Chapter 26: A Month and A Half.

[ Expressionless Awakener ]

---!!CHANGE OF POV!!---

The moon shines brightly as the night hallows.

The alleyways of the city were quiet.

Each side of the building was narrow and the path was slow and empty.

It was quiet, that even footsteps were only heard in the distance.

Thump..Thump...Thump..

Suddenly, A bell noise rang as the door creaked open.

It was a mysterious shop, A shop that is existent within the paths of the alleyways, Though, It only opens at night.

More footsteps were heard as it makes its way onto the front of a particular counter.

Besides a counter stood a mysterious person behind it, waving its hands as if it was greeting someone special.

"Ahh... Welcome back my dear customer!"

"Or should i say...."

"Alexander Grace."

The unknown person spoke enthusiastically.

Other than the shop owner, is a familiar figure standing in front of the counter... Namely, that familiar figure is actually... Kwan jihu.

"Well, What brings you here to my shop, hm?"

The shop owner spoke nonchalantly.

Kwan jihu began to move silently, taking something out of hes pocket.

He placed and slid the mysterious item onto the counter, giving the shop owner a slight startle.

The mysterious item was a red gemstone, covered in dark red stripes as the texture.

The size wasn't small but it wasn't too big either, A gemstone that could fit inside a pocket while its worth millions.

"I would like to trade this, So hurry it up. Esmaralda."

Kwan jihu spoke, Mentioning the shop owner's nickname coldly.

"Aww~! you don't have to call me by my nickname y,know!"

The shop owner, Esmaralda, Spoke with a smile.

She giggled as she moved around the gemstone with her finger.

"Sooo... what item around the shop would you like to-"

Before she could continue to speak, Kwan Jihu took the initiative to cut off her words.

"I would like an envelope of information about the group of the acrononym."

Kwan jihu spoke coldly and silently.

Esmaralda instantly went silent, losing her enthusiastic smile and only giving off an expression of seriousness, Given by the fact that hes asking information about an infamous group in exchange for a trade.

"..."

".....I think this trade is unfair."

Esmaralda spoke seriously.

Luckily, Kwan jihu prepared this in advance.

"I knew you would say that."

He immediately took the gemstone from the counter and smashed it with hes own bare hands.

The gemstone cracked into tiny little pieces.

Esmaralda was startled and surprised, But not just because she was surprised by that sudden smash, but was surprised by the gemstone instead.

"..THIS IS..."

Esmaralda muttered in shock.

"Yes, This gemstone isn't like any gemstone in the region, But a gemstone with a purple core inside it."

Kwan jihu spoke nonchalantly.

A gemstone that hides a purple core is one of the rarest items in the city, apparently one of the second rarest in the region.

That gemstone isn't something that could easily be found inside a dungeon, but any kind of monster inside the dungeon.

That monster could only be founded in one of the highest-ranked dungeons and only spawns inside any monster's core.

That gemstone would only appear once the monster is defeated, but the chances of spawning it is impossible.

Almost at least 00000000011.1% chance in any monster inside the dungeon.

Boss monsters are also included for spawning the gemstone aswell, and it lessens the chances of 00011.1%.

Unfortunately, Even a high-class boss monster couldn't spawn that kind of gemstone with a chance that low.

Even a high ranked awakener wouldn't possibly get that kind of rare gemstone.

What's the use of the gemstone? Apparently, its mana was as powerful as a high-ranked monster, and it can be made into a weapon of any gem.

The first ever discovered gemstone of that kind was founded by a young boy after the huge dungeon break incident from the city a very long time ago.

And that same gem was made into a weapon, Which that weapon is known for being dangerous and yet is still currently used (now.)

Namely; The scythe of death.

"THIS... HOW DID YOU GET THIS!?"

Esmaralda spoke in shock, along with curiosity to find its origin.

"Isn't it obvious? I got it from a high-ranked boss in a high-ranked dungeon."

Kwan jihu spoke nonchalantly again.

"..."

Esmaralda was silent, still shocked by the fact that a mere gemstone is actually a moneymaker that's worth billions and billions of dollars, or a gemstone that is so dangerous and yet so worth liking.

She began to slowly touch the gemstone core, only to feel a powerful sense of mana strike inside her body.

'It's real...'

She thought silently.

She sighed deeply and thought for a while, Not so sure if making this trade is either fair or not.

"...What...What are you gonna use the information for?"

Esmaralda asked as she thought of the trade.

"None of your business."

