Published

　　 at 13th of May 2019 07:37:18 PM

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　　 Chapter 7

　　 Tuesday . Week 1 . Year 1 .

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　　 No alarm sounded on this day off, but Clyde was up anyway, enjoying a breakfast of sausage, bacon, and eggs, and watching the news . A strange story made him a little nervous, as things in a real-life anime world could be unpredictable .

　　 "We're still getting reports on sightings of strange creatures after dark . Authorities advise everyone to simply stay inside after dark until they can find the underlining cause of these events . "

　　 Clyde took that as a sign . Progression . Experience points . He needed to learn how to fight before going after the creatures . Maybe the Viper was responsible . The final boss before he could go home, saving the earth without anyone knowing . What a thankless burden . Is this how Superman feels? As if agreeing with his conclusion, a prompt appeared in his mind .

　　 [Quest: learn combat . Practice your abilities . Reward: 25 EXP . This quest is mandatory and cannot be refused . ]

　　 [You've unlocked the quest log!]

　　 Clyde wasted no time . Dressed in casual clothing, he set off to explore the city a bit . There was nothing special about it, just a Tokyo-styled or even New York-styled place of chaos . How would he pay for martial art lessons, anyway? His measly money wouldn't even teach him not to s.h.i.+t himself upon sight of a monster . Screw it . He'd simply watch, maybe come across a discount day or something for aspiring students . As if .

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　　 It took Clyde about an hour to find a dojo . To his surprise, they were having official matches this day and admissions were free . He enjoyed himself, nodding to some attacks, taking mental notes without even realizing it . The combatants moved with rhythm, performing a dance that spoke words Clyde could not yet understand, but appreciate . A poem of motion, a song of grace .

　　 Something amazing happened when he left .

　　 [Congratulations, you've learned basic combat . You will be able to attack enemies with technique, albeit standard, beginner-level . +5% damage for a physical attack . You can now combat nonhuman foes without immediately succ.u.mbing to the fear status . Let it be known that you can only raise your combat level once per day and if you're at the right level . Raise your combat level to achieve new styles and forms . ]

　　 [Quest completed! You received 25 EXP . ]

　　 Clyde couldn't believe it . He only had to watch to raise his combat level! This was amazing, groundbreaking, relieving . He just knew . Now the only thing he needed to do was find a place to practice his magic .

　　 He had no luck with this . By late noon, Clyde decided to research remote locations . He found gra.s.slands a few miles outside of town, but without a printer, he couldn't print the map . His measly money would not do .

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　　 [Quest: Buy a printer . Optional step: raise the money . Current status: $133/300 . ]

　　 Clyde nearly had a heart attack . THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A PRINTER? What kind of s.h.i.+t was this? The world would force him to buy a ridiculously expensive printer for maps… . Clyde muttered curses for nearly three minutes when a store caught his attention . Equip Masters . Not a name he would've chosen but why not?

　　 The clerk was a big b.o.o.bed anime girl with long black hair, carrying a bored expression . She quickly finished oiling the long sword she had on the table before addressing Clyde . The incredibly organized and clean shop made him reconsider buying for a second simply because he'd feel a little guilt at disturbing such order . Also, he didn't want to bother with a sword . Why use a sword when guns existed? If this was a stupid sword-wielding cliched anime, he'd flip . He would not be a Kirito . He'd rather be an overlord or something .

　　 Clyde pushed the dark references out of his mind to determine what he could buy .

　　 "See anything you like?" the shopkeeper said . Clyde gulped, averting his gaze away from the young woman's tight s.h.i.+rt and curves, and holy d.a.m.n what was wrong with him . He also couldn't ask for a gun—what would that look like? He didn't see anything but air rifles anyway . Not very useful against freaking monsters . He… . was going to have to become a Kirito . If anyone called him an idiot or baka, he'd lose his s.h.i.+t .

　　 "How much for that katana?" Clyde said, pointing at the sheathed blade hanging on the back wall .

　　 "Four hundred," the shopkeeper replied .

　　 Clyde sighed .

　　 "I guess I should've expected that . Anything priced at a hundred or less?"

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　　 The girl glared at him . Clyde quickly saved face . "I plan to buy more, but you know, waiting on payday and all . "

　　 "Oh," she said, face lighting up . "You're looking for something to hold you over, eh . Hmm, I could give you a discount on a beginner's sword . At exactly one hundred . But…you'll need to sign up for the members.h.i.+p . "

　　 "A members.h.i.+p?" Clyde said .

　　 "Oh, it's free," the shopkeeper said, "With your purchase . I like to keep my regulars or would-be regulars in the loop . The more you shop here, the happier I'll be, and every now and then I'll throw in a discount or two . "

　　 The smile on her face didn't give him much confidence, but he took the paper, skimmed it, then signed away . She showed him a well-polished short sword . "It even comes with an instruction manual, though I doubt handsome collectors like you really have a need for it, unless you plan on killing people . "

　　 "Sorry to disappoint you there," Clyde said . "Just a collector, not a ninja . "

　　 The shopkeeper shrugged with nonchalance .

　　 "As long as you take of my beauties, you're welcomed here . "

　　 Clyde handed over the money . In a way, ouch: that left him a measly thirty-three left, but it was better than being unarmed . A prompt appeared to reward the young man .

　　 [Congratulations, you are now equipped . You have unlocked the equipment screen . With this, everything you wear will determine extra stats and perks . You've unlocked the secret sword and martial arts combination pa.s.sive skill! You received 30 EXP . ]

　　 [Congratulations, you have reached level 4! Stats increased!]

　　 "Maybe one day I'll teach you how to properly use your other sword," the shopkeeper said then laughed at Clyde's expression . "I'm just kidding . " She winked . "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to take my lunch break . "

　　 "Yeah, yeah," Clyde said then muttered, "maybe close the shop . I'll show you how much my other sword—" He stopped when the shopkeeper's triumph smirk declared its victory . "Never mind . "

　　 "You're not that good, yet, but I almost considered it . " The shopkeeper laughed as she locked her register . Clyde waved her off as he left .

　　 [Your relations.h.i.+p with Clare has changed from neutral to curious . ]

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