"Hey, system, I've been aning to ask... But why should I forget the title of my novel that I'm in?"
I asked out of curiosity as I was searching for a certain business. I'm planning to invest under the na of [Night].
[You can't bring everything here with you. As a matter of fact, you forgot a lot of things in your past life. The Higher Being just transferred enough mory into that body to maintain your personality and characteristics.]
"Is that so."
'Co to think of it, I don't even rember my surna and past address.'
Well, I don't care. I don't have any kind of attachnt to those and that world anyway.
"Then how co I can rember my novels and my favorite novels?"
I shot another question.
[Because they're important to you, they're a big part of your characteristics and personality.]
"Hmm, fair enough."
Novels do really an a lot to .
"Found it."
Anyway, it was then that I found the business that I was looking for.
'[Xenon]'
That's the na of it. It's a smithy that creates various kinds of equipnt. It's not known now, but the owner of it will acquire a skill and an artifact that can enhance any equipnt's performance.
The owner's na is Tyrone, a major character. He personally creates equipnt for the main characters. He's in his mid-20s.
In the novel, he was about to sell the smithy when he found a skill book and a hamr that would help him beco one of the best smiths in the world. It was hidden in his deceased father's room.
The skill and hamr were supposed to be a gift for Tyrone, but his father died from a dungeon overflow before he could give them to Tyrone.
His father was just a normal person, but Tyrone is an ability user.
Anyway, I already sent a ssage to Tyrone.
[Night]: Hello, I would like to invest in Xenon.
Ting–
Not waiting for long, I received a reply from Tyrone.
[Tyrone]: Um... Mr. Night? Are you sure? I don't even have any employee left. You don't even know . What would you do if I ran away with the money? Wait, is this a prank?
His reply was full of doubt. He's not even trying to hide it.
'You won't run away. I created you to be honest and dependable.'
I thought to myself, but I can't say that, can I?
[Night]: It's not a prank, I'm serious. I will et you in person to invest and use a mana contract for our transaction if you want.
I sent back to Tyrone. Doing business with him will gain a lot of money, and I will have a connection to the future one of the best smiths in the world.
So it's a really good thing for .
Tyrone didn't reply imdiately, as if thinking things through.
But after a while, I received a reply from him again.
[Tyrone]: Well, I don't know... But if I didn't grab an opportunity because it's suspicious, I wouldn't be able to do anything. While on the other hand, blindly trusting soone is stupid. So I'll decide on what to do after we et.
His answer was logical and honest.
[Night]: I'm currently preparing for sothing, so let's et on Sunday. I'll prepare the mana contract too since I was the one who suggested it.
I'll go and lead him to the skill book. I'll just make things a little faster. It won't affect the story greatly anyway.
[Tyrone]: Okay, I'll see you then.
I didn't reply anymore as I found it unnecessary. I didn't know what to reply too.
'With that, I secured a big money inco for the future.'
...
After talking to Tyrone, I practiced support magics and buffs and debuffs.
I continued doing so until I ran out of mana.
Exhausted... I laid down in my bed and fell asleep.
*****
When I woke up... I was in my cat form again, maybe because of mana exhaustion.
I washed my face, ate breakfast, and took a bath calmly.
And while wearing my uniform... I noticed my watch displaying the ti.
"Huh?"
I frowned.
Classes starts at and ends at .
And I'm staying pretty far from the Academy.
I'm in Vagha City, the Academy is in the Azeas City.
It's in the middle of the human domain, two cities away from here!
"Fuck!"
I'm gonna be late. Because of mana exhaustion, I slept more than usual. I usually wake up at around because of my body clock.
"You shitty system! Why didn't you wake up?!"
I exclaid while speeding up my movents.
[You were exhausted. Your health is more important than the academy for .]
"Well, you have a point, but it's the first day of the academy!"
[Nothing changed. Your health is still more important to ~]
The system was teasing .
"Just shut up!"
I did a final check to see if I forgot sothing and left the apartnt at .
'Am I still gonna be late? I even tried my best to co back quickly from the Red Wolves' Mountain!'
I'm not really religious, but I started praying seriously as I ran toward my destination.
*****
I rode rapid trains. If I didn't have [Calm Thinker], I might've run all the way to the academy, which is just stupid.
