The doctor and nurse came in shortly after, bustling around as they checked my vitals and scribbled notes on their clipboards.
"It's truly remarkable," the doctor said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Recovering from such severe injuries in just a few days... It's as if your body is healing on its own."
I stayed quiet, forcing a small smile as they continued their examinations. If only they knew what I'd been seeing—what I'd been experiencing.
You might be wondering: If potions exist, why would anyone bother with hospitals?
Well, potions aren't something you can casually get your hands on. They're rare and expensive, mostly obtained from dungeon runs or sold at exorbitant prices in specialty shops. A single vial could cost more than my monthly salary at the Association.
Even high-ranking Rankers who venture into dangerous dungeons still come to hospitals.
Potions are for emergencies, not everyday use. And for someone like me, a regular front-desk worker with barely enough to make ends meet, the idea of affording one was laughable.
When the doctor finally left, instructing me to rest, I let out a deep sigh of relief.
Alone again, I returned to the glowing screen in front of me.
[New Mission: Learn to Control Your New Power]
I pressed the Next Stage button, curiosity outweighing my nerves.
A new page appeared, and I read it aloud, my voice tinged with skepticism and amusement.
"Training list:
•Eat three times a day
•Sleep eight hours a day
•Walk one kilometer per day.
"I blinked at the screen, half-expecting some grand, intense training regimen, but this? This looked more like a self-care checklist.
"Seriously?" I muttered. "This is the big training program to unlock my power? Eat, sleep, and take a walk?"
I sighed, leaning back against the bed. Man, I don't know what to feel about this.
Was this a joke? I thought about how ridiculous it all seemed. Did I have to nearly die in a car accident to find out I had a hidden power? A power I didn't even know existed in the first place?
But as absurd as it felt, I couldn't deny the faint flicker of excitement growing in my chest. For the first time in years, I felt like something in my life was about to change—like I finally had a chance to rewrite the rules I'd been living by.
"Fine," I said aloud, staring at the glowing screen. "Let's do it. What's the worst that could happen?"
I scrolled back to the checklist, smirking slightly. "Eat, sleep, walk… Sounds easy enough."
It's been a week since I woke up in the hospital. Following the "training" list, I ate properly, slept more than I ever had in years, and even managed to walk a kilometer every day around the hospital. Surprisingly, my recovery sped up like nothing I'd ever seen before.
At first, I thought the tasks were ridiculous—basic things anyone should be doing—but now I realized there was something more to them.
That strange energy I felt when I woke up… It was as if the system had already begun rewiring my body, making me stronger even from these simple routines.
The doctor entered my room as I was stretching by the window, looking amused.
"It seems my decision to discharge you today was the right one," he said with a small smile.
"Thank you, Doc, for everything," I replied, bowing slightly. "About the bill… I'll work hard to pay it off. Little by little."
The doctor waved me off with a chuckle. "Don't worry about it. Honestly, it's a first for me to see someone who isn't a Ranker recover this fast. You're a rare case. Anyway, take care of yourself."
I nodded, grateful, and started packing my things. But as soon as I stepped out of the room with my small bag slung over my shoulder, the now-familiar glow of a notification appeared before me.
I stopped in my tracks, staring at the screen in disbelief.
[Training: New Mission]
•Go to the mountain
•Sword slash: 0/1000
•Punching: 0/2000
•Kicking: 0/2000
•Run: 0/10km
I gawked at the list, my mouth falling open. "Are you serious? I just got discharged, and now you're telling me to do this ridiculous amount of training?"
I muttered under my breath, "Sword slashes? Punching? Kicking? Running ten kilometers? What am I, a soldier-in-training?"
The screen flickered, and a small, glowing note appeared beneath the tasks:
[Reminder: This training is essential to awaken and stabilize your unsealed power. Proceed at your own risk.]
I sighed, rubbing my temples. So this is what my life has come to.
I had no idea how I was going to pull this off, especially since I'd never held a sword in my life. And punching and kicking? Sure, I'd watched Rankers train from afar at the Association, but mimicking their movements was a completely different story.
Then there was the "mountain" part. Where exactly was I supposed to find a mountain? And why did this system think I could just run off to one like it was the most normal thing in the world?
