I woke up at exactly six in the morning, just like always.
For a moment, I lay there quietly, staring at the ceiling of my inn room in Roste while the soft morning light slipped in through the window.
Then I stretched my arms above my head and let out a slow breath.
"Phew…"
My body felt a little sore, but in a good way.
Yesterday had been productive.
"I guess I'll head back to Trest after breakfast," I murmured. "If I come back here later, I'll return to the same place and time I left, right?"
"Yes," Travy replied in his usual calm, mechanical voice. "That is correct."
His voice was as lifeless and robotic as ever.
But honestly?
I didn't mind anymore.
At this point, talking to him had become a normal part of my day.
"Good," I said as I sat up. "That makes things way easier."
After changing, I headed outside for my usual morning jog.
The streets of Roste were still quiet, with only a few early merchants beginning to set up their stalls. The cool air brushed against my skin as I ran, and the morning light gave the town a peaceful feeling that was completely different from the lively night market I had seen yesterday.
As I jogged, I practiced using Body Strengthening Magic in short bursts.
The first time I used it, the strain on my body was obvious.
Now, though…
"I can use it twice now without feeling like my body's about to complain," I muttered.
"That is measurable improvement," Travy said.
"So I'm not imagining it."
"No. Your body is adapting to the skill."
That was nice to hear.
I kept a steady pace, occasionally activating Body Strengthening for ten minutes at a time because it was the duration of that skill. It still wasn't something I could use carelessly, but I could already feel the difference compared to before.
By the time I returned to the inn, I was lightly sweating and breathing hard in the satisfying way that only came after a good workout.
After taking a quick bath at the public bathhouse, I went back to the inn for breakfast.f
As usual, it was simple but delicious.
Warm bread, eggs, seasoned meat, and a hot drink that had become one of my favorite parts of mornings in Eiras.
Nothing fancy.
Just comforting.
Once I finished eating, I returned to my room and changed back into my usual clothes.
Then, just to make absolutely sure, I asked one more time.
"Travy, for confirmation… when I come back here next time, my location will still be this room, right?"
"Yes," he replied immediately. "That is the case."
"Perfect."
I opened the menu and pulled up the world selection.
My eyes settled on the familiar name.
Trest.
Without hesitation, I pressed it.
"Initiating World Jump," Travy said. "Destination: Trest."
A magic circle slowly formed beneath my feet.
Intricate patterns spread outward, glowing brighter and brighter until instinct made me shut my eyes.
A second later, the sensation disappeared.
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing in my room.
Back home.
I let out a small breath and looked around.
The familiar sight greeted me immediately.
A large bed. A polished study desk. Neatly arranged shelves. A tall wardrobe. Wide windows framed by elegant curtains. Sunlight poured into the room, casting warm gold across the polished wooden floor.
My room in Trest always felt clean and luxurious.
But more importantly…
It felt safe.
Comfortable.
Like a place where I could actually rest.
"Phew…" I muttered. "Since it's the weekend anyway, I guess I'll finish my homework first. Professors really love dumping assignments on students."
"That appears to be a universal academic pattern," Travy said.
I snorted.
"You're getting oddly relatable."
"I am simply being accurate."
I checked the time.
It matched exactly with when I had left Eiras.
Even the System's clock had already adjusted itself to Trest's time.
"That still feels broken every time I see it."
"It is highly efficient."
"Efficiently unfair."
With that, I sat down at my desk and got to work.
The assignments were annoying, but after everything I'd done in Eiras, regular schoolwork somehow felt less threatening than before.
Math.
Reading.
Written responses.
Some problem-solving work.
Honestly, after fighting monsters and learning magic, homework felt almost relaxing.
Almost.
Still, there was a lot of it.
I stayed focused and worked through everything one by one, and by the time I leaned back in my chair, lunch was almost there.
"Phew… done."
That alone already felt like an achievement.
"I guess I should head to the dining room," I said. "Mom and Dad don't have work today since it's the weekend, so they might be there."
"That is a logical assumption."
"Thank you, Travy. Truly insightful."
