggs."
Tanyia frowned, "Easter eggs? Like secrets in games?"
"If I understand that correctly, you can consider them like... a secret rewards. They are scattered around the world and obtaining them would apparently give a lot of early advantages." Kai said as he rubbed his chin.
He appreciated her questions—she was cutting right to the important details. "The book also says after this 'First Attack Wave,' we will awaken our Aspects."
Her eyes widened. "Awaken our Aspects...?
"Some kind of superpower if I understood everything. Although it is not clear..."
"Yeah that would have been too easy otherwise." she answered with irony.
Kai did not say anything, though his face remained serious. "Yeah... Let's forget about that for now. We have to survive long enough to get there. And we don't even know what those powers would do so it's better to not expect much."
The other students exchanged uneasy glances, but seeing Tanyia asking questions seemed to make them a bit more confident. Some of them edged closer, clearly hoping for more answers.
Tanyia glanced around, then back at Kai. "I see. So it will start tonight and last for five days If I understood what they said." she looked at her phone and it reads 10pm.
Kai nodded, looking back down at the book, flipping through the pages quickly. "The book advise us to gather some food and hide if we went the safe option. But try our best to find an easter egg if possible since they are apparently extraordinary."
Tanyia sighed, her ponytail bouncing slightly with the movement. "We shouldn't bother with that for now. We better hurry gather food first." She gave him a small smile, trying to stay calm. "To think of buying information... You've got a good head on your shoulders, Kai."
Kai returned the smile, though it was brief. "We need all the brains we can get right now." He looked around the group, his voice growing louder. "Let's get moving. Whoever's ready, let's gather food in the cafeteria and head for somewhere safe-"
Before Kai could finish his sentence,a boy in a soccer jersey stepped forward, his voice trembling. "I think I'm going to find my parents. If this is really happening... I need to make sure they're okay."
A girl in a band uniform nodded quickly, her flute case slung over her shoulder. "Same here. I can't just stay here. My parents are probably worried."
Another student spoke up, his voice cracking, "Yeah, we should be with our families."
They began backing away from the group, their eyes darting nervously between the remaining students and the gym's exit.
Kai watched them for a moment. He could understand their fear. But he knew leaving was a risk. The tutorial hadn't officially started yet, but the moment it did, the streets would become dangerous, maybe even deadly. Who knows.
"Wait," Kai called out, his tone steady but firm. "I get it, but you might not make it. We don't know what's waiting outside yet. The Game is real, and stepping out might put you in more danger than staying."
The group hesitated a bit. The girl with the flute bit her lip. "But... we can't just sit here, Kai. What if our families need us?"
Kai sighed "I understand. But right now, we're safer together. At least until we know more about what's going on."
One of the boys shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flicking to the others for support. "But what if we're safer away from here? What if staying traps us?"
Tanyia, who had been standing nearby, crossed her arms and spoke up. "Kai's right. Running out there, blind, doesn't seem like a good idea."
Silence fell over the group. Eventually, one boy shook his head. "I need to try. My family's out there."
Without another word, he turned and headed for the exit, a few others following him. Their footsteps echoed in the gym as they disappeared through the doors.
Kai watched them leave, knowing there was nothing more he could do to convince them. He just hoped they wouldn't regret their choice.
Tanyia glanced at him, her voice soft. "You think they'll be okay?"
Kai shook his head slightly, eyes dark. "I don't know. But I hope they are."