Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character

I opened my eyes with difficulty, my eyelids feeling as though they were weighed down by stones. My vision spun slightly before it finally began to focus on the stained and faded ceiling of my shop room. Letting out a weak sigh, I felt a throbbing pain stabbing through my head.

"Ugh… What happened?" I muttered, holding my head, which felt like it had been smashed by a sledgehammer. My entire body felt like it had been beaten down by some invisible force. Oh yeah, that ring…!

Before I could gather my thoughts, the door flew open with a loud crash. Old Man Oldan entered, holding a wooden bowl in his hands, steam rising from it along with a… well, neutral smell.

"Oh, you're finally awake!" he barked in that gruff, unmistakable voice of his. "What's wrong with you, huh? Screaming like you were possessed by a demon and then fainting on the floor! I've told you not to slack off, and now you've created more problems."

I could only let out a sigh, leaning my body against the wall. "Possessed? I was just…" I stopped mid-sentence, trying to think of what to say next. If I told him I'd been shocked by a magical ring, he'd probably say I'd lost my mind.

Oldan didn't wait for an explanation. He placed the bowl onto the small table beside my bed with a loud thud. "Eat this. Wheat soup. You need to recover quickly! If you die, who's going to run the shop?"

I glanced over at the bowl halfheartedly and immediately lost all motivation. The soup was basically boiled water with a few chunks of coarse wheat floating aimlessly. It didn't have any seasoning. It didn't even smell like anything besides soggy wheat.

I let out a long sigh. "God… I miss curry."

Oh, curry—hot, flavorful curry served with soft white rice. The thought of it drifted through my mind like a treasure that had been stolen away. Rich, aromatic spices, that thick, savory broth… definitely not this bland, lifeless excuse for food.

"What's curry?" Oldan asked, looking at me like I'd just spoken an alien language.

"Ah, it's nothing…" I shook my head, resigning myself to the bitter reality that living in a medieval world meant bidding farewell to the delicious food of Earth.

Oldan snorted. "Well, hurry up and eat, and stop causing more trouble. I'm tired of cleaning up the messes you make!" He turned around and slammed the door shut with a loud bang that made me flinch slightly.

I stared blankly at the soup and then glanced at my hand. The ring… was still there. The old, tarnished metal gave off a faint glimmer, but now it looked different—almost as though it was radiating an invisible aura.

"What is this thing…?" I muttered as I twisted the ring around my finger.

Just as I considered pulling it off, something happened. Suddenly, a transparent window appeared in front of me, floating in the air like a hologram. Soft blue light shimmered around its edges, illuminating the dim room.

"What the hell?!" I recoiled in shock, nearly falling off the bed.

Before I could react further, a mechanical voice—crisp, clear, and impossibly modern—echoed inside my head. Something like this shouldn't exist in a medieval world.

[Installation complete...]

[System Guide and Tutorial activated.]

I froze. My eyes widened as I read the text hovering in front of me. "A… System Guide? Tutorial?" My voice nearly caught in my throat. This was like something straight out of a game or an isekai novel I'd read before!

I reached out to touch the transparent window, but my hand passed through it like it was air. The window remained in place, following my line of sight as though it were truly bound to me.

"What is this? This isn't a dream, is it?" I mumbled to myself, pinching my cheek—ouch. Okay, definitely not a dream.

More text appeared on the screen, accompanied by that same mechanical voice:

[Welcome, new user.]

[You are now the official owner of the Ring of Destiny - a Secret Artifact.]

[Accessing data... Adjusting system to the user's physical and mental condition.]

[Please wait…]

I froze in place. The Ring of Destiny? A Secret Artifact? I glanced at the ring on my finger, which now seemed to be glowing slightly brighter than before. This felt exactly like an RPG suddenly brought to life.

"This… This is insane…" I whispered.

The transparent window displayed more text:

[Analysis complete.]

[Tutorial starting.]

[Congratulations, you have unlocked access to the Guide System. This system will assist you in surviving, growing, and reaching your full potential in this world.]

The voice was calm and emotionless, but one word sent a chill down my spine: surviving.

"Wait a second. Are you saying I'm in danger?!" I blurted out, knowing full well the only "reply" I'd get would be from this seemingly sentient ring.

As if in response to my question, a new message appeared.

[First Mission: Discover Your Potential.]

Description: Build your body! GYM TIME, YOU WEAKLING!

I froze, staring at the screen with a mixture of shock, anger, and utter disbelief. What did it just say?!

"GYM TIME, YOU WEAKLING?!" My voice rose to a near shriek in the small room. "Are you serious?! What kind of guide system insults its user?!"

The usual robotic voice didn't chime in this time. It was as if the system had taken pleasure in leaving the insult there for me to stew over.

I sat on the edge of the bed, holding my head in frustration. "Dammit, even the system knows how scrawny I am. This is peak-level humiliation! But…" I looked back at the floating screen. As rude as the message was, the mission made perfect sense.

With a body like this, I had to admit my chances of survival in this medieval world were slim. I had no weapons, no magic, no muscles. If bandits or monsters appeared, I'd just be an easy target.

I stared down at my own hands—thin, frail, and far from anything you'd call "fit." "Well… if this is the first step, I guess it makes sense."

More text appeared on the screen, as if to rub salt into the wound:

[Additional Tip: The world is harsh. Without a strong body, you're just worthless extra trash.]

I froze. My face soured instantly. "Okay, okay, I get it! You don't need to call me worthless trash to my face!"

Ignoring the growing sting of being insulted by a sarcastic magical system, I stood up. "Alright! If this is your first challenge, then I'll accept it!"

Clenching my fists, I stared at the ring with a determined look. "Gym? Physical training? I'll do it! I'll build my body until I'm as tough as steel! You hear that, System?!"

But then, the harsh reality hit me like a brick wall. I was in a medieval world. No gyms, no dumbbells, and definitely no protein shakes.

"…So where do I even start? Lifting rocks? Push-ups outside the shop?" I muttered as I glanced around my tiny room.

The system stayed silent, the only thing remaining being the floating window in front of me, hanging smugly in the air.

I let out a long sigh. "Fine, I guess I'll have to… get creative."

With a resolve that was now set—albeit slightly dented by the snarky system—I stepped out of the room, ready to begin my first steps. If this truly was my starting point toward climbing to the top of this world, then I would begin by building a stronger body.

Maybe lifting the bags of wheat in Oldan's storeroom would make for a good first workout…