An Encounter

An idle conversation had formed between them after Eiran had declared of being Nevan's mentor. This wasn't bad at all. This man was considered to be a legend in his field and celebrated even to this day. Of course, he wasn't going to completely rely on Eiran Sinclair. Nevan was going to do most of the things on his own.

Almost an hour had passed since he had entered this café. He had achieved something today, after all. This felt good. They had ordered another cup of their beverages and talked about god-knows-what.

"You will take part at that selection of SPC?" Eiran nipped at his cup while eyeing Nevan in a curious manner.

Nevan did the same thing, simply looking at Eiran. "Yeah. I have been training for it. It is in four days, huh?"

Mr. Sinclair hummed in approval. "Training, huh? The news was spread just yesterday." A look at Nevan's face told him everything, he needed to know. He had seen a lot in his life and understood what that expression of hesitation meant. "I see. A little birdie whispered in your ear, no?"

Nevan shifted slightly, not knowing what to response. What could he say? In a sense, a 'birdie' had whispered in his ear. And this 'birdie' had a name.

"Well." Eiran Sinclair finished his cup and stood up. "I will leave then. I have to be in Seoul for the next few days." He looked back at the black-haired boy. "I will get in contact with you when I am back. Or rather, let me know how the selection went?"

Nevan stood up as well, his cup still half full. He nodded. "I will make sure to keep you up to date."

They parted their ways. He saw how Eiran blend in the crowd perfectly now. So, if he didn't want attention, he could make sure no one noticed him? This was all about the energy he emitted.

Nevan had made his way through the park. He was more than ready to take on the tasks the system threw in his direction. Maybe, he would get started on the daily tasks now. Otherwise, he would not be able to finish them.

What was it today? He had plugged in his airpod again and spoke quietly. "Show me today's tasks."

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Daily Tasks (0/3)

- Jog for [7] km. [0/7]

- Spend [1] hour at Athlete Zone [2.] floor. [0/1]

- Do [80] push-ups. [0/80]

[Reward] + 4 Attribute-Points

[Penalty for not completing the tasks] Hidden - Will be revealed if Host fails to complete the tasks.

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He needed to wear other, more sporty clothes for this. That was why he had gone to Athlete Zone in the first place. And the task. But Nevan usually used the jog for warm-up and cool-down. It was his universal plan.

He had entered the enormous building and would have made his way directly to the first floor where all the lockers were, including Nevan's. While listening to music that made its way to his ear through the airpod, he was casually walking. It was almost a miracle, his ears picked up a familiar voice despite thw music.

The voice. Where did it come from? His heart skipped a beat as he heard the voice once more. He turned his head to look. As soon as his gaze graced upon the tall man, his heart's pace doubled in speed.

This was the moment, he had dreaded the most. The reality alternation used by the system the moment he had chosen to change his name had changed everyone's reality － including his parents'. He feared, the moment he would walk in front of them, they wouldn't recognize him.

Nevan knew. He knew, his actions would be met by disappointment. They would make his heart shatter and turn this situation to an unbearable one. But what do people say? Curiosity killed the cat. Oh, how dangerous this state could be.

As if the universe wanted to help Nevan fins out what would happen, his father let something drop. Lucien was engrossed in his discussion with someone who seemed equally important. Too engrossed to notice it. Nevan picked up the wallet and followed them.

"Excuse me!" Nevan shouted out, his voice echoed in the entrance lobby. He rushed towards both men. "You dropped something."

Both men, understanding one of them was being addressed, turned to look at Nevan. They stopped talking and waited for the boy to do something. Nevan's eyes fixated his father's face. "I believe, this is yours." He held out the wallet.

His father's eyes lightened when he recognized his wallet. He touched his empty pocket. "Ah, right. Thank you－" He looked up at Nevan. As if he recognized his son. But then as soon as the spark of recognition hit his eyes, it disappeared. "Your name?"

It felt like he had been punched into his guts.His own father asking his name? The nightmares that haunted him almost every night were being manifested into reality. Just the key from the system the other day. "Nevan." His voice sounded strangely weak.

"Nevan." The name sounded so familar and yet so strange coming from his mouth. His father opened his wallet to take out a few bank notes. "You are half-japanese?" His father seemed oddly interested in him.

Nevan declined politely when Lucien wanted to hand the money over to him. "No, please. I just did what I thought was right. I don't need any reward." He seemed a bit taken aback at the sudden interest. "Yes. My mother is Japanese. My father is French."

Lucien let out a sound or surprise. "Yeah? My wife is Japanese and I am French. What a coincidence!"

The words that they were his parents lingered at the tip of his tongue. It seemed like Lucien had gotten the gesture and put the money away. In this moment, Nevan was just a stranger who had helped him get his wallet back.

"Your parents have raised you well. Thank you." He held up his wallet before shoving it back in his pocket.

Nevan couldn't even say anythinc to it. He whispered a small 'thank you'. It was truly just hurtful to see how his own father didn't seem to recognize him. "I feel like, I have seen you somewhere." Nevan started, as if to get a reaction out of the man in front of him.

It wasn't Lucien who responded to Nevan but the man he had been talking to. "Of course, you have, boy. This man is Lucien Ayers. The current head of the richest family Ayers."

It was unbearable, really. This man had thrown him out. Told him to make a name for himself. Everything started because Lucien decided to force Nevan to move out. He pretended to be surprised. "Ah. That must be it." He took a step back, gave a small smile and spoke then. "Have a nice day. Both of you."

"You too." His father spoke again. Nevan nodded and turned around to leave. He had made his way to the first floor to do whatever he had wanted to do.

Nevan had used the stairs. He was fastee this way. For a moment, when he arrived at his locker, he simply leaned against it. Sudden exhaustion was coursing through his body, keeping him from opening the locker and taking his things out.

He had blankly looked at the screen. The blue display that had made him lose his own identity. Something had irritated him but he couldn't place it right now.

He slowly pushed himself off the locker, turning around to use the card key to open it. He deliberately started to pick out the clothes he needed. Then it crossed his mind. The source of his uneasiness, his irritation was the fact that his father had been so nice.

Nevan had spent a long time with that man. He had always tried to gain his favor, his attention － mostly he had failed to do so. And it hadn't been a daily situation if his father was interested in Nevan, his own son. Now that he had gone in front of his father as a stranger, he had gotten far more attention than he had ever had in a single meeting with Lucien Ayers up until now.

His grip had unintentionally tightened around his clothes and his teeth gritted. He was still staring in the blank. His back was up against the wall. All he could do was to move forward and become a soccer athlete.

Then again, why soccer? He could have chosen another ambition. Like musician. He had been forced into this. His eyes scanned the display once again. This system was dictating him. Maybe, he should stop caring and let the system lead him?

His grip started to loosen around the clothes. A sigh escaped his mouth and he had calmed down as fast as he had lost his cool. Nevan changed his attire before moving out of the building to start doing his workout.

His mind was set. First, he would concentrate on his career. This way, he would also be focusing on the quest of becoming a professional soccer athlete. When he completed that quest, he would be given something called a 'Name-Key' and then he would change his name back to normal.

Nevan had silenced all of his thoughts. In four days, he would be taking his first step of the long path. The selection of SPC. That was the center of his focus now. He would get selected and go to that bootcamp. Nevan didn't believe, he could lose. He had trained so hard.