CH 3

Basically, the students of the Department of Heroes speak informally to each other – regardless of class, age, or race.

It was a tradition that has been going on for more than 200 years since the establishment of Elinia Academy.

Naturally, there was a lot of opposition from the high-ranking officials in the beginning.

How can their children be talked down to lowly people?

However, Luke, the academy’s founder and first president, ignored the opinions of the high-ranking officials.

At that time, Luke was the only active Hero on the continent and was revered as an individual greater than the nation.

He informed the opposing high-ranking officials, ‘If you don’t like it, don’t enter the academy’.

The enraged high-ranking officials united to form an association and announced that they would not go to the academy – but the association did not last long.

It was because the commoners who graduated from the Academy were too strong.

The Heroes from the commoners devoured the interests of the high-ranking people with overwhelming force.

The high-level association recognized the seriousness of the problem only after losing quite a bit of interest.

Even if they educated their children at the family level, they could not keep up with the systematic education of the academy.

The high-level association, which could not be deprived of any further interests, was officially disbanded after swearing an oath of continuous cooperation with the academy.

And they sent their children to the academy.

This was the history of the academy, which has been summarized so far.

Anyway, there are a lot of people who feel awkward when they first start school, but after a month or so, they all get used to it.

The Department of Heroes is a thorough meritocracy- It’s all about ability.

Even if you come from a noble family, you won’t be treated as such if you don’t have the skills.

Because of that – a peasant’s daughter,  the king of the beasts, the Princess of the Wood Elves, and even noble beings – live with commoners in the academy.

Even if they are commoners now, if they graduate, they will become ‘heroes’ of the privileged class.

But there were exceptions everywhere. For some, even being in the same room with commoners was a disgrace, and the representative of such people was the character I possessed, Theo.

┈┈┈┈․°  °․┈┈┈┈

It’s been quite some time since I started exercising.

“Ugh, ugh-!”

It seems like an hour has passed, but Neike and Pierre’s workout showed no sign of ending, so I continued too.

It was painful, but also rewarding – now, I was deadlifting with more weight than most pro bodybuilders.

I only drank water occasionally and had little rest in between. Movements that were impossible for modern humans and Perseverance had crossed its limits.

There was constant stabbing pain, but it was tolerable – It was less painful than when I violated my dignity trait.

“whoo, whoo—“

But I was physically at my limit now and my whole body was trembling like an aspen.

Since I came all the way to the training ground, I’d like to do more, but——— I think I’d better stop here.

I wiped my sweaty body with a handkerchief.

It was then.

A window appeared without notice.

[You have cleared the Hidden Quest. As a reward, you have obtained 10 shop silver coins.]

: Improving stats without item help (repeatable)

[You have cleared the hidden quest for the first time. As a reward, you have obtained 1 shop gold coin.]

[You have improved the stats for the first time. As a reward, you have obtained 1 shop gold coin.]

[Total Reward: 2 Shop Gold Coins, 10 Shop Silver Coins]

—–what’s this?

I tilted my head and read the quest window several times.

Looking at the status window, my Perseverance had increased to 3.

No matter how intense the training was, the stats don’t go up that easily and quickly… Was it because they were too low? 

But it was nice to have a reward—– What are shop gold and silver coins? There was no such thing in the original game.

rumbling-

When I thought so, a transparent window appeared in front of me, shining like an information window – a shop window that I had seen somewhere.

Oh yeah. This was the shop I saw in the patch for this game.

A system that was newly added to lower the entry barriers to the game.

As if to prove my thoughts, in the upper right corner of the shop window—

[Currencies: 2 Shop Gold Coins, 10 Shop Silver Coins]

— my coins were available.

It is certain that it was the same as the quest reward.

So, what can I buy in the shop?

‘Kyrenzena Chronicles’ was a high-level game that didn’t have a normal ending unless it was through an easy route such as a Wizard or a Paladin.

A shop system was added to lower the entry barrier—- there is a high possibility that they are selling quite useful items.

“Whoo.”

I was really happy.

I don’t think there’s a law that tells you to die just because you possessed a dog shit character.

The hidden quest system was still there.

In this game, there was no special reward even if you clear it, so it was only cleared by high-profile users such as me.

I took a break from the training and checked the store.

┈┈┈┈․°  °․┈┈┈┈

Not long after that,

“Whoooo-! It’s over!”

