In this world, danger is everywhere.
My potential is listed as "Master." I had no way to change that, at least not yet.
There were only two vague mentions about increasing one's potential in the entire story. I need to look into them later. But right now, I'm too weak.
First, I need to raise my secondary stats.
I closed the window and turned back into the room.
No time to waste.
I picked up the loose T-shirt from the bed and slipped it on.
Then I checked my bank details.
---
Account Balance: 636.02 UMLoan: 100,000 UM
---
After the Second Calamity, when other races started settling here, humanity had to agree on a universal currency for intercontinental and interspecies transactions.
That's how 'UM'—Universal Marks—came into existence.
Looking at the account balance, I frowned.
No wonder this guy became a villain. Debt, failure, frustration. But still... it felt like overkill.
I walked out of the apartment and onto the street.
The city buzzed with life. Flying cars zipped overhead, people of all races crossed paths—beastfolk, dwarves, elves. Life had adapted, even thrived.
I headed toward the market.
Now that I had Nicolas' memories, I started digging through them. I needed to understand his fall. Why did he become a stepping stone for the protagonist in the first place?
And then it hit me.
Nicolas Frey. An Awakener from a working-class family.
Two years ago, a massacre took place on the street where he lived. Calling it an "incident" doesn't do it justice.
His parents died. He was lucky—or unlucky—not to be there. He'd gone to his sister's academy entrance exam.
When he returned, all that was left was rubble and ash.
But why did that tragedy make him a villain?
Here's the twist: the massacre was part of a power struggle within a major guild.
The female lead's guild, to be exact.
And guess what happened next?
At the academy, he clung to the female lead. Harassed her. When the protagonist: Leonard Shade step's in as he humiliate Nicolas.
What an idiot.
Instead of whining to the heroine, he should've exposed the guild's crimes in smarter ways.
He tried to be fair. That 100,000 UM loan? He borrowed it from the black market to pay a broker to publish an anonymous exposé.
The article got deleted within hours. Barely caused a ripple.
Now the debt loomed over his head like a sword.
But debt only matters if you plan to live a long life. One successful raid in a dungeon and I could double that money.
I arrived at the market.
The chaos of haggling voices and the stink of spoiled fruit hit me all at once. It was alive, noisy, and real.
I searched for an alchemy stall and found one tucked between a potion booth and a spell scroll vendor.
I bought a few black lotus flowers and dried sunfruit seeds.
Done here.
I stuffed them into a cloth bag and started heading back.
Pulled out my phone.
---
20 unread messages from Big Sis.
---
I didn't read them. Not interested.
In this world, you're considered an adult at 16. If you're an Awakener, you're allowed to enter cleared, certified dungeons.
I searched for a beginner-level dungeon online and booked a slot. Easy enough. It's one of the most used, lowest-risk dungeons out there.
A smirk tugged at my lips.
If this works, my body should improve quickly.
"Haa... haa..."
Just a one-hour walk and I'm already this exhausted?
I stared at my trembling legs and sighed.
It took effort just to open the apartment door.
As much as I wanted to collapse into bed, I forced myself to stay up.
Now's not the time.
I shuffled into the kitchen and began preparing a potion with the ingredients I'd bought.
Nothing fancy, just toss the dried seeds and lotus petals into a blender with some water.
It turned into a pitch-black, sludgy liquid that looked like cursed oil.
I sniffed it.
My stomach churned instantly.
"Damn, they weren't kidding about the smell."
I gave the mix a swirl, then steeled myself.
If you think drinking this stuff will boost my stats directly, you're wrong.
If it worked like that, black lotus and sunfruit seeds would be rarer than dragon hearts.
Then why bother?
You'll see soon enough.
I grabbed a small knife from the drawer. Took a deep breath.
Then sliced across my palm.
The blade sang as it split flesh. Pain bloomed instantly, sharp and hot.
Blood trickled into the mixture, swirling into the black liquid.
I hissed through my teeth.
Can't waste a drop.
The moment the blood hit the mix, my vision swam.
My knees buckled. My head spun.
Just how pathetic is this body?
Clenching my jaw, I wrapped the wound tightly with a cloth to stop the bleeding.
I wasn't worried. As an Awakener, I'd heal in a few hours.
Knowing I wouldn't stay conscious much longer, I stumbled to the bed and collapsed.
Sleep took me.
And I didn't resist.