Chapter 15

15. Please Be My Friend (1)

"Huh, this is excellent."

I couldn't help but marvel as I stood in front of the mirror.

The uniform, masquerading as a school uniform.

The golden threads embroidered at the wrists and key points made the uniform even more stylish.

The fit was perfect, too.

Of course, it was made to fit my body.

'This is all free? Indeed, this is the best academy in the empire.'

The Enwood Academy where I was enrolled.

The support I received here wasn't just the uniform.

The meals were free, the textbooks were free, and even the dormitory.

Everything was free.

'It was fortunate that they provided a place to stay from the first day.'

The single-occupancy dormitory, estimated to be about 8 pyeong.

I planned to bow in gratitude to Enwood Academy every morning.

'...It's already been a week.'

After the entrance exam, I was given a week-long break.

I immediately fell asleep as soon as I was assigned a dormitory.

From the first day of possession, understanding the situation, the first, second, and third exams, the secret exam, and the written test.

It was a very eventful day for a beginner in possession.

"Hehe, what will today's breakfast be? I'm looking forward to it."

The chefs at Enwood Academy were all top-notch.

I visited the cafeteria every day for a week.

Even on the first day of classes, it was no different.

I walked leisurely towards the cafeteria.

Of course, I didn't just play around for a week.

While resting, I organized the strategies for hidden pieces and boss monsters, and the major events that occurred in each episode.

I also made a list of good members to recruit and efficient routes to become stronger.

'If I wrote it in Korean, no one would understand it, right?'

This means the security is perfect.

I opened the status window to check my current state.

Level: 11

Strength: 20

Agility: 20

Intelligence: 20

Health: 20

Mana: 20

Potential: 0

Points: 10

Skills: [Translation S], [Interpretation S], [Mental Defense S], [Status Window S], [Condescending Tone S], [Feast S], [Shop Window S], [Cleaning S], [Sinister Aura B], [Open Eyes F], [Instant Regeneration F]

Titles: None

The rewards for completing the first main quest were as follows:

2 level-ups, 10 gold, and the [Shop Window S] skill.

Upon checking, it was surprisingly just...

'One stat point.'

A special shop where you can obtain 1 stat point by paying 100 gold.

This doesn't mean just the gold given as a reward for completing quests.

It seems that you can also buy stat points with the currency of this world.

'It's certain. I could buy items with the gold I received as a reward for completing quests.'

The stall at the academy fountain square.

I bought a newspaper there and received 9 silver and 8 copper in change.

10 copper equals 1 silver, and 10 silver equals 1 gold.

In other words, 100 copper equals 1 gold.

The problem is that the newspaper costs only 2 copper.

'The prices are cheap, but conversely, it means that 1 gold is very valuable.'

Yet, for 100 gold, you can only get 1 stat point?

It's an incredibly inefficient shop.

Indeed, to others, the [Shop Window] skill is a trash skill.

But to me, it's...

'A scam skill.'

I initially planned to use most of my stat points in a different way.

Specifically, the hidden piece of the stat window, the 'Potential' stat.

In the game, characters automatically distribute stat points when they level up, and special skills are unlocked when the Potential stat reaches 100.

However, custom-made characters are different.

You can increase stat points as you wish.

During this process, I discovered the hidden piece of the Potential stat.

For every 100 points invested in the Potential stat, a 'random' skill is given. Moreover,

'It's given at the S rank.'

In this game, S rank means the highest level of proficiency, boasting immense power.

Look at my [Mental Defense] skill.

It can even block the illusion magic of a 9th Circle High Mage like Elester.

'And it gives an S-rank skill of the same level?'

It would naturally be called a scam.

Of course, the problem is that the skill is given 'randomly,' but there aren't that many bad skills.

'If something like Sky Splitting or Absolute Defense comes out...'

I can eat it until the final boss.

'Old players called this Potential gambling.'

Anyway, by repeating this Potential gambling, any underdog character could become a top-tier character.

As an old player, I also preferred this playstyle.

My goal was the final boss.

"..."

Ah, but why do I only have 10 points left?

Because I did Potential gambling.

I leveled up to 11 due to the main quest reward, and I accumulated 100 points.

The Potential stat automatically increased by 10 due to the level-up, and I invested 90 points to do Potential gambling.

Then, where is the skill that came out from the Potential gambling?

It's right below.

I clean and polish. Swish, swish.

...That's right. That's the skill I got by spending 100 points.

Cleaning. Cleaning...

Hahaha.

I can't help but laugh. Of course, it's a forced laugh.

In a way, it's a more vicious skill than [Open Eyes].

'Wasting 10 levels' worth of stat points to get cleaning... I'm going crazy, really.'

Initially, the hidden piece using the Potential stat was for old players.

