As Evelyn was gathering the books one by one, carefully stacking them back in order, Daniel's mind was elsewhere.
He was staring at the glowing blue panel only he could see — his system.
It had all the usual features of a typical "cheat" system, just like in the novels he and his uncle used to read.
---
[Status]
Name: Daniel Haken
Age: 23
Race: Human
Traits: Regeneration (Advanced), Steel Skin (Minor)
Physical Parameters: Peak of Human Body
Overall Rating: Strongest normal human — thick enough skin to block small bullets and regeneration of an unkillable cockroach.
---
"Huh," Daniel muttered under his breath, "why does the rating sound like it was written by a sarcastic human?"
Still, sarcasm aside, the system had granted him some real benefits — regeneration, enhanced durability, and boosted strength. Definitely survival-focused.
He tapped on [Regeneration (Advanced)], and the details popped up:
[Regeneration (Advanced): Immortal. Cannot die of age. Can regenerate even from a drop of blood.]
Daniel blinked.
"…Immortal? That's... kind of overpowered."
His starter kit seemed a little overpowered — like it was designed to make him unkillable by normal means.
It was almost like the system refused to let him die.. Both Regeneration and Steel Skin were defensive traits, clearly meant for protection rather than offense
Then he noticed another tab — [Recover] — and opened it.
---
[Recover Objectives]
[Golden Book of Amun-Ra
Location: Hamunaptra
Reward: Unknown ]
[Soul of Imhotep
Location: Hamunaptra
Reward: Unknown]
[Soul of the Scorpion King
Location: Ahm Shere
Reward: Unknown]
---
"What the hell? A bunch of dangerous recovery missions and not even a hint about the rewards?" Daniel frowned, rubbing his temple.
Then he opened the next tab — [Inventory].
Thankfully, this one was straightforward: an infinite space where time didn't flow, perfect for storing anything except living beings.
He let out a slow breath. "So it really is a recovery system… I have to find ancient relics and recover them to get stronger. And of course," he muttered dryly, "they're all in the most cursed places on Earth."
But whatever the case, Daniel knew one thing for sure —
if he wanted to grow stronger, unlock new powers, and maybe find out who dumped him into this world with a "recovery system,"
he had to complete those missions.
That meant one thing.
Hamunaptra was his next destination.
Before he could think further, a strange sound echoed through the museum.
CLANG—SCRAAATCH—THUMP!
Both Daniel and Evelyn froze.
"That… sounded creepy," Daniel muttered, instinctively glancing toward the dim corridor leading to the storage room — the place where the museum kept mummies, relics, and enough cursed artifacts to make any sane person quit.
Evelyn's eyes widened. "Should we… go look?"
Daniel sighed, already knowing what this was. If he remember right, this is the part where her idiot brother tries to scare her...
"Yeah, let's check it out," he said with a grin. Might as well get this over with.
***
The storage room was pitch dark, save for the flickering flame of Daniel's torch. Rows of ancient coffins and mummified bodies lined the walls like silent judges. The air smelled of dust and old curses.
Evelyn clung to Daniel's arm as they walked. He could feel her trembling slightly.
"I swear," he muttered, "this place always gives me the creeps—like a mummy's gonna jump out any second."
"Dan, don't joke about that," she hissed, tightening her grip.
They stopped in front of a large sarcophagus — one that was oddly shaking, producing faint scratching noises.
"D-Dan… do you think something's in there?" Evelyn asked
Daniel raised a brow. "No. Probably just a rat...."
Evelyn frowned, leaned closer, and peeked into the sarcophagus—
"BWAAAAHHHHH!"
The mummy leaped out with a roar!
Evelyn shrieked at the top of her lungs and turned towards Daniel and launched herself onto Daniel — wrapping her arms and legs around him like a terrified koala.
"GHOST!!!"
Daniel stumbled back, torch flailing wildly. "Jesus Christ— Evelyn! Don't jump on people like that!"
But even as he said it, his arms instinctively tightened around her, keeping her from falling. Her legs were still wrapped around his waist, her face buried in his shoulder.
He sighed. "You can let go now, you know."
Evelyn didn't move. "N-No! What if it moves again?"
Daniel rolled his eyes. "It's not going to move again, because—" He tilted his torch toward the "mummy," "—it's your idiot brother."
Sure enough, the "mummy" groaned, stumbled, and toppled sideways—
and from behind it popped out a man, brushing dust off his jacket and trying (and failing) to hold back his laughter.
It was Jonathan laughing so hard he nearly choked.
"Bloody hell, Evy! You should've seen your face!" he gasped between laughter. "I thought you were going to faint!"
Evelyn turned beet red, her embarrassment mixing with fury. "JONATHAN!" she screeched. "You— you absolute child!"
Daniel was still holding her up, one eyebrow raised. "Evy, not that I mind, but now that the ghost is gone, You can stop strangling me now."
Evelyn froze, realizing she was still practically clinging to him like a vine. Her face went even redder. "I—I was just startled!" she sputtered, quickly untangling herself and stepping down.
Jonathan leaned against a crate, wheezing with laughter. "Oh, that was priceless! You should've seen it from my angle—arms flailing, legs wrapped—absolutely romantic!"
"Jonathan!" Evelyn snapped, glaring daggers. "Don't you have any respect for the dead? You shouldn't play with them!"
Jonathan grinned, brushing off mummy dust from his jacket. "I do respect them! That's why I keep them company. Don't you think they get bored, lying around for three thousand years? I was just... livening things up!"
*****
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*****