As sunlight spread across the sky, slowly erasing the darkness…
It felt like a normal day in the Imagery World.
Peaceful.
Or at least—
it was, before something began to change… in a distant corner of the Imagery Dimension.
A world formed in an instant.
Land. Sky. Structure.
Everything—created within seconds.
Characters followed.
Movement began.
Life… started to flow.
But among all of it—
one stood still.
Frozen.
A young boy.
His expression was filled with shock… no, fear.
His body trembled.
Slowly, he raised his hands… checking himself, as if unsure what he was even looking at.
Then—
he pinched himself.
Hard.
"…I was in my room just now…"
His voice was low. Unsteady.
"…and I know it was night."
Confusion filled his mind.
He couldn't understand it.
Not yet.
Not the fact that—
he had awakened in another dimension.
Then suddenly—
something hit him.
A memory.
No… more like an instinct.
A sharp, survival-driven thought.
"Powers…?"
The moment that word left his lips—
he understood.
This wasn't the human world anymore.
He had been transported.
Something shifted inside him.
Fear of the unknown…
and yet—
a small spark of curiosity.
Without wasting more time, he started walking.
Step by step.
Trying to understand where he was… what was happening.
Still—
a part of him refused to believe it.
"So… reincarnation really exists…?"
He let out a small breath.
"…I guess some people really do want that."
After walking for a while—
he saw people.
Without hesitation, he approached them.
He spoke.
Interacted.
Watched.
They felt real.
Too real.
And strangely—
that made him feel… relieved.
Eventually, he reached a kingdom.
He was allowed inside.
Though—
judging by the looks people gave him—
his clothes stood out.
"If I want to survive… I need money."
He glanced at his belongings.
"A watch… a ring…"
"…I guess I can sell these."
When he did—
they sold for a surprisingly high price.
A small smirk appeared on his face.
"Looks like I'm not completely broke…"
"…but I still need something to live on."
He moved toward the town square.
Crowds had gathered there.
It felt like they were waiting for someone.
Curious, he stepped closer.
Moments later—
everyone dropped to their knees.
Royalty.
He quickly followed.
But as he knelt, he glanced at the man beside him.
"What's happening?" he whispered.
"Who's coming?"
The man looked at him strangely.
But still answered.
"You must be new here…"
"Today, the First Princess returns from negotiations with a neighboring kingdom."
The boy's eyes widened.
Something clicked.
The man continued—
"Her name is Princess Akidna."
That name—
confirmed everything.
Before he could think further—
she arrived.
As she passed by—
he lifted his head slightly.
Just enough to see her.
In this kingdom—
looking directly at royalty meant punishment.
But in that moment—
he forgot.
And she noticed.
For a brief second—
their eyes met.
But instead of anger…
she simply smiled.
Faintly.
And walked past him.
After the crowd dispersed—
he sat alone on a quiet bench.
His thoughts raced.
"First… I'm not just in another world…"
"…I'm in a world I've seen before."
A pause.
"Second…"
"…does that mean I can use powers?"
He slowly raised his hand.
For a moment—
he felt something.
A connection.
Control.
His eyes widened—
and he quickly pulled his hand back.
That night—
he chose to rest.
To calm his mind.
To think.
To understand.
Because everything—
had just begun.
The next morning—
his first destination was the guild.
After a short process—
he officially became an adventurer.
"So… I'm an official adventurer now…"
He looked at his card.
"…even if it's just E-rank."
Still—
he didn't seem bothered.
Not by something like that.
He walked toward the quest board.
Scanning.
Thinking.
Before he could decide—
a voice called out to him.
"Looks like you're new here."
"First quest?"
A young lady stood beside him.
He was slightly surprised—
but nodded after a moment.
She observed him more closely now.
His clothes.
His posture.
"Show me your ID."
She paused for a second, thinking—
He doesn't look like a spoiled brat…
…but coming without armor is just reckless.
Without hesitation—
he handed it over.
That alone—
caught her off guard.
She looked down at the card.
"Zeo…?"
"…E-rank?"
"Yes," he replied calmly.
"…at least for now."
She looked back at him.
Then—
a small smile appeared.
"My name is Carla."
"I'm an A-rank adventurer in this guild."
He didn't react much to her rank.
"Nice to meet you."
"I'm Zeo… a new adventurer."
She turned toward the quest board again.
Thinking.
"For your first quest… you shouldn't take anything risky."
After a brief pause—
she pointed at one.
"You should take this."
"Slime hunting."
For a moment—
she wondered if he would hesitate.
If he'd reject it.
So she turned back to look at him.
