Max stared at the glowing screen hovering in front of him. The text hadn't moved. The
"...Fine," he muttered, and tapped it.
The system board pulsed softly and expanded, splitting into clean segments like a futuristic browser. The layout looked too modern for a death game. On the left side, a rectangular space lit up, showing Max's profile. Below it, a blinking tab in bold:
> [INTRODUCTION]
He tapped it.
---
Introduction:
Welcome, Rin Poo. Your body has been tampered slightly to fit the game world. Your assigned ability is Sprinkle of Creativity.
You are currently standing in the Assembly Field, where Host K delivers daily instructions and system updates. Tasks are deployed from here.
This screen is your System Board. It allows you to:
● Purchase Helper Bots (assistants specialized in combat, puzzle-solving, stealth, etc.)
● Purchase Spells (castable powers for emergencies)
● Buy Dresses, Disguises, Mounts, Housing, and more.
>| To view the default storyline for your persona, click Profile > Character Info.
To learn about other players, go to Player Info.
To view Round Objectives, go to Tasks.
---
Max blinked. "...This is longer than a game tutorial I rage quit last week."
He scrolled faster—text kept pouring like it had a life of its own. Entire categories. Submenus. Hover-tips. A whole damn economy of options.
"Bro, who coded this? K? Or did they kidnap an entire MMO development team?"
People around him were still glued to their screens. Some were frowning. Some were panicking. Others… whispering names. Planning already.
Max tapped his Profile. A new menu opened. At the top:
---
Task Assigned:
> Objective: Steal Princess Luna Skie's Golden Hair Clip
Risk Level: 6/10
Reward: Partnership mechanic unlocked for Round 2
Special Rule: Prepare a fake disguise before engaging.
Side Note: Other players may have the same task. Be quick.
---
Max froze. "Steal from a princess?"
He tapped her name. A holographic portrait flared into existence beside his screen.
Princess Luna Skie.
And holy hell.
She looked like someone poured moonlight into human form. Pale, glowing skin. Star-silver eyes. Soft pink lips and a smile that could bankrupt a dating sim. Her golden hair was braided like a comet's tail. Her aura shimmered in real time—like the system knew she was too pretty to be rendered in 2D.
Max groaned. "I know I'm a thief… but I don't steal from celestial-level beauties."
This wasn't a moral issue. This was aesthetic respect.
His mole twitched with internal conflict.
---
Still, he knew what the risk rating meant:
6/10 = The princess probably had guards. Maybe spells. Definitely attitude.
Failing the task could lock him out of partnerships.
And with this twisted system? That could be a death sentence.
---
Max scrolled to his Character Info tab. More data:
---
Name: Rin Poo
Persona Origin: Street thief from Kingdom Fralia
Default Traits: Low charm, high stealth, above-average agility, zero noble reputation
Passive Affinity: "Blending with Crowds" – Grants mild invisibility in public areas when not attacking
Outfit Status: Locked. Cannot be changed or removed.
---
Great. So basically:
Low charm = no smooth talking.
Mild stealth = maybe good enough to nab a clip.
Zero noble rep = one glance from a guard and he'd be thrown into the dirt.
"Why does the game want me to fail stylishly?" Max muttered.
He checked the time left for prep. A countdown began.
---
"Players, get ready."
A female voice echoed across the assembly field—calm, ethereal, no-nonsense.
10... 9... 8...
Max panicked. "Wait, I need a disguise—how do I buy stuff—?"
7... 6... 5...
He opened the Item Shop tab. Pages of outfits, masks, hats. The prices weren't crazy, but time was.
4...
He tapped the cheapest thing he could find:
> "Worn Farmer's Cloak – +5 blending in crowds. Cost: 50 coins."
3... Purchase confirmed.
2...
The cloak auto-equipped, layering over his default robes. It itched like it was coded by someone who'd never washed fabric.
1...
Max barely had time to breathe.
0.
---
The world shattered again.
---
He spawned in the middle of a bustling medieval market.
Sights, sounds, and smells hit him like a freight train:
Smoked meats sizzling on skewers
Silk banners swaying in the wind
Merchants shouting about "blessed lemons" (what does that even mean?)
Children chasing each other with enchanted ribbons
And standing near a tailor's stall, just casually browsing...
Princess Luna Skie.
---
She was real now. Not a hologram. Not a portrait.
Real.
She wore a flowing periwinkle dress with silver embroidery that looked woven from actual starlight. The golden clip glinted in her hair—a small crescent moon with tiny gemstone stars.
Max gulped. "Of course it's visible. Of course it's delicate. Of course it's right there."
She was surrounded by two knight-like figures, both dressed in silver-and-blue ceremonial armor. Not standard guards—probably enchanted NPCs with programmed aggression if anyone got too close.
---
Max stepped back into the crowd, pulling his itchy cloak tighter. His system board hovered just within his vision, pulsing like a reminder of how screwed he was.
"I have stealth. I have a disguise. I have 160 coins. I have maybe three minutes before someone else shows up and takes it first."
He looked up again. Luna was turning toward the jewelry vendor. Her guards were distracted. Talking.
Max's system pinged.
> Mini-Task Available:
"Distract Luna's guards using environment. Reward: +10 coins, increased stealth window."
A flash of creativity hit.
He scanned the vendor's table behind him. Sacks of pepper powder.
He grinned.
---
Thirty seconds later, one of Luna's guards suddenly sneezed so violently his helmet flew off. His companion turned in confusion just in time to get a face full of paprika dust, courtesy of a conveniently knocked-over spice sack.
Max darted forward during the chaos. His cloak blurred slightly as his passive "Blending with Crowds" ability kicked in.
He was within arm's reach now.
Luna turned slightly, her hand grazing her hair.
Too soon.
Max hesitated.
His system blared.
> "Warning: Delay detected. Risk factor increasing."
He clenched his jaw, stepped forward—
And pinched the clip.
It slid free like butter off silk.
He almost screamed from the tension.
---
TASK UPDATED:
> Status: Success
Reward: Partnership mechanic unlocked for Round 2
Bonus: 20 coins, +1 stealth mastery
---
He turned, merged back into the crowd, cloak fluttering. His heart raced like it was trying to teleport out of his chest.
Back near the stall, Luna turned again, unaware—then paused. One of the guards coughed, confused.
Max didn't wait around.
As he slipped into an alleyway, the system pinged again.
---
Round 1 Completed – You will be transported shortly.
Please stand by.
---
Max exhaled, finally breathing.
And then smirked.
"Sorry, princess. I steal from everyone equally."
Max's heart skipped a beat as her gaze swept over the crowd, almost as if it was searching for something. And then, it locked onto him.
Her sharp, moonlit eyes met his for the briefest of moments—just long enough to send a chill through him. The world seemed to pause for a fraction of a second. The princess didn't flinch. She didn't scream. She simply observed, her eyes narrowing with something that might have been recognition.
Max froze. His body was locked in place, rooted to the ground as if some invisible force was holding him in place. Her gaze was piercing, but there was something almost... curious about it. Had she seen him for what he truly was?
Before he could think further, the teleporter triggered. A white flash of light surrounded him, and the marketplace—along with the princess—faded into nothingness.
But not before he caught a final glimpse of her expression.
Recognition.
Max didn't know what that meant. Maybe it didn't mean anything at all. But something told him the princess wasn't going to forget his face that easily.