Seo-jin's questions hung between us, heavy with meaning. The cafe's hubbub, the laughter of the other students, all of it seemed to belong to a distant, carefree world. Here, at our table, reality had taken on a darker, more fantastic hue.

  "To be honest, Seo-jin," I began, choosing my words carefully, "I don't have all the answers. The System said other people have been 'Awakened,' but I don't know who, or how many. For now, you're the only one I know who can see my interface, but you don't have one yourself. You're a 'no-Awakened,' according to the System."

  Seo-jin's expression tightened slightly at that term. "'No-Awakened'... Doesn't that sound a bit like 'NPC'?" he said with a grimace.

  I couldn't help but give a small, sad smile. "A little, yes. But I don't think it's that simple. You're real, you have your own life. The System just seems to make a distinction between those who can interact with it and the others."

  "And am I in danger?" he repeated, his worry palpable. "If monsters come out of these... Gates... can non-Awakened people be attacked?"

  "I... I think so," I admitted reluctantly. "The Mutated Rat I fought this morning, it came out of the Gate and was wandering on campus. The quest I received explicitly said 'before it causes damage or alerts the non-Awakened.' So yes, the danger is real for everyone."

  Seo-jin swallowed, his gaze drifted for a moment. "Damn... That's not reassuring. So, we could be attacked by goblins on our way to math class?"

  "I hope not," I said. "The Gate I explored closed. Maybe they are rare, or they appear in isolated places most of the time. But I can't be sure." I hesitated, then added: "The System also warned me against prematurely revealing the Game Nexus, saying it could have 'unforeseen consequences.' So, the fact that you know... I don't know if that puts you in danger."

  A new silence settled. I could see the wheels turning in Seo-jin's mind. He was smart, despite his sometimes slightly gruff demeanor. A budding engineer, his mind was logical, analytical. He must have been trying to rationalize the irrational.

  Finally, he took a deep breath. "Okay. Okay. So, the world has become a potentially deadly video game. You're a 'Player'. I'm a 'non-Player' who knows about it. Monsters exist. Gates are opening. It's... a lot to take in." He ran a hand through his hair. "And you, what are you going to do? You can't just go back to your studies as if nothing happened, can you?"

  "No, I don't think so," I admitted. "I have to understand what's happening. I have to get stronger. To survive, and maybe... to protect others, if I can." Those words sounded a bit grandiloquent, even to my own ears, but a part of me sincerely meant them. If I had these abilities, shouldn't I use them wisely?

  "Fight monsters with your magic dagger, then," Seo-jin summarized, a hint of admiration – or maybe just bewilderment – in his voice. He glanced again at the Shadow Shard, still resting on the table. I made it disappear with a thought, storing it in my inventory. His eyes widened again. "I'll never get used to that," he murmured.

  "Me neither, probably," I smiled weakly.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  "And you think there are other Players here, at the university?" he asked.

  "I hope so. If I'm not alone, maybe we could... help each other. The System may give me tools, but facing all this solo seems suicidal to me." I thought of the title of this story forming in my head: "Level no solo game." It was more than just a pun. It was a premonition, a nascent conviction.

  "If you find others," Seo-jin said, his tone turning serious, "be careful. Not everyone is necessarily... well-intentioned. Even in games, there are PKers, guys who only think about their own gain."

  He was right. It was a frightening prospect. If other Awakened existed, they could be allies, but also rivals, or even enemies.

  "I'll be careful," I promised. "For now, my plan is simple: train, try to find more information, and stay alive. And maybe... maybe I can find a way to protect you, and other non-Awakened, if the need arises."

  Seo-jin looked at me, a glimmer of gratitude in his eyes. "That... that means a lot," he said. He hesitated, then added, almost shyly: "If... if you ever need help... I can't fight goblins, but I'm pretty good with computers, electronics... If the System ever has vulnerabilities, or if you need something hacked or analyzed..."

  I was touched by his offer. Even as a 'non-Awakened,' he wanted to help. "Thanks, Seo-jin," I said. "I'll keep that in mind. Who knows, maybe your engineering skills will be more useful than you think in this new world."

  We stayed for a while longer, discussing, exploring scenarios, possibilities. Seo-jin's initial anxiety seemed to have somewhat dissipated, replaced by a kind of nervous excitement, almost as if he were a privileged spectator of an extraordinary adventure. For me, it was less an adventure than a struggle for survival, but having someone to share this burden with was an immense relief.

  Finally, he looked at his watch. "Okay, I have to go," he said. "I have a group project for tomorrow, and my teammates will kill me if I don't show up. But Min-joon..." He looked me straight in the eyes. "Be careful. Really. And keep me updated. Please."

  "Promise," I said. "And you too, pay attention. If you see anything strange, don't hesitate to call me."

  He nodded, then stood up. "See you later, then... Player Kang Min-joon." There was a slight smirk as he said my new 'title.'

  I watched him walk away, blending into the crowd of students. To them, he was just an ordinary guy. But for me, he had become the first confidant of my new life, the first anchor in a reality that threatened to overwhelm me.

  I remained alone at the table, my half-drunk coffee growing cold. The conversation with Seo-jin had exhausted me, but it had also given me a new perspective. I wasn't completely alone. And I had the beginnings of a plan.

  I drank the rest of my coffee in one go. It was time to go back to my room. I had attribute points to ponder for my next level (even though I had just spent them), skills to study, and maybe... maybe I could find more information about that mysterious 'Soul Resonance,' or how to increase affinity with the Shadow Shard faster.

  As I left the cafe, I felt a slight change in the air. A subtle tension, almost imperceptible. My mental mini-map, which had remained blank apart from the closed Gate icon, suddenly started flashing. A new icon, yellow this time, appeared a few blocks away, towards the old district near Namdaemun Market.

  [Anomalous Energy Signal Detected]

  [Source: Unknown. Potential: Variable.]

  My heart raced. An anomalous energy signal? What could that possibly be? Another Gate? Another Awakened? A special NPC?

  Adventure, or rather trouble, never seemed to want to leave me alone for long.