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After three hours, a bell chimed outside, signaling the end of class.

The students erupted in cheers, relieved that school time was finally over.

Guru promptly gathered his possessions, swiftly collecting his bag and departing without delay. His homeroom teacher observed his departure with a deep sigh and a disapproving shake of her head as if she had already resigned herself to Guru's fate.

Her azure eyes betrayed her bewilderment, as she came to the realization that the boy had undergone a sudden transformation six months prior.

Guru seldom engaged in conversation with others, appearing more mature and isolated in her perception. She had exhausted all her efforts in attempting to aid the troubled child, but unfortunately, she couldn't assist someone who didn't desire to be helped.

She could only hope for a swift change in Guru's attitude.

Guru's home was conveniently located not too far from the school, and he could easily walk there in about 20 minutes.

As he approached his familiar neighborhood, he felt a sense of comfort and familiarity. Finally, he arrived at the gate of his home.

"You're home," a voice called out from the kitchen.

Inside, a middle-aged woman in her early 40s was busy cooking. Upon hearing the door open, she turned around and saw Guru.

She also had the same emerald eyes as the guru's, slight wrinkles were on her forehead.

"How was your day?" she asked.

"Not too bad, the classes were easy," Guru replied with a nod.

He glanced towards the living room and inquired, "Where's dad? Hasn't he returned from work yet?"

With a sigh, his mother responded, "Your dad mentioned some urgent tasks related to a recent dungeon appearance, so he'll be coming home late."

Guru nodded silently, refraining from saying much.

He placed his bag down and took a seat at the table.

In this alternate world, Guru's father worked as a government employee responsible for regulating the information and maintenance of the region's appearances.

Inspired by his father, Guru aspired to follow in his footsteps and was dedicated to his studies from a young age.

His father believed that by understanding the workings of the appearances and the atmosphere of the dungeons, he could contribute to the safety and well-being of his community.

Guru's mother, knowing his passion, always supported his dreams and encouraged him to pursue it.

As Guru sat at the table, his mother served him a warm plate of his favorite meal. The aroma filled the air, and Guru's stomach growled in anticipation. He thanked his mother and began to eat, savoring each bite.

As he ate, his mind wandered to the dungeons and the mysteries they held.

Dungeons were enigmatic structures that appeared randomly throughout the region. They were filled with dangerous creatures, valuable treasures, and hidden knowledge. The government, under Guru's father's department, was responsible for monitoring and regulating these dungeons to ensure the safety of the people.

His father's work was crucial in determining the necessary precautions and resources needed to handle each situation.

After finishing his meal, Guru helped his mother with the dishes, their conversation filled with talk of dungeons and the latest appearances. His mother shared stories she had heard from his father, and Guru listened intently, absorbing every detail.

As the evening wore on, Guru retreated to his room, a space filled with books, maps, and sketches of dungeons. He spent hours studying, researching, and honing his knowledge to not let his parents down this time and in preparation for his future as a respectable man.

Late into the night, Guru's father finally returned home, exhausted but with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. He greeted Guru with a tired smile and told everything intently as his son asked what type of dungeons had been opened recently.

Guru's father, proud of his son's dedication, offered guidance and advice, sharing his own experiences and knowledge.

After conversing for a while, the father and son made their way back to their respective rooms.

Upon entering his room, Guru promptly changed his attire before settling down on his bed. A sense of excitement filled him as he contemplated the questions he would ask tomorrow, being his birthday and all.

Guru had devised a plan to request his parents' assistance in opening a Demat account so that he could invest his pocket money.

Being underage, he needed their sign and approval to proceed with this endeavor. After taking some time to calm his racing thoughts, exhaustion overcame him and he drifted off to sleep. Suddenly, a mechanical sound jolted him awake, causing him to fixate on what lay ahead.

As he focused, the number in front of his eyes began to alter.

[Current Age: 13]

The updated number materialized before him, now displaying his age as 13.

"Is there nothing more?"

Guru felt a twinge of confusion upon observing this number. He had always believed that when he turned 13, something significant would occur. Was this anticipation merely a misconception? A sense of bewilderment washed over him, accompanied by a tinge of disappointment.

At that moment, an interface materialized before his eyes, accompanied by a vague sensation. It felt as though he had donned a pair of blurry glasses, causing discomfort to emanate from the front.

Guru instinctively shook his head before refocusing his gaze. And in that moment, a new change unfolded.

[The conditions have been met. Would you like to initiate the simulation?]

A fresh line of text emerged before his eyes...

Looking at these words, Guru felt quite surprised.

As he looked on, the scene before his eyes quickly changed. The interface in front of him changed and a game-like interface appeared.

There were rows of dots of light on it, but only the first was shining and blinking with light.

"What... is this?"

Upon observing this interface, Guru momentarily drifted away before surveying his surroundings. His eyes naturally gravitated towards the initial gleaming speck of light. As his gaze fixated on that luminous dot, additional words materialized before him.

Guru, upon realizing this, pondered to himself, "Ah, so the minimum age requirement is 13... That explains why it only started today."

While he could speculate about the nature of the simulation, he preferred to wait for confirmation.

Moreover, when he caught sight of the simulation's title, he experienced a sense of déjà vu, as if he had heard that phrase somewhere before, although he couldn't quite recall where.

Regardless of the various conjectures he entertained, he knew that he would only be certain once he personally tried it out.

After Guru double-checks his door to make sure it's locked, he glances once more at the queue in front of him.

[Would you like to initiate the simulation?]

He takes a deep breath and replies, "Yes."

***

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