I arrived at the academy at .
'3 more minutes!'
I used a university I saw in a sci-fi ani as the Lunar Academy's design reference. I just made it more grand and beautiful.
So when I entered the academy...
"Woah..."
I was at awe. I looked at the academy's beauty while running. It was more beautiful than my rough drawings and descriptions. Seeing it in person was a lot different.
Tall buildings and structures that could be seen in every direction you looked.
Unfortunately... I couldn't waste any ti looking around casually and admiring the view. So I just promised myself that I'd do that later.
I ran where the freshn's building was supposed to be.
"A-1, A-1, A-1"
I ran while searching for my classroom.
And then... I saw it on the door of one of the classrooms—
[CLASS A-1]
I ran toward it, and when I was near the classroom—
"Rank 2619, Raven Obadiah?"
I heard a voice calling my na in a questioning tone.
I imdiately opened the classroom door.
Creak–
Bam–
"Present."
Then I said that as I ca in.
All the eyes in the room turned to .
'Ah, fuck... I wanna hide under a blanket for years.'
I thought in embarrassnt, sensing their gazes, but my expression remained straight.
I cald my mind with [Calm Thinker], but I can still feel the embarrassnt...
"You're late. Care to explain why?"
A man said while looking at .
'He's the owner of the voice I heard earlier.'
He looked like he was in his late 20s. He had a handso face, his body was muscular, he had brown eyes and hair. But he looked like a musclehead.
His na is Kendy Nasah, our horoom professor and an rank hero, ranked 49 in the [Heroes Ranking]. The ranking is just a human thing, just so you know.
I looked straight at him and spoke confidently.
"I'm a minute early, Sir."
It's , so I'm basically right.
I don't know if I'm being rude or what... It's been so long since I talked to other people, and all of them were younger or the sa age as .
My readers doesn't point it out if I was being rude to them when I'm replying to comnts. But I really don't want to be rude.
"Oh, you're gutsy."
Kendy said, smiling at , but he was emitting a heavy pressure toward my direction.
"But I'm not wrong, right?"
I replied.
The system adjusts the [Calm Thinker] based on the pressure, so I'm thinking calmly and receiving the pressure with a calm face. I'm still feeling scared though.
The room was filled with students whispering to each other while looking at .
"Can I take my seat now so you can start the class?"
I said with a straight face, hiding my nervousness.
Kendy then laughed and looked at .
"You may sit. Find an available seat."
Kendy Nasah is a major character in my novel. He likes gutsy people—just don't step over the line and you'll be fine. That's why I answered him boldly.
"Thank you."
I looked around to find a seat for .
In the back row of seats, there's a handso young man with white skin, platinum blonde hair, and ruby-red eyes.
It was Curtis Hawkins with his goons. He is the rival of the protagonist. He's not a villain, but he's arrogant.
In the front row seats, there's a handso young man that rivals Curtis' looks.
White skin, jet-black hair, sapphire-blue eyes. He even attracts a lot of girls' eyes just by breathing.
Alec Osmond, the protagonist. Near him were all of his potential lovers: Eve Godwin, Adelle Lucette, and Masami Aoi.
All of them were the top students among all freshn. The protagonist is the top 1, by the way.
'Damn, they're all good looking. My confidence is hurt.'
Anyway... I settled in the middle row, on the end right corner. Being near the characters you created is pretty weird, so I chose the farthest seat from them.
But right after I sat down, Kendy spoke again.
"Now stand up and go to the training grounds."
He was looking at , grinning like an idiot.
'Bastard.'
Even though he looks like a musclehead, he's actually smart. He gave us instructions to stand right after I sat as revenge for earlier.
"Petty bastard."
I muttered in a low voice that even those near didn't hear. Well, Kendy heard what I said as he looked at , squinting his eyes.
I grinned then tilted my head as if asking, 'What?'.
I'm pretty petty myself too.
I stood up and headed to the training grounds with the other students.
*****
Arriving at the training grounds, I saw a lot of weapons lined up.
"These weapons are provided by the academy. You can use a personal weapon, but if you don't have one, then get one here."
Kendy instructed.
