Childhood Friend

In a private laboratory in New York, cutting-edge technology was being studied. It was a method to manipulate the genes of a living organism and cause mutations of some sort through the introduction of nanomachines.

This research was ultimately planned to develop a cure for cancer through the use of nanomachines for secluding the cancer cells and correcting their DNA to return to normal. The researchers participating in the research were monitored 24/7 just to make sure that this technology would not leak to other countries before getting completed.

However, one day, an accident occurred in the laboratory, causing a few casualties and allowing the experimental nanomachine to escape. The problem wasn't that it managed to escape but rather its ability to replicate itself, similar to the asexual reproduction of single-celled organisms.

In just 24 hours, the nanomachine managed to multiply hundreds of thousands of times its previous count. Not only the neighboring country, but the nanomachine also managed to reach even the next continent over, spreading all over South America and even crossing the ocean to reach Europe.

Without the controller in place, the nanomachine would act like a parasite and stick to any living host of any kind. They were completely undetectable and would even use the host's body's excess energy to further replicate themselves.

Before the news of the destruction of the laboratory even managed to reach the ears of the public, the nanomachine had already managed to infect the whole world population.

At that moment, everything changed in an instant.

For humans, the nanomachine couldn't entirely parasitize them given the initial protection protocol that was embedded in their genes themselves. At most, they could circulate around the body like some sort of new cell.

The nanomachine was still able to affect humans, however. And that was something that created a divide around the whole world.

If I summarize it in one sentence, then it would be that the entire world became something like a game. Status Window, Levels, Battle Classes, Health Bar, Energy Bar, Skills, Badges, Titles, etc. All of these became the norm in the blink of an eye.

With the new normal introduced to the entire world at the same time, the gamers, those who like to read novels and manga, and those delusional bastards dreaming of end-of-the-world stuff like this were overjoyed.

The normal populace, on the other hand, was completely afraid of this change. It was to the point that some decided to take their own lives for some inexplicable reason. Governments around the world quickly moved to prevent their citizens from panicking, trying to contain the damage to the unfortunate ones.

However, as they were trying to quell the people's doubts and worries, another change occurred. The animals that were infected by the nanomachine started mutating. They became deformed beasts, nothing short of an abomination, a monster.

This sudden mutation took the lives of a lot of citizens, mostly from getting attacked by their own mutated pets. Fortunately, the military around the world managed to quell the chaos quickly. Within just a few hours, they managed to clear all the mutated animals around the urban areas. A few days of peace followed.

Shortly after, though, the world realized that the monsters were not only mutated by the nanomachines. The monsters also inherited the nanomachine's rapid asexual reproduction ability!

The monsters, with their newly increased numbers, launched simultaneous attacks all over the world. This further reduced the world's population quite drastically. The military wasn't enough to handle it alone anymore, leading the civilians to raise arms and fight back against the invading monsters.

This was the First Monster War that ensued two weeks after the release of the Nanomachine.

"... Giza! Mr. Mahiro Giza! Are you listening?!"

"Eh?"

As my name got called, I turned my head from the history (recent) book and looked ahead. There, before me, a blonde, muscular man who looked like he used to be a part of the military stood with his hands grabbing the corners of my desk.

"I'm asking you a question; were you not listening?"

I turned to look around, and most of my classmates were staring at me with sneers. I felt a little awkward as I scratched my head, trying to recall what our teacher asked from the faint memory I had of his long-winded talk.

"Uhhh... Was it about the Beginner Classes?"

Hearing my doubtful answer, the military-like man, our teacher, Sir Andrew Gibson, drew back and frowned.

"Good. It seems like you were listening. Then? Can you enumerate them all?"

I stood up from my seat and tried to recall what I could from the top of my head.

"It's Warrior, Fighter, and Tower for Melee Classes; Cleric, Bard, and Enchanter for the Support Classes; Mage, Archer, and Scholar for the Rearguard Classes."

