I yawned loudly while stretching my arms. Damn, if everyone said "Mondays were the worst", try Thursdays. With college exams approaching, I haven't had time to rest between work and studies. And with the looming dread of my part-time job, I feel like I'm going to scream out of insanity. Thank god lets me sleep in-game, which doubles thanks to the different flow of time inside. Still, there's a lot to unpack, I wonder if I can try fulfilling Bryce's promise to edit the next chapter...

"Yo!"

Speak of the devil, I turned just as I stood up to see him. "Hey... Not a good time to meet up."

"True. But David's lackeys are still roaming around, especially when he's currently the student president around these parts."

A president and a guild leader. Nice way to remind me of his position, Bryce!

"By the way, Harley just DMed. Seems like the Vipers were hell-bent on harassing some merchants you interacted with. I even heard they tried to vandalize those wooden vending machines that were all the rage, but they quickly ran when a hunter angrily chased them."

I groaned. "That guy won't let that incident go, huh?" Thank god, I had to disappear into the hidden village. "And the guild themselves?"

"Still up to their old tricks. I heard one of your online friends replaced your position as navigator."

My eyes widen at that news. "Did you get their in-game name?"

"Yeah, but I don't think you really want to know."

I shook my head and frowned. "You don't have to. I have an inkling of an idea who."

I wasn't close to them compared to Bryan and Harley, but we bonded over our favorite games and fanfics during our middle school days. Last I heard, he was attending the same college as us, only in a different bachelor and major. I wished it wasn't him. But since David also knew him back then, I have a bad feeling it might be him. But I know I don't have to spend all day worrying about him. Even hearing Brycen signing doesn't help my concerns ease up.

"Well, if something comes up, I'll let you know. It would be easy if we get his Discourse deets, but you know him..." Brycen sighed.

"Yeah, I won't push you to do the impossible. If I run into him, I'll see if I can talk to him."

"Good idea. Well, I'll see what I can do with the rest of the chapters. We should probably delay the releases just in case."

I groaned. This guy... "Just don't get too caught up in your web novel. I'm not going to be responsible for you accidentally slacking off."

"Geez! What are you, my Dad? Anyway, I'm heading off first. See you tomorrow. I heard Harley went off earlier for family work."

I nodded. "Right. I still have a lot to do at home. See you then."

With that, we split off from the lecture hall and went our separate ways. I only have a few days left until the full moon in the game, so I have to make do with whatever Fenrir and Capita have in plan.

----------------------------------------

As I walk out of the college building, I stop when I notice someone passing by. It was a young man with brown bob hair, grey eyes, and slight peachy skin. He wears a familiar red plaid shirt, white pants, and grey high-top sneakers. Judging by how tight he's holding his books and his wrists trembling, I have a feeling something bad must have happened. I would normally ignore him. But after what I heard from Brycen and the events prior, I knew I couldn't just ignore it.

"Hey, Jared!" I called out to him.

"...!"

Yeah. His screech-like gasp confirmed my suspicions. "Is something bothering you? If it does, maybe..."

"What do you know, Lowell?!" I flinch upon hearing my last name coming out of his mouth. "You're not the type to be bothered by somebody else's problem."

I can't argue with that. Despite me being his middle school friend, I did nothing to help him thanks to my hesitance and passiveness. But now that I decided to defy David, I can't let this go. "Still, I feel like we need to talk about it..."

As I reach my hand out to him, Jared responds with a slap. "If it's about your web novel, then I don't want to beta read. Besides, don't you already have a co-writer with you? He would be better off making some edits on your story."

My eyes widen. I know he's still pissed about me, but still...

"It's not about that, Jared. I..."

"Hmph! Forget it. That's all in the past now. Take care, Lowell."

Jared left before I could say another word. I sighed with frustration in my voice. I guess even trying to change doesn't mean I can show it immediately to most of them. If I try to pursue him, then it's going to have the same result. Worst-case scenario, he might assault me or block my social media to avoid me. Either way, I should give him space and try again tomorrow. Right now, I have some other things to do back home. All I can hope is he can endure whatever punishment David has in store for him.

