The Author's POV

Although this was all simulated through a computer, I couldn't help but be mesmerized by the scene before me.

Crystalline clear water that neatly reflected the incoming rays of light coming from the sun, and vibrant green vegetation, surrounded the calm lake. Animals could be seen peacefully sharing their surroundings with the other animals as they each slowly drank the crystal clear water from the lake.

"Oh! you're here Patrick!"

Snapping me out of my revere was a high pitch male voice coming from the right.

"Oh Lucas, you're here. I got the perfect man for the job"

Waving towards the direction from where the voice was coming from, a boy that looked to be about 14 years of age showed up. His curly hair was a mixture of brown and blonde color and accompanied by his green emerald-like eyes, made him resemble an elf.

He looked rather lively and seemed to get along with Patrick quite well.

"Oh! is that him?"

Noticing my presence, the young boy scanned my body up and down and cheerfully smiled.

Extending his hand, he smiled.

"Rank 429, Lucas Thyme"

Soon a screen appeared before me.

Extending my hand to shake his hand, I smiled and presented myself.

"Pleasure to meet you, rank 1750, Ren Dover"

-Clap! -Clap! -Clap!

"Ohhh, I have never seen someone as lowly ranked as you!"

After shaking my hand, Lucas excitedly clapped his hands and looked at Patrick.

"Patrick you're absolutely right! He is indeed the perfect man for the job!"

"Hahaha, I was quite fortunate"

Tilting my head, I looked at Lucas and Patrick who were both happily conversing with one another.

"Excuse me? But you guys keep saying that I'm the perfect man for the job...but what exactly am I supposed to do?"

"Oh? Patrick didn't tell you?"

Tilting his head, Lucas alternatively looked at me and Patrick for a couple of seconds, before seemingly having realized something. Soon a wide smile appeared on his face.

"Oh, I see, okay then I will explain it to you"

Pointing towards the center of the lake, Lucas looked at me.

"You see over there?"

Looking in the direction where he pointed, I squinted my eyes so that I could get a clear look at what he was pointing at.

After a couple of seconds, I could make out what seemed to be a small lilypad with a red flower neatly nested on top of it.

Because it was so small, if it weren't for the fact that Lucas pointed it out for me, I probably would've never been able to notice it.

"Yes I see it"

"Okay, so in short we need the flower on top of that lilypad in order to get the extra points"

I already kind of get the gist of the situation.

If this was how I suspected things were, at the center of the lake there was a large monster guarding the flower. Because Patrick and Lucas's strength was not too different, they decided to get someone who was weaker than them and force them to become bait, while reaping the rewards for themselves.

On the off-chance that I survived the ordeal, they'd later kill me to keep the reward for themselves.

"You see there's a large monster inside of the lake, and so we needed someone who could help us be bait so that we can freely get the flower."

So predictable.

So very predictable. Was this why third-rate villains always died first?

Smiling Lucas looked up towards my face, while Patrick went behind me. Noticing the situation, I lightly sighed and said.

"...Can I say no?"

"Why would you say no?"

Tilting his head in confusion, Lucas looked at me once again.

"Shouldn't dogs eat whatever their owners are feeding them?"

There it is!

true personality finally

no way Lucas was some random

that would resort to

was being fooled by him

get 1

you share 1

I'm not wrong, once Lucas gets rid of me, his

he could earn the extra point without needing to

Truly a scheming bastard.

I know who to

I can fight you

"Hmph, good choice"

-Clap! -Clap! -Clap!

Now we can get

I nodded my head, to which Patrick sneered and Lucas

"Okay let's go!"

rushing forward towards the lake, Lucas prepared to directly jump

start I need a few things, even though I am bait, I want to increase the chance of me surviving even if it's

in the lake after hearing my shout, Lucas contemplated for a few seconds before

pet for their obedience, okay

"Ah nothing much.."

-Clack!

"huh?"

-Clink!

Thud!

Thud!

"GAaaaaaaaahhhH!"

"guuuuuuUUUU!!"

dreadful screams resounded across the forest, scaring the

"3 seconds huh"

at the katana in my hand which was dripping

mastery, in the week I stayed in the academy I diligently trained my sword for 4-5 hours

me to sheath and unsheath the sword from the scabbard, but, It

of Lucas and Patrick who were both still alive

the pain reduction in the VR world was reduced to 50%, the pain of losing

they were like this was simple, they let their

was indeed stronger than both of them, that was only on an individual level. If I was to face them both at the same time, the chances

of their arrogance and chose the most appropriate moment to strike, which happened to be when they turned their backs on me and felt like they had me

cut off their legs and not

that was

was in need of some good

you want to take advantage of me, I'll make sure you pay the appropriate

Like I said before.

take my grudges

look who decided to do me a

down at both Patrick and Lucas whose faces were grimacing

"Kuhk..I'll kill you!"

this

to me. This happens every time, whenever someone hears my rank they automatically

potential, stats, and academic achievement, in this case,

forget, but in the beginning, ranks were pretty much useless. Initially, for most of the students who enrolled in the academy, although they had different ranks, the gap in strength between the bottom-ranked students and the middle-ranked students

one and three hundred,

was only after the first half of the year had passed that ranks become a more accurate estimation of someone's

my strength because of my rank, and thus were both easily

"Cow..kh..ard"

did you

my ear next to Lucas's mouth, I

"Bastard!!!!!"

ear, but I swiftly leaned my body back and avoided

looked at them, I stared

from the moment I saw Patrick

"Khuuuuak!!...I'll fucking kill you"

did you seriously think you

"!"

at Patrick's surprised face, I

actually didn't know you couldn't share the reward? Tsk,

you..cough!..talking about? Lucas sai..d that

widely, I looked at

"Is that so?"

merel..kuk!.. trying to get to

need to get to his mind when he's already disabled? Moreover, why would you even trust someone who

who had gone pale, Patrick clenched his teeth and stared at Lucas with

what he said

"N-nnno"

TO ME!!??? ANSWER

he stared at Patrick like he