Chapter 4- The morning sun filtered through the windows of the modest household. Following the previous night's long, meticulous meeting, the family had reached a unanimous decision: blend in. To survive the coming changes and avoid unwanted attention from powerful factions, they had to live as normally as possible.
"Mom, Dad, I'm heading out now! See you later!" Ran called out, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
He gave them a bright, genuine smile, his footsteps lighter than they had been in years. He was in an incredible mood, and for good reason. Not only had he reached Level 5, but he had also made a staggering discovery while studying the *Beginner's Guide (Level 1000)* the night before.
The "Orb" he had received wasn't actually his Innate Martial Soul—it was a vessel, a key meant for the one million players chosen across the universe. His true soul was still hidden deep within the Orb's depths, waiting for the right moment to emerge.
*That explains why I didn't get any new skills at Level 5,* Ran thought as he walked. He realized that, technically, both he and Mia were still "unawakened."
The family had coordinated their schedule carefully:
* **Morning:** Maintain their public roles (School and Work).
* **Lunch:** Meet back at home to enter the Private World.
* **Late Afternoon:** Exit the Private World before evening to avoid the more dangerous nocturnal inhabitants.
Ran was vibrating with excitement. The guide mentioned that they could actually summon their Innate Martial Souls from the Private World—a feat they hadn't even attempted yet.
Ran arrived at the school gates, which were buzzing with more energy than usual. Today was the University Selection Fair. Rows of stalls were set up, manned by seniors and recruiters from various prestigious universities. They were there to scout for students with high-tier Innate Martial Souls, offering academic points and scholarships to the "geniuses" of the academy.
For Ran, this was his last week before graduation. He attended not because he wanted a scholarship, but to maintain the facade of a normal student and to see if his friends would notice any change in his aura after his secret leveling.
"Ran! There you are!" He was greeted at the entrance by his two best friends, Ken and Leo.
"Where have you been, man?" Ken asked, punching Ran lightly on the shoulder. "We were trying to contact you about that security guard internship, but we couldn't get through."
"Yeah," Leo added, leaning in. "You missed some serious drama. You hear about Victor Alfonso?"
Ran shook his head, playing along. "What about him?"
"He hit Level 5," Leo whispered, pointing toward a crowd where a group of students was laughing loudly. "His family hired a team of 'Party Experts' to carry him through a dungeon. Now he's flaunting that Poison Worm Martial Innate Soul of his, spitting acid everywhere just to show off. He's been a total bully all morning."
Ran looked over and saw Victor. The rich boy was indeed gloating, looking down on students who were still Level 1 or 2. Ran just smiled inwardly; he was Level 5 too, but his power was earned, not bought.
"And Ninya is already gone," Ken continued. "A Military General picked her up yesterday. She's officially a Martial Military recruit now."
As his friends chatted about who was going to which dungeon to level up, Ran stayed quiet, observing. While others were rushing to find work based on their soul types, Ran was content keeping his secrets hidden.