NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: Daily Quest
Shiro bit into the freshly cooked fish with the confidence of a man who'd just conquered nature. That confidence lasted precisely two seconds before he froze, his eyes narrowing. Slowly, he spat the bite into the nearby bushes.
"This," he said, holding the fish up as though addressing a courtroom, "is an insult. A disgrace. A crime against culinary art itself." He sighed heavily, shaking his head. "I've fought curses, navigated dangerous terrain, and yet this—this bland monstrosity—is what might finally defeat me."
Setting the fish down with exaggerated care, Shiro straightened his posture and cleared his throat. "System," he said, his voice calm but commanding, "please tell me you have something to salvage this situation. I'm a hero, not a barbarian."
[Available Seasonings in the Shop: Salt (1 Point), Pepper (2 Points), Soy Sauce (5 Points), Gourmet Seasoning Blend (15 Points)]
Shiro rubbed his chin, considering his options. "Gourmet Seasoning Blend does sound tempting, but fifteen points? Let's not be reckless. Salt will do."
With a flick of his wrist, he purchased the salt, and a small pouch materialized in his hand. He smirked. "Efficient as always, System. At least one of us is doing their job properly."
He carefully sprinkled the salt over the fish, his movements precise and deliberate. After taking another bite, his expression transformed into one of pure satisfaction.
"Ah, now this is what I'm talking about," he said, nodding approvingly. "Simple, elegant, effective. Truly, I've outdone myself. And yes, System, I suppose you deserve a bit of credit too."
---
After finishing his meal, Shiro leaned back against the tree and opened the system shop out of curiosity.
[Shop]
• 97 Points
Common
Uncommon (Locked)
Rare (Locked)
Unique (Locked)
Epic (Locked)
Legend (Locked)
Mythical (Locked)
His expression darkened as he scrolled through the locked tiers. "Locked? Why is everything locked? System, are you trying to test my patience?"
The system's calm response only added to his irritation.
Shiro pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath as he reviewed the system's requirements. [To unlock tiers: Complete 1 Daily Quest for Uncommon, 10 for Rare, 100 for Unique, 1 Major Quest for Epic, 10 Major Quests for Legend, and 100 Major Quests for Mythical.]
"Ah, yes," he muttered, exhaling slowly. "Of course. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy, does it? Very well, System. What's today's challenge?"
>Daily Quest:
100 Push-Ups
100 Pull-Ups
100 Squats
10-Kilometer Run (✓)
Before the system could continue, an image flashed in Shiro's mind—a certain famous bald hero known for his rigorous training regimen. A chill ran down his spine. He immediately clasped his hair protectively, as if the mere thought could make it disappear.
"System," Shiro asked, his voice suddenly serious and a touch fearful, "I won't get bald, will I? You're not setting me up for that fate, are you?"
[Hair health is unaffected by Daily Quest activities,] the system replied coolly. [However, genetic predispositions remain unchanged.]
Shiro froze, staring blankly into the distance. "Genetic predispositions? What kind of vague, ominous nonsense is that supposed to mean?!"
The system, as always, provided no elaboration. Shiro groaned, tugging at his hair as though checking its resilience.
"I swear," he muttered, glaring at the invisible interface, "if I end up bald after all this, you'll have a lot to answer for, System."
>Daily Quest:
100 Push-Ups
100 Pull-Ups
100 Squats
10-Kilometer Run (✓)
He tilted his head, reading the requirements again. Then he smirked, rolling his shoulders. "A warm-up, really. System, you underestimate me."
…
Before tackling the quest, Shiro leaned against the trunk of a large tree, folding his arms behind his head as he gazed at the canopy above. The gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird provided the perfect ambiance for a brief rest.
"Alright," he murmured to himself, "time to show these woods why I'm built different."
Sitting up, Shiro extended a hand, letting Curse Energy ripple to life. The ethereal glow wrapped around his fingers, steady and controlled. Unlike many of the sorcerers he'd observed—those who treated Black Flash like an unpredictable miracle—Shiro found its activation surprisingly straightforward.
On his first attempt, the telltale distortion cracked the air. A burst of energy lashed out, and he grinned, rolling his shoulders with satisfaction.
"Easy," he said, almost dismissively, as though Black Flash were no more complicated than flipping a light switch.
He tried again, this time focusing more deliberately. The second success came swiftly, a precision strike that shattered the bark of a nearby stump. Shiro's grin widened, his ego inflating with every attempt.
"Two for two," he mused, tapping his chin. "Let's go for three."
