The glowing blue screen in front of Soobin blinked softly. His heart pounded, not from fear, but from the excitement bubbling inside. He knew what this was—or rather, he had a hunch. In countless games and novels, there was always something that set the protagonist apart from everyone else. A system, a cheat, an edge over others—A STATUS WINDOW. The very thing that allowed characters to grow stronger, to track their progress, boost their stats, unlock skills, and ultimately change their fate.

The words "STATUS WINDOW" shone at the top of the holographic screen, and he couldn’t help but grin.

"This… is real," he breathed, the adrenaline kicking in as his mind raced to grasp what he was looking at. A way to get stronger. A way to survive—and maybe even thrive—in this world, where he was supposedly powerless. "I was right, I was right" he shouted. It was a huge stroke of luck.

Curiosity took over, and he began to inspect the details of the screen in front of him.

---

[Legacy Status Window]

Name: Soobin

Level: 1

Spirit Name: [Unavailable]

Spirit Rank: [Unavailable]

Hero Rank: [Unavailable]

Experience: 0/50

Attributes:

Strength: 4

Defense: 3

Agility: 5

Intelligence: 6

Bond Level: [Unavailable]

Skills Unlocked: [None]

Quests: [!]

Inventory: [Accessed]

---

He stared at the screen, inspecting each stat. The numbers were embarrassingly low—lower than the average person in this world who could train with spirit energy would have. But what caught his eye most was the empty space where his spirit name and rank should have been. It means just 1 thing, that he could now form contracts with spirits and also harness the power of spirit energy.

His excitement flickered. "Of course," he muttered. "I haven’t made a spirit contract yet, so i can’t unlock those without bonding with a spirit..." 0

The same went for the skills and bond strength. Everything important was locked behind a contract. The only things of any real value to him right now were the meager attributes and the experience bar sitting at 0/50. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

"One step at a time", he reminded himself. Soobin turned his attention to the sword lying near the ring, nestled among the then glowing plants. He reached down and picked it up.

It wasn’t much to look at—a blue blade with a dull, lifeless glow. It didn’t feel like anything special in his hand. As his fingers ran along its surface, he frowned. "So this really is the sword from the novel huh" It looked so unimpressive.

Suddenly, a new window flashed before his eyes.

---

[Inspecting Weapon]

[S-Rank Spirit Blade]

Restrictions:

1. Can only be wielded by the owner of legacy artifact.

2. Will remain dormant until the user forms a spirit contract. Imbuing it with spirit energy is impossible without a bonded spirit.

Artifacts in this world were ranked from D to S, based on their rarity and power. Even an A-rank artifact could fetch enough to buy a luxury flat in one of the richest districts. But an S-rank artifact? Those were beyond rare—so priceless that even top-level heroes struggled to get their hands on one. Most heroes would never see an S-rank artifact in their entire careers.

'This is insane,' Soobin thought, his heart racing. He couldn’t believe it. The dull, seemingly useless blade that the protagonist had carelessly discarded in the novel… was actually an S-rank artifact?

How much could he get by selling it?? Forget selling, hes gonna use it for himself! imagine the uproar when he decides to bring it out in the world? it would cause so much chaos.

"THIS IS SO SICK!"

It seems the day couldn't get any better for him.

---

Before he could react anymore , another notification popped up.

---

[Restriction One Unlocked]

The blade can now be wielded, but remains dormant.

---

A thrill shot through Soobin. “It’s real... It’s all real,” he whispered. The first restriction had been lifted. This blade was bound to the status window, and no one else could use it. Not even the original MC had this advantage.

He gripped the sword tighter, feeling a connection form. But for now, he knew it was limited. He still needed to find a spirit. His journey had only just begun.

Unsure of what to do next, Soobin thought about where to store the blade. He didn’t want to carry it around and raise suspicion. As he considered this, another idea struck him.

“Inventory,” he said aloud, uncertain if it would work.

To his amazement, the sword vanished from his hand with a soft whoosh, and a notification appeared.

