By: Reyhan Arsyad Basori
I had no idea what I was doing.
The screen still glowed with that strange message.
Three hours to complete the mission.
That was all the time I had.
But where do you even start when the mission is simply: "Help someone sincerely"?
The streets were as empty as my mind.
I passed a few people, an office worker checking their phone, a mother dragging her crying child, two teenagers laughing at something on their screen.
None of them looked like they needed help.
Or maybe I was just afraid to approach anyone.
[Time Remaining: 2 hours 18 minutes]
I sighed and turned into a side street, the kind that always felt forgotten by the rest of the city.
Then I saw him.
An elderly man stood by a broken street sign, holding a piece of paper and squinting at it.
He looked confused, maybe even a little anxious.
I hesitated. but then remembered what the system said.
"Help them sincerely."
I took a deep breath and walked up to him.
"Excuse me, sir. Do you need help?" I asked.
He turned to me, surprised.
"Oh... yes, actually. I'm trying to find Takanashi Hospital, but this map is too small for me to read."
I quickly pulled out my phone and opened the map app.
"Ah, it's just a few blocks from here. I can take you there, if that's okay?"
"You'd do that? You're very kind, young man."
I smiled. A real one, for the first time in a long while.
"No problem at all."
We walked together.
He talked about his wife, who was in the hospital for a check-up.
I listened. Genuinely.
And for once, I didn't feel like a useless human being.
When we reached the hospital gate, he stopped and bowed slightly.
"Thank you. I'm sorry I don't have anything to give in return."
I shook my head.
"You already did."
The moment I turned to walk away, my phone vibrated.
[Mission Complete]
+10 EXP
+1 Random Skill Acquired: Observation (Lv.1)
You now see hidden details in people and places
Level: 1 → 2
I froze.
This... this was real.