Roma stared at the blue screen.
Silence filled the room.
"…Let me summarize."
He raised one finger.
"I got transmigrated into a dying bandit."
Second finger.
"I'm weak."
Third finger.
"I have enemies everywhere."
Fourth finger.
"And my golden finger…"
He pointed at the screen.
"…needs me to recruit someone before it does anything."
[System: Affirmative]
Roma nodded slowly.
"…Good."
"Very good."
"Perfect."
Then—
He lay down flat on the bed.
"…I give up."
"…If I try to recruit someone…"
"They'll either laugh…"
"Or beat me up…"
"Or report me to the boss…"
"…or all three."
He lay back on the bed again.
"…This is impossible."
Complete Mental Shutdown
Roma stared at the ceiling again.
"…Let me die."
[Host Vital Signs: Stable]
"…That's unfortunate."
He turned to the side.
"…System, let's be honest."
"I don't have money."
"I don't have strength."
"I don't even have reputation."
He pointed at himself.
"I'm a 23-year-old bandit with no future."
"…Who exactly am I supposed to recruit?"
[No Answer]
"…Of course."
The Only Good News
Suddenly—
That warm current flowed again.
Roma paused.
"…Hm?"
His body felt… lighter.
The pain?
Gone.
The weakness?
Reduced.
He sat up slowly.
"…Wait."
He moved his arm.
Twisted his waist.
No pain.
"…I'm healed?"
[Beginner Gift: Activated]
Roma blinked.
"…That's it?"
[Yes.]
"…No pills?"
"…No techniques?"
"…No hidden treasure?"
Roma looked at the ceiling again.
"…Minimalist system."
He closed his eyes, sensing his body.
"…Stage 2 Chakra Gathering."
Same as before.
No breakthrough.
No sudden enlightenment.
Nothing.
"…So I'm still weak."
From memory:
Most henchmen → Stage 2 or 3 chakra gatheringElite henchman → Stage 4 and 1 5th levelLeader → Stage 6 (almost 7 or late chakra gathering).
Roma opened his eyes.
"…I'm literally at the bottom."
The Worst Part
He suddenly remembered something.
"…Right."
"This body…"
"…died in a gang fight."
Memory fragments surfaced:
BloodChaosScreamingRival bandits
And then—
Darkness.
Roma rubbed his face.
"…So I'm using a second-hand corpse."
"…Great."
Voices echoed outside again.
"Move faster!"
"Boss wants everyone ready!"
"Even the injured ones!"
Roma stiffened.
"…Ah."
The gang was preparing to move.
Target?
A remains of a noble family, though it was only destroyed 2 days before.
But—
Roma's memories told him clearly:
"…That place was already destroyed two days ago."
"…By something/ someone… powerful."
And already looted.
Meaning: No resources and Unknown threat
"…So, we're going to a place…"
"…where even the winners left nothing behind."
Roma slowly lay back down again.
"…Let me die."
[Host Has Repeated This Statement 3 Times]
"…And I mean it every time."
Logical Thinking (But Still Useless)
Roma sighed.
"…Let's analyze."
"If I go…"
"I might die."
"If I don't go…"
"I will definitely die."
"…Great."
Looking at the System Again
Roma raised his hand weakly.
"…System."
[Yes.]
"…Any tips?"
[Recruit a member]
"…Other than that."
[…]
"…You're really sticking to your theme."
Roma sat up again, this time with a blank face.
"…Alright."
"Let's assume I try."
"…Who would join me?"
He imagined it:
"Hey, want to join my group?"
Response:
"Who are you?""Why should I?""Are you stupid?"
Or worse— Gets beaten up on the spot
"…Yeah."
"That sounds accurate."
Roma checked his belongings.
One torn pouch.
Inside—
A few low-grade coins.
"…This can't even buy food."
"…And I'm supposed to recruit someone?"
He looked at the system again.
"…Can I recruit a stray dog?"
[Invalid Target]
"…You're picky for someone useless."
Roma lay back down once more.
"…Alright."
"New plan."
"I won't recruit."
"I won't struggle."
"I won't hope."
He crossed his arms.
"…I will survive."
Pause.
"…Somehow."
"EVERYONE GATHER!"
"We leave soon!"
Roma slowly sat up again.
"…Guess I don't have a choice."
He stood.
This time—
Stable.
He stretched slightly.
"…At least I'm not injured."
He looked at the blue screen one last time.
"…Group system, huh…"
"…Let's see when you actually become useful."
Roma walked toward the door.
Not confident.
Not excited.
Just… moving forward.
"…If I survive this…"
"…maybe I'll think about recruitment."
He paused.
Then added:
"…Maybe."
Roma stepped outside into the noisy bandit camp.
"…For now, not dying is already a full-time job."