Proofreader: Future Me!
Having left me alone in front of the entrance to the boys’ dorms, Erin quickly dipped with a mocking smile and I couldn’t figure out why. It disturbed me but the nagging feeling of sleep kept pestering me, so in the end I gave it up.
The doors were engraved with fancy patterns, reminding me of the time I had met Abel with Runalia.
I was pretty sure my room was on the top floor… or was it in a completely different area? From when Runalia guided me, I couldn’t recollect the path at all.
"Whatever," I opened the door ignoring my glaring memory loss.
I took just two steps and witnessed a grand complex which were our sleeping quarters.
“Man, this place is huge,” I mumbled.
The signs on the room doors were numbered, starting from one hundred, right at the bottom. I guess that meant my room was on a higher floor. Each corner of this lobby was jam-packed with decor, pots, plants, and gallant portraits, it was extremely high class. It was too fancy to the point I felt a strange sense of unease that increased every time I moved.
I rummaged my pockets for the keys which numbered seven, while speeding my way up the fair stairs. I felt myself beginning to figure out why Erin made such an expression.
I strutted over to the closest doors, looking for the right number. I twisted the door knob waiting for Fen's face to pop up at any second.
"Wait a moment," I glanced over the decorum one more time.
Wasn’t my area much more modest?
While the inside was grand, the outside at that time was normal.
“Fuck.”
How’d I just realise?
“Who is it?” A deep and tired voice boomed from above.
I gulped in straight air looking at the name on his status board.
[Carlos Klaus]
That sunova- she set me up on purpose!
“Oh-“ I struggled to think of an excuse, “I think I’ve lost my way, I’ll leave now okay?”
“Wait,” He moved his mug to my face, “Aren’t you that one kid from earlier?”
“I think you’ve got me mixed up for someone else senior.”
“Heh, you're here to make fun of me… losing to that kid monster…?” He chuckled with a scary look.
“No that’s not why I’m-“
“Then, take a duel with me, why don’t you!” Klaus’ face contorted to a manic look, “I’ll show you that it was a one-time exception!”
I’m doomed.
“Thursday, after class, meet me at the field. This is a heroes' bout, you should know what that means.”
I felt my soul evaporating from my body. Indeed I knew, seniors had one privilege and that was to force a duel upon freshmen. It was a stupid rule forced by developers to create artificial risks for the player.
“I…” I paused thinking about the upcoming result, “You know what…”
It hit me, the realisation that, when has this world ever been fair? Since I arrived, every single advantage I thought I had was ripped out of my hands.
A smirk bloomed across my face, “You fucked up. Erin's ass won't be the last thing you see when you're 6 feet underground.”
I doubled down knowing there was no way out.
Veins popped out of his neck as his body trembled with a visible rage. I backed out quickly, rushing down the stairs and straight out of the building. There were complaints from other tired seniors, but that wasn’t important.
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Catching some fresh air, I saw a specific someone. Someone who wasn't the most pleasant of faces to see.
Especially. At. This. Moment. In. Time.
“You meet him?” Erin asked with a perfect poker face, "How'd it go?"
“What do you mean, ‘how’d it go!’” I raised my voice, “I almost died in there!”
“Motivation is needed to strive for greater heights, that’s what I did for you.”
“You’re just salty I almost conned you earlier, aren’t you?” I noticed her grudge instantly.
“No comment.”
Her perfectly loveable face is seemingly ever so punch-able in this moment.
Even if this is what I signed up for, these antics put a damper on your heart no matter how much you like a person. Curiosity teeming with mischief was fun to experience in-game, but here... yeah, nah.
“Your room is in ‘The Golden Nest’ along with the rest of us,” Erin gestured for me to come along.
I reacted immediately, “You do realise he forced me into a heroes’ bout by Thursday, right?”
“Good, that means it went well.”
“Also, it seems like your head 'went well' in the department of human sympathy,” I retorted, “Well enough to understand that you signed my death sentence!”
She stopped walking, and turned around firmly. It was as if I hadn't spoken at all.
“Luke,” Erin sharply called me. “Two days, that’s all you need against someone of his calibre.”
His stats were well over double my own, and you wanted me to win with two days of preparation? I felt flattered, but, there was no conceivable way to even hurt him-
Wait…
I glossed over my [Enigmatic Brooch], if I could just land one critical hit it should be possible. The amplification effect would be enough to launch him off his feet. For a human body, such places for the red dots are vital points.
As if solidifying this plausible victory, Erin added, “I will teach you the art of counter-attacking under the demon- Ahem. My sword art."
I’ll pretend I heard nothing for her sake, although I was curious about her current stats. I secretly pulled out an appraisal stone from my pocket, aiming it at her.
[Erin Villaine]
[Age: 15 (100+)] [Race: Archdemon]
[Attributes]
Vitality: Tier 0 (56%)
Strength:Tier 0 (64%)
Agility: Tier 0 (66%)
Mana: Tier 1 (2%)
[Skills]
Demon Lord Sword Art (S+) (10% - Proficiency)
Arch Demon Mana Control (SS) (1.5% - Proficiency)
Weapon Mastery (A+) (Max Proficiency) [Evolution Possible.]
Goddess’ Blessing (?) (? - Proficiency)
[More Skills are available to view.]
A demon receiving the blessing of a Goddess? There it was, another difference I'd have to figure out soon or eventually. It was yet another deviation from the game, but for now, I wouldn’t be able to learn anything.
Overall it was to be expected as the No.1 strongest of the Platinum Generation, having over 10 times my own mana capacity. It was no wonder she destroyed Klaus with zero repercussions.
“Alright, I’ll believe you,” I gave in, no point in refusing anyway.
“Then-“
I quickly interjected, “Can you also teach me the basics of magic control?”
“How are you not able to…?” She was once again left flabbergasted.
“I have special circumstances,” I explained. “Please understand.”
While she was an archdemon, the way one circulates and trains mana is almost identical. Therefore, there should be no issue at all.
Eventually, she nodded and said her goodbyes, “Meet me tomorrow at the gym right after class. And tell me more about such 'circumstances'.”
“Sure, and no thanks!” That’s the one thing I can’t divulge, reincarnation isn’t open information.
I was in the right room, I expected the room to be neat as per our status. I desperately needed to have a bath.
“Open sesame!” I opened the door with an inward shout.
Thank the World Tree, it was indeed my room.
“Yo Luke, where’ve you been? It’s pretty late," he politely asked.
It would come off more genuine if he wasn’t doing a one-handed pushup with his feet in the air.
“And you’re still training?” I replied back.
“I decided to have a quick warmup before I fell asleep,” Fen explained, drenched in sweat, “It gets my body in the mood. Also enough about me, gonna answer the question?”
“Yeah… I was… training at the gym,” I decided to keep it short.
"Makes a fair bit of sense," He remarked, “I can see that your body could use some more muscle."
It was on par with my build from my previous life, and he was saying I needed more. These superhumans had a sense of reality that I couldn't mesh with no matter what.
I climbed on top of my bed and undressed, I needed to get some rest. Especially since that bastard of a senior wanted to make an 'example' out of me. Like, what does beating the weakest student go to prove?
“Sleeping already? You should join me first.” Fen beckoned me to come over with a gesture while performing hip thrusts.
I struggled to understand how I could see this as anything but sexual harassment.
Telling the headmasters I wanted a good room might have backfired.