"AAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
As I descended through the blinding light, bracing for impact, a strange sensation settled over me.
A few moments later, the ground rushed up to meet me, and with a jolt, I landed with a thud.
"Ugh…"
A sharp pain shot through my body, and for a brief moment, I was genuinely surprised.
It had been so long since I last felt anything like this.
Not because I couldn't feel anything in heaven or anything…
"Ouch! That hurt!" I exclaimed, wincing as I picked myself up and assessed my surroundings.
Dust clung to my clothes and skin from the impact, and the gritty feeling was unbearable. Spiders were everywhere and they crawled in my body.
I quickly brushed myself off, trying to clean away the dust.
It was such a trivial thing, yet the simple act of wiping away the dust grounded me in this thing, making everything feel just a bit more real.
Ugh, that goddess was absolutely infuriating.
Anyway, the room I found myself in was surprisingly spacious.
It reminded me of the final floor in a dungeon where some boss fight would be waiting.
It was shrouded in darkness, but thanks to my [Night Vision] skill, I could see everything clearly.
Next to me, a sling-like bag had been placed, accompanied by a cozy-looking pillow and a silky blanket.
Curious, I checked the bag's contents,
I found an iron sword, three gold coins, water, food, armor, and a tent.
Meh. I doubted I'd need any of it, considering my [Self-Suffice] skill allowed me to sustain myself without external resources.
The real treasures here were the pillow and blanket. The pillow looked unbelievably soft, practically inviting me to sink into it, while the blanket felt smooth and luxurious against my fingertips.
"I guess that goddess ain't half bad after all," I muttered, momentarily appreciating the accommodations.
The room was quite spacious, though a bit mossy, and the air was thick with moisture, adding an almost eerie feeling to the place.
As I took in my surroundings, my eyes landed on something unusual—a coffin, nestled in the corner. It had a marbled pattern, the intricate designs drawing my attention.
Huh. A coffin, of all things?
Unable to resist my curiosity, I wiped off the thick layer of dust covering the surface. When I lifted the lid, I was met with an unexpectedly luxurious sight—the interior was lined with plush cushions, making it look less like a tomb and more like a vampire's dream bed.
Honestly, it looked comfortable. And at this point, all I really wanted was a good night's sleep.
Without hesitation, I tossed the pillow inside and eagerly climbed in.
The moment my weight settled, however, a loud creak echoed through the room. Startled, I barely had time to react before the lid began closing on its own.
"...Wait, what?"
I shot up, trying to hold the lid open, but it slammed shut with an ominous thunk.
Darkness engulfed me.
"...You have got to be kidding me."
Panic surged through me as I pressed against the lid, attempting to push it open. It didn't budge. I tried again. Nothing.
"What the heck is happening?" I muttered, my voice bouncing off the confined space.
Forcing myself to take a deep breath, I scolded myself for panicking. Okay, okay—freaking out wasn't going to help. I needed to think this through.
I ran my hands along the inside of the coffin, searching for a latch, a button—anything that could help me escape.
Nothing.
In the dimness, I felt around for my bag, remembering the book the goddess had mentioned. With an urgency I hadn't felt in years, I flipped it open, scanning for anything remotely useful.
Hours passed as I poured over every detail. Nothing about coffins. Nothing about traps. Nothing remotely helpful in this situation.
Frustration gnawed at me.
Then, like a bolt of lightning, it hit me.
My status.
I had completely forgotten about it.
I accessed my status screen.
[Status Open]
Name: John Michael
Level: 1
Age: 25
Job: None
HP: 109/109
Mana: 51/51
Atk: 47
Magic: 31
Dex: 29
Agi: 27
Vit: 37
Luk: 68
Skills: (Skill list) Skill Points: 1
[Night Vision] (Max) (Active)[Self-Suffice] (Max) (Active)
Unique Skills:
[Immortality][Experience Gain][Deep Slumber]
Unique Attribute:
[Hero]
Looking over my stats, I couldn't help but feel... underwhelmed. They were fine, I guess. Not terrible, but nothing impressive either. Still, considering my current situation, I'd take any advantage I could get.
