On the way to the university, Azura was surprised by a sudden notification from the System.
[Daily Quest reminder!]
———
Daily Quest: Control Training
Mandatory:
→ Practice Your Majesty's polymorph skill (0%/100%)
Optional:
→ Devour a Hybrid
Normal rewards: 2 Bonus Stats and 1 random item
Bonus reward: 2x Mana absorption for the entire day
Penalty: -50% Sanity
———
Azura didn't remember having any Daily Quest yesterday.
Since he effectively gained the System yesterday, he should know that he has a Daily Quest that needs to be completed. He didn't even remember that there was a reminder, but Azura was quite certain that there was none.
It's the first time for him to see this.
On the bus cramped with people, Azura tilted his head in contemplation.
He remembered that last night he gained 5 bonus stats that he could allocate freely.
Although he was not quite an expert in playing games due to his extremely busy schedule, he knew the basics and pondered for a moment as to what stat he would like to focus on, preferably one that would increase his survivability.
Currently, his agility is the highest and his strength is the second-highest.
But as he opened his status window he found that instead of five, he got seven bonus stats.
Huh...? Where did I get the additional 2 stat points?
Deciding that it was his luck that played the part, he didn't linger on the additional points and quickly allocated them. Since he wanted to be able to survive, he decided that adding about 3 points to his perception stat was good enough.
For the last four points, he put two into vitality, and one for each agility and strength.
He decided to leave intelligence stat alone.
Based on my limited gaming knowledge, intelligence must be associated with magic. I don't have anything that could be considered a magic spell, so I don't think there's a need for me to touch the intelligence stat.
Maybe in the future, he would increase it—but not now.
Checking the Daily Quest for the second time, two things catch his eye.
Since the Daily Quest is easy enough to understand, his attention goes to the optional one as the word 'devour' confuses him. He doesn't know what the System means by devour, it might mean eating someone or another unknown method that could be considered 'devour'-ing.
However, he was suspecting actual devouring since the System is evil.
At least in his opinion, the System is evil.
Other than that, he was also pondering about the penalty.
I guessed that 'Sanity' was my stress level, but I don't think it was as simple as I thought.
Mentally noting that he should try and learn more about this 'Sanity'—he eventually reached the university and stepped out of the bus. Azura doesn't have any classes that are the same as Matthew, so he should be fine.
But then again, Matthew might come looking for him.
Knowing that the possibility was high, he decided to keep alert and see how it went.
Inside the class, he was seen listening to the professor attentively.
Even though the incident last night made him somewhat close with Isadora, he still remains indifferent towards her in public. He may think that he got close with Isadora, but it may not be the same with her.
Additionally, he doesn't want attention, so acting like this is the best way.
From the onlookers' perspective, he might looked like he was focusing on class, but he was not. His mind was wandering everywhere, and there was nothing he could do to focus, the fear of Matthew coming to get him was palpable.
He never experienced this kind of feeling before, always on constant alert.
It felt like if he lowered his guard even for a second, he would be stabbed in the back.
On top of that, he was also experimenting with something.
[Congratulations, Mystic Sense talent has been upgraded to the 2nd rank!]
Spending 200 Adaptation Points that he gained from the Kill Quest, Azura decided that he would increase the Mystis Sense talent. It was the talent that allowed him to sense Isadora and Matthew was a Hybrid.
Now, with the Mystic Sense talent reaching the 2nd rank, he felt the changes instantly.
Before the upgrade, he would need to be very close to Isadora to sense the mana radiating from her body. However, now, he no longer required such proximity—even at a distance of five chairs apart, he could effortlessly sense the flow of her mana.
It was impeccable how one upgrade could result in.
Considering that I could even rip someone's throat, I think the Superhuman Body also makes me substantially stronger. I wonder how much have I grown, I should be far stronger than the norm, right?
As he thought of that, the class ended.
Meticulously stepping outside, he sighed when he saw that Matthew was not around.
