When I opened my eyes in the morning, for a moment I forgot where I was.
There was no stone altar, no moldy ceiling, no metal screeching mixed with rain.Instead, there were wooden beams, a thin but clean blanket, and a faint scent of soap.
The small room of the Copper Lantern Inn.Veldan.
I took a deep breath.
I'm still here. I'm still alive.But now, "being alive" alone wasn't enough.
I sat on the edge of the bed and lowered my feet to the floor. My muscles ached; yesterday's barrels, crates, and stairs had done their job. But this ache wasn't the kind that announced death. It felt more like "muscles that hadn't been used in a long time have started working again."
"Status," I whispered.
The translucent panel appeared:
⟪SYSTEM⟫[STATUS]NAME: EthanLEVEL: 1SYNCHRONIZATION: 4%CONDITION: Rested, light muscle soreness
(Detailed attributes hidden.)
"We know what we've got," I said. "Now it's time to change it."
I threw the blanket aside and moved to the middle of the room.
"Every morning," I told myself, "first thing after waking up: push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, running.This body is not going to be left entirely to system numbers."
I put my hands on the floor and started push-ups.
The first three were fine.At four and five my arms began to burn.At eight and nine my breathing broke rhythm, and on the tenth I let my chest sink to the floor and just lay there, drawing air into my lungs.
Then sit-ups. My abs made it very clear they did not appreciate being remembered.After that, I tried pull-ups using the thick beam in the ceiling and the nearby wall for support. They barely counted as real pull-ups, but my shoulders and back were on fire.
For running, I went down to the small space behind the inn. In the cool morning air I ran short laps. My breath grew shallow, my throat burned, but I didn't stop my steps.
Each repetition carved the same sentence deeper into my mind:
Survive.And get stronger.
Finally, the System opened a small notification:
⟪SYSTEM⟫[PHYSICAL ROUTINE LOGGED]Daily exercise habit detected.
Note:– No permanent stat increase today.– Regular repetition lays the foundation for future changes.
"If you keep going, your body will be forced to change whether it wants to or not."
"That's exactly the plan," I said, still out of breath.
After tidying myself up a bit, I went downstairs.The inn had already slipped into its morning rush. Some people were eating a quick breakfast, some had already gotten too friendly with their cups, and some just sat quietly watching the room.
Darron was at the counter as always. He smiled when he saw me.
"From the look of you," he said, "either you got into a fight, or you beat yourself up."
"Second one for now," I said. "I declared war on my muscles."
"Good," he chuckled. "Best to pick your first enemy from the inside.You worked decently yesterday. You've earned a cheap breakfast."
Without touching the coppers I still had, I ate the simple but hot meal he put in front of me.Bread, a thin soup… Not exactly what I would've imagined as breakfast, but my stomach wasn't complaining.
While I ate, I thought about the day.
Yesterday was barrels, crates, inn work… Today I'd like something that doesn't just grind my muscles but also gives my brain something to chew on.
"I'll check the notice board again," I told Darron. "Maybe this time I'll find something that helps me learn more about the town, too."
Darron shrugged.
"The notice board is where people write down what they don't want to shout aloud," he said. "Most jobs are just jobs. Some aren't. Who puts their hand where, who keeps theirs back… it shows up there.But most people never bother to look twice."
That line felt heavier than casual small talk.Still, Darron turned away as if he'd said nothing, moving on to another customer.
When I reached the notice board by the stone fountain in the center, the morning sun was just starting to warm the street. People gave the board brief glances as they passed.
The papers from last night were still there, but a new one had been added among them.Its edges were cut a bit neater, and the writing looked more careful. In the lower right corner, there was a small symbol drawn in black ink:
A small triangle with slightly rounded edges, a single horizontal line running through it.Simple, but deliberate.
I read the text:
"BASEMENT ORGANIZING JOB – PAYMENT: 6 COPPERS"
The basement of the old records building needs to be put in order.Looking for someone who doesn't mind carrying boxes and getting dusty.
Apply to: Records officer MarlenLocation: The stone building north of the central fountain.
Underneath, a short note:
"Quieter and safer than outside work."
My eyes slid back to the little triangle.
"Analyze," I said, focusing on the symbol. "What can you tell me about this mark?"
