Chapter 68: Ludwin

4th Grade Training Ground.

Instructor Venitt was looking over the cadets, occasionally going to them personally to give instructions. As her eyes were passing over from one student to another, she caught sight of an amusing person and she slowly walked to him.

When she neared him, her eyes squinted. "Are you trying to try out the Static Way to use the "alpha" stage of the skill that you probably learned in the class?" 

Rewen's immersion broke apart when he heard a voice. Turning around, he saw Instructor Veniit. "What? I mean, I didn't hear clearly."

"I asked, are you trying to try out the Static Way to use the "alpha" stage of the skill?" Instructor Venitt repeated.

Rewen was a bit caught off-guard. "Huh? Yeah, exactly. How did you know?" 

"I know what I know. You just have to know that your time here is precious. Better not waste it." Although Instructor Venitt wasn't particularly fond of this person, as a Instructor she felt the need to help him. 'He has a good style with a spear. He could have a great Martial Artist if it wasn't for the fact he came from a normal family background.'

"Oh, alright." Rewen himself didn't like the Instructor but he had to show some amount of respect towards her.

Instructor Venitt nodded. "How far are you?"

"In terms of storing mana and reaching Rank 0?"

"Yes."

Rewen didn't answer immediately. He thought about how to answer for a while. "Say, Instructor. Let's assume you had a low percentage mana resonance but for some reason, stored and absorbed mana extremely fast. Would you reveal this to the public or keep it hidden?"

Instructor Venitt looked sharply at him. "I would hide it. It would do more harm than good." Immediately after she said that, she grabbed his right hand.

"Pretentious." Two seconds later, she snorted and left.

Rewen looked at the departing figure and let out a smile. '[Boost] has multiple uses.' Before asking the question, he temporarily sacrificed some of his mana making it look like he had 15 MP. Altogether, he had 40 MP. Yesterday night, completing the daily mission gave him 10 MP storage capacity. Today, in such a short amount of time he had already gained 7 MP storage capacity. 

'The more skills, properties, paths and stats I have, the faster will the speed be when using [Boost]. It's certainly overpowered. Now that I think about it, I got it just by asking. In my current situation, I tried asking the system for some benefits but the system is as stubborn as ever.' Thinking to this point, he realized the root cause of this. 

'Was I too naive when I thought that strength will only be secondary in my life? Why do I feel ambitious all of a sudden? I don't think ambition is necessarily a good or bad trait in life but for someone like me, why? The system certainly isn't an idiot. It won't choose an unworthy host. What did it find in a village kid like me?'

He got no response from the system.

Rewen sighed and shook his head. 'Overthinking is a sin. Let's get back to work.'

---

Quest: Starting Up

Grade: C-

Details: Become a Rank 0 Mage within this week. Completion rate - 40%

Failure: None

---

'Where did the completion rate come from?'

[The system decided to add it.]

'Don't change things so abruptly.' Rewen went on to calculate. 'I only have two more days, excluding today. I have more than an hour left. I can expect 30 MP from the daily mission. As for the rest thirty… it's easy.'  He had full certainty that he could complete the quest. 

***

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MP: 52

---

The session ended. Rewen was satisfied and left the training grounds with other cadets. 

Zaplin: "The sophomores are throwing out a party to welcome us. You should go." 

Vin: "Go? Why would he go? To get bullied? Let's be honest. The only reason almost the class is even going is because of the good-looking seniors. Why would Rewen who already has a partner want to go?"

Zaplin: "What? No. I'm going there as the Class Leader."

Vin: "Yeah, keep lying."

Rewen: "Zaplin. You better start being honest. Which one of them caught your 'respected' and 'disciplined' eye?"

Vin: "HAHAHA! He acts so pure but we all know that he is secretly a closet pervert."

Zaplin: "Fine. I'm going there to marvel at the seniors' bountiful chests."

Vin: "That's my guy! Everyone listen up! Our Class Leader here has boldly proclaimed that he wants to see bou-"

Zaplin hurriedly caught his mouth. "Why are you still acting like a kid?"