Flipping back through the book, I found a section on assigning skill points. Apparently, I could pick from a small list of available skills.
Skill Tree (General)
Learnable Skills:
[Appraisal] – 1 Skill Point
Considering my current situation, [Appraisal] seemed like the obvious choice since it was the most appropriate in this time.
Confirming my selection, a message popped up:
Learn Skill: [Appraisal] for 1 Skill Point?
"Yes."
Skill Acquired: [Appraisal Lvl.1]
Due to the Unique Attribute [Hero], Skill Upgraded: [Appraisal EX] (Lvl. 10 MAX)
Wait, what?
Now that I think about it, I did come across some interesting information.
First off, as reincarnated individuals, we aren't bound by job requirements like normal people. Typically, if you wanted to become a swordsman, you'd need at least level 1 in [Sword Technique] before unlocking the job. But for us? Nope. We can learn jobs regardless of meeting the prerequisites.
On top of that, we gain experience points at twice the normal rate. Sounds great, right? Well, here's the catch—the only way to level up is by defeating monsters. There are some exceptions where specific jobs provide alternative ways to earn experience, but generally speaking, grinding is the way to go.
Jobs themselves are split into two main categories: Offensive and Miscellaneous.
Offensive jobs include things like swordsman, mage, tank, and guard—basically, combat-oriented roles.Miscellaneous jobs are everything else—blacksmith, alchemist, tailor, cook, and so on.
But honestly? I couldn't care less. My plan is simple.
To sleep.
Who cares about adventuring? Yeah, sure, this is a brand-new world, full of wonders and mysteries… blah, blah, blah. But to me, it's just another opportunity to indulge in the greatest luxury of all: uninterrupted slumber, gifted by the gods themselves.
That said, there was one thing that stood out—I've never heard of a skill reaching its maximum level before.
But, hey, who am I to question convenient skills? Might as well check out [Appraisal EX] and see what I'm working with.
Skill: [Appraisal Lvl 10] (MAX)
Description: This skill enables the user to gather information about specific items, people, or things. The extent and depth of the information depend on the number of skill points invested.
(To use: Focus on the target and silently say "appraisal" in your mind.)
(Max Perk: Automatically appraises objects without the need for a verbal command.)
Ah, just as I expected from an appraisal skill. Straightforward, easy to use, and since it's maxed out, I don't even have to activate it manually—it just works on its own.
Which means… I should be able to appraise this coffin.
Item: [Coffin of the End]
Description: A coffin designed to seal the Demon Lord inside for 100,000 years in case of emergency.
Indestructible.
Cannot be unsealed.
…Excuse me?
This thing was meant to seal the Demon Lord?!
But according to the book, the Demon Lord is already dead! Oh… wait. The description says *"in case of emergency."*
Does that mean I'm the one who got sealed here?
…
Okay, hold on. I should be panicking right now. This is a terrible situation, right? But the more I think about it… is it really?
I mean, let's break it down.
The coffin is indestructible, meaning I'm completely safe from any outside threats.
I have my [Immortality] skill, so no matter how much time passes, I won't die.
My [Self-Suffice] skill means I won't starve or suffer from thirst.
I have a soft pillow and a silky blanket.
…
This is perfect.
This isn't a curse. This is paradise.
Forget adventuring! Forget grinding for levels! I don't have to fight, train, or struggle.
I can just sleep.
For 100,000 years.
This is what true luxury looks like.
I should be thanking the goddess for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Actually, no—this is better than a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
This is a once-in-100,000-years opportunity!
With newfound enthusiasm, I quickly gathered all my items into the bag. I wasn't going to waste any time—I was getting comfortable.
I adjusted the pillow, wrapped myself in the blanket, and sank into the plush interior of the coffin. The moment my body settled, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. This was it. The ultimate slumber.
Shall I use my unique skill [Deep Slumber]?
I smiled to myself.
"Let's go."
I activated [Deep Slumber], and just like that—
I was out.
Absolute. Bliss.