"Where is my watch?"
Remedy frantically patted down his pocket. His hand didn't meet the familiar, cold shape. He flipped the fabric inside out with a sharp tug. A folded piece of paper fluttered to the floor.
He bent down and scooped it up. His fingers hesitated for a fraction of a second before unfolding it. As the creases flattened, his dread was confirmed.
> "Hello! It's me, the girl from earlier. If you're reading this, it means you've searched your pocket and noticed your watch is gone. Well, I'm the one who took it." — There was a small doodle of a smiling head wearing a blindfold. — "We will see each other again 'very soon.' I'll give it back to you then. Of course, that's only if you come find me. Otherwise, you'll never see it again..."
>
The memory of leaning toward the girl, their faces inches apart, flashed back to him.
Is that when she took it? How did she do it? I didn't feel a single thing.
He pressed a hand to his mouth.
I remember... her scan showed her as Level 20. Wait, no. Was she hiding her level?
Unless a special item is used to conceal one's level, a player can see the level of those below them. Even then, a sufficiently powerful individual can pierce such concealment.
However, when facing someone stronger, a player can only perceive their level if the gap does not exceed twenty-five levels. Beyond that threshold, all information remains hidden.
Remedy sighed.
You noticed it, didn't you, Ely?
[Yes.]
Why didn't you tell me?
[It was the best choice for you.]
Remedy's pupils slid toward the lower corner of his sockets. He didn't press the matter further. Silence followed. Then, he simply stretched, his mouth opening in a wide yawn. Suddenly, his stomach let out a violent, thunderous growl.
His expression flattened, a hand resting on his abdomen.
Is this because of my new body? I'm suddenly starving.
Hunger clawed at his stomach lining. His gut rumbled again.
It was never this painful before. Looks like breaching a Tier doesn't just have perks.
He headed for the exit, eyes locked onto his phone screen.
Since I'm not going to do anything with the rest of the credits I was given, I'm going to buy groceries. We're going to eat a little better this month.
***
In the days that followed, Remedy did not set foot inside a dungeon to grind levels. He was the person best placed to know exactly what martial mastery meant in this world.
His routine was simple.
Every night, the exact same nightmare woke him like clockwork. He used that time to review his progress and outline the day's schedule. Then he did the household chores—washing the dishes, tidying the house, and preparing breakfast for everyone before dawn.
The moment the sun peeked over the horizon, he went out for a run, taming his endurance and learning to pace himself. Then he would return to eat, rest his muscles, and breathe before heading up to the roof—his familiar sanctuary—to drill his martial techniques until nightfall.
But he had to adjust his habits. Having become an Optimized Human, his footsteps and training impacts were too loud. The neighbors were starting to complain.
Then came the night before the exam.
Around the dinner table, a heavy silence weighed down the atmosphere. No one was speaking.
Sora, her head bowed over her food, shot discreet glances at the others. Remedy and Aunt Flora were eating mechanically, their hands shoveling food into their mouths as if they were pre-programmed robots.
She gripped her spoon a little tighter.
It feels like we're prepping for Remedy's funeral.
She shot a pleading glance at her father, who was still glued to his phone.
Do something, Dad. If this keeps up...
Suddenly, Uncle Victor jumped to his feet. "Look at this!!!"
His phone was thrust toward them, his booming laughter instantly lighting up the room. Everyone snapped their heads toward him. Sora let out a sigh of relief.
Thank you, Dad! You saved the day... right?
"I just placed a bet on Remedy! He's going to take first place! Hehehe!"
Sora's jaw dropped. No way. Tell me he didn't just do that!
Her eyes slid over to her mother, who was staring at the screen with an expression of pure terror—Victor's group chat was proudly displaying the betting pool.
Victor kept smiling, but his eyes locked onto Flora. A giant hand loomed over him. Flora pinched his ear and twisted.
"You! What did you do now?!"
"Ow, ow! Easy! I didn't bet much, I swear!"
"What?! What do you mean 'not much'?!"