To get a scam skill to tackle the final boss.

It could be called a gacha system for the "Hero of the Academy" series.

'I feel like restarting.'

But that's only possible in a game. This is reality.

Restarting is impossible.

'Someone, please save me!!'

At least, getting the [Shop Window] skill is a fortunate point?

It means I can do Potential gambling if I have money.

The problem is where to get the money, but it's important that there's a way.

"Hehe, let's try to resolve the immediate crisis first?"

Right now, solving hunger is the priority.

I was just about to take a spoonful when a blue window appeared in front of me.

-Make friends!

Make three friends. The quest is cleared when the other person genuinely considers you a friend.

Make friends (0/3).

Reward: 100 exp, 10 gold, [Subspace S] skill

Penalty: All stats decrease by 3

Make three friends?

At first glance, it seems easy. But in reality, it's not.

My characteristic squinty eyes, [Condescending Tone] skill, [Sinister Aura] skill.

And the appearance that is considered a typical criminal in the continent.

Most kids run away when I talk to them, so it's impossible to make friends.

It's probably about 10 times harder than making friends normally.

But,

"Hehe, it's worth a try."

Despite this, I was known as a social butterfly in Korea.

A mere 10 times penalty won't stop me.

Besides, I already have one... no, not a slave, but a friend.

The second quest seems easier to clear than I thought.

"What, you're still alive?"

Just then, Luna came with a tray of food and sat in front of me.

The uniform-style clothes and skirt suit her well.

Luna, whom I hadn't seen for a week, was as cute as ever today.

Is it because she's the offering for my quest?

"Luna."

"What."

"Hehe, we're friends, right?"

"...What nonsense? Ah, my appetite is gone."

Luna picked up the tray and went to sit in a corner far away.

Only then did I realize something was wrong.

Perhaps this quest...

I might never complete it in my lifetime.

* * *

Classes officially started in the morning.

All the teachers were enthusiastic about their lessons.

Despite the first day being filled with classes, no one complained.

After all, those who couldn't handle this level of patience would have been filtered out in the first exam.

'Hmm, it's worth listening to.'

A graduate of a prestigious university in South Korea.

I even broke through the needle's eye of a large corporation and passed professional and promotion exams in one go.

I even had a talent for financial management.

'This is possible because of the leisurely life of an old player.'

One of the reasons I need to defeat the final boss and return to reality.

I have a lot to achieve in reality.

'I need to show off at the old player cafe, too.'

Anyway, except for subjects requiring basic knowledge, most classes were worth listening to.

I glanced around the room.

I'm currently in the top class.

Most of the main and supporting characters, including Luna and Raymond, are here.

Of course, I don't plan to get close to them.

They need to fulfill their roles in the first party.

'The problem is the composition of the second party I will lead...'

Can I just pick anyone except the main and supporting characters?

...It's not that simple.

Characters that affect the story must be excluded, and I can't easily remove those who belong to noble factions.

'If I take away their subordinates... they will all come and beat me up.'

The early stage of "Hero of the Academy" is set in the academy.

The story is about the children, but the content is not.

'The factions among the nobles are also valid here, in the academy.'

The factions of the nobles in the empire.

Their children also form factions and fight here.

Of course, compared to the adults, it's on a smaller scale, but sometimes children's fights turn into adults' fights.

'If you play as a commoner or a peasant, many people will pick fights with you.'

There are good nobles, but they are in the minority, about 1 in 10.

Anyway, if I pick one from the already busy faction fights?

It would be perfect for being branded as a devil and burned at the stake.

"Let's end today's class here. That's all."

During the break between classes, the classroom became noisy.

Some students occasionally glanced at me, but they didn't show any particular interest.

I was in a dilemma because I needed to make friends.

'Not just for the quest... but to defeat the boss monster.'

Friends to use as meat shields.

Friends to use as swords.

Friends to use as life sacrifices.

What a beautiful friendship.

But no one wants to be my friend.

I couldn't understand it at all.

Then, someone caught my eye.

None other than Raymond.

A child I fought in the third exam and one of the characters who becomes a member of the first party.

Due to his cute appearance and timid personality, many children talked to him.

"What, what is this!"

But perhaps because of his characteristic of being pure evil.

The children who talked to him all left with trembling faces.

Indeed, he is a character worthy of being called 'You Raymond.'

A curse word used by old players as a substitute for a swear word.

Seeing him in person, he indeed deserved that name.

'He's a member of the first party, but... he might be a good friend for the quest.'

He won't become my friend right away, but I need to do some work.

Even Luna, who I somewhat got along with, found it hard to be my friend, so others would be even harder.

"Who said I look like a pretty 30-year-old aunt!"

Another girl grumbled and left Raymond's side.

...Hmm. Should I just give up on this quest?