Odyssey of the Re-Life Leveling Up

"So… what should I do now?" I mumbled to myself

spinning aimlessly in my gaming chair. I had all these grand plans to change my life completely before coming back in time, but now that I was actually back in time, I couldn't think of a single thing to do right now.

The thought of rewriting my destiny, becoming someone extraordinary, and taking charge of my future had filled me with excitement before. But now, with the day stretching endlessly before me, I was paralyzed by indecision. My mind was a whirlpool of ideas that refused to solidify into anything actionable. I drummed my fingers on the desk, staring at the ceiling as if it held the answers.

"Maybe I could start by… no, that won't work," I muttered. Every idea I came up with seemed too ambitious or too trivial. It was as though the sheer weight of possibilities had rendered me incapable of choosing any one path. Frustration bubbled within me, but I had no outlet for it.

"This is ridiculous," I groaned, throwing my head back dramatically. As I stared at the ceiling, feeling the emptiness of having too much time and not enough ideas, my stomach growled loudly. "I guess it's been a while since I ate," I muttered, getting up from the chair. I decided to go out for food instead of ordering it, figuring it was a good excuse to leave the house like Mom wanted. I changed into a black hoodie and some loose trousers, grabbed my keys, and slipped on my shoes. Just as I was about to head out.

A familiar Ding! echoed in my ears which gave me a lot of trouble.

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[Quest Generated!]

• Task : Run to the convenience store

• Difficulty : Easy

• Time limit : 20 minutes

• Reward : 10 Exp

{Note: If the quest is not completed, there will be a punishment.}

---

I sighed deeply, glaring at the screen.

"Only ten Exp....? This is totally different from what I imagined having a system would be like," I grumbled.

The memory of the previous punishment flashed through my mind, and I shivered. The system had a way of enforcing its rules that left no room for negotiation. The last time I ignored a quest; I'd experienced what it described as a "Minor Health Penalty."

In reality, it felt like being struck by a lightning bolt. The pain had been so excruciating that I couldn't move for hours afterward. I had no intention of experiencing that again.

"Fine, fine, I'll do it," I conceded, stepping outside. Running wasn't exactly my strong suit—after all, I'd spent the last few years avoiding anything remotely physical. By the time I'd run for just two or three minutes, I was already gasping for air. "Huff... Huff… Haaa…," I panted, hunched over and catching my breath.

I wasn't even halfway to the store, and the timer showed 15 minutes left. "Gotta keep going," I told myself, forcing my legs to move again. After several more stops to catch my breath, I finally reached the convenience store, wheezing like an old man who just ran a marathon.

I stumbled inside, my legs trembling like jelly, and grabbed a water bottle. By the time I downed half of it in one go, I was sure I'd sweat enough to fill a small pond. "Am I this out of shape?" I muttered to myself, wiping my drenched forehead with the sleeve of my hoodie.

I tried to make light of it, thinking, "Well, at least I'm not one of those poor souls who need oxygen tanks just to climb stairs." But the way my heart was hammering, I wasn't entirely sure I wasn't on the verge of needing one myself.

I grabbed a few snacks, determined to replenish the calories I'd just burned—assuming walking at the pace of a snail counts as calorie burning. Finally, I collapsed onto a chair outside the store, my chest heaving. The breeze felt divine as it ruffled my hair, and I decided to stay put, savoring this rare moment of peace despite the chaos it took to get here. The breeze felt nice as it ruffled my hair, and the quietness of the nearly deserted street was oddly comforting.

"It's been a while since I just sat outside like this," I thought, munching on my snacks. As I ate, I started thinking about the upcoming school year. "High school starts in a month," I murmured to myself, swirling my drink absentmindedly.

My thoughts drifted back to the past, and a pang of frustration twisted in my chest. The bullying had been relentless—shoved into lockers, cruel jokes at my expense, and the constant feeling of being on edge, wondering what torment would come next. I clenched my fist at the memory, the plastic cup in my hand creaking under the pressure.

