Percy’s stomach roared relentlessly, dulling his excitement.

I ate more than enough in the last few days. I haven’t been this hungry for a while now.

A few months ago, Percy was forced to starve for a few days. Today was as bad as back then, if not worse.

To think that my biggest problem would be food. Some things never change, do they?

He scoffed at the irony. His life turned upside down in the last few minutes, yet the biggest issue at hand was the same old hunger. He could magically strengthen his weapon and transcend the norms of the ordinary now that he gained access to mana, but his hunger clung to him like a vexing leech.

Percy laughed and tapped his stomach lightly. He used [Consume] again on Prosperity. Maybe it could come in handy.

What can I upgrade with 26 Prosperity? The dagger hilt is glowing, but it’s rather fai–...Oh? My Tier is glowing. That’s unexpected. Let’s give it a try!

[Your Tier increased by one rank. 20 Prosperity has been deducted.]

A flush of cold energy entered his body, spreading through every corner and infusing him with power. A sudden cold overcame Percy, but he smiled through the cold as a wave of warmth filled him shortly.

『Percy 』

[Ego – Coin of Prosperity]

[Tier] – [Mortal-2]

—

[Empty]

“Mortal-2? Upgrading my rank shouldn’t be this…simple,” Percy was excited, but what happened to him didn’t align with the old man’s information. It was weird, yet it didn’t feel wrong. If anything, upgrading his Tier like this felt natural.

The first time my Tier upgraded was right after I used my Ego. The second time, I used Prosperity to upgrade my Tier by one rank. Both rank-ups felt natural, so it should have been normal…right?

Percy was confused. It was general knowledge that Gifted Ones could increase their Tier by accomplishing various tasks. The most efficient way, however, was to complete Guild Missions and kill monsters – if your gift was attuned to it.

Greg mentioned once that the Gifted have to find out what they’re the best at to progress faster, but how does that help me right now?

Percy’s stomach grumbled, and it was worse than before. His stomach tightened, and it hurt. That was bad.

I can figure out if the old man’s information was wrong later. I need something to eat first!

Percy sheathed the iron dagger and attached the sheath to his old belt before covering the dagger and sheath with his oversized shirt. He cast a glance across his room before leaving it behind. The room was empty, and he sincerely hoped it would be the last time he saw it. His beloved chamber of poverty smelled disgusting, and everything was decayed or on the verge of breaking apart.

Since I’m already at Mortal-2, I might be able to hunt something weak near the town.

Not much time passed since he awakened but he was already one rank higher than most would be after gaining access to mana. He didn’t know how fast others progressed, but he doubted they would be this quick. Percy certainly hoped so, otherwise, hunting even the weakest monster would be tough.

The wilderness was dangerous, and it was recommended that they stay close to the town if they held their lives dearly, but Percy had often seen villagers—Normies—roaming near the edges of the nearby forest. Most of them returned alive and unscathed, but there were also different cases. Bloody cases.

Don’t think about that. All I want is to kill one little monster. A few copper coins will fill my stomach. Though, I think I can eat a whole pig right now. Maybe I need to kill two little monsters. What is wrong with my stomach?!

It didn’t take long before Percy emerged from the narrow alley. He looked left and right, facing dozens of people moving around, taking care of their businesses. He ignored them just like they didn’t bother about his existence.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

The waft of freshly baked bread reached him, twisting his stomach until the pain was unbearable. In a moment of weakness, Percy entered the bakery and was about to grasp some of the pastry to make for a run. However, the chime of bells rang through the entire baker when he entered. He frowned deeply at the bells, but maybe it was for the best. His greed dispersed and he slowed.

A man in his 30s, well-built and with a sharp gait, emerged from the back of the bakery. He carried a tray of freshly baked sweets to the front, his lips parting for a greeting, only to discover a youth wearing torn clothes.

“Get out of my shop!” The young man barked instantly, “I still want to sell my goods today!”

Percy flinched and was about to turn around when his stomach grumbled again. He clutched his heart, endured the man’s fierce expression, and stammered, “I…I’m going out to h-hunt, and I’m starving. I don’t know what happened, but since this morning, I’m so–...”

“I told you to leave before your smell sticks to my goods,” the man repeated, but he was a bit calmer this time.

Percy glanced at the closest loaves of bread and felt the urge to grasp as many as possible before running for his life, but turned around and left instead. It required a tremendous amount of willpower but he didn’t steal anything.

I can endure this a little longer. There are more than enough smaller monsters outside the town. Once I hunt one of them, I can feed myself, get cleaned and nobody will look down up–...

Percy couldn’t even finish his train of thought when the door to the bakery opened again. The man rushed out with a small pouch. A chill crawled down his spine, and his instincts told him to run, but he did the opposite. He stopped in his tracks and stared at the baker.

“My apprentice messed up some of the last batch. I cannot sell them anymore,” He said, lobbing the pouch toward Percy.

“Don’t die out there, and buy something nice when you make it back.”

The man didn’t look back and returned to the bakery with fast steps, leaving a stupefied youth holding a small pouch behind.

That…

Percy opened the pouch slowly and tried hard not to break into tears. Inside was a whole loaf of bread and some sweetened pastry. Everything was still warm and smelled heavenly.

It doesn’t look messed up.

Percy retrieved the pastry and studied it for a while until his grumbling stomach returned. He took a big bite and his eyes widened in shock at the divine taste and his stomach agreed with a loud roar. Even the mana coursing through him resonated with the pastry’s taste. His mana continued coursing through him, invigorating Percy.

Percy clenched his fist and loosened his legs a bit, ignoring that his stomach grumbled again, demanding more.

I feel a little bit stronger.

Since he was rather fragile, it wasn’t hard to perceive the changes in his body. Eating the pastry invigorated him. Percy grasped the loaf of bread and pulled it out of the pouch. He ignored the people glancing at him before they continued with their business and bit into the loaf.

The crust was crunchy, yet the inside was fluffy. It tasted amazing as well. However, Percy paid more attention to his stomach as he ripped one big chunk out of the loaf of bread after another. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed as the world around him seemed to disappear, but something was happening to him even minutes after he emptied everything inside the pouch.

Percy felt…different after that.

He was still hungry, but it wasn’t as tormenting as before.

That was good. It would have been problematic if Percy was on the verge of starvation on his first hunt. However, it was even better that Percy was stronger than he used to be.

He made a mental note to repay the baker’s kindness and not to judge someone too quickly no matter how scary they looked and acted before his focus returned to the essential part.

For the first time since he awakened, Percy felt the full extent of mana empowerment and smiled.

I’m ready!

**

The town guards patrolling the gates to the town didn’t pay much attention to him. However, since he wasn’t an Adventurer of the Guild, Percy had to bother the guards and ask them for a token of recognition. It sounded special, but the token of recognition was only a small wooden figure identifying Percy as one of Raewood’s citizens.

They grumbled and tried to make Percy’s life a little bit difficult, but that didn’t matter.

“That kid is not going to make it back here. Look at how fragile he is,” Percy heard one of the guards mumble.

“If you’re that worried about that kid, you should have made his life a little harder. Being called an asshole and denying the token of recognition would be a shitty move, but at least the kid would have stayed inside. He doesn’t look like he has–...”

He was too far away to hear the rest of the second guard’s commentary.

Now, that isn't very clear. Are they good guys acting like douchebags, or are they douchebags justifying their actions to look like they’re the good ones?

His stomach rumbled quietly this time, discarding his thoughts.

“Right. Food.”