I left my room and walked through the estate.
Even now, calling it "my house" still felt a little strange sometimes. Technically, it was my father's estate, but it had always been home to me.
The halls were wide and elegant, with polished floors, soft carpets, framed paintings, and tall windows that let sunlight pour in. Servants moved quietly through the corridors, each one carrying out their duties with practiced ease.
Even though we were wealthy, the house never felt cold or stiff.
It just felt well cared for.
When I arrived at the dining room, both my parents were already there.
My mother noticed me first.
"Oh my, dear," she said in her soft, gentle voice. "How's your day going so far?"
My mother, Celina, had a way of making every room feel warmer.
Just hearing her voice made me relax a little.
I smiled and took my seat.
"Lots of homework as usual," I said. "But I just finished all of it, so I don't have to worry anymore."
Her expression brightened.
"I see. Then that's wonderful. Come, sit properly and let's eat while the food is still warm."
"Yes, Mom."
As soon as I sat down, the servants began bringing in lunch.
The smell alone made me realize how hungry I was.
As we started eating, the conversation came naturally.
That was one thing I always appreciated about my family.
Even with how busy my parents were, meals together never felt forced.
My father, Joseph, was the quiet type. He usually had a serious face, the kind that could probably intimidate most people without even trying.
But I knew better than anyone that he cared a lot.
He just wasn't the type to show it with words.
He showed it through actions.
A few moments into lunch, he cleared his throat.
"Son."
"Yeah?"
"Do you want to play Devil's Gate after this?"
I blinked, then smiled almost immediately.
"Sure, Dad. I'm up for it."
Devil's Gate was one of the most popular MMORPGs in this world, and I played it often.
The surprising part wasn't that I played it.
The surprising part was that my father did too.
Even though he was a busy business owner, he always made sure to leave time for Mom and me whenever he could.
Sometimes that meant family meals.
Sometimes it meant casual talks.
And sometimes…
It meant boss raids.
A very faint smile appeared on his face when I agreed.
"Good."
My mother gave a soft laugh.
"Please don't drag him into another difficult raid immediately, dear."
My father looked at her with the calm dignity of a man who had definitely done exactly that before.
"It builds character."
"It made him stay up too late last time."
"That boss had a rare drop," he replied.
I couldn't help laughing.
"He's not wrong."
Mom sighed dramatically, though she was smiling.
"I see. I'm outnumbered."
"That's because Dad has loot on his side," I said.
"That is a statistically powerful advantage," Travy commented.
I nearly choked on my drink.
That was dangerous.
After lunch, I spent the next several hours gaming with my father.
And honestly?
It was fun.
Really fun.
For all his serious energy in real life, once he logged in, he got weirdly competitive.
Not reckless.
Just intensely focused.
Which, for an MMORPG, was actually perfect.
We ran a boss raid together, coordinated our roles, and after a long session, finally cleared it cleanly.
I leaned back in my chair and exhaled.
"Nice."
Not long after, there was a knock at my door.
"Come in."
My father stepped inside.
"Son."
"Yeah?"
"Your mother and I have an urgent business meeting tonight, so we won't be here for dinner." He paused for a moment. "If you want to eat outside, that's fine."
I nodded.
"Okay, Dad. Please take care."
He gave a small nod, then handed me my allowance.
A simple gesture.
Routine.
But somehow, it always felt grounding.
"Don't stay out too late."
"I won't."
Then he left to join Mom.
I sat there for a moment after the door closed.
Even when work pulled them away, they always told me personally.
Not through a servant.
Not through a message.
Personally.
That mattered more than most people would think.
"Hm…" I murmured. "What should I do?"
A second later, I already had the answer.
"Maybe I'll go to the gym first before dinner."
"That would align with your usual physical maintenance routine," Travy said.
I smirked.
"You make it sound like I'm a machine."
"You are simply consistent."
"…You know what? I'll take that as a compliment."
I changed into my gym clothes, packed an extra set of clothes along with the rest of my usual necessities into my gym bag, and headed out.
My driver took me to the mall where I usually trained.
