Chapter 31 - Thick-Skinned Progress!
It was another morning for our time traveler, Illian Hizuit.
Since he was captured by the Myth Academy, he no longer has permission to use his ability to time travel. However, today, the air seemed extra fresh while the morning sun energizes him.
"I finally escaped my addiction of time traveling. Having no consequences in life isn't as good as it sounds. Haa..."
He was on his way to his school. Illian attends school 1-3-2-4. It was not a bad class. It was like a normal school life he was currently living in right now. And even though he has bags under his eyes, he already had a night full of sleep.
Illian was especially happy today. He felt like he was finally out of his cage. At that moment, there was a guy that was running towards him.
"Oh, someone's jogging... weirdly... this early in the morning."
Illian has goblins for classmates and a werewolf for a teacher. He wouldn't be surprised if there's a caveman in his neighborhood. Since he's especially in a good mood today, he felt he can socialize with others now.
So he raised his hand and greeted when the 'caveman' who's jogging in a weird manner passed by him.
"Goodmor-"
"Huh!?"
[Mission Progress: 19/20 Huh!?]
"H-huh?"
Illian almost jumped from where he stood when he realized how scary this guy was. Afterward, the scary guy then took his hands out of his pocket and offered a handshake.
"Ah, sorry about that. That's just how I greet people in return."
Illian gulped as he felt threatened!
Seeing that this short guy was stiff and frozen, Joren thought that it was from fear... again. Therefore, Joren just nodded in apology and gratitude before putting his hands in his pockets and continued to power walk with each step swagging- swag jogging.
After a while of swag jogging, a notification popped up in front of him.
[Mission Progress: 10,004/10,000 swag steps
Side Mission #1 was completed.
Accept reward?]
Joren slowed down and propped his arms against his thighs as he tried to catch his breath. A moment later, he skipped the question.
"All of that for two stamina points..." he muttered, a little depressed. But at the very least, there's progress.
He continues to jog for a while. When he was about to reach his house again, the people outside were increasing as they were all going to their schools.
Although the number of people is increasing, in actuality, Joren would just see four to five people every minute of jogging. They all wore the same uniform as him but they all have this different aura around them.
But no matter who it was, they would not talk to him.
Upon arriving at his house, a notification popped out.
[Mission Progress: 50/50 hours of having your hands in your pocket.
Side Mission #4 is completed.
Accept Reward?]
Joren dismissed it once again. He actually has his hands in his pockets overnight for the past few nights so he finally got it complete.
"But this one is a little hard. Even if I continuously put my hands in my pockets, I will only receive 1 Agility point even two days."
Joren sighed as he entered his house. At that moment, a familiar annoying fish appeared in front of him.
<That was not thug at all.>
"As long as I get the job done, it's working. My image is already damaged to begin with, there's no need to worry about it.
Joren casually said before entering the shower room. After a while of showering, Joren walked out of the shower room, talking.
"Are there no more missions for me to do? Something that can give more."
Joren frowned since the fish was not answering, instead, another voice replied to him.
"I didn't know who you are talking to but please, put on some clothes first."
Sitting on one of the couches in his living room, Virena said with a cold voice.
"V-virena!?"
Joren immediately covered his body as he hurried into his room. The moment he entered his room, the fish showed up.
<Your mission to survive the vampire is still on hold since you're technically not alive and not dead at the same time. Therefore, you should just do your second big side mission; bed the vampire. This is your chance!>
The mission then appeared before Joren's eyes.
[Mission: Take Virena's virginity.
Time: Five years
Reward: +50 Stamina, +50 Strength, 10 instant level up]
This was an enticing offer but Joren didn't want to think of Virena as someone who he could use just to power up.
However...
"Only if the moment allows it. However, that would not be my main objective."
Joren set his morals straight. After changing into his school uniform, he got out of his room to meet Virena who was waiting for him.
"What took you so long?"
She snappily asked as she sipped from the coffee she made.
"Why are you here though?"
"What attitude, even though I forced myself to come here."
Virena clicked her tongue which made Joren roll his eyes. As if you don't have attitude as well, he thought.
