The alarm rang at 6:00 AM expertly.
Rei slowly opened his eyes.
His head felt heavy. He had barely slept last night.
That strange voice from last night…"Find me… chaos is calling you…"
It kept replaying in his mind.
He sat up in bed and looked around. His small room was quiet. The only sound was the fan spinning slowly above his head.
No weird lights. No spinning symbols. No glowing magic circle.
"Maybe I imagined it," he whispered.
"But something felt different."
He reached out for his phone and checked it.
Still nothing strange. No new messages. No apps. No glitches or whatever.
He sighed and stood up."Just another school day", he whispered.
...........
Rei washed his face in the small bathroom. The mirror showed a tired boy with messy black hair and sleepy eyes. He looked like someone who hadn't smiled in years.
"Guess it's just me again," he mumbled, drying his face with an old towel.
He got dressed, ate some instant noodles, and left the apartment.
The streets were still wet from the rain last night. The sky was clearer now, but the air was still cold.
As he walked to school, something odd happened.
A small beep echoed in his head.
Ding!
He stopped.
"...What was that?"
There was no one around.
Then, suddenly, a soft, gentle voice appeared in his mind.
[Chaos Crown System Booting…][Hello, User. Welcome to the Chaos Crown System.][Beginning Activation… Completed.]
Rei's eyes widened.
"It wasn't a dream…"
[Would you like to view your first task?][Say or think: "Open Task Menu."]
Rei looked around quickly. No one was watching.
He lowered his head and whispered, "Open task menu."
A blue screen appeared in his mind. It wasn't real like a phone screen — more like something he could see inside his head.
Task Menu
Daily Task #1: Improve Appearance
1. Fix your hairstyle
2. Wear clean, proper clothes
3. Look dissent for once
Reward: $500
[Optional Task #2: Smile at someone today.]Reward: +2 Popularity
Rei blinked.
"...What?"
He re-read the tasks.
Improve appearance?Smile?
It sounded like a joke.
But $500 was a lot of money for him. He couldn't even imagine holding that much cash even in his dream.
"Wait… if this is real…"
He looked down at his dirty shoes and loose hoodie.
He felt a little embarrassed. Not because of how he looked — he had never cared about that — but because… now something else was telling him to fix it.
"Ugh… fine. I'll try."
.......
When he reached school, he went straight to the bathroom.
He looked at himself in the mirror again. Same messy hair. Same tired face.
He took a deep breath and splashed water on his hair.
Then he tried to push it into place.
It didn't look great. But it looked less like a bird's nest now.
He adjusted his collar. Pulled out a comb from his bag — one he barely used — and did his best (he really did).
......
When he walked into class, a few students looked at him.
Not in a good way.
More like, "Wait, is that the weird quiet kid?"
He ignored them and took his seat.
First period was boring as usual. The teacher droned on about history.
Rei as usual stared out the window.
"I should try the other task too…"
He looked around.
Most people ignored him like always.
But one girl at the front of the class who dropped her pencil.
Rei stood up, picked it up, and walked over.
"H-Here," he said, handing it to her.
She blinked in surprise. "Oh… thanks."
Rei gave a small, awkward smile at that.
She looked confused but nodded back.
He returned to his seat.
Ding!
[Optional Task #2 Complete!]Reward: +2 Popularity]
He almost laughed.
"Popularity? What is this, a dating sim?"
Still, it felt… kind of nice.
Lunch break.
Rei walked out of the building toward a nearby store.
He used the school bathroom mirror again, fixed his hair a bit more, and tried to look normal.
"Please don't let this be a scam," he whispered.
As he walked, his phone buzzed.
[You've received $500.]
Rei stopped in his tracks.
He checked the screen.
It wasn't a joke. His account now had $520.34. He had less than $20 yesterday.
"...No way."
He almost shouted. But he managed to stay calm.
At least on the outside.
Inside, he was freaking out.
"Okay. Okay. This is real."
He bought a new shirt, a belt, and some cologne from the store. Not anything too expensive. Just something clean and decent.
He had $420 left now after shopping. That was more than enough to buy better lunch for a whole week her him.
When he walked back into class, people glanced at him.
They didn't say anything.
But they noticed.
That alone was new thing for him.
........
Later that evening, he sat on his bed again.
His phone lay beside him. His body felt tired, but not in a bad way.
"System," he said quietly. "Are you still there?"
[Yes, User. I am always with you.]
"Why me?"
[You were chosen based on hidden compatibility.]
"That… doesn't answer anything."
"......." Silent filled the room then suddenly he heard a voice in his mind.
[Would you like to view your current status?]
"Sure. Why not?" He replied.
Status: Rei
Strength: 11
Agility: 9
Intelligence: 12
Charm: 4
Luck: 3
Energy: 6
Chaos Factor: 1%
Evolution Level: 0
[Next Evolution: All base stats must reach 100.]
Rei read the numbers.
He wasn't strong. He wasn't smart. He wasn't anything special.
But…
"What's this 'Chaos Factor'...?"
[Unknown. More data needed.]
"Of course, you will reply like this," he muttered.
System didn't reply to him; instant it asks him another question.
[Would you like to unlock the Chaos Crown Shop?]
"There's a shop?"
[Yes. A place to buy tools, knowledge, skills, and resources. More items unlock as your influence grows.]
"...Okay. Show me."
Chaos Shop – Basic Tier
School Supplies Pack – $15
Healthy Meal Plan (1 Week) – $30
Temporary Confidence Boost – $25
Skill Scroll: Memory Focus (Passive) – $100
Business Startup Kit – $1,000 (Locked)
Apartment Upgrade – $5,000 (Locked)
Rei stared at it.
Business startup kit?
Apartment upgrade?
He felt his heart beat faster.
This wasn't just a power system.
This was a life-changing system.
He could become rich. Smart. Strong. And be respected by other.
"...I'm gonna do it," he said softly. "I'm going to change my life."
[System Reminder: More quests will appear tomorrow. Rest well, Master.]
Rei smiled a little.
"Master, huh…?"
It felt weird.
But also… kinda nice.
He turned off the light and laid down.
For the first time in a long while…he felt like he had something to look forward to.
But just before he drifted off…
"Awaken slowly, child of chaos…"
A voice whispered again.
Not the system.
Something else.
Older.
Colder.
Deeper.
Rei's eyes snapped open.
But everything was quiet.
"...What was that?"
No questioned.
The storm inside him… had only just begun.
End of Chapter 2