With those parting words, I felt my body shift through space, as suddenly as I'd woken up.
The next time I opened my eyes, I was on the lower rung of a bunk bed, looking at the bottom of the bed on top.
It was quite dark around me, but I quickly rose from my bed with my body feeling fresh like it had just come out of a hot shower.
I observed the situation around me and found several other people sleeping in their bunk beds. A few of them were completely covered up with even their heads inside the blanket while others looked like they were showing off their flabby stomachs for everyone else to admire.
I looked at everyone else for a few more minutes as I accepted the fact that-
'This is my life now.'
'I should be happy that I have such a great chance at a life that a lot of people would want, but…'
'It's either going to be one hell of a ride or I'm going to end up dead within a few more days.'
Shaking my head to get rid of all the depressing thoughts I started to think about what I would do next.
'I should train my body steadily like Seol did, but without Agnes to train me like she probably did for him, I don't know how to train my body perfectly.'
'I mean I don't even know how to do the most basic of exercise apart from stretching a little because I used to do yoga…'
'It'd be best if I took on very easy and easy missions to train myself using real practical combat.'
'I don't even know what talent I have and which god I'll end up serving. It should probably be Gula since she was the one that spoke to me earlier, but I never know.'
'So I should just train to be a warrior since that's the most common class that people get.'
'Beyond that, I'll probably use the spear because I heard it is the easiest of the weapons to learn how to use. Easier even than the sword.'
With my thoughts sorted out for now, I called out 'Status' in my mind.
[1. General Information]
Summoned date: March 21st, 2017.
Marking Grade: None
Sex/Age: Male/26
Height/Weight: 180.5 cm/80.6 kg
Current Condition: Good
Job: None
Nationality: Universe A
Affiliation: N/A
Alias: N/A
[2. Traits]
Temperament:
– Jokester (Inability to take things seriously most of the time.)
– Short-tempered (Taunts other people, but fails to take taunts himself.)
Aptitude:
– An uncut gem. (Possesses unique talents that are dormant and need to be explored.)
[3. Physical Level]
Strength: Intermediate – Low
Endurance: Intermediate – Low
Agility: Intermediate – Low
Stamina: Intermediate – Low
Magic: High – High
Luck: Low – Low
Remaining Ability points: 0
[4. Abilities.]
Innate Abilities (1)
– Key Insight (Grade Unknown)
Job-Related Abilities (0)
Other Abilities (0)
[5. Level of Cognition]
– Temperamental / Curious / Chaotic
'Although my luck is low…my physical stats are decent and I've even got a huge amount of mana.'
'And what's up with the Innate ability? Key Insight? What's that?'
'Gula told me that the seven gods wouldn't modify my body to be better, so that means this is something I was born with? Why didn't I know about this till now?'
'Strange…'
'Maybe it has something to do with the Naruto world?'
'But I haven't even been there till now…'
'Come to think of it, will I be a rouge shinobi since I've already grown so old?'
'I guess I'll find out later. But how do I travel between the two worlds anyway?'
The air was fresh and cold despite the other hundred people in the room. It was comfortable and felt relaxing. As if it would slowly heal away any fatigue and injuries that might've set in.
I found a hoodie I recognised at the edge of my bed so I picked it up and put it on.
'They remade my hoodie in this world?'
'I guess I'll thank them for it later.'
'It fits perfectly. I guess they made my body exactly as it was before…'
Standing up, I left the dormitory-style room and walked around looking for a mirror. I didn't find a mirror but I did end up at the notice board on the ground floor.
Looking at the various missions posted all around the board from the lowest ones being the easiest to the impossible one being on the top of the board I absorbed all the various opportunities for my growth.
Picking the simplest mission I could to gain points I read the paper to see if it was as I remembered.
[Run till you can no more. (Remaining number of attempts: infinite)]
Difficulty: Very Easy
When successful: +10 Survival points.
When unsuccessful: none
*Cooperation possible (up to 6 participants)
'Wasn't this the track running thing that Seoul started from after taking a liking to running because of Yi Seol-Ah?'
I looked around for anyone on the floor and when I found no one, I tore the paper and started the mission.
Almost instantly the surroundings around me changed. The dim, lowly lit tower of Neutral Zone vanished and a bright cheery track ground surrounded me.
'I guess the grind begins now.'
I started running at a steady pace. Pushing myself to take each step while thinking about random things.
'In the Naruto world will I be a part of the cannon timeline? Or before? Or even after?'
At first, my thoughts absorbed me into their own world, but ten rounds later they became a little distracting. I'd started stumbling occasionally when I placed my foot on the ground to continue running.
Sweat began forming on my forehead and in my armpits, but I was still mostly fine so I kept running.
Soon it became hard to keep my thoughts coherent. One moment I was thinking about the world of Naruto, the other I was trying to steady my trembling legs that were being forced to run.
Within minutes of that, my pace steadily started to slow down. I could feel the blood rushing to and from my head as I started to gasp for oxygen.
But remembering Yi Seol-Ah's advice in the book to continue to breathe using my nose instead of my mouth, I controlled myself to keep using my nose to breathe.
Each step felt like a kickback to my head as if I was running on my bones.
It was difficult for the first few seconds before I suddenly felt like everything had become much easier.
And then I woke up.
I was covered in sweat and I was back in front of the notice board. My head was spinning as I looked around but there was still no one else around.
'Did I fall asleep?'
'No, I'm so sweaty and it hurts all over…I'm sure I ran around the track.'
'I collapsed while running?'
In front of me were a few notifications that I soon started to read.
[You have successfully completed a 'Very Easy' difficulty mission.]
[10 Survival points have been added to your tally.]
[Current SP: 10 SP]
'*sigh* so I did it.'
A sense of satisfaction came over me. I immediately summoned my status to look to see if there were any changes in my stats.
'I guess not…'
'If it were so easy to improve stats just by running I'm sure a lot more people would be doing this.'
I forced myself to stand up despite my trembling legs and walked to a cafeteria before sitting on one of the empty benches.
'....it's a little harder than I expected.'
I looked around casually.
I was still alone.
I *sighed* and looked at the noticeboard that was full of missions for me to grab. I didn't know how I was going to finish them all, but I was sure I would.
'I have to. Otherwise, I'll still remain the lost lamb I was in my past life.'
'This is for me.'
'I own this life and I better make something I love out of it.'
'....by the way, will I have a harem as large as Seol?'
'Ew. No.'