I tried to imagine walking back into those halls, but this time, I wasn't the same helpless kid. "Not this time," I muttered under my breath, my resolve hardening. If they even thought about messing with me again, I'd make sure to turn the tables this time.

I got up from my seat and began to stroll around my neighborhood. Not many people could be seen, and I was thinking of my previous encounters with the bullies and how they had treated me. I decided to get back at them if they tried to mess with me again. My confidence wavered slightly as I remembered my current situation. "I do have a system, but…" I trailed off, thinking about the kind of quests I'd received so far.

A room freshener and no real reward for running? "Is my system defective?" I wondered, lost in thought. Suddenly, I collided with someone, the impact jarring me so hard that I stumbled back, almost losing my balance. My mind, already tangled in frantic thoughts, froze as I looked up and recognized the person in front of me. My heart plummeted like a stone in water.

It was Jason, one of the bullies who had perfected the art of turning my life into a nightmare. His towering figure loomed over me, and his sharp, piercing eyes locked onto mine with a predatory glint. For a moment, I felt like the helpless kid I used to be, pinned under the weight of his cruel smirk.

The memories of past humiliations flashed before me like a cruel slideshow, each one slicing deeper into my already frayed nerves. The air seemed heavier, my chest tightening as if the universe had decided to remind me of my most vulnerable moments at the worst possible time.

"Jason Hwan" was the textbook definition of a high school bully. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a permanent scowl etched on his face, he was a nightmare for anyone who crossed his path. His dark hair was always styled with too much gel, and his sharp brown eyes seemed to pierce right through you.

He had a nasty habit of cracking his knuckles whenever he was about to torment someone, a habit that had haunted me in more ways than one. Jason had a cruel streak a mile wide. In the past, he'd made it his mission to humiliate me whenever possible for some reason. I remembered one particularly awful day when he'd tripped me in the cafeteria, causing me to spill my lunch all over myself.

The entire room had erupted in laughter as I stood there, covered in spaghetti. Another time, he'd shoved me into a locker so hard that I'd actually gotten stuck inside. It had taken three teachers to get the door open. As soon as I recognized him, I knew I was in trouble. Jason glared at me, his lips curling into a sneer.

"Hey, where do you think you're going, you dipshit?" he drawled, his voice dripping with anger. I took a step back, my mind racing with a whirlwind of thoughts.

"Shit.., why did I have to bump into him? Of all the people, it had to be Jason. This day couldn't get any worse."

"If I ever get stat points, the first thing I'm doing is increasing my luck," I thought bitterly, my mind darting from one memory to the next. Every humiliating moment, every shove, every cruel laugh—it all came rushing back at once.

My hands clenched into fists, and my heart pounded in my chest as I fought to keep from visibly trembling. "Why does it feel like no matter how far I run, the past always finds me?" Jason stepped closer, cracking his knuckles ominously. "What's the matter, bastard? You look like you've seen a ghost," he taunted.

Just then, a sudden Ding! echoed in my ears, and a new quest window popped up.

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[New Quest Generated!]

• Task: Escape Jason without getting caught

• Difficulty: Medium

• Time limit: 5 minutes

• Reward: +1 Agility, 200 Exp points

{Note: If the quest is not completed, there will be a punishment.}

---

I stared at the screen in disbelief. "Are you kidding me?!" I almost shouted out loud. This was definitely not how I imagined quests would be like. But the thought of another punishment was enough to snap me into action.

Jason raised an eyebrow, noticing my sudden change in expression. "What's with that face? You planning to run?" he asked mockingly. I didn't bother answering. Instead, I spun on my heel and bolted down the street as fast as I could. Jason blinked in surprise before a predatory grin spread across his face, a glint of excitement sparking in his eyes.