The third try fizzled, the energy dispersing harmlessly. He sighed, shaking his head. "Tch. Must be the system balancing my greatness."
Undeterred, he pressed on, eventually tallying a solid streak. After several more attempts, he calculated his success rate. "So, 25%," he muttered to himself, pacing in thought. "Luck-based, huh? Even fate can't completely deny me."
Shiro brushed his bangs aside, staring at his palm with a self-satisfied smirk. "I'm built different, indeed. While others struggle and grovel, I thrive. Shiro. The anomaly, the genius, the one who bends probability itself. Go on, world, try to catch up."
With a content sigh, he settled back down under the tree. "Alright, enough showing off for now. Don't want the squirrels getting jealous."
"Yes, perfect," he said, flexing his fingers. "Shiro, master of efficiency. Truly, I'm a prodigy."
However, Shiro's attempts at Reverse Curse Technique were far less inspiring. Despite his focused effort, every attempt ended in failure. The concept seemed simple enough—multiply energy, reverse it, to produce positive energy—but no matter how much he tried, the results eluded him.
"Come on," he muttered, staring at his hands with growing frustration. "How hard can it be?"
His Curse Energy flickered weakly, refusing to cooperate. The harder he tried, the more stubborn it seemed to become. After yet another failed attempt, Shiro slumped against the tree, letting out a long sigh.
"So much for my brilliance," he muttered. "Even geniuses have their limits, I suppose."
For a moment, he just sat there, arms crossed, staring blankly at the forest around him. Then, with a sudden burst of determination, he gave himself a firm slap on both cheeks.
"No, Shiro," he scolded himself. "You're better than this. Focus! If others can do it, so can you. You're not just anyone; you're you! Your built different, remember?"
He tried again, gritting his teeth in concentration, but after another hour of effort, the result was the same. Finally, he stood, brushing off his clothes with a dramatic flourish.
"I'll conquer Reverse Curse Technique another day," he declared, as if giving a heroic speech. "For now, let's complete this quest. Staying in the mountains isn't an option. The world needs me! I can't deprive civilization of my greatness—that would be a crime."
With his usual confidence restored, Shiro cracked his knuckles and prepared to tackle the next challenge.
…
The push-ups were straightforward, but Shiro couldn't resist narrating his progress.
"One, two, three… magnificent form, Shiro. Truly, the peak of human excellence."
As he moved on to pull-ups, he noticed a group of squirrels gathering nearby. They perched on branches, watching him with keen interest.
"Well, hello there, my woodland audience," he said, pausing mid-rep to wave. "Enjoying the show? You should be. It's not every day you witness greatness in action."
By the time he reached the squats, a small bird had joined the crowd, chirping loudly. Shiro smirked. "I'll take that as applause. Thank you, thank you. I aim to inspire."
Finally, after what felt like an eternity—though mostly filled with dramatic commentary and a few unnecessary breaks to admire his reflection—Shiro completed the last grueling quests. He dropped to his knees, arms outstretched to the heavens.
Shiro isn't actually very fond of doing exercise. Without the system and its enticing rewards, Shiro would rather lie down and take a nap.
"I did it!" he proclaimed, voice filled with mock anguish and triumph. "Shiro has prevailed against overwhelming odds! The Daily Quest has been vanquished!"
The system chimed, its tone as indifferent as ever: [Daily Quest Complete. Reward: 300 Points. Total: 397 Points.]
Shiro smirked as he stood, brushing off his pants and stretching leisurely. "Ah, music to my ears. See? No mountain too high, no challenge too great. Just another day of being me."
He flicked his hair back, glancing at the squirrels still watching him from the treetops. "You can clap now. Go on, don't be shy."
The squirrels didn't move, which only made him nod solemnly. "Speechless? I understand. Witnessing greatness can be overwhelming."
The system chimed again, but this time Shiro ignored it. He was already back to imagining the celebration he would throw once he reached civilization.
"Good," Shiro said, sitting up and stretching. "Now, System, about that map."
The holographic map appeared before him, and Shiro's eyes lit up. "Impressive. Very impressive. This level of detail… well done, System. You've outdone yourself."
…
With the map guiding him, Shiro set off north. He moved through the forest with purpose, his earlier frustrations giving way to a quiet determination.
As dusk settled in, he finally emerged from the trees to see a small farming village ahead. The warm glow of lanterns lit the streets, and the faint sound of laughter reached his ears.
Shiro smiled, adjusting his jacket. "At last, civilization. Time to introduce these villagers to someone truly extraordinary."