[The random box has been opened.]
[You've received: Dagger]
[Item Rank: C]
[Description: A lightweight dagger suitable for combat against C-rank monsters or lower. Crafted with a sharp edge and enhanced durability.]
Jun Lion picked up the gleaming dagger that materialized in his hand. Its black handle fit comfortably in his grip, and the blade shimmered faintly with a silver hue.
"A C-rank item, huh?" he muttered, tilting it under the candlelight. "It's small... but it'll do."
He gave a crooked grin—half satisfaction, half mischief. "Heh… Heh… Heh… With this and the exp I earned, things are finally getting interesting."
Straightening up, he turned to the void in front of him. "System, how much exp do I need to level up?"
[200 EXP required to reach Level 2. The required EXP will double with each level.]
[Alternative: EXP can also be earned through defeating monsters.]
[Proceed with leveling up?]
"Yeah. Level up now."
[200 EXP consumed.]
[Level up successful – Level 2 achieved.]
[All attributes increased by +5.]
Jun blinked, feeling a strange warmth ripple through his limbs.
"Whoa… not bad. So I get stat boosts too? Let's go again!"
[400 EXP consumed.]
[Level up successful – Level 3 achieved.]
[All attributes increased by +5.]
He exhaled sharply, checking his stats in his mental window.
"Nice! But now I only have 450 EXP left." He paused. "System, how much EXP is needed to level up the Black Sword Technique?"
[To level up the mastery and unlock the second form, 'Darkness Life,' 200 EXP is required.]
Jun nearly choked. "Are you kidding me?! The first form only cost 50 EXP! Now it's four times more for the next? What are you, a scammer?"
[Leveling becomes increasingly difficult as the host advances in mastery.]
"Sigh… no choice, huh? Fine. Unlock the second form."
[200 EXP consumed.]
[Second form unlocked: Black Sword Technique – Darkness Life.]
[To unlock the third form: 800 EXP required.]
Jun slumped back on his bed, eyes wide. "Argh… you're seriously going to give me a heart attack, system."
He rolled over, groaning. "I should've held back… Got too excited. I'll save the CP for now and use it when I really need it. Anyway, it's already late."
With a final glance at the flickering system screen, he muttered, "Sleep time…"
And drifted off.
---
The Next Morning – Jun's Room
Sunlight filtered softly through the thin curtains, landing directly on Jun's face. He stirred, turning over with a grunt.
"Brother… Hey, brother! Wake up! Brother, wake up already!"
Jun groaned, pulling the blanket tighter.
(Ugh… Someone's calling me. Just five more minutes…)
"Brother! Come on—wake up fast. Everyone is waiting for you."
Jun cracked one eye open. "Huh… Roy? Why are you here?"
Roy grinned, tugging at his brother's arm. "Obviously to wake you up, sleepyhead. Everyone's at the dining table."
"But… why? I usually eat alone."
"Not today!" Roy puffed up his chest proudly. "From now on, we all eat together. That's what Father and Mother said."
Jun's eyes widened a little. "Really?"
"Yes! So come on!"
As they walked side by side through the halls of the mansion, Roy beamed up at his older brother. It was a rare sight—Jun, once a loner, now walking with someone like family.
Suddenly, Jun stopped in his tracks. A memory, hazy at first, began to resurface.
---
"Jun… don't run too fast, or you'll fall! Come, come—let's eat together."
A gentle voice, filled with warmth.
"Oh, really?! Yay! I love eating with you, Mother!"
She smiled and opened her arms.
"My sweet little Lion… Mama loves you so much."
"I love you too, Mama!"
---
Jun's feet trembled. Tears welled up in his eyes, unbidden and unstoppable.
"How… how could I forget?" he whispered. "How could I forget my mother? Was I so caught up with the system… with power… that I let her memory slip away?"
His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor.
"Aaaargh!"
He clutched his chest, the pain of guilt stabbing deeper than any blade.
Roy gasped and knelt beside him. "Brother! What's wrong? Why are you screaming?!"
Others from the house rushed to the scene, eyes filled with confusion and worry.
"Young Master Jun!"
"What happened?!"
Shan Lion arrived moments later, calm but heavy-hearted. He looked at his son with understanding in his eyes.
"(So… even he couldn't forget about her so easily)."
To be continued…