"... All correct."

Sir Andrew narrowed his eyes as he stared at my face.

"It looks like you're not as depressed as I thought."

"Depressed?"

"Ah. You got turned down by someone yesterday, right? The entire school's talking about it, you know?"

A teasing grin appeared on his face, completely replacing his strict atmosphere from before.

"S-Sir Andrew?!"

Why the f*ck does this teacher even know that? Wait, the whole school?! Am I becoming famous again for a completely different reason than being at the lowest level?

"Ahahaha! Don't be embarrassed about it! When I was your age, I—"

*RRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGG!*

Just before I got stuck standing while listening to his long, long revival of past episodes, the bell indicating the end of the last morning class echoed. Hearing this, I secretly sighed in relief.

"I guess that's it for our lessons. Alright, before I go, set your levels to public, and let me check them."

As usual, a routine check occurred. It was one of my most hated events every day, but I guess today would be the last that I would feel like that.

Without hesitation, I set my level display's privacy to public, causing a floating number and a few words to appear above my head. I looked up and stared at the glaring "Student Lv. 1," thinking that I would be saying goodbye to this display in a few hours.

I looked around, staring at the classes and levels of everyone else. The lowest around was already level 5, with the highest being a level 3 Warrior, followed by two level 2 Mages and one level 1 Prince.

"Oh, we have a new Beginner Class, and it seems like a Rare Class! Congrats, Kyouya!"

After his name got called, a tall guy lightly scratched his head of glossy short black hair embarrassedly as the others clapped to his achievement. I guess "Prince" as his class fits him perfectly, given his commanding aura and good looks.

"... And Mr. Giza, you're still level 1, as expected... Come to my office after class."

"Ugh..."

Another life counseling, it seems. Although I'm thankful that he's being considerate of me since it looks like I'm getting left behind by the rest, honestly, I can get by fine even without this every day.

After checking the levels of everybody else and praising the ones who managed to increase them after all their hard work, Sir Andrew finally left the room. As he did, I quickly returned my level display back to private and slumped back down on my chair, letting out a long and heavy-hearted sigh.

"Yo! Mr. Famous!"

As I was letting my nerves rest, a voice called from beside me and tapped my shoulders lightly. I glanced to the side only to find the Prince, Kyouya, standing beside me.

"... What do you want?"

"What? What [what]? Man, is that how you treat your only friend?"

"Piss off. I'm not in the mood right now."

"How cold! Did getting turned down by the QUEEN change your heart into a block of ice?"

"You...! You know why I did that in the first place! Stop picking on me about that!"

I already have my plates full with just the judgmental stares from all over. If this annoying guy adds to that, then I'd probably just cut classes for the afternoon altogether and spend the rest of the day hunting.

"I guessed. Well, not only me, but I think a lot of the boys are full of respect for you now. I mean, nowadays, nobody even had the guts to call out to the QUEEN, much less confess to her!"

He shrugged as a cheeky grin adorned his face. Although I had the sudden urge to smash his nose in, as a level 1, I surely can't do sh*t against someone who's already done with their first class change.

Although this guy, Kanzaki Kyouya, feels a little annoying at times, I know that he's just trying to cheer me up. Being friends with him since we were little, it's not hard for me to guess what he was thinking.

As I was thinking that to myself, a popup appeared before me. Since the popups were literally translucent blue windows that appeared before the user physically, Kyouya could also see and read their contents.

[

Friendship with Kanzaki Kyouya increased! Current Value: 99+

You have recovered from the Depressed state! Wisdom +1

]

"..."

"..."

I took a deep breath and raised my hand to him, signaling him to stop. However, I was a little too late.

"If you're a heroine, you'd already be way past being head over heels for me, huh?"

I felt my temple pulse as my blood pressure seemed to suddenly rise. With all the anger I could muster, I shouted.

"Shut up! You damned playboy!"