Chapter 5

Morning. 

After getting out of bed and, out of habit, falling from a standing position into a push-up position, I almost broke my arm and took eight damage. 

I couldn't even swear because the pain in my throat made it spasm. 

I just lay on the floor and recovered.

After recovering, I did six push-ups, thirty squats, and four crunches. Lastly, I put on my running clothes and shoes and went for a ran. 

This time, I didn't push myself; I ran calmly until my energy gauge hit zero, then rested, ran again, and rested again. 

In an hour and a half, I ran five kilometers.

I raised my "Running" skill by one point and was thrilled to receive a single point in stamina.

Then came the shower and breakfast… the breakfast of tears: cabbage, cucumbers, greens, a little cheese, kefir…

After that, I continued sorting through the paperwork, gaining a better understanding of what I was going to do. 

I even started to have interesting thoughts about how to optimize household management. 

The idea of an "energy-efficient house" particularly intrigued me, but I would need to think it through, calculate, look at materials, and visit shops and building material bases. 

Thankfully, I had a car and the right driving license…

[Intelligence +1]

I spent the rest of the day getting personally acquainted with the house. 

The task was boring, but it was important for my plans because papers are just papers, and I can't make any serious plans without them.

Still, I found some pleasure in this endeavor.

"Ding!"

[Skill Acquired: Observation]

From that moment on, everything I focused on started to glow with light labels. 

The house is a four-story building with two entrances, a basement, a cellar, and a technical floor under the roof. 

There are three apartments on each floor. There are twenty-two flats in all, and mine is one of them, but two are empty. 

The basement is occupied by a boxing gym with showers, locker rooms, and storage for sports equipment.

By the way, I signed up for boxing. I handed them ten percent of the rent and got a pass to train at any time of day or night. 

Solo sessions. 

We only have to work out three times a week for an hour each time.

This is only because I provide a certificate stating I have no health condition. 

They explained in detail where and how to obtain this certificate to avoid losing their license.

In the evening, I went out for a run again. 

I didn't receive any new bonuses, but not everything can be a feast for the cat, right?

By the way, my inspection of the house yielded another somewhat dungeon in the basement! 

It's just a regular hatch under which water pipes are laid in a shallow concrete trench. 

I can't really even crawl in there, and it's just the main water distribution unit with valves.

This same hatch is identified by my "Observation" as an "entrance to a dungeon." 

However, I won't rush to go in there.

Before going to bed, I ate meat with a side of potatoes and salad. I also made a second course, which is beef soup.

I finished cooking around seven o'clock. I surveyed the pots and pans, inhaled the aroma through my nostrils, and… I felt an unbearable shame. 

It's a shame for Sharon. Yesterday, she came to me with all her heart, baked a pie, and I…

I took my phone and dialed her number.

"Yes?" 

A surprised voice sounded through the receiver.

"Sharon, good evening. This is Thomas bothering you. Thomas Blank."

"Good evening, Mr. Blank." 

Sharon's voice warmed slightly.

 "Is something wrong?"

"Something is wrong." 

I replied sadly. 

"I gave up."

"What do you mean?" 

She didn't understand.

"My diet. I couldn't hold out and gave up, but now I have a whole stove full of food. I would like to share them with you. As compensation for that meat pie from yesterday, the aroma still haunts my mind."

"Are you inviting me to dinner, Mr. Blank?" 

She asked in surprise.

"I want to share a piece of happiness with you, Sharon! After all, happiness shouldn't be kept to myself. Happiness is something that needs to be shared to grow!"

"But it's dinner." 

She replied with a bit of insistence in her voice.

"If you don't want to, I'll invite Peter." 

I smirked. 

"Eating alone is like drinking with a mirror."

"You've convinced me, Mr. Blank." 

She laughed. 

"I'll be there in about fifteen minutes, just need to dry my hair."

"Alright, I'll be waiting."

I said. 

"But not more than fifteen minutes; I won't be able to hold back—I'll start eating without you."

"Well, hang in there! You need to train your willpower!" 

Sharon's cheerful laughter echoed, followed by a short beep.

Those fifteen minutes!

They were the longest fifteen minutes ever!

[Will +1]

[Will +1]

During those fifteen minutes, I washed all the dishes, wiped them dry, put them back in their places, and tidied up the kitchen, the hallway, and even one of my three rooms.

Sharon appeared at my doorstep, announcing her presence with a polite knock. 

She wore a light, airy dress, white knee-high socks, and light shoes with almost no heels. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail secured with a white rubber band.

"Come on into the kitchen, Sharon." 

I said in response to the knock, peeking out from the room where I was tidying up. 

"Just leave your shoes in the hallway. Don't worry, it's clean, and the floor isn't cold."

"Hmm, as you say, Mr. Blank." 

She replied, taking off her shoes.

"Well... everyone has their habits." 

I shrugged. 

"I'm a neat freak myself. I believe shoes have no place in it."

"Hmm... I know one country would agree with you."

"Japan" 

I smiled, stepping out to join her, who had managed to take off her shoes.

"You know too?"

"Yes." 

I shrugged. 

"I like their culture, as well as their food."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

I replied as she sat down at the table on the chair I offered. I then began to set the plates and lay out the spoons. 

After pouring the soup into each plate and adding a spoonful of sour cream, I sliced the bread, sat across from her, and tucked a napkin into my shirt. 

"Bon appétit." 

I said.

"Enjoy your meal!" 

She cheerfully replied.

"Alright, let's eat already, or it will get cold." 

I finally concluded my torture of my own body and, picking up my spoon, began to eat.

We had dinner and sat for half an hour, sipping aromatic tea with small pastries, allowing the meal we had just eaten to settle properly.

Afterward, she went off to her business, and I returned to mine. 

...

The next day began just like the previous one: exercises, a run, a shower, and breakfast. 

After that, I "saddled" my "iron horse" and headed off to see the doctors. 

With a calm mind, I obtained the medical certificate and went to the hardware stores to browse, touch, and estimate.

After lunch, the exciting trip continued. 

During the process, I gained an extra point in "Observation." The simple names of objects and people were increased by a "life" bar. 

After acquiring this new ability, I began manually picking up every piece of material, glove, and equipment.

I meticulously compared their life bars that nearly drove the store staff to insanity. 

However, I had no intention of stopping. After all, it was their job to serve the customer.

...

A muscular giant nearly two meters tall in red boxing shorts and red boxing gloves is bouncing on his side.

I wore oversized blue boxing shorts, blue gloves on my hands, a mouthguard in my teeth, and despair in my eyes.

He is smiling, cheerfully shrugging his shoulders and throwing quick punches into the air. 

He's good—he's almost a pro, with a dozen fights behind him.

What about me?

I don't even know how to throw punches.

"They're beating our guys!" 

Suddenly, someone shouted, and the only ones standing were the boxers while the wrestlers and karateka quietly lay down to rest against the wall.

I sighed heavily.

"Ding"

[You receive 5 damage]

[You receive 4 damage]

[You receive 5 damage]

[You receive 3 damage]

[You receive 7 damage...]