Chapter 3: The First Choice
Xavier woke up to the sound of silence.
No system chime. No floating screens. No mechanical voice.
For a few seconds, he lay there staring at the ceiling, relief washing over him.
"…So it really was a dream," he murmured.
Then he sat up.
His body felt light. No soreness. No lingering pain. No trace of the injuries that should have shattered him. The memories of falling, of hitting the ground, of dying, were still sharp in his mind.
Xavier exhaled slowly.
After cleaning up, he dressed in his delivery company uniform out of pure habit. The faded logo felt heavier than usual as he slipped it on. He didn't think too much about it. Thinking too much might make him hesitate.
He grabbed his keys and headed outside.
The old car sat there quietly, just as it always had.
Xavier paused for a moment, frowning. He didn't question how it had gotten back. Some part of him simply… didn't want to. He turned the key.
The engine roared to life instantly.
"…Two days in a row," Xavier muttered in disbelief. A small smile crept onto his face. "Maybe today really will be a good day."
He turned on the radio as he pulled out of the lot.
"…a mid-ranked guild has officially entered an A-class dungeon located in the eastern district. Experts warn that casualty rates could exceed—"
Xavier listened absentmindedly. Stories like that were everywhere. Awakened guilds risk their lives for power and prestige. A world he had never been part of.
Not yet, a small voice whispered in the back of his mind.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
The radio cut off as his phone buzzed. Xavier glanced at the caller ID and smiled faintly.
Mom.
He answered quickly. "Hi there, Mom."
"Don't 'hi' me, Xavier," Mabel Cross snapped. "It's been a week since you last called."
Xavier winced. "Sorry, Mom. I've been busy with work."
"You don't have to overwork yourself," she said, her tone softening. "I get paid plenty. If you need money, just ask."
Mabel Cross—forty-eight years old, one of the first Awakened humans, and still worrying about her grown son.
"I'm fine," Xavier replied. "Really."
There was a brief silence on the line.
"I'll call you later," Xavier added. "I'm driving to work. Love you."
"…Love you too," Mabel said.
The call ended, leaving a strange warmth in his chest.
Xavier arrived at work on time—for the second time this week.
He stared at the familiar building for a moment before stepping inside. The air felt heavy, as if it knew this was goodbye.
He found Vernon, his overworked manager, buried under paperwork.
"I'm putting in my two weeks," Xavier said, placing the notice on the desk.
Vernon blinked, then looked up at him. "You serious?"
Xavier nodded. "Yeah."
Vernon sighed, rubbing his temples. "Can't say I blame you."
That was it. No drama. No speeches.
Xavier walked out before doubt could take hold.
He drove to a nearby restaurant, ordered something cheap, and sat alone at a corner table. The world felt oddly quiet.
Then—
[Ding]
Xavier stiffened.
[Mission: Quit Current Job – Completed]
[Reward: 3-Question Questionnaire]
A plain white sheet of paper appeared on the table in front of him.
"…Guess this isn't a dream," Xavier muttered.
He picked up the pen beside the paper and read the first question.
Question 1: What do you want to achieve with the system?
Xavier stared at the page for several seconds. Then he began writing.
I want to be the best at delivering everything to everyone who needs something—even if they're inside a dungeon.
The second question appeared.
Question 2: Without the system and without an Awakened status, would you succeed?
Xavier thought about his life. About struggling. About surviving.
He wrote honestly.
Yes and no. Yes, I'd have a chance with the right class and training. No, if I weren't motivated to succeed in a dungeon-related career.
The final question appeared.
Question 3: Do you think you are good enough to keep the system?
Xavier didn't hesitate.
Yes. I don't deserve the system—but that doesn't matter. It's already with me.
The paper vanished.
[Ding]
[Answers Satisfactory]
[Magical Delivery System Fully Unlocked]
[Creating Unique Path for Host…]
Xavier's breath caught.
[Rewards Granted:]
Class: Magical Delivery
1 Legendary Skill Ticket
100 Skill Points
Xavier leaned back in his chair, staring at the empty space where the screen had been.
"…Alright," he whispered.
For the first time in his life, he wasn't just surviving.
He had a path.