It's been 2 days since I transmigrated, and I've learned a lot of things thanks to the system.
According to the system, I'm inside my novel, the one I'm currently working on. I forgot the title of it, as the 'Higher Being' made me. I don't know why.
I still remember its contents as they let me keep it. They said it's the only way for me to survive.
And about the 'Higher Beings'.
'Higher Beings' are said to be the ones who create universes. On Earth, it is said that only about 5% of the universe has been investigated, so imagine having a lot.
Anyway, a Higher Being created a universe based on my novel.
And the place I'm currently in is the center of that universe, where the story will happen.
My novel didn't get selected because it's the best. They said that although it's interesting, many other novels are better than mine, and I can't deny that.
The Higher Being selected my novel because it has potential. Also, the restrictions for recreating it as a universe are low.
They also mentioned things that weren't in my novel are bound to happen, as it's an ongoing novel that wasn't finished, and it has a lot of loopholes in it.
Which is what I expected after learning the fact that the Higher Being created a universe based on my ongoing novel.
The system said that even though the Higher Beings are powerful, they still have restrictions on using their powers or authority. That's why they gave me rewards, as they used my novel for their work.
In my case, I want to live an exciting life, so they just fucking threw me inside my novel.
I don't know what to feel about that one, but in the end, I just let it go, as thinking about it too much sounds troublesome and it's not like it'll send me back.
'I don't even know if I want to go back to that dull world.'
Moving on...
I asked the system why the Higher Beings create universes. Its answer is:
[Because that's the only thing they do, and after creating a lot of universes, they will rise to a higher position and gain more authority.]
That's a very useless information for me, so I didn't pry about it, and using my trait [Understanding] for too long gave me a migraine. Looks like it's too much for me to handle such information.
Lastly, this body that I'm possessing is solely made just for me, which is good because my guilt might haunt me to death if it's not.
It has its own background.
I have parents and a 4-year-old little sister. I've been an orphan in the past, so I don't know how to react to those things, but they've been messaging me through my watch-like device for the past 2 days, and they seem to be a good and loving family.
I'm 17 years old—or this body is, to be exact. I'm 29 years old mentally. Oh, it's also pretty huge down there.
"Heh..."
That's a plus.
But the system said earlier that my looks can't be upgraded because they said it would be an abuse of power, so they just made my eyes cool... That's fucking lame.
They create universes but can't make me look good? Bullshit!
Well, the eyes are really cool though, not gonna lie.
Anyway, even though I don't have a single book in here, I can use wifi anywhere and anytime I want using the watch-like device I'm wearing. I almost thought of it as a god, but the system said this device is common on this planet and it's called 'V.D' or 'Versatile Device'. So I started learning about this place or—to be more specific—this 'planet' with the help of V.D and [Understanding].
Turns out that I'm in a fantasy-themed world in modern times that has dungeons, ability users, heroes, monsters, beasts, demons, and other races like elves, dwarves, and even dragons.
Which is the same setting I remember from my novel. The year now is 2080. It's pretty much predictable now that there was a cataclysm that happened. 120 years ago, huge portals appeared all over the world and disasters engulfed the planet. Along with the cataclysm were the appearance of demons, monsters, beasts, dungeons, other races, and ability users.
80 years after that, the humans adjusted to the changes.
That is when clans, guilds, and heroes appeared.
Guilds and clans are groups or organizations full of heroes that help and support each other.
While heroes are ability users that kill monsters or beasts, raid dungeons, and protect humanity from the demons, etc.
It's currently the most wanted job as it's profitable, though it carries a lot of risk being a hero, so not just anyone can be one.
The other races have 1/4 of the world occupied, the humans have half, and the demons have 1/4 too.
You may think that the humans are winning based on that, but no.
Humans are weak compared to the other races and demons.
The other races, or otherworlders, can get more lands if they decide to attack us, but they didn't, saying that they will be no different from demons who did the same thing to them, so they respected us humans as the real residents of this planet. In the end, the humans gave them lands to stay in.
On the other hand, the demons are just starting to build up their power and preparing for the descents of the stronger demons and the demon lord.
This planet developed advanced technologies because of the race called dwarves, which create countless out-of-this-world artifacts, so exploring is fun.
This planet is also called Earth and has pretty much the same history, but has different names for places. I remember struggling to study different countries and places, so I just wrote random bullshit like:
"All countries and places got destroyed and split apart by the cataclysm. The Earth's surface got reformed, and when humans started to rebuild places, different names were attached to them as a sign of the new start of humanity."
With that, I can just make up names of places and no one can refute it.
Anyway, while learning things about this place, I also discovered that I'm gonna be attending the academy where strong heroes come from, the [Lunar Academy].
