Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!
The chirping of birds echoed through the forest to mark the end of a long night for the lying kid and welcome him to a bright new day. That is, if he was quietly camping with his friends or anything.
"Uuuggh…" Groaned, holding his head momentarily, "Pew! Pew! Pew!"
Leon slowly rose to his feet, his eyes blankly scanning his surroundings, attempting to grasp what had transpired.
"So…" Murmured to himself, "First of all, my head is f*cking killing me."
Those were his last coherent words before diving into the depths of the damp forest, trying to recollect the events of the previous night. Yet, it didn't take that long for him to jump up with excitement in his eyes and tone.
"Status!"
A bright blue screen appeared in front of him.
[Name: Leon Rastia]
[STR: 0 (+3) STA: 0 (+6) ]
[AGL: 0 (+7) INT: 0 (+1) ]
[Unassigned Stat Points: 5]
[Magic: ----]
"It was real! I got a system!"
His enthusiasm matched that of the previous day. His dream had materialized into an undeniable reality.
"Hahahaha! I'm the best!!"
Guurrgle!
"Seems like I have to eat first, though," and took off his backpack, which kept his back safe throughout the entire day and night.
However, disappointment clouded his muddy face as he peered inside. Everything was wet, from clothes to sandwiches.
Shrugged, "Well, whatever. I have nothing else to eat."
With his eyes fixed on the ground, Leon admired his masterful artwork while eating. He wasn't checking if nature had sculpted his handsome face perfectly; rather, he observed the place where he intentionally spread the mud. Fortunately, it was just above his head.
Pointed at the sea wavelike place he created, "That way is the Stone City," nodded to himself, "Yeah, I'm quite smart."
"Now, let's get to that stat point business."
Just like the previous day, his focus was on STA, the stamina stat. Then he shifted it to AGL, the agility stat. It was an understandable reaction, considering he had a considerable journey ahead.
Although Stone City was relatively closer to Harbinger, being just a five-hour walk, he still had to traverse through the forest. Three of those hours were dedicated to leaving Harbinger Forest, while the remaining two were spent on the outskirts.
However, his focus naturally averted from these meddlesome thoughts to the exciting screen.
The status screen itself was quite peculiar, whether due to its emptiness or the presence of zeros. But the latter caught his attention more.
"What's with those zeros, though?"
But it took next to no second for him to conclude that, "I mean, I'm not an idiot, so when I put some stats into them, those will be the ones to go up. Well, now that I think of it, the real question must be those pluses, huh?"
---
The screen itself was weird. There is literally nothing in there. I mean, in a normal situation, there should be at least something like a class or title section, but there is literally none in there.
And the weirdest part is the level section.
There isn't any level on the screen! How will I get stronger!? Did they, whoever they are, give me a second-handed system!?
That shouldn't be the case, right? No, that may be the case here, since those f*ckers were about to kill me.
Sigh… Whatever, I'll put this aside for now.
Stats come first.
At this point, I have to think of those plus parts as my real stats. STR +3 seems kind of low, but it's understandable since I'm yet to start my training. And there is STA +6, which is quite normal when I think about it.
Thanks to our mighty Goddess, we have to lay ourselves down like cattle animals for hours every week, three times at that. Then, as if it isn't enough, which clearly seems like so, we have to bow down for a while, too. Motherf*ckers, I'll kill you all!
Cough!
So, what I was trying to say is, at this point, anyone at my age must have at least that much stamina. Then there is AGL +7. Well, AGL and STA must be the thing by logic.
If you want to raise your STA, the least you have to do is take a walk, after all. That's why it's no wonder that it has higher points compared to stamina.
It isn't like I have been running from the girls since I want them to come at me. I'm sure that couldn't be the reason. Yeah, running from Vastina can't be the reason.
Aaand, "Hey, f*ckers! What the hell with INT +1!? It should be at least 1000! Fix that immediately! Bring me your manager!" Let's see if turning myself into a Karen will help.