Vin: "Everyone is a kid at heart."

Rewen: "Enough about Zaplin. What about you, Vin? You have someone you like?"

Vin: "Hmph! Of course, I do."

Rewen: "Who is it? A senior or from the class?"

Vin sneered in disdain. "Not enough to catch my eye. The one who resides in my gold heart for eternity is Goddess Autumn!"

Zaplin: "Who is that?"

Rewen: "If I'm not mistaken, that should be the popular Niece of the esteemed King… Vin. Listen to me, it's not that I'm looking down on you but aren't your ambitions too fucking big!?"

Zaplin: "Holy shit! Bro, you don't even have the qualifications to lick her shoes and you dare to proclaim your love for her!? Hm… she is probably good but you better change your target. It isn't good for your health."

Vin: "You both are looking down on me too much. When I would be marrying her, you both better not bleed your eyes out. Hmph!"

Zelic: "Hm? Who said anything about marriage?"

Rewen: "Zel, leave. We are having a boys' talk."

Zelic: "So childish! Let me in!" She acted willful and spoiled. 

Rewen stretched her cheeks. "You look so-not-cute when you pout. Let Big Brother fix it for you."

Zelic shook his hands off. "No need for that."

Vin: "Right. Do you have someone you are interested in?" 

Zelic put her hand on her chin. "I have no one who I'm currently interested in a romantic way but if I have to say, it would be Ludwin. M-make no mistakes though. I'm only interested in him as a person."

Vin: "Ludwin? That loner? If I recall correctly, he is also a…" His gaze turned to Rewen.

Rewen: "There are many families with the name 'Klofar'. Just because we both have 'Klofar' in our surname doesn't mean that I'm related to him. As a New World Surname, there's hardly a chance that we both have the same ancestors."

Zelic: "Correct. Also, don't call him a 'loner'. It's disrespectful, rude and not funny. Just because a person has a problem to engage socially doesn't mean you can make fu-"

"I admit that I'm socially weak but damn, please don't pity me."

A white-haired pale skinned tall guy suddenly approached the group. "A fellow Klofar, I see." He stretched his hands towards Rewen.

Rewen shook his hands. 

The newly arrived guy, Ludwin Klofar, smiled. "We may not have the same ancestors but I'm sure our ancestors had the same thoughts in mind when they named them 'Klofar'."

"Couldn't have said it better."

In one of the earliest post-apocalyptic languages, 'Klofar' meant someone who has a just heart.

Ludwin: "So… what were you talking about?"

No one took the initiative to speak.

Zaplin, who had always been a person with somewhat low EQ, was confused. "Zelic seems to be in- mhmhm!" Zaplin's mouth was closed off by Zelic.

The group chatted for a few minutes before Rewen saw Svety standing at the entrance of his classroom. 

"Svety! How have you been?" Before he could speak anything, Zelic tip-toed her way to Svety.

"I'm excellent. How have you been?" Svety replied with a smile.

"I'm the best I have ever been!" Zelic energetically answered. They were childhood friends. Till middle school, they were together. When they separated in high school, Zelic took an entire month to get used to her best friend's absence.

"That's good to hear. How about we go to a party together? Fix a date and I'll invite all my friends. I have missed you so much!"

Svety wanted to agree but when she saw Rewen looking at her calmly, she discarded the idea. She knew that he was thinking along the lines of 'I'm fighting with my life on the line and you are partying somewhere?'. "Cough, how about a few weeks later. I'm preoccupied with something important."

Zelic appeared a bit dissatisfied but reluctantly agreed. "In the first of next month, then. Don't you dare forget!"

"Okay…" She nodded, then turned her eyes towards Rewen. 

Rewen understood the meaning of her eyes.

***

Central Canteen. 

Rewen and Svety sat opposite to each other at a table for two people. 

"What's the time?" Rewen took a sip from the cold drink and asked. His smartphone on the table.

Svety glanced at her wrist watch. "It's about time." Her face looked calm but her heart was turbulent. She couldn't force herself to remain calm.

*Beep*