The Author's POV

-Clank! -Clank!

The sound of metal clashing together reverberated across the surroundings as individuals could be seen sparring against each other or against the puppets in the training ground.

Not so far from them, in the middle area of the training ground, a lone boy was currently sheathing and unsheathing the katana in his hands.

As this had been a common sight for the past three weeks, no one paid attention to it any longer. They just brushed it off as the guy being crazy.

"I can feel myself reaching the threshold to the minor realm of mastery"

After spending most of my time training and attending classes, a week had passed.

Before I knew it, my level of mastery of the [Keiki style] had improved drastically.

If before I could only execute the first movement once or twice, now I could do it five times before running out of mana.

Gripping the handle of my katana tighter, I emptied my mind and focused on training.

'I must constantly unsheathe the sword in my heart.'

'Draw, slash, draw, slash, and accumulate the mana in my body that was constantly growing stronger as I trained.'

'If I could do this 10,000 times flawlessly without any loss in movement, only then would I achieve the minimum standard required to seamlessly execute the [keiki style]'

Soon everything around me disappeared. The scornful glances from the people around me, the loud sound of people practicing...only me and my mind

Draw the katana, slash out.

Draw the katana, slash out.

Draw the katana, slash out.

As if I was in a trance, I didn't stop until my mana and stamina were completely spent.

Taking a look at my surroundings, it was currently already dark outside. Around me, I could only see the silhouettes of a few individuals training.

-Ding!

Wiping off the sweat that had accumulated on my forehead, I glanced at my phone which was constantly ringing since a while ago.

Turning on my phone the first thing I saw was a large notification in red.

"...It finally happened"

[Breaking news]

—Thobias Church of C.B. pharmaceuticals has been assassinated last night in his high-security apartment. Reports and investigations point the killer to be rank 37 Silent creeper.

Lightly smiling, I turned off my phone and went back to training.

...talk about perfect timing. Was starting to get impatient from my slow progress.

By the end of today, I could finally kiss goodbye to my poor life...well to be honest, as I will spend most of my money on potions the luxurious life that I was dreaming of was still a long stretch away.

Actually, now that I thought about it, wasn't it a bit fucked up that I was celebrating someone's death?

Though I indeed made a lot of money, it was at the expense of someone's life...

Thinking thus far, I slapped my cheeks. He was destined to die anyway, nothing I could do about it. I only took advantage of the inevitable...could I have stopped it? Yes, I could've. But having been in this world for a while now, I realized that compassion was unneeded. It was every man to himself in this world, there was no need for such thing like compassion. If I wanted to be strong, I needed to become apathetic to this sort of stuff as this probably won't be the last time a similar situation happens.

-Ring! -Ring! -Ring!

"...Hm? who could be calling me at this hour?"

Noticing that someone was calling my phone, I went and picked it up. Soon a large smirk appeared on my face.

Picking up the phone, I cheerfully answered.

"~oh my, who could this be?"

[...you—how?]

After a short pause, the person on the other side of the phone spoke. His voice which was usually deep raised a few pitches.

"What are you talking about?"

Cheekily smiling, I teased smallsnake who was on the other side of the phone.

[...sigh, well it doesn't matter. You were right—how do you wish to proceed]

"Hmm, hold it until tomorrow and sell it in the morning as soon the stock exchange opens at 9:30 a.m."

[...but wouldn't it be better if we hold it for a bit longer?]

"Well from a normal person's point of view yes...but well, let's just say that its better if we don't become too greedy and play it safe"

[...Alright, I'll trust you this once]

"Next time you see me I bet you'll get on your feet to kiss my shoes"

sure, I'll call you later

"Aight"

-Tak!

plastered on my face, I hung up the phone. I wasn't sure why,

it's about time I headed

stuff, I deposited my sword back and

as I felt that I was only a few days away from reaching

...

Morning, Saturday.

-Ring! -Ring! -Ring!

sleep was

tapped all over my bed until I finally felt a small rectangular object on my

I

"...Hello? who's this?"

groggy voice, the other person on the phone paused slightly and

me...Did you just wake

"Yea.."

but I came

"What good news?"

the fees your total

a lot of

normal person reacts to having

I'm still quite sleepy so it still hasn't hit me

bigger

"What?"

I held the phone closer

not safe if I tell you on the phone as someone might tap

"...is it that serious?"

[...yes]

Smallsnake's solemn voice I let out a long breath and

when do you plan to

tomorrow at Epsilon cafe

I'll

-Tak!

brows for a couple of seconds before finally

was going to be

...

headed outside

at my bank account that was now 14 million U heavier, a smirk appeared on my face.

Not bad...

you

"Section C please"

"Okay"

I patiently waited for

the C section of the campus which

about time that I finally get in contact with the person that could provide me

of

person I was

"Section C? Which area?"

"Northside please"

we'll arrive

soon sped off into the

I looked outside of the

I was sighing quite a lot. With everything that was going on, I couldn't get

constantly changing scenery, my stomach

to do next would

just hope everything goes

"We're here"

the van stopped in

"Thank you"

driver I walked towards the

facility, where enormous buildings could be seen behind them. The sheer size of the buildings

"Stop"

uniforms with the school

them to be at around rank D or less, as although the pressure they exuded was

they scanned it briefly and after everything checked

-Shlup!

main building of section C, two transparent retractable doors

wave of cold refreshing air coming from

building was very modern and slick. The most dominant color was white, and everything was decorated with a

front of the reception of the building, a beautiful young lady smiled at

I

like to

young clerk lady instantly disappeared. What replaced it was

come as you please to court Melissa. Frankly, you're not the first one that has tried this and you probably won't be the last one...and let me be honest with you. You're

lady, my eye twitched a

turn out

am not here to

young lady smirked and proceeded to cross

are

didn't believe me at