“Hey Fūzen, your room’s ready,” Mizuhana said with a soft voice, her cheeks slightly blushed.

  “Yaaay! Mr. Fūzen is staying!” Ren shouted with pure excitement.

  As I stood up, Ren grabbed my hand and eagerly pulled me toward the guest room.

  The room was simple, clean, and neatly made—honestly, better than my own room back in the real world. It smelled fresh, as if not a single speck of dust had dared to settle in.

  “Thank you for letting me stay the night,” I said, genuinely grateful.

  “You’re my brother’s savior,” Mizuhana replied shyly. “You can stay as long as you like.”

  As she walked out with Ren, I watched her go. She was beautiful. No doubt in my mind—she’d be the most beautiful woman in my world too, I thought.

  “Good night, Mister!” Ren called out with a cute voice.

  “Good night, Mizuhana. You too, Ren,” I said with a warm smile.

  The door closed with a soft creak. I looked around the room again—it was cozy, calming. The bed was made with soft animal furs, though I wasn’t sure what kind. After a quick shower to handle my hygiene, I sat down on the edge of the bed.

  “Inventory—open,” I whispered.

  Beep. The system screen lit up in front of me.

  I noticed two extra swords and one massive hammer had been added to my items. Looked like I’d also hit level 6. Six skill points. Hmm…

  I leaned back, thinking. “Where should I allocate these points?” I muttered to myself.

  Then I remembered—those three bastards I sent back to the beginner zone. I must’ve picked up their loot. Three silver coins. No wonder they were hunting NPCs.

  There’s no telling how many more like them are out there, I thought. I need to stay alert.

  I opened my stats:

  Strength: 10Agility: 25Intelligence: 30Vitality: 20Dexterity: 20Luck: 10“I’ll throw 5 into Agility and 1 into Luck. Can’t go wrong with more speed—and I need more luck anyway,” I chuckled.

  I took a deep breath. It was time to rest.

  Before bed, I always said a prayer. It kept me grounded.

  “Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

  Give us this day our daily bread,

  and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

  For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”

  (Luke 11:2–4)

  I id down. The bed was soft, warmer than I expected. I closed my eyes without fear or tension—for once, I felt safe.

  And just like that… I drifted into the dark, peaceful silence of sleep.

  The morning came faster than expected.

  Sunlight crept through the window, and before I could even stretch—

  “Good morning, Mister Fūzen!” Ren’s loud, adorable voice echoed through the room.

  I rubbed my eyes and sat up. “Good morning, little one,” I said with a smile.

  Mizuhana appeared behind him. Her cheeks flushed again as she spoke softly, “I hope the room was comfortable. Did you sleep well?”

  “Yeah. I haven’t rested that well in a long time,” I said honestly.

  “My sister made you chicken soup!” Ren added, practically bouncing with excitement.

  He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the kitchen.

  The aroma in the air was incredible. Warm, rich, and full of comfort. Of course, all of it came from the hands of a goddess—Mizuhana, I thought with a soft smile.

  “I’ll be reaping the rice fields today,” Mizuhana said.

  “I can help around,” I offered.

  “You don’t have to, really,” she replied quickly, shyly. Then she puffed out her chest and flexed—though there wasn’t much of a bicep there, it was cute as hell.

  Now’s your chance to get closer, the author whispered in my head.

  “No!” Ren interrupted. “Mister will help me with the animals!”

  He stood with his arms crossed, adorably stubborn.

  Well well well, Ren beat you to it I said to the author, in thought, smirking.

  Whatever, man, the author grumbled. You’re about to miss your best chance.

  We’ll see, I replied in my head.

  After breakfast, Mizuhana said, “Leave the dishes to me.”

  “No, we’ll do them together,” I insisted.

  “Me too! Me too!” Ren shouted, jumping up and down.

  The three of us stood side by side at the sink, washing dishes like a real family. Pte after pte, it felt natural—like we’d done this before.

  Why do they even wash by hand? I wondered. Oh yeah—low stats, no magic. Makes sense.

  Then it happened.

  I accidentally brushed my hand against Mizuhana’s. Soft. Elegant.

  We locked eyes.

  For a moment, neither of us spoke… until Ren popped his head between us.

  “You two are totally made for each other!” he shouted.

  Our faces turned red instantly.

  Looks like you’ve got a little helper, huh? the author teased. Little Ren the Matchmaker.

