'That was easy, I guess,' I thought, staring at the glowing notification hovering in front of me.
[Singing Lv 1: Allows the user to carry a tune without sounding like a dying cat. Improves with practice.]
I scoffed. "Hey, Sun, you got something against my singing? I'll have you know I was in my school choir. Granted, I was kicked out after one week, but still."
[Your voice scared the audience. I'm saving you from further embarrassment.]
"Yeah, yeah. Keep talking, you glorified calculator."
The streets were eerily quiet as I continued walking. The sun was still rising, casting a warm golden glow over the empty sidewalks and trees. Honestly, it was kind of peaceful. For the first time in forever, I wasn't bored out of my mind.
Then it hit me—this wasn't my world anymore.
The houses, the streets, even the air—it all felt different. The slight chill in the breeze, the way the sunlight seemed sharper—it was like stepping into a dream. A weird one, sure, but still.
'I wonder what kind of world this is,' I thought, glancing around. 'Hopefully not one where everyone's shredded, rich, and handsome except me.'
As I walked, I passed a newspaper stand and caught a glimpse of the headlines.
"Global Superstar Hits Record Sales with New Album."
"City Mayor's Daughter Joins Rising Talent Show!"
'Huh. Looks like this world's obsessed with fame. Just my luck.'
[Observation Skill Unlocked: Allows the user to analyze the environment and gather basic insights.]
'Skills are just raining down on me today, huh?' I grinned. 'I'm practically a prodigy.'
By the time I rounded the corner to the park, my legs were already aching. The body I'd been reincarnated into wasn't just overweight—it was hopelessly unfit.
'I swear, Sun, if you made me walk just to kill me again, I'm suing.'
[Stop whining, Host. You've burned 2 calories. Only 9,998 more until you achieve mediocrity.]
"Wow. Encouraging as always."
I shuffled into the park, where the morning crowd was just starting to gather. Fit joggers zipped by me like I was invisible, couples strolled hand in hand, and an old man was doing tai chi under a tree.
'So this is what health looks like,' I thought, watching a jogger with perfect form sprint past me. 'Can't relate.'
But as I walked deeper into the park, I noticed something odd. A small crowd had gathered around a boy roughly my age—well, this body's age—who was playing a guitar. His fingers danced across the strings effortlessly, and his voice was smooth as butter.
He looked like the kind of guy who'd win a talent show without even trying: tall, fit, with perfect hair and a dazzling smile.
I rolled my eyes. Of course, this world has people like him. Meanwhile, I'm out here struggling to breathe.
[New Mission: Impress the Crowd!]
[Reward: +1 Charm, +1 Singing Skill Level.]
[Punishment: Lose -1 Charm for cowardice.]
"You can't be serious," I hissed under my breath.
[You wanted excitement, didn't you? Get out there and shine, Superstar.]
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, heart pounding like a drum. The crowd barely noticed me as I approached the boy, who was finishing his song with a confident grin.
"Hey!" I called out, my voice cracking slightly.
All eyes turned to me.
The boy raised an eyebrow. "Uh, can I help you?"
"Yeah," I said, forcing a smile. "Mind if I join in for a minute?"
The boy smirked, clearly amused. "Do you even know how to play?"
"Nope," I admitted. "But I can sing."
The crowd chuckled. A few of them muttered things like, "This'll be good," and "Who does this guy think he is?"
Ignoring them, I nodded toward the boy. "Just strum something simple. I'll do the rest."
He hesitated, then shrugged. "Alright, man. Your funeral."
He played a slow, repetitive rhythm—something even I couldn't mess up. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and started singing.
🎶🎶
"The sun wakes up with me~
Painting the sky for free~
Its rays touch my face~
Like a warm embrace~
But I'm just a shadow here~
Chasing dreams that disappear~
The world's a stage I don't belong~
But I'll still sing my song~"
🎶🎶
My voice wavered at first, but as I kept going, I could feel the confidence building. The lyrics flowed out naturally, like they were already buried in my mind, waiting for the right moment.
[Singing Lv 2 Unlocked: Your voice is now tolerable. Keep practicing, you might impress someone someday.]
When I finished, there was a brief silence. Then, to my surprise, a few people clapped. Not a standing ovation, but still—it was something.
The boy with the guitar looked at me, his smirk replaced by something almost resembling respect. "Not bad," he said, nodding.
"Thanks," I replied, grinning. "Guess I've got a natural talent."
[Mission Complete: +1 Charm, +1 Singing Skill Level.]
I turned to leave, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment. For the first time in… well, forever, I didn't feel completely useless. Maybe this crazy world wasn't so bad after all.
As I walked away from the crowd, Sun's voice chimed in my head.
[Not terrible, Host. But don't let it get to your head. You've got a long way to go if you want to be a true superstar.]
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered. "Let me enjoy my small victory, okay?"
[Fine. But don't forget your next mission: Get a proper haircut. Your current one is offensive to humanity.]
I groaned. "You just can't let me be happy, can you?"
[Nope. Now get moving, piglet.]