As I strolled away from the square, a soft beep suddenly echoed in my ear. Curious, I instinctively raised a hand to check—my interface had just sent me a new notification.
“Well, what now?” I muttered, activating the message.
Interface: [Daily Objectives]
• Find two rare plants.
• Enter a mental math tournament.
I couldn’t help but let out an exasperated sigh as I read the instructions. A mental math tournament? Seriously? That seemed downright ridiculous.
But I didn’t have much of a choice. These tasks were clearly part of my quest, and completing them was the only way to make progress. With another sigh, I turned my attention back to the interface.
“Alright, let’s figure out how I’m supposed to find these rare plants first,” I murmured.
A new window popped up, explaining the different features of my scanner. Skimming through the instructions, I quickly noted that it would not only help me locate plants but also analyze their properties.
“Good. In that case, let’s get started,” I decided.
Activating my scanner, I carefully surveyed the area, my eyes sweeping the streets and buildings for any sign of the elusive plants.
It didn’t take long. Within seconds, I spotted the first target just a few meters away. I walked over quickly, crouching down to inspect it more closely.
The plant had delicate, pearl-white flowers and gave off a subtle, intoxicating fragrance. Once the scan was complete, my interface displayed its properties.
“Interesting… These Lunaris flowers have healing and regenerative qualities. Could come in handy,” I remarked, carefully collecting them.
Continuing my search, I soon came across another specimen: luminescent mushrooms with glowing caps. A quick scan revealed their identity—Noctis Mushrooms, notorious for their hallucinogenic effects.
“Yeah, probably not the kind of help I need,” I muttered, grimacing as I pushed them aside. “Let’s focus on plants with more practical uses.”
After a bit more exploring, I managed to locate two additional rare finds: Solaris Berries, packed with antioxidants, and Zenith Vines, known for their potent regenerative properties.
Feeling satisfied with my haul, I added them to my inventory and reviewed their detailed stats.
“That should do it,” I concluded, storing my discoveries carefully. “Now, time to deal with this so-called mental math tournament...”
Closing the interface, I resumed my walk, making my way through Valoria’s bustling streets in search of the event location.
It didn’t take long to find. A noisy crowd gathered in a lively square, pointing me in the right direction. As I approached, I confirmed it was indeed a tournament. Men were seated at tables, locked in battles of arithmetic prowess.
“Well, this looks… promising,” I muttered skeptically, watching the scene unfold.
The participants—mostly rough-looking men with colorful vocabularies—were shouting at each other, throwing down challenges and placing increasingly absurd bets.
“You absolute oaf! You can’t even solve a simple first-degree equation!” one man bellowed, slamming his fist on the table.
“Shut your mouth, idiot! I’ll make you eat those numbers!” the other snapped back, fists clenched and ready to brawl.
I couldn’t suppress a grimace of disgust at the chaotic display. Clearly, this wasn’t my kind of environment. But a challenge was a challenge, and I had to see it through.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, approaching one of the tournament organizers—a burly, bald man who was keeping a close eye on the proceedings.
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“Excuse me, I’d like to sign up for the mental math competition,” I said confidently.
The man turned to face me, his expression immediately hostile.
“Oh, really? You think you’ve got the guts for this, kid?” he sneered, his yellowed teeth on full display. “This ain’t for little boys!”
Around us, the other participants erupted in laughter, throwing me mocking glances. I ignored them, keeping my composure.
“I assure you, I’m more than capable of beating your best,” I replied coolly. “Now, are you going to sign me up or not?”
The organizer squinted at me, clearly unconvinced. But after a moment’s hesitation, he gave a begrudging nod.
“Fine, kid. But you’d better back it up, or you’ll regret it,” he growled, scribbling my name onto the roster.
“Don’t worry about me,” I said with a confident smile.
With my registration complete, I stepped aside, casually observing the ongoing matches. The challenges mostly involved solving increasingly complex equations within a tight time limit.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the mediocre level of the participants. Most of them were struggling with the simplest calculations, stumbling over their answers as the crowd jeered.
“This is almost painful to watch,” I muttered. “With my interface, I could solve these blindfolded.”
Honestly, this tournament was shaping up to be more of a formality than a real challenge. I couldn’t see what my interface thought was “difficult” about this.
Finally, my turn came. I calmly took my seat at the designated table, facing off against an opponent with a particularly intimidating scowl.
“Ready to get crushed, kid?” he taunted, flashing a menacing grin.
I just smiled. “Let’s see about that.”
The organizer stepped forward, holding up a sheet filled with equations.
“Alright, you two! First challenge: solve this quadratic equation in 30 seconds. Ready? Go!”
As soon as the timer started, I dove into the problem. My hands moved swiftly, working through the calculations with practiced efficiency.
Ten seconds later, I set down my pencil and leaned back, giving my opponent a confident look.
“All done,” I said simply.
The man stared at me in disbelief, his jaw practically hitting the floor. His eyes darted back to his own sheet, scanning it frantically before he slammed it down in frustration.
“Cheater! There’s no way you did that legit!” he shouted, leaping to his feet.
The crowd erupted in shocked murmurs, everyone clearly stunned by my performance.
The organizer approached cautiously, eyeing me with suspicion.
“You serious, kid? You solved that in ten seconds?” he asked, skeptical.
I nodded calmly. “That’s right. I told you—I’m more than qualified.”
A wave of disbelief rippled through the onlookers, some of whom glared at me with open hostility. But I couldn’t care less. I knew my skills were light-years ahead of these brutes.
After a moment of hesitation, the organizer let out a grudging grunt and raised his hand.
“Alright then. The kid wins. Congratulations—you’ve earned the prize of 5,000 gold pieces.”
He handed me a heavy pouch of coins, which I quickly stashed in my inventory, smiling in satisfaction.
“Thanks. It’s been a pleasure beating you,” I said, throwing a smug glance at my still-fuming opponent.
He clenched his fists, shooting daggers at me with his eyes. But with the crowd watching, he didn’t dare make a move.
Taking advantage of the awkward pause, I slipped away, eager to leave behind the noisy, rowdy square. I was ready to enjoy the peace and quiet of the inn.
Once I was safely out of sight, I allowed myself a relieved sigh, glancing over my winnings.
“Not bad for a day’s work,” I mused, closing my inventory. “Now all that’s left is to prepare for tomorrow’s tournament. I’ll need all my strength to face that demon-possessed king.”
I quickly checked my mana levels and smiled, satisfied to see they were still high. The plants I’d gathered earlier had fully replenished my reserves.
“Perfect. In that case, it’s time to rest,” I decided, picking up my pace toward the inn.
Back in my room, I collapsed onto the bed with a contented sigh. My muscles ached, begging for a break, and I was more than willing to oblige.
Tomorrow would be a turning point. I had to free him from the demon’s grip. Failure wasn’t an option.
Taking a deep breath, I focused on steadying my mind, letting the tension and fatigue melt away. Before long, I drifted into a restful sleep, my thoughts fading into quiet darkness.
Because tomorrow, the real battle would begin. And no matter the cost, I couldn’t afford to lose.