  After the dishes, we all stepped outside. Mizuhana looked back.

  “Be careful,” I told her. “Call if anything happens.”

  She nodded, blushing again. “Okay.”

  She walked away with elegance—like the sun itself radiated from her presence. I squinted just watching her go.

  “You okay, Mister?” Ren asked curiously.

  I cleared my throat. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

  Ren led me to the stable, excitement in his voice.

  “It’s time for the animal trials! You have to earn their trust!”

  As we entered the pen, every animal stared at me.

  “Baaa,” a sheep said, narrowing its eyes. “You think you got what it takes, pal?”

  Did that sheep just talk? I blinked.

  Fffft! A lma spat at me.

  I dodged, weaving through spit like a pro.

  “What else can you do?” the lma snorted.

  “They like you!” Ren said happily.

  “No… no, they really don’t,” I muttered to myself.

  I grabbed hay from the barn and began feeding them.

  “Baaa. This food ain’t winning us over,” the sheep compined.

  Why can I understand animals? Ask the author, I thought.

  Ren stood tall behind me, arms folded behind his back, looking over the barnyard like a proud general surveying his troops.

  Then—

  “AAAAAHHH!!!”

  A scream pierced the air—from the direction of the rice field.

  Ren’s eyes widened. “It’s my sister!”

  “Baaa! Grrrk! Go save her!” shouted the sheep and lma in unison.

  I didn’t hesitate.

  In a fsh, I bolted toward the rice field.

  Five seconds. That’s all it took.

  And there she was—Mizuhana, cornered by something massive.

  A giant orc, nearly fifteen feet tall, stood towering over the field. Its skin was thick, like armor forged from stone. A massive wooden log rested in its hands like a club, and hanging from its neck was a blue gem, glowing like a drop of water.

  Where the hell did this come from? I thought. A monster like this spawning near a peaceful farm?

  The orc roared—a deep, guttural sound—and swung its club down.

  I reached Mizuhana just in time. I swept her into my arms, cradling her tightly as she wrapped her arms around my neck. With a burst of speed, I darted away, kicking up dirt behind me.

  “Ren!” I shouted. “Protect your sister!”

  “Yes, Mister!” Ren called back, standing firm with the sheep and lma behind him like loyal guards.

  “Baaa! Pffft! You have our trust, warrior!” the animals said in unison.

  I turned back to face the orc.

  Its eyes locked on me.

  With a single roar, it charged.

  BOOM!

  Its club smmed into the ground where I had just been, the shockwave sending tremors through the earth. Even dodging, I staggered from the sheer force.

  The orc was relentless. It didn’t stop swinging. Every hit cracked the ground, tore through fences, shattered the field Mizuhana had worked so hard to maintain.

  “Is he going to be okay?” Ren whispered, hiding in the shed beside Mizuhana.

  “He’ll come back to us,” she replied, trembling but trying to stay strong.

  Back in the field, I was still dodging.

  I can’t damage it. My bdes won’t even scratch that hide…

  Then I remembered—the massive hammer I took from one of those pyers I defeated.

  I summoned it from my inventory.

  “HEY, STUPID ORC!” I yelled. “AM I SO WEAK YOU DON’T EVEN SEE ME?!”

  I dashed forward, leapt into the air, and brought the hammer down with everything I had.

  BOOM!

  The orc stumbled, dazed.

  “Did I get your attention?” I said, standing on top of its chest.

  But it wasn’t done.

  A dark green aura erupted around its body. With a single punch, it sent me flying across the field. My limbs went numb. Blood poured from my mouth and nose.

  I hit the dirt, hard.

  I’ve felt worse. This isn’t the end.

  I gritted my teeth and stood up.

  “I won’t die here,” I whispered. “Not today. Not now. I won’t let you take this pce from me… I won’t lose anything again!”

  The orc turned. This time, I had its full attention.

  We charged—me with my hammer, it with its club.

  BOOM!

  Our weapons collided, sending a shockwave through the valley. The sound echoed like thunder.

  I ducked, dashed beneath it, and smmed the hammer into its ankle.

  CRACK!

  The orc stumbled. I didn’t stop. Over and over, I struck—from ankle to knee to ribs to head.

  Blood streamed from my forehead down to my boots, but I kept going. A frenzy. A storm.

  BING! System Alert: You have defeated a rare monster — Savage Orc.

  BING! Level Up: Level 10 reached.

