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!

on my face, I hung up the phone. I wasn't sure why, but I really enjoyed

time

my sword back and

as I felt that I was only a few days away

...

Morning, Saturday.

-Ring! -Ring! -Ring!

sleep was

my arm, I tapped all over my bed until I

the phone, I

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

the other person on the phone

you just

"Yea.."

I came to tell you some good

"What good news?"

fees your total profit stands at 14,673 million

lot of

seriously how a normal person reacts to having just made this

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

a bigger issue at

"What?"

on my bed, I held the

tell you on the phone as someone might tap on

"...is it that serious?"

[...yes]

Smallsnake's solemn voice I let out a long breath

you plan

cafe in Refton road, 10

okay, I'll see

-Tak!

brows for a couple of seconds before finally letting out a long

to be a long

...

headed outside

was now 14 million U heavier, a smirk appeared on my face. Was this how it felt

Not bad...

you headed

"Section C please"

"Okay"

minibus, I patiently waited for the driver to

to the C section of the campus which was quite far from where I

money, it was about time that I finally get

sort of dreaded this

that the person I was

"Section C? Which area?"

"Northside please"

arrive

the van soon sped off into the

I looked outside of

With everything that was going on, I couldn't

the constantly changing scenery, my stomach slightly churned

to do next would either make or break

hope

"We're here"

cue, the van stopped in front

"Thank you"

the driver I

behind them. The sheer size of the buildings caused me to gape in

"Stop"

me. They were wearing black uniforms with the school insignia imprinted on their chests. They had black military hats and exuded strong

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

guards my student ID card, they scanned it briefly and after everything checked out, they granted

-Shlup!

building of section C,

wave of cold refreshing air coming from the

The most

front of the reception of the building, a

I

I would like to meet Melissa

lady instantly disappeared. What replaced

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

berated by the young clerk lady, my eye twitched

turn out

am not here

the young lady smirked and proceeded to cross her

are you here for?

didn't believe me