"Yeah, just a... just a little bit." He turned his head slightly toward Remedy. "Besides, he's going to win, for sure! Right, kid?"
Remedy gave him a thumbs-up.
"Of course. First place is mine." A smirk tugged at the corner of Remedy's lips. Victor mirrored it.
Their smug smiles snapped Flora's last nerve. She twisted harder.
"Ow, ow! Gently, gently!"
"You, shut up." Flora turned to her daughter. "And Sora, catch him! He can kiss his exam goodbye!"
Sora's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Roger that, five out of five!"
She lunged at Remedy. He sidestepped flawlessly. Sora hugged empty air, her hands slamming onto the empty wooden chair. Remedy, having landed perfectly, wagged a mocking index finger at her, a playful smirk on his face.
That was the final straw for Sora.
"Don't move! Let her catch you!"
"What?! But why—?!"
Sora smiled wickedly and lunged again. "You heard Mom! Just take it! Hehe!"
Remedy bolted. "In your dreams!"
Sora gave chase. "Mom, tell him to stop! He's running away again!"
The two circled the living room.
"Remedy, I told you to let her catch you! Why are you running? Do you want to be punished?!"
"N-no!"
"Then stand still so she can get you!"
"But that's not fair!"
"Do you want me to handle it myself...?!"
Victor slipped his arm around Flora's waist from behind and pulled her back gently. "Alright, calm down."
Flora landed in his arms, her hands resting against his chest.
"You don't need to worry so much about him anymore. He's grown up now. And he knows what he's doing."
Victor's gaze, turning serious and filled with quiet confidence, settled on Remedy feinting past Sora.
"His eyes... I've never seen them this confident. He will come back. For sure."
Flora, finding comfort in the reassuring Victor of old, calmed down. Her cheeks flushed slightly, as if she were resting under the shade of a sturdy tree.
Then: "Besides, if you keep getting this riled up at your age, you might have a stroke..."
Flora's face instantly closed off. She shoved him away.
"Are you saying I'm getting old?"
Victor opened his mouth. No sound came out. He closed it.
"No, wait, that's not what I—"
"Yes. That is exactly what you said."
"But I didn't even say it!"
"Ah, so you were thinking it from the start?"
Ah, damn it. I got baited.
She turned her back on him. "Hmph. You're sleeping on the floor tonight."
Then she marched off to the bedroom.
Victor scratched his head. Looks like I messed up again.
His eyes settled on the two kids still running around, then lingered on Remedy.
You have to come back alive, kid. If you don't, your aunt won't be able to bear losing you too.
"Hey, you two! That's enough! Clean everything up and go to bed. Especially you, Remedy. You have an exam tomorrow. Go to sleep so you're in peak shape."
Both of them shouted together: "Yes, sir!"
Victor turned toward Flora, who was entering the bedroom.
"Wait for me, Flo-Flo!"
"Don't call me that. And get ready to sleep on the floor."
"You can't do this to me, my Flo-Flo! Flooooo!"
"I told you not to call me that!"
He went inside. The door shut behind him. His frantic apologies muffled through the wood.
The two teenagers looked at each other, then burst out laughing.
They wound down. Remedy walked past Sora. "Alright, let's clean this up and—"
Sora grabbed his shirt.
"What is it?"
She bit her lip, but the question spilled out anyway: "You'll come back... right?"
Silence followed the question. Then Remedy turned around, placing a gentle hand on her head.
"You don't need to worry. I will come back, for sure."
Sora, satisfied, smiled discreetly. Then she drove a punch straight into Remedy's stomach. He collapsed dramatically to the floor, faking the impact.
"That's for making me run around earlier."
Then she turned and walked toward the table. "And who said I was worried about you? In your dreams."
Remedy lifted his head, a satisfied smirk on his lips.
Don't worry. I will come back. And I will come back with a victory.
End of chapter 11
[Volume 1 – Arc 1: The Anomaly's Awakening]
End of Arc 1