Nothing happened.
Yep, it didn't work.
Then, that INT must be related to universal energy arts. Yes, that should be the case, and since I'm yet to even train at that stuff, I shouldn't put any into INT for a while.
I'm really smart, huh? Well, I knew it from the beginning, but it's a pleasant feeling to realize it repeatedly.
"Hahaha."
I want to put some into STA, but I also want to do something about that sorry-a*s STR of mine.
I mean, technically speaking, if I do some push-ups or something, it should raise up. Meanwhile, my STA will naturally increase with all those walking to Stone City.
I will need power, though. I think I should put some into it, but… Sigh… Let's put that aside for now.
And the only thing left in that heartbreakingly empty system screen is the Magic section. The unassigned Stat Points part already speaks for itself, anyway.
"Magic!"
Nothing happened.
"Open the Magic Screen!"
Nothing again.
"Open the Magic section! Magic part! Magics!"
Even clicking didn't work.
Then, the answer is obvious.
I have to learn magic first, or I have to reach level 3 in universal energy arts to choose one. I have a brain, and I can use it. So, at the end of the day, I have to be a level 3 first.
Alright, it's time to go. I hope I can get some stat points on the way. I may even get some STR since I'll be walking with a backpack for five hours or something.
Hehehe, life is going to be fun.
---
"F*ck your life and your forest!"
The sound of a boy panting echoed through the forest, standing out against the chirping of birds.
Sweat washed away the mud from his face, but his clothes remained unchanged. His shoes, once vibrant, were now beyond salvation, only that Goddess of Earth can save them.
Leon had been walking straight for more than three hours, about three and a half hours, yet the horizon still revealed the same dense trees. This wasn't what he hoped, what he wished.
Not only his mother, but even others had been telling him that it takes around three hours on foot to leave Harbinger Forest. This was a fact. However, the part he missed was that they were talking about a grown-up's speed, not a regular child's.
Leaning against a tree, taking his time to catch his breath, Leon.
"Haah… I hope it won't take that long…"
And he resumed his odyssey once again, after eating two more sandwiches.
Same old trees, same old hills, and same old mud. It was no different from the places he had traversed in the past hours.
However, after about thirty minutes, buildings appeared on the horizon, accompanied by the familiar sight of the Goddess's Statue. Usually, the thing he hated more than anything was mightily facing the heavens as if blessing him with her saving grace.
"Haah… Haah… Finally!!"
Ding!
[You've gained STR +1]
"Yeaaah! Lets goo! I've gotten stronger!!"
His momentary joy burst, overwhelmed his pain and suffering. He literally jumped up with two fists in the air as though he had won a gold medal in a tournament.
"Status!"
[Name: Leon Rastia]
[STR: 0 (+4) STA: 0 (+6) ]
[AGL: 0 (+7) INT: 0 (+1) ]
[Unassigned Stat Points: 5]
[Magic: ----]
"Yeaaah! It was 3 before!!"
Examined his hands for a few seconds, clenched them into fists, and turned his head to the left.
"Face my wrath, you goddamn tree!"
Pow!
"Aaaaahh!!"
The innocent tree shook for a few seconds. Meanwhile, the mighty Leon, who had just threw his punch with all his might, was holding his hands.
"Just you wait. Your time will come, either."
This time, he turned his head to the horizon, to the Stone City, where his mother told him to go. That scene alone was a reason for him to reminiscent about his mother.
It isn't because they have been there a lot. They had visited there just twice. However, that was the place she determinedly insisted on him to head to.
"Well, there obviously should be a reason, but…" Turned his eyes to his clothes, 'I don't want to go in there like this. I should change my clothes to the wet ones, which seems like the best course of action rather than muddy ones.'
Another concern crossed his mind, 'But what will happen when I'm about to wear my wet pants? Of course, my damn shoes will ruin them. And if I take off my shoes, this time my socks will be ruined. If I take off my socks, my feet will be ruined.'
"Sigh… What a dilemma…"