Compared to Eiras, Trest always felt completely different in a way that was hard to explain.
Bright store signs.
Glass windows.
Escalators.
Digital displays.
Air conditioning.
Clean polished tiles.
After spending time in a fantasy world, modern life somehow felt like its own kind of magic.
The gym was already active when I arrived.
The familiar sounds of weights clinking, treadmills humming, and people quietly working through their routines filled the space.
I spent around an hour working out.
A bit of lifting.
A bit of treadmill running.
Controlled pacing.
Good form.
And while I trained, I carefully used Body Strengthening Magic in short intervals.
Not enough to attract attention.
Just enough to get more used to it.
"I still can't believe I'm basically sneaking fantasy magic into a gym session," I muttered.
"Your cross-world training efficiency is notable," Travy said.
"That's one way to put it."
By the time I finished, my muscles felt pleasantly tired.
After changing in the locker room, I stepped back out into the mall.
Instead of eating outside, I decided to buy ingredients and cook for myself.
If my parents were going to be out, I might as well make something balanced.
It took me around thirty minutes to grab everything I needed.
Protein.
Vegetables.
Rice.
A few extra ingredients.
Simple.
Practical.
Healthy.
By the time I got back in the car, I was already thinking about how I wanted to season everything.
"You do seem to enjoy cooking," Travy said.
"Of course I do. It's useful, healthy, and if I get good enough, it saves money."
"A financially efficient hobby."
"Exactly."
When I got home, I headed straight to the kitchen.
Even though we had servants who could easily prepare meals, I still liked cooking for myself sometimes.
There was something satisfying about it.
Maybe it was the routine.
Maybe it was the control.
Maybe it was just nice doing something normal after living between two worlds.
I prepped the ingredients, cooked everything myself, and made a dinner that was simple but balanced.
Good protein.
Good carbohydrates.
Healthy fats.
Enough to support training without feeling heavy.
Once everything was ready, I sat down and ate in peace.
The house was quieter now without my parents around, but it didn't feel lonely.
Just calm.
Comfortable.
A different kind of quiet.
After dinner, I cleaned up and spent an hour doing a quick stock market trading session.
It was something my parents had taught me over time.
Not just how to invest, but how to think.
Patience.
Timing.
Risk management.
Emotional control.
By the time I finished, I had earned a decent amount.
"Phew. Another good session today."
"You had a productive day," Travy said. "Academics, physical training, nutrition, and financial activity were all handled efficiently."
I leaned back in my chair and smiled.
"Oh, right. I guess this is the first time you've seen my daily life in my home world."
"Yes," Travy replied. "Your routine is highly structured."
"That's a polite way of saying I'm kind of boring."
"I did not say that."
I chuckled.
"Fair enough."
Then I stretched my arms and let out a slow breath.
"I guess I can call it a day…"
A pause.
"…But first, I should probably check my Status. It's been a while."
"That would be advisable."
I opened my Status screen.
The familiar blue window appeared in front of me.
Name: Artorius Everglow
Adventure Level: 1
Adventure Experience: 160 / 500
Adventurer's Guild Points (Eiras): 2 / 200
Level: 8
HP: 412 / 412
Mana: 289 / 289
Stamina: 184 / 262
Wit: 198 / 198 (New!)
Attributes:
Strength: 52 (+2)
Agility: 50 (+1)
Vitality: 61 (+6)
Intelligence: 61 (+1)
Luck: 40 (20 base + 20 from title)
Titles
Not-So-Newbie Adventurer
Effect: +6% Experience Gain
Beginner's Luck
Effect: +20 Luck
Passive Skills
Researching — Level 8 (Level Up!)
Athleticism — Level 5
Reading — Level 8 (Level Up!)
Cooking — Level 4
Magic — Level 6 (Level Up!)
Mana Control — Level 5 (Level Up!)
Mana Efficiency — Level 3 (Level Up!)
Swordsmanship — Level 2 (Level Up!)
Foraging — Level 4 (Level Up!)
Endurance — Level 4 (Level Up!)
Water Magic Mastery — Level 2 (New!) (Level Up!)
