I sat on the bench for a long time, lost in thought. The dull pain in my chest was the only thing that kept me from dozing off.
Countless ideas raced through my mind as I tried to think of a plan for the upcoming month.
"I need somewhere to sleep..."
Looking at the sun, descending on the horizon, I decided that the first thing I needed to do was find a place to stay. I still had my old apartment, however, there was nothing of value within, plus the rent was exorbitant.
There were a few sentimental photos and things that I could but didn't want to retrieve from my old apartment, but beyond that, it was time to move on and find a more affordable and comfortable living arrangement.
I decided to head to the outskirts of the city, where I could find a cheap motel or hostel. I didn't need much. Just a place to sleep and a place to shower.
Tap... Tap...
Raising from the bench, I began to walk along the sidewalk, keeping an eye out for any signs or advertisements that might lead me to a nearby hotel.
As I walked, my eyes fell upon a massive building in the distance, its grandeur capturing my attention.
"The Grand Academy."
I marveled at the impressive architecture, the elegant columns and the intricate carvings.
The Grand Academy is the best, the most prestigious university in the entire world. It is a place where intellectual giants gather to pursue knowledge and shape the future.
Every year students from all walks of life compete for a chance to study at The Grand Academy, knowing that it is a stepping stone to success and unlimited opportunities.
Countless geniuses have emerged from the halls of this institution, revolutionizing their respective fields and shaping the course of history.
However, soon this place would become even more popular as more and more students from the Academy would dive into The Realm of Legends.
Since all of the students that could enter the University are beyond intellectually gifted, they will also become formidable opponents in the virtual world, bringing their expertise and strategic thinking to conquer new realms and achieve unprecedented victories.
For example, the Mage class within the game requires a lot of calculations to cast, create and even combine different spells the better one's ability to think critically and strategize, the greater their potential for success in the game.
"He was a real menace..."
A memory of a certain person came to mind, he was the best mage in the entire world and had achieved the spell-casting time of 0,001 seconds, a feat that seemed impossible to most.
There were also other examples of similar cases, where students from The Grand Academy had used their knowledge and skills from their academic pursuits to excel in the virtual world.
They are truly the cream of the crop, powerful players that will undoubtedly become one of the best in the world and my rivals that would all pretend to become the strongest.
"Knowledge against talent..."
A small smile appeared on my face.
As I was about to continue searching for a cheap place to stay, however, in the corner of my eye, I noticed a group of familiar faces.
"..."
My face contorted into a frown as I realized that it was my old classmates who managed to secure a spot at The Grand Academy.
Currently, I am 19 years old and in this timeline, I should've failed the entrance exam just a week ago due to my financial issues.
While others could afford tutors due to their affluent backgrounds, I had to rely solely on my own determination and self-study.
That didn't go very well for me, as I fell short of the required score by just a few points.
In my past life, I spent the next few years working hard in various part-time jobs to make a living and only managed to buy a gaming pod to play The Realm of Legends one year after its release.
Anyways, these classmates were the ones who used to belittle me and constantly remind me of my failures.
Although they were smart, they were douchebags who never missed an opportunity to flaunt their achievements and put others down.
"..."
Pulling up my hood, I hid my face not wanting to attract any attention and potentially provoke a confrontation with them.
I wasn't scared of my old bullies, but I didn't want to waste my time and energy on unnecessary conflicts. Although my body is now the same age as theirs, my mind is still far older, carrying the weight and wisdom of past experiences.
Thud...
Walking past this group of familiar faces, I couldn't help but smile.
Those arrogant smiles that used to taunt me and haunt me in my dreams now seemed ironic and insignificant.
'How could I even have let such small-minded individuals affect me so much?'
Shaking my head, I continued walking forward with a smirk.
Soon, I noticed a billboard that caught my attention.
The billboard read: "Cheap Rooms Available! Perfect for Students and Travelers."
My eyes lit up. This was exactly what I was looking for.
I hurried over to the motel and rented a room for the night. It was small and simple, but it was clean and affordable.
Once I was inside, I locked the door and grabbed my phone.
It was time to make some quick money trading stocks, at least enough to buy a gaming pod that was able to run The Realm of Legends.
Although in my past life, I've spent most of my time playing Realm of Legends, I also developed a keen sense of the stock market.
When I couldn't play, I either read news articles about various companies or researched their financial reports.
It was a side hobby that never gave me money but allowed me to spend my time productively and stay connected to the world outside of my virtual adventures.
And now it's going to pay off.