I blink once. Everything is okay, I’m back in my messy room and can breathe normally.

I blink again. A game screen appears in front of me with my terrible stats.

“Hello, Nao. Earth to human.”

Nao: “W-Who said that?”

“The book in your hands. Call me Arc.”

I blink one more time. I’m no longer the side character in other people’s tale.

Nao: “Okay, what are you and how will you benefit me?”

Arc: “Forward aren’t you? I’m glad my wielder is quicker than 96. As you might have guessed, I’m a system designed to help you become the greatest mage within the multiverse.”

Nao: “So I can use magic now!?”

Arc: “Only when you wield me otherwise say goodbye to your magic.”

Nao: “That’s inconvenient, your heavy.”

The book suddenly shrinks and grows chains. Is that a….necklace?

Arc: “Number 1 thought of that and enabled this function. Wear me and you can use magic easily.”

I place it around my neck and down my shirt. Don’t want anyone noticing Arc. This is mine.

Arc: “First order of business, let’s take a long at your stats.”

Strength: 7

Endurance: 10

Intelligence: 9

Charisma: 6

Agility: 7

Magic: 0

Arc: “The perfect picture of the average person. Don’t know what to think about that.”

Nao: “I won’t be like that anymore, tell me how to use magic. Is there….a spell to increase my height?”

Arc: “Multiple ones actually.”

Nao: “What’s the fastest way?”

Arc: “Slow down, I need to explain how magic first.”

Nao: “…Fine.”

Arc: “I can see that you know what magic is in general so I won’t go over that. My unique functions revolve around steady growth.”

Arc: “Once you become a master you can use all spells with no limit but now, you can only use 3 at a time. You can learn more than 3 but you have to swap them out in my book form to use different ones.”

Arc: “You gain points by studying magic and completing missions assigned by me. Use those points to upgrade stats or learn spells. Enough of both will increase your level and increase the number of spells you can learn.”

This really works like a game huh? How convenient for me.

Arc: “You got all of that?”

Nao: “Yeah, it’s simple. Now how do I learn that height spell?”

Arc: “The fastest way is shape-shifting and it will cost you 7 points to learn.”

Nao: “Fine, tell me what I need to get 7 points. I’ll do anything!”

Arc: “Okay, okay, calm down. You really have a Napoleon complex.”

Nao: “Don’t. Call. Me. That. Not you.”

Arc: “I understand

Nao: “Besides, that’s not the only thing I’m going to change. That’s just of the first step.”

Arc: “Right, got to get you to master level quickly.”

Nao: “Wait, why?”

Arc: “Classified, don’t worry about it.”

Nao: “…Fine, I’ll do whatever I need to do. What’s the first mission?”

The necklace glows bright enough to force me to cover my eyes. When I open them 2 new books appear on the floor in front of me.

Arc: “First two missions.”

1. Study Basic Magic Theory (+2 Points)

2. Clean Your Room (+1 Point)

Arc: “I usually take care of spell calculation but if you lose me this knowledge may prove useful.”

Nao: “I understand that but why the second one.”

Arc: “Let’s say I don’t want to be in a dirty room.”

I look around my room and can’t help but agree. Shirts, socks, controllers and my book bag. Didn’t see the point of cleaning before but now there’s hope.

Nao: “Consider it done.”

Arc: “Good, that’s all from me. If you need something or have questions, just call.”

Nao: “Got it.”

I put all of my energy cleaning and organizing my room. Cloths in the closet, controllers near my PS4, book bag next to the door. I even clean my computer history and organize the few files on there.

*Ding*

The game screen appears before me again and below all my stats is my reward.

Points: 1

I placed those books at my bedside desk, time to read what’s in them.

2 hours later (7:00 pm)

Nao: “This still seems like fiction. Mana, energy types, and magic circles. I never studied so much but one day…it will be worth it.”

Alyson: “Hey Nao, Nell said-”

I quickly turn around to see Alyson at the door without knocking again. I instinctively tried to cover the books but stopped myself in time. They’re just books, she can’t see what’s in them.