This wasn't just about catching someone—this was sport. "Oh, so that's how it's gonna be, huh? You think you can outrun me?" he shouted, his voice filled with a mix of mockery and the thrill of the chase, as he launched forward with determined strides, intent on proving his dominance once again.

My legs were screaming in protest, each muscle burning as if molten iron had been poured into my veins, and my lungs felt like they were on fire, each breath a ragged gasp of desperation. The world blurred around me—sounds of Jason's pounding footsteps thudded closer, the whoosh of air as I rounded sharp corners was deafening, and the acrid stench of garbage from the alleyways assaulted my senses.

Panic clawed at my mind, but a single thought overpowered it: "Just keep moving. Don't stop, or you're done for." I could hear Jason's footsteps pounding behind me, getting closer and closer. "Come on, come on!" I urged myself, desperately trying to think of a way to lose him. I veered into a narrow alleyway, hoping it would slow him down. "Gotcha now, you little shit!" Jason called out, his voice echoing in the alley. I glanced around frantically, spotting a stack of wooden crates piled up against a wall. Without thinking, I scrambled up the crates, trying to get to the rooftop.

Jason growled in frustration as he struggled to follow me up. "You think you're smart, huh? Get down here, and take what's coming to you!"

"Not a chance!" I yelled back, panting as I pulled myself onto the roof. I took a moment to catch my breath, glancing at the timer. Three minutes left. Jason was already halfway up the crates, and I knew I didn't have much time. I quickly looked around, spotting a narrow gap between two buildings.

"It's risky, but…" I gulped and backed up a few steps before sprinting forward and jumping across the gap. Jason reached the rooftop just as I landed on the other side. "You're dead, you bastard, you hear me? Dead!" he roared.

Ignoring him, I kept running, leaping across rooftops and dodging obstacles. My heart was pounding in my ears, and I could feel the adrenaline surging through my veins. Just as I was about to reach the edge of another rooftop, I felt a strong hand grab the back of my hoodie, yanking me backward. Before I could react, a fist slammed into my face, sending stars dancing in my vision. "Thought you could get away, huh?" Jason snarled, his grip tightening as he hauled me back up. My nose throbbed with pain, and I could taste blood in my mouth. I struggled against him, my mind racing. "I've got to get out of this," I thought desperately.

The timer was ticking down, and I was running out of options. Just then, I noticed a loose brick lying near the edge of the roof. Summoning all my strength, I twisted in Jason's grip, grabbed the brick, and swung it at his hand. The impact made him let go with a grunt of pain, and I didn't waste a second. I pushed him away with all my might, sending him stumbling backward. Without looking back, I sprinted toward the edge of the roof again. Jason stumbled but managed to steady himself, glaring daggers at me. The timer showed 30 seconds remaining, and I knew I had to act fast. Spotting a drainpipe leading down to the street, I made a split-second decision. Grabbing onto the pipe, I slid down as quickly as I could, the rough surface scraping my hands and arms.

Reaching the ground, I bolted into the crowded marketplace nearby, weaving between people and stalls. The air was thick with the scent of roasted chestnuts and sizzling meat from food vendors, mingled with the sharp tang of fresh herbs and spices.

Brightly colored fabrics fluttered in the breeze, and the rhythmic clatter of merchants hawking their wares created a chaotic symphony around me. The jostling crowd, a blur of faces and motion, pressed in from all sides as I zigzagged through, my heart pounding as Jason's shouts grew more distant. Jason's voice faded into the background, and when the timer finally hit zero, a Ding! echoed in my ears. I stopped, gasping for air as the quest window appeared again, announcing success:

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[Quest Completed!]

• Reward: +1 Agility, 200 Exp points

I collapsed onto a nearby bench, clutching my knees and heaving deep breaths. "I made it," I muttered, a small, triumphant smile spreading across my face despite the stinging cuts on my hands. It wasn't exactly the heroic adventure I'd envisioned, but I'd escaped. For now, at least.