Kwan jihu spoke coldly.

Esmaralda was dumbfounded but at the same time, impressed.

"Fine... The trade is fair enough."

She spoke, accepting the trade as she smiled.

She began to take something out inside her cabinet and took off an information about the group of acrononyms, apparently, the envelope was stolen by another group who wrote information of the acrononyms and esmaralda was the one who stole it.

"Here.."

She spoke as she slid the paper in front of Kwan jihu.

Kwan jihu took the envelope out of the counter and immediately approached the exit door.

"Come back soon!"

Esmaralda chuckled as she spoke before Kwan jihu left a cold eye before leaving.

He began to walk through the alleyways again, The breeze of the wind is still cold and the moon still shines thoroughly.

Each footstep resembles a cold thump.

Kwan jihu stared at the envelope and became silent for some time.

He crumbled the paper slightly due to anger and annoyance.

'...'

Kwan jihu sighed seriously and stared upon the bright moon.

The wind flowed through hes hair, giving off a cool composure and cold-like hue.

'This novel has changed entirely, and there will be some parts i'll never know..'

'Especially that unlikely person.'

( Unlikely person> Kim lee )

'Even so, I cannot let this story go off-course.'

'Whatever happens, I'll have to take responsibility.'

'I can't let this world die out now.'

'Even if it's the risk of losing my own life.'

'I won't let that happen..'

'Ever.'

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----Back to Kim's Pov----

The hue of the sun was as bright as orange, it felt a sense of refreshment and a feeling of peace.

The leaves that fell slowly on the ground were raked by the pile of leaves.

Currently...

I'm raking the backyard of the school.

Why? Obviously because i was suspended for 2 whole weeks, Even though I was the victim of that incident!

'This is unfair...'

I thought, thinking that the principal was unfair.

I sighed deeply and stared at the pile of leaves.

Two days have passed ever since that incident.

Other than the characters i already met inside the novel, I never met any new characters ever since.

I'm not sure if it's because of the suspendence from the principal or it's because i made a wish that time two days ago which i already forgot about.

But I'm kinda glad and relieved, now that i don't have anything to get involved in the story!

Not really... i'm still kinda involved...

But who cares! The better the peace the more peaceful!!

...

Right..?

I continued to rake the leaves onto the pile of leaves until there were no leaves left.

I took a deep breath.

'I never would've thought that i would get this kind of peace ever since that banquet incident.'

' But... i do like peace...'

I thought as the tip of my hair wiggled in happiness.

I began to walk back the path i walked from and took the rake with me.

A shed appeared as i continued to follow the path.

I went inside and put back the rake and went out.

I forgot to close back the door but the wind closed it for me.

Thanks wind.

Anyway...

I walked back inside the school's back door and eventually took each step through the halls.

The students that were walking around through the halls were doing their usual paste..

Until they all got startled from a familiar noise and instantly went unto hiding.

The tip of my hair moved and resembled confusion as i looked around the halls.

I didn't have a clue why the students were hiding, even tho there aren't even any monsters around.

Suddenly, the system appeared and replied;

[ KIM RUN NOW! 😰 ]

'Huh-?'

I thought.

Suddenly, Running footsteps were heard from a distance.

"JOHNNNSSSOOON KIMMM!!!!!!"

A familiar person shouted, calling for my name.

I moved and looked behind through the halls, only to see Krazon Wilter running towards me!

He even prepared hes fist just to punch me!!??

'Ah shoot'

I thought as i felt sweat appearing on my forehead.

But before i could run and look back, hes fist was already close to my face.

I took the fist and dodged the punch as fast as i could.

My heart thumped due to fear and I sweated myself even more in nervousness.

But that was also the first time i dodged something without even using my mana.

But i was just lucky.

Krazon Wilter gained up hes speed and punched me right on the stomach.

I coughed out saliva as i felt the dull pain.

I took a step back as i grabbed my stomach as it hurts really badly.

"Aw, I thought you would avoid my second punch... Tch how disappointing!"

He spoke as he chuckled maliciously.

"Aren't you supposed to be suspended..?"

I spoke silently with an expressionless face.

"What do you mean suspended?? Am i not allowed inside the school when I'm suspended??"

He spoke back to me.

"But... Didn't the principal say that you would be at your own house-?"

"Who cares!? He is just a guy acting like some wanna-be principal! Besides..."

"I would beat you up, Remember!?"

He muttered loudly.

