NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2
<2 - I'm not a pitiful child>
Thanks to luck, there’s the pre-admission training system to graduate from the Academy.
It’s not a thoughtful gesture from the creators to help you raise your specs a bit before you start and make the early stages more convenient.
If you don’t prepare, you might get cut off at the entrance and flung out, so it’s time to grit your teeth and get ready.
‘It was incredible when I was a beginner.’
When you train, it’s practice; when you’re an adventurer, it’s growth.
Deceived by the slogan enticing rookie players, they join the Adventurer’s Guild, thinking they’ll at least chase the quest guidelines, and set off into the forest and caves.
Over 90% of them get completely wrecked on their first mission, either dying or returning battered and bruised.
‘How can all five party members betray each other?’
In this party where there’s a 9.9% chance of party members betraying you, the miraculous event of all party members betraying each other makes those brainless memories resurface like a flashback.
When I think back to that legendary disaster of a party, grinding in the Training Ground feels like a breeze.
“The facilities are nice.”
“These are prepared by the master. We send someone to manage it every year before the Entrance Exam.”
“Every year?”
The Butler’s expression showed he found it annoying.
It looked like a killer who didn’t need to see an unnecessary witness, lamenting that they now had to see one more splash of blood.
“The mirror is in this room.”
It’s a blatant change of subject, but honestly, I welcome it.
I was curious how the Oknodie I set up looked different from the character I had created.
“Oh.”
A full-length mirror set up in one corner of the Training Ground.
In the mirror placed for posture correction, a little blonde girl looks back at me.
With a fierce kick, she looks like she could roll like a bowling pin.
She raises a hand to cover her face.
She looks super cute, like she’d pop up on TikTok as the ultimate pretty girl.
Yeah, middle school.
Not high school.
She looks that young in terms of physical age.
This is totally a child.
“Phew.”
When I lift my head, the Butler looks down at me with that “what a pitiful little thing” expression.
“You’ve never looked in a mirror your whole life, have you?”
“That’s not true! I’ve looked a lot!”
“You don’t need to pretend to be strong. That reaction definitely screams someone who’s never seen what they look like before.”
Seriously.
Of course, it’s the first time with this character.
I want to clear up this unjust misunderstanding, but the Butler strides ahead, ignoring me.
“I roughly understand how you’ve lived until now. Let’s have a meal before training.”
I don’t like how she treats me like I’m some less fortunate soul, but when she mentions food, I shut my mouth.
This game has a cookbook feature.
Collecting various items boosts your stats, functionality levels, and rare item acquisition rates due to collection effects.
‘It doesn’t hurt to gather the Cookbook when I get the chance.’
Sitting at the Dining Table, I noticed a shadow under the spacious table while feeling bored.
Time is gold until admission.
To avoid getting unlucky, I need to level up my functionality as much as I can.
[Hid under the table for over 1 minute.]
[Hiding Experience +1]
Peeking out from under the table, I spot a massive grandfather clock that looks big enough to fit someone else inside.
[Hid inside the grandfather clock for over 1 minute.]
[Hiding Experience +1]
Hiding experience increases by one each time you hide in the same spot for over a minute.
When crazy elites are roaming around where mobs usually spawn, the only thing I can rely on is this hiding skill.
If I don’t do this ahead of time, who knows when I’ll be unlucky in the game [Graduating from the Academy Thanks to Luck].
[Hid under the chair for over 1 minute.]
[Hiding Experience +1]
[Hid behind the curtain for over 1 minute.]
[Hiding Experience +1]
[Hid inside the closet for over 1 minute.]
[Hiding Experience +1]
Where should I hide next?
Just as I think of an empty wine barrel, the closet door creaks open.
“What are you doing here?”
“Just looking for a good hiding place…”
“……”
Her gaze is piercing.
I realize too late what kind of impression I might have made on the Butler.
I was lying in bed unable to sleep, seeing a mirror for the first time, and now hiding in the closet while they made me a meal.
“I’m not a weird person.”
“I didn’t say anything. Please take a seat at the table.”
What a frustrating misunderstanding!
Grumbling about how unfair this is, I sit down and see a beef stew that tickles my nose and a beautifully baked baguette.
Unfortunately, it’s not a rare dish that raises my stats just by eating it.
It’s a common-grade food, and a collection bonus is given for eating ten different dishes.
Chomp, chomp
No matter how fast or slow I chew, the number of collected items remains the same.
However, to collect them in the cookbook, I have to eat every single portion served.
So, it’s better to scarf it down quickly than to savor every bite.
“You eat very quickly.”
“……Don’t look at me like that. I just naturally eat fast.”
“You can take your time. No one will steal your food here.”
“Really?”
Even if you say that, if I take just one bite, it could get stolen, and I’d fail the collection judgment.
As my guard goes up, I guzzle down the soup like it’s a race, which makes the Butler’s gaze even more piercing.
