Chapter 4: Attack (1)
Physical strength is national strength.
I needed to build up my power as quickly as possible.
“This is easy.”
I quickly filled my quota.
After strengthening my body, I hardly get tired anymore.
But…
The window saying the quest was completed didn’t appear.
Why? How come?
Could it be because I used mana?
“……”
Just in case, I tried tackling it with my bare body.
As if my guess was correct, the window finally appeared.
[Sub Quest Complete]
[Reward: Achievement Points +200]
[Daily repetition reward available]
TSK, I tried to take the easy way out.
Shortcuts are strictly blocked.
Still, the reward increased so I should continue.
[Sub Quest Updated]
[Sword Training: Swing sword 2,000 times without rest]
[Reward: Achievement Points +500]
As stamina increases, the quest level and rewards get higher.
Rising sense of accomplishment.
I can feel myself improving day by day.
When I suddenly opened the exchange menu, the things I could purchase with Achievement Points had increased.
[Strength Enhancement I]
[Required Achievement Points: 5,000 points]
[Strength Enhancement II]
[Required Achievement Points: 10,000 points]
[Vision Enhancement I]
[Required Achievement Points: 5,000 points]
[Vision Enhancement II]
[Required Achievement Points: 10,000 points]
[Agility Enhancement I]
……
It was roughly like this.
Now I understand why they gave out so many Achievement Points.
“……”
It looks like there might be up to 10 levels.
Well, that means there’s room to become that much stronger.
I welcome it wholeheartedly.
I could handle it sufficiently with my persistence and will.
[Emergency Quest]
[Hunt Target: Bear]
[Reward: Achievement Points +30,000]
Huh? How am I supposed to catch a bear?
Maybe a wolf, but a bear is on a different level.
No, more than that, was there even a bear in this forest?
“……”
Well, since it’s so vast, it wouldn’t be strange if there were one or two.
Anyway.
I don’t want to risk my life for some measly points!
I need to build up for at least a month.
Only then would I be able to face it.
Most importantly, even if I caught a bear, there’s no way to process it.
It’s hard to skin, difficult to drain the blood, and I can’t eat it all.
So I hunted rabbits instead.
They were quick little things, but in front of me with my strengthened body, they couldn’t ‘rabbit’ around.
Meat, meat, meat……
Finally I supplied protein, but.
“……”
It tastes completely different from what I expected.
The problem was the lack of seasoning.
Where am I supposed to get salt and pepper……
The food is unsatisfactory, the sleeping place is a shabby cave, the clothes are gradually losing their function, etc.
Although food, clothing, and shelter are all lacking, I endured it all with the vigor of youth.
I grow stronger by the day.
That feeling of exhilaration is incomparable to anything……
[Emergency Quest]
[Wolf pack attack scheduled at midnight]
[Reward……]
UWAAAT, please spare me!
You don’t have to give me the reward!
I protested with all my might, but it was no use.
Is this body’s fate bound to be harsh?
That night.
Under the clear moonlight, I danced with the wolves.
***
Morning broke.
“……”
I got through the wolf pack attack well.
Focusing on targeting the leader was effective.
Yeah. I only beat one guy.
Still, I suffered scratches all over my body.
These damn bastards……
They were desperate to bite and tear.
I had prepared in advance so I didn’t get caught in a group attack.
I hate dogs……
There’s nothing more terrible than the sound of dogs barking.
I like cats.
But I’m the only one without a cat……
“……”
My mind is wandering due to lack of sleep.
Anyway, I was somehow able to handle up to wolves.
It’s much better than monsters pouring out in droves.
When I briefly looked around near the cave, traces of battle remained as they were.
Wolves lying coldly dead.
I can’t even eat these damn bastards……
Carnivorous animals feel unsettling.
There could be problems if I ate them recklessly.
Looking at just that situation, it seemed like I only wasted energy.
But the system window generously gave out rewards this time too.
[Emergency Quest Complete]
[Reward: Achievement Points +3,000 and 1 Free Exchange]
After beating up the bastards.
The reward was also a huge gain to match.
1 Free Exchange is worth at least 5,000 points or more.
The longer I save it, the higher its value will become.
I should save it as much as possible and use it well.
“……”
I’ll take a nap for now.
I’m too tired to endure anymore.
I’ve saved up quite a bit of rewards, so it should be okay to skip today’s routine.
****
After sleeping soundly and waking up.
The sun had already begun to set.
I skipped exercise.
I’ll just have a simple snack and meditate.
I was quenching my thirst at the stream I recently discovered.
Suddenly I felt signs of people.
It seemed like there were about three, not just one.
Sure enough.
Shortly after, three male students appeared.
They looked like delinquents just by looking at them.
They probably didn’t come with good intentions.
“Jace. Have you been well?”