Alyson: “What…the fuck are you doing?”

What?! She can’t possibly know what’s happening. I need to save this.

Nao: “S-Studying, what’s wrong with that?”

She scans the clean room and the back to me.

Alyson: “You cleaned your room…”

Nao: “Yeah? Is there something wrong?”

Alyson: “What’s up? You never do this.”

Nao: “I-I just wanted to change yourself. Cleaning my room seemed like the best first step.”

Alyson: “Tch, sure you did.”

Alyson: “Don’t try to change Napoleon, you won’t escape from being the bottom of the barrel. You knew your place before, don’t mistake it now.”

Alyson: “Since you forgot your place in this world, you don’t deserve dinner. Bad night, loser.”

With a slam, she leaves me alone at last. Finally, she’s gone. I’m not in the mood for food anyway.

…

…

Damn it, I can’t wait until 7 points. I want to change now!

Nao: “What can I do with 3 points?”

Arc: “Here are some options aside from increasing your stats!”

Magic Missile

Minor Illusion

Scan

Control Water

Light

Nao: “Good, how long till I’m done with these books?”

Arc: “Actually…”

*Ding*

Points: 3

Nao: “Perfect, we’ll see who’ll stay at the bottom.”

*Knock* *Knock*

Nao: “M-Mom?”

Nell: “Yeah, can I come in?”

Nao: “Of course.”

Mom opens the door and slides into the room carrying a plate of food.

Nell: “I know you said that you didn’t want dinner but I couldn’t let you go to bed hungry.”

One of Alyson’s tricks huh? Typical.

Nell: “I’m proud of you for studying for a change, I thought you…gave up on life.”

Nao: “I-I…want to change mom. I just thought if not now then when.”

Nell: “I’m glad to hear that, I really am.”

She sets my food on my bed and hugs…me?

Nao: “M-Mom?”

Nell: “I know life is hard, especially with the hand given to you but I want to even you can do something amazing. At least, that’s what I believe.”

Nao: “…I want to believe that too.”

Don’t worry mom, I won’t be cursed like this forever. I will take my place at the top.

Nell: “And when you do succeed, don’t forget to be better than those who came before you. This world needs more heroes, not villains.”

Nao: “No pressure huh?”

Nell: “Hehe, I’m sorry. Just thought and hope I have. Don’t let that pressure to do things beyond your limits. Good night Nao.”

Nao: “…Good night mom.”

With a gentle push, she closes the door and leaves the room a bit brighter.

But not bright enough.

Nao: “Arc, put 1 point in intelligence, buy scan and minor illusion. Shape shifting can wait, I have a score to settle.”

Arc: “Not tonight you don’t.”

Nao: “I’m not tired, I can keep going. What’s the next mission? I can get one out of the way before going into Alyson’s room and-”

Sleep (+1 Point)

Nao: “…Really?”

Arc: “Yes.”

Nao: “…Fine, maybe another day. I’ve waited this long.”

Arc: “When you wake up those changes to you will be complete.”

Nao: “It takes time to apply the stat changes?”

Arc: “Yeah, better to do it when awake otherwise it can get painful.”

Nao: “Good to know.”

I go change in my pajamas and begin to take Arc off.

Arc: “Whoa, don’t take me off!”

Nao: “Why?”

Arc: “I need to stay on or the changes won’t take place.”

I nod and get in bed with Arc. Wait, that sounds weird.

Nao: “Arc, are you boy or girl?

Arc: “Neither. Let me guess you want a girl voice to sing you a lullaby?”

Nao: “No!”

Nao: “…But I won’t mind a girl voice from now on.”

Arc: “Should have known. Happy?”

I say nothing and close my eyes. Tomorrow, things change.

Nao’s Current Stats:

Strength: 7

Endurance: 10

Intelligence: 10

Charisma: 6

Agility: 7

Magic: 5