“Did you enjoy your meal?”
“It was delicious.”
“Then I’ll prepare the same dish for you tomorrow.”
Oh. That’s not good.
“Can’t I try other dishes?”
“……If that’s what you wish.”
I did it.
With this, I can fill up several recipes in the cookbook.
The Butler took my empty plates away, looking at me with a face that seemed to say, “You poor thing.”
Training began.
“This is basic fitness training. It’s okay if you’re not fast. Just run as much as you can outside the yellow lines of the Training Ground.”
Once the Butler finished her sentence, my head suddenly throbbed.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just a moment of a headache.”
Once the pain settled, a familiar event window popped up in front of me.
[First Training Event]
Unlike the clueless rookies who mindlessly crash into mountains, fields, and caves, you’ve resolved to train diligently.
As the saying goes, “Starting is half the battle,” the achievements from your first training will greatly benefit your future training.
Follow the instructor’s guidance and proceed with the training program.
It has appeared.
A training event that can overcome insufficient luck.
An opportunity for growth only allowed for the rich.
Originally, to make use of this event, I would have had to get a part-time job or start adventuring to earn some money.
But now?
I have more than enough money.
Clink
I rummage through my pocket and pull out one gold coin, and the Butler stares at my hand blankly.
“What are you doing?”
“For the training fee.”
“I am your Butler. I am not the instructor at a private training facility, so you don’t need to pay.”
“…Oh.”
“Just put the gold back and hurry up and run.”
Hehe, saved some money.
I think I heard something in the back about “It seems you’ve never received a favor without a price…” but that’s not what’s important right now.
In this realistic world where the status window doesn’t open, the only way to find out my stats is through diligent effort.
The Oknodie’s body, while looking frail, surprisingly has stamina.
With my instincts as a veteran player, it feels like despite the change in appearance, the stats I invested in have been inherited perfectly.
‘What a waste.’
That’s why I’m even angrier.
The strength exhibited by a well-built muscle monster is different from that of a delicate girl.
If I’m going to invest in a body, it would’ve been better if I had gone for one a little larger, but unfortunately, the initial stats seem heavily skewed towards strength and stamina already.
“That should do it. Your basic fitness is excellent despite appearances.”
“I’m confident in my stamina. If I’m slow while being chased or doing the chasing, that’s bad, right?”
As I boast, her gaze seems to turn more pitiful than before.
I don’t know what she thinks I’m chasing or being chased by, but I can guarantee it’s not in reference to monster hunting or catching thieves’ quests.
[Has run 30 laps around the track.]
[Stamina training efficiency at the Training Ground has increased by 300% for a month.]
“Choose a weapon you can handle.”
Next is weapon skills.
I pick up a sword without hesitation.
Gauging her reaction, the Butler seems to be watching what this little chick will do next.
So, I grabbed a bow as well.
Her face shows no sign of surprise.
Adults would be all thrilled, saying something like “Wow, our child picked two items!” at a birthday party.
But since I’m not a child, her reaction is so bland compared to that time it’s disappointing.
…Even if I pick up a wand as my last weapon, will she stay that calm?
“That’s not a club.”
“I know. It’s a wand.”
The Butler’s face turned serious.
“Do you know what a magical item is?”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever held a wand?”
“Of course.”
She didn’t expect me to pick up a wizard’s equipment.
Hehe, finally a reaction is coming.
Is she surprised by my talent?
“Have you ever carried out requests that involved drawing blood on the street or taking drugs?”
“No.”
“Be honest.”
“I really haven’t.”
However, that didn’t evoke a reaction of “Wow!” or “Amazing!”
She seems very angry.
“Miss, I absolutely hate lies.”
“I’m being serious…”
Now that I think about it, there is something questionable.
In my last playthrough, I had to get funds by doing part-time jobs as a blood donor and participating in living experiments due to my lack of starting capital.
“Oh. I did that a long time ago.”
“Even if you want to learn magic, learning street magician’s magic is dangerous.”
“I didn’t learn any magic though?”
“Then where did you learn the wand usage?”
“That’s…”
I learned it at the Academy.
But I haven’t even enrolled yet this time.
As my answer gets delayed, the Butler’s expression grows more menacing.
“I see. I’ll step out for a moment. You can conduct self-training.”
The Butler leaves, looking like she’s going to smash someone’s head in when she gets back today.
“……”
Sorry, street magician.
Looks like today’s your death day, huh?
But you also hit me with a poison potion once.
Let’s call it even for now, okay?
[Stamina training efficiency for swordsmanship has increased by 300% for a month.]
[Stamina training efficiency for archery has increased by 250% for a month.]
[Stamina training efficiency for wand training has increased by 200% for a month.]
“You’ve been serious and diligent in self-study. Well done, Miss.”
The Butler returned with a serene expression.
I’ll have to act like I don’t smell the blood.