----------------------------------------

I yawned as I got up from my bed. This time, I had less time on my projects and studies since all I need is some finishing touches on my project and memorizing some details on History. I'm still troubled from earlier, but I hope the mood might change once I meet up with Fenrir with the next phase of my training. In fact, I was greeted by good news in the form of a notification once I logged back in.

[NOTICE] [You are now free from the [Weakness Sickness].]

Thank god that was over. I only have 7 days left until the full moon, so I'm relieved that I can finally move on with some physical training. Just moving my legs and arms without any signs of pain was enough to confirm my recovery was a success. Now I can...

[NOTICE] [The [Mind Link] has been activated.]

Huh? That's a bit sudden. But why now? I get it's connected to my [Sub-Race], but I didn't expect it to activate so soon. Well, I didn't hear some voices right now and I don't feel anything funny. Still, I should be cautious. This feature might have been activated without a reason. For now, I need to meet up with Fenrir... My [SP] is a bit low lately and I ate a bit less from my [Mental Imprint] training.

I went out of the guest room and came down the stairs to see Claw sitting at the dinner table, but no signs of his father.

"Hey, Claw!" I greeted them with a wave and smile to the young NPC. "Where's your Dad?"

[He's outside cooking some [Wild Boar]. He and his friends managed to hunt some for the party last night and he's going to cook the last few ones for breakfast,] Claw answered with a grin. [His [Wild Boars] are the best.]

I chuckle once I see him licking at the thought of that large meat I saw last night during my training. "Well, I can't blame you. He and Lawrence were great with food even if their cooking methods are a bit primitive. No offense." I look around the kitchen before I turn to the Magitech fridge. "I'll have some vegetable soup as u...sual...?"

Huh? Why am I all woozy so suddenly? I thought the sickness debuff was gone.

[M-Me...]

Huh? That whisper...

[You des...desire...]

I desire...what?

[You desire...meat?]

...Meat?

[You wanted to taste the flesh. You crave it. The smell of it will drive you crazy]

...!

[Now you wanted it. You wanted to eat it. You won't stop until your taste buds can touch the succulent sweetness and saltiness of the meat.]

Yeah... Why am I looking for a vegetable soup? I felt kinda sick eating them every day.

[Mr. Lowry?]

Now that I think about it, I can smell something great. The savory saltiness... The sweetness coming out from the flames...

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I want it! I REALLY WANT IT!!!

[H-Hey! Mr. Lowry!]

I can hear Claw's voice behind me, but what does it matter? The meat is outside! He said Fenrir is cooking it and now that I got a whiff of it, I rush out to sink my teeth into it! I gotta have it! I need to eat that delicious [Wild Boar] just this once! I don't care if it's not cooked right now, I just need to take one bite of...

ACK!

[Whoa, whoa! What's with you, little cub? You seemed a bit antsy this morning.]

I gasp and shake my head. One moment, I was in the kitchen looking for something to eat. The next thing I knew, I was being carried by Fenrir by the collar. What's even weirder is that my mouth won't stop drooling when I smell the scent of meat coming from his cooking pit.

"I-I have no clue..." I stuttered. "I just smell the [Roasted Wild Boar] and I kinda went crazy back there." I shook my head again and rubbed my forehead. "Damn, what the hell is wrong with me? I thought the sickness was gone by then."

I notice Fenrir humming while staring at me. Then, he slowly put me down to the ground and said, [I think I have some ideas. Looks like you're starting to have the mind of a wolf.]

"Mind of a wolf"? Now that he mentions it, it happened after the notification about the [Mind Link] was activated appeared.

"Are you saying I'm starting to crave meat because of my inevitable transformation?"

[That's right. Normally, it happened 7 days before the full moon. But now that you made contact with your [Inner Wolf], your instincts may start to show early. Which means your diet might start to change along with it.]

That explains a lot. But if that's true, then does that mean I have to eat meat to avoid getting crazy like that? Damn... This game is getting more crazier than I thought. My [Lapi] wallet...

[Hey, don't fret, cub. You're still an [Insignis], so you can still eat whatever you want. That meat craving is only a side effect.]