I scratched my face and closed my eyes for a while, trying to remember what he meant.

"I forgot."

I spoke to him simply.

He stared at me for a while, creating a poker face.

"I told you that.. 2 days ago."

The red tomato spoke.

"..."

"I thought it would be a different meaning, So i thought i'll be fine."

I spoke stupidly.

'I thought it would be like that since the System had a different reaction last time, Was i wrong?'

I thought.

"This idiot is not only a forgetful person but a really dumb one aswell."

He spoke as he stared at me with an expressionless face.

Yeah, even a deliquent isn't that dumb.

I stood for a while as i tried to call out the system through my head.

The system appeared and loaded for a while.

[ Loading... ]

[ 😅 ]

The system replied.

I stared at the system with a question mark for a while.

[ ....So it was the other one... The... Obvious.... one haha lol oopsie 😗 ]

I stood for a while and blinked twice, along with looking at Wilter then to the system repeatedly.

'...'

'Whatever.'

I thought expressionlessly.

I coughed lightly as i took another step back.

"Oh...Well.. ...Bye"

I spoke as i ran through the hallways, forgetting the pain that came from my stomach.

"HEYY!!!"

Krazon Wilter shouted, Noticing that i had run away unexpectedly fast.

"Tch!! Let's see if you can dodge my 3rd punch next time!!!"

He shouted loudly as he walked through the halls angrily.

I began to ran in a different direction and slowed myself for a while.

'I ESCAPED...'

I thought as i sighed in relief.

Suddenly, the pain through my stomach came back again.

'Gah....'

I thought, grabbing my stomach in pain.

I had no idea why i had to run through the halls even tho my stomach was still hurting.

But i had a reason to run away anyway, Didn't think twice aswell.

I sat down and tried to heal my stomach using my skill abilities.

[ Mana: 10/200 ]

The [Ai] System replied.

'Why did that dude have to punch me that hard...?'

I thought as i felt the dull pain expressionlessly.

I sighed once again, not in a relieved way and sat down onto the floor for a while.

I looked through my phone on my pocket, only to see the time almost clicking to 5 pm.

Suddenly, The red system appeared;

[ Kim, You ok? 😧 ]

Red replied.

'I think so.'

I thought as i tried to stand up by touching the wall behind me.

[ Sure? 🤨 I don't have anything much i have on me, But i can give you a mana potion for a quest ]

The system replied back.

'No, I already done a lot of quests already.'

'Besides, A single quest will only make me feel instant depression.'

I answered back to the system, Remembering the so-called exercising quests that i had to do every single day.

I grabbed my stomach once more, and healed a few parts from my stomach with only using less mana left.

Then a strike hit me.

[ Mana: 4/200 ]

I stared at the system with a confused look.

'Red, Why do i have 200 mana? Didn't i have like 100 mana?'

I thought, asking the system.

[ Oh, the mana? Well, you were able to do those quests every morning right? the mana you get after you do the quests will give you a lot of space for your mana, it's a simple reward or so.. Thats why you were able to survive that weird incident two days ago. 😚 ]

I stared and read the system's texts, that is apparently turned into a paragraph.

'...'

'Understandable i guess'

I thought.

I began to walk through the halls as slowly as possible, since my stomach still feels a bit painful after the punch, i had to struggle walking for a while.

I took my time and went inside the student dormitory halls.

Eventually, I was able to get inside my dorm.

Apparently, I haven't been able to clean my dorm ever since it got destroyed by that red-tomato.

Why? Because i have been way too busy.

I have been getting more and more essays, projects and homework for the past few days and I had to finish them every single night because I kept on forgetting them the next day, I even had to put up a paper schedule in front of my bedroom door to remember them whenever i came inside. I also have to study for more quizzes and tests.

Even more, I had to take each time I got, cutting time to equal my schedule in both doing exercising quests every morning and helping the janitors after classes ended.

My schedule is already packed to begin with, and i had to waste even more time by adding another activity to my schedule.

'This sucks.'

I thought as i yawned tirelessly.

I went inside my bedroom and slapped myself onto the bed then i checked my door for the schedule paper.

I looked through it for a while then took my time to do my essays and home work.

'I only have a few left... I should finish all of them so that I won't have any homework done for today.'

I thought as the tip of my hair wiggled in relief.

I eventually finished my school stuff, then went to bed as usual.

Life began to feel easy..

Right?

'Good night..'

I thought as i dozed off to sleep peacefully.

[ Expressionless Awakener ]