Harsh treatment

---

Jack leaned over the edge of the well, hauling up another heavy bucket of water. The rope's rough fibers bit into his palms as he strained against the weight, his muscles aching from countless rounds of this same chore. With a frustrated grunt, he let the bucket splash back

"Just... forget it," Jack muttered, releasing the rope with a bitter sigh.

Alogra's indifferent voice called out through the kitchen window, slicing through his irritation. "Make sure to pull it back up when you're done. We'll need at least five more buckets." Alogra didn't even look at him, already focused on whatever he was grilling.

Jack's expression turned blank. 'Five more? You've got to be kidding me,' he thought, his gaze hardening. Aloud, he muttered, "If I had my way, I'd…"

But there was nothing he could do. He realized that now. For days, it had been this same grueling routine.

"What could he possibly need all this water for? It's like he's filling every barrel in the house," Jack hissed, reluctantly reaching for the rope to start again.

When he'd first arrived here, he expected they'd jump straight into training. He had been ready for intense combat lessons, maybe some magic—anything to improve his power. But that wasn't Alogra's style. Instead, the old man treated him like a servant, tasking him with endless, back-breaking chores: chopping wood from dawn until dusk, pulling water, clearing out grass, and butchering the game Alogra brought back each day.

'He's turned me into his personal laborer,' Jack thought, scowling as he hefted the bucket up, his arms burning. He pulled it to the top and hauled it toward the house, grumbling to himself.

'I thought I was here to train, not to do his chores!' Jack's frustration simmered, but he knew there was no point in complaining. Alogra didn't seem like someone who'd change his ways just because Jack said something.

Running away wasn't an option either. The forest surrounding Alogra's home was thick and unforgiving, with wild creatures lurking around every corner. The last time he'd dared venture out, he'd barely escaped an attack from a Magamon Trion—a beast that would have ended him in an instant if he hadn't retreated.

Reluctant as he was to admit it, he had noticed one positive outcome of the labor. His stats were improving faster than he could have expected.

---

[Character Stats]

[EXP: 4040/5000]

[Level: 4]

[Strength: 15]

[Stamina: 15]

[Agility: 25]

[ Intelligence: 40]

[Perception: 20]

---

It was impressive growth, considering the time he'd been here. Each task, however trivial or exhausting, seemed to push his stats up a notch, inching him closer to his next level.

Even his daily tasks were updated, a list of minor exercises that added a small boost to his stats. They weren't too demanding, but the constant repetition made him wish he could skip them.

---

[Daily Tasks]

[ Drink two liters of water: 1/2]

[Push-ups: 50/100]

[ Sit-ups: 30/100]

[Jumping jacks: 10/50]

---

"If I make it through today, maybe he'll finally teach me something useful," Jack muttered as he brought the last bucket inside, setting it down with a grunt beside Alogra.

"Good job," Alogra said, barely glancing up. He flipped a slab of meat sizzling in a cast-iron pan. "I'm almost done with the meat, so stick around. You'll eat well tonight."

Jack rolled his eyes. "You've said that before. But by the end, I'm lucky to get a single piece while you eat the rest yourself."

Alogra's eyebrows rose, a wry smile touching his lips. "Maybe you just didn't look hungry enough."

Jack clenched his jaw. 'The nerve of this guy,' he thought, grinding his teeth to keep from snapping back. He'd learned the hard way that Alogra's temper was as sharp as his senses; the last time he tried attacking him in frustration, he'd been flung out the window. 'He may be old, but his reflexes are as sharp as ever,' Jack conceded grudgingly.

Despite his complaints, Jack stayed put, glancing longingly at the meat. 'He has to have a reason for pushing me like this. There must be a purpose behind all this… other than his entertainment,' Jack reasoned as he sat down at the table, rubbing his sore arms.

With a resigned sigh, he asked, "So are we actually training today?"

Alogra's answer came without hesitation. "Of course. You'll be doing a thousand swings with your sword—but vertical slashes this time."

Jack's hopeful expression fell as quickly as it had risen. "You've got to be kidding."

Alogra didn't even flinch, simply continuing to grill the meat. "Not at all."

Jack dropped his head onto the table. 'I'm never getting out of this,' he thought, defeated. For seven days, he'd been making horizontal slashes until his arms were numb, and Alogra's merciless schedule never budged.

Throughout all this, he hadn't learned a single spell. Sure, he'd managed to study a few flame spells during the night, but he was so exhausted from the day's labor that most nights, he barely managed to flip a few pages before sleep claimed him.

'He must have a reason for all of this. There has to be a method to his madness,' Jack told himself, rubbing his aching shoulders. Alogra was no fool; Jack was certain he was pushing him this hard for a purpose.

'If he thinks I'll break, he's got another thing coming. I've only got seven days left here, and I'll find out what he's up to before it's over,' Jack thought resolutely.

There was one looming task that kept pressing on his mind, something he couldn't shake no matter how hard he tried.

---

[Quest: Predator of the Mountains]

[Goal: Defeat 10 mountain beasts.]

[ Reward: ???]

[ Penalty: ???]

[Time Left: 6 days, 12 hours, 30 minutes]

---

Jack's eyes lingered on the countdown ticking away ominously. It was a mandatory quest, and something told him that failing it would come with consequences he couldn't ignore. This system had shown him how powerful it was, but he had no intention of finding out what kind of penalties it might enforce.

'I need strength—real strength—if I'm going to make it through this and survive whatever's next,' Jack thought. He knew Alogra was withholding something from him, but every time he tried to pry it out, the old man would either shrug it off or just give him more work.

Jack cast another wary glance at Alogra, who seemed completely absorbed in his cooking. 'For all his rough edges, he knows exactly what he's doing,' Jack thought, his irritation mixed with grudging respect.

"Alright, fine. But if this 'training' is going to be nothing but slashes in the air, I want to know why. What's the point?" Jack asked, his tone firmer than usual.

Alogra raised an eyebrow, finally turning to look at Jack. "You think you're ready for answers?" he asked, his eyes glinting with something unreadable. "Then show me you can handle it. Do your thousand swings. When you're done, maybe I'll consider it."

Jack's fists clenched, but he nodded, swallowing his frustration. He had no choice but to endure. Each day brought him closer to the truth, even if he had to fight for every scrap of information.

'Alright, fine'