I know you all know by now, but I'm in the same class as the main characters. I don't think that this body of mine with shitty stats can even enter Lunar Academy, so why the hell am I placed in the best section?!
I just know the Higher Beings set that up for me.
Anyway—
Today is the 3rd day of May...
I'll attend the academy on the 1st day of June.
'I have less than a month...'
So I need to prepare. I need money.
Yeah, money. I learned that my family has no money and just barely got me in the academy by borrowing from people. I can't hunt monsters for money because I'm weak. I can't get equipment that can help me because I'm still weak and I don't have money. It's always money.
So I decided... I need to earn money first.
'How?'
Obviously, by doing the only thing that I did for a decade of my life—writing novels. Fortunately, the novels that I wrote don't exist here in this world, so it will not be counted as plagiarism. I'm the author of them anyway.
But before that, I need to know what genres and plots are currently trending before deciding what novel I should post. With my trait [Understanding], it will be a piece of cake.
'Probably...'
*****
It's been 2 weeks since I've been thrown into this world. I started doing training, just the basics like running, push-ups, etc., then I read novels if I have time.
I also read martial arts books. With [Understanding], learning is easy, but my body is still weak, so I can't use the moves efficiently.
Being an author in this world is a success. I didn't apply to publishing companies. Instead, I created my own pay-to-read site. It's easy considering the advanced technologies now with the V.D and even the help of the system.
I also advertised it myself by spreading chapters that end with a cliffhanger and spreading rumors about how good it is. At first, no one cared about it, but one time a bored person tried and liked it, recommended it to others, and so on. The cycle is just like that. I'm earning money. It's not that big, but it's still counted as a success.
My pen name is [Night]. I like things simple, and nobody knows me anyway.
Also, since I'm having readers, the attention that [Night] is getting is being used by my trait [I like the spotlight], boosting my growth.
My daily routine is to eat, train, read, eat, write novels, eat, sleep, then redo it again tomorrow and the days after.
*****
3 weeks have passed since I came here. In a week, I will attend the academy. Before that, I need things that will help me.
'Status'
Fwish—
=====
[STATUS]
Name: Raven Obadiah
Rank: F
Mana Control: F
Strength: F
Agility: F
Stamina: F-
Intelligence: F+
Luck: F+
Charm: F-
[SKILLS]
[TRAITS]
=====
By the way, the skill [Insight] is already registered in this body before I possessed it. The same goes for the trait [Calm Thinker], it's attached to this body. It seems like this body always thinks calmly, the same goes for me, so I should also have that trait. But having 2 same skills/traits is stupid, so they just made the effects better.
[Insight] is a skill that predicts or deduces things using the information I possess or around me.
[Calm Thinker] makes my flow of thoughts smooth in any situation. Fortunately or unfortunately, it doesn't control my emotions.
And another unfortunate thing—I don't have any attack or defense skill.
Be it trait or skill, I have none.
That's why I taught myself martial arts.
"I ranked up, my stats also increased. Well, except for mana control and charm. Fuck..."
Why doesn't my charm increase?
"Hey, system."
[What?]
"Do you have, like, you know, GPS function?"
[Yeah, why?]
"Great, help me find something."
[You don't know where it is?]
"Err... I know, it's just that it's vague."
[Vague? Why?]
"I didn't really put an exact location while writing it in the novel..."
[You didn't? Why?]
"Because novel characters always acquire things with the strong help of luck, you know, lucky encounters like that."
[Is that really your reason?]
"Well, readers don't like too much useless information, and describing places is too bothersome."
I replied honestly to make the system stop being nosy.
[...]
And it works. I can't see the system, but I can feel that it's disappointed in me.
"Aw, come on. Your very existence is made just to help me."
[Tsk, fine. So what's the destination?]
"Let's go first to Red Wolves' Mountain in Aveeno City."
I declared with a smile on my face.
The name of the city is based on its founder.
Well he died long ago, so who cares?
*****
I thought transportation rides were free as a privilege of being a student of Lunar Academy. Turns out I can't use that benefit yet because I'm still not attending Lunar, and I don't have the Lunar student ID.
Hurray for earning money, I guess?
I arrived at Aveeno City, and I'm now walking in the Red Wolves' Mountain. Looks like, in exchange for humans' advanced technologies, is their naming sense. Definitely not the author's fault.
As the name says, this is a mountain with a lot of red wolves. Red wolves are beasts with the appearance of wolves, just red and slightly bigger.
Beasts are normal animals that evolved because of being exposed to dense mana. They can be tamed, but it's hard and costs a lot of money because they eat monster cores.