Concentration — Level 2 (New!) (Level Up!)
Active Skills:
Appraisal — Level 3 (Level Up!)
Fireball — Level 2
Wind Throw — Level 2
Earth Bullet — Level 1
Water Slash — Level 3 (Level Up!)
Lightning Stun — Level 2 (Level Up!)
Body Strengthening — Level 2 (New!) (Level Up!)
Magic Detection — Level 1 (New!)
I stared at the screen for a few moments.
A lot of my skills had gone up.
Honestly… seeing the results like this felt incredibly satisfying.
"A lot of my skills really leveled up," I muttered.
Then my eyes stopped on the new bar.
"Wait… Wit?"
I narrowed my eyes.
"That definitely wasn't there before."
"It is a newly unlocked status parameter," Travy said.
"What does it do?"
"You may think of it as mental endurance. A mental HP bar, if you prefer familiar terminology."
I nodded slowly.
"So skills that need focus or concentration use it?"
"Yes. Skills, prolonged concentration, certain forms of magical control, and mentally demanding tasks may consume Wit. Additionally, mental attacks can reduce it."
That immediately made sense.
"So if I keep focusing on mana absorption for too long, my Wit will slowly go down."
"That is correct."
"Huh…"
I crossed my arms.
"That's actually a pretty balanced mechanic."
"It is designed to prevent abuse of concentration-heavy methods."
I gave him a dry smile.
"So basically, you saw me finding a strong trick and immediately added a limiter."
"I prefer the term 'system stabilization.'"
I laughed.
"Sure you do."
Then I focused again.
"What's the growth rate?"
"Approximately five percent of consumed Wit contributes toward its growth."
I blinked.
"Only five percent?"
"It is a specialized stat. However, its regeneration is tied to Intelligence."
That caught my attention.
"How much?"
"Base regeneration is equal to twenty-five percent of your Intelligence. If you rest properly, that increases to fifty percent."
Now that was interesting.
"So the better my Intelligence, the better my Wit recovery."
"Yes."
"That actually fits me pretty well."
"You are a build that frequently benefits from sustained focus."
I grinned.
"See? That's the kind of validation I like."
Then I looked back at the Titles section.
"Not-So-Newbie Adventurer…"
My old title had changed.
"I'm guessing the Newbie Adventurer title evolved because I ranked up?"
"That is the most likely cause," Travy replied.
I nodded.
"Makes sense."
Then another thought came to me.
"If the six percent bonus applies to normal experience and skill experience… does it also affect Adventurer Experience?"
"Unfortunately, no," Travy said. "Adventurer Experience is separate from title-based experience modifiers."
"Too bad," I said, though honestly I wasn't that disappointed. "Still worth it."
Then I noticed something else.
A new progress bar.
"Adventurer's Guild Points… in Eiras?"
"That is your Adventurer's Guild progression in Eiras," Travy explained. "Once you reach the required threshold, you become eligible for rank promotion."
I slowly nodded.
"So it's basically my guild promotion tracker."
"A simple but accurate description."
I let out a small laugh.
"I'm glad you keep quietly adding more features to the system."
"I am optimizing according to your progression."
"Convenient."
I leaned back in my chair.
For a moment, I just looked at the screen.
My stats were improving.
My skills were growing.
My body was getting stronger.
My magic was becoming more refined.
And for the first time in a while, I could clearly see the shape of my progress.
It wasn't random anymore.
It was real.
Steady.
Earned.
Before I realized it, a yawn escaped me.
"…Ah."
There it was.
The delayed fatigue.
"You should rest now, Artorius," Travy said.
His voice was still robotic.
Still flat.
Still mechanical.
And somehow…
It still sounded familiar now.
Yeah.
I really had gotten used to him.
"Yeah," I said with a tired smile. "Good night, Travy."
There was a short pause.
Then—
"Good night, Artorius."
That made me blink.
Then I smiled.
"…You're getting better at that."
"I am adapting."
I let out a quiet laugh, lay down on my bed, and closed my eyes.
And just like that, I ended the day.