Near the front of the entrance of the school, a group of freshman students, who were all presumed to be in a gang, stayed there casually chattering to each other while seemingly waiting for someone.
One of them, who was smoking a cigarette as if he wasn't a student of the university near them, suddenly spoke up complainingly.
"Hey, douche. When are we gonna go and why bring us? I mean it's just one kid, how much coins did his momma gave him?"
The one, who was referred to as the boss of their group, and also the exact same guy, who always picked up on Nathan, sneered before he spoke.
"Well, you see. If we scare him a little bit more than what we did earlier..."
The supposed to be boss glanced at him and smiled as he continued.
"Perhaps our everyday income from him would increase, don't you think so?"
"Tch. Man, this is too unnecessary, but well if you really want to give me some... heh."
While the two were bickering at each other, one of the other gang members yelled telling them that their target was already here.
On the other side, Nathan, who was nearing the group of thugs, was currently in deep thought as he went on.
'...5, 6, 7. That bastard, William Lee, even pulled two more members. It's practically impossible for me to face them head-on.'
Tap.
"Even the system said physical strength is only better than an adolescent." He mumbled to himself and helplessly chuckled as he swept the cold sweat on his face.
'That's why I had to plan something in advance...'
Tap.
"Hey, hey, hey. We were waiting for you, you know. How come you just went out? Did you get scared already?"
One of the students in the group spoke with a playful tone while also walking towards him.
"Hah..."
Not even a second later, his complexion turned grim as he grabbed Nathan's shoulder with a very tight grip before he moved his face close to his ear and spoke.
"You know I very much hate waiting, especially if it's someone unimportant. I bet you already know what will happen to you later."
The student, who was acting like a right-hand man of the group's boss since he got here, stepped back and turned around.
"Prepare your ass to get beaten..."
After hearing the guy, Nathan followed him.
'He's not even the leader of their small gang yet he's acting like a man who can beat everyone in a punch. Why did I only regret being their target now after an entire month like this...'
Or did my ego just improved unintentionally because of the system?
"Hey, douche! walk faster, will you?"
Nathan just continued moving towards them with his own will and ignored their words while now having an expressionless face.
'Either way, even if I didn't have the system, I'm sure...'
"Come on, now, don't be a pussy. Big boys always pay their debts, don't they?"
'I'm sure I wouldn't be able to take being a victim of their wickedness.'
It was at the moment where Nathan was one step away from William Lee and they were all silent. And without a warning, a fist was thrown towards his face.
Thwack!
"Man, I still can't believe that you could even think of insisting earlier. The words of disapproval are still ringing on my mind you see." William Lee wiggled his hands after striking his fist to Nathan and smirked as he talked.
"I think 10 dollars wouldn't be able to restore my broken heart back in the cafeteria. So kindly add 5 dollars to it starting now, okay?" m
After having continuous threats hauled into him, Nathan pulled 10 dollars from his pocket and gave it to the gang boss.
'Smiling as he takes them. If I thought of this right, he will share the money right away...'
Nathan's thoughts started circulating again. Although he seemed like he gave his money completely out of his will, he actually did it on purpose.
Like what he had predicted, William Lee did share the 10 dollar money a few moments later.
As it was given away, an impressive-looking student of their group suddenly complained.
"Yo, William. I appreciate the money but we will have to go now."
"Oi, bastard! Come back here! I thought you were gonna stay and watch us!"
"HAHAHA...! Well, you're stupid enough to believe it. See you tomorrow, I guess."
The two of the group ran away from the group while lousily bidding their farewell.
In Nathan's perspective, the one, who looked different to a normal thug, seemed like he had a friendly relationship with William Lee. If it was investigated closer, in terms of rankings, they were on the same boat, or the good-looking one was higher even.
"Although what happened was strange, this is the perfect timing..." He said inwardly and slowly, he walled backward and put himself in an odd position between the other gang members.
He silently placed his right hand into his left shoulder where his bag was hanged.
Soon, William Lee came back to his normal self and glanced at his prey.
"As I was saying. You only gave us 10 dollars today so the exchange for the lacking 5 dollars is, surprise, surprise... Is our beating!"
All of them laugh like a madman in front of their target.
'They will really break my body...'
While Nathan was scared, he didn't express it. Instead, out of nowhere, he chuckled, which basically made the others stop their laughs.
But he didn't stop there...
"Will I really get a beating from you...?"
And left all of the gang members in confusion.
"What?"
The moment Nathan heard the sudden question, he pulled out something from his pocket and threw it to three of the thugs.
"Ack! What the hell is this?!"
A white smoke spread out to their face blocking their vision as it hit one of the guy's face. It was a handful of chalk powder packed inside a small plastic bag that Nathan prepared since earlier before the class ended.
"You fucking bitch! What the hell do you think you're do– Keuk!" The one in the front was pushed back to the two other currently blinded gangsters as he felt his face get pounded by a fist.
Nathan turned around a second later and saw the guy, who acted as the right-hand man of William Lee, rushing towards him, but he reacted quickly as if already known this coming from afar.
"You fucking bastard, you even dared to make a move!"
While the shouting went on, Nathan slid his bag down and held it with his two hands. After that, he dodged a punch by a hair's breadth, and swung the bag to the face of his attacker.
PWHACK!
It left quite an impact that it made the guy lost his balance, and not even a second later, he fell down to the ground after getting kicked to the stomach.
"It worked!" Nathan widened his eyes as he spoke to himself.
He became slightly satisfied after a part of his plan succeeded. In truth, he was so well prepared that he even made the bag contain several small rocks to make sure it was heavy enough.
Without looking back, Nathan ran away in a certain location, knowing that they were going to chase him fro what he did.
"Tch. I'll fucking kill you! Hey, you all. Get up and let's chase him immediately!" William Lee was angered.
He never would have thought that his supposed-to-be slave would fight back, and with some cheap tricks like this.
On the other hand, Nathan continued running away towards a direction in which seemed like an in-construction building a few blocks away from their school.
'The stunts I'll use earlier won't work anymore. Either I'll end this there... Or they'll end me."
To be honest, he admitted that what he did earlier was nothing more than some cheap tricks for his momentarily escape. He thought that it was the only way out of that kind of situation.
That was how much he didn't trust his own strength...
Tap.
'I'm here.'
The incompleted three-story building was right in front of Nathan.
"I can see it clearly again."
He mumbled while in deep thought. What going through inside his mind was his plan...
And the layout structure of the building in front of him.
'This is...'
The plan. The moment this building in front of him surged inside his head the time his Architectural Vision skill first activated, he already decided to make a plan of fighting back with the gang members.
And inside this building...
"This is where we will start."
...is where the battle between a single freshman student and five gang members will start.