Monster cores are what you find inside monsters. All monsters have a core. They have different values depending on their mana concentration and grade.
Anyway, I continued walking. I got a handgun in my right hand, and a dagger in my left hand, it's for fighting. Carrying weapons is normal in this world because dungeon overflows can happen anytime.
I studied some dagger arts and evading techniques as preparation for this journey.
Guns are considered a weak weapon in this era where artifacts, armor, and mana can be utilized. But they can still kill low-ranked beings.
Well, what can I do? A gun is the only weapon I can wield. Spears are heavy, and I don't know how to wield swords or other weapons.
Then while walking—
"...!"
I ran across five red wolves and my feet halted!
They noticed me, so I got into my fighting stance while the wolves were glaring at me—well, my weapons, to be exact.
They're about 15 meters away from me.
-Grrrr...
-Grahhh!
-Grrrrrrh
They're wary of me and keep growling like idiots.
I closed my eyes.
"Fuu..."
And took a deep breath.
"Okay, can't run here, everyone needs a first-time experience."
I mumbled, calming myself.
My heart is beating so fast... Am I afraid?
'No...'
I'm excited.
"..."
I opened my eyes again.
And with a resolute look in my face—
'[Calm Thinker]'
I chanted in my mind.
My thoughts then flowed calmly.
'[Monarch's Presence]'
I followed.
And upon activating the skill—
SWOOSH—!
A heavy pressure pressed down on the wolves, their bodies stiffened, and fear started to circulate in their minds!
Realizing the skill affected the red wolves, I aimed my gun toward the strongest-looking red wolf... And pulled the trigger.
Bang!
Thud-
After the sound of the gunshot, a sound of something falling followed. The one I shot had a hole in its head. It was dead.
"One."
I muttered as the corners of my lips started to rise.
-GRAAHHHH!!!
The other four then rushed at me, realizing one of them was dead.
'Looks like they decided to fight.'
I may emit heavy pressure, but I'm still low-ranked. I might die if I'm careless.
'[Insight]'
I activated Insight to predict the red wolves' trajectories.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Then I consecutively shot 4 times.
Thud-
Another sound of something falling was heard.
One red wolf was dead, one got wounded, and the other two dodged the bullets.
"That's two."
They're already near me, and two of them jumped toward me. I swiftly dashed backward and pulled the trigger again.
Bang!
Thud-
"Three."
While the other one was still in midair, I crouched and dodged it.
And when I was under the red wolf—
SLASH!
I slashed its stomach open with the dagger in my left hand, and blood splashed all over my body.
Thud-
Then a falling sound was heard again.
"Four."
I mumbled with a smile.
-GRAAHHH!
But then I felt something bite my left leg!
"Argh!"
I looked down and saw the wounded red wolf biting me.
It hurts, but because of [Calm Thinker], I didn't panic.
Instead, I raised my left hand in the air and stabbed the red wolf's body 3 times with my dagger.
PHUCK!
Thud-
"Now that's five."
I killed five red wolves in about 1 minute.
"Haaa..."
Letting out a heavy sigh as I deactivated my skills.
I looked at my body covered in blood.
"Dirty."
I can't help but frown.
'I thought my first battle would end with me unharmed, normally that's what happens in novels.'
I mumbled in my head.
[You're amazing for someone fighting for the first time! clap clap clap.]
The system then appeared with a compliment(?).
"Shut up, you're annoying."
[...Bastard]
I tried putting pressure on my wound to stop the bleeding. Fortunately, it's not that deep, and red wolves' fangs aren't venomous. I guess my luck is not just for display.
"I used a quarter of my mana, even though it was only for a minute. Using skills simultaneously costs a lot of mana, not to mention my mana capacity is just average."
I really wonder how this body got accepted to Lunar.
Anyway, I decided to camp near the place because traveling with a wounded leg is stupid, and I'm not stupid. I already brought all the things that I will need: a tent, food, a medical kit, clothes, an extra dagger, bullets, a sleeping bag, and a water cleaner. Hurray again for earning money beforehand.
"Oh right, the corpses."
Beasts have no cores because they're originally animals that evolved, but some of their body parts can be sold.
Standing in front of a red wolf's corpse, I frowned.
"Well, shit."
A curse came out of my mouth.
"I don't have a spatial storage. Where should I put these?"
I forgot something very important.
"Argh! Whatever."
In the end, I just dissected them and decided to bring only the parts that sell well and leave the corpses. They will just rot on the way, and it's too heavy. I still have packed food anyway.
"Hey system, do you have spatial storage?"
[Nope, but it seems like I can acquire it.]
"Right now?"
[No.]
"Tsk, useless."
[...]
I grumbled while dissecting the red wolves' corpses.