NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 32
A-3, Riana de Granz, was the only one who had developed her supernatural powers naturally. The others had inadvertently used their supernatural powers only when faced with extreme situations.
Natural awakening was very rare, and I should not expect that mine would awaken naturally either, as it was impossible to know when that could happen.
So in the end, I would have to go through a psychologically extreme situation to forcibly awaken my power...
I’d experienced one such situation during the escape from the Demon King’s castle. And I certainly did not want to be thrown into such a situation ever again.
Couldn’t they just count it as pre-paid trauma and awaken the ability?
That was unlikely.
I thought about whether it was possible to awaken it artificially with achievement points, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
Damn it. Since these were all low-level supernatural powers, I wasn’t expecting to be able to use them right away, but to find out that they hadn’t even been activated yet was unexpected...
What good were cheat-level supernatural powers if I can’t use them?
‘Right, let’s think about the future for now.’
I wasn’t content with just one talent. I’d have to give the awakening of my powers some thought later on, and I also need to consider what my next talent should be. It would be nice to have a talent that could be of immediate help.
Ludwig’s physical fitness talent had also seemed incredibly powerful, especially since having witnessed it earlier that day.
[Swordsmanship - 2000 points]
[Archery - 2000 points]
.
.
The prices had doubled. This much I had anticipated. I thought the system would completely destroy me by making it a tenfold increase, but it seemed I was at least given a glimmer of hope.
However, I currently had zero achievement points. I’d just invested everything I’d had into unlocking the unactivated supernatural power. In this state, no one could detect that I possessed a supernatural talent.
If that were possible, the empire would be sweeping up all the unawakened superhumans.
There were two things I had to do now.
One, I needed to put myself into extreme situations to awaken my supernatural powers as quickly as possible.
Two, I needed to earn achievement points to gain additional talents.
If I could earn 2000 points through events and challenges that usually gave about 100 points each, I could obtain a second talent, provided the “candy vendor” didn’t change their mind.
Since I didn’t know what I could or should be doing at that moment, the only things I could immediately try for were the challenges.
However, they were mostly bizarre acts, crimes, or the sort of things delinquent youths might do.
And yet...
[Write a love letter to a classmate and get rejected - 200 points]
“...”
A challenge that was very easy to accomplish, but would cause me to lose my dignity, caught my eye far too easily.
Honestly, that was crossing the line.
Confess to a high school kid and get rejected?
However, while the other tasks were usually worth around 100 points, this one gave twice as much.
Ah... what was I to do...
Should I just embarrass myself a bit?
200 points. fre(e)
Twice the usual rate.
If I just suffered through a little embarrassment, I could earn 200 points for free.
Surely, it was clear that Reinhart, the guy with a foul temper who beat up his classmate on the very first day of class, writing a love letter out of the blue would not only brand me as someone with a bad personality, but also someone who did distasteful things.
The risk was too high. These were people I had to get along with for the foreseeable future.
Plus, there was the restriction of it having to be a “classmate,” which meant writing to someone completely unrelated would be meaningless.
Did it include the students in Class B too? Or was it only restricted to those in Class A?
‘No. Wait a minute.
‘Let’s think outside the box.’
Thinking from a completely different perspective, I was able to come up with a much better approach.
[Get a classmate to confess to you - 1,000 points]
This seemed totally possible.
***
The Temple, a colossal educational complex, did not just house educational facilities. Where there was an abundance of wealthy families’ children, there was no reason why a business district wouldn’t form.
There was a row of top-class restaurants, as well as coffee shops, clothing stores, entertainment facilities, and just about everything else.
That’s why those who loved to hang out spent their time roaming Main Street, and it was the area where most students from the Temple would go to hang out.
“Doesn’t it taste good?”
“Yeah, guess so.”
“I’ve been coming here for three years, and almost everything is delicious. I can guarantee it.”
“I know, I’ve been here a few times too.”
Erhi nodded in response to Connor Lint’s fussing, while Kaier had his arms crossed and didn’t even touch the dessert.
Laid out on the table where the three were seated were assortments of desserts, including cakes and pretzels. They had just come from a nearby cafeteria where Connor Lint loved to eat hot dogs, and were now there for desserts.
“Hey, eat some food and lighten up.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Just try one bite. It’s really sweet and good!”
Connor Lint giggled and pushed the plate towards Kaier. Everyone around the table were commoners except for Erhi, but since the Raffaeli family were local lords, it wasn’t too difficult for Erhi to get along with commoners.
The three of them weren’t originally supposed to become friends so quickly, but they hit it off from the first day.
“Yeah, it’s wasteful to pay any attention to a lunatic.”
That would be a reference to A-11, Reinhart.
A crazy guy with neither notable talent nor a decent temperament, who’d started the semester with fist fights and foul language.
Because of Reinhart, their common enemy, these three had become friends from day one. Kaier got hit by someone with no talent, and to add insult to injury, he was the one who got scolded by the teacher.