⟪SYSTEM⟫[SIMPLE SYMBOL ANALYSIS]Target: Black triangle symbol on the notice
Result:– Local / administrative mark.– Likely meaning: 'Officially recorded job' or 'office-related task'.– No special anomaly detected.
At your current level, no additional meaning is visible.
So at least it's not some cursed symbol from the cave, I thought.
Right then, the System opened a new window:
⟪SYSTEM⟫[NEW SIDE QUEST – YELLOW]Quest: Help the Records Office with the Basement
Description:The basement of Veldan's records office is messy and full of old boxes.By helping to organize it, you can earn some money and get a glimpse of the town's "paper face."
Objectives:– Talk to Marlen.– Organize / move boxes in the basement at least once.
Rewards:– 6 coppers– Minor physical experience– Additional reward (knowledge-based): Book
Penalty: None.
"So this time you mention the book upfront," I said.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[SHORT RESPONSE]Clear rewards increase cooperation potential.You have shown a dislike for unnecessary uncertainty.
"Good job, you're collecting data," I muttered.
I looked at the notice one more time.The triangle symbol caught my eye again. It was simple.Maybe it really did just mean "official."
Or…It was something else I didn't know yet.
For now, I chose to act like I believed the first option.
The stone building north of the fountain looked sturdier than most around it. Its windows were small, its walls thick. A simple sign hung beside the door.
I knocked.
"Come in," a muffled voice called.
When I stepped inside, the smell of paper and ink hit my nose. Tables piled with documents, maps on the walls, shelves full of worn-spined ledgers…Behind one desk sat a gray-haired man with glasses. He put his quill down and looked at me.
"Yes?" he said. "What do you want?"
"I'm here about the basement organizing job on the notice board," I said. "Name's Ethan."
He lowered his glasses slightly and looked me up and down.
"So you saw the notice," he said. "Good.Most people take one look at the triangle stamp and decide not to get involved."
There was something in that sentence.
"The triangle… some kind of official mark?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
He shrugged.
"Official, unofficial… Some of the town's business doesn't fit on clean lines of ink," he said. "But for you, the meaning you need is simple:This building, this basement, these boxes… are under record."
His voice carried a weight that said "don't dig too much" without ever using those words.But nothing like "don't you dare touch secret things" came out of his mouth.They didn't need to say that. They hid things in other ways.
"And the job itself?" I asked.
"The basement's a mess," he said. "Old boxes, useless documents, rotten shelves. You'll go down there and sort the boxes. Gather the solid ones together, set aside what's falling apart.If you work until the end of the day, you'll get six coppers. Leave early, and we'll see if you've earned full pay."
"Fair enough," I said. "Where do I go down?"
Marlen stood up and walked to a small door by the wall. He took a rusty key off a hook and unlocked the door.
"Stairs are old, watch your step," he said. "There are lanterns. Don't dig too deeply through the boxes; just check from the top.And…"He paused for a moment. His gaze drifted briefly toward his desk, where a small seal lay—the same triangle symbol stamped into it."When you're done, lock the basement door again. I expect the key back in my hand."
"Understood," I said.
He never once told me "don't touch secret things."He didn't have to. He'd already shown which door had locks on it.
I went down the narrow stone stairs.The steps were damp, the walls cold. The air grew heavier as I descended.
At the bottom, two lanterns hung from hooks in the ceiling. I lit one, and its warm light pushed back the gloom.
The basement was low-ceilinged and fairly wide.Wooden boxes everywhere, sagging shelves, scrolls caked in dust…On the back wall stood a heavy cabinet reinforced with iron bands. Carved into one corner of its door was the same small black triangle, with a horizontal line cutting through it.
The same symbol as on the notice.
Official mark, huh…
I approached but didn't test the lock.The lock itself told me enough. It was old, but the metal showed signs of recent use; not a relic untouched for years, but something that had been opened and closed often.
I turned to the boxes.Some had no marks on them at all.Some had the same little triangle on the lid—and those were almost empty inside.It was as if someone had already taken out whatever truly mattered and left only the shells behind.
So it's not just the cabinet… some boxes fall under that mark too.
The System remained silent.This time, I didn't ask for a special analysis. I didn't need its eyes for everything.