"And since today's the first day, you're free to do anything you want, but you can't leave the training grounds for an hour."
He added.
Then so students started picking weapons. Almost all of the main characters have their own personal weapon except the protagonist—Alec.
'Well, he's supposed to be from an average family too.'
Alec picked a sword as his weapon.
I approached the weapons and picked a handgun.
I already have a gun, but appraising the ones provided by the academy, it's a lot better than mine.
"Hmm?"
I started hearing whispers around after I picked my weapon.
They're all looking at .
'Well, gun is considered a weak weapon in this world, so it's not surprising.'
Now, why did I pick a gun?
I don't know how to wield a sword, and even if I can now carry a spear with after ranking up, it seems that I have no talent in it.
A bow makes it harder for to cast magic, and to be a magician, you need to be able to cast 4th-tier magic right now. I can only cast support magics, buffs, and debuffs, which are considered 1st-tier magics, the lowest tier.
While in the future I may be able to cast maybe up to 4th-tier magics, the magician students that can cast 4th-tier magics now will be able to cast 6th-tier or above magics by then.
Also, I'm pretty much familiar with guns as I got admitted to the military in the past. I also like realistic shooting gas. My aim is not bad too.
This was the best choice for .
"Are you sure about your choice? You can pick any weapon here for free."
It was then, Kendy approached and asked that with a concerned look in his eyes.
'He really cares for his students, huh.'
I thought as I nodded my head.
"I'm fine with this."
Then I answered confidently.
Kendy looked at like I was weird. Well, everyone is actually looking at like that... Even the main characters.
'Well, I am weird.'
I shrugged and went to the shooting range area, ignoring my surroundings.
*****
In the shooting range area, there's a lot of arrows and bullets. The shooting area is divided into rooms.
I picked up so magazines and bullets on the way.
There are a few students here, including and Masami Aoi, but I'm the only one holding a gun—everyone else has a bow in their hands. Aoi is holding a personal weapon bow.
They're looking at weirdly, except Aoi who only shows curiosity in her face.
I ignored their gazes.
'System, appraise and record my classmates' stats, I'll look at it later.'
I said in my mind.
[Okay, got it.]
The system replied.
I looked around, specifically at all of my classmates so the system could appraise them.
[All recorded.]
"Thanks."
After that, I went into one of the rooms in the shooting range.
*****
The inside of the room is spacious, but I don't really care about that.
"Training start."
I muttered. I know how this works as I have [Understanding] and I know it from the novel.
-Please modify your training.
A robotic voice replied, echoing throughout the room.
"10 moving targets, difficulty max."
I said. Training will not be fruitful when doing an easy one. I also have a boost now because of the [I like the spotlight] trait. I gained a lot of attention as soon as I entered the classroom earlier and when I picked the gun as my weapon.
Turns out not just positive attention is used as fuel for my growth. Good for , I guess?
-Training will begin in 10 seconds.
Anyway, as soon as I heard that, I activated [Insight] and [Calm Thinker].
"Fuuuu..."
I took a deep breath and focused on my surroundings.
"Let's go."
-Training start!
A circular target appeared out of thin air, and seeing that... I imdiately aid at it and pulled my trigger.
Bang!
*****
[Session complete]
A hologram displayed the ti it took to hit all the targets.
"Huff... Huff..."
I was breathing roughly because of exhaustion.
As my breathing stabilized, I recalled the training.
"System, what do you think?"
I asked.
[Maintain the count of your moving targets but decrease the difficulty to 7. The speed of difficulty 10 is too fast for you at the mont. Increase the difficulty one by one when you get used to the speed.]
Then the system gave detailed instructions for my training. Everything it said were logical, and I completely agree with them... I spent more than 8 minutes training and I only have 10 moving targets.
"Thanks."
After that, I reset my training according to the system's advice.
And I trained diligently for about an hour... Then I left the training grounds to go back to the classroom.
*****
As I was about to enter the classroom, 4 students approached . They're my classmates, I assud.
But they were extras in the novel. I don't know any of them, after all.
Then, as I was wondering why they stopped —
"Oh! Isn't this our little gunner?"
The young man in the front said that with a scoff on his face.
"...?"
=====
(In Japan, surna cos before given na.)
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