Chapter 21 -21-The Beginning of the Hunt!

Chapter 21: Chapter21-The Beginning of the Hunt! Name: Michael Frostburne Total Rules Broken: 1 Current Rules Broken: 0 Time: 12:35 AM Date: 18th March Year: 2130 Rank: Iron-Rank Hunter ... 'Seriously?' My face turned grim when I saw the time. It wasn't awful, but I had said a few minutes ago that I might have beaten the five dummies faster. It took me about 13 hours to defeat all five. I thought I was quick, but it took me three hours longer than I expected. I had hoped to finish in 10 hours. 'Huhh, looks like I failed.' I sighed and rolled over to look at the ceiling. I didn't know how long it would take for me to improve at this rate, but I was unhappy with myself. If I aim to be the strongest person ever, I need to get stronger quickly, and the only way to achieve that is by hunting monsters. As I stared at the ceiling, my eyes suddenly landed on Allen, who was standing beside me. I looked at him, particularly at his blue eyes. We both looked at each other, and his eyes made me feel really uncomfortable. I don't know why, but I couldn't stand his eyes. It felt like they were pulling me in, like a black hole that would swallow me whole. I quickly shifted my focus back to the ceiling and stared blankly at it. After thinking for a while, I decided to ask the system something. 'System.' I thought about the system and asked, 'Is there another way for me to get stronger besides hunting monsters?' (Yes, but you have to reach Ace-Rank for it to work.) I was confused by this and asked, 'What do you mean? Why Ace-Rank? Why not other ranks?' (Host, I can't tell you that, sorry.) I furrowed my brow and asked, 'Why can't you tell me?' (Host, I can't tell you that, sorry.) the system repeated. Frustration bubbled up inside me. 'You keep saying the same thing! There must be a reason you can't reveal it!' The system remained silent, its interface blank except for the repeating words. I clenched my fists, feeling a mix of anger and helplessness. 'Fine, keep your secrets,' I muttered under my breath. 'I'll figure it out on my own.' This system... It's so different from what I expected. I've been an avid reader of fantasy books, and that's where I first learned about systems. When I arrived in this world and got a system, I was really happy and excited. It felt like I was finally blessed by God. I thought I could have a harem, live a luxurious life, and even rule the world. While I do live in luxury, my dreams were shattered when I realized my system has a massive flaw compared to others. The flaw was how little knowledge my system shares compared to those in fantasy books. In any kind of world, the more you know, the more advantages you have over others. But my system is a bloody piece of shit... It forces me to complete quests just to gain a little bit of knowledge about this world. I know some systems don't share much knowledge but help me understand one thing. But what kind of system gives you information about the power system of this world only when you complete specific quests? This is just rubbish... No, It's nonsense... As I pondered the limitations of the system, Allen's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Young Master, is everything okay?" he asked, his worry evident. "Yeah, I'm just lying down to unwind," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Oh, I understand," he said, though concern lingered in his eyes. After a few minutes of lying flat on the floor and staring blankly at the ceiling, I was tired. Instead of reducing my tiredness, it only made me more exhausted. Now I was starting to feel a little sleepy. "Allen, let's go. I'm too tired now," I said, deciding it was time to leave. "Ok, Master," he responded dutifully. We left the underground training area and entered the hallway. Allen guided me toward my room, and we walked in silence. After a few minutes, as we got close to my room, a thought crossed my mind. "Allen," I said, pausing, "I need you to do something for me." "What do you need, Young Master?" Allen asked, his face serious as always. "I want you to thoroughly check my assistant, Kiara's background, and give me the report," I answered. Allen agreed immediately. "Got it, Young Master. I'll start working on it as soon as possible." "Then, good night Allen, see you tomorrow," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "Good night, Young Master," Allen replied softly, his tone respectful. With those words, Allen blurred into the darkness of the hallways, his figure melding seamlessly with the shadows. I watched him disappear from sight before turning to enter my room. Closing the door behind me, I let out a tired sigh, feeling the weight of the day's events finally catching up to me. With a sense of relief, I collapsed onto my bed, the soft mattress providing a welcome respite for my weary body. As I started to doze off, a faint whisper escaped my lips, "Tomorrow, another day, another adventure." With that, exhaustion washed over me, and before I knew it, I had drifted off into a deep sleep. *** For the next two weeks, I stuck to my training routine of battling with dummies. Each day, I aimed to improve my speed, and by the end of the two weeks, I could defeat nearly any dummy in just an hour. It might not have been as impressive as the skills of real Iron-Rank hunters, but for me, it was a significant achievement. I felt proud of myself for the progress I had made. This feeling of pride was new to me, especially considering my lazy tendencies back in my previous world. I remembered how I struggled to maintain any kind of exercise routine, even when I joined the gym with friends. After just three days, I gave up, unable to keep up with the commitment. Since arriving in this world, I've noticed a change in myself. I've gone from being lazy to becoming a hardworking individual, spending around 12 to 13 hours a day training. I think this change is driven by my obsession with becoming the strongest. In my previous world, I was just an average guy with a happy family. I was often envious of people who had more money, women, and material possessions than I did. I turned to novels as a form of escape, imagining myself as the main character and living vicariously through their adventures. While it was enjoyable, I always knew deep down that it was just a fantasy. Little did I know that fate had other plans in store for me. Being born in this world might actually be a hidden blessing for me. *** After a restful night's sleep, I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. Stretching my muscles, I began my morning exercises, a routine I followed diligently to keep myself in top shape. Once I was done, I followed my usual routine of refreshing myself and then spent half an hour reading a book about this world. It was important to stay informed about the world around me, even if the system didn't provide much help in that regard. After finishing my reading, I dressed myself and prepared for the day ahead. Today marks the 15th day since two weeks of intense training, and I've decided It was time to hunt some monsters and see just how far I had come in my training. I called for Allen and instructed him to take me to Brigadoom which is the entrance of Ambrosia. He nodded in understanding and soon we were on our way. As we arrived in the city, I bid Allen farewell and entered the branch of the Federal Association. There, I went through the necessary formalities to gain permission to venture into the outside world. After completing the paperwork, I was finally released from the confines of the association. Stepping outside, I took in a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation building within me. I looked up at the sky, enjoying the warm sunlight falling on my face. It had been 18 days since I arrived in this world, and things had gone pretty smoothly so far. But now, I wanted to make my journey a bit more exciting. With a determined mindset, I headed into the wilderness to hunt some monsters. After roaming for about 10 minutes without finding a single one, I decided to go deeper into the jungle. Now that I think about it, I didn't have any specific idea where I was heading; I just picked a random direction and started walking. I had seen the map of the jungle before, but it was too complicated to remember all the locations, so I didn't bother. Besides, I wasn't worried about getting lost. With many other hunters out here, I could always ask for help if needed. The real challenge was finding them since most hunters stayed in the moderate areas where Iron-Rank and Gold-Rank monsters were more common. The safe areas were mostly occupied by Bronze-Rank monsters, with Iron-Rank monsters being rare. As I ventured deeper into the jungle, the vegetation grew denser. The air was thick with the scents of earth and greenery, and the sounds of wildlife filled my ears. Each step took me further from the beaten path, and the shadows of the trees grew longer. I continued walking, my senses on high alert, ready for any sign of a monster. The deeper I went, the more I felt a thrill of excitement. This was what I had been training for – to face the unknown, to test my skills, and to become stronger. After walking a bit more, I saw something... horrifying. No, disgusting is the right word for it. "What the hell happened here?" I muttered.