I tried to counter what he said. But I was quickly met with a new window.

[TUTORIAL] [As a [Lycan], you have developed an urge to eat meat. Because of this, eating meat-based meals will double its effects.]

Double?! I thought this craving might be a detriment for me. But to double the effects after eating meals that have meat, this might be a blessing in disguise! Heck, since Fenrir is cooking [Roasted Wild Boar] right now, the [STR] bonus might be a big boon to make up for its low stats.

[Hey, Lowry. Are you still good?]

Oh, right. Speaking of which, I turn to Fenrir next. "Yeah, I'm okay. I admit it might be a bit annoying. But if what you said is true, I might adapt to it at a small cost of my budget..."

Fenrir suddenly chuckles. [No worries! If you're worried about money, then don't you hunt some yourself?]

"Nice suggestion, but I can't cook very well. I might accidentally burn it or mix up the ingredients."

It's not just an in-game excuse. I did try cooking in real life a few times, but most of them are barely edible to not-so-tasty. It's even to the point where Lucy and Harley banned me from their kitchens just to avoid that incoming horror. [Experienced Crafting] can reflect the final results with my real skills in the kitchen, so having a [Cooking Mastery] is a big no-no then.

[Either way, if you bring fruits of your hunt, there's a chance you might get the meal little to free. Without hard work, there is no reward in life.]

He's got a point there. It's better than being broke, I guess. "Alright. You got me with the offer. I rather go physical than go hungry."

[Good. Which is why your next training will focus on just that. Now that you've recovered, I'm going to be in charge of the next phase. Unlike Capita, I won't be lenient when it comes to whipping you up to shape.]

I thought so...

"Wait, I thought my next teacher was another [Lycan]..."

[Right... He's kinda in bed for drinking too much a few days ago. Right now, he's trying to get himself back up and cleaning the dojo as punishment.] Figures... Capita wasn't joking about his drinking habits. [Don't worry, he will join us by tomorrow. For now, you're stuck with me.]

At least he's reassuring.

[Dad?] We turn around and see Fenrir's son also drooling while staring at us by the window. [Can we eat now?]

[Hahaha... The cub's got a point. Come on, Lowry. The meat's ready and we need to charge up before we can start the next phase of your training.]

Good point. We head back inside with the cooked meat ready to eat. It's better to do it now than to let my newfound cravings drive me insane.

----------------------------------------

As the clouds parted through the blue sky above us, Fenrir and I arrived back at the training hall's dojo. According to him, Capita is helping out the potion maker for a while and Claw is practicing hunting with his fellow trainees, so it's just two of us right now.

[Before we can start, can you tell me the fighting style you're using up to this point?] Fenrir asked. [It's not that important, but I need a clear image of your previous self.]

I don't know what he's talking about, but if it helps with my training...

"Well, I usually fight with daggers...clumsily. But I can cast [Fire] spells while supporting others with [Life]. It's not that unique, but they are mostly for self-defense."

[Only daggers, huh? A bit simple, but the magic stuff makes sense considering your kind has some big connections with them. I won't touch on them for your sake. But for the rest, you should start forgetting what you know if you want to fight like a [Lycan].]

I raise my eyebrow. "Is there anything I should know about their fighting style?"

[When you transform, you temporarily lose everything to become a beast. Human speech, complex thoughts, and an ability to wield tools and weapons. You can fight in this form with yourself intact with the right training, but it can be a bit problematic if you're going to fight barehanded with claws. You are free to continue using your dagger in your human form, I won't stop you. But learning to fight barehanded would be more beneficial, especially during hours before the full moon.]

Makes sense. Fighting barehanded would be a seamless transition from human to wolf. Plus, it might be better than my clumsy use of my dagger.

"Alright. I should give it a go. No sense of knowing without experience."

Fenrir smiled. [Glad you understand, as usual, cub. Since you're new to this, let's start something simple.] He then changed his position to what I assumed to be a fighting pose that seemed similar to a Shonen manga I read recently. [Put your right foot and fist forward and squat down a few meters. That will be your starting position.]