---

[Item successfully stored in Inventory]

---

He blinked, staring at his now empty hand. “It worked,” he chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "This really is like a game."

Though he was eager to explore more, reality came crashing down around him. His entire body ached from the earlier fight with the wolf, and his fall into the clearing hadn’t helped. His clothes were torn and dirtied, and the sun was setting fast.

''Time to go back" soobin muttered and stood up

He made his way back toward the place from where he had fallen into the clearing, searching for a way out.

"Ah ... now how do i go back up" he searched for a bit

Soon enough, he spotted a ladder, almost hidden against the side of the pit. “Convenient,” he muttered, his muscles protesting as he began the climb.

It was a tough climb.

Reaching the surface, Soobin paused for a moment, taking in the fading light. He took some time to breathe.

He had been through a lot, but the real challenge was just beginning. Wincing with every step, he headed back toward the jungle’s edge, determined to return home.

---

As Soobin emerged from the dense woods,he took a cab to the metro station. The cab driver even tho saw him tattered like that, didn't question anything. He found the metro station just as busy as before. But now, the world around him looked different. The sky had turned a deep, endless blue, dotted with shimmering stars that seemed closer than ever before. The neon lights of the city flickered in the distance, and the floating vehicles zipped by with a soft hum, casting gentle reflections on the glass buildings surrounding them. Colourful Holographic billboards all around .

The metro platform was a bit quieter now, the evening rush having passed. As he stepped onto the train, he glanced around, noticing the subtle glow of spirit energy that seemed to pulse around everything—the buildings, the trees, even the train itself.

He found a seat by the window, pressing his forehead against the cool glass. The landscape whizzed by, a mixture of sleek futuristic buildings and nature entwined with technology. It was beautiful in its own way, so different from his old life. " Such a colourful world ". Soobin's thoughts drifted as the train rattled along.

"I’m really here," he whispered, a smile tugging at his lips. There was sadness in his voice, but also something else—excitement. His heart raced at the thought of what was to come. This world was full of danger, yes, but it was also a place where he could be more than just an ordinary guy. He stared out the window, watching the glowing trees and hovering billboards as they blurred by. “I’m really here…”

The train pulled into the station near his home, and Soobin stepped out into the cool night air. His steps were slow and pained as he made his way down familiar streets, finally reaching the front door of his house.

As soon as he walked in, his parents gasped. His mother rushed over, her eyes widening as she took in the state of his torn clothes and the bruises across his body. His father, on the other hand, was almost in a frenzy.

“W-what happened to you?!” his father cried, already grabbing a towel. “Did you fall into a hole? Did you fight a monster? Do we need to call the doctor?!” He was pacing now, muttering all sorts of questions without waiting for answers.

His mother was calmer, though concern was clear in her eyes. She helped Soobin to the couch, her touch gentle. “Let’s get you cleaned up,” she said quietly, though the tension in her voice was unmistakable.

His mother , being a combat type hero, immediately recognized the wounds.

'These are the wounds from the claws of a shadow fang wolf.... ' she thought. She wanted to know where and how did he get these kinds of wounds, what kind of situation arrived for this to happen.. but she didnt want to press him right now.. he was hurt , and it was better to let him rest.

Soobin's father was still in panic mode, washing away his wounds with a wet towel, and providing first aid, not forgetting to scold him during the process.

Soobin looked between them, the absurdity of the situation hitting him all at once. Here they were, people he barely knew, yet they were taking care of him without any hesitation. His lips quivered as laughter bubbled up inside him.

His father paused mid-rant. “What’s so funny? ”

Soobin shook his head, unable to contain the chuckle. "Nothing... It’s just... Thank you for caring ." He couldn't get used to this kind of warmth.

His parents exchanged confused glances before his mother gave him a soft smile. Then, with a swift motion, she smacked him lightly on the back of the head.

"Ow!" Soobin yelped, rubbing the spot.

“Don’t scare us like that again,” she scolded, her voice sharp, but her eyes warm.

Soobin grinned through the pain. "Got it, Mom. Got it."

And for the first time in a long while, he felt like maybe—just maybe—he could belong here.