29… 30… 31.
Kael was surprised his body could hold up this long, but then his arms and legs started trembling like crazy. It felt like he was lying on a vibrating bed. Now it had become a battle between his mind and his body.
"Damn it. I used to crank out five hundred push-ups in one go without breaking a sweat. And now? I'm struggling to even touch a hundred."
His body screamed with every movement, but he forced himself forward. After several pauses and shaky breaths, he finally hit the last count. He collapsed on the floor, chest heaving, sweat dripping like he had just crawled out of a river.
Luckily, the counter hadn't reset when he rested.
"Thank God for that," Kael muttered between gulps of air.
[Ding…]
[100 Push-ups completed]
[10 Exp. gained]
"That's fair enough," he said, dragging himself upright.
He didn't waste much time and moved on to the squats. Compared to the push-ups, these felt almost forgiving. His legs burned, but it was manageable. Before long, he wrapped them up.
[Ding…]
[50 Squats completed]
[10 Exp. gained]
"Alright. Time to head to the hospital."
His stomach sank the moment he remembered. He couldn't even afford a bus. The last bit of cash he had was stolen along with the wallet from the night before.
"No choice then. I'll just kill two birds with one stone. Ten kilometers… guess that's my run for the quest."
He glanced at the filthy living room beyond his sister's door and grimaced. "Ugh. This place is still a landfill. I'll clean it later. Maybe."
He sighed, knowing the truth. There was one way to make money fast, but calling it dangerous was an understatement. Even the former Kael hadn't dared to try it.
Slipping into his own room, Kael grabbed a set of old training clothes and some worn-out sneakers. The stench inside was unbearable, so he stepped out into the hallway before changing.
The run was brutal. By the time he staggered into the hospital, he was drenched in sweat, panting like he had been chased by wolves. He dropped onto one of the pews by the receptionist's desk, his body screaming for rest.
[Ding…]
[10 km Run completed]
[30 Exp. gained]
[Daily Quest]
[Push-ups: 100 / 100]
[Squats: 50 / 50]
[Distance Run: 10 / 10 km]
[Congratulations on completing today's exercise.]
[Total Exp. gained = 50 Exp.]
[Nice job… 3% Exp. remaining to level up.]
"Shit! Why pop up now?" Kael muttered under his breath, panic flashing across his face. "Do you want to show everyone here my pathetic stats?"
But then he froze. Nobody was staring at him. Not a single person reacted to the glowing blue screen hovering in the air. He let out a long sigh of relief. "So, I'm the only one who sees this… good."
"Mr. Yorkshire?"
The voice snapped him out of his daze. He turned and saw the familiar face of the nurse who had been tending to his sister.
"Why are you breathing so fast?" she asked, noticing the sweat dripping down his temples and his unsteady chest.
"Oh… it's nothing. Just… trying to keep fit, you know," Kael said, forcing a crooked smile.
The nurse returned the smile lightly. "I see. Have you seen your sister already? I believe you're here to make the payments for her treatment. If you follow me, I can—"
"Hold on," Kael cut her off, his tone low and tight. The word "follow" twisted something in his chest. His smile faded as he glanced away. "The money isn't ready yet. I still have six days, right? I'll definitely come back and make the payment before then."
He forced a faint smile to soften the tension. "For now… let me go see my sister."
The nurse gave a polite nod and didn't press further. "Of course." She excused herself, leaving Kael alone.
Kael turned toward the ward door. His hand lingered on the handle for a second before pushing it open.
The moment he stepped inside, the air seemed heavier. His sister lay within a cylindrical life-support chamber. The glass was faintly fogged, a cold light humming softly around its edges. Her small body looked fragile inside, motionless except for the slow rise and fall of her chest. An oxygen tube was fitted beneath her nose, each breath shallow but steady. Her eyes were closed, her face pale, and her dark hair floated slightly in the sterile liquid that cradled her body.
Kael's steps slowed. His throat tightened as he stared at her, the weight of it all pressing hard on his chest. She looked so breakable it almost hurt to breathe. So far away, yet still holding on just enough for hope to refuse dying.
The ache of wanting her back twisted through him, sharp and heavy. Staring at her fragile form sealed behind that glass chamber, Kael felt the pressure in his chest grow tighter, as if the pain itself had hands. And in that moment, the need to save her didn't just burn in him, it raged, wild and desperate, refusing to be silenced.
She looked almost identical to Mika—his cousin from his past life.
"Mika…" he whispered the name softly, his voice trembling. "So you are here too. Not as my cousin anymore, but as my sister."
His hands curled into fists, his shoulders shaking as the memories of his old life clawed at him. "I became an elite soldier because of your sacrifice. I swore never to let family risk their lives for me again. Your name here is Emiko, but I'm just happy you're alive in this world."
Tears slid down his cheeks as he pressed his forehead against the glass. "I promise you'll wake up someday."
The moment was broken by a muffled voice drifting into the ward.
"You've got to be kidding me. Do they actually think I'm crazy enough to raid another dungeon with that team? Hell no. I'm still recovering from the nightmare I went through, and they want me to pair up with them again?"
The voice echoed faintly, yet Kael heard it as if the man stood right beside him. He blinked, realizing it was his skill at work.
He stepped toward the window and looked down from the third floor. In the hospital garden below, two men sat on a bench positioned beneath the shade of a tree. They were the ones talking.
"It's fifty thousand won just for participating," said the man in the dark suit. He looked to be in his mid-forties, sharp lines on his face giving him a cold, seasoned look.
The man beside him wore a worn leather jacket and jeans, with dark sunglasses shielding his eyes. He was about the same age, his posture casual but his tone weary.
"I know the money is huge," the man in sunglasses replied. "That's only because they know there's barely a chance I'll survive. You are D-rank too, so why don't you take the offer?
They need someone with heightened senses, and your eyes are perfect for the job." the man in suit replied.
"Oh please, kids look at me and scream monster. My wife left me after I became a hunter. The money will serve you well," the man in the suit pressed.
"I'll think about it," the man in sunglasses replied, his voice calm but unyielding.
"The gate just opened today. It's a C-rank dungeon. They need to close it within twelve hours to prevent further destruction. Contact me within the next four hours if you change your mind."
With that, the man in the suit rose to his feet and walked away, leaving the one in sunglasses sitting alone on the bench.
Kael's heart quickened. This might be my chance. I've never stepped into a dungeon before, but from what I've heard in this body's memories, it's the last place an E-rank hunter should ever set foot. That's why most of them retire early and take minor jobs. Still… this could be it.
Suddenly, the man in sunglasses lifted his head. His gaze locked on Kael's window as if he knew he had been eavesdropping the entire time.
"Shit," Kael muttered under his breath. Does he know I was listening? No… impossible. But then again, in this world nothing feels impossible.
He pulled away from the window quickly, though his ears were still focused on the man below. The steady thump of a heartbeat echoed in his ears. A moment later, the man stood and began to walk out of the garden.
Kael turned back to his sister, forcing a faint smile. "I'll be back, Emiko." He whispered the words before rushing out of the ward, his eyes already set on tracking the man in sunglasses.