But—
to her surprise—
he was already staring at that exact quest.
Then—
he gave a slight smile.
"I think this is perfect for my first quest."
Without hesitation—
he took it.
Something about that—
moved her.
Just a little.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
But then—
he looked back at her.
"…I don't know where I'm supposed to go."
She froze.
"…You're serious?"
She took a small breath—
collecting herself.
"I'm free right now…"
"…so I can come with you."
"To observe… and show you around."
A small pause.
"If you want."
He looked at her for a moment—
then gave a slight bow.
"Thank you."
She blinked.
Looking at him—
a little confused.
"…You're a strange one."
But she didn't say it out loud.
And just like that—
the two of them left together.
To hunt slimes.
As they walked—
she spoke first.
"You don't act like you're from around here."
"Where did you come from?"
It was a natural question.
Simple.
But his body froze—
just for a second.
Then—
he moved ahead of her.
"I came from far away…"
A small pause.
"…a tiring place."
She looked at his back.
Quietly.
And for a while—
neither of them spoke.
After some time—
he broke the silence.
"Why did you become an adventurer?"
The question came suddenly.
Caught her off guard.
"…Where did that come from?"
He answered calmly—
"I just wanted to know."
"…what you're fighting for."
"…what made you choose this life."
He looked at her.
Silently.
She paused.
Thinking.
Then—
after a moment—
she decided to answer.
"…Because I wanted to change."
"…I wanted to be brave."
Slowly—
she glanced at him.
As if expecting him to laugh.
But—
he didn't.
He looked at her.
Calm.
Too calm.
"I think…"
"…you became brave the moment you chose this path."
Her eyes widened.
He continued—
"Cowards don't take the first step."
"That alone… sets you apart."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
And for some reason—
he smiled.
Not mocking.
Not amused.
Just… genuinely.
Soon—
they reached the hunting grounds.
Slimes moved around in the distance.
Carla stepped aside.
"It's your turn."
"Show me what you can do."
She extended a sword toward him.
"Here. Take this."
He blinked.
Surprised.
"…A sword?"
She smiled.
"I figured you didn't think that far ahead."
"But I knew you'd need one."
He hesitated.
"Don't worry."
"It's from me."
After a moment—
he accepted it.
Then—
he stepped forward.
Closing the distance.
Slowly.
The slimes noticed him.
They lunged.
He moved.
Dodging them with sharp, clean motion.
"Not bad… for a rookie."
Carla's voice came from behind.
Watching.
He steadied himself.
Raised the sword.
And then—
something changed.
A feeling.
Instinct.
As if—
this was natural.
As if—
he was meant for this.
One swing.
Clean.
Precise.
All of them—
gone.
He stood still.
Shocked.
And in that moment—
he understood.
This world has a system.
Adventurers… have status windows.
They level up.
They gain skills.
His breath slowed.
"…Status Window."
For a moment—
nothing happened.
Then—
it appeared.
His eyes moved across it—
and suddenly—
they froze.
His pupils trembled.
The thing he feared…
the thing he didn't want—
It was real.
Before anyone could notice—
he closed it.
Carla approached from behind.
She saw the movement—
but chose not to say anything.
Instead—
she smiled.
"Congratulations."
"You completed your first quest."
He looked at her.
His face slightly pale—
but steady.
"I think you've got talent."
She crossed her arms.
"…as long as you don't get careless."
He gave a small smile.
Then—
they returned to the guild.
After finishing the report—
he stepped outside.
She was there.
Waiting.
"How did it go?" she asked.
"The receptionist just asked if I was hurt or not."
A small pause.
"…Thanks. For today."
She looked at him—
then spoke casually.
"Hmm… let me treat you."
He blinked.
"…A treat?"
"From you?"
She shrugged lightly.
"I just feel like it."
"And it's a good chance for you."
He didn't question it further.
And so—
they went to eat together.
After that—
she looked at him again.
More serious this time.
"Listen, Zeo…"
"If you ever need anything—ask me."
"I'll help however I can."
He smiled.
Genuinely.
"I will."
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"But if I hear you took a dangerous quest…"
"…I'll kill you before a monster does."
He gave a slight bow.
She frowned.
"…Don't do that."
After that—
days passed.
Zeo continued taking small quests.
One after another.
Three days.
And in all that time—
he didn't see her again.
Then—
one afternoon—
he entered the guild hall.
Voices echoed inside.
Adventurers talking.
"…Did you hear?"
"One of the A-ranks—Carla…"
"…she died last night."
Time—
stopped.
His body froze.
His breath—
caught in his chest.
"…Carla…?"
"…died?"