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.
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.