“But why on earth did you get scolded?” Connor Lint seemed not to understand. “What happened, exactly?”
“I don’t know. That little brat was ranting about something, but I couldn’t even understand what he was saying. Anyway, he said I insulted the Temple.”
Unfortunately, Kaier couldn’t remember everything the rambling Reinhart had thrown at him. However, Mr. Effenhauser had seriously reprimanded Kaier after listening to Reinhart’s words.
“What are you talking about? Insulting the Temple?”
“I don’t freaking know. That annoying bastard. If I see him later, I’ll kill him.”
Erhi’s words caused Kaier’s expression to sour, and he abruptly turned his gaze toward the window.
It’s said that a group only comes together when there’s a common enemy, and these three had united against Reinhart as their main adversary.
“Hey, but aren’t the girls in our class all pretty cute?” Connor Lint suddenly said in a hushed voice.
At this, Erhi nodded his head in agreement.
“That’s true, but don’t say it to their faces. Even though we’re classmates at the Temple, once we step outside, they are all persons with such prestige that we won’t even be able to look at them.”
“Come on, we’re all classmates now.”
“Not everyone has a nice personality like the prince. Be careful. Not just the princess, but Miss Saint-Ouen is a duchess from the Grand Duchy, and the de Granz is a prominent ducal family which has more prestige than many sovereign states, I’ve heard.”
Erhi was drawing a clear line.
At the Temple, they could interact, but outside, they were distinctly different people.
Even as classmates, they were not to be carelessly gossiped about.
“But right now, we’re classmates. Why can’t we even talk about our classmates?” Connor Lint playfully prodded them, seemingly enjoying the discussion. “Who do you guys think is the prettiest? Huh?”
“Who, me?”
“Yeah, I personally think the princess is cute. How about you?” Connor Lint said.
Erhi frowned in annoyance, as if telling him to stop making unacceptable comments. Erhi and Kaier didn’t want to say anything but they ended up confessing after giving in to his persistent questioning.
“For me... It’s Number 2.”
Connor Lint tilted his head at Erhi’s choice.
“Her? I mean... sure, but isn’t she a bit scary? She barely talks.”
“I thought we were only talking about looks.”
“Ah, well, okay. Then what about you?”
“If I had to pick...”
Kaier hesitated for a moment and then spoke as if he were choking.
“Miss de Granz seems...”
“Oh, I’m definitely with you on that one.”
Whether it was among children or adults, conversations during a gathering tended to drift toward such topics.
While they were utterly engrossed in such dialogue...
“Excuse me...”
The three of them suddenly turned their heads at the sound of a girl’s voice.
“Uh, excuse me... Could I talk to you for a moment?”
There stood a girl so strikingly beautiful that even just looking at her could make one second guess whether they were awake or not, timidly addressing Connor Lint.
“This... Please have it.”
As if entranced, Connor Lint was led outside of the dessert cafe, and his mind nearly exploded as he looked at the slight envelope that the mysterious beauty had handed him.
“U-uh... this... could I ask what this is?”
He was so taken aback that he’d even slipped into using formal language without realizing it.
“Please read it...”
The girl was fidgeting, cheeks flushed red, barely able to make proper eye contact. As if under a spell, he opened the envelope, and inside were a couple of straightforward sentences.
“I fell for you at first sight. Please go out with me.”
“Uh, uh... um...”
A boy, seventeen years old, had experienced a miracle he had never even dreamed of in his life.
“What do you think...?” asked the delicate girl.
“I fell for you at first sight too!” Connor Lint said, his mouth moving more quickly than his mind.
The boy did not see the girl’s lips curl up slightly in a smile.
***
I sold my soul for points.
[You have received 1000 achievement points]
“....”
I’d thought about it, but once I’d actually done it, my heart felt broken.
Scarcely had I confirmed the completion of the “Get Confessed To” challenge when I awkwardly mumbled something to Connor Lint about meeting later and ran away.
Then, hiding in a secluded alley so as not to be seen, I changed clothes to avoid detection, reverted to Reinhart’s appearance, and returned to the dormitory.
Nowhere in the wording of the challenge did it say “get confessed to while appearing as Reinhart.”
Having caught that loophole, I’d given it a shot right away, and it worked. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but after, I felt an overwhelming urge to off myself.
I had protected Reinhart’s dignity, but I had severely insulted my own as an individual. Despite the narrative that I was a womanizer, I had toyed with the genuine feelings of a seventeen-year-old boy.
Connor Lint might be a bit dull and oblivious, but he wasn’t a bad person.
I’d trampled all over him, and now felt like something worse than human trash...
[ The list of challenges has been updated.]
A message popped up in front of me. Most of it was the same, but there were a few changes.
[Unless specified, all challenges henceforth will proceed with the condition “in Reinhart’s form.”
Get a classmate to confess to you (Complete) - 1,000 points
Write a love letter to a classmate and get rejected - 200 points
Talk back to a teacher and get penalty points - 100 points
Sneak out after curfew and leave graffiti on the Temple’s Main Street - 100 points]
What a bastard.