“You look pretty bad.”
“Ugh, how can a person live in a place like this?”
“……”
The swaggering behavior of these guys.
Memories start coming back one by one.
These are the delinquent teenagers who approached cautiously when Jace was cursing the world.
Matthew, Carter, Leard……
They volunteered to be his subordinates.
Jace stood at the front like a leader.
Skipping school was basic.
Cigarettes and alcohol were a bonus.
Bullying easy targets was a daily routine.
Extorting money was nothing, they even resorted to violence.
They committed bad deeds as a group, but.
Their instigation was decisive.
While pretending to treat him like a leader, they pushed all responsibility onto him.
As a result, Jace ended up on trial.
Cowardly betrayal.
Their influence was probably included in the reasons for Jace’s downfall.
“……”
Ah, how unfair!
Although it’s not something I experienced directly.
Anyone could see I had no choice but to cry out the injustice.
Should I beat them up completely?
Should I slaughter them so they can’t even open their mouths?
Since I got this good body, I could do that much easily.
No, wait a minute……
It’s one against three, isn’t it?
I’m the one who’s going to get beaten instead.Â
There’s no way around being outnumbered.
Actually, these guys’ level wasn’t that great.
If it were an ordinary school, they’d be what you call bullies.
But all the students at Hero Academy have some skills.
Excluding kids with no combat ability.
These delinquent teenagers belonged to the bottom of the pyramid.
Simply put, they’re pathetic.
Even if a dozen of them came at me, it would be laughable.
Of course, that’s based on Jace when he was doing well.
“……”
I’m a newbie in the middle of a tutorial.
I can’t guarantee victory even in a one-on-one.
Right, I’ll specially let it slide for now.
So come at me later!
I expressed that warning in Jace’s tone.
“I have no business with you. I’ll forgive you for betraying me, so just get lost.”
It was dirty being together, let’s never meet again.
I have a lot to do anyway, so this is annoyingly bothersome.
But why would they be delinquent teenagers for nothing?
They show a reaction of disbelief and sneer.
“We came all this way and you’re telling us to just leave?”
“That can’t happen.”
“Why should we miss this good opportunity?”
Vile laughter.
It’s not going to end nicely.
It seems I’ll have to use my hands.
“You were annoying from the start.”
“You should stop showing off, ptui!”
“Just because you’re a young master of a great family, does that make you everything?”
Guys who managed to enroll but became twisted after feeling frustrated by the wall.
Instead of working harder than others, they became crooked.
“There’s a rumor going around. You’re going to be expelled, right?”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”
“After losing your power and now your family background, how do you feel? Huh?”
Inferiority complex.
It manifests in the worst form.
Given my position, it would be troublesome if I caused problems, but.
Due to the nature of Hero Academy, minor fights are generally tolerated.
Also.
Since it looks like I’m being oppressed by many, self-defense is established.
“……”
I have no intention of avoiding them one by one.
Actually, this works out well.Â
I should test my efforts so far with this opportunity.
The delinquent teenagers’ only advantage.
Everyone hates them so I can beat them without any burden.
Manifesting sword energy is still far off, but.
It’s the same for these guys, so it’s fair.
Still, a tough fight is expected.
Well, I should overcome this level of crisis.
If this is actual combat, then it’s actual combat. It seems like it’ll be quite a good experience.
They slowly approach as if surrounding me.
If the battle starts like this, I’ll be at a disadvantage.
First, I should scold these guys with an initial suppression.
“You’re misunderstanding something……”
A sunken voice.
I haven’t even brought up the main point yet they flinch for no reason.
I lifted my sword and entrusted my body to instinct.
“Just because I became weak, that doesn’t particularly mean you guys became strong, does it?”
The reaction was truly amazing.
Not from the guys, but from the system window……
[Achievement Unlocked: Historic Famous Line]
[Reward: Achievement Points +10,000]
Ah, please…… read the atmosphere!
It’s so out of nowhere that I’m breathless.
That aside, why are you giving so many points?
After struggling to complete quests and earning 3,000 points.
You readily give out 10,000 points for just one quip.
At this point, it’s getting uncomfortable.
Though I can’t not accept it……
As if asking why I’m making a fuss when they gave me so much.
The system window repeatedly brightens and darkens.
“……”
I was just complaining a little.
Anyway, I need to discipline these delinquent teenagers first.
When I drew up mana to strengthen my body.
The guys all had earthquake pupils at once.
“───!!”
These bastards……
Did you think I was incompetent?
The time has come to pay the price for disrespecting me.
When I took one big step forward, they all stepped back in unison.
“Come on, attack already. The heir of the Crodaine family will cut you down.”
“……”
They’re frozen as if they can’t even move their mouths.
I’ll ride this momentum and beat one guy to death.
