[MC's POV]
My head pounded as consciousness slowly returned to me. The world felt distant—like I was floating in a dream. But the second I opened my eyes, reality crashed down like a tidal wave.
A wooden ceiling. Sunlight filtering through a small, glass-paned window. The scent of old parchment, herbs, and something faintly sweet—like freshly baked bread. I pushed myself up, feeling the unfamiliar texture of soft sheets under my fingertips. My body felt different. Lighter? Smaller? No, not smaller—just... unfamiliar.
Then it hit me.
I knew this room. I knew this house. I knew exactly where I was.
My breath caught in my throat as I scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over the wooden floor. I turned, eyes darting around the modest-sized home. A wooden desk lined with alchemy ingredients. A small stove in the corner. A storage chest. A single, worn-out mirror against the wall.
This was the NPC's house. The nameless villager from "Sanctum of Saints."
A laugh bubbled in my throat, but it came out choked. No way. No, no, no, no— This had to be a dream. A prank. Some fever-induced hallucination. But when I moved, when I reached out and pinched myself, the dull ache confirmed the impossible.
I had transmigrated. Into a game. A tragedy-themed otome game, at that.
Panic clawed at my chest. My hands trembled as I gripped the edges of the desk, forcing my mind to work. Sanctum of Saints. The game where the heroine awakens as a saint after witnessing this very village burn. Where she embarks on a holy war against demons, surrounded by handsome warriors. Where the world is built to break her—forcing her into a path of righteousness and pain until she kills the Demon King.
And this village? It was doomed. Set to be reduced to ashes in a few months.
My heart hammered against my ribs.
No. I refuse. I refuse to die like a nameless NPC.
A familiar ding! rang in my ears, making me jolt. A translucent blue screen flickered into existence before my eyes. My breath hitched.
[System Activation]
Welcome, Player.
You have been granted the Beginner's Reward.
Rewards:
▶ Skill Bar Unlocked
▶ Basic Knife Mastery (Lv.1)
▶ Basic Healing Magic (Lv.1)
▶ Potion Crafting (Lv.1)
▶ 10 Stat Points
▶ 500 Gold Coins
I swallowed. Hard. My fingers twitched as I processed the message.
This... this was a system.
A mix of relief and excitement flooded me, pushing back the panic. I wasn't just an NPC. I had skills. I had a chance.
And I was going to survive.
[Several Days Later]
I spent the first few days adjusting. Learning the village's layout, gathering supplies, and familiarizing myself with the system. My house was simple but well-stocked—left behind by the "NPC" I replaced. I had a small garden out back, perfect for potion ingredients.
With my beginner skills, I started crafting weak healing potions. Selling them to villagers gave me gold and a reputation, making life easier. Knife Mastery helped me handle a weapon, though I was still weak. I planned on levelling up before the disaster struck.
I wasn't strong yet. But I was learning.
One evening, as I ground herbs into powder, the village elder visited. A kind old man, his eyes twinkled as he examined my potions.
"You have talent, child," he said warmly. "It's rare for one so young to be gifted in healing. We could use someone like you at the village clinic."
I hesitated, then nodded. Working at the clinic meant resources, knowledge, and connections.
And, more importantly, information.
The game's events revolved around the heroine, but I had to know when and how things unfolded. If I wanted to change fate, I needed to be prepared.
[First Dungeon]
A week later, I took my first real risk.
Dungeons existed in the game as hidden locations. Even NPCs could enter—but they were meant to be death traps for anyone who wasn't the heroine or her love interests. But with my system, I had a shot.
I found a low-level cave dungeon just outside the village. It was small, meant for early-game grinding. Perfect.
Stepping inside, I gripped my knife, heart pounding. The air was damp, filled with the scent of earth and moss. The system's HUD flickered to life as I moved.
[Entering Dungeon: Abandoned Wolf Den]
▶ Difficulty: Easy
▶ Monsters: Low-tier Dire Wolves
▶ Objective: Defeat 5 Wolves
A low growl echoed through the cavern.
Time to level up.
[After the Dungeon]
I barely survived. My healing magic kept me alive, but the wolves were fast. Smarter than expected. My knife skills were clumsy, but each kill gave experience, and by the time I emerged, I was stronger.
[Level Up!]
▶ Basic Knife Mastery (Lv.1 → Lv.3)
▶ Basic Healing Magic (Lv.1 → Lv.2)
▶ Potion Crafting (Lv.1 → Lv.2)
▶ Gained 200 Gold, Wolf Pelts, and Fangs
Collapsing onto my bed that night, exhaustion seeped into my bones. But I was alive.
More importantly, I wasn't an NPC waiting to be killed off.
I was a player now.
And I would rewrite this story.