Chapter 3 My Body

"Status..."

I whispered, mesmerized as the air before me swirled and a brilliant azure window materialized.

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Gazing at the Status window suspended before me, I sighed while pressing the bridge of my nose. It was now apparent to me why the name Aiden Steele was unfamiliar. He must have dropped out from the academy due to being too weak.

To enroll in the academy one needs to be 16 years of age and be at least G rank, although the average rank of new students is F.

However, in the playable character pool, the protagonists always surpass this baseline, starting at an E- Rank immediately upon enrollment.

I reincarnated into the body of an extra, a background character that only appears until midterms when they inevitably fail the test and drop out. It felt like this body was destined for failure.

"What the hell..."

I wasn't sure what had happened to my body on Earth, but it wouldn't have surprised me if I died due to my excessive alcohol consumption.

Even so, being without any living relatives made it easier to accept my passing, as there was no one left to mourn me or hold me to my previous life.

Although I had already passed away, I wasn't ready to give up on my second chance. After all, I had been reincarnated into the world of my favorite game, a place filled with magic and adventure that I had always dreamed of experiencing.

A small giggle escaped my lips as I covered my mouth, thinking about all the possible ways to boost my strength.

First of all, I had already noticed that this body was really thrash. It wouldn't be surprising if the previous owner had been carrying a curse or had some kind of incurable disease.

...

Glancing at the old wristwatch Aiden had, I realized that there was still a full week before classes were scheduled to start. This was the period where students moved into their dormitories and settled in at the academy.

"I still have time..."

Without wasting any time, I stood up and headed back to my room to grab my jacket and the sword leaning against my bed. In the dimly lit room, the weapon was difficult to see, but upon my return, I clapped my hands and the lights flickered to life automatically, allowing me to spot the weapon.

I also grabbed a device that looked like a mobile phone, which served as a payment method for students to cover their expenses. Every student received 15,000 Arcons each month to use while attending the academy.

Since there weren't any restrictions on leaving the academy grounds, I effortlessly left my dorm and headed to the nearest train station. The Mage Academy was conveniently located next to a bustling city, providing easy access to all the necessities for the students.

I chose to take the train as my way of transportation because it was not only affordable, but also the most convenient way to get to my destination.

As I stood alone in the empty station, I took the opportunity to examine my Status window and test out my newly acquired sword.

"Wow, I'm really slow!"

The difference in power and skill between me and the game's protagonists was immense. Despite having played the game countless times before, my every movement with the sword felt crude and unrefined, highlighting my low level of understanding of swordsmanship.

My sword strikes were clumsy and uncoordinated, resembling a child attempting to imitate a cartoon character. However, despite my lack of finesse, my movements still demonstrated some effectiveness, indicating that my 'Sword Proficiency' skill was working.

Thud... Thud...

The levitating train soon arrived at the station, its body covered in powerful Mana Shields. I quickly scanned my device to purchase a ticket and took a seat in one of the empty compartments.

As it was still nighttime, there were only a few passengers on the train, giving me needed silence to consider my plans.

With a whole week before classes started, I had time to figure out what was happening to my body and heal it. While a strong health potion might have helped, they were very expensive, so I needed to find another solution.

"Elixir of Life..."

I whispered, thinking about the item I was planning to obtain. This Elixir had the ability to restore the body to its peak form, whether healing a cripple or bringing someone almost dead back to life.

I was aware that the elixir would be incredibly expensive if I were to sell it on the market, but I needed it for myself. Plus selling it would be a hassle, because it'd be questioned how such a young kid has gotten his hands on such an item.

Thud... Thud...

As I stepped off the train, the soft glow of the sunrise greeted me, illuminating the civilization before me.

The city wasn't very big, with a mix of buildings ranging from towering skyscrapers to small wooden huts. But what really caught my eye were the forests and huge mountains surrounding the town, their peaks shining in pure white.

I knew this place from the game. It was the city of Helixia. In Leclentia, it was one of the starting towns where players could hunt G and F rank beasts to improve their skills.

Unknown to many, there is a secret place in Helixia where the Elixir of Life can be found. How did I know about it? I was the one who found it!

Without bothering to head into the city, I started walking towards the mountains. I gazed at their peaks, trying to recall the exact location of the cave where the Elixir of Life was hidden.

"If you don't return in 24 hours, a search team will be sent to save you."

To access the forest hunting area, I paid a small sum of Arcons to the guards at the entrance. As a student of the prestigious Mage Academy, my safety was given priority, and a search team would be sent to look for me if I didn't return within a day.

Glancing at the guards, who had returned to their posts, I stepped into the dark forest, feeling goosebumps run down my skin.

"Time for a treasure hunt..."