Three days had passed since Ren's grueling training regimen had begun. Lying on his bed, he reflected on his relentless efforts over the past 72 hours.
Day and night, he had pushed himself to the limit, tirelessly working toward his goal. His body ached from the strain, but the progress he had made reassured him that his efforts were not in vain.
Taking a deep breath, Ren uttered a command, "Status."
A translucent window appeared before him, its familiar interface glowing softly.
---
? Status ?
→ Name: Ren Holmes
→ Title: Reincarnator
→ Age: 19 years old
→ Rank: E- Grade (F → E-)
→ Potential: SS+
→ Strength: E- (F → E-)
→ Health: E (F → E)
→ Stamina: E- (F → E-)
→ Charm: B+
→ Intelligence: B-
→ Mana: F (G+ → F)
→ Luck: C
? Skills ?
[Active Skills]:
→ Swordsmanship - Beginner
→ Marksmanship - Beginner
→ Mana Control - Beginner (n)
[Passive Skills]:
→ Calm Mind
→ Concentration (n)
[Life Skills]:
→ Cooking - Intermediate
→ Singing - Elementary
→ Calligraphy - Elementary
→ Appraisal - Beginner
→ Drawing - Intermediate
→ Programming - Intermediate
→ Language - Advanced
[Press here to expand the list…]
---
A small smile formed on Ren's lips. "Not bad. In just three days, I've made significant progress."
His improvements were largely due to his [#Hard Worker] trait and the gradual restoration of his old abilities—powers that had weakened when he regained his past-life memories.
For the past three days, Ren had completely immersed himself in studying swordsmanship and marksmanship manuals, spending hours refining his techniques.
As a result, he had managed to reach E- Grade, the minimum requirement for academy enrollment.
But this was only the beginning. He still had a long way to go before he could reclaim his D+ rank, which he had been close to achieving before his memories returned.
The academy's ranking system dictated that most first-year students were D-rankers, while the protagonist, who entered as a C- ranker, was considered extraordinarily talented and was appointed as the freshman chief.
Ren's gaze darkened.
Before he regained his past-life memories, he had been stronger than the protagonist. He had been on the verge of reaching D+ rank, while the protagonist had entered the academy at C-.
That small difference had been enough for his sister, Elara, to betray him.
When she learned of the protagonist's potential, she immediately aligned herself with him. In exchange for helping him rise in status, she provided him with resources and support, something she had never offered Ren.
Ren clenched his fists, feeling a wave of irritation. "So much for family."
---
Unlike rank, which reflected a person's current strength, potential determined how far someone could grow in the future.
Ren's SS+ potential was unheard of—no one in history had ever reached SSS rank. But having immense potential didn't guarantee success. The closer someone got to their limit, the harder it became to grow stronger.
For example, a B-rank individual could still advance, but their growth would slow significantly once they neared their potential cap.
Ren, however, knew a secret.
There were hidden pieces scattered throughout the world—artifacts, locations, and rare opportunities—that could enhance a person's potential even further.
Even the protagonist, who initially had the same SS+ potential as Ren, would see his potential increase further in the future.
That meant potential wasn't a fixed value—it could be pushed beyond its limits.
And Ren had no intention of being left behind.
Most people would hesitate, thinking, "If I take these hidden pieces, the protagonist might become weaker." But Ren wasn't like them.
It wasn't about weakening the protagonist—it was about securing his own survival. After all, in the end, the world was doomed anyway.
"If I can claim those hidden pieces, I will. There's no reason to hold back."
---
Ren turned his focus back to his stats.
His Strength, Stamina, and Health had improved, now reaching the E-range.
His Intelligence remained at B-, which wasn't surprising—he had only refreshed his existing knowledge rather than learning something entirely new. Improving intelligence beyond this point would be difficult.
The most noticeable change was in his Mana. Previously almost nonexistent, it had now risen to F from G+.
His skills had also developed.
His relentless sword training had helped him level up his Swordsmanship, and by practicing mana manipulation while studying books, he had unlocked the Mana Control skill.
His Concentration skill, gained through sheer discipline and effort, proved incredibly useful—allowing him to focus intensely for short bursts. However, prolonged use often led to headaches, which he needed to overcome.
Meanwhile, his Life Skills had barely changed.
While he spent most of his time reading in the library or training in his private area, rumors had begun spreading in the main building.
People whispered that Ren had become a bookworm after his injury, supposedly falling into depression.
His parents, concerned about his mental state, confronted him over breakfast.
"Ren, are you alright?" they asked, watching him closely.
Ren gave them a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. Since I just recovered, I figured it's best to focus on studying for the entrance exam rather than training too hard."
Hearing that, they sighed in relief.
Little did they know, Ren had no intention of stopping his training.
---
Now that his indoor training was complete, Ren knew it was time to train outdoors.
However, as his rank increased, he noticed that many of his artifacts had become obsolete.
Without hesitation, he sold them off to make quick money.
His training potions were depleted, and he had read most of his manuals, so he returned them to the library.
Now, with his room emptier and pockets heavier, Ren smirked.
It was time to take his training to the next level.
After careful thought, he formulated a strategy:
1. Physical Training – Since his stats were still at E-rank, he needed to increase his strength and stamina. Weightlifting and endurance training would help push his limits.
2. Hidden Pieces – Unlike most people, Ren knew of several hidden pieces that could drastically improve his strength. He planned to claim as many as possible, without any hesitation.
3. The Third Heroine's Route – One of the heroine's capture routes was located near his city. Since they had only been casual friends, he had no personal attachments—but he was more than willing to take advantage of the hidden rewards in her route.
4. Funding His Growth – Fortunately, Ren had not taken his family's allowance for the past few years. Now, he was going to collect all of it at once, securing the funds needed to execute his plans.
5. Keeping It a Secret – Lastly, he would tell no one about his plans. If anyone found out, they would try to interfere, and Ren had no patience for unnecessary obstacles.
---
Ren smirked as he finalized his strategy.
His plan was solid, but one issue remained—time.
He had only 10 days left before his birthday, and his schedule was already tight.
With a sigh, Ren closed his status window.
"I need to move fast."