The Legendary Programming Mage

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║ ⚙ STATUS WINDOW ⚙

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┌───" Character Info "───┐

│ ◈ Name: Allen Vanderbilt

│ ◈ Title: The Legendary Programming Mage

│ ◈ Age: 17

│ ◈ Gender: Male

│ ◈ Race: Human (Pinnacle)

│ ◈ Class: Mage

│ ◈ Affiliation: None

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┌───" Rank "──────┐

│ ◈ Prospect Rank: 『 ??? 』

│ ◈ Rank: F-rank

│ ◈ Mage Path: 1st Circle

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┌───" Energy "──────┐

│ ◈ Energy Perception: 『 Mana 』

│ ◈ Energy Rank Mastery: 『 1 out of 4 』

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┌───" Mana Pool "───────────┐

│ ◈ Active Flow — 125/500

│ ▸ A.F < 10% of total (heavy mana usage)

│ ▸ Mana Use for 30+ min (heavy mana usage)

│ ◈ Ascension Reservoir — 115/1000

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┌───" Traits "──────────────┐

│ • 『 Pinnacle of Humanity 』

│ • 『 Primordial Corrosion 』

│ • 『 Life Force 』

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┌───" Life Force "──────────────┐

│ ◈ Current Life Force: 『 752 days 』

│ ▸ +5% of defeated monster's stats

│ ◈ Draining Speed: 『 0.1% per day 』

│ ▸ +0.01%/min (heavy mana usage)

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┌───" Affinities "───┐

│ ◈ Red Flash

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┌───" Spells "───────────┐

│ ◈ Tier 9: Displacement — 『 0 out of 3 』

│ ◈ Tier 9: Red Chains — 『 1 out of 5 』

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┌───" Base Stats "──────────┐

│ • Strength — F

│ • Agility — F+

│ • Endurance — F

│ • Stamina — F+

│ • Dexterity — F+

│ • Intelligence — A+

│ • Charm — ???

│ • Luck — ???

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"Hmm..."

Looking at my stats, I... couldn't see much of a difference.

'My active flow and ascension reservoir have increased and...'

My eyes widened briefly.

"My mastery has gone up."

Glancing around and noticing no one nearby, I channeled mana through my body.

Usually, a Tier 9 spell consumes about 2–3 mana points from active flow per minute.

But when the combined time isn't up to a minute, no matter how many spells you cast, the system usually deducts the bare minimum, which is 1.

That is, if you deactivate the spell before a minute passes.

The moment mana surged through me, four... no, five red portals appeared around me.

"It's five now."

Did that mean it increased by one each mastery level, or would efficiency and strength improve as mastery rose?

Hmm...

Swiping my hand in the air, I dismissed the stats window, and a moment later Beatrice came out of the building.

"Are you done?"

She looked up at me and nodded. "Yes, we can come tomorrow for another raid."

Moving forward and matching her steps, I asked, "Isn't this going to mess up your schedule?"

Beatrice raised her gaze to meet mine. "Anything for my disciple."

"I'm not your disciple, though," I quickly retorted.

She turned back to the road. "Not yet."

What was that supposed to mean?

Still... I was fortunate to have someone like Beatrice by my side. It seems the plot hadn't abandoned me yet.

'She kind of reminds me of Bo—'

I quickly retracted my thoughts.

Beatrice, noticing my change in demeanor, spoke out. "Want to eat out?"

Startled for a second, I glanced down at the beautiful young woman walking beside me.

"Okay," I said. "But you can just tell me if you can't cook."

Beatrice's eyes snapped to me, a faint killing intent radiating from them.

After a sigh, she answered. "I can't."

Even though I heard her clearly, I didn't know when my mouth opened and I asked,

"You can't what?"

Her hands tightened slightly. "I can't cook."

As if to seal the matter, she continued,

"A warrior needs not to cook with a knife but to cook with a sword."

I quickly covered my mouth with my palm, trying my best not to laugh. "What was that cheesy line?"

Quickly, I shook my head internally.

Damn, I'm getting too close to the MC!

Stretching my legs a bit apart, I moved a few steps to the side.

Noticing this, she lingered for a moment, still with her expressionless face, then shifted a few steps too.

Before I could move again, her voice cut through.

"Don't you dare shift again. Do you want people thinking I'm a bully?"

'Maybe you are...'

I wanted to say that, but it was best kept to myself.

It didn't take us long to reach the restaurant she usually ate at, and god, it was first-class.

High ceilings with designs the common folk couldn't even dream of, since they'd never even see them.

Soft music played inside—not from a speaker, but live musicians on violins.

Everything was elegant and refined.

Just sitting on the lavish chair made me want to grab a wine glass, laugh loudly, and talk about how poor commoners were.

"What are you thinking about?"

Beatrice's voice soon pulled me out of my imagination.

"Nothing, my fine lady."

Beatrice facepalmed. "Please don't disgrace me, Allen."

"Huhuhu, you misinterpret me, my princess. I'm a fine gentleman."

Beatrice's gaze lingered on me for a bit before she grabbed her purse, and I quickly shut my mouth.

"No need to be rash, princesa, I was just roleplaying."

She let out a soft sigh, though I could see her lips curve up a little. "Just eat, so you can go back to training."

I nodded as a woman dressed in maid attire brought over half-cooked steak.

Beatrice placed a napkin on her lap, took a fork, and dug in.

But me?

I just stared at the food.

'Isn't this food poisoning?'

Half-cooked? More like raw meat.

Raising my gaze to the smiling waitress, I asked, "Can I get a fully cooked one? I'll even take overcooked."

The waitress's smile didn't waver. "A fully cooked version will be twice the price."

I turned my gaze to the steak on my plate, then to the digital menu between us.

Fully Cooked Steak — $50,000

Yes, in this world the currency was dollars.

But... isn't this daylight robbery?

Shifting my gaze to Beatrice, I unleashed my secret weapon.

The feature I discovered my new body had—

Puppy eyes of doom.

Beatrice almost choked on her steak and shut her eyes tightly. "Just give it to him."

The waitress gave a bow. "It will be ready in a moment."

As soon as she left, Beatrice asked, "Why do disciples love disturbing their masters?"

I smiled and blinked without saying a word.

I was the beggar here, so there was no way I was getting on her bad side.

What if she left me with the bill?

Beatrice leaned back and asked, "So what do you think, disciple? Answer me, even a yes will do."

I hesitated for a moment but decided to say something.

That was until I saw her phone on record mode.

I smirked. "Princess, do you know you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen?"

The princess raised a brow. "That isn't..."

However, I cut her off. "You're so beautiful that nothing can compare."

Before she could stop me, the waitress appeared.

"Here is your food, young master."

She placed the plate of steaming steak on the table and left.

I quickly pressed my palms together and muttered, "Thanks for the meal."

Beatrice could only sigh. "Yes, thanks for the meal."

...

After our two-hour meal, both Beatrice and I went our separate ways home, though she did call her driver and drop me off on the street.

The moment I entered my room, I bathed and fell into the embrace of sleep.

Both Beatrice's and my schedule continued for the next two days, and soon, it was a day before the entrance exam.

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A/N: Next Chapter Update Will Be On Saturday! 10 chapters and premium!