"From Broke to Baller: Thanks, System?"

The sun had already begun its slow descent, casting golden rays over the modest rooftops of a quiet neighborhood. A soft breeze rolled through the narrow streets , rustling laundry lines and the occasional echo of children playing tag down the hill.

Jin Cortez sat cross-legged on the floor of his small bedroom, back resting against a patched-up wall. The hum of a worn electric fan filled the silence, rattling slightly as it oscillated. In his hands, he held his old phone—cracked at the corner, but still working—scrolling through the final chapters of a novel he had been following for weeks.

It was another system novel—one where the main character started from nothing, gradually gaining power and respect through sheer effort and a mysterious voice guiding him every step. Jin had read too many of these stories to count. And even though he knew they were fiction, something about them stuck with him.

He looked around his room. The walls were bare except for a taped-up calendar and a small poster of a spaceship. His younger brother's mattress lay neatly folded in the corner, and a bucket of clean laundry waited by the door. In the other room, he could hear his mother cooking dinner—most likely something simple again. Their father, a welder, would be home in an hour, probably with metal dust clinging to his shirt.

Jin sighed, setting his phone on his chest.

"Wouldn't it be cool if I had one of those systems too?" he muttered to himself, staring up at the ceiling. "Nothing crazy. Just something to help me out a little... maybe guide me like those MCs. I wouldn't mind doing the work."

He chuckled at the thought, eyes slowly fluttering shut as his body relaxed. Outside, a stray dog barked, a rooster crowed out of rhythm, and the breeze through the window carried the scent of newly lit charcoal.

Jin didn't realize he had fallen asleep.

And then—

DING!

A soft chime echoed inside his mind. Gentle, almost like a notification—but... not from his phone.

[Good morning, sleepyhead!]

A glowing message appeared in front of his closed eyes—bright and playful, floating in midair.

[Welcome, Jin Cortez! Your personalized System has been successfully activated.]

[Let's start your journey with a smile, shall we?]

Jin twitched in his sleep. His brows furrowed, lips parting slightly as if to speak. Then—

[System Initializing... Basic Task Set: Waking Up Early, Cleaning, Daily Exercise.]

[Rewards: Life points, minor cash bonuses, and... maybe a few surprises.]

[Note: Your thoughts before sleeping were logged as your initial Wish Statement. Well then, lucky boy.]

[Let's take it slow, together.]

The message vanished.

The only thing Jin would remember when he woke up was a strange, comforting warmth in his chest, like something inside him had changed — just slightly.

End of Chapter 1