"I'm here because the Principal wanted me to tell you that, as an extracurricular task, you are obliged to visit the UnderWorld as you document it."
"Is... is that for real!?"
Joren almost jumped in joy as he couldn't believe what he just heard.
"Yes, the Principal had put an extra effort earlier this morning to set this up for you. The appointed time will be on the first day of next month which is about next week or so already. You better be ready."
Meanwhile, the Principal who "had put an extra effort earlier this morning" was still sleeping in her messy bed, snoring and scratching her belly.
"That's great! I don't know how I can thank you for this!"
Joren said as he jumped in joy. Seeing this childish behavior of his, Virena slightly smiled before it disappears.
"Thank the Principal for it, not me."
"Of course, but you came here just to tell me that. How could I not thank you? Oh, did you eat already? I'll make you breakfast if you want one."
"..." Virena took a moment before she stood up, put on her hood, and walked away, "No need. As the Principal's secretary, I cannot take my time here. Also, repay the Principal with more than just food."
She then exited Joren's house and disappeared as she melt into the shadows.
After a while, Joren shouted in joy. He was getting excited and determined.
"They're doing so much for me. I have to amass points as much as possible."
Afterward, Joren went out to go to his school while he had his hands in his pockets. Of course, he did his swag jogging without a concern for anyone who saw him.
Even towards school 1-5-3, he swag jogged his way through.
Bam*
"Minos! I said stop destroying the-!"
Jack stopped to see that it was just Joren.
"Wait! Why the hell did you kick the door down!?"
"Huh!?"
Joren replied with an intimidating voice.
"Ah... sorry."
Jack lowered his head.
"Good morning, Sir Jack, I'll be kicking down the door whenever I can if that's alright."
"Huh? Why would you?"
Bam* Bam* Bam* Bam...
[Mission Progress: 100/100 Doors kicked upon entrance.
Side Mission #2 completed.
Accept Reward?]
Joren sweated but ignored the notification. He continued to kick the door down, enter the room, exit the room as he closed it even though the lock had already broken, and then kick it again.
Jack and the class of ghosts looked at him as if he's a madman.
"Weak! That's not how you break a door!"
A heavy voice then came out of nowhere. Joren looked from where it originated and saw a bull coming towards him.
Joren panicked and dodged to the side.
Bam!*
The door blasted into pieces as Minos charged through it. Afterwhich, he stood up and looked down at Joren with a smirk.
"The door!"
Jack shouted but had lost the will to reprimand Minos after all the ruckus Joren had done. But for the latter, it was different.
"Hey, what did you do that for?"
Joren walked up to Minor, staring the minotaur in the eyes.
"What are you going to do? Should huh at me?"
Minos laughed.
A vein popped out of Joren's forehead when he heard this laughter. At first, he was in a good mood, however, he was led back to reality after he put in so much effort just to get one side mission done, giving him one point of Strenght.
How will he accumulate points before he goes to the UnderWorld? This made him frustrated and annoyed, coupled with the fact that he's tired. And then this minotaur just came busting the door he's using for training.
Joren is aware he doesn't have the right to be angry but still!
At that moment, a notification appeared in front of Joren.
[Mission: Slap Minos' unreasonable, annoying, and smirking face.
Time left: One minute
Reward: +5 Strength, +2 Toughness]
Seeing this notification, Joren gulped...
"What? Scared?"
Minos raised an eyebrow as he mocked Joren. Meanwhile, Jack, who was getting amused by the situation, felt that the tension was rising so he was about to intercept when Joren said-
"Minos, come here, I'll whisper something."
The minotaur stood two meters in height while having a shoulder width of one meter. Having the ability to easily destroy walls, this minotaur's strength is nothing to laugh at.
"Hm? What is it?"
But his intelligence is quite lacking. As soon as Minos leaned forward-
Pak*
[Slap Minos' unreasonable, annoying, and smirking face.
Mission Complete.
Accept Reward?]
"Huh?"
Minos, eyes widened, looked at Joren's fearless expression.
"I keep forgetting I should be a gangster."
He muttered.