Did they not anticipate that I would exploit such a loophole? The system had immediately added new conditions and updated the list.
The instant modification was really petty.
The challenges definitely seemed designed to mess with me. The system hadn’t anticipated that I would clear challenges by exploiting a loophole, but as soon as I did, it added new conditions right away.
Were they just itching to see me write a love letter and get rejected?
Also, a new challenge was added.
[Go on a date with Connor Lint as a girl (PFFT) - 1,000 points]
Ah.
Ah.
Ah!
I was being watched in real-time!
Although I wasn’t sure what this entity was, it was clear it had gotten a good laugh at my expense!
My desire to be swallowed by the earth has just increased tenfold.
I wasn’t going to do that challenge even if the world crumbled.
***
I never thought that I would earn 1000 points in just one day, even though I’d gained it at the cost of my soul. Clearly, this wasn’t the direction that the creep behind the system messages wanted things to go.
If I could acquire another 1000 points, I could purchase a second talent. Going on a date with Connor Lint was definitely not an option.
I mulled over how to gather the additional 1000 points when I returned to the dormitory. Naturally, I discarded the tracksuit I’d worn when I’d met with Connor Lint outside, and returned in different clothes. There was no need to leave any traces.
Then, dinnertime came.
—Hehe... hehehe...
Seeing Connor Lint giggling to himself and receiving envious glances from the other two as they ate made my stomach turn.
The complex mix of guilt, self-loathing, and embarrassment was stirring inside me, making every bite seem to stick in my throat.
The disgust made dinner a challenge to swallow, and I ended up eating less than half of the prepared meal, despite the fact that I appreciated the skill of the chefs very much.
Things just weren’t going to work out that night.
Connor Lint seemed like he would be lost in his happy delusions for a while. What if that state dragged on for too long?
Was he going to sink into depression over this?
No. I wasn’t going to get myself involved.
‘I don’t care what happens to him. Let’s only think about the still unawakened supernatural power.’
I kept trying to hypnotize myself as I exited the cafeteria, trying to convince myself that even this should count as some sort of extreme psychological situation.
But there was no effect whatsoever.
***
For it being just the first day, my achievements were substantial. Even though it remained inactive, I’d managed to acquire the supernatural power I’d been aiming for, and I’d earned a significant amount of achievement points as well.
Somehow, if I could just acquire another 1000 points, I could either awaken a second talent or use them for something else.
It seemed possible to arbitrarily increase my stats as well, not just awaken talents. But that was not something I was considering right then.
Stats could be increased through training anyway, so if I continued on with the physical training like how I was doing, my stats would steadily but surely rise, unless it was something special like mana.
And then there was the dilemma.
Having gained something once, I craved to gain more.
I’d earned a thousand points, but I still felt hungry for more.
There was no telling when the challenges were going to disappear. That guy controlling the system messages, who I nicknamed the “candy vendor,” could change his mind at any time.
The newly-updated challenges would most likely not leave any loopholes to be exploited, and it was highly probable that they would become more difficult or embarrassing than before.
The challenges like skipping class were certainly punishable offenses. Although I hadn’t gotten into any serious trouble, I was already on Mr. Effenhauser’s radar because of the fight with Kaier. I would not be so easily forgiven for causing more problems in class.
[Write a love letter to a classmate and get rejected - 200 points]
It was as if they were urging me to try writing a love letter. While I had written one earlier, this challenge wasn’t considered completed, since I didn’t get rejected.
Rejection was the condition.
Sadly, in my current situation, getting rejected was just too easy. There was a one-hundred-percent chance of rejection.
Take a hit to the ego and gain 200 points, and the remaining points I needed to reach my goal would drop to 800.
In fact, had I not thought of using Dreadfiend’s ring earlier, there was a potential target that I considered trying this challenge on. The problem with this was getting humiliated by the gossip after the attempt, but if the person who received the letter kept quiet, then I would only be seen as odd by that one individual, and it all woud end there.
So, someone who would likely keep silent about it and not pay me much attention afterward.
Ellen Artorius.
“...”
Was I going to do it, or not?
Do it, or not.
Ah. My soul had been sold for points, and now, was my dignity going to be trampled on for points too?
***
There was no need for lengthy deliberation.
The Class A dormitory’s training grounds.
It was obvious where she would be, so I headed to the training grounds when all the other guys had returned to their dorms.
Ellen Artorius, after receiving my letter asking her out, read the simple contents and looked at me briefly to say, “No.”
“Oh, okay... sure,” I replied.
I’d known beforehand what the answer was going to be anyway.
[Challenge Complete - Write a love letter to a classmate and get rejected.
You have received 200 achievement points.]
... I felt like crying.
Knowing that I would be rejected and actually being rejected were two entirely different things.
I left the training grounds, leaving Ellen behind as she resumed swinging her practice sword without giving me another thought.