It appeared like Nike had finished exercising after a long, long time.

Turning off the shop window, I pricked my ears and pretended to be stretching.

Kuung –

Nike put down the barbell, which looked twice as heavy as mine, on the floor. Again, I was reminded of the fact that he was a superhuman with an average stat of 12.

On the other hand, Pierre, a similar superhuman with an average stat of 11, put down her barbell with a bitter expression.

“Again—- I lost.”

“No. I was just in good shape today.”

When Neike gave a friendly smile, Phil looked at him with an embarrassed face.

“—Do it again tomorrow.”

“Of course, Pierre. You are always welcome.”

The two began talking to each other – Neike kept talking with a smile. It’s tick-tick, but Pierre answered.

It was the same in the game. At the beginning of the story, Neike was stupidly innocent and kind.

It is common to get stabbed in the back of the head after saving a guy who exudes ‘I’m a bad guy-‘ aura.

Seeing Neike like this, users cursed him, telling him to stop eating sweet potatoes or else they are going to die of frustration.

[T/N:- sweet potatoes is slang in Korea for users getting irritated with something. It is described as someone who just doesn’t get it.]

Of course, I was one of them.

It’s true now that I’ve seen more than 100 endings in total.

By the way, it’s a long story…

It doesn’t look like it will end.

[Dignity Of A Twisted Aristocrat]

I can’t stop stretching because of this dog-like trait – no matter what the two of them are talking about, I have to maintain the attitude that I don’t care.

Was my heart conveyed?

After a while, Neike mentioned me.

“By the way, Pierre. There —– Theo. Did he originally exercise? It’s the first time I’ve seen him at the training ground.

“—It can’t be. He’s got nothing but a family. An idiot who doesn’t have the skills and doesn’t make any effort.”

Pierre’s voice filled with contempt reached my ears.

Blank criticism – anyone would be angry after hearing it.

“……………”

But I decided to put up with it – let’s look at the big picture.

My goal, for now, was to talk to Neike, and not to fight with Pierre.

There were already too many death flags for me, there was no need to increase them further.

······· Surprisingly, the trait [Dignity Of A Twisted Aristocrat] that bothered me from time to time did not activate and I didn’t feel any pain.

It seemed that it didn’t violate Theo’s own dignity.

··········Theo, you ugly bastard.

No matter how weak you are, shouldn’t you get angry after hearing those words?

“Huuu —“

I couldn’t help sighing.

I could feel it in person – I knew Theo had a bad reputation, but to be treated so harshly.

The academy’s credits also included reputation scores.

There was an urgent need to raise awareness – I am telling my story, anyway.

It was a good time to talk.

After stretching, I walked toward the two of them sitting – to be exact, Neike.

“Neike, wait a minute- Is that okay?”

Ugh, Ugh.

Maybe because I spoke to Neike, a commoner, first – my trait was activated again but I somehow endured the pain and smiled.

Neike looked at me as if he was surprised.

“Uh, if it’s not too long, I have class tomorrow morning. By the way, what’s going on, Theo?”

“It’s not something to say when there’s someone else. I might make a slip of the tongue because of the pain.

Neike will understand the mistakes generously, but not Pierre. Rather, it will make the perception even worse.

Pierre said sternly.

“It’s obvious what you’re going to say. Should I guess? I’ve been telling him not to set it up on the subject of commoners-“

“No.”

I cut off Pierre’s words and continued.

“Nike, it’s about your training method.”

Maybe if I listen to Neike’s training method, I can figure out which route he’s taking.

But perhaps it was completely unexpected, Neike clicked his mouth.

Pierre’s expression was also like, ‘What the hell is that guy?’

After a moment of silence, Neike found something to say.

“My, my training method? What do you mean, that?”

“Well, it’s not something I’d say when there are other people—— It’s embarrassing, but I’ll just do it. I’m curious about your training methods.”

“Theo, I can tell you, but —- what’s going on? Until two days ago, you said it was disgusting to talk to a commoner.”

Neike seemed to wonder what really happened to me.

Pierre also nodded her head next to him. It seems like she didn’t want to leave her seat.

He stared at me with a subtle expression.

Holding back the pain, I lowered my head slightly toward Neike.

“I realized that strength has nothing to do with origin. You are strong. Can you tell me how to train?”