Sleep Not

"You guys are leaving already?" Aldous asked, while fixated on his plate.

"Yeah. Someone is coming to pick us up tomorrow." Rachel replied like how she would normally.

"Alright,' he said, putting his fork down on the empty plate. He stroked his beardless chin for a bit while watching me.

He mumbled thinking that I probably couldn't hear, "I should have made more food..." and I obviously heard it.

'I mean, what do you expect when I haven't eaten for an entire day.' I silently retorted while finishing up my fourth serving.

I put my fork neatly on top of the plate and wiped my mouth with a napkin.

Now that I think of it, Aldous' house was pretty large. It had a primary bedroom as well as two guest rooms and a gigantic living room which also happened to be a dinning room. It was large for a two-story house. And you didn't even need to measure to know it was big; anyone with eyes could see the visual differences between his house and other houses in the neighborhood.

I felt like I missed something... Wait, wasn't he only seventeen or something? He should still be only a minor right?

As I was about to ask, a light bulb lit up in my head. It was as if all the stars in the night sky suddenly connected to form constellations.

'Since...' As I was about to think, a strange feeling welling up in my right hand stopped me. There was indeed something strange going on here but what was it? What is my right hand trying to tell me?

I released my hand from my control and it subconsciously made its way to my chin. It started stroking it just like Aldous had been doing before.

'Ah yes, how could I forget.' Chin stroking and beard stroking were vital to any thought process.

Now what was I thinking again? Ah yes. 'Since this world was like medieval times but better, then there was a likely chance that the age of adulthood was around fifteen or sixteen...'

'An interesting hypothesis, good job brain!' I couldn't help but mentally applaud myself like a delusional person.

But this hypothesis of mine did get me thinking. I should really pay more attention to the societal norms of this society. After all, I can't spend my life training under a rock. I should really stop experiencing this world with the mindset of an outsider.

'Wait a minute, that doesn't explain how his house is better than others.'

'Oh, yet another great observation!' I complimented myself again. It was like a role playing game was trapped in the confinements of my head. Well I didn't mind it. In fact, I used to talk to myself a lot like this in my old world...

Anyways...

"Say, how do you have such a nice house?"

"Hmm? Well my father gave it to me." He said.

"You said he was the Adventurer's Guild's uh—the head or something right?" I said, scratching my head.

"Yeah. He lives at the Adventurer's Guild's Headquarters because he has a lot of paperwork and things to do. Sometimes he sends me to do some of his work like attending the Martial Championship today." He pointed his fingers at my plate, "you done?"

I nodded and he took all of our plates into the kitchen. Rachel had long been finished with her dinner. She seemed to have eaten significantly less compared to other days.

—5 hours later—

'Buy Dagger of Bloodshed.'

[Received: Dagger of Bloodshed(Epic)]

[Merit Points: 400]

'God, I just can't sleep.' I thought as I set the pillow aside and got up from the bed.

I don't know if I should be thankful for the Sleepless skill or mad but I just couldn't sleep. Did I eat too much or something?

'Shop.'

~~~~~~~~~~

Skills:

Conceptualization(Mythical) - 12000 mp

...

Techniques:

Clairvoyance(Mythical) - 9000 mp

Recreation(Godly) - 20000 mp(Requirements: Conceptualization(Mythical))

...

Items:

[Crafting]

[Potions]

[Books]

[Weapons]

[Armor]

[Relics]

...

Coupons:

Skill Upgrade Coupon - 1000 mp

Skill Evolution Coupon - 5000 mp

Weapon Upgrade Coupon - 2000 mp

System-Type Evolution Coupon - 50000 mp

~~~~~~~~~~

Compared to the other shop, this one focused more on quality instead of quantity. When I first saw it, I was also confused as to why there was only a single available skill and two techniques. I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing but that only meant it would be harder to farm merit points through technique training.

But after taking a look at the description of Conceptualization, it was actually pretty overpowered. Though I don't have much to say for Clairvoyance since it was what the name suggested. As for Recreation, I couldn't appraise it so I had no idea. It was Godly tier and it also had a purchase requirement so it was probably overpowered too.

Well that was that.

Walking to the windowsill, I pulled open the curtain and window. Making sure it was as quiet as possible, I hurdled myself out the window and landed on my feet just like cats do.

I took a deep breath in and exhaled. As I had expected, a little midnight stroll never hurts. I think I should walk around for a while and find an open area.

I had a feeling like I would achieve a breakthrough soon—well it wasn't a feeling, but more of pressure. It was hard to describe but it felt like when you wanted to burp but just couldn't. It was the body's way of telling me to prepare for my physique breaking into the next realm.

—Aldous's PoV—

"aahhhh-haa." I yawned as I flushed the toilet.

'Man, I really should've gone before sleeping.'

Closing the door to the restroom, I figured since I was already awake, I should probably check on the two of them.

I opened Daniel's door trying my best not to make the door creak. Peeking my head inside, I saw a giant lump on the bed covered entirely by the blanket. The curtains were also opened. He probably forgot to close them.

I gripped the door knob tightly and closed it.

'He must really be cold even though it's the summer.'

I made my way to Rachel's door and looked inside. The blanket was sprawled everywhere with the pillow on the floor. The curtains too were opened. Entering, I placed my hand on the bed mattress; it was cold.