I started sorting boxes. The light ones to one side, the heavy ones to another. I mentally noted which shelves were about to collapse. Each lift made my arms burn, and just thinking about the stairs made my legs complain.
As I dragged one box aside, I saw something thin wedged behind it.A slim book, so covered in dust its color was almost gone.
I pulled it out and wiped the cover with my hand. A title emerged, faint but legible:
"A Brief Introduction to the Paths of Power in Areneth"For beginners and the curious.
My eyebrows rose slightly.
"Analyze," I whispered.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[ITEM ANALYSIS]Item: Old bookTitle: "A Brief Introduction to the Paths of Power in Areneth"
Content (summary):– General information on the main ways to grow stronger in this world:• Physical development• Energy / mana paths• Contracts• Guilds and training centers– Some pages are missing or torn.
Suitability:– Useful starting guide for a host at your current level.
Note:– This book has been flagged as the "knowledge-based bonus reward" for the current side quest.– Whether you keep it or not is your decision.
My fingers slid along the edge of the book.Several pages really were missing—especially in the section marked "advanced paths of power."The damage didn't feel accidental. It looked more like someone had carefully removed certain pages.
Someone doesn't want parts of this book to be read.But they don't destroy the entire thing… they just prune it.
Instead of shoving it straight into my pocket, I first tucked it into a more harmless-looking box nearby. I placed that box up on a higher shelf. I'd take the book with me when I left.For now, better it didn't stand out in the open.
I kept moving boxes until I was worn down.Time passed; my arms and legs went from complaining to simply throbbing.
At last I went back up.
Marlen was still at his desk. He set his quill aside when he saw me.
"How is it?" he asked.
"Less of a disaster," I said. "Some of the shelves are rotten, I separated the boxes.You'd need more than one day to fully fix it, but the basics are better."
Marlen glanced toward the window, then nodded.
"It'll do," he said. He pulled a small pouch from a drawer and counted out six coppers into my hand."That's it for today."
I pocketed the coins.
"Anything else?" I asked.
For a moment he seemed like he might say something. Then he just shook his head.
"No," he said. "There's nothing down there but rats and damp.In time, your eyes get used to it. Too much curiosity around here just means extra work for yourself."
The sentence balanced perfectly between "don't worry" and "don't dig."But he never once warned me to stay away from "very secret" things.Maybe he didn't need to. Some things are hidden between lines, not behind locked doors.
As I headed toward the exit, I heard faint whispers from a side room. I couldn't make out all the words, but I was almost sure I heard "triangle" and "files" in the murmur.
The door closed behind me, and the voices cut off.
By the time I stepped back out toward the fountain, the sun had started leaning west.The coppers in my pocket clinked against each other, and my thoughts drifted back to the basement:
The emptied triangle-marked boxes.The freshly used lock.A book with deliberately torn pages.
At that moment, the System updated the side quest:
⟪SYSTEM⟫[SIDE QUEST COMPLETED]Quest: Help the Records Office with the Basement
Rewards:– 6 coppers (received)– Minor physical experience (logged)– Bonus Reward:• "A Brief Introduction to the Paths of Power in Areneth" (added to inventory)
Synchronization: Unchanged.
Note:– The book is a basic guide to understanding the main ways to grow stronger in this world.– It contains no information about your long-term goals, secret organizations, or the origin of "shadows."
"I can already guess that part from the missing pages," I thought.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[NO RESPONSE]
On my way back to the inn, I could clearly feel the weight of the book in my pocket.I repeated its title in my mind:
"A Brief Introduction to the Paths of Power in Areneth."
A starting point for learning who grows strong in this world, how they do it, and which paths are left open—or deliberately closed.
And that black triangle…On the corner of the notice board, on the locked cabinet, on boxes that had been emptied, on the small seal on Marlen's desk.
No one had said, "Don't touch very secret things."They didn't have to.
Some things looked dangerous even without raising their voices.
As for me, I was no longer here just to survive.With push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and running every morning to train my body,and with jobs, people, books, and the System training my mind every day, I was here to get stronger—
and one day, to drag whatever was hiding behind that small black triangleout into the light.
Mystery and conspiracy rarely start with a loud declaration.
Most of the time, they begin with something exactly like this:
A "normal" little noticewith a tiny symbol in the corner that almost nobody bothers to look at twice.