The Glitched One

I sat down at a table, setting my school uniform to the side. I needed a moment to catch my breath before heading out again. I was exhausted, even if I didn’t show it. More than anything, I wanted to go home—to lie in my own bed, wake up early, and get back to my normal routine. I missed my monotonous life, and I’d do anything to get it back.

As I thought about the translucent box that appeared earlier, I raised an eyebrow, curiosity taking over. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, I leaned in closer, bringing my elbows to rest on the table.

“Translucent… box thingy…” I muttered under my breath. “How do I open that?”

In response, a box flickered into view in front of me.

Level 1: Axel

HP: [████████░░░] 70/100

Mana: [░░░░░░░░] -1/100

Stamina: [██████████░] 85/100

Options: [Inv | Skills | Quests]

“HP?” I muttered. “Like… health?”

I quickly scanned the room again to make sure no one else could see it, then cautiously reached out and tapped the "Inventory" option. The box blinked out of existence for a split second before reappearing with new information.

======================

|Inventory

======================

---------------------------

| Gold: 5

---------------------------

| [Empty]

---------------------------

| [Empty]

---------------------------

| [Empty]

---------------------------

| [Empty]

======================

There wasn’t much to see—just five gold pieces in my possession. I pressed my finger to the "Gold" slot, waiting for some reaction. Nothing happened. Sighing in frustration, I tried again, this time double-tapping it. Suddenly, a warning message flashed in front of me.

=======================

|Warning

=======================

| Are you sure you want

| to withdraw 5 Gold?

| [ Yes ] [ No ]

=======================

With a cautious glance around, I tapped "Yes." A faint light glowed from my palm, and I quickly hid my hand under the dark blue cape draped over my left shoulder, hoping not to draw attention. When the light faded, I opened my hand to find five gold coins resting in my palm, each one marked with the image of a woman—likely a queen or some other figure of importance.

“Holy shit,” I whispered, staring at the coins. “Gold.”

Just by thinking about it, the status box reappeared in front of me again. My gaze landed on the Mana bar—it was at -1. Not a good sign, but I shoved the thought aside for now. I needed to focus.

Curious about my abilities, I tapped the "Skills" option, only for another message to appear.

========================

|Warning

========================

|Currently known Skills: 0

========================

“Hmm,” I muttered, rubbing my chin. “How does one even learn a skill in this place?”

A few people nearby were beginning to give me weird looks. One man nudged his friend, gesturing toward me with a puzzled expression on his face, clearly wondering why I seemed to be interacting with thin air. Realising I was drawing unwanted attention, I grabbed my uniform, stood up, and made my way to the door. I needed to figure out this whole box situation in private if I didn’t want people thinking I was crazy.

Outside the Guild, I unfolded the map the man had given me, studying it closely. It showed the layout of Kinowa, the city I was currently in. According to the map, if I left through the eastern gate, I'd reach the river in about ten minutes. There was a shortcut through the forest that would cut the time down to approximately two minutes, but with the sun already gone, I wasn’t keen on taking any unnecessary risks since the flower I was looking for only bloomed in darkness.

“Okay,” I said, rolling the map back up and tucking it into my pocket. “Let’s do this.”

The streets were mostly empty, except for a few stray animals and the occasional figure closing up shop for the night. Guards patrolled the area, talking quietly amongst themselves, their hands resting on their sword hilts as if ready to respond to any threat.

As I started toward the eastern gate, I draped my school uniform over my shoulder, keeping my head down. My steps echoed softly in the quiet streets.

“Oi, you! Make way!” a guard’s voice barked from behind me.

I immediately stepped aside, watching as the guard roughly shoved a man forward—a man with long, pointed ears and pale skin. If those games I played had taught me something, the poor man was an elf. He looked like he hadn’t eaten in days, his clothes ragged and his face covered in scars and bruises. He stumbled along, looking weak and defeated.

Keeping my face neutral, I kept my distance but couldn’t help but watch as the guards dragged him down the street and around a corner, out of sight. A few people nearby began muttering to each other, shaking their heads.

“Good riddance,” one of them said with a sneer. “Filthy elves.”

“Hope they hang him,” another added with a twisted grin.

“Burn them all for what they did to us,” someone else chimed in.

“Damn elves,” muttered another, spitting on the ground.

Not wanting to get involved, I kept my head down, my gaze fixed on the cobblestones as I moved. Seeing someone mistreated or facing injustice wasn’t a new sight to me. This city had taught me some harsh lessons early on: keep your troubles to yourself, and always remember that good deeds often lead to consequences, while bad deeds always come with rewards.

Turning the corner, I spotted the guard again, still dragging the elf. The poor man stumbled, his knees buckling, and with his hands bound in chains, he couldn’t catch himself as he hit the ground face-first. The guard didn’t even flinch. Instead, he kicked the elf in the head, grabbed him by the arms, and forced him back to his feet without any hint of compassion. I had no idea why the elves were hated here, nor did I have any desire to find out.

“Crap,” I muttered under my breath. “That’s harsh.”

I stopped to observe like the others in the crowd. The guard led the elf toward a platform that looked ominous in its simplicity—a wooden structure with a raised stage, accessible by a set of ten steps. It didn’t take much imagination to figure out what it was for. The platform had a trapdoor in the centre and, above it, a noose dangled, swaying slightly in the breeze. It was clearly an execution site, designed to display death like a public spectacle.

The guard hauled the elf up the steps, and despite his weakened state, the elf struggled feebly, desperation plain on his face. The guard’s response was quick and brutal—a hard punch that knocked the fight out of him. Without any hesitation, the guard slipped the rope over the elf’s neck, securing it tightly as the poor man stood trembling on the trapdoor.

“People of Kinowa!” the guard shouted, his voice carrying over the murmurs of the gathering crowd. “We found this rat hiding in the alleys, part of a group of vermin plotting against our city. We managed to catch this one, but he won’t give up the locations of his friends. Remember, if you see elves, don’t trust them. Alert the guards immediately. They are a plague, and we will cleanse Kinowa of their filth!”

A ripple of cheers and shouts erupted from the crowd.

"Kill him!" one voice yelled.

"Burn them all!" another spat out.

“Hang them high!”

The guard turned back to the elf, a twisted grin spreading across his face. "Any last words, elf?"

“Please!” the elf begged, his voice cracking with fear. “I didn’t—”

Before he could finish, the guard pulled the lever with a cold smirk, and the trapdoor swung open beneath the elf's feet. The rope snapped tight, and with a sickening jolt, the elf’s neck broke instantly. The life drained from his eyes in a heartbeat, his body swinging lifelessly before the silent crowd.

Even though I kept my face impassive, I couldn’t suppress the chill that ran through me. The guard’s ruthlessness, the crowd’s cheers—it was all more brutal than I’d ever expected. I needed to escape. There was no other way.

══════✦══════