Still, I couldn't ignore the faint buzz of excitement beneath my frustration. This was my chance to break free from the mundane, powerless life I'd always known. If I did have some hidden power, and if this system was the key to unlocking it…
"Fine," I muttered, clenching my fists. "Let's see what you've got for me."
The first step was to find a mountain.
I messaged someone I could trust—my friend from high school. I never really understood why he wanted to be friends with me, but he always stuck around.
Me: Hey, are you inside the dungeon? I know this is a lot to ask, but can I use the mountain your guild owns?
I figured I'd get a reply later or maybe tomorrow.
As I was putting my phone back in my pocket, a notification popped up.
Joon: WTF? A mountain? You? For what?! And why haven't I been able to contact you? It's been a week!
Ah. I'd forgotten to message him. I'd been so preoccupied with the system and my recovery that I hadn't even thought about it.
I also hadn't contacted the university yet, but maybe they'd understand if I sent them the doctor's note.
.
Joon: You owe me like ten at this point.
I chuckled, sliding my phone back into my pocket. At least that part was taken care of.
Joon's guild owned a mountain not far from the city. It was primarily used for their lower-level recruits to train and gather herbs from the surrounding forest, but it would be perfect for what I needed.
Now I just had to figure out how to explain my absence to the university. I fished out the doctor's note from my bag, thankful I had remembered to ask for it before leaving the hospital. Hopefully, they wouldn't penalize me for missing a week of classes.
As I started walking toward the bus stop, another notification appeared in front of me, floating as though taunting me.
[Quest Updated: Go to the mountain. Complete your training.]
"Yeah, yeah, I'm going," I muttered under my breath. "Bossy system."
This was it. My life was already crazy enough, but now it was about to get even crazier. If this training was my first step toward a new life, I couldn't afford to mess it up.
I sighed as I scrolled through my phone, noticing the pile of missed calls and messages. The school, my boss at the Association, even Joon—they were all trying to get a hold of me while I was busy recovering and dealing with the system. Now, I had to figure out how to handle everything without raising suspicion.
"One thing at a time," I muttered to myself, heading toward the bus stop. First, I needed to talk to the Association.
---
The Association building was as bustling as ever. Rankers and staff members moved around, their auras flickering faintly like flames. I used to admire them, standing in awe of their power. Now, a part of me wondered if I could one day stand among them—if the system was truly my chance to change everything.
I stepped inside and made my way to the HR office. My supervisor, Ms. Han, was sitting at her desk, typing furiously on her keyboard. She glanced up when she saw me and frowned.
"Jin. Where have you been? We were worried."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Han," I said, bowing slightly. "I was in the hospital. I got into an accident last week."
Her frown softened, replaced by concern. "An accident? Are you okay now?"
"I'm recovering," I said, showing her the doctor's note. "But that's actually why I'm here. I wanted to ask if it's possible to take a leave of absence for a month. I'm still not fully healed, and I think I need some time to recover properly."
Ms. Han studied the note, and then looked back at me. "A month is a long time, Jin. You know we're short-staffed at the front desk."
"I know, and I'm sorry for the inconvenience," I said earnestly. "But I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't necessary. I'll make up for it when I come back."
She sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Fine. I'll approve it. But make sure you rest, okay? I don't want you pushing yourself too hard and ending up back in the hospital."
"Thank you, Ms. Han," I said, bowing again.
---
Next stop: the university.
I called the administration office while sitting on a bench outside the Association. After a few rings, someone finally picked up.
"University Registrar's Office, how can I help you?"
"Hi, this is Jin Lee. I'm a student in the Potion and Herbology department. I wanted to request a temporary leave of absence or, if possible, permission to study from home for a month. I was recently in an accident, and I'm still recovering."
There was a pause before the person on the other end spoke. "Mr. Lee, we've been trying to contact you regarding your absences. You're aware that missing too many classes could affect your standing, right?"
"Yes, I understand," I said quickly. "I have a doctor's note explaining my situation. I can email it to you if needed."
"Alright, send us the note, and we'll review your request. If approved, you'll be allowed to study remotely for a month. But keep in mind, you'll still be responsible for keeping up with assignments and exams."
"Understood. Thank you."
After ending the call, I let out a sigh of relief. Both work and school were taken care of for now. That meant I could finally focus on the system's training without distractions.
"Alright," I said to myself, standing up. "Time to prepare for the mountain."