The morning air carried a sharp chill.
A thin mist drifted across the outer grounds of the Valenhart estate, slowly fading as the sun climbed higher into the sky. Beyond the iron gates lay a vast stretch of forest—quiet, ancient, and untouched.
Hiro stood near the entrance, adjusting the light cloak draped over his shoulders.
This was the first time he would be leaving the estate for something more than a simple walk.
Today was different.
Today… he would face the real world.
"You're unusually quiet."
The voice came from beside him.
Hiro turned slightly to see his father, Albrecht Valenhart, already mounted on his horse. Several knights stood nearby, their armor gleaming faintly under the morning light.
"I'm just thinking," Hiro replied.
Albrecht studied him for a moment.
"Good. Thinking will keep you alive."
There was no warmth in those words—only truth.
After a brief pause, Albrecht continued.
"Training dummies don't fight back. Out there, even the weakest beast can kill you if you hesitate."
Hiro nodded.
"I understand."
Albrecht's gaze sharpened slightly, as if trying to see through him.
"…We'll see."
With that, the gates opened.
The group moved forward.
The Forest
The moment they stepped into the forest, the atmosphere changed.
The air felt heavier.
The sounds of the outside world faded, replaced by the quiet rustling of leaves and the distant cries of unseen creatures.
Hiro walked carefully, his senses alert.
So this is the real world…
Even without the system, he could feel it.
This place wasn't safe.
"Stay close," one of the knights said.
Hiro nodded, but his eyes kept scanning the surroundings.
Every shadow felt deeper.
Every movement felt suspicious.
It was subtle… but something was off.
The First Encounter
It happened suddenly.
A low growl echoed through the trees.
The knights immediately tensed.
From the bushes ahead, a creature slowly emerged.
A wolf.
But not a normal one.
Its body was larger than expected, its fur dark and uneven. Most unsettling were its eyes—glowing faintly with a strange, unnatural light.
Hiro frowned.
That's… not normal.
"Stand back," one of the knights said.
But before anyone could move—
The wolf lunged.
Too fast.
It ignored the knights completely and charged straight toward Hiro.
"—!"
Hiro reacted instantly.
"Fire Arrow!"
A burst of flame shot forward.
The attack struck the wolf directly—but instead of stopping, the creature pushed through the flames with a feral snarl.
What—?!
Hiro barely had time to move.
The wolf slammed into him, sending him crashing onto the ground.
Pain shot through his arm.
For a brief moment—
He froze.
The Moment of Fear
The world slowed.
The weight of the creature pressed against him.
Its jaws opened, inches from his face.
And suddenly—
Memories surfaced.
A hand grabbing his collar.
A voice filled with disgust.
Laughter.
Pain.
Helplessness.
—
"How dare you touch my girlfriend?"
—
Hiro's eyes widened.
His breathing became uneven.
Not again…
Not like this…
The wolf snarled, preparing to tear into him—
Something Breaks
A faint sound echoed in his mind.
Not clear.
Not stable.
Distorted.
[ERROR…]
[CONDITION MET]
[FORCED ADAPTATION ACTIVATED]
Hiro's vision sharpened.
The fear didn't disappear.
But something else replaced it.
Coldness.
Clarity.
The world became… slow.
Every movement of the wolf felt predictable.
Every sound became distant.
Hiro's hand moved on its own.
He grabbed the wolf's neck.
Tightly.
"Move."
His voice was quiet.
Calm.
Unfamiliar.
Mana surged through his body—not wild, not unstable—but controlled with unnatural precision.
The wolf struggled violently.
Too late.
"Fire Arrow."
This time, the flame didn't shoot outward.
It exploded at point-blank range.
A burst of fire engulfed the wolf's head.
For a moment, everything went silent.
Then—
The creature collapsed.
Aftermath
The forest returned to normal.
The tension faded.
The knights rushed forward, but stopped when they saw the scene.
Hiro stood slowly.
The body of the wolf lay motionless at his feet.
Burned.
Destroyed.
Too clean.
Too precise.
One of the knights spoke quietly.
"…That was too fast."
Another nodded.
"He didn't panic."
Albrecht said nothing.
His eyes remained fixed on Hiro.
Sharp.
Observing.
Something Feels Wrong
Hiro looked down at his hand.
It was trembling slightly.
Not from fear.
From something else.
What… was that?
That moment—
It didn't feel like normal instinct.
It felt like something had taken over.
Something inside him.
Or something connected to him.
Slowly, the system window appeared again.
But this time—
It flickered.
[System Notice]
[Irregular State Detected]
[Hidden Trait — Locked]
The screen disappeared before he could react.
Hiro frowned.
Hidden… trait?
He clenched his fist.
That power—
It wasn't something he had learned.
It was something that had awakened.
The Return
"Enough for today."
Albrecht's voice broke the silence.
"We're heading back."
The knights didn't argue.
As they began to move, Hiro took one last glance at the fallen wolf.
Its eyes…
Even in death—
They still looked wrong.
Final Thought
As they exited the forest, Hiro's expression remained calm.
But his mind was not.
This world… isn't just dangerous.
Something is… off.
And deep within him—
Something had already begun to respond.
[Hidden Trait: ???]
Status: Awakening