Lionheart Family Estate
"Hmph, stupid little cousin ran all the way to Magic City."
"Well, he's not that stupid. Do you think he knows we tampered with his awakening?"
"I doubt it. That item was such a cheat, no one would even believe it existed."
"Right? An S-class, one-time-use item that brings bad luck and limits potential to F? Who could've guessed it'd show up at some random auction? If not for my A-level Appraisal skill, I'd have missed it entirely."
"Yeah, we got lucky. At least we're still in the family, even if we're outcasts. But poor, stupid Ace—he's got a Gigolo class! I didn't even know that was a thing!"
"Hahaha, definitely one of a kind. But now that just leaves our eldest cousin. He's out at the frontlines, gaining team leader experience. He's going to flip when he hears about Ace. You know how protective he is."
"Hmph, whatever. Richard's the golden prince of the family. Untouchable. We can't do anything about him, so we'll just lay low. One golden boy down is good enough for me."
"Serves Ace right. So what if he was talented? We are too, but no—only melee classes get respect in this stupid family."
"Alright, enough. Let's stop. Walls have ears."
The two cousins chuckled quietly, satisfied with their handiwork. They were members of a branch family—descendants far removed from the Lionheart's main lineage.
The Lionheart family had been a militaristic royal house long before the disaster that reshaped Gaia. Their prestige and martial traditions had created a sprawling network of branches over generations. While the main family held power, these branch families resented the rigid hierarchy, where only certain classes were respected.
These two, hailing from the merchant branch, targeted Ace as a way to lash out. They couldn't touch Richard, the patriarch's son and future heir, but Ace was an easier target—a disgraced golden boy who had lost his standing.
Little did they know, their "easy target" was about to become the predator.
Magic City
In an old antique shop, two individuals browsed through shelves cluttered with trinkets and relics.
"Young Master, is this the shop?" Sebas asked, scanning the room.
Ace glanced around, his eyes narrowing as he spotted his target.
"Yes, Sebas. I want that chest—get it."
"Yes, Young Master."
For the past week, Ace and Sebas had scoured Magic City, visiting over 15 antique shops to track down this treasure. This cheat-level item was one of the easier ones to identify, but the abundance of stores named The Great Antique Shop made the search frustrating.
"Why does this world let shops have the same name?!" Ace grumbled. "Is there no trademark law here?"
Sebas, unbothered by his master's complaints, soon returned with the chest.
"Young Master, I've secured the chest."
"Good. Let's head to the next destination. It's only 11 AM—we still have time to find that cave."
"Yes, Young Master."
The Search for the Cave
With the chest secured, Ace and Sebas left Magic City, heading toward the Woodland Forest. As they passed through the city's outskirts, Ace marveled at the towering walls and the portal system used for entry and exit.
Unlike Earth's traditional gates, Magic City's portals reflected humanity's desperation to adapt to Gaia's new dangers. The constant threat of monsters roaming the wilds necessitated advanced defensive measures.
When the disaster struck, Gaia merged with other planes, introducing the system and gamifying the world. The planet expanded tenfold, and all life mutated. Humans, initially at a disadvantage, found themselves competing with races like elves, dwarves, beastkin, and nocturnals—species already accustomed to system mechanics.
Over the past century, humanity had fought hard to carve out its territory, known as the human boundary. Roughly the size of Pangaea, it was vast but fraught with danger.
Despite this progress, Ace couldn't shake the vastness of the world. Compared to Earth, Gaia felt infinite and unforgiving.
"Hmm, if I remember correctly, the cave is aligned with the largest tree in the northwest part of the forest," Ace muttered, consulting his map.
With Sebas ensuring his safety, they navigated the dense forest.
Soon, they found the tree—a behemoth of nature, towering like a skyscraper. Its presence dwarfed the surrounding woodland, making it easy to spot. Nearby, Ace noticed a hole in the base of a mountain.
"This must be it," he said.
Inside the Cave
The cave was dark and unassuming at first. Narrow passages, jagged walls, and damp air made it seem ordinary. But at the end, a faint light glimmered, catching Ace's attention.
He followed it, entering a small opening at the top of the cave.
"This must be where Gregory fell," Ace murmured, scanning the space. Near one wall, a small crevice caught his eye. Crouching down, he spotted a decayed, leather-bound book buried in the mud.
Ace's hand hovered over the book, but he didn't open it.
"Why would I open it now?" he muttered, shaking his head. "First, I'll take the bloodline, then upgrade my class, then use this. What if it gives me a crazy skill? I can combo it with everything else. Right now, only Exchange would amplify, but with a bloodline upgrade, I might awaken new skills. Patience is key."
"My lord, I found another opening here!" Sebas called out.
"Huh?" Ace's head snapped up. He hurried over to Sebas and found him standing before a hidden chamber.
Inside, the walls were adorned with intricate murals and faded paintings. In the center of the chamber lay a skeleton, alongside a gleaming sword, a strange fruit, and a weathered letter.
Ace's eyes widened, his heart racing.
"Holy shit," he whispered, a grin spreading across his face. "Am I the protagonist too? Hahahaha!"