  BING! Rare Item Obtained: Tears of the Goddess.

  I stood on top of the fallen beast, gasping for breath. My hammer rested against its skull.

  “RAAAAHHHH!!” I roared, my voice echoing over the hills.

  I looked down at its corpse.

  “Do you know who I am?” I said to the dead orc. “Of course you don’t… You’re dead.”

  Then I colpsed.

  Footsteps pounded the dirt.

  “Mr. Fūzen!!” Ren shouted, tears streaming down his cheeks.

  Mizuhana ran just behind him, her face pale with worry.

  They reached me as I y colpsed atop the orc’s body, bloodied and barely conscious. Mizuhana dropped to her knees beside me, cradling my head in her soft, trembling hands.

  “Please… don’t die,” she whispered, tears falling freely. “Please be okay…”

  “Mr… I don’t want you to die,” Ren sobbed. “You’re the best person we’ve ever met! I want you to marry my sister!”

  Bing.

  System Alert: Critical fatigue reached. Entering forced rest mode.

  You will now be logged out.

  “Damn…” I muttered under my breath as the world darkened. “Not now…”

  Everything went bck.

  [REAL WORLD – SATURDAY, 1:00 PM]

  Light pierced my eyes.

  Cool air brushed against my skin.

  The sound of machinery buzzed around me as I opened my eyes and gasped. My body ached. My head throbbed.

  And standing in front of the capsule…

  “Welcome back, peasant,” Chairman Meow said ftly, his intense cat-eyes staring into my soul.

  “Yeah… I’m back,” I muttered, completely out of breath.

  I climbed out of the pod, smoke rising from the edges as if the whole system had been pushed to the limit. My legs were weak. My limbs still stung with phantom pain.

  I gnced at the clock.

  1:00 PM.

  “One day in Zero… equals an hour out here,” I whispered.

  I stepped onto the porch, colpsed into a chair, and took a deep breath.

  For the next few hours, I dug into the Arcadia Corporation—the company behind Zero. I found out they were more than just developers.

  They were revolutionaries.

  Their headquarters was located inside the Lotte World Tower, the tallest building in the world—built from materials stronger than any modern metal. Not even a nuclear warhead could crack it.

  Damn… that’s next-level tech.

  Chairman Meow strutted across the room with that smug grace only a cat can have.

  “It’s time to eat, peasant,” he said.

  We sat together, sharing a simple meal. But my thoughts were elsewhere.

  At exactly 5:00 PM, I stood up from my seat.

  “I’m going back,” I said aloud. “They’re waiting.”

  I picked up Chairman Meow and brought him toward the pod.

  “You’re coming too,” I said.

  “Meow,” he growled. Put me down, peasant. Who will guard our sanctum?

  Electric current surged as the system initiated. My vision blurred—

  And then—

  [ZERO – FARMHOUSE, NIGHT]

  I opened my eyes.

  I was back.

  Inside the guest room, lying in the same bed.

  But Chairman Meow… wasn’t with me.

  “What have I done?” I muttered.

  Bing.

  System Alert: Your companion has spawned in the beginner town. Their location is marked. They will journey to your location.

  I let out a long breath, heart calming.

  “Mr. Fūzen!!” Ren’s voice echoed.

  He burst into the room, tears welling up. Mizuhana followed behind him, her expression trembling.

  “You’ve been gone for five days!” she cried. “We were so worried!”

  “Please don’t leave again!” Ren shouted, grabbing my hand. “You’re part of our family now!”

  I looked at them both. Their eyes—wet with tears, glowing with warmth.

  I reached up and wiped their cheeks.

  “There, there… Everything’s okay now,” I said softly.

  I stood and looked out the window.

  The damage from the battle? Gone.

  The farm? Perfectly restored.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  Mizuhana stepped beside me.

  “I called in builders from the town. We traded the orc’s body for repairs. Orc materials are rare—valuable. Skin, bones, everything.”

  “I’m just gd it didn’t cost you anything,” I said, relieved.

  “Also…” she leaned in. “All your wounds are healed.”

  Then came Ren—shouting, bold as ever.

  “Mr. Fūzen! Please marry my sister! She said she likes you too!”

  Our faces turned red.

  We stood side by side, looking out toward the horizon, the sun rising again on the peaceful farm.

  Then, from across the field—

  Chairman Meow appeared, majestic as always, walking toward us with a powerful stride.

  “Meow,” he said. There you are, peasant.