Other than that, he was also worried if his chase last night was caught by a CCTV.
He wouldn't know what to say if he was brought into the dean's office.
[Your Majesty has used the Resonance of Darkness technique]
Time period: 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 15 seconds.
Dark Mana Yield: 288
Upon seeing the yield, Azura couldn't help but frown as it was way less than expected.
Last night, he gained more than a thousand dark mana points from fifteen minutes of using the Resonance of Darkness technique. But now, even though he had been training for two hours straight, he gained a pitiful two hundred and eighty-eight points.
"Why am I only getting this amount? It doesn't make sense," He mused inwardly.
Since today only has two classes, with the other one canceled and changed to another day, Azura decided that he would leave the university as soon as he could. But as he was about to leave, he was startled when someone tapped his shoulder.
Pivoting his body around in surprise, he sighed in relief when he found that it was Isadora.
His heart dropped to his stomach for a second there, thinking the worst.
"Don't be too nervous, Matthew is not present today," Isadora informed teasingly.
Upon hearing this, Azura raised an eyebrow, "How do you know? And what happened?"
"Just trust me on it, he didn't come to class today," Isadora replied, turning to the side. "As for what happened, I'll tell you about it, but let's go somewhere more private first," She offered—walking away with her index finger gesturing to follow her.
Azura hesitated, but he realized that people were staring at him.
She talked with a lot of guys every single day, why are you all looking at me like that?
Covering his face, Azura quickly ran after Isadora as he didn't have any choice but to follow her under the scrutiny of the onlookers. Eventually, they reached the canteen, but instead of stopping there, Isadora led him into the kitchen.
"Hey, are we even supposed to be here?" Azura asked, apologizing to the cooks.
But even then, Isadora ignored him and pressed on.
Hmm...? There was a door here, I never knew about this.
On the corner of the kitchen, blinded by the angle they were coming from was a door, and it led to another room. It was another canteen, but the place was extremely fancy. Instead of metallic tables and long seats, the furniture here was made of intricate and fancy wood.
Looking around in awe, Isadora locked the door behind her and took a seat at a table.
Before Azura could ask anything, she had already taken out a paper.
Taking a seat opposite of her, still confused as to what this place was, Azura looked down at the paper in confusion, "I forgot to tell you, I need to go in an hour for work. Maybe we can reschedule this to some other time?"
"Read it and then talk" Isadora replied nonchalantly, signaling to the paper on the table.
Azura could only sigh and read the paper.
However, it was then that his eyes widened completely as he read through the paragraph.
Isadora smiled and leaned forward, "Azura, how does making a few grand a day sound?"
"What...? A few grand?" His disbelief echoed in the question, but as he scanned from top to bottom the entire document, the reality sank in—Isadora was not joking around. "Where do I sign? Just point the place, and I'll ink my name immediately"
A few thousand in a day was a lot of money for someone like Azura.
More than ever right now since he still needs to pay the tuition after his failed hunt that night.
Upon hearing this, Isadora chuckled and gave him a pen, "Sign at the bottom"
Not even hesitating, he signed his name immediately.
Written on the document was an agreement on the relationship between Azura and Isadora.
From what he could understand, the relationship works with him as a shadow helper.
Basically, Azura would be helping her to do some missions without telling anyone that he had helped her until the relationship was terminated by Isadora herself. Of course, the penalty for breaching the agreement is written there too alongside the payment.
Finishing his sign, he then raised his gaze to look at Isadora.
She seemed to be extremely happy that he signed the agreement rather easily.
"I know that I signed it already, but can you tell me what the agreement meant by helping to take out Berserkers and Factionless Hybrids? What are they? I don't get about that part" He asked, communicating his confusion.
He could somewhat recall Berserkers, but he didn't remember from where.
"Okay, sit tight, I'll fill you in on all the details," Isadora nodded, adjusting herself into a more comfortable position. "Pay close attention because what I'm about to tell you is crucial. And remember to cancel all your jobs because later tonight will also be our first mission together"