Okay... I'm a bit confused, but I copied his pose as he instructed.

[In our village, we learn a special style called [Swift Claw Style], a special martial art that relies on quick jabs and swipes without relying on our fangs in both forms. To learn it, you must endure repetition to get a feel of fighting through fists and claws. Throw about 50 punches on the right and 50 more on the left. Do so in that position and if you flunk it, then you have to try again.]

50 punches on each fist?! Okay, I get what I saying. But doing all of that while I'm stuck in this uncomfortable pose. Geez, just when I think this game makes more simple tasks more difficult, then I don't know what does. "I'm guessing that's the same with kicks, huh?"

[Only if you succeed with your punches. Now get to it.]

Right. Taking a deep breath, I start with a few slow jabs in the air. But just as I make the 6th punch...

[Stop! Do it again!]

I flinch upon hearing his sudden order. "What do you mean? I didn't do anything wrong with my pose."

[True. But you're stressing your legs a bit too much. Try to relax them a bit. That way, you can punch without overexerting them for a long time.]

Oh, I see. I feel like my legs were falling any minute now. I readjust my pose so my legs are not too stiff to stand while squatting. Then once I redo my punches, I didn't struggle as before as I completely focused on my current exercise.

[Good. Keep your arms straight when you're making those punches. The key is making a mark while staying true to your target. No punch is a miss once it makes contact with your opponent.]

Easy for him to say. I can feel my arm shaking after about 20 punches and that's only my right fist. After a few minutes of punching, I reached 50 and put down my arm as I caught my breath. "God, I feel like my arm is about to fall off."

[But you're progressing well, Lowry. Now for the left and get to it!]

He really doesn't want me to rest between arms, huh? This might be a VRMMO, but this proves I'm woefully lacking when it comes to physical exercises. Even when I reverted back to the punching pose, I could still feel the pain from my right arm when punching my left. Thankfully, it took about 2 minutes to complete it without interruptions before I collapsed while holding my left arm in pure agony.

"Agh... I normally move my fingers and wrist to write. But never my whole arm." I sighed again while trying to sit on the ground. "I need to start stretching before this."

[You should be. I won't teach you some special stretching techniques since we don't have one here. So that's on your own. Then again, I should ask you to stretch before doing this, huh?] Fenrir chuckled sheepishly and I was not happy at that late realization. [Now then, stand up. Let's work on your kicks next.]

I froze once I heard his next order. "Right now?!"

[Yes. All you're doing is standing around during the first half. Plus, a true fighter must be quick on their wrists and feet to react with every strike and spell your opponent can throw at you. We're doing this slowly to help you learn the basics. But in a real battle, every move matters. So raise your right leg and arms up, Lowry! 50 on the right, then another on the left!]

Seriously?! Can't he give me time to rest?! Then again, complaining won't help me in the long run. I assumed the pose Fenrir instructed and started kicking with my right first, then my left. I'm already sweating as I struggle to keep myself up without losing my balance. The strictness from my master didn't stop as he kept chastising me on my trembling legs to the point I had to start over just to get my pose right. It only took about 5 minutes, but I managed to achieve 50 kicks on each leg before collapsing while catching my breath.

[Good job, little cub. It looks a bit rough, but you managed to pull it off with no problem.]

"Thank god," I shouted at the top of my lungs in relief.

[But you have to repeat that exercise every morning and evening.]

And then, I almost fell unconscious.

"Not once a day?! Seriously, I'm an [Insignis], not a [Beastfolk]!"

[It's to build a small habit into your frail body. Don't worry, once you keep it up, those exercises will become your second nature. Unless you want to keep complaining.]

No, he's right. I'm almost one word away from making another unnecessary excuse. If I want to change, then I just have to suck it up. Besides, with no pain, there is no gain.

"Can I at least get a few minutes of rest?"

[Yeah, I push you a bit too much right now. Take 30 minutes, then we'll start on some basic moves you need to know.]

Right... I'm just gonna lie down on the floor while Fenrir heads off to wherever he wants to go during this short period of respite.

[NOTICE]

[You have progressed through your [Hidden Quest].]

Oh, shut up, notification window.