I couldn't believe it. I truly was in another world.
For a fleeting moment, a sense of excitement filled me.
The idea of a second chance, of living in a world beyond imagination, was intoxicating.
But reality struck just as quickly, washing over me like a cold tide.
As I pushed myself up from the worn-out bed, an unfamiliar weight settled over me.
My limbs felt different—thinner, weaker. A sense of frailty clung to my movements as I approached the door, hesitating before pushing it open.
Silence.
The hallway beyond was dimly lit, the air thick with dust and neglect.
No servants bustled about. No warm lights or luxurious décor.
Just as the memories had told me—no one would come.
No one cared.
The person I had become, Vancroft Lockhart, was not loved.
Born of a commoner mother, his very existence was a stain on the illustrious name of the Lockhart Duchy.
An embarrassment best forgotten. A child unworthy of his noble blood.
But more than that, he was weak.
In a world where power dictated worth, he had none.
Neither magic nor aura had blessed him. No matter how hard Vancroft had trained, he had remained stuck at the 4th rank, unable to break through.
His aura was stagnant, incapable of further development.
Why would his family acknowledge him when they had true prodigies?
A sister who mastered aura at the age of ten.
A brother who reached the 8th circle in magic at fourteen.
Another sibling, a merchant genius with both wealth and talent.
And then there was Vancroft.
The illegitimate. The disappointment. The one without potential.
They cast him away to a dying mansion, a place so forgotten that even the ghosts of the past would rather stay away.
'What a cruel family.'
To treat their own blood like this... it was beyond comprehension.
Vancroft had clung to life, hoping for a miracle.
But in the end, he died.
And now, I was here.
The words of the author's message echoed in my mind.
In the end, I don't know much about this world. Let's try to survive.
I took a deep breath.
If this was my reality now, I needed to understand it.
The first step? The system. If this world followed the rules of the novels I read, it should be here.
"Status", I murmured, expecting a glowing blue screen to materialise before me.
Instead, something strange happened.
A voice—calm, mechanical, and precise—resonated directly in my mind.
[Initialising System...]
[Welcome, Vancroft Lockhart.]
[Analysing current state...]
[Notice: User potential is critically low. No recognised talents detected.]
[Adjusting assistance parameters to optimise survival.]
I froze.
This wasn't the traditional floating screen system I had imagined. This was something... different.
[System has been assigned as the user's personal assistant.]
[Primary Function: Provide guidance and support for growth.]
[Would you like an initial assessment and available options for improvement?]
My breath caught in my throat.
Perhaps I wasn't as hopeless as I thought.
It seemed the surprises in this world were only just beginning.
***
"Status", I murmured, expecting a glowing blue screen to materialise before me.
Instead, something strange happened.
A voice—calm, mechanical, and precise—resonated directly in my mind.
"What exactly are you?" I asked, my voice still hoarse from disuse.
[Designated as an Artificial Intelligence. My purpose is to assist you in adapting and surviving within this world.
"An AI?" I muttered, surprised. "Not the usual system I expected… but I can work with this."
I ran a hand through my dishevelled hair, gathering my thoughts.
"Analyse my body. Tell me what you know."
As the AI began listing my physical state, I moved toward an old wooden cabinet in the corner of the room.
The doors creaked as I pulled them open, revealing a set of worn black shorts and a ragged shirt. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
[Physical Assessment: Weakened muscle structure, signs of malnutrition, low stamina reserves. Strength and agility below standard human averages. No natural affinity for magic or aura.
I sighed, already expecting this but still feeling the weight of my situation.
I reached further into the cabinet, my fingers brushing against cold metal.
A dull, worn-out sword rested inside.
Memories surfaced.
Vancroft, with no support from his family, had no choice but to survive as an adventurer.
The meagre earnings he scraped together barely kept him alive.
His sword skills were self-taught, crude, and inefficient, but his magic ability was adequate to last him long enough.
"So, system," I asked, slipping on the clothes, "given my current situation, do you have any suggestions?"
[Processing viable pathways...]
I waited, expecting an obvious answer—train harder, seek a mentor, find a way to unlock hidden potential.
But what I got was entirely unexpected.
[Suggestion: Utilise the Rune Function.]
I blinked. "The Rune System? What is that?"
[Explanation available upon request. Would you like to proceed?
My grip tightened on the sword's hilt.
Suddenly, memories resurfaced.
This world functioned differently than I had assumed.
Every race and individual followed a function system based on their affinities and talents.
Humans primarily used [mana]and [aura] functions to wield magic or enhance their physical strength.
Elves and druids accessed the [spirit function], channelling nature's power.
Werebeasts and berserkers thrived under the [God Descent Function], drawing divine strength to transform their bodies.
Demons and necromancers employed the [Contract Function], binding souls and entities to their will.
And the Divinities, beings of legend, commanded the [Celestial Function], harnessing laws beyond mortal comprehension.
Beyond these five major functions, smaller, more niche systems existed—ones used by healers, alchemists, and scholars.
Among them, the [Rune Function] stood alone.
Based on the ancient myths of the Tower of Babylon, where all languages were one, the Rune Function allowed its users to wield fragments of multiple functions.
A jack-of-all-trades.
The AI's voice continued, confirming my thoughts.
[The Rune Function grants versatility but has critical weaknesses. It is slow to activate and lacks natural progression.
I frowned. "Lacks progression?"
[Correct. Other functions evolve with mastery. A mage transitions from drawing circles to silent casting. An aura user refines their energy to wield it freely. The Rune Function, however, remains bound by the act of inscription along with delayed casting.
It made sense. Runes had to be written to function.
In battle, that delay was fatal.
[Due to its impracticality, the Rune Function was abandoned by its major users, the Alchemists. The greatest alchemist of all time, Magnus Eisenwald, developed a superior function, sealing the Rune System's fate.
I clenched my fist.
This function—my only path—was flawed, discarded, and forgotten.
But I had no choice.
Gripping the worn sword, I exhaled sharply.
"Fine. I'll work with what I have."
[Recommendation: Proceed to the Adventurer's Guild to acquire initial resources.]
I nodded. It was time to seize my opportunity.
With nothing left to lose, I took my first step toward survival.