I woke up earlier than usual, long before the sun had fully claimed the sky. For a moment, I lay still, staring at the faint lines of light filtering through the curtains of my small apartment. It was strange—despite the chaos of yesterday, despite the weight of the choices ahead of me, my mind felt clearer than it had in years. Maybe it was because I finally had something to lose. Or maybe because for the first time in both my lives, I actually had something to protect. The apartment was quiet, almost too quiet. In my old world, silence meant loneliness. Here… it meant possibility. Potential. Change. I got out of bed, splashed cold water on my face, and stared at my reflection in the mirror. Same face. Same body. Same scars under my eyes from sleepless years. And yet everything else was different. If the universe had given me a second life, then it was up to me to prove I deserved it. My stomach growled loudly. I would've ignored it if not for the memory of the sandwich from yesterday—the tiny reminder that I needed to live like a human, not a ghost drifting through circumstances. I made a quick breakfast and sat on the couch, scrolling through the city map on my phone. Sunnydale Market, Riverside Commercial Zone, East Crest Business District… so many possibilities. So many wrong turns waiting to be taken. And yet one right move could turn everything around. The system's million-credit gift still sat there, untouched, like a glowing landmine ready to blast me into success—or vaporize every ounce of hope if I misstepped. I sucked in a breath, bracing myself for the inevitable presence inside my mind. "Alright," I muttered. "System, I need your advice."
[ SYSTEM INITIALIZING… ANSWERING QUERY… ]
The cold mechanical voice filled my mind, familiar now but still unnerving.
[ The Host is advised to evaluate long-term scalability, location accessibility, competition density, and initial capital expenditure. Suggested priority: establishment with rapid return potential and low failure probability. Additional Note: The Host must select a primary business pathway within 72 hours. ]
The message faded, leaving the room silent once again. "Seventy-two hours, huh?" I whispered. "So I'm officially on a timer." Not that running from responsibility ever did me any good in the previous life. I stood, grabbed my jacket, and stepped out of the apartment. The morning breeze of Arenthia City hit my face—a bit cold, but strangely invigorating. Cars hummed along the road, the hover-rails above glided with quiet efficiency, and holographic advertisements flickered across building facades. This world had an ecosystem like Earth, technologies similar yet subtly advanced, and currency that matched the dollar. But the flow of people, the way they carried themselves, the pace of ambition in the air… that was different. This world wasn't built on dreams; it was built on credits and grit. Maybe that was why, in a place like this, someone like me could actually carve out a future. I took the mag-rail toward the Riverside Commercial Zone. If Sunnydale Market was for small-time sellers and middle-class foot traffic, Riverside was the beating heart of opportunity—cafés, boutiques, gadgets, laundromats, start-ups, repair shops. People hustled, laughed, argued, made deals, fought deals, lived deals. I watched the storefronts pass by and tried to imagine my own there. A bakery? Too much competition. A tech shop? Too expensive. A small restaurant? High risk. A café? Maybe… but did I know anything about running one? Not really. I got off the rail at a corner where a cluster of shops surrounded an open plaza. There was a small building with a "FOR LEASE" sign. Not too big, not too small. Something about it drew my attention—not because it looked good, but because it looked neglected. Walls slightly dirty, windows a bit dusty. It was the kind of place people walked past without noticing. And yet… it was cheap. I approached the glass door, peered through the dust, and saw potential. Bare floor, empty counter, a few old shelves. No furniture. No appliances. But it had space. And space could be turned into anything. Anything. My mind began spinning ideas—café, dessert shop, tech repair station, book café, multifunctional workspace. A blend of modern and cozy. That was when the system's voice struck again.
[ The Host has discovered a viable commercial location. Estimated renovation cost: 80,000–120,000 credits. Rent per month: 6,500 credits. Foot traffic potential: Medium-High. Projected business success rate based on Host's traits: 64%. ]
I exhaled. "Sixty-four percent isn't bad."
[ The Host may increase success probability through skill acquisition. ]
"Skill acquisition?"
[ Business Management (Basic), Marketing (Basic), Culinary (Beginner), Customer Psychology (Basic). Cost per skill: 5,000 credits. ]
I blinked. "These are purchasable?"
[ Skills purchased are instantly integrated into the Host's memory and consciousness. ]
I leaned against the glass door, trying to absorb the absurdity of it. Instant skills. Perfect recall. Flawless application. If Earth had something like this, corporate dynasties would be built overnight. But here? Here it was my advantage—and my responsibility not to waste. I stepped back from the building and took a slow breath. I needed time to think. Not react blindly. Not repeat the mistakes of a life where every big decision was forced by necessity rather than choice. I wandered around the plaza, observing people. A small line formed outside a pastry café. A crowd hovered near a gadget kiosk. Students lounged outside a bubble tea store. Workers scribbled notes outside a coworking space. I paused at the edge of the plaza, watching everything click together in my mind. This area thrived not because any single shop was special, but because every shop served a purpose. And if I entered this battlefield, I needed a purpose too. Something unique enough to stand out. Something stable enough to survive. Something scalable enough to grow. A subtle tension curled in my chest—a mix of fear and excitement. The good kind. The kind that told me my life was about to change. After an hour of walking, thinking, observing, imagining, I finally sat on a bench and pulled up the system interface. The holographic blue panel flickered in front of my eyes like a silent promise. My heart beat faster. I wasn't just choosing a business. I was choosing a destiny for Aren Vale. My destiny. I swallowed. "System," I said softly, "I want to build something that can grow. Not just survive. Not just make money. I want to create something that becomes part of this city. Something that leaves a mark." The system reacted immediately.
[ Host's intention detected. Initiating Business Pathway Selection. ]
My pulse jumped.
[ Three pathways identified based on Host's personality, potential, and environment:
1. Café + Creative Workspace Hybrid – A cozy café combined with a rentable work area for students, freelancers, and creators. High long-term potential, stable daily traffic, strong community building.
2. Tech Repair & Gadget Hub – A repair shop combined with affordable gadgets and accessories. Moderate competition, high profit margins, requires technical skills.
3. Modern Dessert & Beverage Lounge – Trend-based concept targeting youth and office workers. High daily footfall potential, high marketing dependence. ]
Each one had strengths. Each one had risks. But the one that called to me—deeply, intuitively—was the first. The café-workspace hybrid. A place where people could eat, relax, study, work, create. A place someone like me would've needed in both lives. Inspiration struck like lightning. A name floated into my mind, soft but powerful—an anchor to everything I wanted to build. The Haven. A place of refuge. A place of ideas. A place of beginnings. The system's panel glowed brighter, reacting to my decision before I even voiced it.
[ Host's emotional resonance detected. Finalizing pathway… ]
I whispered the words that would define the future. "I choose the café-workspace hybrid."
[ Pathway confirmed. Assigning bonuses… ]
The panel exploded with cascading text.
[ HOST HAS UNLOCKED BUSINESS PATHWAY: HAVEN CAFÉ & CREATIVE SPACE ]
A warmth spread through my chest—dangerous, hopeful, overwhelming. The first step of my empire… had just been taken.