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!

personality finally showed

no way Lucas was some

definitely a two-faced scheming bastard that would resort to any trick to get

certain Patrick was being fooled by him as

can only get 1 point from completing

you

not wrong, once Lucas gets rid of

when he least expects it, he could earn the extra point without needing to lift a finger throughout the whole

Truly a scheming bastard.

I know who

can fight you

"Hmph, good choice"

-Clap! -Clap! -Clap!

Now we can get the extra

to which Patrick

"Okay let's go!"

lake, Lucas prepared

bait, I want

lake after hearing my shout, Lucas contemplated for a few

I guess a good owner needs to reward their pet for their obedience, okay tell me what is

"Ah nothing much.."

-Clack!

"huh?"

-Clink!

Thud!

Thud!

"GAaaaaaaaahhhH!"

"guuuuuuUUUU!!"

screams resounded across the forest, scaring the nearby animals

"3 seconds huh"

the katana in my hand which was dripping with blood, I

mastery, in the week I stayed in the academy

for me to sheath and unsheath the sword from the scabbard, but, It seems like I was still very

beneath me, the bodies of Lucas and Patrick who were both still

VR world was reduced to 50%, the pain of losing both limbs

were like this was simple,

I was to face them both

strike, which happened to be when they turned their backs on me and felt like

off their legs and

was

need of some

me, I'll make sure you pay

Like I said before.

my

to

whose faces were grimacing in pain due to the loss

"Kuhk..I'll kill you!"

this

to me. This happens every

through measuring potential, stats, and academic achievement,

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

above 300. For ranks between one and three hundred, the strength gap between each rank was quite

story, it was only after the first half of the year had passed that ranks become a more accurate estimation of

of my rank, and thus were both easily taken

"Cow..kh..ard"

did

to Lucas's mouth, I

"Bastard!!!!!"

my taunt, Lucas tried to bite my ear, but I swiftly leaned my body

I looked at them, I stared at the

moment I saw Patrick I knew he was

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

seriously think you could share

"!"

Patrick's surprised face, I

you couldn't share the reward? Tsk, tsk, tsk, no wonder you're

about? Lucas sai..d that you

I

"Is that so?"

to him Patrick! He's merel..kuk!.. trying

yourself? Why would I need to get to his mind when he's already disabled? Moreover, why would you even trust someone who is not even

clenched

he

"N-nnno"

LIE TO ME!!??? ANSWER

cheerful demeanor vanished completely, as he stared at Patrick like he